Out of Action- Emotional Support

Introduction

Political events such as summit protest are not only a chance for activism, for networking and to get some action, but can also lead to higher levels of stress and repression. The goal of repression is among others to intimidate critical people and to make them feel at the merci of the authority of the state. This can lead to traumatisation. It is important to become aware of this danger and react with mutual support, instead of pulling out of the activist community and resigning.

Who is Out of Action and what is „emotional support" supposed to mean?

Our group is part of antirepression structures and the international Activist Trauma Support network. It is our goal to provide information about versatile and partly long term psychological effects and thus help prevent them. In addition we want to offer emotional first aid at political protests. At the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm we will provide a tent where you can calm down and recover after stressful actions and find someone to talk to. Besides all that we are working on builing long term structures.

Out of Action means emotional support by activists for activists. Following our self conception (Selbstversändnis) we will in no way work together with following categories of people: Nazis, Sexists, Nationalists, Antisemites, Racists, the Pigs (...)

You don't need to have experienced heavy violence to come to see us, we're there if you're feeling bad (for whatever reasons) or just need a calm place to relax.

While at events like protests against G8 summits first aid and legal support have usually been well organized, there is an obvious lack of psychological assistance. The idea to found Activist Trauma Support developed during the aftermaths of the G8 Summit in Evian. To years later in Schottland such a group was acive for the first time. A space was organized at the Eco Village in Stirling to talk, listen, cry and relax. Continuing this work a Trauma Support Group was founded for the G8 Summit 2007 ind Heiligendamm and going on after that. It is important for us to create awareness and de-taboo-ise traumatisation.

Even the witnessing of violence can cause trauma. A well functioning affinity group, that is aware of and deals with feelings like fear, helplessnes, panik etc is the best prevention. Physical wounds get a lot of attention and are sometimes turned into medals of heroism. But psychological wounds need just as much care and attention and people with psychological problems are often stigmatized as weak. This is not a private issue. It is time to deal with it, not alone, not in privacy, but together as a movement in solidarity!

It is our goal to create and support the capacity to act politically on a longterm basis.