Affinity Central is currently a Sydney-based initiative that supports Extinction Rebellion (XR) folk – and related activists – to enhance their skills in relationship building and group collaboration. This is done through practices of inclusion, reflection, listening and emotional processing. Our work is underpinned by psychology and social change theory. We recognise that unhealed distress from our experiences in an oppressive society is a major barrier to action and activism. Our practices are designed to mitigate, contain and heal that distress, and thereby dramatically increase our capacity for relationship, collaboration and action. Deep inclusivity is central.

These practices are core to effective activism, especially in long term and high-pressure situations. We call it Affinity Central because the skills developed here increase the affinity between people who use them, and they help people establish affinity groups with strong, supportive, collaborative relationships. The practices are also good for general wellbeing.

Currently, we run two monthly sessions. People can come to the sessions to explore and learn how these practices work, or to use them in developing direct actions. One monthly session is face-to-face and includes both Affinity and Action Prep sessions over 3.5hrs. The other monthly session is online and is simply an Affinity session of 1.5hrs. See our events page.

Our work is underpinned by these approaches to collaboration and connection:

• Nonviolent Communication (Marshall Rosenberg)
• Reevaluation Counseling (Harvey Jackins)
• Attachment Theory (e.g., Dan Siegel)
• Deep Ecology (Joanna Macy, John Seed, Arne Næss)
• Trauma Theory (e.g., “Trauma Stewardship” by Lipsky and Burke)

We use these approaches because even though they derive from different perspectives, they come to similar or resonant conclusions about human connection and action. This suggests that these conclusions speak meaningfully to a key challenge for activists: how to heal ourselves enough to collaborate enough to transform our society.

Why is Affinity Central operating as part of Extinction Rebellion (XR) when it’s work is relevant to all eco-social change organisations? XR is the only movement operating at a global scale that prioritises nonviolent civil disobedience and has an ethos congruent with the society we need to become, an ethos that specifies co-empowerment, an ethos that specifies power with rather than power over. We recognise that large scale nonviolent civil disobedience is a critical factor in achieving the dramatic changes that are needed. We also recognise that an ethos of co-empowerment is essential for the future we want and our activism now. Such an ethos is specified in XR’s principles and values. Without such a specification for social and environmental justice, we cannot move beyond the current extractivism that degrades or destroys everything in our society’s reach, including it’s own people. Nor can we achieve climate justice. For activists who strongly value life beyond extractivism, this type of ethos is essential. It’s inherent in the path to a just and ecocentric society.

We recognise and celebrate that other change organisations are doing good work, even if their ethos and methods are different to ours. Where there is sufficient alignment, we are happy to support them with affinity building, knowing that this work will strengthen them and us. Ultimately, this work will challenge any power arrangements that support power over rather than power with.