The raccoon is a well-known symbol of our group, and our members tend to recognize themselves in this little rodent. We use this symbol to illustrate the behaviors we want to see in our fellow members. These recommendations are based on our own experience, and are intended to make it easier for everyone to get involved. It's important that we take these reflections seriously, so that militancy isn't the prerogative of a minority of middle-class white cis people. For example, arriving on time for a meeting is a sign of respect for your comrades, whose time is as precious as yours. This habit is also an important exercise for the preparation of riskier actions, where seriousness and punctuality are essential for everyone's safety.
Listening Raccoon
- Keep your contributions short and clear
- If you tend to speak often, let others speak first
- Respect speaking turns
- Avoid repeating and rephrasing what others have said before you
- Encourage active listening
- Encourage equal speaking time for all
- Respect the way the group works and any decisions that have been made collectively
Gentle raccoon
- Formulate proposals rather than assertions
- Be open, and seriously consider the proposals of others
- Pay attention to your non-verbal language (mood shifts, obvious agitation, sighs, etc. These gestures can discourage others from expressing themselves)
- Don't be condescending or over-protective: it's infantilizing
- Be respectful and measured in your online communications
- Encourage constructive face-to-face exchanges and avoid endless online exchanges
- Propose alternatives and solutions when you make criticisms
- Consider the biases induced by your social position (e.g. if a gender-oppressed person tells you about oppressive dynamics, listen and be open rather than invalidate their analysis)
Humble Raccoon
- Respect your limits and the limits of others
- Take on a realistic number of tasks that you will be able to complete
- Orient your interventions towards the subject of discussion rather than towards yourself
- Trust others to express themselves and avoid becoming their spokesperson unnecessarily
- Speak in the first person. Feed your ego in non-activist contexts
- Focus on collaboration rather than competition; Be humble while also taking responsibility for your actions
- Recognize the diversity of knowledge, experience and forms of involvement
Cautious Raccoon
- The state and reactionaries are watching our activities, don't make it easy for them
- Don't talk to the police
- Use a secure e-mail address that doesn't mention your real name, and use it only for your activist activities
- It may be a good idea to find yourself a pseudonym that you use in activist circles
- Keep information about your participation in illegal actions and the participation of others to yourself
- Your need to know should be dictated by your role in the event, not by your curiosity
- If possible, don't bring your phone to activist events. Otherwise, leave it switched off in another room during discussions
- Adopt safe practices while remaining welcoming to comrades