SIGN Mandate:

1. create solidarity in promoting non-violence within the social justice movement;
2. promote communication, cooperation and coordination among nonviolent activists;
3. encourage open, respectful dialogue about strategy and tactics within and by the social justice movement.

SIGN Principles:

1. Nonviolence is an active priniciple
2. Real democracy requires respectful, open and honest dialogue.
3. Conflict resolution requires respectful, open and honest dialogue.
4. The principles, strategies and tactics of nonviolent organizing apply to bringing about change within the social justice movement as well as they do within society as a whole.

SIGN Policies:

1. follow the principles of nonviolence in all of it's work (eg be respectful of people).
2. focus on actions rather than people.
3. work cooperatively with any individual or group so long as it does not involve violence.

S.I.G.N. opposes all acts of violence and vandalism by any party under any circumstance at public demonstrations and protests

Definitions:

Violence:

Physically aggressive acts that threaten or seem to threaten harm to any human beings. This includes physically striking another human, throwing or launching objects liquids or gases at or towards another human being.

Violence does NOT include:
tossing of objects of a clearly, unmistakably harmless and festive nature (eg confetti, flowers). NB in an age of bio- and chemical hazards it can be extremely difficult for any object to be clearly harmless. Such actions should always be done with extreme care and thoughtfulness.

Acts of self defence if, and only if, they are a last resort after every reasonable attempt has been made to avoid committing acts of violence by leaving the scene, and/or communicating with the aggressor in a nonviolent manner meant to defuse the situation and resolve conflict, and/or cooperating with the aggressor so as to avoid the commission of an act of violence by oneself.

Vandalism:

Any property damage not specifically exempted by i) through vi) below:

Vandalism does NOT include:

1. nondestructive acts such as chalking or postering
2. destruction of property that is the legal property of those committing the act
3. property who's sole and only purpose is the limitation of the democratic rights of free citizens in violation of international law. (this must be thought through very carefully).
4. temporary conversion of property that those committing the act have the capability and real intention to restore it to its previous state
5. the restoration or conversion of property to a purpose that serves the community better than it's previous state (eg cleaning and tidying, restoration of abandoned buildings, conversion of 'brown space' to 'green space', etc.)
6. "Symbolic Property Damage", which is characterized by all of the following:
1. the property damaged is clearly linked and part of the activity the protest is protesting, and or has clear symbolic links to the objectionable activity
2. those doing the damage accept the consequences of their actions, either by remaining at the scene until authorities arrive, correctly identifying themselves to police, the authorities, and/or the media, and/or such other methods as appropriate to the particular situation.
3. those organizing the damage have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that supporters and public who may be in attendance are aware that an act of a highly confrontational nature may be occurring and there may be risk of police or authorities responding aggressively.
4. the symbolic damage has been thoughtfully planned with careful consideration to the significance of the property and the consequences of the damage for members of the general public.
5. the property does not have significant religious or spiritual value (eg  holy places, most memorials to honour the dead, etc).