Our Mission
Dyspatch brings a new and uncommon approach to facing the multiple ecological crises of the Anthropocene/Capitolocene, we are wholly focused on supporting frontline and directly-acting efforts through the practice of mutual aid - the reciprocal exchange of resources, services, and experiences. Dyspatch is different from many environmental organizations as our collective exists solely to support local, small-scale, autonomous environmental movements.
At Dyspatch, the directness of the approach matters. While we believe the entire spectrum of solutions to environmental and social issues are necessary, we have found there is a disproportionate amount of resources spent on efforts which are physically removed from the site of the problem.
This is why our work focuses on field-based activities to protect and restore the environment and human communities through:
(1) Supporting the most effective efforts on the ground
(2) Building networks between field actors
(3) Reporting on what works and what does not in grassroots land defense
Many of the best solutions are already out there, but these solutions must be scaled-up, repeated, and amplified.
2018 oil refinery explosion in Superior, Wisconsin. The explosion and spill took place as land defenders in the area worked to stop the Line 3 pipeline which currently carries diluted bitumen from Alberta's tar sands to transfer stations and refineries like this in Superior and beyond.
How We Work - Mutual Aid
Our model of doing the urgent work of creating alternative social and ecological futures is unique; we exist as a resource for frontline communities who take action to intervene in socially and environmentally destructive practices.
If exploitation is based on competition and survival of the fittest, then the practice of mutual aid stands in opposition to this. It’s about cooperation.
This approach arises out of the Dyspatch community's extensive experience across the spectrum of environmental organizations, social movements, animal rights groups, and human rights organizations - we see the need to rapidly scale-up autonomous grassroots responses on the ground.
The primary function of Dyspatch is to deploy resources to the sites of environmental campaigns, investigations, frontline communities, and social movements; mutual aid is an ideal that we aim for in each of our field support operations.
What We Do:
Dyspatch has multiple functions within environmental and social justice movements; we specialize in supporting grassroots land defenders in the following ways:
· Situation Assessment - potential for campaigns, strategy planning
· Operations - training, planning, support for campaigns
· Logistics - transportation, communications, food and water support
· Equipment - outdoor gear, clothing, camping gear, technology
· Materials - tools and building supplies
· Media - networking with key journalists and media outreach
· Legal - networking with lawyers, legal research, policy and advocacy
· Financial - fundraising and networking with donors
· Investigations - technology, ,tools, software, databases, evidence collection, interviewing
· Research on frontline efforts - research briefs, articles, reports
· Event coordination - arrange and host meetings of investigators, activists, advocates
Where we work
Between 2015 and 2020, Dyspatch operated primarily in the Western part of the US and Canada. In our next phase, we are transitioning to support environmental and land defenders internationally.