10 ways to organise your own action

1. Decide on a date. Give yourselves enough time. Not too much - a deadline is a great motivator - but enough to sort the practicals: materials, construction etc. You may need money.

2. Get together with some like-minded people. Possibly your friends. Work on a plan of action. Sort out different roles, jobs and timescales. Imagine. What is possible?

3. Choose the location. Your street, the town centre, a busy road or roundabout, a motorway! A separate meeting place is good: people like a mystery, bureaucrats don't.

4. Publicise! Word of mouth, leaflets, posters, e-mail, carrier pigeon. Make sure everyone knows where and when to meet. Posters and paste go well on walls, billboards and telephone boxes. Leaflet shops, clubs, pubs - everyone, including your mum. Remember - if you feel comfortable in your alliance, it's not broad enough.

5. Sort out your Sound system. A party needs music - rave, plugged in, acoustic, yodelling - go for diversity. Invite jugglers and clowns, poets, prophets and performers of all kinds. Ask campaign groups to come along and set up a stall in the middle of the road.

6. How will you transform the space? Huge banners with a message of your choice, colourful murals, bouncy castle, a ton of sand and a paddling pool for the kids, carpets, armchairs. The materials and money from earlier may come in useful here. Print up an explanation for this 'collective day- dream' to give to participants and passers-by on the day.

7. For opening the Street - or rather stopping it being re-closed by the traffic - ribbons and scissors are not enough. A large Scaffold tripod structure with a person suspended from the top has been found useful. Practice in your local park. Blocking the road with a car that can then be dismantled is nice. Even the traditional 'barricade' will do.

8. Rescue some young trees from the road of your local 'development' and have them ready for planting. You may need a pneumatic drill and safety goggles for the last bit.

9. Have a street party! Enjoy the clean air and colour full surroundings, the conversation and the community. Bring out the free food, dance, laugh and set off your imagination. The authorities may get irate. Calm their agents down with clear instructions.

10. Get together with even more like-minded friends and plan the next one. Organise in your community, workplace, school and street.

For real change take direct action!