Rallies had their chants

I recently attended the AYCC’s Power Shift 2013, a youth climate summit held in Melbourne from July 13-15. Around 1200 young people from around Australia converged there to hear from inspirational speakers, learn from expert campaigners, and take part in a mass action on the final day. This was my fourth Power Shift and the […]

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Employment, Volunteering, and Passion

I have a complicated relationship with employment. Earning Money When I was young my mum pushed me to find work. My first job was delivering Messenger Newspapers in my neighbourhood. I made about $10 a week. I didn’t really mind it: I had the time, and the work wasn’t too dulling. I rather enjoyed cycling […]

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Repower Port Augusta: the Walk for Solar

“Passengers, prepare for take off.” Blueish cabin lights illuminate my copy of Chris Rose’s How to Win Campaigns as flight DJ 247 leaves Melbourne. I’ll soon arrive in South Australia to start the journey of a lifetime, walking 300 km from Port Augusta to Adelaide in support of a campaign to build Australia’s first baseload […]

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On Moyer’s Four Roles of Social Activism

Bill Moyer’s MAP (Movement Action Plan) model for organising social movements gives social activists a conceptual framework for analysing past and contemporary social movements. One aspect of this model is “The Four Roles of Social Activism”. Moyer’s model is useful primarily because it highlights the interdependence of the four roles: he argues that “social movements […]

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Melbourne, 11 Months In.

I’m packing my room to move to my second Melbourne Sharehouse. Gradually emptying my bookshelf, sticking big A4 things into a calico bag, I come upon an A4 envelope from the Australian Youth Climate Coalition’s Meet Your Member Finale, July 2011. The consequence of open slather of Kris Kringle style good vibes, it contains lovely […]

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“The Island President”, COP15, and My Self

Last night at ACMI I saw The Island President, the last film being shown as part of the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. It was the tale of President Mohamed Nasheed’s fight to save his country, the Maldives, from climate change. The film followed his political defiance of the Gayoom dictatorship up to the […]

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On Education of, and by, Activists

Conventional models for education are considered by some thinkers and activists to be tools for perpetuating an oppressive and contemptible status quo. However, it is unclear how the knowledge of highly-experienced individuals can be shared in a more egalitarian way. Those involved in activist education ought to be aware of, and wary of, the tension […]

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On Mothers’ Day

I know a number of people whose parents have died. One of the best people I have in my life, her mother died several years back. I’ve spent a lot of time with this lovely friend of mine, talking a bit about this event, how it has changed her life, what it means. This experience […]

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Loving Humanity, or, How We Win

It’s weird reading this now. I wrote it around 17-9-2011 (although I’ve revised it for re-posting; my expression is now much better!). Since finishing employment with the AYCC in February of this year, I’ve been much less involved in the climate scene, and, for a time, I thought it could be a long-term separation. I […]

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Training Retreat for the Madlands Book Tour – Day 1

It’s the morning of Friday May 4th. Brrr. I skulk in to a shower then knock back stewed pear with muesli. I slot my laptop in to my bag and am out the door, heading to catch the 7:22 am bus from Separation Street. Outside TripleR radio I meet Anna Rose and we catch a […]

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