We Need to Wage Peace, Not War on Climate Change

War!! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! So why would we, as renowned author and founder of 350.org, Bill McKibben, recently suggested, declare war on climate change? This is not by any means a new suggestion, with pundits from climate emergency perspectives calling for mobilisations on the scale of WWII, code reds and other…

Signed Up for the Green Pledge

The Green Pledge is a Friends of the Earth initiative running from September 5 -11 that encourages individuals to”take 3 actions on climate change and raise awareness of climate issues by seeking sponsorship from your peers and community. In the process, you’ll set yourself up for personal change and send a message that a movement…

4 Digital Security Steps Every Activist Must Take

This week I completed my first solo show on Friends of the Earth’s Dirt Radio program on 3CR radio. We all know about infiltration of campaigns by undercover agents, and we were all shocked by the level of surveillance revealed by the Snowden leaks. So why are so many activists so lax when it comes to…

‘Black Hole’ Documentary Review

Originally published in Chain Reaction magazine, Issue  #125 − November 2015 The coal movement came into maturity with the Leard Blockade camp set up mid-2012 to fight Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek mine in the Leard State Forest. Too often important moments in social movements are not documented and are forgotten in the winds of time, destined to become…

Shenhua Watermark Coal: the fight for the Liverpool Plains continues

written in collaboration with Aidan Kempster for Chain Reaction magazine, Issue  #125 − November 2015 The Shenhua Watermark Project near the quiet township of Breeza in the Liverpool Plains of NSW has captured the attention of farmers, environmentalists and traditional owners from across the political spectrum. The plan for the 35 sq km Watermark open-cut coal…

Maules Creek mine: front line action on coal

Originally publsihed in Chain Reaction #122, Nov 2014 Tucked away at the edge of the Liverpool Plains, on the foothills of the Nandewar Ranges in north-western New South Wales is the small community of Maules Creek. Fewer than 100 people currently live in the area, mostly operating mixed farming operations grazing sheep and cattle, and often…

Revenge of the Nerds: Evidence based revolutionaries

Those feeling a little empty after Russell Brand’s call for revolution (I am sure you have seen the video, but have you read his essay?) may find a bit more substance in Naomi Klein’s latest work on also the Brand edited edition of New Statesman. Titled “How Science is telling us to all to revolt”…