Latest Updates
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Re-engaging
Well, I’m back! As you may recall, I stepped down as Executive Director of the Green Institute back in March in order to focus fully on my election campaign for the seat of Canberra. The board kindly kept my position vacant for the duration, while the wonderful Elissa Jenkins very ably held the fort, and…
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Sun Setting On Coal, Rising On Democracy
This article first appeared in The Guardian, Nov 17, 2017 Events on opposite sides of the globe in recent days should give us real hope that coal’s deadly stranglehold on our health, our planetary home, and on our democracy, is finally slipping. At the UN climate meeting in Bonn, 19 nations led by the UK…
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Our Constitution Is Past Its ‘Best By’ Date
This article was first published in the Canberra Times, Nov 17, 2017 All of a sudden, it seems terribly obvious that Australia’s 120 year old Constitution is past its ‘best by’ date. From the exclusion of First Nations people to 19th century dual citizenship rules to the mess of federation, our Constitution needs reconstituting. Isn’t…
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Parliament: No Entry To Foreigners And Public Servants?
The disqualification of Hollie Hughes from serving in the Senate raises some very troubling questions that we, as a country, have to grapple with urgently. Coming on top of the dual citizenship kerfuffle, Ms Hughes has been disqualified because she took a paid position for the government after the election. And now newly sworn…
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Everything Is Connected: Systemic Approaches To Inequality
This brilliant panel deeply engaged with questions of inequality, the future of work, Universal Basic Income and more. Panel members were: Eva Cox (by video link) Eva Cox is a public commentator, community change agent, well known feminist, on a postage stamp, Boyer Lecturer 1995, and active social and political researcher. She has taught policy, advocacy…
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Everything Is Connected: The “Truth” And Politics
This excellent and thought-provoking panel ranged from questions of “post-truth” politics and deliberate obscuring of the truth through to how to positively use values to shift opinions when facts do not. Panel members were: Dr Rod Lamberts Dr Rod Lamberts is deputy director of the Australian National Centre for Public Awareness of Science (CPAS) at…
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Everything Is Connected: Uncle Les Coe On The Tent Embassy Perspective
Uncle Les Coe’s knowledge, experience, wisdom and provocation brought one of the most important and powerful perspectives to the conference. You can listen to it here: Uncle Les’s extraordinarily warm welcome to country, at the Tent Embassy, was also one of the highlights of the conference. We thank him, and Nioka and others at the…
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Everything Is Connected: Stephen Healy Plenary On The Commons
Stephen Healy is a senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Culture and Society, University of Western Sydney and a recent arrival to Australia. He has a Doctorate in Geography and his research focuses on community-based approaches to sustainable economic development. Dr Healy’s presentation to the plenary, entitled The Commons: what, why and how, brought a brilliant…
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Everything Is Connected: Kate Raworth On Doughnut Economics
Kate Raworth is a renegade economist focused on exploring the economic mindset needed to address the 21st century’s social and ecological challenges, and is the creator of the Doughnut theory of social and planetary boundaries. She is a Senior Visiting Research Associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute. Kate’s plenary presentation to the the Green…
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Everything Is Connected: Community Action For The Climate Emergency
This challenging panel and workshop delved into the work being done at local council and community levels to face up to the climate emergency. Panel members were: Bryony Edwards In addition to working full time as a human service data analyst, Bryony campaigns for safe climate restoration through Community Action in the Climate Emergency, Save…
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Everything Is Connected: Green Agenda Debate – “What Even Is Democracy?”
This stimulating debate and discussion session challenged us to consider deeply what democracy is and can be. Panel members were: Clare Ozich Clare Ozich is the founder and co-editor of Green Agenda, an online political publication exploring green politics. She has worked as a lawyer, an industrial officer in the union movement, and as Director…
