Dumbo Feather – February 2019

struggled with over the years is separating my “self ” from my role. So much of who I am

is tied up with climate campaigning. But I had no choice. I had to step back and focus on

my health. I think the way that I have stayed connected is that the amazing community

that is the climate movement has been there for me. People who decide to dedicate their

lives to solving climate change, they’re very special people and I was still getting lovely text

messages and emails that kept me connected. I’m really glad I didn’t become a corporate

lawyer because that was...

Well yeah, maybe not a corporate lawyer but I mean I studied law at uni.

I wanted to be an environmental lawyer. That was the plan. Then I did

my summer clerkship in the climate change practice group of a big corporate law firm

in Sydney. And realised that the pace of change of implementing existing laws, even if

I worked for the Environmental Defenders Office, which was my plan, was very slow.

And I wanted to change the law, not just enforce existing laws. But recently there was this

historic ruling in the court case over the Rocky Hill coal mine where the judge, Justice

Brian Preston, stopped a coal mine that was going to happen near Gloucester, partly on

the basis of climate change. He said this mine was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

And basically his explanation for the “wrong time” was, “How can you be building new

coal mines in an age of climate change?”

Yeah it’s so good. So the law is still an avenue for change and I have so much respect

for lawyers who are working in that area. But for me, partly because of the amazing

community of people in the climate movement I’ve become a part of, I’m glad I didn’t go

down that road.

Ye s.

Well I’ve got this little diagram.

I’ll draw it for you. It’s from my friend Sam. So you’ve got the four areas of what it’s going to

take to make progress on this issue. We need to build the movement, we need to change the

story, we need to change the politics and we need to shift the money. I’ve really focused on

the building the movement and changing the story side of things.

So often the story is just doom and gloom. But we have to be able to tell the story of the

people who are actually pushing things forward so that people can see themselves in that

and want to be part of it. Whenever you stand up and speak out, especially if you’re from a

community where it’s not seen as normal to engage in activism, you have to be able to see

yourself as part of a bigger story. That’s why storytelling matters and why I write as well as

doing campaigning, workshops and talks.

[Laughs]. Was that an option?

That’s incredible!

And, you know, the beautiful thing about the way you approach activism is that

you see the strength of writing and storytelling. Because you are a writer as well.

I think you’re aware of the cultural change that writing and storytelling

can create. So you have that as well as being this legendary organiser.

Oh great.

[Laughs].

For people to have the courage to go out on a limb

on climate change, whatever that limb looks like

for them, it’s important that they understand

they can make progress.

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