Active and Effective

On our last episode of Active and Effective we meet Luca and Luca. Obviously and deeply in love with the landscapes of their homes and well educated around the critical need to care for them, both are advocating for place from forest to sea in their own unique authentic ways. In uncertain times there is so much hope in the local grassroots action, especially from the young emerging leaders. Together we are creating a growing and thriving community through the doing.How will you get Active and Effective today?Treading Lightlyhttps://tlinc.org.au/Manyana Mattershttps://www.manyanamatters.com.au/Brooman State Forest Conservationhttps://www.facebook.com/BroomanStateForest?mibextid=JRoKGior you could find something local that more aligns for you at Community Connecthttps://communityconnectss.com.au/contacts/

In this episode of Active and Effective I talk with Juliet about the intertwined environmental and housing crisis. “Zombies” are attacking coastal communities and housing is unaffordable but young people of the coast are getting creative and collaborative in response. We chat Crunchtime, a youth org from the far South Coast and how I met Juliet and Jacob as they toured screenings of the Crunchtime documentary to communities also fighting zombie attack. Holding youth empowerment workshops guiding young leaders to find their own unique versions of activism and leadership they would get to test as they were invited to take their story to State Parliament. Crunchtime has created and connected a youth community of activists along the east coast. Juliet leads in her way with care, thoughtfulness, poise and a whole lot of sass!crunchtime instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/crunchtimeaus?igsh=ZmY5dGhlaDZycHZxCrunchtimehttps://crunchtimeaus.org/Crunchtime - Saving Turas Biodiversitydocohttps://youtu.be/ypRUfpmMWeA?si=mfeIf3-r6I980nH3Crunchtime in State Parliment;https://youtu.be/B4W9_G0bYhU?si=7krWH8ejeb2UUFGy

In this episode of Active and Effective I talk to Takesa Frank, a proud Aboriginal woman raised in the forests of Yuin Country.In the midst of complete political failure and extinction, the educated and committed environmentalists like Takesa are increasingly left with little option but taking radical action for their place. Find out why Takesa has taken to the trees amongst all her other effective work to draw attention to the decimation that continues in our state forests.Overcoming a fear of heights and of the spotlight Takesa’s powerful leadership contributes to a growing, intelligent, strategic and unstoppable rise to finally bring the end to the archaic native logging industry in NSW. Organising the biggest rally of its kind in Ulladulla, 400 people showed up and said they agree. 20000 signed the petitions. Momentum is building.In the midst of this critical work we find eclectic communities that are bound together by their common goals and values without age barriers or hierarchy, I am noticing front line non violent direct action NVDA is creating communities and culture were all skills, contributions, capacity and people are valued.i have absolute gratitude for Takesa’s work and for her becoming a mentor to my daughter Luca, she welcomes her in and has helped with her studies, they’ve stood together in forests, at rally’s, in state Parliament and shoulder to shoulder with environmental hero’s like Amanda Findley and Sue Higginson, both lifetime advocates of incredible effect on the political front line.get active and effective and find out more today;https://serca.org.au/https://www.suehigginson.org/https://www.nature.org.au/worth_more_standinghttps://bobbrown.org.au/

In this episode of Active and Effective I speak to extraordinary landscape artist and fellow forest activist Taz Whitkamp. Taz spends her time bushwalking in forests, snow boarding and “invoking the uniqueness” of our precious Australian landscapes in her beautiful artworks. I was struck by the creative response of Taz painting live at Weaselstock music festival - rwhere she was raising funds and awareness for the Bob Brown Foundations efforts to end native forest logging. We also discuss experiencing Non Violent Direct Action (NVDA) in Brooman State Forest.Get to know Taz and get inspired to know more about getting active and effective in this critical decade where every degree matters and our back country is still being ripped out daily.Places to get involved;Watch the extraordinarily beautiful film, 'The Giants' herehttps://www.thegiantsfilm.com/find the book 'Humanities Moment' by Joelle Gergis in your local bookshop or hit Taz or I up we’ve both got copies to lend!https://www.risingtide.org.au/https://ourislandsourhome.com.au/https://wwf.org.au/Real life furbies! Greater Glider ambassadorDr Kita Ashmanhttps://www.instagram.com/dr.ashman?igsh=Znp1bGMzdWNkZ3p1petition here;https://www.disruptburruphub.com/https://surfersforclimate.org.au/https://www.defendthewild.org/https://protectourwinters.org/find Taz Whitkamp art at Gallery Alchemy Miltonhttps://galleryalchemy.com/pages/artist-tasmin-witkampfollow her passionate advocacy for justice herehttps://www.instagram.com/tazwitkamp.artist?igsh=MTgyNTBmbHdtdGRoMg==

On this episode of Active and Effective I dive deep with artist, scientist, and adventurer Taia. We hear about the dual purpose that fuels Taias incredible life, led with salt in hair, hands in soil and bringing curiosity, community, heart, thought and humanity to everything she does, including front line activism, teaching, regenerative food growing and sharing and her art.Hear about her recent adventures on the Great Barrier Reef, climate driven disaster, community led response and the housing and cost of living crisis in this inspiring conversation.Taia and I are both involved in communities standing against “zombie DAs” from Wallums incredibly precious grandmother Scribbly gums, wildflower wetland near Brunswick Heads to Manyana and all the other precious places in NSW currently having biodiversity and habitat threatened.more on Wallum. Take action now. Urgent.https://www.instagram.com/save_wallum?igsh=ejduOHRtbzN4Z2wzhttps://linktr.ee/savewallum?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=3cd4664d-3361-4e83-b963-8d1c59d25f86More on Manyana. Urgent.https://www.manyanamatters.com.au/?fbclid=IwAR3a9LoWSz9ik_esofRQJApUrF_nATtchr1nHtTIgyhJLwAyJpPVeWF-gv4

In this episode I speak to Kim Walsh, a long time five villages resident who has brought people together in positive ways through her much loved events and markets.Kim has created wonderful spaces for connection in the Five Villages, and has had a huge hand in building the community solidarity we have when it comes to threats to our wonderful villages.There are many ways to be Active and Effective, but it always requires a group of people standing together with a shared goal, and people don't come together without connectors like Kim.

In this episode, I chat with Kaye Gartner, a retired councillor and climate activist whose poise under pressure and leadership have inspired me for many years. I have witnessed Kaye stand up in rage but respond in a considered and powerful way in local government, which at the time was a toxic “gladiator arena”. A voice for the natural world with a life dedicated to people care as an acupuncturist and Buddhist Kaye has some great advice for sustaining the work and coming back to ourselves.It is a great honour to share a little of Kaye’s story and wisdom that has been invaluable on my journey into activism.Get involved;logging in our backyardhttps://www.facebook.com/BroomanStateForestStreet tree canopy losshttps://m.facebook.com/groups/728216594185463/Manyana Matters https://www.manyanamatters.com.au/

In this episode, I sit down with Tanya Excell for a chat. An author and personality of the Red Head villages who created a beautiful gift of connection for her community with her book, 'Birds of the Red Head Villages'. After decades of activism and rising despair Tanya turned her attention to doing something to give back to her community. She wanted to find a way for people to connect more with the living world around them and increase their knowledge and noticing of their place. In Tanya's words 'If you love that place, if you know that place, you won't hurt that place. You'll nurture that place'.And so, her book was born along with a new generation of “twitchers” - Birds of the Red Head Villages is an easy reference guide for people to learn about the Jerrinja country and its birds and is relevant to the entire Shoalhaven. A guide that introduces community to the important role cfcitizen science, becoming a record and building awareness of how critical and urgent conservation of animals home is.Order Birds of the Red Head Villageshttps://www.manyanamatters.com.au/orhttps://www.facebook.com/manyanamatters?mibextid=LQQJ4dDonate of get involvedhttp://www.birdlifeshoalhaven.org/https://birdlife.org.au/