Join us at NIBS to hear from John Watts and Simone Marsh discuss "Nine Lives For Our Planet."

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/nine-lives-for-our-planet-tickets-439392182847

About the book:

This book is series of short biographies telling of the lives of nine inspirational women. Of the many others he could have chosen, he has selected these nine because, on the face of it, they have little in common. Seventy-two-year-old, private-school-educated Anne Kennedy could be perceived by those who meet her as being a rather conservative, upper middle-class grazier. What, the reader might ask, could she possibly have in common with someone such as Carly Phillips, who has locked on to trees, fracking equipment, and coal loaders – and been arrested several times in the process. And what could Carly have in common with the devoutly Catholic mother to seven children, Dom Jacobs, or with environmental lawyer and member of the NSW Parliament Sue Higginson.

What the book does is to not just explore the women’s environmental activities, but also delves into their lives and backgrounds so the reader might understand how and why they became so concerned about environmental destruction and were so motivated to act.

The book explains that activism comes in many different forms and that community action is often essential to protect the environment from corporations and governments It may well involve locking on to destructive equipment but, as shown by people like Queensland Public Service whistle-blower Simone Marsh, and OH&S consultant Shay Dougall, it covers a much broader range of activities. Local woman Linda Gill spent many years as a Great Lakes Councillor working within the system for better environmental outcomes while Jo Evans has used her skills as a graphic artist to fight against the rapacious coal seam gas industry.

All nine women have been prepared to talk openly and frankly about the most intimate details of their lives, including sharing some very personal incidents and events. Many of the women’s stories touch on other important social issues such as suicide, sexual molestation, drug taking, mental illness, religious and child fostering, and Judi Summers discusses how she and her husband extracted themselves from a closed sect.

This info was sourced from https://manningcommunitynews.com/2022/07/nine-lives-for-our-planet/

Reviews:

A deeply moving account of courage, integrity, and compassion – from the stories of nine remarkable women. Be inspired, enraged, moved to tears and astonished by their life experiences. Women who have fought against injustice and corruption on many levels.

Having worked alongside some of these brave, dedicated friends, and colleagues, they have survived the gravity and intensity of their campaigns, keeping a strong and determined focus against all odds. It comes at a cost. This book is for women who continue to stand up all over the world. Thank you for your care, commitment, and love. Together, we are a powerful voice.

Julie Lyford OAM – Chair Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia

One of the important aspects of this book is that the author has not concentrated on the rich and famous – but on those who genuinely contribute to our collective life.

As I read the book, I became more and more interested in the absolutely fascinating early histories of these women who have all been very open about the problems in their younger lives; their sometimes-torturous family relations and their difficult economic conditions.

It’s fascinating to read about their lives as they pick up the various skills and passions they need for their later environmental activity. With their differing talents, they have variously worked behind the scenes, or acted as whistleblowers, or as frontline soldiers.

Meredith Burgmann AM – Former President of the NSW Legislative Council, author, and activist