Thank you to all those who made the effort to attend our national ARRCC Conference! Especially all of you who came a long way. Volunteers, presenters and participants (in their evaluations), all commented on the warm, friendly atmosphere. People got a lot out of meeting like-minded people from other parts of the country and swapping notes and contact details so they could keep in touch. One especially valued development was the attendance of key people from the Baha’i and Hindu faiths.
The Conference didn’t map out new directions for ARRCC but it clearly affirmed the spirit and purposes we’ve collectively come to hold dear.
When people were asked what they liked the most, some typical comments in the feedback were: ‘That all the input circulated around a spiritual base, and was inclusive in its multiple faith traditions for prayer’; ‘Meeting so many committed people of different faiths’; ‘Encounter with indigenous wisdom’; ‘Encounter with informed political action possibilities’; ‘Meeting people and the very high quality of the speakers’; Thoughtful organisation, lovely food’; ‘Meeting such interesting people, hearing their stories and exchanging views on climate change. Also the inspiring workshops’.
94% of those who responded to the post-conference survey reported feeling ‘quite energised’ or ‘very energised’, including 23% who said they felt ‘inspired and determined’ because of the event.
L to R: Jamie Thom, Kathy Rice, Jason Koh, Ken Devereaux. Photo credit: Phil Jones
The suggestions for next time included better sound quality, both in the hall and online, avoiding such a long day on Saturday and more short breaks between each of the Wisdom speakers. The timing of the Conference was problematic. We were sorry that most Jewish people who might have been interested needed to dedicate their energies to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Hopefully it was a holy time for those supporters. The anniversary of the Hamas attack on 7th October - and the terribly tragic events since then - also preoccupied the energies of many Muslim and Jewish people.
With volunteers doing their best with the technology at the hall, we’re sorry that sessions were not recorded, but we do have many of the power point presentations.
Power point slides, video presented at ARRCC Conference, ‘Earth Wisdom – Hope in Action’
Please understand that some presenters did not use slides, or they had reasons for not making them public on a website.
See bios here for Wisdom speakers, facilitators & performers at the conference
Friday evening
Setting the scene - why are we here?
Thea Ormerod, ARRCC President. A copy of the President's address is here.
Who is ARRCC? Stories from the frontline
The work of SA ARRCC, presented by Philippa Rowland.
Kiama/South Coast ARRCC, presented by Barbara Kinnane and John Brentnall:
Context and work of WA ARRCC, presented by Ken Devereax, with presentation prepared by Al Riebau:
And an excellent video entitled: Gaslit WA
Saturday
Plenary session
Keynote address by Nyikina Warrwa woman, Professor Anne Poelina, "Listening, Feeling and Healing through Ancient Wisdom". Professor Poelina spoke from the heart and only shared this video at the end.
These were the two papers she shared before attending the Conference:
Regenerative Learning: Hearing Country and Music for Healing People, Place and Planet
and Ancient Wisdom Dreaming a Climate Chance
Tim Buckley, “Progress being made against fossil fuel dominance: good news stories on renewables and the growing strength of the global energy system transformation”
Slides from Tim's presentation.
Dr James Whelan
James Whelan, “Action with impact - the place of a good strategy”
Slides from James' presentation.
Materials available from concurrent workshops Saturday 1.45 - 3 pm
L to R: Gawaine Powell Davies, Sai Paravastu
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“Spiritual values in the Hindu tradition that guide caring for the natural world” Hindus are perhaps the only continuously living civilisation since its inception. Classic archaeology and early archaeo-astronomy evidence currently dates our civilisation back to 9,000 and 22,000 years, respectively, with culture going even farther. Over this timespan, Hindus have witnessed both pre- and post-Last Glacial Period changes. Herein, we highlight these records and their impacts on my culture's history; we also show how Hindu culture responds to climate change through maintaining ecological balance. We review these case studies from texts ranging from religion, philosophy, science, medicine, civic life and policymaking, among others. We also show the contemporary activities utilizing these guidelines for improving ecological balance over next decades to increase our resilience to a changing climate. Here is a link to the slides. |
Dr Avinash Karpe, Research Scientist in the Australian Agriculture and Food sector, tells the “story of ancient Hindu science in today’s science language.”
Sai Paravastu, President, Hindu Council of Australia, manages Karma Kitchen for people in need. |
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“Words that work” - “It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear”, Frank Luntz. The task of good messaging is not to say what is popular, rather it is to make popular what needs to be said. In this workshop we will explore the principles that allow the average citizen - the cautious, the concerned, the persuadable - to hear what needs to be heard about climate change. We will look at examples of poor and good messaging and participants will be introduced to a resource developed by the Anglican Church SQ and St John’s cathedral, Brisbane, that will assist in the creation of messaging that works: https://www.stjohnscathedral.com.au/discover-st-johns/advocacy/environment/reframe/ Peter Catt’s presence at the Conference and the development of the resource was enabled by a grant from The National Council of Churches. Here is a link to the slides. An article about the workshop appeared in the Brisbane Anglican Focus magazine on 10th October, entitled 'It's not what you say, it's what people hear'.
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Very Rev Dr Peter Catt, Dean of St John’s Anglican Cathedral, Brisbane |
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“Engaging diverse groups in the community” To be authentically multi-faith, ARRCC needs to be mindful of actively including people from minority communities and diverse faith traditions. What could we learn from how people in multicultural communities have been empowered by the Multicultural Leadership Initiative to take action in response to climate change? Losena may send slides, on request. Please contact her or [email protected] |
Losena Fuko is a qualified and experienced community organiser, facilitator, trainer and mentor with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. |
Materials available from concurrent workshops on Saturday 3.30 - 5 pm
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“Channelling our creativity to inspire change: how can poetry, crafts, and the arts win hearts and minds?” In this workshop, Anne will introduce a number of poems addressing climate change from this continent and the Pacific region, including her poems that reference the Knit for Climate Action scarves that Common Grace and other groups crafted in the lead up to the Glasgow climate summit in 2021. Jane Kelly will talk about the role of the scarves in climate advocacy and the positive impacts the scarves have had. Here are Jane Kelly’s slides. |
Dr Anne Elvey, poet, editor and researcher Jane Kelly, Creation and Climate Justice Coordinator for Common Grace |
Workshop with Tim Buckley and Elly Baxter
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”Tackling the new wave of opposition to climate action on the Right. Local organising to resist scare campaigns and the push for nuclear.”
Elly’s slides may be made available on request. Please write to Elly at [email protected]. |
Tim Buckley, Director of Climate Energy Finance; has 35 years’ financial markets experience
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“How climate change impacts the mental health of young people, and how older generations could stand in solidarity with them.”
Steve Biddulph’s video: “The young need the old, and the old are a power source for change.” Part of the vulnerability of the young generation - activists, and ordinary kids, lies in their feeling of abandonment. The climate catastrophe is the greatest betrayal in history, and increasingly the over 60's are realizing this, and wanting to help. Linking these two generations creates a synergy - those who have nothing to lose, and those who have everything to lose, can give each other heart and lightness of spirit, while showing intense resolve against the murderous forces of the fossil fuel machine. Here is a link to Steve’s video. |
Pranav Jairam is a Hindu student of Psychology at Sydney Uni, volunteers for Friends of India Australia, passionate about the well-being of Mother Earth
Ruby Bron is a former School Striker from Santa Sabina College; now a climate adviser to the Child Rights International Network
Steve Biddulph (on pre-recorded video) widely acclaimed author of books on parenting, ‘Fully Human’ and ‘Wild Creature Mind’. |
Sunday
Professor Mehmet Ozalp, “Al Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth - an examination and critique.”
Here is a link to the slides.
Sophia Walter, “Winning in the federal political sphere”. Slides may be made available on request. Please email Sophia on [email protected].
Materials available from concurrent workshops on Sunday 1.30 am - 12.45 pm
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“Laudate Deum, Pope Francis’ latest teaching, context and developments since Laudato Si’.” - breakout room Dowley While Laudato Si' received global media coverage, the more recent document, Laudate Deum, was largely ignored. Written to address the COP 28 meeting in Dubai, it is a shaper document, entirely focused on the issue of climate change. It pushes further on countering arguments against climate change and addressing what urgently needs to be done. The workshop will explore its contents and discuss its implications for the climate movement. Here is a link to the slides. |
Prof. Neil Ormerod, Catholic theologian who has published numerous articles on Laudato Si’ and ecological conversion in peer-reviewed journals. |
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“What lies ahead? Making the most of peak moments such as Queensland and WA elections, the federal election and COP31” Sophia’s slides are here. |
Sophia Walter, Deputy Director, Solutions team, Climate Action Network Australia Tejopala Rawls, ordained in Buddhist Triratna Order, ARRCC Community Organiser & former Sustainability professional |
Popular workshop led by Prof. Anne Poelina, Kankawa Nagarra and Aunty Dr Mc Rose Elu
Blues singer-song writer, Kankawa Nagarra, on Saturday evening
