NATIONAL CONGRESS OF WOMEN
Day Two — Weaving
How can we work together across difference to restore climate balance?
Thursday 28 April 2022 (online)
Here is what some of the participants said:
Thank you everyone for an amazing inspirational day.
Excellent in Diversity with a strong focus on different perspectives and avenues of engagement for becoming actively involved in protecting our shared planet.
Go Women! Yes, let's get the New Parliament to set up a Women's Climate Caucus in Parliament this time around! Love Your Work!
How wonderful! The neighbourly conversations and the contributing practices and groups that are enabling this. Thank you. Yes this might have been good for the politicians to not be caught in the aggro repetitive model of current government.
I felt inspired regarding potential avenues for my becoming a more active participant in WCC. I now feel that l have something to offer in the arena of participatory action with other women.
'Exhausting — but in a good way!'
See the full program
See the guest contributor and artist details
Send us your feedback on the day
Follow these links for an account of the day and links to the recordings
Gathering
Morning session
Morning session (continued)
Afternoon session
Taking action, windup and close
How can we work together across difference to restore climate balance?
Thursday 28 April 2022 (online)
Here is what some of the participants said:
Thank you everyone for an amazing inspirational day.
Excellent in Diversity with a strong focus on different perspectives and avenues of engagement for becoming actively involved in protecting our shared planet.
Go Women! Yes, let's get the New Parliament to set up a Women's Climate Caucus in Parliament this time around! Love Your Work!
How wonderful! The neighbourly conversations and the contributing practices and groups that are enabling this. Thank you. Yes this might have been good for the politicians to not be caught in the aggro repetitive model of current government.
I felt inspired regarding potential avenues for my becoming a more active participant in WCC. I now feel that l have something to offer in the arena of participatory action with other women.
'Exhausting — but in a good way!'
See the full program
See the guest contributor and artist details
Send us your feedback on the day
Follow these links for an account of the day and links to the recordings
Gathering
Morning session
Morning session (continued)
Afternoon session
Taking action, windup and close
GATHERING
Artistic opening — 'Ubuntu' by Johanna McBride, sung by A Chorus of Women, with visuals by Sally Blake
Introduction — Dr Janet Salisbury (WCC Founder)
Welcome to Country — Dr Matilda House (Ngambri–Ngunnawal Elder)
Opening presentation — Janet Salisbury (on behalf of Dr Glenda Cloughley who was unable to attend due to illness)
Everyday Climate Crisis Visual Petition — ABC News report of petition launch
Watch the video recording
Listen to the audio recording
Read Janet 's introduction and opening presentation
Many thanks to Johanna McBride, Sally Blake and A Chorus of Women for that beautiful video ‘Ubuntu’ which profoundly captures our theme for today (see below).
"Not long after I first joined A Chorus of Women in 2006, Joahnna introduced me to the African concept of Ubuntu and her song. This simple idea of our interconnected and shared humanity changed me, and put me on a path that has ultimately led us all here today." [JS, Introduction, 28 April 2022]
Ubuntu is an African philosophy that means “a person is a person through other people.” It has its roots in the idea of community as a building block of society. Ubuntu expresses the concept of a shared common humanity, or living for the common good. But it has a profound deeper meaning that invites deep listening to find our own truths on those of others. One of the main modern proponents of ubuntu philosophy was Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He describes a person with ubuntu as “open and available to others, affirming of others.” South Africa’s post-apartheid truth and reconciliation commission, which was chaired by Tutu, was based on this idea. Later in his life, Desmond Tutu broadened the concept of ubuntu to ‘Eco-ubuntu’ to described the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.
Artistic opening — 'Ubuntu' by Johanna McBride, sung by A Chorus of Women, with visuals by Sally Blake
Introduction — Dr Janet Salisbury (WCC Founder)
Welcome to Country — Dr Matilda House (Ngambri–Ngunnawal Elder)
Opening presentation — Janet Salisbury (on behalf of Dr Glenda Cloughley who was unable to attend due to illness)
Everyday Climate Crisis Visual Petition — ABC News report of petition launch
Watch the video recording
Listen to the audio recording
Read Janet 's introduction and opening presentation
Many thanks to Johanna McBride, Sally Blake and A Chorus of Women for that beautiful video ‘Ubuntu’ which profoundly captures our theme for today (see below).
"Not long after I first joined A Chorus of Women in 2006, Joahnna introduced me to the African concept of Ubuntu and her song. This simple idea of our interconnected and shared humanity changed me, and put me on a path that has ultimately led us all here today." [JS, Introduction, 28 April 2022]
Ubuntu is an African philosophy that means “a person is a person through other people.” It has its roots in the idea of community as a building block of society. Ubuntu expresses the concept of a shared common humanity, or living for the common good. But it has a profound deeper meaning that invites deep listening to find our own truths on those of others. One of the main modern proponents of ubuntu philosophy was Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He describes a person with ubuntu as “open and available to others, affirming of others.” South Africa’s post-apartheid truth and reconciliation commission, which was chaired by Tutu, was based on this idea. Later in his life, Desmond Tutu broadened the concept of ubuntu to ‘Eco-ubuntu’ to described the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.
MORNING SESSION 1
WEAVING WOMEN — OPPORTUNITIES TO REDEFINE POWER
Short Presentations moderated by Associate Professor Sara C Motta (Newcastle Business School, Politics and International Relations; Convenor, Women in the New Economy Hub, New Economy Network Australia), with short presentations by Dr Janet Salisbury (science communicator, business woman, Founder of WCC); Karen Cain (former CEO La Trobe Valley Authority); Cristina Talacko (President, Coalition for Conservation); Laurann Yen and Alex Marsden (public policy and governance analysts) and Kirsten Anker (lawyer and mediation practitioner, founding member of WCC)
Watch the video recording
Listen to an audio recording
WEAVING WOMEN — OPPORTUNITIES TO REDEFINE POWER
Short Presentations moderated by Associate Professor Sara C Motta (Newcastle Business School, Politics and International Relations; Convenor, Women in the New Economy Hub, New Economy Network Australia), with short presentations by Dr Janet Salisbury (science communicator, business woman, Founder of WCC); Karen Cain (former CEO La Trobe Valley Authority); Cristina Talacko (President, Coalition for Conservation); Laurann Yen and Alex Marsden (public policy and governance analysts) and Kirsten Anker (lawyer and mediation practitioner, founding member of WCC)
Watch the video recording
Listen to an audio recording
MORNING SESSION 2
WEAVING WOMEN — OPPORTUNITIES TO REDEFINE POWER (continued)
Keynote presentation by Rhian Williams (independent dispute systems design practitioner)
Weaving wisdoms across the divide - the role of a transformative process in bringing us together!
Q&A with participants
Watch the video recording
Listen to an audio recording
Read a report of Morning Sessions 1&2
WEAVING WOMEN — OPPORTUNITIES TO REDEFINE POWER (continued)
Keynote presentation by Rhian Williams (independent dispute systems design practitioner)
Weaving wisdoms across the divide - the role of a transformative process in bringing us together!
Q&A with participants
Watch the video recording
Listen to an audio recording
Read a report of Morning Sessions 1&2
AFTERNOON SESSION 1
WEAVING UP RENEWAL — CARING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND THE EARTH
The afternoon started with a video from artist Dr Sally Blake entitled 'Weaving connections between humans and nature.'
In this video presentation, Sally discusses her visual arts practice which spans textiles, drawing and sculpture. Her work explores people’s relationship to, and place within the natural world. Visualisation of the natural laws and patterning that hold people in relationship with Earth, as well as the consequences of these unravelling is her focus.
[This video is currently not available for copyright reasons. We will publish it here ASAP.]
After this opening, Caresse Cranwell and Deborah Collins from Wicked Elephants Co-op facilitates a workshop to explore how care for the Earth and Future Generations is inspiring us, as women, to step up and engage and respond to Earth’s call for action.
With guest 'catalysts':
Dr Michelle Maloney (Co-founder Australian Earth Laws Alliance, and New Economy Network of Australia)
Emma-Kate Rose (Operations Director, The Next Economy; co-founder, Food Connect)
Flora Vano (leads ActionAid Vanuatu and the Women I Tok Tok Tugetha initiative which has mobilised 5000 women in the response to climate change)
(Note: Alana Marsh was unable to join us on the day)
Watch the video recording
Listen to an audio recording
Read a report of this workshop here (to come)
WEAVING UP RENEWAL — CARING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND THE EARTH
The afternoon started with a video from artist Dr Sally Blake entitled 'Weaving connections between humans and nature.'
In this video presentation, Sally discusses her visual arts practice which spans textiles, drawing and sculpture. Her work explores people’s relationship to, and place within the natural world. Visualisation of the natural laws and patterning that hold people in relationship with Earth, as well as the consequences of these unravelling is her focus.
[This video is currently not available for copyright reasons. We will publish it here ASAP.]
After this opening, Caresse Cranwell and Deborah Collins from Wicked Elephants Co-op facilitates a workshop to explore how care for the Earth and Future Generations is inspiring us, as women, to step up and engage and respond to Earth’s call for action.
With guest 'catalysts':
Dr Michelle Maloney (Co-founder Australian Earth Laws Alliance, and New Economy Network of Australia)
Emma-Kate Rose (Operations Director, The Next Economy; co-founder, Food Connect)
Flora Vano (leads ActionAid Vanuatu and the Women I Tok Tok Tugetha initiative which has mobilised 5000 women in the response to climate change)
(Note: Alana Marsh was unable to join us on the day)
Watch the video recording
Listen to an audio recording
Read a report of this workshop here (to come)
AFTERNOON SESSION 2
Taking Action
Wind up and close
With Janet Salisbury, WCC Founder
Natalie Isaacs, Founder, 1 Million Women
Watch the video recording
Listen to the audio recording
See info on Natalie's new book 'Right Here Right Now'
The day ended with an uplifting anthem from women for climate action and hope.
You're the Voice
Created by 1 Million Women
A great pick me up and motivator — play it and sing/dance along!
1 Million Women #1MTHEVOICE
(and if you love it, consider a donation to 1 Million Women!)
Taking Action
Wind up and close
With Janet Salisbury, WCC Founder
Natalie Isaacs, Founder, 1 Million Women
Watch the video recording
Listen to the audio recording
See info on Natalie's new book 'Right Here Right Now'
The day ended with an uplifting anthem from women for climate action and hope.
You're the Voice
Created by 1 Million Women
A great pick me up and motivator — play it and sing/dance along!
1 Million Women #1MTHEVOICE
(and if you love it, consider a donation to 1 Million Women!)
Thank yous ....
Thank you to the National Congress of Women hosting team for putting this event together:
Janet Salisbury, Lyn Stephens, Barbara Baikie, Kirsten Anker, Barbara O'Dwyer, Sarah Stitt, Sally Blake
With lots of help from:
Thank you to the National Congress of Women hosting team for putting this event together:
Janet Salisbury, Lyn Stephens, Barbara Baikie, Kirsten Anker, Barbara O'Dwyer, Sarah Stitt, Sally Blake
With lots of help from:
- Admins extraordinaire -- Laurann Yen, Catherine Ross, Nettie Hulme, Emily Impey
- Video and visuals coordination -- Johanna McBride
- IT on the day -- Kesaya Baba
- Venue set up -- Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture