Non-Violent Direct Action - Your Questions Answered

Non-violent Direct Action - Your Questions Answered

Ever wanted the opportunity to ask questions of Extinction Rebellion rebels, or discuss the merits of non-violent direct action? Here is your opportunity.

Extinction Rebellion has made the news more than normal in Melbourne recently. Brad Homewood and Violet Coco have been jailed for 2 months because of their action on the West Gate Bridge, while Joe Zammit awaits his hearing in mid-May. Brad Homewood and Joe Zammit are both members of the Greens in the west. Brad began putting himself on the frontline of climate and environmental action across many borders in Australia in 2019. He has been arrested at least 16 times across four states. Brad’s aim is to make it socially acceptable for people to exercise their fundamental democratic right to disrupt in protest. You can read more about Brad here.

Joe Zammit joined The Greens in 2019 and became involved in Adam Bandt’s campaign. He then became involved in the state election with Brimbank Greens in 2022. In 2023 (with a lull in campaigning) looking for other ways to contribute, he joined Extinction Rebellion. Joe has been arrested three times so far. The first two arrests just involved fines, the most recent West Gate Bridge action resulted in 10 hours in a cell and ongoing legal proceedings. We’re very excited to have both Brad and Joe attending this event (as long as neither of them is incarcerated at the time). As well as talking to you about what got them involved in non-violent direct action, they can also address the shift towards a more punitive attitude by law enforcement in Australia.

Jane Morton helped bring Extinction Rebellion to Australia. As co-convenor of Darebin Climate Action Now, she led the campaign that resulted in the first council in the world declaring a climate emergency. Jane is a clinical psychologist, who moved into semi-retirement nine years ago to focus her efforts on campaigning on the climate emergency. She is the author of ‘Don’t Mention the Emergency?’, a catalysing booklet on climate messaging. Jane enjoys debating the “radical flank effect” and is well versed in the research, so she’s perfect for this discussion and we feel privileged to have her attending.

Many Greens supporters are supportive of Extinction Rebellion and understand their view that traditional strategies like petitioning, lobbying, voting and protesting aren’t working quickly enough. Others are less sure about the merits of non-violent direct action. Our speakers are in the perfect position to answer any questions or concerns that you may have about the place for non-violent direct action in the climate change movement. There is some interesting literature on the radical vs moderate flank and for anyone who would like some pre-listening, this YouTube discussion between two of the founders of Extinction Rebellion is worth a listen.

Ticketing

After covering the cost of venue hire, half the proceeds will go to Extinction Rebellion, the other half will go towards Hobsons Bay Greens Federal campaign for Gellibrand.

If you would like to make a donation to Extinction Rebellion, you can do so here.

If you would like to make a donation to Brad Homewood you can do so here.

Nobody will be turned away, if you can’t afford a ticket please contact Christine at christine.harris.vic.greens.org.au

This is a child friendly event and there will be a kids table set up.

Date and Time

2:30pm Saturday 8^th June to 3:40pm formal event

3:40pm to 5pm or for as long as people are interested - informal discussion.

Location

We will start at The Newport Community Hub 13/15 Mason St, Newport at 2:30pm and then at approximately 3:40pm, people will have the option to adjourn about 100m to the Newport Bowls club (4 Market st, Newport) for continued informal discussion.

Contact

Christine Harris

Phone: 0417 207 858

Email: christine.harris@vic.greens.org.au

Date & Time

Location

Contact

Phone:

0417 207 858

Email:

christine.harris@vic.greens.org.au