07 Jul Time for a different conversation
Time for a different conversation | first published The Port Lincoln Times January 2019
I got an amazing book for Christmas, When Women Rise Rooted, by Sharon Blackie.
The title takes a couple of shakes to settle and then the book takes us on an amazing quest to find our place in the world.
This mission is not one women travel alone, but is a shared journey of respect and reverence for men and women, ourselves and for the earth that sustains us.
It is not a question of gender. Balance is key, and we all have masculine and feminine attributes.
It is an exploration of how we nourish and connect with the land, each other, and take responsibility for shaping a healthy hopeful future.
Blackie interviews Scilla Elsworthy nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work with leaders of whole countries about global nuclear disarmament treaties.
Scilla found herself in the presence of powerful men, whose underlying assumption was that progress relies on domination.
What she brought to politics was a different experience of connection and relationship.
A powerful influence in creating a safe space to form alliances, agreements and treaties where nations could work together for safe, shared prosperity.
It is time for a different conversation about cohabitation on our blue planet.
One where nature has inalienable rights and we acknowledge that blind exploitation of earth’s resources damns us all.
It is time for a long-term focus to advocacy and decision making.
We have a wealth of wisdom in cultural leadership and primary industry available, custodians of land and oceans.
It is so simple to engage meaningfully, to deeply listen and act on.
Aboriginal sovereignty is undervalued by discussions about dress sense at citizenship ceremonies on ‘Australia Day’, an Australia where Aboriginal people must be recognised in the constitution as a priority.
While board shorts and thongs are banned the planet gets hotter. Wear a suit if you want, but I am with Sharon Blackie.
We need reflective and progressive action about how we work in harmony to protect our planet and address the climate change created by domination and inaction to date.
Honouring and working with Aboriginal wisdom in Australia is one of many good places to start.