The Ngara Institute鈥檚 annual Activist of the Year award was shared by the Knitting Nannas Against Gas, whose creative and persistent nonviolent strategies have been so important at blockades and protests, and Annie Kia, who developed the hugely successful 鈥渘eighbour to neighbour鈥 community engagement process for Lock the Gate.
The award was presented on June 30 at Ngara鈥檚 annual lecture in Mullumbimby, presented by former Human Rights Commissioner Gillian Triggs.
Jesse Lee* is organising the Sydney leg of the March in March protest on March 25. She lives in Sydney鈥檚 west and is the primary carer for one of her children. She has first-hand experience of the welfare cuts and the vagaries of the disability support scheme.聽
Lee put her hand up to organise the Sydney march because she strongly believes that protests are important and they work. She also believes that now is not the time to be quiet.
In a coordinated effort on United Nations Day on October 24, the Knitting Nannas Against Gas (KNAG) made long-overdue citizens鈥 arrests of some of the biggest climate criminals in the land.
鈥淭he Great NannArrest鈥 involved citizen鈥檚 arrests of MPs, including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at his eastern Sydney electorate office.
When they found the PM missing in action at his Edgecliff office, they arrested another Malcolm 鈥 a man wearing a mask.
"This is a law to protect the rich. We will need to break these laws to protect our democratic rights," Aboriginal activist and lead NSW Senate candidate for the Socialist Alliance team in the federal elections Ken Canning, said on March 15.