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Our flyer
Sept 2020 - we have created our first flyer! Thanks to Kirsten Anker for work on the text and Helen Ferguson (The Queanbeyan Hive) for graphic design.
You can download a printable version of the flyer here:
A5 flyer (2-Up); print double sided (flip on short edge) and cut into 2
A4 flyer (double sided)
If you want to create a flyer with your local contact details, contact us and we will send you a printable file with your local details
Our principles — information papers
Since January 2020 , our Congress has grown from an idea to an organisation. Based initially on the ideas and principles in the discussion paper Independent mediation for united action on climate change [LINK], the founding members have been exploring what these ideas look like in relation to our current political landscape, including the impact that COVID-19 has had both nationally and globally.
To move forward together we need a common understanding of what we stand for and where we are heading.
This series of information sheets expands on the core principles that were raised in the initial discussion paper and are the basis of our Vision and values statement.
(NEW - Version 2 published 25 May 2021) #1 What do we mean by 'climate balance'?
#2 Building a unified national agreement for Australia's climate response — Proposal for an inclusive process to address climate risks
(Version 1, November 2020)
Other articles by Congress members and collaborators
How the women of 1915 speak to us in the 21st century: We move forward by looking back
by Kirsten Anker, May 2020
Bringing together settler and First Nations women
by Honey Nelson, October, 2020
Sustaining dialogue — the key to sustainable problem solving and planning
by Rhian Williams, 2005. (See also Rhian's website)
'Greta' - A response in song and dance to Greta Thunberg's famous speech to the UN 2019. Song composed in Sept 2019 & performed by Dianna Nixon on this recording. Recorded by Stephen Lindsay, Old Binda Road Studios, Crookwell, NSW, on August 9 2020. Film shot by Miguel Gallagher (cinematographer/editor) in Canberra, ACT (September 2020). This video was screened at 4 sessions of this year’s Canberra Short Film Festival, and has been utilised in numerous online campaigns. The makers have expressed the wish for it to be used widely.
Information kit
2 June 2020 - this is what you have been waiting for!
- A template letter to send to your local MP/senators to let them know about WCC and that you have joined
(please cc your letter to womensclimatecongress@gmail.com). Read the letter sent by our member, Alison Leigh. - A letter of invitation to share with your friends, family, colleagues and neighbours.
- WCC-Building the network – information on how to create your own local conversations and build relationship with your members of Parliament.
- A 'harvest' template for you to record your conversations and send to WCC at womensclimatecongress@gmail.com.
Contact details for federal MPs and senators
To check your electoral boundaries go to: Current federal electoral divisions.
To find contact details for your MP and senators, see:
Guidelines for contacting senators and members.
Please cc us on your correspondence with government representatives (womensclimatecongress@gmail.com)
Articles and news items
Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth
This book describes a new economic paradigm that values the environment, unpaid work and other services not taken into account in current economic thinking. See a short introductory video.
And in Europe, Amsterdam is using doughnut economics to frame its post virus recovery plan – it will be interesting to see how they go.
This article gives some further ideas on how to change the way we think about economics:
5 Economists Redefining ... Everything. Oh yes, And They're Women
Friends and collaborators
A Chorus of Women has been weaving artistic expression of citizen concerns and citizen conversations in Canberra and beyond for over 17 years. The WCC initiative has been particularly inspired by two major Chorus projects:
- the story of the women's peace movement in WW1, told in Glenda's choral and narrative works A Passion for Peace (2015), and The People's Passion (2018, 2019)
- Glenda Cloughley's choral drama The Gifts of the Furies, tells what happens when humans put their own laws and hubris above the laws of nature.
In addition, Janet's paper is inspired by her work in Chorus from 2009–14 to facilitate 10 Canberra Conversations. These conversations brought together brought together groups of about 50–70 people from a wide range of perspectives to discuss issues of concern and potential disagreement in a safe and collaborative way.
Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations that Matter is an approach to leadership that scales up from the personal to the systemic using personal practice, dialogue, facilitation and the co-creation of innovation to address complex challenges. It is an effective way of harnessing the collective wisdom and self-organizing capacity of groups of any size. Based on the assumption that people give their energy and lend their resources to what matters most to them – in work as in life – the Art of Hosting blends a suite of powerful conversational processes to invite people to step in and take charge of the challenges facing them.
The Art of Hosting is an international collaboration of practitioners who train using an apprenticeship method to learn from experienced stewards.
In Australia the Congress it very grateful for the support of Jane Geltch at Purpose Partners, and Mel Geltch and others at Campfire Coop.
Australia reMADE has developed a vision for the future Australians long for.
This article by their Secretariat Chair, Louise Tarrant, particularly resonates with the WCC vision.
What if we centred radical love at the heart of our politics?
Women's Environmental Leadership Australia
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom is one of the longest established women's NGOs in the world with observer status at he UN, offices in Geneva and NY and branches throughout the world.
It was founded at the remarkable, but little known, 1915 International Congress of Women held at The Hague in April 1915 - the only peace congress of WW1 and attended by 1300 women from 12 warring and neutral countries. This story was one of the inspirations for the Women's Climate Congress.
Wicked Elephants is a co-operative of innovative facilitators who help you get (tr)action on wicked problems, working with individuals, teams, leaders and organisations to develop skills and abilities for powerful collaboration. Thanks to Deborah Collins, Caresse Cranwell and Johanna De Ruyter for joining us on the Congress journey and for sharing your wisdom.
Other organisations sharing the journey
1 Million Women
Homeword Bound
Women's Web is a wonderful collection historical information and writing documented by Geraldine Robertson about the women's movement in Australia during and since WW1. A great read and encouragement for our work today.
See also this script prepared by Geraldine for reading at a workshop to encourage discussion about how we can act together for climate action today: 'We stopped conscription in WW1 and we will stop coal now'
Women's Agenda is a hub sharing the latest news and views affecting how women live and work. A small team of independent women journalists and editors look at politics, business, leadership, tech and life from the perspective of professional women and female entrepreneurs, and provide a daily email update.
Our inaugural meetings
On 20 January and 11 February 2020, as bushfires ravaged our country and smoke and hail swirled around the city, 44 women gathered in Canberra to explore how women could lead a movement for united action on climate change. In those discussions we:
- shared what brings us here
- offered suggestions on how to enact a no blame culture and create the cultural change needed to allow collaboration across current divides
- considered how we can empower/inspire women to join us
- formed our initial identify and vision
- identified actions and concepts we need to take us forward
- re-affirmed the energy and creativity that can emerge when women gather to think deeply about important issues.