Caring for yourself

On the back of our toilet door at home we have this quote

“We are not here to fit in, be well balanced, or provide exempla for others. We are here to be eccentric, different, perhaps strange, perhaps merely to add our small piece, our little clunky, chunky selves, to the great mosaic of being. As the gods intended, we are here to become more and more ourselves.”

— James Hollis - What Matters Most: Living a More Considered Life

I'm an avid reader and admirer of James Hollis' work and his challenge to look within, in order to become more ourselves and have more to offer the world. In a world that seems to demand so much of us, it is often hard to find this time, or it may seem selfish, but as Hollis says, "the paradox of individuation is that we best serve intimate relationship [and any relationship] by becoming sufficiently developed in ourselves that we do not need to feed off others."

One of my favourite books is his book Hauntings - a challenging read, but well worth it.

Statement after appearing in Gunnedah Local Court

In November I was arrested while part of a nonviolent protest in the Leard State Forest - which is the site of Whitehaven’s Maules Creek coal mine. Today my case went before the Gunnedah Local Court and the offence was proved but dismissed without conviction by the Magistrate. I’d like to thank Ken Averre for representing me. I would also like to thank everyone who has supported me over the last few months, it has been incredibly humbling. And I’d also like to thank the people who haven’t agreed with my actions but have been willing to engage in conversation about some of the issues involved.

While it is a relief to have the charges against me dismissed this comes at a time when Australia is expanding coal production with the approval of a new mine in Gunnedah just this week.

After spending ten hours chained to local farmer Rick Laird in November, I was struck by the harsh reality farmers like Rick face. Not only does the coal mine affect his community now (producing 18,000 tonnes of coal dust just 4km’s from his children’s school and dropping the water table) but in years to come Australian farmers will bear the brunt of a changing climate - worsened by the burning of coal from mines like the one at Maules Creek.

While everyone may not agree with the actions I took, I hope they will see this as an opportunity to further the conversation about climate change and engage more people in helping to shape what is all of our futures. Our reliance on coal and its effects on the climate affect us all. Action on climate change may seem daunting but I believe we all have a role to play and I am proud to have stood with Rick. My hope is that our small action will have gone some way to progressing conversation and action on climate change to ensure that we leave a liveable planet for future generations.

More info:
Front Line Action on Coal
Lock the Gate
350.org