The protests in Greece, the Occupy movement and the Prime Ministerial shoe incident got me thinking about the global financial system, austerity measures, indigenous rights, footwear design and buff bodyguards, But these gatherings also got me thinking about what inspires people to come together in protest. Sure, I’ve always been happy to hand wring amongst friends and have a whinge, but until having kids, I’d never bothered vacating the couch to have my voice heard outside my lounge room.
Kids do that for their parents. They give us grief and backchat but they also give us clarity. They give us a reason to take the time to think deeply about what we actually stand for. And who we stand with. But even so, I’d never joined a protest.
Our turning point came when coal seam gas started popping up (and popping off!) left, right and centre. We were forced to shift from an anxious state about the quality of future water supplies to an activist state in a short space of time. But having never been to a protest in my adult life, I was a rank amateur. How does one protest after all? And how does one protest with kids? Here are my top nine tips (the tenth is still at the picket line):
1.Decide what your family stands for
2. Pick a protest where it’s unlikely your kids will be the meat in a riot police/hooded hooligan sandwich
3. Get your tools ready: Cardboard. Big fat Texta. A stick. Gaffer tape.
4. In the days leading up to the protest, don’t let the kids watch CNN (or they’ll be expecting to get tear-gassed, shot and run over by a tank)
5.When you sign your kid out of school for the protest and the teacher asks “Will she/he be back today”, reply: “Not if we get arrested”.
6. Soak up the feeling of being a part of a community that cares
7. Get your big girl voice on
8. Smile at everyone but the baddies
9.After the protest, explain to the kids they don’t need to use placards at home when they want to protest cleaning their room (or they will!).
If we show our kids that we can not only have a say about things that matter but also DO things that matter – we’re one step closer to creating a better world for all. You don’t even have to join an organised demonstration, you can start your own!
Is there anything you feel strongly enough about right now that you’d be prepared to stand up for in public?
Anna M. Campbell is a sustainable living educator and public speaker. She also writes books like Honeycomb Kids: Big picture parenting for a changing world…and to change the world!
Comments
20 Comments so far
I live in a country where recently the consequences of protesting have proven to be extremely severe & have included death. Be thankful for you rights & for the freedom to protest what you believe & feel strongly about without such fear.
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My turning point was Coal Seam Gas protests too. I have not been able to attend the major ones held in Sydney, but I go to the local ones.
My MIL is massively into protesting against CSG and travels the country to every meeting, protest, forum etc. that she can. She is a full-on activist and is passionate about her cause.
I am totally in support of stopping CSG, but I cannot commit to doing what she does, as I have small children. She spends hours lobbying, putting in submissions and generally organising meetings with all tiers of govt. and the mining companies. She is tireless, and I have no idea how she pushes on through her all-nighters to do as much as she can to get the message our there.
She says she is doing it for her children and grandchildren etc. I think the fact that poisoned water and worthless degraded land are a big motivator for her and myself. It keeps me awake at night thinking about how terrible and stupid our government is for allowing it in the first place.
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Although you can’t travel to the protests, maybe you can help in other ways? Either offering help with things like officework, or freeing up your MIL so she can continue to travel?
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I have been able to (so far) organise a screening of “Gasland” and I have helped out with a public meeting to inform our locals of the impact of CSG. But that is as far as I have gone with regards to helping the MIL.
I try to do as much bookkeeping on the property as I can to ease that burden from her. I think I will be looking at taking that completely over in the future as they step back from the property a bit when my FIL is unable to do the physical work.
I hope to get a bit more involved with it in the coming years as it is just too important to lay down and let it happen to Australia.
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I’d protest against nimby-ism given the chance.
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The debacle that is the carbon tax.
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Seems like such a long time ago, but sending troops to Afghanistan. As it happens, the march in Sydney co-incided with my son starting university so we were already heading that way from the country. We met up with friends the night before and the “young ones” made placards. Apart from the parents amongst us reliving protests of the seventies, it was a tangible way for our kids to see that you should stand up for what you believe in, even if you don’t ultimately change the outcome.
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Marriage equality. Too many friends forbidden by law to share their love. Will try to get to Sydney but will definitely be at the next melbourne one
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Marriage equality. I’ve been a straight ally for 30 years.
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I am heading to Sydney in may for the marriage equality march. I couldn’t make the one last year and I’ve regretted it ever since!
My daughter is 5 an every time she sees Julia gillard on tv she rolls her eyes and says ‘oh no she won’t let girl girl marry or boy boy marry’.
I’m VERY passionate about marriage duality and this will be my first rally – I can’t wait!!
But I’m also of two minds as to whether or not to take my daughter!
I think it will be one of the best experiences I her life and I want us to look back when laws in equal marriage change and say yay we were a part of that!!
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As I said below, I think it is pretty safe taking her. The December rally was crowded but peaceful; I’m pretty sure I saw children and dogs there. You might want to take a stroller in case she tires.
I so agree that it would be good for her to go. She’ll be old enough to remember it and say she was a part of it, and more generally good for her to practise standing up for herself and others.
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Marriage equality.
I’ve been to a couple of the protests, including the recent Sydney one Rick went to, and they’re well organised. Safe, friendly, great music LOL, and witty placards. (Eg “Henry VIII had six wives, I only want one”)
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Awesome I’ll def be taking my daughter then! Do you know date for the one in May?
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I don’t, and can’t find it right now. But look up Australian Marriage Equality or Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby on Facebook or website.
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Animal welfare. Passionate; bordering on obsessive.
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I would comment but i couldnt be bothered.
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Hah!!!
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Tasmanian health cuts and the Bell Bay pulp mill are at the top of my current list.
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The pay and conditions for Queensland Police. They deserve to be treated better by our government. Because with out them we’d be screwed. But apparently police don’t win votes.
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Same with police all around the country! All our emergency services staff should be paid better!
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