Issue #65: I'm not that sort of person
I thought I was a cuddly panda!
Who am I?
Thirty years ago, I would have answered "a hippy." Twenty years ago, "unemployed wastrel". Today, it's more "inner suburban basketball mum," occasionally "writer," often “middle aged”, or sometimes, "activist".
We all have many identities. As we navigate through our lives, these different identities shift and change depending on who we last talked to, what we were just reading, and whether we grabbed that coffee in our morning rush.
While we might not always consciously think about these identities, they can profoundly shape our beliefs and behaviours.
Identity as a weapon… or a tool for change?
Many Australians might not see climate concern as part of their values. After decades of climate denial and activist stereotyping, they might not see climate action as something "people like them" would engage in.
This is something we need to change.
Identity has been used as a great weapon … but not for climate action
As part of my research on the words used in media coverage of climate activists in 2019, I created this slide.
These stereotypes sprinkled in media stories all over Australia effectively weaponise identity. Negative, insulting and dehumanising terms make people think:
"I'm not the sort of person who does that!"
"Those people are not like me"
“What even is a BOLSHEWOKE???” *
Demeaning images and insulting names turn activists into the ‘other’. They become an out-group that we would never willingly be part of. Not many of us would love to be labelled as a ‘pest’, after all.
(Although if someone called me a dreadlocked antagonistic feral latte-sipping blow-in elitist layabout fruitloop, I’d be more impressed than anything else.)
So? Why should we care?
After climate activists’ identities are weaponised, it’s just a small step to also turn climate change into something that’s their concern, not ours. Here’s how one study found commenters portrayed climate activists in online news comments:
“[Climate activists were described as] an immoral and incompetent, low-value to society, ideological Other. Commenters contrasted negative representations of activists with constructions of their own shared identity as hardworking, moral and competent.”
⚡⚡⚡Those fossil fuel PR campaigns have really worked.⚡⚡⚡Decades of denigrating climate activists, spreading misinformation, and silencing critics has produced results. Good results for the fossil fuel industry, that is. Not good results for anybody else.
And unfortunately that can translate into votes for parties keen to delay climate action.
I’m no feral layabout: Identity as a powerful tool for change
Most of us want action on climate change. Australian data shows that people really care about climate change, and really do want action. Almost all identity groups care about climate impacts in some way.
So how do we bridge the divide on this crucial issue?
This is where we can use the power of shared identities to boost, not suppress, climate action. Find shared identities with the people around you to help create connections, overcome those stereotypes and talk about the values that inform our votes. This is what that looks like for me:
When talking with other carers, I can talk about protecting us from skin cancer and heat stroke as days get hotter – our shared identity as caregivers, parents, and guardians creates a climate conversation without labelling it as such. Use this identity to talk about which political candidates recognise these issues and what those candidates plan to do about it.
With my climate-sceptical family members, I connect through our shared identity as family. We discuss how to plan for the next flooding event as rainfall becomes more intense. Use this identity to talk about which political party has a policy on disaster insurance, resilience building and post-disaster support.
My sports-mad colleague might not join a climate group, but through his sports identity, he's already engaged in developing hot-weather game protocols. Use this identity to discuss whether any candidates care about sports and heatwaves, and what they plan to do about it.
Hearing our sports stars talk about climate action makes me want to jump in the pool or head to the track. This is an unusual feeling: it must be one powerful message!
🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏃🏿♂️➡️🏃🏿♂️➡️🏃🏿♂️➡️🏃🏿♂️🎾🎾🎾🏉🏉🏉
*And in case you really need to know, Bolshewoke is a meaningless phrase coined by a right wing climate denying commentator. It didn’t catch on!
We’ve got a heap of actions this fortnight, which are only a tiny amount on offer as the election campaign heats up.
Jump in, join up and help out; that’s what Climate Club Qld is here to help you do.
What can you do today?
🐝 If you have 5 minutes:
Constant pressure from the fossil fuel industry demands constant community pushback. But the LNP Government has scrapped a review by the Qld Law Reform Commission that looked like recommending more community rights to object to mining proposals.
Action: Sign Lock the Gate’s petition calling for the protection of community objection rights.
Brisbane City Council has blocked plans for community batteries, claiming the batteries will reduce green space (despite the PowerShaper XL batteries being only the size of a fridge). Meanwhile there are plans to wipe out our green space in Victoria Park for an Olympic facility. Call out this blatant hypocrisy by contacting Cr Tracy Davis, civic cabinet chair for environment, parks and sustainability, who has spearheaded the ban.
Action: Email Cr Tracy Davis demanding support for community batteries and/or use the BCC form to register your support for localised, clean, community energy.
Check out the very cool PowerShaper XL community battery! Each one can help power around 300 households with locally produced green energy.
Farmers for Climate Action have launched their Quiet Majority Election Campaign to ensure that landholders and communities across regional Australia continue to benefit from the energy shift. (Myth buster: Most regional residents affected by renewable projects still support them.)
Action: If you live rurally, check out their campaign page for local actions you can take, and for city folk, sign the open letter to show the widespread support for farmers to be able to access affordable battery systems.
🐇 If you have 15 minutes:
Unsure about where political parties actually stand when it comes to climate change policy? Want answers to how more gas will lead to lower prices? Read this article from Adam Morton at The Guardian to get a handle on what we do - and don’t - know so far.
Action: Read Adam Morton’s article ‘Australians deserve answers on climate before they vote. here are five things we still don’t know.’
A new group is launching in Australia offering volunteer research support for advocacy groups. They are looking for people to test out their website, volunteer forms and also provide some feedback… or even sign up to volunteer! If this sounds like you, send them an email and they’ll share the prototype website link and explanations etc.
Action: Contact advocacyresearch@protonmail.com if you have 15 minutes to give feedback on their new website.
💃🏽 If you have 30 minutes or more:
Want to jump right in and leave your mark on the election? You may have seen some people do this already. From disrupting speeches to putting key decision-makers on the spot, activists have been demanding answers to the government’s failure to address the climate crisis. These “bird-dogging” actions are a powerful way to hold our current and aspiring leaders accountable.
Action: Fill out Rising Tide’s expression of interest in Bird-dogging form.
Want to get involved in making climate a central issue this election? There is no shortage of groups and events to join. Check out these upcoming opportunities:
Attend the 350.org Australia online National Election Launch event on Thursday 3rd April at 4.30pm Qld time
Join a Brisbane Inner South Community Forum (and dinner) about “Building Climate Resilience Together” - Tuesday 8th April, 6pm - 8pm, Yeronga Community Centre.
Similarly: Enjoy a night at the pub! Come along to Manly Hotel (54 Cambridge Parade, Manly, 4179) on Thursday 10th April at 5.30pm for the Bayside Talks: Powering Community Resilience discussion
Join the North Queensland Conservation Council online workshop ‘How to talk about the energy transition’ on Thursday 10th April 6-7.30
Tired after all that? Join Cairns and Far North Environment Centre at their ‘April Green Drinks’, on Thursday 24th April, 5pm at Rose Blank Gallery.
PHEW!!
Just what you need to finish off this newsletter… more politics! But this is a good pic I recently saw from Denise Shrivell: a list of all the independents running in the 2025 federal election.
We have six community candidates running in Queensland, with many of them promising meaningful action on climate change. You can find more about them at this excellent Community Independents site.
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action.
See you in two weeks
Robyn
plus Malcolm, Ron and Jan - The Climate Club Qld team
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We live, work and play on the lands of the Yuggara and Turrbal people in and around Magandjin - Brisbane. We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded - always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
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