Taking a stand
“Nothing is more powerful as an idea whose time has come.” Victor Hugo
THROUGH, of all places, Ipswich City Council’s ‘Environment Matters’ e-newsletter, I recently read about 1 Million Women.
1 Million Women (1MW) is a global movement, founded by Australian Natalie Isaacs, with which Ipswich Council has recently partnered to develop an app.
Now, I must have been living under a rock or something as this was the first I had personally heard of 1MW.
In Natalie’s own words: “I only got the point on climate change in 2007. I could sit around a dinner table and talk about the issues and understand the dire consequences if we don’t all act, then leave the table and carry on business as usual. For me there was a deep disconnect between talking about the issue and acting.”
I liked her already! Natalie’s last comment reminded me of the saying “Actions speak louder than bumper stickers”.
A founder and CEO of a substantial business, Natalie Isaacs has since directed her experience and capacities to the global challenge of climate change. Apolitical and not waiting for governments to act, 1MW aims to engage and encourage one million women — and presumably many, many more — in practical, carbonreduction practices.
“I started 1MW because I knew that women were the change-makers of the world … there was not a lot about gender and climate change and certainly nothing that was linked to our health and wellbeing and the empowerment of women. In Australia women make 85 per cent of the purchasing decisions that affect household carbon footprint … We are powerful natural networkers and have huge influence in the consumer marketplace.”
Natalie Isaacs and her team are to be highly commended for their passion for the environment, and community spirit in forming 1MW — a gift to our planet that will keep on giving and growing.
Their stunning achievement gives rise to what a One Million movement could similarly be for the males of our species. Clearly, us blokes have an equal responsibility in addressing climate change and rethinking our resource and energy use practices, among many other practical measures.
And we have had great male initiative leaders in this crucial area. The late Ian Kiernan’s inspirational leadership in Clean Up Australia has indeed cleaned up much of Australia and created great awareness and a lasting legacy.
More recently, in the ABC’s landmark War on Waste series, The Chaser’s Craig Reucassel has become perhaps the most highprofile current male campaigner, with a strong focus on recycling and minimising single-use consumer items. The days of the disposable coffee cup are numbered! All power to Craig and his cause.
In a broader perspective, what of other male behaviours and attitudes. I am considering this in the context of some extraordinary responses to the now-famous Gillette ad, which addressed the issue of male behaviour — boys and men — toward each other and towards women. The messages of that ad were simple and clear: BEHAVE respectfully towards all people; and, IT IS not OK to harass or bully anyone, physically or emotionally.
In many ways, Gillette’s message was back to the fundamental value of ‘Do unto others as you would have done unto you’.
Yet something of a furore arose. Some criticised Gillette for being hypocritical in having previously created sexist attitudes in their historic advertising. Others felt that the ad tarred all men with the same brush.
While understanding aspects of these responses, there is still too much evidence, too much harassment, too much domestic abuse and, tragically, too many women killed for such messages to be given other than the widest attention and support.
The closest thing males have to promulgate such messages is White Ribbon. While not itself without its issues and critics, White Ribbon seeks to activate men to speak and act against sexual harassment of any form, to not stay silent and to be role models for those around them.
Just like 1MW aims to have lasting effect, whatever us males can do to get our act in order will hugely the quality of our society.
The time for such ideas has well and truly come.