Last week was another busy week for Sydney Knitting Nannas with singing practice, protests, learning about fracking in the NT, and supporting the Yes campaign.
Nannas sing out in the City
Nannas gathered in a City of Sydney venue on Friday for singing practice and a short plotting meeting.
Nanna Penny, our choirmaster, led us through warmups, some of our old songs and two new songs with lyrics adapted by Nanna Eury. It was a great way for new Nannas to meet up with us in person and to get a lift from singing together.
We had a break with treats by Nannas Elizabeth and Bernie followed by a short plotting session and lunch together at a nearby foodcourt. It was so enjoyable we’ll be doing it every month or so, keeping our zoom plotting meetings on the other weeks.
Songbook here
Stop AUKUS
At the meeting we decided to fully support the Stop AUKUS campaign. Nannas have been attending campaign rallies so the discussion was to affirm that stopping AUKUS is official Nanna business. The AUKUS deal makes a confrontation with China more likely. Cities and ports would be turned into military production lines and Australia’s hosting of US bases make it a target. We support the Illawarra community in their strong opposition to Port Kembla becoming a base for nuclear submarines.
Frack Free NT Music for Country – Friday 15 September
Two Nannas made it to this event by Lock the Gate at the Red Rattler in Marrickville. We were treated to songs by Ray Dimakarri Dixon and Stuart Nugget about protection of their country from shale gas mining by Tamboran and other gas corporations.
We also heard talks by the group of traditional owners who had just been in Canberra meeting with federal politicians. They said they felt listened to when they spoke about the risks of the mining projects to water, land, air and their health as well as to the climate. They said being listened to by people in power was novel for them after many years of being treated with disrespect by the NT government and gas companies.
The following day they were hosted by community independent Sophie Scamps at an outdoor event in Narumburn.
Nannas were grateful for the opportunity to learn more about why stopping fracking in the NT is extremely urgent and important. Photos and videos of the country showed tropical lands that are drying out as a result of climate change, over extraction of water by cotton and food growers and now further threatened by shale gas mining which uses huge amounts of water. More information here.
Walk for Yes Sunday 17 September
Sydney Nannas had trouble finding each other in the enormous crowd supporting the YES vote in Redfern Park on Sunday. Once together they found it a peaceful, positive and uplifting experience. Several grandchildren accompanied their Nannas and had made Yes signs. Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends support recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution through a Voice to Parliament. Nannas from other loops attended events around the country.
Raising Peace Festival
This year the Peace Festival was again held online over three days. In the Friday session Working for Peace around Australia Knitting Nanna Larri from Milton on the south coast spoke about unleashing the power of older women in the nationwide Knitting Nanas movement. All events were recorded and will be available online here soon.
What the heck Plibersek! Move Beyond Coal rally
A few Nannas made it to the Move Beyond Coal rally outside Tanya Plibersek’s office on Thursday. Residents from the Sydney electorate were there for the launch of a new billboard on the wall opposite her office about her approving four new coal mines. There are another 60 projects in the planning system – what will happen with the ones that make it to the Minister’s desk?
Market Forces research shows that a majority of people want climate change considered in all planning decisions. In Minister Plibersek’s electorate the majority is 95%.
