Creative Activism Connections
Two weeks ago today we gathered at the Ormond Castle for the event, Creative Activism Connections1, and listened and interacted as our three speakers shared from their varied experiences across continents, decades and generations. In the days since, what we heard on May 31st in this small town of Carrick-on-Suir has been gaining ever more relevance as we are daily appalled to learn of fresh horrors playing out across the world, from Los Angeles to Gaza, from Ballymena in Northern Ireland to the Ukraine and numerous other sites of trauma and trouble around the world. However, our speakers’ presentations reminded us that what is happening now has happened many times in the past, so what have we learned, what are we going to do?2
My Past / Your Future, with Rehan Ali
Writer and filmmaker Rehan Ali shared not only his life story, growing up in the Direct Provision system in Ireland, but how he transformed it using story and film, made it into art that can touch hearts, the art that might move us to change and to act for change. The title of the new film he is working on is, ‘My Past / Your Future’, and we were privileged to view some of Rehan’s storyboarding of this project and I can hardly wait to see what will finally emerge as the finished film, which includes climate change chaos, and is simultaneously prescient, chilling and a call to action.
The Power of Love, in conversation with Joann Malone
I had the privilege of being in conversation in the afternoon with creative activist Joann Malone before a lively audience, discussing her latest book, The Power of Love3. We discussed her long history of being an activist at various difficult times, most notably her actions as part of the DC9 in protest against the Vietnam War and in particular the use of the chemical napalm, manufactured by Dow Chemicals. We spoke about the subsequent high-profile trial and the great risks, the high stakes, of being a peace activist in that era and through all her decades since the 1960s. Each morning we wake up to news of atrocities happening around the world—in Los Angeles, chaos being deliberately manufactured by those in power; to news last week of the ‘Madleen’, the aid boat in the Mediterranean, forcibly stopped and boarded while still in international waters, now the latest news of the expanding aggression between Israel and Iran. Like those today who risk so much for a more just world, Joann Malone has persisted in making what she calls ‘good trouble’ and she insists that, despite the horrors, ‘we are made for these times’. Now in her mid-80s she knows absolutely that the work is never done. This, she told us, is why she continues to write and publish, to be a witness and to continue her work as an activist in the world.
The Wisdom of Elephants, with Kathy Karn
Canadian wildlife photographer Kathy Karn gave a heartfelt presentation on her beloved elephants of the Amboselli region of Kenya, how much they have taught her, how much they and the humans who are stewards of their African ‘roamlands’, have to teach us about living on this planet, with care for the earth, for all species, for each other. Kathy, with absolute clarity, insists that, 'the only one who needs ivory is an elephant’.
The key message from these three very different activists on this day of Creative Activism Connections is that we are all connected. When we lose sight of that, we create division which sows racism and which Joann Malone says leads inexorably to war.
In troubled times, (maybe there have rarely been other kinds of times), there have always been people who roll up their sleeves and get into action in their own immediate environment. Without fanfare, without publicity, simply seeing something that needs to be done and doing it for the greater good. Yesterday outside my local supermarket there was a ‘flag-day’ fundraiser for St. Nicholas’ Boxing Club, a local club for young people. This is one of countless such initiatives here in Carrick-on-Suir, across sport and the arts, and is replicated in small towns across Ireland and elsewhere. All of these are run by volunteers who simply turn up and ‘do the thing’, who patiently week by week work to make good change happen in small communities. They are all around us, these people. Look for them, join with them, let’s make good change happen.
As Joann Malone reminds us, ‘the work is never done, but we are made for these times!’ Yes, the power of love is real.
Tomorrow I leave on a trip with Sail Training Ireland, my first as a volunteer mentor, on the beautiful tall ship, the ‘Maybe’. Read my post from last September, below, on how I fell in love with the work of this amazing organisation.
This was yet another rich collaboration with the brilliant Linda Fahy of The Tudor Artisan Hub, an innovative arts collective in Carrick-on-Suir.
This event was filmed and will be available to view - watch this space.
Currently out for consideration by publishers.
I'm still revelling in the wonderful energy of the event at Ormond Castle Margaret. You and Linda did a marvellous job organizing all the details. Have a great week at sea!