The struggle for Little Mountain…and my memories of Little Norway I spent some of my early years in emergency housing in Little Norway in Toronto (right next to the Maple Leaf Stadium). Toronto was experiencing a massive post-war housing shortage and an Emergency Housing Program was implemented, making housing available to returning veterans. It made… Continue reading The Struggle for Little Mountain: Why You Should Help!
Category: Professional Posts
Professional Posts by Wendy Sarkissian
Emboldened by the Bentley Blockade
It’s been ten days since the text arrived announcing the suspension of Metgasco’s license to drill for oil at Bentley. Only ten days — and life has changed dramatically for many of us. I search for a word for this new feeling and find an old one: Embolden: “To give someone… Continue reading Emboldened by the Bentley Blockade
Metgasco’s “Community Consultative”: a Moment of Hilarity for the Bentley Blockade
I am old enough to have studied Latin in high school. It helps make me a good speller. A moment of hilarity And today, Latin provided a moment of hilarity in battle to bring Metgasco to see reason about gas mining in the Northern Rivers. The goss now is that Metgasco is encouraging its shareholders… Continue reading Metgasco’s “Community Consultative”: a Moment of Hilarity for the Bentley Blockade
The Bentley Blockade: from Cassandra, disbelieved prophetess
In mid-2011, a speaker’s agent rang me to say he had an invitation for a good speaking engagement. “It’s with APPEA,” he said, “And you can talk about community engagement.” APPEA. Hmmm. I rang off and logged on. APPEA: Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association is the peak national body representing Australia’s… Continue reading The Bentley Blockade: from Cassandra, disbelieved prophetess
The Bentley Blockade: Weeping for the Earth
The text! It would have looked better if I were digging out the composting toilet or planting organic veggies. But the truth is I was half-way into an egg and sausage McMuffin in Casino when the text came from Bentley. I had to ring Yollana to make sure I had it right. … Continue reading The Bentley Blockade: Weeping for the Earth
Bentley CSG Blockade: Open Letter to Brad Hazzard, NSW Minister for Police
Bentley CSG Blockade, NSW https://northernriversguardians.org/?page_id=5240 5 May 2014 Open letter to the NSW Minister for Police, Brad Hazzard Dear Minister: I am a 71-year-old resident of the Northern Rivers of New South Wales and a Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia. I hold a doctorate in environmental ethics from the… Continue reading Bentley CSG Blockade: Open Letter to Brad Hazzard, NSW Minister for Police
Bentley CSG Blockade: You Can’t Just Take My Dreams Away
Nimbin, 28 April 2014 It was bucketing rain at dawn at the Bentley Blockade this morning. The blockade against unconventional gas mining. No guitars or drums because of the rain. There were lots of people there but not a lot were singing. Then, magically, about 5 am, a woman with a strong,… Continue reading Bentley CSG Blockade: You Can’t Just Take My Dreams Away
Toderian’s 10 Lessons in More Engaging Citizen Engagement”: A confused response
“Engagement Done Well” In a few days, Vancouver planner Brent Toderian will be speaking in Sydney, where last year he was training planning bureaucrats in the NSW State Government in community engagement. His conference topic is “Density Done Well”. My topic in the preceding session was “Engagement Done Well”, making the point that density done… Continue reading Toderian’s 10 Lessons in More Engaging Citizen Engagement”: A confused response
Activism in Planning in Australia: A Delicate Balancing Act
I’m celebrating: 2013 was a great year for community activism in planning. In New South Wales, concerted action by many forces, including the Better Planning Network (https://betterplanningnetwork.good.do/nsw/fund-the-better-planning-network-in-2014/), resulted in the State Government withdrawing the contentious and flawed proposed state planning legislation. The Better Planning Network has more than 430 community groups and many… Continue reading Activism in Planning in Australia: A Delicate Balancing Act
Vancouver’s EcoDensity Policy: Reflections on Australian Planning’s Cultural Cringe and Cultural Imperialism
Australia‘s “cultural cringe” One of the challenges of being a “migrant” in Australia is understanding the “cultural cringe” that infects so much of Australian life. I’ve lived and worked here for 45 years and it still puzzles me. For those not familiar with it, it is an internalised inferiority complex that causes us to… Continue reading Vancouver’s EcoDensity Policy: Reflections on Australian Planning’s Cultural Cringe and Cultural Imperialism