Volunteerism and Learning in the Eco-pax Movement

Abstract

In the 1980s and 90s, a number of us, Australians lived as 'professional protestors', the only difference being that, unlike in other professions, we weren't paid. We worked within the broad popular movement which advocates peace and environmental protection, characterised as 'eco-pax' by Pakulski (1991). We travelled between forest blockades and rallies in Canberra, between uranium mine occupations and Pine Gap protests in the desert to coastal protests against nuclear-armed warships and ships bringing rainforest timbers from Borneo. In between times, we worked in environment centres or attended to permaculture in rural communes. At times it was an idyllic life, at others it was extremely stressful, as we underwent arrest during non-violent actions of civil disobedience, endured hardships or laboured night and day to produce reports and press releases, hold public meetings and lobby politicians.