NEWCASTLE CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE

Newcastle Climate Change Response

What's one thing you'd change about the Hunter if you could?

Hunter Community Alliance

The Hunter Community Alliance (HCA) is a diverse coalition of community organisations, religious organisations, and unions that work together to make the Hunter a better place to live and work in. HCA vision is to provide the community with a voice to express common values and aspirations for a fair and just Hunter Region. HCA was founded based on Sydney Alliance model.

HCA is a way for people to have their say in what they want for the Hunter now and in the long term and to act together with others that feel the same way.

HCA brings together people from diverse community organisations, unions and religious organisations who want a better Hunter Region.

HCA is an independent organisation that does not take government funding and is a non-party political organisation.

HCA believes that a strong and connected community enables the people of the Hunter to shape their own future, to grow and develop as leaders, to be full democratic citizens and to speak and act with others on their own behalf. We build grassroots power that respects the contribution and dignity of all people.

HCA plans to hold decision makers in government and the market accountable, advance the common good, give meaning to our democracy by helping citizens take democratic action beyond the vote, and to provide a forum for the grassroots members of community organisations, unions and faith groups to join together and influence decision makers.

HCA works by building relationships, training, then having conversations to work out what issues concern people. Following this HCA acts on these issues.

HCA utilises an organising cycle that they use to make this happen. It has four stages – relating and listening, research and planning, action and evaluation.

Through this process HCA connects people and groups so they can help one another on issues that improve the common good. A key part of the organising cycle is the Listening Campaign.

The Listening Campaign finds the issues and challenges most important to people by listening and sharing stories. Over six months, members will listen to their communities and document the pressures people face in our region. This involves one-on-one relational meetings between leaders and community members, and facilitated group conversations supported by other communications such as online surveys. The stories shared by people in the Hunter are documented and people with powerful stories, issues and leadership capacity are trained and encouraged to act for change that is in their interest and for the benefit of our communities. By listening deeply to community members, we plan to identify concerns that are felt most widely and deeply, then make plans to advocate together for change.

2022 Listening Campaign - Hopes and Visions for the Hunter

HCA has commenced of the 2022 Listening Campaign named "Hopes and Visions for the Hunter".

With the change in Federal Government, there is a feeling that a change for the better can now begin in earnest. The upcoming State Elections provide further impetus to influence what can be done about climate change. There is an opportunity for the Hunter to commence the transition away from fossil fuels to “future-proof the Hunter”. However, it will not be all smooth sailing.

Thinking about the effects of climate change, what is the one thing you’d change about the Hunter if you could and what worries you the most, what burns, what keeps you up at night?

As part of the listening campaign the question we ask you to respond to is: Can you share a story about something you want changed in the Hunter? Your response should be based on your own lived experience, so please think about your own experience of the issue/s most important to you.

Please provide your name, organisation (if any), and contact details (email/phone number) with your story/response. Here is our privacy policy if you are interested. Feel free to share this link with friends and family for them to share their story.

If you prefer to go old school, below is a template from Queensland Community Alliance for capturing a personal story as part of Table Talks. Download/Print Off the template if you like.

table_talk_notes_updated.docx
File Size:	208 kb
File Type:	docx

Download File

Convener Steps Down
Jacquie Svenson, founding member of NCCR, is stepping down as NCCRs Convenor after a mammoth 4 1/2 years at the helm.

Many thanks to Jacquie for your dedication and energy in the role. Without you we would not be the organisation we are today.

Jacquie will be concentrating on completing her PhD at the University of Newcastle.

NCCR Starter Culture Gathering (Monthly meetup)
When: Third Thursday of the Month 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (PLEASE NOTE NO MEETUP AT THE MOMENT - WATCH THIS SPACE!)
Where: Mayfield & by Zoom
Cost: FREE

Come and take your place in being part of the biggest social movement the world has ever seen.
(And which it must be if we are to arrest catastrophic climate change).
There is so much to be done and to do! NCCR Starter Culture Gatherings are the third Thursday of the month and use an “incubator model”, where people who want to start a project do so when ever and however they can. Other people join in as they choose.
So far in the last year there have been at least eleven projects that have independently flourished. These include political efforts, dramatic productions, activist skill sharing, and the Hunter Climate Summit (100+pax.). Great Success!
Our approach:
Q. What is to be done about Climate Change?
A. Just about everything. (Politics, art, technical advance, social movements, education, community support, economic reform, industrial development, social justice, and equity,…[hint: the list is endless]
The meetings are friendly, with food (by donation). Join in with a current project, or start your own and find others! See you there .
AGENDA
5:30 pm Acknowledgement of country, Welcome new folk & quick ‘round the table’ of people there.
6:00 pm Food and networking
6:15 pm Re-assemble, and break into ‘subculture’ work groups - current or new projects brought and being worked on by those there.
7:15 Wrap & announcements
7:30 Close

NCCR Starter Culture Gathering.

Come & join us online via Zoom for this month's monthly NCCR meeting.
5:30 - 7:30 pm each THIRD Thursday of the month.
Meeting information at: bit.ly/NCCRevents  Hope to see you there!
Find NCCR group on Facebook: bit.ly/NCCRgroup

“What will you do? How will you take your action, and who with? ”

NCCR is a group of friendly passionate locals from all walks of life committed to the declaration Climate Change: Not on Our Watch. Through connecting with and growing diverse communities and providing a first place for concerned individuals to come, bound by principles of nonviolence, inclusion and relationality its purpose is to bring together anyone who wants to co-create the powerful and effective nationwide response necessary to keep the world within safe levels of warming for generations to come.

Newcastle Climate Change Response

"Growing the broad, inclusive, connected, unstoppable movement on climate change necessary to meet the Big Hairy Audacious Goal of cutting the world's emissions to safe levels within years, not decades."

“The cavalry is not coming – it’s here already: you and those about you – you’re it!!”

NCCR Starter Culture Gathering

Q. What is to be done about Climate Change?
A. Just about everything. (Politics, art, technical advance, social movements, education, community support, economic reform, industrial development, social justice, and equity,…[hint: the list is endless]

Q. I want to do something useful. How can I find the best match between:

my skills, availability, and passion; and
a useful, important, and rewarding project?

A. Consider coming to a NCCR starter culture gathering. The meetings are friendly, with food (by donation). Join in with a current project, or start your own and find others! See you there :).

You’re invited! The third Thursday of the month at the:
Croatian Wickham Sports Club, Albert Street Wickham, 5.30-7.30pm

Meeting information at:
bit.ly/NCCRevents
Hope to see you there!

Find us on Facebook: bit.ly/NCCRgroup

"Not a campaign. A Response."

NCCR on Social Media

NCCR - Newcastle Climate Change Response

Starter Cultures and Partnerships: the Newcastle Climate Change Response model

Newcastle Climate Change Response is a ground-breaking interdisciplinary phenomenon that arose from Newcastle Law School’s Narratives of Climate Change Conference in 2018. By combining in a new way a range of cutting-edge social change “technologies” both Australian and international (for example new ways with social media (e.g. #blacklivesmatter); the notion of a declaration and a Big Hairy Audacious Goal; “daisies” and rhizomatic organising; the Lismore Helping Hands Flood Response Facebook group and “the Bentley Effect”), University staff and students working with community members have successfully reactivated diverse communities in Newcastle to engage with climate change, including those not previously active.

What we are

NCCR is possibly different from what you might expect in a "local action group" - We are all about organic collective action as chosen by each of us, and empowering ourselves and everyone we know who is determined to stop climate change to do just that! Second, while we know that local and personal action is essential so that we can know we are doing our own individual part, our focus and context is intentionally and firmly global: Australia needs to be part of global action on this issue.

Environmental and community groups we love

Please note that NCCR in connecting with the diverse groups and communities is bound by the principles of nonviolence, inclusion and relationality but is not responsible or liable for the actions of these groups.