Liz Conor

The climate justice movement is growing rapidly. But it lacks one essential thing - a symbol, that is visual, wearable and transferable. Alana Beltran's stunning Weld Angel (see our project image) gave us the idea of using Guardian Angel imagery to keep the issue of climate change on the public agenda, to galvanise support, and provide a means for people to demand governments act on climate change. 

Here are some of the ways we've been doing that and hope to continue:

Angel visitations on rooftops of the CBD.  Most recently we appeared in the Stanford Fountain, Gordon Square in Melbourne, to draw the link between the Autumnal two week heatwave and climate change. We got a snip on  on Channel 10 news that night: 

We have appeared at MPs offices demanding action:

We have produced Climate Justice Lapels, sold with a sign-and-send on card addressed to Prime Minister Julia Gillard. We're hoping to fund the campaign longterm for these lapels but they cost $3.78 to make and we've come to Pozible to cover that start up cost.

We've created an interactive Angel wing mural photo-petition by artist Jenny McCracken (below) where people can upload photos of themselves as climate guardians adding testimonials, which we will forward to the government as a photo-petition. Were hoping to create walls like this in every city. The cost for hours and materials is $2,300.

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We've also made stencils which can be downloaded from our website, where all of these outcomes can be viewed:

climateguardians.org.au

My background is an academic and activist who uses the understandings I've gained as a visual historian in actions that use symbolism and media to advance causes. 

In 1991 I founded and convened The Coalition Against Sexual Violence Propaganda which used media advocacy to campaign against violent (not explicit) representations.

In 1997 I founded and convened the Stick With Wik campaign which used native title armbands and ribbons (one of which Nicole Kidman wore to the AFI awards) to campaign against John Howard's attack on the High Court Wik decision and the principle of coexistence. We sold tens of thousands of the armbands through the Bodyshop.

In 2001 I founded and convened The Mothers of Intervention which campaigned on paid Maternity Leave. We burnt maternity bras on the steps of Parliament.

In 2007 I co-founded and co-convened (with Zelda Da) the John Howard Ladies Auxiiary Fanclub, a troupe of 1950s housewives who intercepted then Prime Minister Howard.

I'm finishing my 2nd book (on settler imaginings of Aboriginal women) and have published commentary in The Age, The Australian, The Drum, Crickey.com, Arena and other publications.