What is community activism?

encourage, represent and advocate for residents to build and maintain a healthy, safe, joyous, equitable community; protect our residential character and cultural heritage; promote the protection of our biological diversity and the maintenance of indigenous species; work cooperatively with governments, other residents’ associations, groups and peak organisations to protect, enhance and conserve our environment.

Guided by these objectives, residents have been able to pursue matters of social justice and challenges to inequality because we live in a society where there is freedom of speech, the rule of law, free press and accountability in government, even if some of these freedoms are sometimes under threat and currently being debated. Social inequality drives WACRA’s priorities. Jim Douglas comments:

We call for social justice responses, we demand government policy oversight, we investigate shady corporate interests, and challenge corrupt organisations and industries that we believe require democratic oversight. We are acutely aware of climate breakdown and environmental pollution. Most importantly, we listen to the people.

WACRA, as a corporate body with clearly defined roles, structures and processes, argues that positive outcomes can come out of community activism. WACRA communicates using a website https://wacra.org.au/ and has over 700 Facebook followers. On the website you will read this message:

Find up-to-date news and information for the coastal residents of western Adelaide in South Australia. An enormous number of coastal environmental, open space and social justice issues, in addition to inappropriate development, are causing great concern to our community.

Being organised is undoubtedly one of its most important attributes. WACRA Committee members tend to divide the tasks that must be completed, such as writing newsletters; informing members about activities, issues and outcomes; writing grant submissions; and attending local council meetings. Minutes of WACRA meetings are available on the website. The association regularly reviews its overarching aims and objectives. Recently WACRA Committee held a planning day aimed at prioritising issues, delegating and sharing the enormous workload.

What is community activism?

Democracy demands passion, and community activism can embody that passion. Activism attempts to engage in social, political, economic or environmental reform. The desired outcome is to make positive changes in society. Activities include consultation and negotiation with those in power, writing letters to newspapers, petitioning elected government officials, strikes, running a political campaign, rallies, street marches or sit-ins. Recently, the creation of art (‘artivism’) has become more prominent. Highly visible actions involving many people working together have the most impact. Media coverage makes a protest visible. Social media facilitates communication, combining politics with technology. Collective action that is organised, purposeful and sustained over time is a movement.

A resident, a community member or group can approach WACRA with an idea, situation or problem. WACRA members are open to suggestions, particularly when action can stimulate