How to Make Trouble*: Three Climate Activists in Conversation

– Judy Kuo and Tom Swann in interview with Odette Shenfield

When Fossil Free ANU began in 2011, it was one of the first fossil fuel divestment campaigns in the world. At the time, the coal seam gas company Metgasco was planning on fracking in the Norther Rivers of NSW. Activists from there got in touch with ANU students with news that the ANU was one of the top shareholders in Metgasco. Students were outraged at this revelation, which came at a time when coal seam gas was being increasingly scrutinised for its water impacts and the risk of fugitive emissions. From there, Fossil Free ANU developed into a sustained campaign over the past five years, calling on ANU to sell their investments in all fossil fuel companies.

Tom Swann, Judy Kuo and I represent three generations of Fossil Free ANU activists — Tom Swann helped establish the campaign in 2011 and stayed involved until 2015, I was involved from 2014 – 2016, and Judy has been involved for the past year and a half. On a cold Canberra Sunday morning, I met for coffee with Tom and Judy to hear stories and lessons from their campaign days.

Early Engagement with Fossil Free ANU

Activists frequently speak of their moments of political awakening. These stories often involve emotionally transformative, high-impact events or encounters. For both Judy and Tom, their initial involvement with Fossil Free ANU was comparatively serendipitous and modest. Both recall their engagement arising from friendships. For Judy, she became involved at the request of a friend to paint a mural for the group. Both then attended a few meetings and their involvement grew from there. Tom describes his immediate dedication to the Metgasco campaign: “I spent a fair bit of time on that instead of finishing the assignment I was supposed to do. Which turned out to be the right choice.”