‘Viva La Nannalution!’: Using craftivism to transform crisis into social movement

The story of the Knitting Nannas Against Gas and Greed (KNAG) begins in 2012. A handful of older women joined an anti-coal seam gas (CSG) group in Lismore NSW. They wanted to take action when the Northern Rivers area of NSW was being targeted for CSG mining by Metgasco, but became frustrated by the inaction and indecision of their male colleagues. The women were further annoyed by being asked to make teas and take minutes. Rather than stay frustrated through inactivity, the women devised their alternative activism as a form of ‘guerrilla surveillance’. Small groups went out into the countryside, parked by roadsides with their knitting, folding chairs, and thermoses to ‘scope out the works’; that is, watching, recording Metgasco truck movements (Ngara Institute, 2018). Initially knitting was a way of productively passing the time, but it soon became a form of environmental activism that older women could engage in. Determined to find ways of learning about CSG processes and impacts, the women went on fact-finding tours of the Chinchilla gas fields in Queensland, seeing landholders, farmers and families affected by toxic fugitive gases, contaminated water from taps and industrialised bush landscapes. They researched and shared their knowledge hoping to save the land, air and water for future generations.

KNAG use non-violent direct action, with a spin suiting the capabilities of older women. ‘Sit, knit, plot’ describes their formula for protest knit-ins at locations where they can be visible, talking with passers-by about the effects of fracking and fossil fuels on individuals, communities and environments. One of the original Nannas, Liz Stops (2014, p.10) wrote: ‘The name … was purposefully devised. “Knitting” and “Nannas” are words that immediately conjure a nostalgic image of older women exuding trust and love.’ Their ‘Nanna-ness’ is a form of strategic or tactical essentialism that communicates their identity and purpose with great clarity. Collectively, they refer to themselves as a ‘determination’ of Nannas.

Data from an online survey of members (2017) identify that the prime motivation for older women to join KNAG was the ability to participate in protests against coal seam gas, coal mining, and be vocal about environmental concerns more broadly in the face of climate change. Doing this through a woman-centred approach that suited the capabilities of older women in an active way (active ageing) was a significant attraction with some women mentioning the importance of learning. Many women said they saw Nannas at protests and were impressed by their form of non-violent direct action. Intergenerational equity and leaving a viable future Earth were initially a lesser motivating factor. Few mentioned knitting and crafting as an attraction! Additionally, most of the women who join KNAG groups (known as ‘loops’) are new to this form of activism, or indeed any activism (55%).