'We must protect our environment'

Chris Johnson, the Socialist Alliance candidate for Corangamite in Geelong, explains why she is contesting the federal election.

I have been an activist since my teens, having marched in anti-Vietnam War moratorium and anti-nuclear rallies. I am a tree planter and protector. I believe in being connected to our community and building that connection. This process should include as many people as possible. In the community I live in, I have been planting trees and removing exotics for more than 20 years.

I'm a member of the local environment group and the secretary of the local community association. I was part of the group that started the process to establish the current marine parks. I have made presentations to both VCAT and panel hearings in relation to local planning issues. More recently I was a founding member of the Geelong Anti-War Coalition.

I have worked with East Timor independence campaigns in my community. I have been inspired to stand as a candidate by the issue of East Timor's oil and gas rights, or lack of them. Other issues that are of great concern to me include the treatment of Indigenous people, sovereignty, mandatory detention of refugees, the need to defend and extend Medicare for all — including dental cover and pharmaceutical benefits, free, quality public education and transport, coastal planning for coastal communities and money for development and research into alternative energy sources that place sustainable practices before short term profit.

We must ensure the protection of our environment for our community and future generations. The focus of all these issues is to direct more money into services and infrastructure that will benefit the millions and not the millionaires.

From Green Left Weekly, September 15, 2004.

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From GLW issue 598