On this day, October 8 in 1988, Australian poet and activist, Judith Wright gave one of her last public speeches.
“Poet Judith Wright, in probably her last public speech, on Saturday [8th October] told delegates, “We have regarded the environment as a bottomless cornucopia of resources for the benefit of mankind”.
Mr Toyne said that that was no longer possible.”
Anon, 1988. Fight for better world: environmentalists. Canberra Times, 10 October, p.4.
[The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was 349.37ppm. At time of writing it was 421ishppm- but for what it is now,well, see here for the latest.]
The context was this – Wright had been a huge part of efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef, 20 years previously, and was full of wisdom.and compassion.
Why this matters.
A movement needs its poets.
What happened next?
Wright lived another 12 years. She was a mensch.