Ann-Marie Cahill is a writer with a history of legal and sociology research. After spending years writing and arguing about legal technicalities, she realised there was far more to our social world to both read and experience.

Harriet Spark is a graphic designer and communications specialist who does not always work at a computer. She has also spent the last six years as a dive instructor and marine conservationist, providing her with a unique skill set and insight into environmental issues and social activism.

Meagan Date is the social media coordinator for Women’s March Sydney. She is a strong advocate for women’s rights and positive politics, using her Master’s Degree in Creative Writing to bring out the strength in her message.

Australia

Citizenship

Interview with Harriet Spark conducted by the author

‘Definition: Slacktivism’, Oxford Dictionaries

‘Slacktivists Doing More than Clicking in Support of Causes’, Georgetown University

‘The Ice Bucket Challenge Data Debrief: Who Dumped, Who Donated, and Was it ALl Worth it?’, RJMetrics

‘Australian Bureau of Statistics General Social Survey 2014’, Australian Bureau of Statistics

‘Evans, Halupka and Stoker, The Power of One Voice 2014’, Governance Institute

‘Sensis Social Media Report 2017’, Sensis

‘Social Movement Involvement in the Wake of a Nuclear Accident: Activists and Free Riders in the TMI Area’, American Sociological Review

Interview with Meagan Date conducted by the author

‘Social Media Activism’, Amnesty International

‘Report: Citizen Motivation’, Digital Public Square

‘ABS Information Paper: Measuring Social Capital’, Australian Bureau of Statistics

Social activism around the world is big business. But in Australia, demonstrators are distilling worthy causes at large down to a local level. Why? Because people are engaged more if they can see the direct impact of their actions, especially in a hyperconnected world thanks to social media.

Cultivate

Values and Identity

Australia’s activists: making worthy causes a local affair