The 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria that devastated Steve Pascoe’s small community of Strathewen. While everyone pulled together, as people do the world over after a disaster, the folks of Strathewen were worried that the systems meant to help them, might instead further harm them. They set out to find a better democratic way to support them to recover and flourish again as a community.

Listen to "Democracy After Disaster" on Spreaker.

Guests:

Steve Pascoe

References

‘Inside the Firestorm’ by journalist Jacob Hickey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Uz8ltWOGU&t=1570s

Robert Manne - essay: ‘ Why Weren’t We Warned’

https://www.themonthly.com.au/july-2009/essays/why-we-werent-warned

Rob Gordon ‘Community Process in Disaster’ - Gender Justice in Disaster online Conference in 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfT1E3OVb2Q&t=17s

Professor Susan Stokes, University Of Chicago, Kyiv School of Economics, Explaining the Erosion of Democracy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXei0VRfQ0Q&t=615s

Huge thanks:

To Jane Curtis, Myoung Jae Yi, Sue Yardley, Karen McCrea and Margo Field, for listening and offering feedback on an early draft of this episode.

To Steve Pascoe for supporting, encouraging and talking through this episode with me.

To Steve Pascoe and Jenny Lloyd for listening to all the episodes and being ever so kind and encouraging in response.

Host:

Kate Lawrence

Music

Theme Music: Look At Me Now (Instrumental) by Clejan licensed through Audiio

Other music:

Hope and the Forester by Moon Juice licensed through Blue Dot Sessions

Home Goes With You by Caleb J. Murphy licensed through Audiio

Rainbow Reflections by Steyl licensed through Audiio

Fluid Motion by Josh Allen licensed through Audiio

Image: Canva