Valerie Brown met the queen, was arrested – and led Greenpeace Australia
Valerie Brown’s experiences with Greenpeace, which she headed when the Rainbow Warrior was bombed, read like a spy novel. But it’s just one way she changed the world.
Valerie A. Brown, now in her nineties, has led a life dedicated to change in Australia. Growing up in Brisbane, she observed "their actions did not match their stated ideals" from her roof. She became a TAFE teacher, consumer advocate, activist, department head, professor, carer, writer, and more, all while raising a family. She even led Greenpeace Australia during the bombing of its Rainbow Warrior yacht in 1985 and the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
Brown started a children's theatre group, promoted birth control, and worked to improve health systems in Nepal. Despite feeling unqualified, she headed Greenpeace Australia during these crises. She negotiated with chemical companies and activists to avoid disaster, but was often seen as a "wimp" by activists.
In New Zealand, French army divers attacked the Rainbow Warrior, killing a photographer. Brown's quick thinking saved 12 of the activists. She also ran a national drugs summit and advocated for AIDS prevention. She was one of three women science graduates among 600 men, a time when women were denied field-based jobs upon graduation and often had to resign upon marriage.
Brown's approach to community empowerment, informed by Christopher Alexander and Gregory Bateson, involved empowering groups to find their own solutions and work together in egalitarian workshops. She strove to be culturally appropriate and build bridges between different worlds. Her work has had a profound impact on public health, promoting holistic approaches that recognize the interconnectedness of community, environmental, and social health.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
