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Canberra Conversations

A Chorus of Women is planning a series of citizen conversations on topics of importance for our future. These ‘Canberra Conversations’ will include artistic expression and facilitated discussion to create an environment for active engagement by the people with important issues that will shape the future of the city and country. The aim will be to explore different perspectives on issues and try to find the common ground that will inform wise actions. If you would like to hear more about this initiative or to help out in any way, please contact us.

The Gifts of the Furies

The Gifts of the Furies is a new mythic story song by Glenda Cloughley about the possibility that the cycle of life will be broken by humans through climate change.

Following advice from some Aboriginal people who say that most Australians have lost their ancestral dreaming songs,The Gifts of the Furies retells a dramatic teaching story from old Europe about right relations between people and nature.

The drama starts with the 'sterile anxiety' of the citizens. We are frightened and powerless about climate change. We feel anguish for ourselves, our children, other people and species because of scientific forecasts but – as the Storyteller sings –

What can we do but wait in the dark
and watch while the weather roars in?

The answer comes in part from the Greek poet Aeschylus. In 458BC, he was worried that if people continued to place the laws of the new city-state above Nature, the Furies of Earth would hurl a bloody tide of destruction against humankind. Like his Oresteian tragedies that have a happy ending, The Gifts of the Furies moves from the dark core of our present situation towards the possibility of harmony between people and nature.

The Gifts of the Furies was first presented as a work in progress to the Canberra Jung Society in February 2008. The courtroom confrontation between Lord Reason (Apollo in the old drama) and Earth's Fury was performed during the Climate Change and the Crisis of Reason symposium to honour the late Dr Val Plumwood at ANU's Fenner School of Environment and Society in June 2008. In Longing for Wisdom on our Changing Climate Glenda and Chorus performed much of the story song.

Performances are planned for 2009. We are actively seeking other opportunities to present the work in whole or part, including in association with academic and scientific meetings. Please contact us or email Glenda at glenda.cloughley@ozemail.com.au