From: Ian Cohen MLC
The Greens
14th February, 2007
Attention: Queensland Greens:
I have known Anja Light for 15 years and support her intention to run for preselection in Queensland as a Greens Senate candidate.
Anja has been an eloquent advocate for the Earth for many years. I have worked with her on environmental campaigns such as rainforest preservation, particularly in the Daintree. I know she is committed to grassroots community activism and the principles of deep ecology.
Anja has just returned from an environmental tour of Japan where she worked with the Japanese Greens in their support for spontaneous groups who turned off their electricity for two hours to save power and slow down their lives. This integrated movement is linking the themes of peace, environment, health and lifestyle, a philosophy that Anja supports wholeheartedly. I feel Anja has the passion and experience to promote and encourage such concepts amongst Australians.
Verdantly,
Ian Cohen.
From: Professor Keibo Oiwa
Keibo Oiwa
Professor of Anthropology at Meiji Gakuin University, Japan
Best-selling author and leader of the Slow movement in Japan.
"Anja is co-founder of the Sloth Club that promotes a radical shift towards sustainable lifestyle...Anja is one of the most influential and inspiring leaders of environmental movement in Japan... To many Japanese Anja is not only an effective campaigner but a spritual teacher of deep ecological philosophy. I am honoured to be working closely with Anja in many successful campaigns and educational activities both in Japan and Ecuador."
From: Bruce Teakle
(Maternity Coalition, Queensland Branch)
"Anja has a huge record of commitment and action in her passion to leave a better world for our children, not only in protecting the
environment, but in her work toward a more caring and compassionate society for women and families."
Other endorsements include:
John Seed OAM (Climate Change Activist),
Jill Jordan (Mother of Maleny),
Angie Zelter (UK environment and peace activist),
Dr. Sally MacKinnon (Executive Officer, Ethos Foundation),
Jun Hoshikawa (Executive Director, Greenpeace Japan),
Dr. Greg Aroney (cardiologist and founding member Gold Coast Greens)
Bill Livermore (founding member Gold Coast Greens)
From: Suzanne Swan
(Childbirth educator and Director Yogababy, Brisbane)
"I have known Anja Light for almost 30 years. I have known her as a passionate and articulate advocate for the environment, peace and human rights since our days in high school. She knew then that she wanted to dedicate her lifework to raising awareness of ecological and human rights issues and this is what she has been doing ever since. Her influence has been far reaching, encouraging the people that come in contact with her to think and act more sustainably. She has payed a strong role in my success in creating an ethical business that supports parents and children.
Over the years I have seen her active in campaigns and projects, gaining national and international media coverage for her work in Sarawak and Japan. I have also been able to visit her and see her projects in Ecuador while supporting the birth of her first child, Pacha. She has been able to weave motherhood into her activism and broaden her campaign work to reclaiming our connection with nature in the way we choose to give birth. It was very exciting to see her bring this into the 2004 state election campaign and see the Green’s success in bringing a birthing centre to the Gold Coast.
During the 20 years of campaigning, Anja has remained both positive and inspiring, one of the rare activists who have been able to sustain their energy for the long term. She lives simply and joyfully, bringing theories of sustainable lifestyles into practice. I think she would make a very good senator for the Greens. "