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How Powerful We Are

Behind the scenes with one of Australia's leading activists

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How Powerful We Are

By: Sally Rugg
Narrated by: Sally Rugg
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About this listen

 'Incisive, blistering and tender. Sally is one of our most valiant warriors.' - Clementine Ford, author of FIGHT LIKE A GIRL and BOYS WILL BE BOYS

'Proof that the personal is always political - and love really can save the world.' - Jamila Rizvi, author of NOT JUST LUCKY

'Rugg's passion and insight make for a propulsive tale' - Sydney Morning Herald

Even if you're not an activist (yet), at a time when the news is written for clicks and elections are fought with three-word slogans, it's crucial to preserve some record of events that isn't 'fake news' or political spin. In part, this book is my attempt to counter the re-writing of how Australia achieved one of the most significant social changes in a generation.

Sally Rugg is one of Australia's most influential campaigners for social change. HOW POWERFUL WE ARE is her manifesto for championing what you believe is right.

In these pages Sally will teach you some of the things she learnt on the marriage equality campaign: how to develop a strategy, how to frame your messages, how to get your campaign to the media, how to build community power. And she'll share with you the much harder lessons learnt: the consequences of campaign decisions; how to weather criticism and harassment from every angle; and how, in mass campaign movements, nothing is black and white. Civics & Citizenship Elections & Political Process Freedom & Security Political Science Politics & Government Social Sciences Equality Human Rights Social change Social justice

Critic Reviews

Rugg's passion and insight make for a propulsive tale
Covering issues such
as identity politics, gender equality and the reliability of news sources, it's an intelligent, eloquent read that will make you the most informed person at your next dinner party.
Whether she is examining the ruthless influence of political factions or the practical mechanics of a successful campaign, Rugg's passion and insight make for a propulsive tale.
One of Australia's leading activists takes you behind the scenes of one of Australia's biggest campaigns to show how we can use our voice to champion what we believe in.
All stars
Most relevant
Amazingly insightful, honest, funny, heartwarming and moving. well done thoroughly enjoyed this audio book. Thank you!

Incredible

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Amazing! thank you for waiting this book! it sums up everything that happened so we share the story for years to come

Thank you

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Although this book wasn’t quite what I expected (thought it would be more about planning/running activist campaigns) I was nonetheless not disappointed by it. This detailed, honest, personal account of the marriage equality political clusterfark made me tear up on more than one occasion.

It took a few minutes to acclimatise myself to Sally’s laconic but highly moving narration — the number of times you can feel the raw emotion in her voice as she recounts painful or overwhelming experiences really adds to the personal, deeply intimate story she tells. It’s something a “professional” voice actor would not have brought to the audiobook; but is a definite positive in this instance.

I listen to audiobooks in the car & found myself getting home or wherever & sitting there for a few minutes before getting out so I could finish a particularly interesting section. Highly recommend.

Moving & fascinating peek inside the Yes campaign

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I was only out to myself and 5 other people when the equal marriage postal vote happened. This booked filled in so much of what the years prior looked like, explained the politics of it all and helped me feel more connected to my community. Thank you Sally.

Heartfelt Wonder

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If you are at all interested in why it takes so long to make meaningful social change on issues that seem to be obvious this book makes it very clear. It’s explained in Sally’s playful, passionate and often hilarious tone which makes it seem like a friend is telling you a story.

I recommend you listen to this reading regardless if you’ve read the book or not.

Must listen (even if you’ve read the book)

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.