Source: Thanks to The Radical Times Archive for Debra Beattie’s doco Manufacturing Dissent.
“History is an angel being blown backwards into the future
History is a pile of debris
And the angel wants to go back and fix things
To repair the things that have been broken
But there is a storm blowing from Paradise
And the storm keeps blowing the angel backwards into the future
And this storm, this storm is called Progress.”
Inspired by Walter Benjamin
Lyrics by Laurie Anderson
Performed by ‘The beautiful West End Diva – Christine Johnson. It was recorded at one of the early performances of Women In Voice at the Sitting Duck – cafe and performance venue in the early 1980s. It is powerful, more so even than Laurie Anderson’s version for my money. I do have the tape of the whole performance somewhere.’ [Thnx DB]
Radical Times Historical Archive
An archival resource focusing on radical activism in Brisbane and Queensland in Australia during the period 1965 to 1980.
Not only is this archive designed as a tool for appreciating and understanding the past, but it is also hoped it will provide perspective and ideas for future endeavours for social and political action.
You will find a variety of accessible, easy-to-read articles summarizing and critiquing the history of this unique period of time and place. There is an emphasis on visual/aural material. The archive currently has 91 film streams, plus 19 interviews or radio programs as streaming audio. There is also hundreds photographs. Additionally, a number of publications from the era, and those written in retrospect, are reproduced as PDF documents.
Earth First (1987) Gaia Films Jeni Kendall (director/producer) and John Seed (producer) (54 minutes)
Includes the battle for Terania Creek Rainforest in Northern NSW when in 1979 300 protesters placed themselves between the logging companies and the forest they loved.
http://youtu.be/7CnVttJU1Sk