Susi’s Great Unleashing

About

I was born in London of Argentinean parents.  My father was a diplomat for the Argentine Embassy and I had a very loving and privileged childhood.  Growing up I met some wonderful writers, philosophers and artists, many of whom were seeking exile from the political turmoil of Latin America in the 1970′s. My father was a deeply spiritual man and he shaped my values and beliefs at a very young age.  My godmother was one of the founding members of CND in the UK, with people like Bertrand Russell.  My father was very affected by meeting Mahatma Ghandi and urged me, as I was growing up, to work for peace.  In his diplomatic capacity he also knew the poet Pablo Neruda who was a fellow diplomat, and the Argentinean literary great, Borges.  None of these names meant much to me at such a young age, nor my mother, who was politically naive and interested mainly in throwing wonderful parties with her friend Coca.  My mother had grown up in Buenos Aires, in the lap of luxury, riding with the gauchos at the weekends in the estancia Don Torquato,  owned by close family friends.  Don Sequeiros, the Mexican muralist who was a contemporary of Frida Kahlo, had sought sanctuary in the estancia during some turbulent political times in Mexico, and I like to think that perhaps my mother and the handsome muralist spent time together on horseback. My father died in strange circumstances when he started to openly challenge the Junta and his death set me on a personal journey of activism.

I worked for Friends of the Earth in the UK for a couple of years before I was headhunted by David McTaggart of Greenpeace to help establish Greenpeace in Europe.  Greenpeace Ltd worked out of an abandoned building in Whitehall.  We bought an old South Atlantic trawler, the Sir William Hardy, and transformed her into the “Rainbow Warrior”.  The rest is history.

When I left the “Rainbow Warrior” I moved to the US to do a 4-year programme in Human Ecology at College of the Atlantic in Maine.  I finished my degree in 1990 and moved to New Zealand, where I now live, on an island in the Hauraki Gulf called Waiheke Island.

Since living here I have worked for many different ngos, run programmes in the Maxiumum Secruity Prison, worked with Maori and youth, and am very active in the community. In 1994, I became part of a group who purchased a tidal valley, on the island, to form an eco-village – Awaawaroa Bay. I am a published author (HarperCollins) and am now making my third film. I am also involved in a feature film based on my book.  Currently, I am part of the Transition Towns’ initiative and this year helped organise a global multi-media event – The Big Intent -  www.thebigintent.org.nz in a huge black Moroccan tent, run on a grid connect unit to the sun. This has proved so popular that we will be doing it again in 2009 combining other internationally know events.  I love working with a team of talented people who bring to life creative and passionate ideas.

I am a mother of 3 children and a Swedish Vallhund.  We live near one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and I take respite in long walks along the shore gazing out at this soon-to-be world heritage site.

One of my big loves is percussion and I have performed with a drum ensemble at WOMAD and other world music events.  There is no better workout for the body and soul as playing music with world class musicians.

I live a very simple life, something I learned to do while on Samos, a Greek island in the Aegian off the coast of Southern Turkey, where I lived on and off for a number of years. I’ve had a wonderful life so far, have never made any money, but have heaps of social capital. I seem to be drawn to islands, and one of my goals is for a College of the Oceania to be established here on Waiheke, with a 4-year programme in Human Ecology.  There are so many talented people, from around the world, who live here, there would be no shortage of teachers.

I dream of building an Earthship on my piece of land.  It’s right next to a totara forest and I am sure I have heard kiwi there on the darkest nights.  One of my greatest enjoyments is to ‘ramble’, and the island is full of magical tracks leading to breath-taking views of the Gulf.  I am always transported by the scenery and feel very protective of it. I love observing insects and animals in their habitats and can get lost for hours and hours in contemplation.  The rich and famous are attempting to invade the island and turn it into a party island, but the People’s Republic of Waiheke resists!

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