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 – http://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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Susi's Great Unleashing 
Your story is inspiring. I’m an old (male) hippy, 66 years old now,and i’m member of the Action/Climbing team of Friends of the Earth Netherlands/Milieudefensie for last 10 years.
Comment by Nico Oorebeek January 28, 2010 @ 4:15 pmOnce i was working with Green-Peace-Netherlands on prepairing the Rainbow Warrior for a trip to the South-pole. Everytime when i’m confronted with the End of the Rainbow Warrior I become very emotional. Tonight i will go see the movie The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island and i will love to see you in that movie/house.I’m retired from Rock and Roll and Theatre-work and are as supporting all NGO’s as possible by action or assisting them. xxx Nico Starlight The Hague Netherlands.
And yes, yesterday I left the moviehouse with tears in my eyes after seeing: the movie “The Rainbow Warriors of Waiheke Island” Love Nico
Comment by Nico Oorebeek January 29, 2010 @ 2:36 pmI saw the film about the RW 2 days ago. Many thanks 4 all what you guys did! ‘Some’ hippies and angry women can change things. While having fun also. I think there was a lot of fun and exitement on the RW too. For us it was also amusing to hear or see the stories. I think it was a mistake to let the ship sink. I mean the second time.
God knows what you guys costed to the industrie? You and your crazy Hollander? No wonder they made your boat kapot! The money addicted junta.
I think you did not learn to lead a simple life on a Greek Island. It just comes.
Me I enjoy myself with simple things. Like suddenly and totally unexpected, seeing on my TV your son reading some passages out of your book that interested him. LOL You should have written : “The sea was SO heavy that we were thrown over each other all the time. Because the seas were so rough we could not help to fall in Love.”
What if your boy one day also climb on a boat like that and for the same reasons? Will you stop him or give him a kompass?
Kusjes van België,
Jan
Comment by Jan May 27, 2012 @ 7:47 amKia ora Jan
Comment by Susi Newborn May 28, 2012 @ 12:38 amJust for the record – that was my youngest daughter reading my book!
Glad you enjoyed the film. Was it on TV?
Susi
Hi Suzie,
I am Gerard Glazenburg from a small Village called Haren in the Netherlands , born 1956 and saw your movie on tv last week.
This was very impressive! and remembered the highlights,
which were shown on tv in those day’s.
I my self was not active involved , but alway’s admired the courage of you and your fellow “rainbow Warriors”
The only thing I did was being a Member of the Greenpeace organisation (Spender) for many Years in the eighties.
Noticed that you also wrote a Book (Your daughter was reading it in the documentary I saw) “A bonfire in my Mouth” .
I tried everything on the web to get hold of it , but until now in vain.
My question is ; Could you please advise were and how I can order your Book?
Assume same should be possible through the Internet.
Your reply would be must appreciated.
Wishing you al the effords in continue showing the World that there is more towards life then the present Situation with overspending.
Kindest regards,
Gerard Glazenburg
Comment by Gerard Glazenburg January 9, 2013 @ 7:05 pmHi Susi, In 1995, long before this instant internet world, I wrote a song called Ecoutez in New Zealand. It was recorded and sung by a group of high school students and went on to be played on Radio Pacific. A copy was taken onboard HMNZS Tui by Bishop David Moxon and according to him, it became the flotilla anthem, played at the ‘last stand’ service, over the airwaves and towards the French warships, when the yachts lined the exclusion zone. We later received about 400 letters from Hiroshima Prefectural High School, where the English teacher had been playing it to all her English students as part of their lesson plan. Well, since those days, I must have been asleep, as I now see you have made one or two films and things have been happening. Perhaps you might have been interested in this song. Anyway, it makes me sad to think of it sitting in the cupboard, all silent and forgotten. So if it should be of interest to you, I’d love to send you a copy. It is only on cassette tape (since it is from the ice age of technology!)
Comment by Julianne Beckett February 13, 2013 @ 2:00 amWith best wishes!
Julie
Aloha Susi:
I was going through some old files for scanning and archiving and re-read your G. P. letters to Kaoru and I from ’79-’80. One document in particular regarding Turkey I never forgot. Have you published that story or is it confidential still?
Email me when you can. I will have to buy a copy of your book and catch up on your history. You will always have my deepest respect.
A hui hou,
Comment by Steve Sipman March 11, 2013 @ 4:02 amsteve
Dear Susi, Just wanted to let you know that I have my deepest respect for your undying ‘support’ and ‘act’ for the continuous educating of our Earthlings and personal sacrifice you have probably made for the ‘right’ preservation of ‘SpaceShip Earth’ Would love to hear your opinion on my blog: http://www.asktherightquestion.org/ X Bart from Berlin, Germany.
Comment by Bart Hendrikx April 20, 2013 @ 7:40 pm