TOTO Challenge #1 – The Winner!

When ActionAid asked our Project TOTO shortlist to blog about the link between climate change and poverty, we really didn’t know what we’d get back.

In the end, we received nine well crafted blogs that reflected the huge diversity of people in our shortlist. We had climate change sceptics, climate change converts and climate change champions.  We also had discussions about horse poo.

Some blogged about their own personal experiences, while others took a more academic approach to exploring the issue. Most importantly, all provided excellent food for thought – as reflected in the over 130 comments that had been posted by fans (and detractors) in response at time of judging.

As we await the conclusion of crucial Copenhagen climate negotiations, these blogs have provided many Australians with an alternative perspective on climate change that they wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise. For this, ActionAid is eternally grateful to all the bloggers.

And the runners up are…

The judges agreed (eventually) on two runners up for this challenge. The runners up submitted very different styles of posts, but deserve special mention for their own reasons.

In no particular order, the first runner up is Emily French for her The Inextricable Link between Climate Change and Human Rights post. Emily clearly put a lot of research and thought into her post and the result is a comprehensive examination of the subject. Although tending towards the ‘academic’, it is still written in plain English and clearly engaged a lot of readers to think about the clear links between climate change and poverty for the first time. Great effort Emily.

Our second runner up is Michael Quall for his voice of the voiceless post. By far the most passionate post from the shortlist, Michael’s writing is infused with a deep understanding of the causes of poverty and injustice – and why climate change (and the world’s reluctance to tackle it) is yet another a symptom of inequality.  Although his post attracted strong criticism, this is also a sign he touched a cord with people – an important ingredient in writing for change. Setting aside his penchant for lower case, his writing is punchy and enjoyable to read.

And the winner is…

And without further ado, the clear winner of Challenge #1 for all the judges was Sharna Bremner for her Dummies Guide to Climate Change and Poverty post.

Sharna’s post was well researched, down to earth and informative. It was also a pleasure to read. The use of 9/11 as a lead-in was a clever way of giving readers an instant grasp of the scale of the disaster climate change is bringing to this world.

The “Dummies Guide” structure also made a complex and, often, confusing topic very clear. Her post could easily be a reference point for those researching the link between poverty and climate change in the months, and years, ahead.

One of the many comments on Sharna’s post sums up quite nicely why she deserves to win this challenge:

I found this particular blog to be one of the more engaging entries for this challenge. Not only was it well written and insightful, the simple, easy-to-understand language and format made me actually WANT to read it. Usually I find articles regarding such topics to be contrived and full of scientific mumbo jumbo, making me simply skim them or not read them at all. Sharna, you have managed to turn a fairly dry topic (no offence ActionAid!) into enjoyable reading. Not only that, you managed to teach me a thing or two without me realising I was learning! I’ve already passed on some of your little stats to others particularly, as others have stated, the 9/11 statistic which really made me stop and think. Definitely thought provoking stuff! Well done!

Good job Sharna!

For more information on this challenge and the judging criteria, see our original brief for TOTO Challenge #1.