Action is the antidote to despair

Today, like many others, I woke to the news of a terror attack at Bondi Beach against Australia's Jewish community.

It has been devastating to see the death toll rise, and as I searched for information, I was confronted with two videos back-to-back.

One showed a 43-year-old father of two, Ahmed al Ahmed, already shot twice, tackling one of the gunmen.

The other showed a paid agitator, frothing at the camera, claiming that those who stood against genocide had caused this attack, and spewing hatred against Muslims.

Sometimes it can feel as if we live in a world with just two kinds of people:

• people who see a terror attack as an opportunity to profit, push an agenda, and sell hatred as a way of life
• and, well, the rest of us.

The rest of us are trying to decide what can be done in the pain and misery left over after these attacks. And the pain and misery nurtured by these people who see opportunity where we see horror.

When traumatic events like this occur, looking to the helpers and looking to see if we can help should be our default reaction.

Can we help?

Who is helping?

How can we help them to help?

In life, we have the opportunity to again, and again, and again help each other. While we would all hope we are never called to courage in the way Ahmed al Ahmed was - we can do what we can, where we are. We can devote ourselves to not choosing the option of upholding and nurturing the hatred that is part of the design of terror.

In her excellent book Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care, Kelly Hayes says: “To resist the erosion of empathy, we must invite people to participate in acts of care, defense, aid, and rescue.”.

Fill the hollow, hopeless feeling in your gut with community care.

Choose each other over division.

Remember all of the values that we share and act on those values.

Show you believe in the sanctity and sacredness of life by protecting it.

Three things you should do today to protect each other and not make things worse

• Don't share rage bait, no matter where or who it's from. Anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim rhetoric, false flag BS - don't spread it around. Even to say "look how terrible this is!" That's the reaction the rage-baiters want. Don't play into their hands!
• Don't share anything unverified. There are many people who will be spreading disinformation about this event. Don't help them.
• Don't get trapped in a loop of misery. It's understandable to want to know what's going on. But set a time limit for consuming media about this event. Give.

DO:

• Look out for each other.
• Check in on your mates.
• Go for a walk or spend some time outside.
• Honour the victims by being intentional with what you do in the coming days.

Hanukkah is the festival of light. Think about how you can light the way for others.

Eight actions you can do right now to support your community

1. Residents of Sydney and Australia are being asked to donate blood. This is always a good thing to do but is all the more important in the wake of a tragedy like this. The ABC is reporting an urgent need for the blood type O negative.
   More ways to support the victims of the mass shooting will appear soon – I will be posting more in future newsletters, and you can let me know if you hear of any.
2. Help to create "Go Bags" for the Karangahape Road Rangatahi Hub to support our young people into safe and stable homes.
3. Bring comfort and joy to women facing incurable breast cancer this Christmas with Sweet Louise.
4. Sign the open letter calling on the Minister for Sport and Recreation and Sport NZ to reinstate its Guiding Principles for the Inclusion of Transgender People in Community Sport!
5. You may be aware that public consultation on the Racing Industry (Closure of Greyhound Racing Industry) Amendment Bill is currently open, with submissions closing on 9 January 2026. Submit in support of the Bill; there's a template here.
6. We desperately need to raise funds to cover the Aotearoa 2 Gaza mutual aid fund over the Christmas period. You can donate here.
7. Sign the open letter to Simeon Brown calling on him to reverse the decision to deny transgender and takatāpui young people access to puberty blockers.
8. Protect each other by supporting this call for safe air and masking in Healthcare Settings.

Arohanui,

Emily