• "Deep" Democracy
  Democracy is about a lot more than just voting. It is about access to resources, true equality, education and utilising these skills to contribute to the community and to have an active voice in the cacophony that is civil society, a voice that is heard and has a genuine impact on that community.
• Social and ecological justice are part of the same whole
  A Just society must be one that is in harmony with its physical environment. This is not to compromise either social or environmental justice but to complement them both. Both environmental and social considerations must be taken into account when dealing with any issue if a Just and Democratic outcome is to be achieved.
• That we operate in a Global Context that is part of a political economy that we seek to change
  With the relatively recent advent of Globalisation the world has never been more interconnected. The ramification of this is that it is now naive to ignore this phenomenon and it is vital that our understanding of issues is placed in a global context in order to truly understand an issue. This global context brings with it a political economy that is both omnipotent and readily manipulated if there are appropriate levels of support for alternative political economies.
• That communities must control their own destiny with a particular emphasis on grass-roots activism/mobilisation
  Just and Democratic societies are, by their nature, in control of their own destiny. For this reason the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice seeks to empower communities, on a grass-roots level, to take control of their own destiny through a variety of means including engagement, interaction and an exposure to new ideas and debates.
• Affirmative and egalitarian
  The Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice is both affirmative and egalitarian in that it actively seeks to address injustices, particularly when it involves the dominance of one identity group over another. In this sense we seek to address the cultural injustices that are inherent in any community.

The Rabble Rousers

	Name: Hammy Goonan (hammyg@democracyandjustice.org) Founder of the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice, Hammy has a strong grounding in advocacy and the community sector. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from LaTrobe University and a  Masters in Public Advocacy and Action at Victoria University*, specialising in globalisation, the global justice movement and environmental issues. Hammy currently works for the Health and Community Services Union. Hammy's personal blog can be found at: goonanism.com/blog ...and has had two articles of his published by The New Matilda: Right-wing mobilisation and left-wing conscience raising (launches PDF document) Why advocacy is failing in Australia (launches PDF document).
	Name: Simon McInerny (simonm@democracyandjustice.org) Simon keeps the finances of the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice in check. With a Bachelor of Business; Accounting from RMIT* he brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the organisation with a particular passion for greater business accountability. Simon has also recently begun undertaking the CPA.
	Name: Sharanjeev "Terry" Johal (terryj@democracyandjustice.org) Terry is a PhD candidate and lecturer at RMIT*. His research interests are Globalization, New Communication Technologies, Convergence Technologies, Mobile Communication and Connectivity, Mass Media and New Communication Technology in Southeast Asia, and Legal Issues of Digital Technologies. Terry brings a deep understanding of these issues to the Centre as well as a keen interest in South East Asia. He is currently completing his Doctorate thesis – Sing@poria: the Past, Present and Future Internet Use and Abuse in Singapore. You can find Terry's blog at: terryjohal.com He has also recently had a piece published which can be found here (opens PDF document).