A new book by a Charles Sturt University (CSU) philosopher examines how movements for equality, peace and environmental action have defined and shaped the nation.

What Do We Want? – The Story of Protest in Australia is the latest book by Professor Clive Hamilton, Professor of Public Ethics at the CSU Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics in Canberra. It chronicles for the first time the protest movements that confronted the ugliness in Australian society and caused revolutionary shifts in social attitudes.

"Over the decades, protestors have been instrumental in driving the great social movements that have defined life in modern Australia. Yet our colourful history of protest has never been told," Professor Hamilton said.

"The protest movements of the 1960s and 70s have profoundly shaped modern Australia, and What Do We Want? is the first book about the enthralling and stirring history of those who set out to change the nation, usually in the face of fierce resistance.

"What Do We Want? honours the passion, courage and commitment of the activists who have sought to make Australia a better place, those who stood up—or sat down—in the face of prejudice or intolerance, and who continue to do so today."

Professor Hamilton said protest movements in Australia have been extraordinarily inventive.

"Forms of protest have ranged from sit-ins, die-ins and preach-ins, to vigils and occupations. Dissidents have chained themselves to buildings, burnt their draft cards, thrown themselves in front of VIP vehicles, and sung bulldozers to sleep. Their creativity is endless.

"I expect today's activists, like environmentalists wanting to close down the coal industry, will be inspired by this story of protest to come up with new ways of getting their message across. Protest is now a firm tradition in Australia, but it keeps evolving in fascinating new directions."

Richly illustrated by images from the National Library's archives, supplemented from other sources, Professor Hamilton shares the stories behind the major social movements in Australia, including the anti-war movement, women's liberation, gay liberation, indigenous rights and the environment movement, bringing them all up-to-date.

What Do We Want? includes a thought-provoking Foreword by Professor Germaine Greer, in which she reflects on the power of saying 'no'.

What Do We Want? – The Story of Protest in Australia is published by National Library of Australia Publishing, retails for $39.99 and will be launched at the National Library of Australia (Theatre, lower ground floor) at 6pm Wednesday 2 November. (Entry is $15 and includes refreshments and book signing.)