Climate Change Is Destroying Australia’s Third Places
We need third places… and we’re losing them. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term “third place” in the 80s – somewhere that is not home or work, but a physical place that encourages “warmth, conviviality, and that special kind of human sustenance we call community.” In Australia, it’s often beautiful natural spaces that serve this purpose: parks for picnics and impromptu cricket matches; beaches for lazing with your mates all day; hikes and bushwalks; lakes and waterfalls, all accessible for free or cheap. So what happens now that these important cornerstones of community spirit and mental wellbeing are under serious threat from climate change?
