Off Our Rockers and into Trouble: The Raging Grannies

When the Raging Grannies sprang up in 1987 in Victoria, B.C., they didn't realize they'd be starting a worldwide movement. They just wanted to protest, but in a different way. And they do. Their weapons? Satire and song.

The Grannies have challenged nuclear-armed ships, forestry companies, arms manufacturers, multinational corporations, pharmaceutical giants, makers of war toys, the World Trade Organization and every level of government, from municipal councils to the American presidency. Wearing outrageous hats and warbling witty lyrics, they make fun of the powerful people who are wreaking havoc with the world of their grandchildren.

For their messages of peace and justice, Grannies have been arrested, jailed, pepper-sprayed and even hosed by the U.S. navy. They've also been praised by Ralph Nader, Peter Gzowski, David Suzuki and Pete Seeger, invited to perform far and wide and admired as role models.

Off Our Rockers is a funny book that shows how groups of older women around the world take on the powers that be, win the occasional battle and have a wonderful time doing it all.

Alison Acker joined the Victoria Raging Grannies in 1989 and became the chief songwriter. She was convicted twice for mischief when taking part in civil disobedience in Toronto and Ottawa in the 1980s, protesting war and oppression in Central America, and once for criminal contempt of court for taking part in the Clayoquot protests in 1993. She served 14 days in jail. Alison has a B.A. from the University of London and an M.A. from the University of Toronto. She’s worked as a journalist for the Daily Express, Winnipeg Tribune, Vancouver Herald, and Financial Post and as a freelancer for many Canadian magazines. She has spent 15 years working in solidarity with the people of Chile, Guatemala, and El Salvador. She has authored Children of the Volcano, Honduras: the Making of a Banana Republic and has translated Exodus: an Anthology of Guatemalan Poets.

Betty Brightwell was one of the founding Grannies in 1987. When she first attended meetings wearing pearls, some Grannies thought she was a spy for the CIA! But her refined image serves them well when dealing with the press and officialdom. Visits of nuclear warships have always been Betty’s main concern, but she’s also fervent about most Granny issues and is the "nightmare" of local developers. She has a B.A. in English and history from the University of British Columbia. Her careers have ranged from teacher to farmer, and during her two years in Malaysia she was dubbed the Southeast Asia correspondent for the Lanark Era. Also a local-history buff, she’s contributed to two books on the subject. She once ran for council and came in last — her platform of eliminating visits by U.S. nuclear warships wasn’t a winner in a naval town. In addition, she was instrumental in saving the CBC in the mid-’90s. Savvy at her computer, she snaps digital shots of Granny shenanigans and sends them worldwide.