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.