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MELBOURNE SOCIAL FORUM NEWS – October 2008
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In this issue :
- MSF AGM
- MSF 2009
- Want an item included in the newsletter?
- News, events and actions
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MSF 2009 : 17th – 19th April 2009
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Yes, you already know we’re planning an event, but what have we actually been doing when 2009 is still so far away?
The organisers have been busy applying for grant funding from several organisations. This meticulous task takes skill, time and foreword planning, which is a challenging ask for our voluntary time. If you know of any sources of funding that you think might assist us in delivering MSF 2009, please drop us a line. Alternatively, if you have some time and grant writing skills, we’d love to hear from you.
info@melbournesocialforum.org
Regarding the wider event conceptual planning stage. We invite you to submit your ideas for themes, activities and outcomes that you would like to see eventuate.
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Notice of Melbourne Social Forum 2008 Annual General Meeting
Thursday 13th November 2008 at 7.00 pm
Venue: Social Justice Centre – The Blue Room,
124 Napier St, Fitzroy.
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All are welcome to attend the Melbourne Social Forum’s first Annual
General Meeting.
To vote on any issues relating to the organisation you must be
a member, this can be done on the night of the meeting and is a one off fee of $10.
If you have any other items to discuss at the meeting, please send them to the organisers list as they must be on the agenda in order for them to be discussed. Many items on this agenda will be very brief.
Agenda
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1. Election of chair and minute taker
2. Attendances and Apologies
3. Proxies
4. Verifying quorum numbers and entitlements to vote
5. Report from the Public Officer
6. Report from the MSF Organisers Committee
7. Acceptance of the financial statements
a. income and expenditure
b. assets and liabilities (balance sheet)
8. Proposed budget for the next financial year
9. Setting of membership fees for next financial year
10. Election of MSF Officers
a. Co-Convenor 1
b. Co-Convenor 2
c. Secretary
d. Treasurer
11. Special business
For more details please contact the Melbourne Social Forum info@melbournesocialforum.org
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Want an item included in the next newsletter?
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Submit your events and news items to news@melbournesocialforum.org by 27th October to be included in the next newsletter.
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PBI fund raising coordinator vacancy
We have had to extend the closing date for applications for the fund raising position with Peace Brigades International.
Applications now close on Friday October 17.
***All e-mail correspondence should be addresses to pbiaustralia@peacebrigades.org.***
Peace Brigades International Australia
124 Napier St, Fitzroy Vic 3065
PO Box 2172, Fitzroy MDC Vic 3065
Tel/Fax: +61 (03) 9415 6642
www.peacebrigades.org
pbiaustralia@peacebrigades.org
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GLOBAL WARMING
An economic perspective
12 seminars with Dr Jim Crosthwaite
2 September to 18 November
Tuesdays 6.30 to 8.30 Trades Hall
MSCP evening series
www.mscp.org.au/es08.html
Climate change is happening at a very fast rate. Melting of ice sheets and retreat of glaciers suggests that irreversible thresholds are being rapidly approached. The problem must be addressed quickly and deeply. This can only happen if governments around the world show strong leadership, avoid capture by vested interests, and address the major equity issues that will arise. Economics like other disciplines can offer much in terms of understanding how the climate change problem arose, how it will affect
future growth and development, how it can be stabilised, how to choose between technical options for mitigation and adaptation, and how international collective action can be achieved. Controversy rages among economists on these issues, not least because mainstream neo-classical economics has a different world view to other economic schools such as ecological economics and political economy, as well as different theories and methods.
Global Warming: An Economic Perspective is a public seminar series that aims to be accessible to all who accept the proposition that there is no economy without a living environment, but who nonetheless feel disoriented by the welter of political proposals on offer within mainstream and non-mainstream debate. The series aims to (a)familiarise attendees from within and beyond the university with the economics discussed in major reports on climate change;(b)develop understanding of the way different schools within economics deal with climate change and (c) further informed debate about economic aspects of mitigation and adaptation proposals.
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Save Water and the Vegie Patch
7 -9 pm Wednesday 1st October.
Meet from 6.30pm
Brunswick Town Hall
A public forum on adapting water restrictions to enable the vegie patch to survive through summer.
We will discuss why we should grow our own food and how we can make sure that future water restrictions allow Victorian gardeners access to enough adequate water, while still keeping water use to a minimum.
Speakers include:
* Jane Edmanson, Gardening Australia, 3W . www.janesgarden.com.au
* Clive Blazey, Diggers Seeds www.diggers.com.au
* David Holmgren, Holmgren Design Services (Permaculture)
www.holmgren.com.au/
* Helen Tuton, Sustainable Gardening Australia. www.sgaonline.org.au
Gold Coin Donation
For more information about the Food Gardeners Alliance and the forum,
please go to www.fga.org.au or Jonathan Pipke Mob: 0412.665.216 jonathan@printmanagement.com.au
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How universal is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?: the future of human rights in the 21st Century
* To be delivered by Professor Hilary Charlesworth, Australian National University
When: Thursday 2 October, 7.30 pm (please be seated by 7.15 pm)
Where: Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre, Cnr Bell St & St Georges Rd, Preston, Melbourne
RSVP (essential) to Centre for Dialogue, La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086
Email: dialogue@latrobe.edu.au
Tel: (03) 9479 1893
Further information:
2008 is the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Although many countries have agreed to uphold human rights, controversy remains over whether human rights are universal across different cultures and religions. Professor Charlesworth will consider some of these debates and assess the role of human rights in international law.
Hilary Charlesworth is one of Australia’s leading experts on human rights. She is the Director of the ‘Centre for International Governance & Justice’ and Professor of
International Law and Human Rights at the Australian National University. She has taught at international universities and was chair of the ACT Government’s inquiry into
an ACT Bill of Rights, which resulted in the adoption of the ACT Human Rights Act 2004. She has also worked closely with a variety of non-government organisations, such as
‘Women’s Legal Service’ in the ACT and the ‘Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture’. In 2006 she was awarded the Goler T.Butcher Medal for her “outstanding contributions to the development of international human rights” by the American Society of International Law.
Organised by La Trobe University – Centre for Dialogue Co-Sponsored by the City of Darebin
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Crooked Rib & Aerosol Arabic
Exhibition:
Gallery 15 at 15W, Melbourne
Thu 2 – Thu 23 Oct
Mon – Fri 8am – 6pm
Entry: Free
City Street Mural:
Sparks Lane, off Flinders St, Melbourne
View work in progress:
Sat 18 & Sun 19 Oct
Fri 24 – Sun 26 Oct
Opening: Sun 26 Oct
Entry: Free
Background:
A powerful collaboration that challenges cultural misconceptions & celebrate identity. Crooked Rib has been collaborating artistically since late 2007. A partnership between the City of Melbourne’s Community Cultural Development Program & the Muslim Women’s Council Victoria gave rise to this project, now comprised of fourteen young Muslim women. Crooked Rib works with artist Amanda King to express what it means to be young, Muslim and living in Melbourne through this remarkable exhibition of their new works.
In this collaboration with UK-based artist Aerosol Arabic, Melbournians can experience the creation of a whole new vernacular in stencil art. During the festival, Crooked Rib & Aerosol Arabic create a mural that challenges ideas of difference and promotes notions of identity.
Melbourne International Arts Festival
www.melbournefestival.com.au
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Outer suburbs petrol price workshops
Outer suburbs petrol price workshops: what can we really do about high petrol prices?
Meeting: 5 October to start developing workshop material
Further information:
If you would like to get involved please contact Pablo
Email: pabs101@hotmail.com
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Moreland Bike Users Group
Maribyrnong Creek trail and ring road – Sunday 5th October
Explore the Maribyrnong River to Brimbank Park, then take the Western Ring Road path to Jacana or Gowrie Stations (on the Broadmeadows or Upfield lines) then return to the Zoo by train. Very keen riders could head home via the Merri Creek.
Distance: ~ 56km. For details check http://www.morelandbug.org/
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Bicycle Polo Tournament – Sunday 5th October
12pm Royal Exhibition Building Cnr Rathdown and Queensbury Sts.
Entry: Team of 3: $15. Individual $5.
email entries to melbourne.bicycle.polo.club@gmail.com
More information http://www.bikepolo.com.au
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Title: Transition to a Zero Carbon Future Discussion Group
Topic: The future of wind energy in Australia
Description: Monthly discussion group hosted by Beyond Zero Emissions focusing on energy solutions to climate change.
Event location: 2nd Floor, Kindness House, 288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Time: 6.30 – 8:30 pm, Monday 6th October 2008
Our guest speaker, A/Prof Hugh Outhred of the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications at UNSW, has been involved in electricity restructuring, energy planning and renewable energy in Australia, since the 1970′s. He will speak about the possibilities for the extensive deployment of wind energy in Australia, as well as address issues such as wind variability and forecasting techniques, the potential difficulties in managing voltage and frequency disturbances and the cost and implications of network integration. Join us for an informed discussion on the future of wind energy in Australia.
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Whatever happened to the Spanish Sahara?
When: Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 7.30pm
Where: ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), Federation Square, Melbourne
All welcome
An evening of films about Western Sahara (former Spanish Sahara) at ACMI presented by Melbourne Filmoteca: Latin American, Spanish & Portuguese Film Group and the Australia Western Sahara Association.
The films are to be introduced by Lyn Allison (formerly a Democrat Senator for Victoria). She visited the Saharawi refugee camps, has raised questions in parliament about their plight and is now president of the Australia Western Sahara Association.
Background:
From the late-1880s until the mid-1970s Spain laid claim to Western Sahara in North West Africa naming it Spanish Sahara (Sahara Español). Saharawi resistance to Spanish colonial rule was
strong. In May 1973 the Saharawi liberation movement the POLISARIO Front (Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y Río de Oro) was formed and Spain moved towards holding a referendum of self-determination in keeping with United Nations practice for decolonization. Before this took place the two neighbouring African countries invaded and a war ensued. On 27 February 1976 the Saharawi Republi
was declared and POLISARIO formed a government-in-exile. It represents the Saharawi people in UN negotiations with Morocco (the occupying power) to resolve the sovereignty of Western Sahara.
was declared and POLISARIO formed a government-in-exile. It represents the Saharawi people in UN negotiations with Morocco (the occupying power) to resolve the sovereignty of Western Sahara.
The films show how the Saharawis are continuing to build their movement for self-determination partly through education. However, their tragic predicament is still a harsh daily reality.
Q & A and discussion afterwards with Lyn Allison and other AWSA members.This will be an opportunity to discuss the films and also the strong links between the Saharawis and the Spanish people that exist today.
Admission: 18+
Tickets: $13, $10 (concession) on sale at box office: 8663 2583
or online at www.acmi.net.au/ticketing
Melbourne Filmoteca: www.melbournefilmoteca.org
Australia Western Sahara Association: www.awsa.org.au
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Roads for Public Transport Summit
The Roads for Public Transport Summit is an initiative of the Victorian Road Based Public Transport Advisory Council to identify issues and actions that accommodate and promote the needs of road-based public transport. Ideas arising from the Summit will be considered and prioritised for action by the Advisory Council.
The theme of the Summit is ‘Building on Patronage Growth’. The Summit will allow participants to learn and discuss the current travel trends and issues facing road-based public transport services. It will provide participants opportunity for feedback and input into ways to continue improving road-based public transport. The Minister for Roads and Ports and the Minister for Public Transport will both address the Summit.
Dates: Thursday 9th October, 2008 8.30 am – 12.30 pm (followed by lunch).
Venue: RACV City Club, 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne
Cost: Free (but spaces limited)
RSVP: rbpt@roads.vic.gov.au
More Info: Roger Lau on (03) 9854 1904 or Larissa Radion on (03) 9854 2920.
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SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
Thu 9 Oct
7.00 pm – 9.00 pm, FREE
We need to find new ways to travel if we want to stop irreversible climate change, and reduce the obesity and diabetes epidemic in Australia. Come and hear about Darebin’s Going Places Program, walking school buses, Go-Get car sharing facilities, electric bikes, hybrid cars, local bicycle user groups and how to get the most out of public transport.
Sustainable Homes Co-ordinator
Ph 8470 8373
sustainablehomes@darebin.vic.gov.au
www.sustainablehomes.vic.gov.au
Darebin Council Chambers, 350 High Street, Preston
All welcome
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One Just World – Free Forums on Poverty and Development
One Just World is a series of free after-work public forums, with outstanding speakers tackling some of the big issues in international development. One Just World is presented by AusAID, the International Women’s Development Agency and World Vision, in partnership with six Australian universities.
The dates, locations and topics are:
Tuesday 7 October – Brisbane City Hall : Millennium Development Goals – where are we up to?
Tuesday 21 October – Canberra Parliament House : New Partnerships for development
Wednesday 29 October – Melbourne BMW Edge : If water is life, what do we do when it runs out?
For more information head to www.onejustworld.com.au
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Climate change and the dialogue of cultures
* Lecture by Professor Joseph Camilleri
When: Wednesday 8 October, 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Where: Copland Theatre, Economics & Commerce Building, The University of Melbourne
Background:
Climate change has rightly come to occupy centre stage in national and international politics. Most attention is currently directed to what societies and the international community should do to reduce, if not reverse, the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions. In the ensuing debate diverse stakeholders have focused on the technical and economic solutions to the problem. Culture has been strangely absent in these discussions, yet is central to any viable solutions. The lecture addresses two questions: Is culture destined to be part of the problem or part of the solutions? How well prepared are we to bring the ‘dialogue of cultures’ to bear on the Great Debate?
About the speaker:
Prof Joseph Camilleri is Professor of International Relations & Director of the Centre for Dialogue at La Trobe University. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences and chairs the Editorial Committee of the journal ‘Global change, peace and security’. He has lectured in many parts of the world on global governance, conflict analysis, arms control and disarmament, the role of culture and religion in international relations, the policies of the great powers, terrorism and the ‘war on terror’. He has given evidence to several government enquiries, convened numerous national and international conferences, and is the recipient of many awards.
Organised by the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Arts
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Australian Poetry Slam ’08
* poem, rap, story… waddya callit?
Who will be the next Australian poetry slam champion?
Speak, howl or sing your original poem & let the audience be the judge! Victorian heat winners will compete in the stat final on 13 November, then the top two Victorians will battle for the national title and prize in Sydney on 4 December
Victorian heats
*Northcote
Darebin Library Service – Northcote Branch
Workshop: Wed 8 Oct, 4-5.30pm
Heat: Thurs 9 Oct, 7-9pm (register at 6pm)
Inquiries: 1300 655 355
*Footscray
Maribyrnong Library Service – Footscray branch
Workshop: Wed 15 Oct, 4.30 – 6pm
Heat: Thurs 16 Oct, 7-9pm (register at 6.30pm)
Inquiries: 9688 0292
*Woodend
Goldfields Regional Library – Woodend branch
Workshop: Tues 21 Oct, 4-5.30pm
Heat: Wed 22 Oct, 7-8.30pm (register at 6.30pm)
Inquiries: 5427 2074
*Mornington
Mornington Peninsula Library – Mornington branch
Workshop: Tues 28 Oct, 6.30-7.30pm (register at 6pm)
Heat: Thurs 30 Oct, 7-9pm (register at 6.30pm)
Inquiries: 5950 1820
**Victorian State Final
State Library of Victoria, Swanston St, Melbourne
When: Thurs 13 Nov, 6.30pm
For further details go to:
www.slv.vic.gov.au/goto/poetryslam
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Building the climate movement online
What will it take to create a strongly networked, strategic & powerful Australian climate movement? How can online organising help build this movement?
Forums in Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane co-convened by The Change Agency (tCA) & Friends of the Earth (FoE) to stimulate creative & constructive discussions about online organising. These forums aim to actively involve climate change activists.
* Melbourne forum:
When: Thursday 16 Oct, 6pm
Where: FoE, 312 (upstairs, Smith St, Collingwood)
Contact: damien.lawson@foe.org.au / 0419 253 342
More info: james@thechangeagency.org / 0431 150 928
Forum details: ‘What would effective online organising look like?’
Online tools offer climate change activists and groups important strategic opportunities to build the movement. Websites, egroups, blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr and other applications are being used extensively by community organisers… But how well? How can online tools be harnessed most effectively to recruit, engage, energise, strategise and sustain grassroots climate change activism?
In June, tCA and FoE launched an action research project that has included an online questionnaire completed by 200 climate change community organisers, interviews and a desk study of effective online organising.
Come along to hear what we’ve learnt through this project so far.
Join us for a discussion to:
- develop and share a critical overview of communication tools and platforms
- share climate change organising lessons and insights
- learn to organise more effectively online
- hear about FoE’s climate campaign
- bridge the gaps between grassroots and NGO activists, between environmentalists and other citizens concerned about climate change, and between the rebels, reformers, citizens and change agents in this powerful and growing people’s movement.
Check out tCA”s ‘climate action research project’ for details about the project and to download a copy of this report from tCA website:
www.thechangeagency.org
This stage of tCA action research project is partnered with FoE Australia and supported by the Reichstein Foundation and the Electronic Community Networking Association.
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A WEEK OF GM-FREE ACTION ACROSS AUSTRALIA
Around WORLD FOOD DAY – October 16, 2008
World Food Day is Thursday October 16, a great opportunity to say again that GM crops and foods cannot ‘feed the world’ and would undermine food security for Australia!
The GM-free Australia-wide coalition will promote a week of local activities between October 11&19, during which time you and your community can work with others around Australia to keep our country GM-free.
Please mobilise your constituents to make the week of GM-free action a success everywhere.
Your activities might include:
• petition your council to make your city or shire and its food services GM-free;
• collect signatures at supermarkets or in town squares on petitions for labels on all foods made with GM techniques – vege oils, starches and sugars, and animal products where – meat, milk, eggs, honey – where animals ate GM feed;
• letter writing to local papers, MPs, and state and federal Health Ministers, asking for labelling;
• supermarket information tours (use the True Food Guide to highlight GM & GM-free foods);
• local supermarket managers to feature GM-free, including their home brands;
• make and display GM-free campaign materials in your workplace/home/public places;
• meet your local, state and federal MPs to advocate GM-free;
• create art, music and performance for GM-free;
• show GM-free videos at community forums and debates;
• protest the Roundup herbicide tolerant GM canola growing in NSW and Victoria for the first time that will soon be harvested for seed or hay;
• issue local media releases about GM-free World Food Day in your area;
• other creative, colourful and charismatic happenings that you can imagine.
Together, our coalition can make this week of GM-free activities a winner in the community, in the media, and in policy forums. Make World Food Day an exciting GM-free food and farming event! Keep corporate control off Australian foods and fields!
Please keep us posted on all your preparations so they can be publicised and promoted.
From the Steering Committee Australian GM-free Coalition
Michelle Sheather Greenpeace <michelle.sheather@dialb.greenpeace.org>
Rachel Carey MADGE <rachel@careythomas.com.au>
Scott Kinnear Biological Farmers Aust <scottkinnear@bigpond.com>
Jeremy Tager <jeremytager@gmail.com>
Bob Phelps Gene Ethics <info@geneethics.org>
Tel: 1300 133 868 (local call from any land line)
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Screening of the “World According to Monsanto”
30th October @ Bar 303
303 High Street, Northcote
The documentary will be shown at 6pm, followed by a public debate on GMO.
Hopefully including Bob Phelps of Genethics, the Darebin councillors, The Greens candidates to the Darebin elections and the rep of Monsanto.
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Eco Market Update
If you want to challenge the dominance of the BIG supermarkets? Check out the Friends of the Earth Eco Market project.
Eco Market is planned to launch this Spring in Melbourne with approved stallholders selling the majority of the product lines found in a supermarket. The Eco Market won’t be the place you shop before you go to the supermarket for the toilet paper and toothpaste, it will be your one-stop-shop to replace your supermarket trip altogether.
Every product and service on sale at Eco Market will aim to be a ‘best buy’ in terms of environmental, social and ethical outcomes as defined by Friends of the Earth.
Learn more: www.foe.org.au/sustainable-food/activities-and-projects/the-sustainable-supermarket
http://www.foe.org.au/sustainable-food/activities-and-projects/the-sustainable-supermarket/FoE_EcoMarket_brochure.pdf/view
Request to be kept informed: realfood@melbourne.foe.org.au
Doanlaod the audio podcast of the night and hear what you missed, as Cam Walker, Giselle Wilkinson, Founder of Sustainable living Foundation and Dave West, Founder of The Boomerang Alliance give the supermarkets a serve
www.foe.org.au/resources/audio-centre/Eco_market_info_session.mp3
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