MSF Workshops / Participating organisations

MSF Workshops 2004

1. Venezuela: the first revolution of the 21st century? – Democratic Socialist Perspective
2. Alternatives to the fossil fuel corporations – Darren Coughran
3. What’s wrong with the World Trade Organisation? – Global Trade Watch
4. Women for Peace – no weapons for war
5. Childcare and paid maternity leave – for a woman’s right to choose – Campaign for Woman’s Reproductive Rights
6. Intro to On-line Activism – Melbourne IndyMedia
7. Life After Capitalism – International Socialist Organisation
8. No channel deepening in Port Phillip Bay – Blue Wedges Coalition and Friends of the Earth
9. Oil wars: the oil economy and the war on terror – John Cleary
10. Real Hope for Peace – Susan Carew
11. What next for indigenous justice in Australia: it is up to us – ANTaR
12. Renegade Economists Explore Our Pyramid Society – Earthsharing Australia
13. Creating a ceres in darebin – darebin greens
14. Close to home: resisting family violence in our communities – Elvira Griffith and ada Conroy
15. The European social forum and beyond: where to for the social forum movement – vince caughley
16. Structures of power – Brunswick womens theatre
17. Anarchism – out of the ghetto – Greg Platt
18. The politics of fear – Andy Blunden
19. Green left weekly and the politics of a red/green alliance – Democratic Socialist Perspective
20. Institutionalised discrimination: heart of a racial nation
21. What’s wrong with coca cola – the campaign for justice in Colombia – Revolution – Socialist youth organization
22. Power, property, responsibility – Tom Graves
23. Let’s get active: creating a movement for global justice in Melbourne – Global trade watch
24. Notes for a union campaign during the coming attacks – Dave Kerin
25. Should we support the resistance in Iraq? – Moreland peace group
26. Navigating the global grassroots movement – Maria Rodrigues
27. Australia in the pacific – Nic Maclellan
28. Proceeds of crime and the liability of modern Australia – aboriginal genocide
29. After labour’s defeat – why we need a new workers party – Workers power Australia
30. Building relationships with community – linda jane
31. The principles behind pr sarkar’s social cycle – Australian foresight institute
32. The howard doctrine: australia’s role in us militarism – Jacob grech
33. Nuclear issues – Dave Sweeney & Adam Dempsey
34. The Israel- Palestine conflict – the Australia Jewish democratic society
35. Democracy – teach it or lose it – Rod Land
36. Human rights and Canberra: mutually exclusive terms or a workable proposition? – Barbara Rogalla

Organised Panels

Real Democracy – MSF organisers
Creating Peace – MSF organisers
Sustainability in the NOW Era – MSF organisers
Roads to Justice – MSF organisers
Solutions for Equity – MSF organisers

MSF Workshops / Participating Organisations 2005

What is Poverty? A debate – The question of What is poverty? underlies strategies for what to do about it and how to promote the question in public policy debates. The effectiveness of the neo-cons in increasing inequality while sidelining welfare policy and stigmatising welfare recipients means that a fundamental re-think is required on the Left. The speakers will present three divergent views on the nature of poverty (all from the Left!) and invite participants to join the debate. Run by Andy Blunden, Philip Mendes and Rob Watts.

The Way Forward for Peace – This workshop will provide an analysis of the strategies Gandhi’s developed to bring independence to India which we can use in an Australian context now, together with other useful contemporary strategies. Run by Ruth Russell (Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom)

ANTaR – This workshop will have a broad overview of pre-invasion Aboriginal world and of the common history of the last 220 years. This leads into a brief exploration of the notion of privilege, followed by a challenge for people to identify specific ways in which they can do something – within the limits of their time, skills, etc – Run by Frank Hytten (ANTaR)

Innovative Direct Action and Community Organising for the G20 – The next annual global meeting of the finance ministers of the world’s richest nations, together with the heads of the World Bank and IMF, will occur in Melbourne towards the end of 2006. This workshop will be a space to generate innovative ideas for direct action and other forms of community organising concerning the G20, to win the battle of the story against capitalism and corporate-led globalisation. Run by Rodney Vlais (Friends of the Earth)

McOccupation in Iraq: How McDonalds contributes to the ‘war on terror’ & other atrocities.
McDonalds is guilty of a lot of things – having terrible food, crap service, and shitty restaurants – but that’s fine: these are things that consumers have choice over. We can eat there if we like it, but no one’s forcing us to if we don’t. What we don’t have a choice over, however, is how McDonalds chooses to treat its staff, how McDonalds chooses to treat the animals it slaughters for food, and how the McDonalds corporatation chooses to donate money to America Supports You, an organisation that provides a way for corporations to support the occupation of Iraq. Find out more about what McDonalds is up to, and what you can do to help stop it at this workshop. Run by Jodie Clark (Revolution)

What happened to the Common Wealth? This workshop will seek to explore and promote discussion on the philosophical issue of what should be our equal and common birthright – access to land and natural resources. It will look at the history of economic thought and how neoclassical economics (our present capitalist system) has conflated and confused the vital distinction between the Gifts of Nature and capital. It will then explore how a system of natural resource charges (a refined system of eco-taxes) allows us all to share equitably in the Global Commons as well as, by applying the True Cost of natural resources, using finite resources sparingly and responsibly.
Run by Karl Williams (Current editor of the Geoist Journal of Australia)

The Parkin Backfire: Lessons for activist defence. In September 2005, the deportation of US peace activist Scott Parkin sparked a national political scandal, triggering protests around the country and heightening public concern over new anti-terror laws. This workshop will tell Scott’s story using backfire analysis, which shows how citizens can respond to five common methods that perpetrators use to inhibit public outrage against gross injustice. Run by Iain Murray (Friends of Scott Parkin) & Brian Martin (University of Wollongong)

What is Imperialism in the 21st Century? A Panel Discussion. With the US still in Iraq three years on, what is the changing nature of imperialism in the 21st century? Australia, too, is extending its influence in South Pacific island nations. What can we learn from previous imperial adventures, is there a new ‘imperial’ rivalry shaping the world today and can we resist the new empires? A panel forum. Run by the International Socialist Organisation

Civil Liberties Under Threat – Their Democracy and Ours. A Panel Discussion. Howard’s anti-terror laws are an attack on our civil rights. Is the ‘war of terror’ something we need new laws for or is it just an excuse to make more draconian laws in an era of rebellion against the neo-liberal policies? A panel forum Run by the International Socialist Organisation

Literacy and justice – Making literacy easier. Open stall Its 3 principles are:
i. Print literacy is essential for citizens in our modern society – for social progress and for personal empowerment, pleasure and an alternative to self-destructive consolations and dumbing-down of proles.
ii. There must be books worth reading for learners.
iii. Literacy should be much easier than it is.

R.E.A.L. H.O.P.E. Susan Carew is the manager of One World Network. Susan teaches a values
based peace, nonviolence and anti-bullying program in Primary Schools, called R.E.A.L. H.O.P.E. This is an acronym for: responsibility, empathy, awareness, love, honesty, oneness, peace and enjoyment. The program is designed to teach life skills and peaceful behaviours. It is endorsed by Dr. Patch Adams (American clown doctor). Susan is also creating what appears to be the first collaborative problem solving Children’s Parliament. The parliament will teach children lateral thinking, values, conflict resolution, environmental issues, human rights and clowning skills. The kids will work on community problems and come up with possibilities and solutions. It is a pilot program whereby developing democracy at the school level. Run by Susan Carew (more details at http://www.worldpeacefull.com/)

EngageMedia – Breaking the media monopoly: web based video distribution EngageMedia will give an overview of their pioneering work linking media activism with web based video distribution. This workshop will also offer practical lessons on getting video footage on the net, andnew currents in the democratisation of new media. Run by EngageMedia (engagemedia.org)

Plug-in TV – War stories from the doco making front line. Plug-in TV will talk about their award winning documentary series. Recipient of two Antenna national community television awards in 2005, Plug-in TV’s series aired from march 2005, and continues to the present on channel 31. They will talk about Talk about accessing channel 31 and mainstreaming media.

The Politics of Information. Darren Sharp, from Swinburne University of Technology, will explore emerging thinking around the construction of the information commons. The open source movement, participatory media and anarchist cultural production are actively creating a new space: the information commons. This abstract yet practical space is important in defining how activists, educators, content creators and artists articulate new systems, norms and laws that facilitate autonomy in the face of powerful corporate interests attempting to lock down and colonise the commons. He will give a survey of key thinker, such as McKenzie Wark (Hacker Manifesto) on the power dynamics between information oligarchs and information anarchists, and the shift from Realpolitik to Noopolitik – corresponding ‘vectoralist class’, networks, soft power, new identities and forms of citizenship.

Re-framing the global war on terror. The Bush administration, inspired by neo-conservatives such as Richard Perle, Norman Podhoretz, and Paul Wolfowitz, have framed the public discourse on terrorism subsequent to the events of September 11th Yet many know that the neo-conservative framing of this ‘war on terror’ is false or incomplete. Alex Burns, a media researcher from Swinburne University of Technology, will provide an overview of the work of key media theorist such Douglas Kellner, George Lakoff and others, in analysing neo-conservative ‘framing’ of terrorism. In a participatory, hands-on workshop, participants will explore notions of ‘framing’ issues, and what images are used to frame terrorism issues. Participants will look at our current frustrations with how this issue has been framed, and how we can reframe it.

Oases post-graduate program in integrative leadership. OASES stands for ‘The Organic integration of the Aesthetic, Social, Ecological, and Spiritual elements of our human reality’. It is a new post-graduate program which has emerged from collaboration between the Augustine Centre and Borderlands Cooperative in Melbourne. This workshop will explore contradictions and the nature of the crisis in higher education, in particular its growing commercialisation, commodification and marketisation. Alternative education models will be explored, including the content of alternative education. We will explore the contradictions in engagement and implementation of alternative education models. We will also ask what education for personal, social and global transformation and integration means in the 21st century. Contact: Deb Salvagno – info@oases.org.au

Simpol – Simultaneous Policy Organisation. Simultaneous Policy Organisation is a project to create global governance on a locally democratic basis to solve global issues: ecological governance, security, poverty, and fair trade for example. An information session will be offered that explains the Simultaneous Policy Organisation project, what it is attempting to accomplish, the process it is employing, and how people can get involved. The issue of communicating Simpol to a broader base will be addressed. In addition deficiencies in the Simpol model will be examined, as well as how Simpol might be reconceptualised to make it more effective beyond advocacy (reach the suburbs) and Western (China + India) contexts.

The Other Occupation: Why Palestine is Still the Issue. Palestine is not just another social justice issue; it is at the forefront of the global struggle between justice and racism, as South Africa was in the 1980s. Peace activist, Donna Mulhearn spent four months in the West Bank as a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement earlier this year. Through her first-hand accounts, images and stories about life under occupation she will outline why peace cannot be achieved via the ‘roadmap’ and the current peace process. She will examine the major barriers to peace, with particular reference to the apartheid wall, settlement expansion and settler violence against Palestinians. Donna believes the occupation of Palestine is currently the most de-stabilising international conflict, the world’s most powerful leaders are complicit in what is happening and the media is unwilling to report the reality of the situation. It is therefore up to ordinary people to remain vigilante and mobilise on behalf of the Palestinians. Run by Donna Mulhearn, Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine

VENEZUELA: Join the Australian brigade to see a revolution in action! This year fifty-seven Australians went to see the Bolivarian revolution first hand in Venezuela as part of the first solidarity brigade from Australia. This was organised by the Australian Venezuela Solidarity Network. In 2006 there will be three brigades to Venezuela 1) Dec05-Jan06: World Social Forum 2) May Day06: Trade Union Brigade 3) Nov06-Dec06 In the lead up to the presidential elections. Hear first hand about the revolution in the making. Run by the Australian Venezuela Solidarity Network (www.venezuelasolidarity.org)

Venezuela, Colombia and the new revolution in Latin America – This workshop will look at the general political crisis of the neoliberal model in Latin America, the crisis of ruling elites and parties, the development of a popular counter-offensive and the renewal of radical movements and organisations in the continent. In particular, Alejandro and Jorge will explore the wide range of debates among radical movements – canvassing the strategies and tactics of organisations in Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Brasil, Uruguay, Venezuela and Colombia. Discussion will include a critical look at the Brasilian PT, the Bolivian MAS, the indigenous movement in Ecuador, the piqueteros and the Venezuelan Bolivarian movement.
Run by Alejandro Rodriguez and Jorge Jorquera

Mexico and the Zapatistas – Graduate of Latin American Studies (National Autonomous University of Mexico UNAM), student activist, volunteer in Indigenous communities in Southern Mexico. Lourdes will discuss the long history of the struggles for indigenous rights in Mexico, outlining in particular where the Zapatistas fit into this history and their influence on other movements. Run by Lourdes Garcia Larque

Cuba & Che Guevara’s legacy in Latin America – This workshop will look at the significance of Che Guevara’s contribution to the radical movements of Latin America. Including a re-evaluation of his thought in light of the changes now underway in Venezuela and the debates emerging about strateggies for change. The workshop will also discuss the situation in contemporary Cuba and how this may fit into the general re-awakening of the anti-imperialist movemets on the continent.
Run by Resistance

Channel Deepening – The Marine Ecology in Port Phillip Bay is more biodiverse than the Great Barrier Reef. This could all be lost if the Channel Deepening project is allowed to proceed. In order to allow bigger ships into our bay, the Port of Melbourne proposes to dig the equivalent of a 15m X4m trench from Melbourne to Sydney! (40 million cubic metres) All of this material- including highly toxic sediment from the mouth of the Yarra river will be dumped back into the bay. Find out what you can do to protect your bay. Campaign history and plans for the future. See our spectacular DVD footage of Port Phillip marine ecosystems. If you like your fish and chips with fish, if you’d rather not swim in a muddy freeway for mega boats- come to our workshop!!

Metatransport – This workshop will cover the social aspects and a Buddhist perspective, and give a practical approach to one’s personal transport. Run by John Merory Frank Fisher, Elliott Fishman and Mark Newton (Siladasa, leader of the Western Buddhist Order in Melbounre)

Decolonization and exploitation in Western Sahara – Western Sahara’s natural resources, are being illegally exploited by its northern neighbour and occupying power, Morocco. A UN mission known as MINURSO has not only failed to deliver a referendum of self-determination, but is turning a blind eye to human rights abuses, and also the exploitation of Western Sahara’s resources: phosphates, fishing grounds and now oil. It is currently allowing an American company, Kerr McGee to prospect for oil off its Atlantic seaboard and Australia may turn out to be importing phosphates from Western Sahara. Run by Kamal Fadel, representative of the Polisario Front in Australia

PACE – Pedal Australia for Clean Energy – PACE will be travelling to universities around Australia discussing/promoting Clean Energy. We will be running workshops at universities to help build environment collectives, training students about campaign strategy while using the recent Monash announcement of a new Clean Energy Policy as an example of a campaign success and a successful campaign strategy. PACE is also linked to the Australian Student Environment Network campaign on clean energy.

Urban Agriculture and Food Security – Urban agriculture plays an important role in addressing issues associated with food insecurity and malnutrition in developing coutries as well as issues of obesity, diabetes and heart disease in the developed countries. Grass roots organisations and local governments are combining community development with projects involving growing food and accessing affordable fresh food to develop more sustainable long term ways of readjusting the balance. These projects are having a close look at our current food systems and developing powerful ways of reconnecting people with where their food comes from and in turn it’s connection to not only the health of their bodies but also their communities. This session will explore case studies of innovative food projects and organisations from Melbourne, Brazil, USA, Canada, Denmark and Cuba. Run by Peta Christensen, Ben Neil (Cultivating Communtiy CEO) and Chris Ennis (CERES Urban Agriculture Manager)

Deepak Chopra’s 7 Spiritual Laws of Success – Seven Spiritual Laws of Success is an adaptation of Deepak Chopra’s teachings for those seeking methods of applying spiritual principles “Learn how to adapt the Seven Laws in your life by aligning spiritual principles found in the laws with competencies identified as foundational to transformational leadership.” The principles are drawn from quantum physics, spirituality, mind/body medicine, a blend of Eastern and Western philosophy, as well as cutting edge business practices. Run by Linda Jane

Nuclear power no solution to climate change – This workshop will outline how a desperate, declining uranium industry is attempting to hoodwink the public into thinking nuclear energy is the solution to climate change. Simultaneously the government continues to neglect the core justice and equity issues relating to climate change – the grossly disproportionate rates of emissions and impacts and the burgeoning human rights crisis of climate refugees. The workshop will include a participatory visioning activity whereby participants get to create a nuclear free, climate just and equitable future. Run by Michaela Stubbs and Michelle Braunstein from Friends of the Earth

Lobbyocracy: The Hypocrisy of Democracy – Democratic principles such as 1 vote 1 value have been replaced by 1 lobby dollar, 1 decision favour. Contribute to a rapidly developing campaign exposing the undemocratic activities of corporations in Australia. Learn how this unique campaign will work, share your understanding of this process and help us track this travesty.
Run by Hammy Goonan and Karl Fitzgerald (The Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice, www.lobbyocracy.org)

The antisweatshop movement – A Global response to a global problem – FairWear is a national coalition of workers, community groups, women’s organisations, students, church and faith groups, unions, artists and activists, which has been working to eliminate the exploitation of outworkers and end sweatshop conditions in the garment industry since 1996. Campaigning to make Australian and multinational corporations accountable and responsible for the conditions of workers making their products is particularly challenging in the current climate of repressive anti worker laws on the rise. Links with sister campaigns and broader community action are necessary to bring companies to account and increase community / consumer awareness about buying clean clothes – free from exploitation. The workshop is an opportunity to look at effective campaigning strategies and discussion the key issues affecting workers in the global supply chain. Run by Annie Delaney and Daisy Gardener

Whales under attack – Australia has strong anti whaling policies, it is the only environmental issue that our government speaks out on. The lobbying that Ian Campbell did at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) is rivalled only by Australia’s anti Kyoto lobbying thanks to the coal industry. So why then are the Japanese as you read, heading to Antarctica for there biggest whale kill since whaling was banned? Because Alexander Downer will not let the government upset one of Australia’s biggest coal customers – Japan. Once again the real environmental work is up to volunteers. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society www.seashepherd.org came about from the realisation of Paul Watson back in the 70s, one of the founders of Greenpeace that if he didn’t do something who would? Sea Shepherd, the whales navy enforce the laws of the sea including IWC rulings that come under the UN. They use tactics like ramming whaling ships, blockading whaling ships and sinking whaling ships. Half of Norway’s whaling fleet was sunk in port by Sea Shepherd, the anti whalers then returned to the US and claimed responsibility, demanding that Norway extradite them and charge them for the crime!! The Sea Shepherd will be in Melbourne for a week from the 21st November. Come to the workshop, see and learn more about Sea Shepherd and help us while the Sea Shepherd are in Melbourne! Run by Paul Watson if the ship gets in in time or Paul martin coordinator of publicity and fundraising for the Sea Shepherd while in Melbourne.

In a sick society, only the sick are well – Are you mad? No? Well, lots of people are mad, in both senses of the word. Mentally ill and angry at the way we are treated. The “Not for Service” report and the wrongful detention of Cornelia Rau has exposed some of the many cracks in Australia’s Mental Health Services. The prison system has become the new mental asylum, homelessness and criminalisation masks the needs of the mentally troubled and we are raising a generation of kids on Ritalin and Prozac. Something has to be done! This workshop looks at the Madpride movement, a grassroots movement of Mental Health Service clients that wants to make significant change in how “Mental Illness” is seen and treated. If you are psychologically different or care for somebody who is, come along and find out what you can do…. Run by Madpride.

States, Transnationals and Opiates of the People: the Economic Infrastructure of the “War on terror” – Is there a “war on terror” in the sense of previous “wars”? What are the “war aims” of each “side”? Can we envisage an outcome or plurality of outcomes? Why and how are our freedoms being threatened by both sides in this conflict and what can we do about these threats?
Run by Owen Gager

Peak Oil and Community Solutions – As the world now peaks in global oil production, we enter into an historical era of ‘Energy Descent’. As individuals this means we will have to make do with less and less material goods each year, whilst dealing with Peak Oil’s other destabilising consequences. “A risk management report commissioned by the US Department of Energy warns that we need “at least a decade” of emergency mitigation efforts before oil peaks to avoid “economic, social, and political costs [which] will be unprecedented”. Yet nothing like these kind of efforts has even begun. In lieu of governmental responses, a number of communities around the world are organising to retrofit their suburbs and towns for Energy Descent. Rather than re-building from the ashes, these communities are preparing in advance, using Peak Oil as a catalyst to bring about various positive visions for change, with a focus on building livelier, prouder, more idosyncratic and self-reliant local communities, whilst addressing greenhouse, food security, health, transport and education. Can we begin to organise similarly around Melbourne?
Run by Liam and Adam of EnergyBulletin.net

Renegade Economists challenge the Dominoes of Monopoly Capitalism – If time is money and money makes the world go round, then why do we spend so much time working? Do we know why? It’s not hard to understand. Spend your time wisely and learn 4 common sense policies that make our lives easier. We’ll join the dots to the evidence too. Yes, independent thinking can challenge the dominoes of monopoly capitalism from devouring small business. Let’s use the force to turn the tide towards decent jobs and a safer planet. Karl Fitzgerald, Earthsharing Australia

An Australian Social Forum – In this workshop, we will discuss the possibility of an Australian Social Forum, what it would look like and how we would organise it. Run by Hammy Goonan (Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice), Jose Ramos, Cam Walker (Friends of the Earth)

A Workshop on Maitreya – Maitreya lives at the present in London. He is a teacher for the coming age and his priorities are eradicate the poverty in the world. With millions of starving people in the world of plenty a new economic system needs be implemented in the world with the most urgent thing being the environment. Run by Valter Poropat (www.share-international.org)

MSF 2006 Where do you see the MSF in the future? Run by the MSF organizers

Black GST – Indigenous people are traditionally peaceful. We want the issues of Genocide, Sovereignty and Treaty addressed and then we can get on with our beautiful way of life. Learn the history of recent Australia Law and grasp a decentralized step forwards with the Sacred treaty Circle Concept. Run by Rob Thorpe

Re-inventing Revolution in Latin America – Across the many nations of Latin America there are millions of people who are dispossessed and exploited by globalization. But rather than despairing they are organizing in a myriad of creative ways to keep alive the hope that another world is possible. This workshop is organized to build-bridges between the struggles in Latin America and those in our own Asia-Pacific region. For if we are to realize a world built on justice, democracy and dignity then we must defend the right to organize globally!

Speakers Include:

* Denise Gauchi, ‘Background to Colombia Conflict’
* Cam Walker, ‘Environment, Corporations & State terrorism in Colombia
* Marisol Salinas, ‘The Indigenous Mapuche Struggle’ (in Chile & Argentina)
* Marta Iñigue, ‘Indigenous People and Self-determination in Chiapas, Mexico’
* John Cleary, ‘The Struggle in Venezuela’
* Vek Lewis, ‘Transgender Struggles in Latin America’
* Colm McNaughton, ‘Why Latin America?’
* Lucho Riguelme, ‘Latin America is Alive!’
* Marie Dellora, ‘Cuba Today’.

Will be also Multimedia Presentation, Videos and Music For the right to organize globally! Run by Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET)

G20 Alternative workshops

Real Aid or Regional Thuggery – Australia’s role in the Pacific? What’s really going on with the RAMSI intervention in the Solomons? Why is Australia’s billions of dollars spent in the Pacific making our neighbours so cranky? Come and discuss how the vision of ‘Aid effectiveness’ that is shared by the Australian government and the G20 perpetuates a flawed model of development and explore why Australia’s aid to the Pacific is a textbook case of global aid priorities gone wrong. Kate Wheen AID/WATCH www.aidwatch.org.au

Iraq – America’s Achilles heel – After three and a half years, over 2,000 dead US troops, 650,000 dead Iraqi people, things aren’t looking so good for the Empire. With the anti-war movement growing, their army looking shaky and the Coalition governments getting nervous, this is the perfect time for the Anti-War movement in Australia to start upping the anti. Come to participate in a forum on how we can help get the troops out of Iraq, with discussions of upcoming anti-war mobilisations such as the 4th anniversary protests in march next year and Bush coming to Australia for APEC. Presented by Resistance

Queer Activist Network (QAN) – Join members of the newly formed Queer Activist Network (QAN) to discuss the campaign for free HIV/AIDS care in developing countries. We will also talk about the future of QAN and other QAN campaigns such as repealing homophobic laws, queer refugees and the national queer space campaign. http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2006/687/687p9b.htmBuilding 8, Level 6, Room 48

Justice for Palestine! International collaboration and skill-share workshop for Palestine solidarity activists. Organised by Auckland University Students for Justice in Palestine, Aotearoa Jews for Justice and Melbourne Palestine Solidarity Network.

Dialogue on Addressing Debt-Poverty – Maria de Lourdes Vicente da Silva – Landless Workers Movement of Brazil (MST) Mike Cebon – Global Trade Watch – Stephen Jolly – Socialist Party
Kate Wheen – AID/WATCH

Voices of Local Alternatives – Creating Communities will give voice to the many local alternatives that exist all around us. Stall holders speak about the many different community based alternatives they embody.

Climate Change – The Case for Zero Emissions – This presentation will briefly outline what is climate change and why today’s global warming is human forced. It will look at tipping points, feedback loops, lag effects and global dimming and why because of these we must immediately adopt a Zero Emissions goal. It will explore near Zero Emission solutions focusing on the stationary energy sector. Matthew Wright is a campaigner with Beyond Zero Emissions, an independent Zero Emissions climate change campaign based in Melbourne.

Venezuela – Making poverty history TODAY, Special guest: Nelson Davila – Venezuelan Charge d’affairs to Australia. Since the election of the Chavez government in 1999, Venezuela has
pursued an economic path opposite to that prescribed by the G20, World Bank and the IMF. Rejecting the profits first ethos of these institutions Venezuela has used the nations wealth for the benefit of workers and the poor. Free education and medical care systems have been established. Illiteracy has been eradicated. More housing for the poor has been built in two years than in the previous 20 years. Workers self-management of some major factories has been developed and millions of hectares of unused, yet arable land has been taken from large companies and re-distributed to landless poor people. These achievements contrast to those countries in Latin American that are yet to break from the IMF model. Venezuela has become an
inspiration to people all over the world. Nelson Davila, the Venezuelan government representative in Australia, will explore the achievements and challenges of the “Bolivarian Revolution”. “The only way to defeat poverty is to give power to the people” – Hugo Chavez Frias – President of Venezuela. Presented by the Australia Venezuela Solidarity Network

The IRON WALL – A film by Mohammed Alatar. “Zionist colonization must either stop, or else proceed regardless of the native population. Which means that it can proceed and develop only under the protection of a power that is independent of the native population – behind an IRON WALL, which the native population cannot breach.” – Zionist leader, Vladimir Jabotinsky, 1923
The Iron Wall exposes the aim of the settlement movement and the Apartheid Wall to create facts on the ground to make the creation of a Palestinian state impossible. Organised by Melbourne Palestine Solidarity Network

Australian Corporate complicity in Iraq – AID/WATCH campaigner Kate Wheen and Newcastle University academic Chris Doran will specifically focus on Australia’s enthusiastic participation in the Neo-liberal wet dream that became Iraq’s economy as well as give a revealing analysis of where government aid money was really going at the time of this unnecessary war.
Kate Wheen AID/WATCH

Camp Sovereignty workshop – Robbie Thorpe will talk about past & present actions such as the
Stolenwealth Games. His aim is to raise the awareness of indigenous reform concepts and get them into practice. Robbie has a list of key reforms, starting with the sacred fire. The importance of these reforms are paramount as they aim to rebuild indigenous culture from the ground
up. Along the way, non-indigenous can help and learn about the world’s oldest known culture.

Creating a Future for People in Mexico – A workshop on the Zapatistas Community experiences or how the people in Atenco and or Oaxaca are organising against state repression, Multi National Corporations and Neo-liberalism. Heriberto Salas – The other campaign, Mexico

Peoples Health Movement – The Peoples Health Movement, is a global coalition of grassroots and health activist organizations whose goal is to re-establish health and equitable development as top priorities in local, national and international policy-making. Despite overall increases in life expectancy in the past century, economic prosperity and development is widening the gap between the healthy and wealthy on one hand, and the poor and unwell on the other. Economic disparities both within and between countries has grown. In about 100 countries incomes are lower in real terms than they were a decade ago. By 1995, the world’s richest 225 people had the combined wealth equivalent to the annual income of the poorest 225 billion people in the world (nearly half of the world’s population). At the same time the environment is being plundered and degraded, and the world is facing a growing scarcity of renewable resources. Health is a social goal and a responsibility across our whole society. In both rich and poor countries, people’s health largely depends on the social conditions in which they work and live. By acting on social causes of ill health, governments can reduce health disparities, promote population health and create and sustain economically viable societies.

DISMANTLING CORPORATE RULE – Corporations have become the dominant institution of our time. They have hijacked our government and economy – our very democracy. A movement is growing to claim our sovereign power to make corporations subordinate. This workshop teaches the history and context for corporate power and will help participants to take the “1st Steps” necessary to reclaim our democracy from corporations. It will address the history and root causes of the rise of corporate power, and corporate usurpation of our democratic authority to govern ourselves, particularly via the legal doctrine of corporate personhood. Corporate personhood is the legal doctrine which recognises corporations and private firms as having the same legal entitlements as natural persons, which in turn ensures corporate access to the democratic process while simultaneously guaranteeing it many of the same protections as private citizens. Corporate personhood is what allows corporations to give donations to political parties; to lobby; to purchase other corporations and eliminate any restrictions to wealth and power, which in turn has allowed corporations an unnatural and hugely undemocratic influence over the political process. The workshop will also address the origins of corporate personhood and the ascendancy of the corporate form. It will include an analysis of the role of the royal corporate charters as a motivation for the American Revolution, and the restrictions placed on the corporate form in both Britain and the United States until 1886, when the US Supreme Court recognised that corporations were protected under the US constitution’s Bill of Rights. This in turn gave rise to the modern corporation- in Australia and otherwise- as we know it today.It will also address how British law formed the legal context for the Australian colonies up until Federation, when the new constitution established for the first time a national context for administering and regulating the corporate form. Significantly, corporate personhood was firmly and clearly written into the 2001 Corporations Act: “A company has, both within and outside this jurisdiction, the legal capacity of a natural person” (Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s. 161). The Corporations Act is the legal justification for the Howard government’s Industrial Relations laws. Presented by Chris Doran

REAL HOPE in Education and Governance – The aim of this workshop is to introduce participants to a new way of seeing the future and learning how to ‘be the change you wish the world to see’. The presenter, Susan Carew is a World Peace Clown and on her return from Russia with Dr. Patch Adams developed the REAL HOPE values based anti-bullying program which she teaches in primary schools. Susan has a degree in Economics and Marketing and completed Peace Studies at La Trobe University in 2002. Susan is currently combining her work in schools and research. She is working as a senior research analyst and believes social change comes from changing ourselves. To do this we need to educate new generation of children with universal values and the tools to govern democratically. Susan will introduce participants to another way of seeing new possibilities through universal values, techniques and activities. Participants will learn: values based decision-making model; Mediation; Collaboration; ICE – inspire, challenge and empower; Creative activities for connection and creativity;
Clowning for stepping out of stereotypes; Generate new solutions.

Indigenous Visions, The Mapuche vision after 500 years of foreign domination. the community organising to challenge Multinational incursions (logging, energy companies). Carmen Curihuentro – The Mapuche Nation, Chile

DREAMTANK: RAINBOW INDIGENOUS DREAMING: EARTH COUNCIL 2012 – DREAMTANK PROMOTE THE FIRST WORLD REFERENDUM ON THE FORMATION OF EARTH COUNCIL. IN BILLIONS OF HEARTS THE DESIRE IS THERE. WE WILL PREVAIL OVER THE MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS, THE ELITES AND THEIR PUPPET GOVERNMENTS WHO ARE NOT EVIL JUST IGNORANT. THE EARTH IS EXPERIENCING GLOBAL ECOCATASTROPHE RIGHT NOW! There will be no jobs on a dead planet! We must save our planetary home. Without a vision we are without hope yet there is a cohesive dreaming happening right now. A collaboration of persons and organizations from around the world seek a true planetary government based on the sovereignty of the individual, eco-villages/cities and biosphere regionalization.

The Earth Council ethos is based an interpretation of Australian Aboriginal ethos regarding the proper relationship between human and human, and humans and other life forms:
1. Balance: A system cannot be life enhancing if it is out of kilter, and each part shares in the responsibility of sustaining itself and balancing others.
2. Response: Communication is reciprocal. There is here a moral obligation; to learn, to understand, to pay attention, and to respond.
3. Symmetry: In opposing and balancing each other, parts must be equivalent because the purpose is not to “win” or dominate, but to block thereby producing further balance.
4. Autonomy: No species, no group, or country is “boss” for another; each adheres to its own Law. Authority and dependence are necessary within parts, but not between parts.
Dreamtank promotes the idea everyone is responsible for this awakening, there own awakening and encourage the practice of inner work. Dreamtank supports the The Earthcharter Initiative. Contact www.earthcharter.com

MSF Workshops / Participating organisations 2007

Bec’s Tree house Art School kids workshop, Bec’s Tree House Art School is holding a free art workshop for kids of all ages! We will be having lots of fun with RECYLCED Art materials! You can paint, and use fun bits and bobs to decorate a mural! Bec’s Tree House Art School has been running in the local area for several years. Fun activities include puppet making, Indian wood block printing, environmental art, beading, and more! An Art Exhibition Party is held at the end of the term! The exciting courses have an emphasis on play and the importance of the creative process as well as learning new techniques in drawing and painting! Run by Becky James

A history of rebellion in Latin America. This workshop aim to describe the origins of the rebellion unfolding in Latin America. It will be devided in pre-Cuban Revolution, from slave rebellions to the triumph of the mo, 25 de Julio, then, will explore its legacy in the insurgency after 1960. Jorge Jorquera, Cecilia Saravio, Lourdes Garcia-Larque. Bolivarian circle

A stitch in time saves the planet. Come to a workshop on the politics of stuff. Find out how you can single handedly save the economy, the planet and all the furry animals, stop all wars and end climate change. Well, not quite but you can definitely learn how to knit with recycled plastic bags. This workshop will focus on the craft revolution taking place around the western world and meet some of the craftivists in your own community. Plus we really will teach you how to plastic bag knit so please bring some bags and scissors, we’ll provide the needles and the know-how.
Craftster Melbourne, Rayna Fahey

Aboriginal Genocide Past to Present – This workshop will address Australia’s ongoing denial of International Human Rights Laws and the unresolved fundamental legal issues of Genocide, Sovereignty and Treaty for Aboriginal People AND World Peace, Justice and Holo-Eco-hausted Healing. Robbie Thorpe

An idea whose time has come: Education for Mutually Beneficial Sustaining & Relating. If we want to change our practices, and learn to relate with each other and the planet in peaceful, sustainable and non-exploitative ways, we need to begin exploring alternative approaches to education and finding opportunities for relearning. OASES, Jacques Boulet

As opposed to the lower level skills (job skills) that are increasingly being pushed as ‘higher education’, but which have a shelf life shorter than a celebrity magazine, we need education aimed at developing higher level skills, which includes the ability to embrace change, uncertainty, learning many ways of knowing, and creating experiments in empowering and sustaining life and each other. We cannot resolve the problems we face in the present the with the very same mindsets that led to problems in the first place. In all domains: in work, life love, politics and friendship, we need to begin to rethink our practices, assumptions and world through new educational approaches. New approached to education can help us to accept uncertainty while moving toward new ways of sustaining each other and the planet.

Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change – A workshop discussing how to avoid a runaway climate change event, including ‘The Problems and the Risks’, the Solutions’, and what the audience can do to help. The workshop is focused around the serious side of climate change, making a case for strong and fast action at a societal level. We will include scenarios for the effects of various temperature rises, based on information from the Stern Report, as well as solution options for transport, agriculture and stationary energy. The outcome of the workshop is that we will have help educate people as to the seriousness of the issue they face and what solutions can be implemented, whilst also having encouraged them to take on the values of a zero emission minus transition and become personally active and join or establish a local community based climate action group. Speakers include Philip Sutton from Green Leap Strategic Institute, Matthew Wright from Beyond Zero Emissions, and Adrian Whitehead from Zero Emission Network.
Zero Emission Network, Adrian Whitehead

Be the Change presents Changing the Dream – The Awakening the Dreamer Symposium is different from many other environmental seminars that tend to put such a glaring spotlight on the dire problems facing our planet that participants leave feeling frightened, overwhelmed and powerless. The Symposium does present a comprehensive overview of the current problems and challenges facing the planet, but it also seeks to: gently guide participants past their despair, anger and fear into a place of understanding, compassion and empowerment, from where they can actually activate and implement solutions; examine the fundamental cultural patterns that brought us to this point of planetary emergency; introduce an emerging paradigm based on ancient indigenous wisdom and modern quantum physics that sees life as interconnected and precious; connect participants with a growing worldwide movement based on this emerging paradigm that is bringing about sweeping changes at a grass roots level all around the world; leave participants with new friends and contacts who are as passionate and empowered as they are with whom to work to build powerful solutions to the crisis. Be the Change (formerly Awakening the Dreamer)
Joanne , Phil, Katherine, Trav.

Biodiesel – 1 part of a personal commitment to change – Biodiesel like many ideas in a carbon conscious community can be very beneficial or detrimental to our climate. I would like to promote how biodiesel can be one of many ways reduce personal carbon emissions and the importance for each and every one of us to reduce our own emissions before telling others or the government that it is too polluting. “In fighting climate change, we must fight not only the oil companies, the airlines and the governments of the rich world; we must also fight ourselves.” George Monbiot. Inspiration, Ideas and examples of how to reduce personal emissions. Biodiesel inc, Paul martin

Carbon Rationing or Carbon Taxes … How do we effectively and fairly reduce our use of carbon? Reducing the effect of climate CO2 induced climate change will require a massive reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the next 10 years. The question is how can this be achieved effectively and fairly. We want to explore how a Carbon Quota system which ensures everyone has an equal share of carbon based resources will be more effective than Carbon Taxes which have an unequal impact on the community. The workshop will also examine strategies to promote the Carbon Quota model in the community as the best way to tackle climate change.
Western Region Environment Centre, Harry Van Moorst, Joseph Natoli

Climate justice – an Australian approach to a global problem – While climate change has finally become a mainstream issue, the human rights dimensions of global warming is still very much a minor element of the public debate. However, it will be the poor who will suffer the most – both here in Australia, and globally through damage to the natural systems that people rely on and through mass displacement – that is, the creation of climate refugees. This workshop will consider the human rights dimensions of climate change and outline what rich nations like Australia should be doing in response; it will focus on funding adaptation (sometimes called resilience building), and creating a seperate intake program for climate refugees while also taking meaninful ction to reduce our greenhouse emissions here in Australia. Friends of the Earth Melbourne. Cam Walker

Co-operatives – share it all! – If we really want to learn to live together peacefully, non-exploititavely and sustainably, then we need to learn to work together to create the things we need and the world we want to live in. Co-operation rather than competition offers a much more livable and just option, one where organisations are controlled by those whom they affect and one where hierarchy is minimised. This workshop will cover an introduction to co-operatives, the seven principles of co-operatives, the infinite different kinds of co-operatives and much more…
Shifting Space, Anne-lise Ah-Fat and Rachel Kitchener

Colombia between state terror and revolution. Explain the role of the agricultural workers union in Colombia (FENSUAGRO), the work they are doing and a brief history of the State terrorism they face. We also want to talk about what we are doing in Australia in solidarity with th FENSUAGRO. We believe that it is also necesary to give a brief overview of the political and economic situation of Colombia. Bolivarian circle. Alejandro Rodriguez, Jorge Jorquera

Community Organizing for Climate Action. This workshop will be a sharing of ideas for catalysing strong and effective community action on climate change. The facilitator is a researcher on sustainable development who recently founded the Guernsey Climate Action Network (Guernsey-CAN) on his home island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The group unites a number of schools, businesses, community groups, government departments and media and is becoming a powerful force for positive change on the island. The workshop will begin with a reportback on the setting up of this group and feed in to a discussion on strategies for organizing positive, solutions-based initiatives to mitigate the climate crisis. Guernsey Climate Action Network. Simon Bradshaw

Connections with the land. ANTaR Victoria has contact with representatives in the Indigenous community, and we would like to approach one of these spokespeople to present at the festival, to discuss from their personal point of view the connection with the land, history, and land management, and how this also relates to social justice for Indigenous peoples. ANTaR, Frank Hytten

Corporate Watch Australia. This workshop will outline the details of Global Trade Watch’s Corporate Watch Australia campaign and explain how you can get involved. Global Trade Watch, Hammy Goonan

Creating a (Happy) High Performance Organisation – (Or Praticing what we preach: Why social change should start at your workplace!) It is an unspoken assumption that high performance workplaces can\’t be healthy or participatory or – (gasp!!) – fun. Dating back to Henry Ford and the invention of the production line this notion still pervades today – if someone is enjoying themselves they can\’t be working! In fact the evidence shows that the opposite is true – the happier and more democratic the workplace the more productive you will be professionally and personally. And how do you create such a workplace? It does takes some effort but the recipe is known and proven to work. Come along and find how you can turn your workplace into a high-performing \”well-place\” with these proven techniques. Cris Popp is an experienced facilitator and trainer. He specialises in helping organisations marry their professional objectives with the personal needs of their staff. Cris Popp

Cuba’s relocalisation – Cuba went through a massive energy and economic crisis in the early 90s, and survived. T oday, Cubans eat from urban organic gardens, and travel by bike, bus or horse, rather than car. As a society seemingly addicted to cheap transport and industrial agriculture, declines in oil stocks look set to hurt us badly. Yet relocalisation may not be as painful, dangerous or difficult as we might think, and Cuba provides a wealth of inspiration about the large and small ways we can choose to get local today. This workshop is an eyewitness account of how one small island country has transitioned into the post-industrial future. Elvira Griffith

Debating Hot Topics: Health, Howard’s Neoliberal Campaign and Social Harmony
Organisation Fresh from the World Social Forum, our session will look at current global discourses relating to Health Inequality, and how contemporary health policies and practices can be seen as examples of ‘actually existing neoliberalism’. We will consider global, national and local contexts, and how these spaces of health are influenced by the legacies inherited from previous layers of institutional structure, the current neo-liberal paradigm and contemporary socio-political struggles. Our session will be truly interdisciplinary, combining the knowledge of social theorists, health researchers, geographers and economists (and most importantly, YOU), to consider possible alternative narratives to the Howard Catastrophe, and further substantiate the social forum agenda that ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE!! DON’T MISS IT!!!! Centre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), The University of Newcastle, Emma Allen, Julie Johnstone, Riccardo Welters, Anthea Bill and James Juniper

Documentaries and Q&A on housing rights – ‘COHRE’s Fionn Skiotis will present two half-hour documentaries on housing rights themes. The first is “Lyari – Highway of Tears” (2006) which focuses on the global crisis in forced evictions through a case study: construction of the Lyari Expressway in Karachi, Pakistan, which will result in the eviction of some 250,000 urban poor people. The film will be followed by a Q&A session with the director (Fionn).
The second film is a preview screening of a COHRE project now nearing completion, with the working title “Waves and Wars: Sri Lanka’s Internally Displaced”. This work looks at the issues of displacement and return in the context of Sri Lanka, where 5% of the population has been displaced by conflict or natural disaster. Director Sam de Silva will discuss this project and the current situation in Sri Lanka. (NB: this film is incomplete and may lack final graphics, credits, narration and sound mix). Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE). Fionn Skiotis

East Timor Women. Eye-witness account from Palestine – Photos and discussion, featuring an International Volunteers for Peace activist who returned from a program with Orient House in Palestine this year. Orient House offers social and economic support to Palestinians living under occupation and it has a Youth Development Department which hosts camps within Palestine for international volunteers. The presentation features photos of the Wall, checkpoints, Palestinian culture and landscape. Melbourne Palestine Solidarity Network, Ema.

Forests and Climate Change – Description: A workshop discusses the important role forests have in a global warming world. The workshop will look at threats to forests, their important role as a carbon sinks, and ways we can tackle the endemic native forests destruction which continues to release massive amounts of CO2, including looking at certification and building options. Beyond Zero Emissions. Chris Taylor

Grassroots Online Video Distribution – The net is quickly becoming one of the most effective ways for video activists to distribute their content. Online distribution means anyone with good internet access can watch your video from around the world. It also allows people with limited means to by-pass the mainstream media and create their own distribution channels. EngageMedia will host a practical workshop covering these topics and more to help you make the most of these online tools. EngageMedia is a website distributing social justice and environmental video from South East Asia, Australia and the Pacific. The workshop will cover – where on the web you can publish your video – creating and subscribing to video podcasts – setting up an account on EngageMedia and publishing to it – how to encode video for distribution on the web – copyright/left and licensing your video work – using online video as part of campaign work – free and open source software tools If you have a laptop please bring it along with any video materials you have. EngageMedia, Andrew/Anna.

Introduction to Sustainable Transport – This workshop will start with a presentation, outlining the concept of sustainable transport from a health, environmental, social and economic perspective.
It will explain some of the effects of current transport policy and the benefits of creating a sustainable Transport system. Topics will include Peak Oil, Sedentary Lifestyle Disease, Air and Noise Pollution, Climate Change, Road Traffic Injuries and Peak Oil. Following this presentation, a group discussion will follow. Institute for Sensible Transport, Elliot Fishman

Land of Opportunity – Privatising the Pacific – The Pacific Islands face enormous challenges from both climate change and economic development. The Pacific is facing their \’Enclosure of the Commons\’ with property speculators buying up ocean front views, kicking traditional people off their land. This is threatening the social fabric of Island life from Tiwi to Vanuatu. Earthsharing Australia are working with the UN\’s Global Land Tool Network to develop the policy tools desperately needed by these sovereign nations. We need your assistance! Play the EarthShare game to learn how economic processes unfold. Then we will discuss how we can all help. Earthsharing Australia, Karl Fitzgerald.

Lateral Thinking for Possible Futures – The workshop will provide tools and ideas on ways to think and feel differently about the future. It is critical to identify the possibilities and practicalities of ways that will work. Therefore the quality of our thinking and ability to participate in constructive ways that benefit a sustainable society. One World Network, Susan Carew.

Latin American wave changes from Below – Across Latin America dynamic and diverse social movements are finding creative and inspiring ways to create a better and just world. This workshop will promote these ways of struggles against neoliberal system. Our main idea is to build bridges across divers section in Australian society. LASNET, Marisol Salinas.

Lobbyocracy: The Hypocrisy of Democracy – Lobbyocracy is a collaborative project using wiki-based software to track the donations made to political parties and the policy outcomes of this. We expose the dodgy back room deals and show how money is siphoned through front groups to side step accountability. Find out what we’re doing and how you can get involved. The Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice, Hammy Goonan & Karl Fitzgerald

Nuclear Groundhog Day – The current barrage of pro nuclear propaganda may seem like something entirely new to a lot of people. In fact its rather like the film Groundhog Day. In this film the main character gets to re live the same day so he can correct all his mistakes.
The nuclear industry is re packaging old propaganda in an effort to try and convince a new generation of people of old failed arguments. We will also be showing a 20 minute version of acclaimed documentary film maker David Bradbury’s new film “A hard rain” – about the dangers of nuclear power. Nuclear Free Australia, Hillel Freedman

Our Public Transport Campaign – We are running a colourful campaign of stunts and actions to try to force the state govt to ‘un-privatise’ public transport. We are running this as a general critique of privatisation, capitalism (at times) and a call for visions of the kind of transport and cities we see in a sustainable, fairer future. We would love to open this up for discussion with others at the forum. Our Public Transport Campaign, Fiona.

Pacific Conversations – Participants of the workshop with explore together: 1. Some key unresolved issues of our Pacific island neighbours; 2. Australia\’s impact on these issues; and
3. How Australians (individuals, communities, and institutions) can be involved in addressing these issues. Two leading issues for the Pacific region include (1) Climate change, rise in sea level and environmental refugees; and (2) The Australian government’s stance on Regional Security – the ‘framing’ of Australia’s responsibility in the Pacific region for human and ecological security. In response to these leading issues (and more) Pacific activists and NGOs have organised themselves with global partners, and acting locally in the region and in their local communities in providing more effective partnerships for addressing these issues. The workshop will highlight some of the leading Pacific networks, and also explore with participants new ones that may be launched in Melbourne to consolidate Pacific solidarity. VU Pacific Islands Network, Mosese Waqa.

Peoples Health Movement : Health for all – The workshop will commence with a short description of PHM and what it has acheived to date internationally and within Australia. This will include a description of the People’s Health Charter which outlines the key principles and beliefs of the global PHM movement. The workshop will then break up into smaller interactive groups to discuss some key issues depending on participants interests. The topics that will be expored are: Big Pharma: How the forces of globalization and the policies of multinational drug companies impact on cost and access to essential drugs. Capital transfer: The flow of wealth and skills from rich to poor countries and how this shapes health systems in poor countries. Privatization: The push to privatize essential industries including the health sector and what this means for developing and developed countries. Peoples Health Movement, Sally Kingsland

Privatising Biodiversity: Food Rights Implications of the WTO’s Intellect. Property Rights Agreement – The workshop will discuss how the private sector globally is gaining increasing control over plant genetic material and plant varieties, seriously threatening food security and the traditional knowledge of communities globally. The workshop will explore the role of the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) in paving the way for this control. TRIPS marks a great expansion of the owners of intellectual property and significantly expands private economic power at the expense of basic human rights and social justice. All countries that are part of the WTO system and therefore party to TRIPS, are required to privatise biodiversity and agricultural resources. The workshop will explore the food rights implications of TRIPS in the developing world, where in somecountries over 70 percent of the population is directly engaged in agriculture. Monash University and Global Trade Watch (Board Member), Jagjit Plahe

Protesting against George Bush at APEC – This will be a discussion about APEC and how we can best present an alternative message. Unity for Peace, Judy McVey

Putting the public interest back into public transport – Friends of the Earth’s new sustainable transport campaign is promoting the return of Melbourne’s public transport to public control in order to provide the necessary improvements to services that will enable people to reduce car use and greenhouse gas emissions. We are building a groundswell of community support to pressure the state government to not extend or renew the rail and tram franchises by the 30 November deadline this year, and instead to set up an accountable public agency to effectively manage our public transport system based on the best examples in the world. Friends of the Earth, Genevieve O’Connell & John Cox

Reaching out – ‘Reaching out’ is a workshop for shared collaborative exploration. Telling stories, our own and those of others will provide a basis for experiences in understanding and empathy. We will look at ways of building bridges across difference. The workshop will focus on the challenges we face in a world shaped by violence and despair – where fear of the stranger and the unknown has become politically correct and too often guides our expectations of the world rather than compassion hope and trust in the future. Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Melbourne Chapter, Dr Shoshana Rose

Reconciliation – what can I do? – ANTaR representative Frank Hytten, will discuss in an informal group setting, actions that non-Indigenous Australians can take to improve social justice for Indigenous people in Australia, and how to participate in ending racism against Australia’s first peoples. The basis for these actions is:
* Acknowledging Sovereignty
* Being Honest about our history
* Safeguarding Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
* Recognizing and Respecting Aboriginal culture
* Seeking Aboriginal representation in all areas and at all levels of civic society
* Paying reparations
ANTaR, Frank Hytten

Relocalisation: Positive solutions for a sustainable future in light of Climate Change and Peak Oil – This workshop with Helena Nordberg Hodge, Gilbert Rochecouste and Amadis Lacheta will explore what individuals, communities, governments and business can do to create a new economic model that radically reduces our comsumptive lifestyles whilst enriching our personal lives, communities and local economies. International Society for Ecology and Culture, Village Well, Creating Community, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Gilbert Rochecouste and Amadis Lacheta

Round table with Latin America and Australia sharing community building process – We will attempt with this workshop to create a space for discussion between different Latin solidarity groups and community members from … diverse culture in this way we are building red links and relations of stories, struggles and cultures. Latin American Solidarity Network, Marisol Salinas

Sex and Power – In this workshop we deconstruct gender and sexuality from a perspective of power. Our goal is to show how patriarchy shapes our identities and our lived experiences. We argue that our struggles for social justice must include struggles against patriarchy. This is a dynamic workshop that responds to the interests and experience levels of the participants. Time: 60 minutes. Collective Autonomy, Tristan, Rachel & Katie

Shoalwater Bay Peace Convergence Information Workshop – This workshop will outline the reasons for the peace convergence at Shoalwater Bay. It will outline some of the environmental and social impacts that will result from the Talisman Sabre war games as well as drawing attention to the use of depleted uranium munitions in military activities and the human cost that results. Depending on time, organisation and resources a DVD of the previous war games may be shown as well as segments from David Bradbury’s film Blowin’ in the Wind, which exposes the use of depleted uranium munitions by the American military. The aim of this workshop is to raise awareness about the war games and to encourage people to attend the peace convergence between the 18th-24th of June. Autonomous, Kristy Henderson

Strategic Nonviolence – the politics of ordinary people – A short introduction to the politics of strategic and radical nonviolence. Often called the ‘politics of ordinary people’. grassroots and nonviolent political movements have achieved enormous sucesses over the past century and nonviolent forms of resistance are gaining in strength and reach. This workshop will examine how nonviolent forms of popular resistance work and explore how the nonviolent tactics of protest, noncooperation and intervention are being applied strategicaly in people power movements today. Nonviolence Training Project, Anthony Kelly.

The Campaign for Justice for Refugees Continues – Small panel of RAC members and refugee advocates will discuss what has been achieved so far with the refugee campaign, and the current campaign focus on stopping the construction and future use of the new Christmas Island Detention Centre – \” Australia\’s Guantanamo\”. A $500 million, 800 bed maximum security prison is under construction for \”processing\” refugees and asylum seekers. The security system details are chilling, as are the plans for family units and a nursery in this management compound. No Australian Guantanamo – demand an end to all detention centres. Refugee Action Collective Victoria, Tony ,Julie, Marie

The Coming Crisis of the NGOs: New Humanitarian Aid and the Cosmopolitan Vision – Aid programs have become increasingly problematic, and there is much to learn from the history of their politics and implementation. Yet in an increasingly turbulent 21st century, whether through natural disatsters or whether through civil war, the need for humanitarian aid will not diminish, it is likely to increase in the coming future. In this workshop Professor Sue Kenny will lead a discussion on the emerging 21st century phenomenon of humanitarian aid. She will identify the challenges faced by NGOs today and facilitate a discussion on strategies that address these issue. She will put forward a vision based on cosmopolitanism. To deal with the coming global issues of the 21st century, she will show how we will need to take the idea of cosmopolitanism more seriously. Human Rights Resource Centre, Sue Kenny.

The future is bright: Maitreya The teacher for the coming age – The most profound historic event is currently unfolding behind the scenes of our everyday life – return to the world of Maitreya, the world teacher and the masters of wisdom. The workshop offers information on who the masters are, where they came from and what their return means for our future. We also introduce the audience to transmission meditation. A potent world service activity. Australian Transmission Meditation Network, Valter Poropat.

The Psychology of Sustainable Behaviour – This experiential, interactive workshop will explore the psychology of sustainable behaviours. Attendees will be guided through an exercise to identify their values, explore how their values impact on their sustainability decisions, and commit to values-based actions which they can personally undertake.We will also discuss the role of psychology in sustainability and explore common dilemmas we face in living a sustainable life. Awake, Tim Cotter.

The social construction of the institutional dimensions of life: conceptual tools for a sustainable existence – Frank Fisher will introduce some ideas regarding social construction, which will then be digested over lunch. This dialogue will touch on the institutional dimensions of life, with the intention of facilitating some capacity in participants to use these notions to change the world. There will be a basic introduction to the concept of social construction, and how they apply to modern predicaments. Frank will then facilitate a session of eating over lunch, which will also be an opportunity for reflection and insight on the practice of leading a sustainable existence. Understandascope Institute, Frank Fisher.

The Vegan Kitchen: meal planning, shopping and preparation – Shopping and cooking for a vegan household does not need to be difficult or expensive. This session will provide information on planning for a vegan lifestyle in order to save time and money, reduce waste, and minimise your environmental impact. The discussion will cover topics such as scheduling weekly meals, writing a shopping list, buying in bulk, finding cheap organics and preparing delicious vegan dishes. This is an ideal session for anyone thinking about going vegan (but not sure where to start!) or for those who want to make their vegan lifestyle more economical, efficient and eco-friendly. Aduki Independent Press, Emily Clark

The World Social Forum: Global Meets Local – At this year’s World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, it was announced that next year’s World Social Forum will happen at the local level. This means that next year’s Melbourne Social Forum could also be the World Social Forum, that is, if the community of Melbourne supports such action. Shall we join local social forums all over the world in holding alternative meetings to the Davos World Economic Forum next year?
This workshop will provide participants with some history and philosophical background of the Social Forum movement here and abroad and address some of the challenges faced by this growing grassroots network. Most importantly, participants will be invited to discuss the role of local social forums in the global movement, and to voice their suggestions for future social forum activity in Melbourne. Melbourne Social Forum, Maria Rodrigues and Jose Ramos.

Transforming work: a whole of class strategy and worker cooperatives in a global context – Union Solidarity coordinator Dave Kerin will talk about the strategy that Union Solidarity uses and implements for protecting and improving workers conditions and livelihoods and the environment in which people work. There exist in Australian history deep precedents for a whole of class strategy, originally articulated by the International Workers of the World. Union Solidarity has borrowed from this practice and theory, and we can discuss why that strategy is working and how it can be made to work even better. Union Solidarity will also talk about its initiative in connecting jobs and environment in a very practical way through the development of worker owned co-operatives. It is a very exciting initiative, as its scope is to put back into place needed manufacturing jobs while also protecting our best ecological interests. This initiative addresses the sad shift in Australia’s economy toward a service sector which satisfies the capitalist world economy rather than the need to protect workers and ecosystems. The consequence of this shift is that, as a citizenry we have an economy without any real value. The workshop will provide a new pathway toward building an Australian economy by developing worker owned cooperatives which can innovate and produce goods in a sustainable way and add real value to society, which co-operatives own and control. By doing this we can lay the foundations so that our young ones can also have a decent future. Union Solidarity, Dave Kerin

Unarmed Bodyguards: Nonviolent Protective Accompaniment in Action – PBI fields international teams of volunteers in war zones around the world in order to provide unarmed protective accompaniment for activists, unionists, lawyers, environmentalists and other human rights defenders who face threats due their work. PBI’s strategic presence deters human rights abusers from carrying out their threats and aims to increase the political space in which activists have to organise and work for justice. It is vital work and highly effective. Jodie Martire has recently returned from 15 months with PBI’s Colombia Project and will speak first hand of her experiences and how we can act to protect activists facing severe repression. Peace Brigades International (PBI), Jodie Martire.

We can keep Australia GE-free
* A short presentation of the issues set out in our tabloid news-sheet.
* Q&A plus discussion of the main topics.
* Action plan – what can everyone do to secure a GE-free future.
* The Five year Freeze campaign – extend state commercial GE crop bans till 2013.
* Petitions and pro forma letters – participants\’ signing and taking for family and friends to also support.
Gene Ethics, Bob Phelps

What kind of sustainability emergency? – Climate change, peak oil, water, food shortage, species destruction, the list goes on. These sustainability issues are coming home to roost after decades of neglect. The time available for effective action is very , very short (a decade?), and the solutions will necessarily involve no less that a major physical reworking of the economy and our lifestyles. The threat and the required action is unprecedented. How do we break out of business-as-usual and engage the whole society, including the mainstream, without watering down what needs to be done? Philip Sutton argues that we need to recognise that we are facing an emergency. And in the not-too-distant future this will need to be declared formally by governments. How can we get society to engage with the sustainability emergency? How can we strengthen democracy, innovation and social diversity as part of the process? How do we ensure that authoritarian forces of all sorts do not hijack the sustainability emergency? These are some of the issues to be explored in the Sustainability emergency workshop. Greenleap Strategic Institute, Phil Sutton

What sort of a neighbour does Timor-Leste need? – The Melbourne Social Forum takes place after the Presidential elections but before the Parliamentary elections in Timor Leste (East Timor). The role played by Australia, whether we like it or not, has become an issue in those elections. At government level debate on what Australia could do for Timor-Leste gets stuck on issues such as troops and the level of aid. This workshop will endeavour to look more closely at Timorese voices on what Australia’s role should be, and also suggest an alternative paradigm for thinking about the human development of the country, it will address issues such as needs of youth, women, educational transformation, etc. (speakers to be confirmed soon). Australia-East Timor Association (AETA), Natalie Moxham

Whenua, Fenua, Enua, Vanua: Indigenous resistance to Globalization in the Pacific – “Australia and NZ remained unrepentant for their brutal suppression of indigenous independence movements in the Pacific. They rationalized such behaviour as enhancing the welfare of the Islands and the human development of their people – just as they justified similar behaviour towards indigenous peoples in their own countries.” The settler gubbaments of OZ & NZ are forcing a neo-liberal economic agenda on the nations of the Pacific, for 21 years the settler gubbaments of OZ, NZ, Canada, & the US have blocked (and will continue to block) the passage of the DRIP (Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples) though the UN. Things such as these and ancestral rights & treaties are meaningless in the face of economic and “security arrangements”, which do nothing more than open up our region for the outflow of capital, (land, people, natural resources), evolutionary processes have run their course and the time for re- asserting a Nuclear free & independent Pacific has come. http://uriohau.blogspot.com/ , S.I.S.I.S (Settlers in Support of Indigenous Sovereignty), Sina Ana Brown-Davis (Te Roroa, Te Uri o Hau, Fale Ula, Vava’u)

Workshops for MSF 2009

En Masse: Activism in the Digital Age – Is all you need to change the world an Internet Connection? This workshop will look at practical examples of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to online activism… without getting too nerdy. Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice

Is reconcilitation relevant? – A look at how working with Indigenous people and communities can benefit society. How the inclusion of Aboriginal culture into mainstream lifestyles can improve attitudes and help resolve issues. Reconciliation Victoria

Start a sharing community in your neighbourhood – The Sharehood is a community building and resource sharing network. Neighbourhoods are broken down into small areas which we call hoods. Within a hood, neighbours can share resources from power tools to fruit trees or skills from babysitting to legal advice. Setting up a hood is also a great way to get to know your neighbours, build a sense of community, while saving money and the environment. This workshop will explain the process of starting your own ‘hood’: letterboxing, the first meeting, organising social events as well as generally sharing the experience of starting a hood. The Sharehood

Yoga and meditation, tools for building a sustainable world – People often relate yoga with exercise and meditation with relaxation. This is a common misconception as they (yoga/meditation) are so much more. In fact, the principals of yoga, when applied can help provide a perennial source of inspiration and impetus for humans to create well being within and without. In this workshop, I will examine certain practical concepts of yoga philosophy that can be applied to our lives and the environment around us, thus creating true sustainability within our changing world. Ananda Marga

Mass action at Anglesea Powerstation – In September the climate movement will hold mass civil disobedience actions at powerstations and other coal infrastructure around the country. Find out about plans for the mass action at Anglesea power station in Victoria. Climate Action Centre

Responding to climate change in the Pacific islands – Australia will host the Pacific Islands Forum next August, for the first time in 15 years. But how will the Rudd government’s policies on climate change affect people in neighbouring Pacific countries? Join us at this workshop for presentations on the impacts of global warming in the Pacific islands and also planning for action and advocacy in the lead up to the Forum leaders’ meeting. Facilitators include Mosese Waqa (Pacific Islands Network), Damien Lawson (FOE) and journalist Nic Maclellan. Pacific Islands Network

Rebooting economics as if people and planet mattered – Learn the language of the powerful so we can turn market forces around to our advantage. There is a way that greens can discuss economics in a manner that is attractive to genuine businessmen. Learn some of the problems to bailout economics and help build the knowledgebase for the Next Economy, an Earth Rights Democracy. Karl Fitzgerald from the Renegade Economists and Earthsharing Australia will host this lively workshop. Earthsharing Australia

Green Renters – Promoting our blog for those who rent but still strive to lead an ecologically and environmentally sound existence. Including recipes, practical tips, samples and tastings. Green Renters

Transition Towns Forum I – Outline the Transition Towns model whereby a group of individuals in a local community get together and collectively plan for a transition to a low-carbon future creating a way of living that’s significantly more connected, more vibrant and more in touch with our environment than the oil-addicted treadmill that we find ourselves on today TRANSITION MELBOURNE

Transition Towns Forum II – Outline the Transition Towns model whereby a group of individuals in a local community get together and collectively plan for a transition to a low-carbon future creating a way of living that’s significantly more connected, more vibrant and more in touch with our environment than the oil-addicted treadmill that we find ourselves on today TRANSITION VICTORIA

The Fabric of Resistance – Craftivism and developing local, sustainable economies – A brief history of radical craft activism, and the current resurgence of domestic crafts as a form of diy activism. Followed by a discussion around some of the issues of ethics and consumerisation in contemporary craft practice. Bring your knitting, stitching etc. Free crafting resources will also be on hand for the uninitiated. Presented by the Craft Cartel – ’cause ‘mall’ is a four letter word. Craft Cartel

Winning the campaign for a safe climate How will we actually win the campaign to restore a safe climate? This workshop will presume the technical mechanisms to achieve a zero carbon world exist or are capable of being developed. The real battle is political – how to get the right decisions made so these mechanisms are urgently implemented?. Janet Rice will share her thoughts that we need four key strategies operating together: education and mobilisation, winning seats in Councils and Parliaments, working globally, and wedging businesses and unions. Janet’s then keen to lead a vigorous discussion on these and other ways of winning! Janet Rice

Protecting our planet and defending our communities – Activism and Solidarity with Latin America and Australian Struggles, The inter-relationship on activism..how we relate our struggles with the same enemy…the same mutinational corporation are involved in the plunder and exploitation of our human and natural resources..here in Australia we have similar system of repression and social control, how activism face this obstacles for organising and educated themselves in our everyday struggle LASNET and Salvadorean Community, Apolinario Serrano Committee FMLN.

The relationship between Latin American Indigenous Struggles and Land:views from Australia and LA - For more than 500 years Latin American people and its original peoples/ first nations are struggling to recovering their land taking by the European conquistadors(invaders), this struggles have many faces and ways of fighting and standing for popular and indigenous rights. The struggle for land have its meaning in that. Is the struggle for life and to save our planet …indigenous people and the progressive sector of society organising in popular grassroots groups and communities are join in fighting against the same enemy, the neoliberalism which are the most conservative capitalist policies implemented against our peoples. LASNET, Alliance for Indigenous Self Determination and FOE.

Impact of international economic crisis in Latin American and Australian Workers & communities – will be possible to globalise hope for new alternatives, LASNET and Yarra Union Solidarity & fairwear campaign

Westside Carbon Reduction Action Group – Westide CRAG will provide an overview of our journey, encourage and empower people to become energy literate, and share ideas and strategies for reducing GHG emissions in our daily lives. Westside CRAG

climate justice fast! – This is an Information and strategic planning session for a climate justice hunger strike planned for later this year. This action is aimed primarily at communicating the urgency of climate action to the public. With 11 participants already, we are now looking for more in order to attract the maximum media attention possible. We are also looking to network with anyone else interested, and any assistance or support is extremely welcome. climatejusticefast!

Illustrated Stories – makes part of a larger project of having a permanent space for illustrators and other graphic artists in the Outsider’s Guide. The idea is to have a specific subject for the Illustrated stories and the first of these subjects will be public transport stories. Outsider’s Guide to Melbourne

Advocating for Community Development in Universities: Case Studies from Victoria and Timor-Leste – In university systems throughout the world Community Development and its associated principles are regarded with suspicion, and marginalized in favour of academic subjects that will lead to financial success for graduates. At Victoria University (Melbourne) and the National University of Timor Loro Sa’e in East Timor, courses in Community Development have been going for some years. Nevertheless they are often under attack from various sections of the university community. This workshop will address the question of whether universities are a good location for courses in Community Development and if so, under what conditions? Victoria University Community Development Program, Helen Hill and Charles Mphande

Peace is cool: how war worsens global warming – This workshop will discuss the links between war and environmental degradation: put positively, how promoting and building peace can help mitigate climate change. Ruth is an experienced speaker and organiser, having recently been an elected student representative for the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). She is now IPPNW’s deputy chair, and works as a junior doctor at the Alfred Hospital. Medical Association for Prevention of War.

Preserving Your Own Olives – Rescuing our family’s unwritten southern Italian food traditions and recipes from extinction. In doing so Mangia! Mangia! also preserves the traditional approach to food which is about family, community and generosity of spirit. Mangia! Mangia!

Genetic Engineering, Climate Change and Food Insecurity – Industrial agriculture is at a crossroads. Either we plan for locally based polycultures which lead to resilience, or we allow the multinationals to own our seed stock and impose monocultures, contolling the world’s food supply. The workshop will update you on the latest news internationally on the resistance to genetic engineering and the situation in Australia. MADGE and Gene Ethics

Resistance in Latin America – from El Salvador to Venezuela and Colombia – This is propose to be a joint workshop with the AVSN, Peace and Justice for Colombia and the El Salvadorian FMLN committee in Melbourne Venezuela Solidarity Network.

Maitreya – The World Teacher – Short history of Maitreya the World Teacher. Why he is here. His priorities for the coming time. His teaching.

Freeganism/dumpster diving – Are you feeling tohe grip of economic struggles and financial troubles why not come and learn about the life of a freegan! Jahwork Community/Justice and Peace Initiatives

The politics of bike maitenance and cycling in Melbourne – More and more people are riding in Melbourne. We’re riding for transport, fitness, convenience and economic reasons. Whether you ride heaps or only occasionally, hopefully this workshop will assist you. It starts with an introduction to cycling, how to ride safely and legally. We’ll talk a little about the politics of cycling and transport before moving into a little grease monkeying. Bring your bike and learn the basics of home bike maintenance including how to find out more and where you can always get help. Human Power

Activalia 303 – A gathering of hardy activists share tactics on what works and what doesn’t in the information marketplace for social justice. Campaign planning, strategic thinking and looking to the future. Sina Brown-Davis, Karl Fitzgerald and hopefully YOU. Earthsharing Vic and others

Collectively healing Country, healing self, WE are many WE are one! – issues from a multi cultural indigenous perspective Habitat Australia and Australia’s first Treaty

Grassroots media watering hole – A meeting of quite different grassroots media organisations talking about what they do and exploring ways of collaborating Plug-in TV, Engagemedia, Docummunity, SYN, Create a Vibe.

Yellowcake Country: Uranium Mining in Australia – Friends of the Earth has been campaigning against uranium mining for over 35 years. This forum will cover the adverse environmental and social effects of uranium mining, including the ongoing pattern of ‘radioactive racism’, and the WMD proliferation risks. We’ll also talk about the proposed expansion of Olympic Dam in SA – the world’s largest uranium mine, and the upcoming Radioactive Exposure Tour. FOE

Nucelar Power: No answer to Climate Change – Nuclear power is dangerous for our environment, our health, and the economy. Having a nuclear power industry is a handy stepping stone to making nuclear weapons. But every day we see astonishing descriptions of nuclear power as “green”, “clean” and the solution to climate change. Experienced anti-nuclear campaigner Bill Williams will outline why nuclear power is bad for our health, share resources, and lead discussion on dealing with the mining industry’s nuclear spin. Medical Association for Prevention of War

Transition to Zero Carbon Future – The transition to a zero carbon economy is a necessity and it is entirely achievable using existing technology. Al Gore’s 100% renewables in 10 years campaign (called RePower America) has made headlines worldwide and added fire to the urgency of climate change and the need for action. Find out how Australia can match Al Gore by replacing coal-fired electricity with a mix of solar thermal power with storage, solar PV, wind and other proven renewable energy technologies. Also find out how you can contribute to the Zero Carbon Australia plan! Beyond Zero Emissions and Climate Emergency Network

Solar thermal energy for a Zero Carbon future – Concentrated Solar Thermal Power (CSP) is an exciting renewable energy technology that will certainly play a central role in Australia’s transition to a clean energy future. One of its great advantages is that the heat it produces can be efficiently stored and dispatched to run turbines outside of sunlight hours. Discover the different types of solar thermal power plants that have been generating electricity around the world for decades. Learn about heating, cooking and other industrial applications for solar thermal energy, as well as the potential for storage of solar energy in Australia’s new renewable energy infrastructure. Beyond Zero Emissions with ANU

Repowering Victoria’s transport system – A zero emissions, efficient, socially equitable transport system is an essential part of our transition to a Zero Carbon future. Extending Melbourne’s train, tram and bicycle networks, converting to 100% electric vehicles, and running it all on renewble energy will make for a cleaner, healthier Victoria. Find out how Victoria can save 9 billion barrels of oil every year and see the exciting work to date, from the Zero Carbon Australia transport group Beyond Zero Emissions

After the fires – Mapping Our Immediate & Emerging Community Conditions, Connectivity & Capabilities. Kinglake Ranges Community

Waking up to being White – The workshop is based on my story of claiming a famous ancestor linked to the White Australia policy through the example of Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations. It will be based on the idea of the good that comes from truth telling about the past, theory as to why it’s hard for us nationally and personally to own up to the past to create a shared history with Indigenous Australians, and a practice at being white in a new honest way.

What is happiness and how can it be cultivated? – New trends in psychology and what they have in common with the voluntary simplicity movement. Voluntary simplicity is a movement that promotes human happiness, creativity, engagement with meaningful activities over mindless consumerism. ‘Downshifting’ – or working and spending less in order to live more, a central core tenet of the voluntary simplicity movement.Positive psychology is an emergent branch of psychology that promotes the same. I want to basically look at what these two movements have in common – and how they can both be explored and used in order to promote pleasure, meaning, engagement and environmental sustainability. Life’s Poet’s Simplicity Collective