Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar
| November 9, 2011 |
Occupy Melbourne continues
Occupy Melbourne has re-established its occupation at Melbourne’s Treasury Gardens. General assemblies are now held twice a week: Wednesdays, 6pm, City Square & Saturdays, 4pm, Treasury Gardens. A number of special events are planned (see entries below for full details):
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Rally
Join the Backwards March and call on the premier to stop taking Victoria backwards!
Sunday, November 13, 1pm. Parliament House, Spring St, City. In just one year Premier Baillieu has taken Victoria decades backwards on the environment: Cattle trampling our national parks; new wind farms blocked; CO2 emissions target ignored; Endangered species habitat logged; new coal-fired power station approved; green wedges threatened; Westernport destruction fast-tracked. Baillieu said he would 'fix the problems, and build the future', but when it comes to our environment his government has created new problems and is threatening our future! Organised by Victorian National Parks Association, The Wilderness Society, Environment Victoria & Friends of the Earth.
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Film screening
Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story
Tuesday, November 15, 6:30pm (meal from 6pm). Resistance Centre, level 5, 407 Swanston St, City (opposite RMIT). As the corporate system takes us toward yet another economic crisis, where the poor pay while the rich are bailed out, Moore uses both humour and outrage to ask 'What is the price we pay for capitalism?' From an hilarious history lesson through to today's struggles of working people to keep hold of our homes and jobs, the film helps us step back and ask whether a world where people and planet are slaves to profit has any future and what alternatives could be created?
On making the film, Moore said: 'It's the perfect date movie. It's got it all: Lust, passion, romance, and 14,000 jobs being eliminated evey day. It's a forbidden love, one that dare not speak its name. Heck, let's just say it: It's capitalism.' $10/$6. Organised by Socialist Alliance. For more info ph 9639 8622 or 0413 377 978.
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| Other coming events |
From Wednesday, November 9
Community picket line: Support the striking poultry workers at Baiada. Workers at Baiada Poultry will take indefinite protected industrial action in their campaign for secure and permanent jobs starting this week. 100% of returned ballots have indicated a 'yes' vote for industrial action, meaning every single worker in the plant has voted to strike! Baiada is a company that murders workers in order to maximise profits. In August this year, Sarel Singh, 34, was killed instantly when he was sucked into a machine and decapitated while working at the Laverton Baiada poultry processing plant. Singh is a casualty of a management that in its race to cut costs, has forced workers to clean machinery running at full capacity. Baiada is also notorious for employing sham contracting, cash paid workers, over-casualisation and piece rates in order to undermine the job security of workers. Workers are demanding an end to unethical and unlawful employment practices in the poultry industry. Starts 6pm. Baiada Poultry, Pipe Road, Laverton.
Wednesday, November 9
Film premiere: Dirt Cheap 30 years on. An updated version of the 1980 film tells the story of how the Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu was imposed on the Mirarr people in the late 1970s. The film also provides contemporary insight into the Mirarr's experience with Ranger and Jabiluka. Speakers including representatives from Gundjeihmi and the Environment Centre NT. 6:30pm. State Library Theatrette, cnr Swanston & Latrobe Sts, City (entry from Latrobe St).
Public meeting: Citizen journalism: A talk by UK journalist Gari Sullivan. Citizen journalism is the practice of independent media makers recording and writing from events on the ground, and broadcasting their work through citizen journalism organisations or selling it for use by the mainstream media broadcasters. Gari Sullivan is a UK citizen journalist who has recently returned from reporting on the conflicts in Syria; at times working as the only Western reporter on the ground in Damascus. He runs a citizen journalism website brokerage called NoozDesk. 6:30 pm. New International Bookshop, Basement, Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South. $5/$2.
Public meeting: Kathy Kelly. Voices in the wilderness USA. Prospects for peace in the Middle East: Reflections of a peace activist. Nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Described as probably the most respected leader in the American peace movement, Kathy has invested her life in search of non-military solutions to end wars, often at great personal cost. Kathy has lived in war zones, sharing the dangers with civilians in Nicaragua, Gaza, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. 6:30 pm. Church of All Nations, 180 Palmerston Street, Carlton. $15/$10. For more info ph 0408 299 981 or email Kathy Kelly tour.
Thursday, November 10
Public meeting: Occupy Melbourne: A panel discussion on left politics and strategy.Recent weeks have seen an explosion in political activity and discussion provoked by Occupy Melbourne. Conversations over strategies to create a better world and visions of what this might be have taken on a new relevance and urgency. Speakers: Julia Dehm (anti-capitalist climate activist); Ben Convey (organiser Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance); Anthony Main (Socialist Party councillor for the City of Yarra); Corey Oakley (editor Socialist Alternative website & magazine); Jordy Silverstein (independent activist). 6:30pm. New International Bookshop, Basement, Trades Hall. $5/$2.
Public meeting: Conversations with Kathy Kelly. Pace e Bene Australia presents Kathy Kelly, an American peace activist, pacifist and three times Nobel Peace Prize nominee, in conversation along with Afghan youth peace volunteers. 7:30pm. Collins St Baptist Church, 174 Collins St, City. $15/$10. For more info ph Dale Hess 9592 5247 or email Dale Hess.
Public meeting: Friends of Public Housing launch. Catherine Deveney will be thought provoking and amusing. Free food. 10am-12 noon. Jika Jika Community Centre, cnr Plant & Union Sts, Northcote (near Westgarth Station). (FoPH is not identical to Defend and Extend Public Housing but there is some overlap of membership between the groups and their aims are compatible.)
Friday, November 11
Rally: Weekly Towers of Power tour. Everyone knows about the Arts Centre spire and Melbourne's laneways, but did you also know Melbourne is home to some of Australia's biggest corporate 1%-ers? Every week we will do a peaceful 'sight-seeing' march through the CBD visiting some of the worst offenders. Who's your nomination? Is it a company who attacks their workers, or a company that makes billions by trashing our environment? Or a CEO who pays themselves millions while outsourcing your jobs? 5:30pm. Every Friday. City Square, cnr Collins & Swanston Sts, City.
Public meeting: Symposium on Aboriginal recognition in the constitution. Join us for a discussion on Indigenous constitutional recognition: Is it reconciliation, recognition or rhetoric?Speakers: Adam Bandt (MP), Ann Collins (magistrate), Munya Andrews (Indigenous barrister), Jody Broun (co-chair of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples), Aunty Joan Vickery (Gunditjimara Elder). 5:30pm. RMIT Graduate School of Law Building 13, cnr Victoria & Russell Sts, City. Presented by RMIT Law Students’ Society facilitated by ABC journalist Jeff Waters. To book visit RMIT LSS.
Book launch: The Lionel Bopage Story: Rebellion, Repression and the Struggle for Justice in Sri Lanka. Damien Kingsbury (professor, School of International Studies, Deakin University) will be launching Michael Cooke's book. Join the author and Lionel Bopage for a celebration of the book's release. 5:45pm. Readings Bookshop, Palmer Hall, State Library of Victoria, cnr Latrobe & Swanston Sts, City. Entry free. RSVP Michael by November 9 on 0403 412 773 or Michael.
Film screening: The People Speak. A beautiful and moving film inspired by Howard Zinn's books on US history. The film features the actual words (in letters, songs, poems, speeches, and manifestoes) of rebels, dissenters, and visionaries from our past and present including Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Bob Dylan, Langston Hughes, Chief Joseph, Muhammad Ali, and unknown veterans, union workers, abolitionists, and many others never featured in high school textbooks. These dramatic moments from our history are brought to life by a group of remarkable musicians and actors. 6pm (food 6pm; screening 7pm). Loophole Community Centre, 670 High St, Thornbury. This a benefit for Melbourne IWW Canopy San who is undergoing stomach cancer treatment.
Occupy Melbourne forum: Everyone's talking about general strikes. Why is Occupy Oakland now the hot topic on the lips of everyone in the global Occupy movement? Two words: general strike! On 2 November 2011, Occupy Oakland made history by bringing this underutilised form of resistance back into the arsenal of the 99%. This was the first general strike in the United States since 1946! With the violent evictions of Occupy Melbourne and Occupy Sydney proving that Australia is far from immune to the attacks on freedom of speech and assembly, as well as the growing confidence in people power to change the world arising from the Occupy movement, how long will it be before the general strike is back on the agenda for the Australian 99%? 7pm (or after the Towers of Power march finishes). New International Bookshop, Basement, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South. Hosted by Occupy Melbourne's Community and Union Outreach Group. For more info email Occupy Workplaces.
Reception for Chilean Convergencia Estudiantil representative. Get together and drinks to welcome Cristian Milla Curinanco, representative of the Chilean grassroots students organisation, Convergencia Estudiantil, fighting for a free and quality public education in Chile. Drinks and food available. 7-10:30pm. LASNET Space, Basement, Trades Hall, cnr Victoria & Lygon Sts, Carlton. Hosted by LASNET.
Saturday, November 12
Art expo: Pre-launch launch for Under the Hammer The tendency to drive 'political' to the artistic fringe is not isolated to music but all arts, visual, theatre, comedy, music, spoken word, film etc. There is a massive audience for art which actually says something about the world we live in and the world we want to create. For this reason we are launching Under the Hammer's Sit-In, an arts space that is also a site of political struggle. We want to provide a platform for progressive artists to present, perform, debate and collaborate with a range of groups and individuals to assert activist art as a multi-platform genre. Come and discuss with us how you and your collaborators can engage with us to build this exciting project. See the space pre-renovations and help us shape it from the ground up. 7:30pm. The Sit-In, 158 Sydney Rd, Coburg. Donations to support the project will be greatly appreciated. RSVP Under the Hammerby November 10.
Sunday, November 13
Rally: Join the Backwards March and call on the premier to stop taking Victoria backwards! In just one year Premier Baillieu has taken Victoria decades backwards on the environment: Cattle trampling our national parks; new wind farms blocked; CO2 emissions target ignored; Endangered species habitat logged; new coal-fired power station approved; green wedges threatened; Westernport destruction fast-tracked. Premier Baillieu said he would 'fix the problems, and build the future', but when it comes to our environment his government has created new problems and is threatening our future! 1-2:30pm. Parliament House, Spring St, City. Organised by Victorian National Parks Association, The Wilderness Society, Environment Victoria & Friends of the Earth.
Latin American Acoustic Concert: Pena Folklorica. Fundraising in support of the Chilean students in their struggle for public and quality education. Music, poetry, dancing and typical food. Doors open 3pm. Copacabana International, 132 Smith st, Fitzroy. $10. Organised by Latin American Renaissance Collective, The Pablo Neruda Cultural Centre & Latin American Forum (Victoria). For more info ph 0431 600 215 or 0439 884 004.
Comedy: Political Asylum: brought to you by Australia's new #1 airline, Virgin. It's summer season at Political Asylum, which means a later start time and lots of big summer laughs. Our massive lineup this month: Dave O'Niel; Kate McLennan; Mathew Kenneally; Telia Neville; Scott Abbot; Dingo & Wolf; Morven Smith; Jennifer Wong; & hosted by Ben McKenzie. 7:30pm. The Brunswick Green, 313 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. $10/$5.
Tuesday, November 15
Film screening: Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story. As the corporate system takes us toward yet another economic crisis, where the poor pay while the rich are bailed out, Moore uses both humour and outrage to ask 'What is the price we pay for capitalism?' From a hilarious history lesson through to today's struggles of working people to keep hold of our homes and jobs, the film helps us step back and ask whether a world where people and planet are slaves to profit has any future and what alternatives could be created? On making the film, Moore said: 'It's the perfect date movie. It's got it all: Lust, passion, romance, and 14,000 jobs being eliminated evey day. It's a forbidden love, one that dare not speak its name. Heck, let's just say it: It's capitalism.' 6:30pm (meal from 6pm). Resistance Centre, level 5, 407 Swanston st, City (opposite RMIT). $10/$6. Organised by Socialist Alliance. For more info ph 9639 8622 or 0413 377 978.
Public meeting: Ongoing trauma: Reflections on the ongoing effect of refugee experiences after re-settlement in Australia. Speakers: Ellena Savage; Cecilia Sequeira Goncalves & Clovis Mwamba. 6:30pm. Dexter Cafe & Bar, 123 Queens Pde, Clifton Hill. Organised by Melbourne Free University. For more info visit MFU.
Public meeting: The struggle for free & quality education in Chile. International speaker representing the Chilean students grassroots movement 'Convergencia Estudiantil' fighting for a fair, just and quality education system in Chile. 7pm. Trades Hall Basement, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South. Organised by Latin American Solidarity Network. For more info visit LASNET. Supported by Chile Solidarity Melbourne.
Wednesday, November 16
Public meeting: Traditional owners speak out against BHP. Come along to meet and hear from traditional owners who are fighting to protect their homelands from being mined by BHP Billiton. Also meet the people who work closely with traditional owners in building the campaigns and public awareness of the environmental and health affects caused by mining coal and uranium. There will be a Q & A panel of traditonal owners, who will be entering the BHP Billiton AGM on November 17, including Peter Watts (Arabunna), Donna Jackson (Larrakia Nation), Richard Evans (Koara Gwa-da tribal leader) & Felipe Ustate from Manatial Columbia. 6:30pm. Meeting room 1, Trades Hall, cnr Victoria & Lygon Sts, Carlton South.
Thursday, November 17
Rally: Protest at BHP Billiton AGM. BHP Billiton have just been given environmental approval to expand their Olympic Dam mine in South Australia. It will be the largest open cut mine in the world. BHP Billiton are the worlds largest mining company resourcing the dirty energy sector. This financial year BHP Billiton have registered an 85% increase in profits to an incomprehensible annual figure of US$23.6 billion. The mine is set to be 1km deep, 4.5km long & 3km wide, with 5 years of excavation before they even reach the uranium ore body. The estimated 70 million tonnes of radioactive waste materials from the mine will be dumped over a 44km square area next to the mine site. 10:30am. Melbourne Convention Centre, 2 Clarendon St, South Wharf, City. To get involved contact Tully or ph 0410 388 187.
Occupy Melbourne protest: Evict Robert Doyle. Occupy Melbourne's Indigenous Working Group serves an eviction notice on Melbourne City Council and Lord Mayor Robert Doyle. In response to the violent attack on the democratic right to protest, including the brutal attack on several Indigenous activists, we invite the 99% to join us in this action to defend our human rights and cultural dignity. We are demanding a treaty with the whole of the Kamerra Nation. Let's recognise the true sovereigns of this land. Let's stop the racist NT Intervention. 12:30pm. City Square, cnr Collins & Swanston Sts, City (marching over the road to Town Hall).Speakers: Stephen Jolly (councillor for Langridge Ward); Koby James (proud Gunditjmara gay speaker); Rory James (proud Yorta-Yorta gay speaker); Sue Bolton (Occupy Melbourne's Direct Action Working Group); Alex Ettling (Occupy Melbourne's Community and Union Outreach Group); Lysander (proud mother of a Panggerang daughter and vegan activist); Gregory Oke (mental health activist); Robbie Thorpe (Aboriginal activist); Sam Castro (Occupy Melbourne member).
Public meeting: She works hard for the money: Pay Justice Action big night out dinner.Be inspired by rousing tales from the ongoing battle for equal pay. You'll hear from an activist in the state public service where workers are battling the Ballieu government's miserable 2.5% offer that would see wages go backwards! You'll also get an update by a workplace delegate from the ASU about the tenacious campaign by community sector workers for equal pay. 7pm. Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road Brunswick. $20/$10 & $25 solidarity. Bookings appreciated to assist with catering. To book ph 9388 0062 or email Pay Justice.
Friday-Sunday, November 18-20
Festival: Commonground Festival. Commonground Festival is an intimate new community music festival, celebrating the social change movement. Just one hour north of Melbourne on beautiful regenerated bushland of the Commonground Resource Centre. Featuring: The Band Who Knew Too Much; Flap!; The Tiger and Me; The Shivering Timbers; The Stetson Family; April Maze; Beth King; Stephen Pigram; The Grenadines; The Nymphs; Sun Hyland Band. Plus workshops on activism, co-housing, working collaboratively and greenthumb garden action. Visit Commonground Festival to find out more and to purchase tickets. Funds raised support Commonground and their work resourcing the social change movement.
Saturday, November 19
Occupy Melbourne: Dare to share teddy bears picnic. Across the planet 800 million people suffer from hunger and malnutrition, 1.1 billion people do not have access to clean drinking water and, every hour, 1200 children die from preventable diseases. In Australia the number living in poverty is 2.2 million, while homelessness is at 100,000. Currently, in Victoria funding is being cut to 9000 'take a break' occasional care places, impacting on shift workers, single parents and families in crisis. Meanwhile the 1% continues to grow richer. Join us, the 99%, for a day of fun and kids activities at Occupy Melbourne's 'Dare to share teddy bears picnic'. Bring a blanket and some snacks and let's show the 1% how this 'strange concept' called sharing is done. At this teddy bear picnic, we all get a slice of the pie! 11:30am. Venue TBC. Look for the balloons! For more info visit Occupy Melbourne.
Fundraiser: Wyndham Greens present Rod Quantock in Pardon My Carbon. With our finite planet as the star of the evening, Rod takes his hatchet of humour to Peak Oil, Peak People, Peak Pollution, Politics and Profiteers (and no doubt a few other usual and unusual suspects). Kelly Hall (next to RSL, Melway 205 K8), 5 min walk from Werribee Rail Station. $20/$15 concession for a wonderful, illuminating and hilarious evening. For bookings ph Beck 8742 6752, 0431 252 703 or email Wyndham Greens.
Community Festival: Celebrating our struggles against corporate greed. 1pm. Northcote Uniting Church, 251 High St, Northcote. For more info call Latin America Solidarity Network 0425 539 149.
Sunday, November 20
Public meeting: Transgender Day of Remembrance. You are invited to join Ygender in commemoration on the Transgender Day of Remembrance. We ask that you join us to pay respects to the memory of some of our communities most vulnerable citizens in a day of reflection and remembrance. The event will include guest speakers, performance and a space for discussion. We look forward to seeing you there, please RSVP by November 10 for catering and venue capacity. 1pm. Grattan Gardens Community Centre (Community Hall), 40 Grattan St, Prahran. (Please note that car parking spaces are extremely limited.) Organised by Ygender Melbourne.
Rally: Peaceful law reform rally to legalise cannabis. There will be several live music acts performing throughout the day, including Mr DNA and AOI (hip hop) Jahmakn'It'Funky (reggae) & acoustic sets by Jamal Moyle and Armado. Speakers: The Australian Sex Party, Greg Denham (LEAP Australia), Brett Lothian and more to be announced. 1pm. Flagstaff Gardens, between William & King Sts, City (200 metres from Flagstaff Station lawn).
Wednesday, November 23
Public meeting: Choosing between progress & planet. Is the world split between those who want to save the planet and those who want to save themselves? In Quarterly Essay 44, Andrew Charlton exposes the rift that will shape our future: progress versus planet, rich versus poor. Across the globe, economists and environmentalists are locked in a struggle over who has the right response to climate change, population and food security issues. In this groundbreaking essay, Charlton argues that our descendants will only thank us if we find a way to preserve both the natural world and human progress. 6:15pm. The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale Street. Free entry. Bookings recommended. Bookings at Wheeler Centre.
Thursday, November 24
Film screening: Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton's Cafeteria. This Emmy Award-winning documentary tells the story of the first-known collective uprising against queer and transgender oppression. A multi-racial rebellion in San Francisco's Tenderloin district, led by drag queens, that took place three years before the Stonewall Riot in New York. The revolt connected to issues of police harassment, housing rights, war resistance, and sexual liberation. 7pm. Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Road, Brunswick. Dinner from 6pm. $8. For more info ph 9388 0062.
Saturday, December 3
Sydney Rally for marriage equality at ALP Conference. This is a national protest. Equal Love groups from across the country are organising for their supporters to make the trip to Sydney, from Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra and more. What better reason to make a trip to Sydney than this! Equality advocates are urged to gather at Hyde Park to march to the Labor Party national conference as they debate their policy on marriage. 12 noon. Hyde Park North at the fountain (Sydney).
Sunday, December 4
Sydney Rally for refugees at ALP conference. End mandatory detention. Refugees are welcome. Not in Malaysia, not in Nauru: No offshore processing. 12 noon. Meet Sydney Town hall to march to the ALP conference at Darling harbour. Organised by Refugee Action Coalition Sydney. Initial endorsements: Chilout, Refugee Action Coalition, Labor for Refugees (NSW), National Tertiary Education Union (NSW), Australian Services Union (NSW & ACT (Services)).
Sunday, December 18
Fundraiser: Rhythm, rock, reggae, rap, recycle benefit concert. For books for libraries and schools in newly independent South Sudan. With The Mystic Trio ,Quashani Bahd, Culture Crew, Majak & Deng, Black Orchid String Band, West Papuan Dance Group, Ben Jackson Band, Flybz. Speakers from South Sudan and West Papua. 2:30pm. Fitzroy Town Hall, 201 Napier St Fitzroy. Entry fee: Bring a book (new or 2nd hand) to donate to school/university libraries in South Sudan (children's and recent text books welcome) and/or donation to help with rebuilding after years of war. Organised by SSPARC (South Sudanese People in Australia Relief and Care, Auspiced by Multicultural Arts Victoria, with thanks to the City of Yarra.For more information contact Esther 0439 555 291 or Tania 0438 702 528.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Rally: Freedom fighters Tunnerminnerwait & Maulboyheener. Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner were among five Tasmanian Aborigines who conducted a campaign of resistance to European settlement in 1841 around Western Port and South Gippsland near Melbourne. After three military expeditions they were finally captured and brought back to Melbourne for trial. They were not allowed to give evidence themselves. The two men were found guilty of murder, with the jury saying due to the circumstances mercy should be granted. No mercy was given and Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner were the first judicial executions to take place in Melbourne on January 20, 1842 before a crowd of 5000, a quarter of the population of Melbourne at the time. 12pm. RMIT entrance, cnr Bowen & Franklin Sts, City.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Canberra Rally: Stand up & be counted on Sovereignty Day. Invitation to the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
Friday, February 17-Sunday February 19
Festival: Sustainable Living Festival 2012. Federation Square & Birrarung Marr Event Park, near cnr Swanston & Flinders Sts, City. For more info visit SLF.
| Geelong & regional Victoria |
Saturday, December 3
Ballarat Reclaim the radical spirit of the Eureaka Rebellion Annual Dinner. Guest speaker TBA. Entry free (you pay for your own food and drink). 7pm. Stockade Hotel, 152 Eureka St, Ballarat. Seating limited, booking essential. Bookings close November 20. For more info email Eureka.
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