Dale Hess Calendar - 2012-07-23: Kim Scott; Race Matthews; Hiroshima & Nagasaki events & more...

Wednesday, 25 July, 7 pm - 8 pm: Language & Nation. Professor Kim Scott of CurtinUniversity is one of Australia's most significant authors. His major works That Deadman Dance (2011), Benang (1999) and True Country (1993) have received a host of literary prizes including the Miles Franklin Literary Award, Victorian Premier's Literary Award, Commonwealth Writers Prize, and Western Australian Premier's Book Award. Professor Scott has also been named West Australian of the Year 2012 for his work in Indigenous language regeneration as well as his contributions to Australian literature. Professor Scott's fiction is uncompromising in its identification and contestation of reader expectations of Indigenous writing and authorship. His command of Nyoongah, Aboriginal, Australian and English literary forms produces complex narratives about intimacy, identity and history in the Australian context. This combined with his work in the area of Indigenous language revitalisation creates new possibilities for communication and expression. Professor Scott's masterful use of genre and social commentary calls for a new type of reader who is willing to engage in breaking down existing codes of representation, politics and repression that continue to operate in contemporary Australian society. In a wide-ranging address Professor Scott will bring together his concerns with Indigenous cultural renewal through language revitalisation and the role of literature in an evolving vision of Australia in the twenty-first century. 

The Basement Theatre, Spot Building, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010. Admission is free. Bookings are required. Seating is limited. To register visit:http://alumni.online.unimelb.edu.au/kimscott. For further information please contact  Kate Rendellrendellk@unimelb.edu.au or phone 8344 8143. 

Hosted by Australian Indigenous Studies, School of Culture and Communication, Faculty of Arts. This event is supported by ELTHAM BOOKSHOP with a table of books for sale and signing.                            

Wednesday 25, July 7:30 pm: Cooperatives, social equity & participation. Speaker: Dr Race Matthews, who is a prolific writer on cooperatives and how they might contribute to improved economic life in Australia. He has studied what we could learn from the phenomenal cooperatives at Mondragon in Spain, particularly in developing enterprises which enhance equity and participation. His recent research looks at the development of cooperatives in Australia, and

how they might help advance health and sustainability in the economy. At the Study Centre, Yarra Theological Union, Box Hill. (best entry via 34 Bedford Street). Entry by donation. Light refreshments afterwards. Contact: 03 9890 1077, 0425 778 395. Email:  admin@socialpolicyconnections.com.au;Website: www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au

Sunday 5 August, 3 pm – 5 pm: Hiroshima & Nagasaki Peace Concert 2012. Performers:Junko Morimoto - Children's book author, "My Hiroshima", Carmen Warrington - Tibetan singing bowl, April Maze - Acoustic duo, SKIN - Indigenous choir, Leigh Sloggett - Slide guitar, Noriko Tadano - Shamisen. Speakers: Robert Tickner - CEO, Australian Red Cross, Dr Peter Karamoskos - Medical Association for Prevention of War. Village Roadshow Theatrette @ The State Library of Victoria, Corner of La Trobe and Swanston Streets. Ticket at door: $15 full/ $10 conc. The event is sponsored by Victorian Multicultural Commission and ICAN. It is also endorsed by MAPW and many other NGOs, and is presented by Japanese for Peace (JfP). For interviews or more information, contact Kaz at info@jfp.org.au  or 0413 849 984, or visit our website at www.jfp.org.au

 

Monday 6 August, 7 am - 9 am: Hiroshima Day Vigil. This annual vigil marks the time and date of the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. Venue: The steps of St Paul's Cathedral. Steps of St Paul's Cathedral, cnr Swanston & Flinders Streets, Melbourne. All welcome. Candles supplied. Queries to secretary@mapw.org.au, or call us on 9023 1958. Organised by MAPW and other peace organizations.

Tuesday 7 August, 4.30 pm - 6.30 pm: Afghanistan War Vigil. Is Australia withdrawing from the Afghanistan war? It seems clear that our military involvement is looking at continuing for quite some time yet. So let's keep the message strong: Stop the war. When we mean withdraw, we really mean withdraw. Venue: steps of Flinders Street Railway Station.

Picture from here

Thursday 9 August, 6 pm for tea and coffee: then 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm:  Workshop: nuclear risks of Australia's US bases. This workshop follows the successful public meeting held in June, and marks Nagasaki Day, the anniversary of the second atomic bombing of Japan.Speakers: Professor Richard Tanter (who spoke at that meeting) will discuss in more detail the possible links between Australia's US bases and shared facilities, and nuclear weapons. Richard is one of Australia's leading experts on this topic; Dimity Hawkins is an anti-nuclear campaigner who has written extensively on international treaties designed to rid the world of nuclear weapons. She will discuss how our growing links with the US military fits with our international obligations to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. There'll be time for questions, and discussion of how to share this information. Venue: Meeting Room 1, Trades Hall (enter from 54 Victoria Street). Organised by MAPW with other members of the Victorian network opposing US bases. Queries: email mapw@mapw.org.au or call MAPW on 0431 475 465.

 

Monday 20 August - Friday 14 September: Walking for Country. Walkatjurra Walkabout is a pilgrimage across Wangkatja country in the spirit of our ancestors so together, we as present custodians, can protect our land and our culture for future generations. Walking for Country is to reconnect people with land and culture. My people have resisted destructive mining on our land and our sacred sites for generations. For over forty years we have fought to stop uranium mining at Yeelirrie, we stopped the removal of sacred stones from Weebo and for the last twenty years we have stoped destruction of 200 sites at Yakabindie. We are not opposed to responsible development, but cannot stand wanton destruction of our land, our culture, and our environment. We invite all people, from all places, to come together to walk with us, to send a clear message that we want the environment here, and our sacred places left alone.  Kado Muir, Traditional Owner, Yeelirrie. This walk will be lead by the Walkatjurra Rangers, in partnership with Footprints for Peace, Western Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (WANFA), the Anti Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia (ANAWA) and the Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA).  ALL WELCOME to JOIN for an hour, a day, a few weeks or the whole way. Email: walk4country@gmail.com. Phone: 0421 816 846 (Laura). Website: www.walkingforcountry.com  [Position open for Publicity and Communications Intern to work with the Organising Committee in all matters related to media and publicity.  The Intern would be responsible for liaising with all media in the lead up, duration and immediate period following the upcoming event Walkatjurra Walkabout – Walking for Country.  Any inquiries, 0421 816 846 (Laura)].

Friday 31 August, 7.30 pm: Peace with People, Peace with our Planet A Franciscan Perspective. Joe Rozansky OFM is the head of the OFM Secretariat for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation which co-ordinates and animates the international Franciscan activities for justice and peace. He led the Franciscan delegation at the Rio +20 UN Summit on Sustainable Development this year. Joe is a friar of the Holy Name Province of New York and has worked with the landless of Minais Gerais, Brazil. Joe is interested in meeting people involved and interested in peace, social justice and environmental movements in Australia. Hosted by Holy Spirit Province(www.franciscans.org.au) & Social Policy Connections (www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au). Social Policy Connections, Yarra Theological Union - Study Centre, 34 Bedford Street, Box Hill. For further information please contact the Franciscan JPIC Office. 02 9369 9309 or jpic@franciscans.org.au

Sunday 23 September - Thursday 27 September: Swan Island Peace Convergence 2012.There is no end for this war in sight, and many of us feel powerless to stop it. Join us in Queenscliff,Victoria, for a week of learning about and nonviolently resisting the war: nonviolence training, community engagement, peace vigils, blockade the bridge to Swan Island military base where the SAS troops are trained for active combat in Afghanistan. Further info: http://swanislandpeace.org/and swanislandpeace@gmail...com