Coming events - Green Left Activist Calendar - 13-01-16

Thursday, January 17-Sunday, February 24

Exhibition: Blue & Pink Phenomenon. This exhibition examines the queer role played in a post-identity and also, increasingly, post-gender contemporary society. Drew Pettifer's photographic outdoor billboard installation, Still Revolting, examines the ongoing relevance of the queer protester as an agent of political and social change. Gallery opening hours: Thurs-Sun, 11am-5pm. The Substation, 1 Market St, Newport. For more info visit Midsumma.

Friday, January 18

Rally: Stop discrimination & violence against the homeless. Protect, respect, include. Join us and light 1000 candles to commemorate the lives of people who have died under the protection, care and treatment of the federal and Victorian governments, Victorian police and agents of the state (including church organizations and non-government community and the homelessness/housing industry. 7pm. Parliament steps, Spring Street, City.

Sunday, January 20

Rally: Commemorating the First Nations freedom fighters, Tunnerminnerwait & Maulboyheener.Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheener were the first two men executed in Melbourne on January 20, 1842. They were Indigenous freedom fighters who took up arms against the colonisers and paid the ultimate price for taking up arms to defend themselves against the invasion of their lands and the genocide of their people (more background at Treaty Republic). Please bring flowers. 12 noon (march at 1pm). Cnr Franklin & Bowen Sts, City.

Monday, January 21

Public meeting: Pakistan: Building a united left party in the face of war and crisis. Guest Speaker: Hashim bin Rashid, journalist and Lahore branch general secretary of Awami Workers Party. Rashid became a student activist after when former Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in 2007. 'As a response, we set up a cross-campus Student Action Committee which organised on-campus and street protests against the dictator and joined the lawyers movement of 2007. Since then I have been part of the organising team of protests against the blasphemy law, calling for cuts in the army budget, calling for an end to the war in Khyber Pakthunkhwa in the name of the "war on terror" and the military operations against Baloch separatists in Balochistan since 2009. I was also part of the organising committee of the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Aman Mela 2012, the Occupy Lahore rally in January 2012 and a Mazdoor Kissan (Workers and Peasants) rally in March 2012.' 6:30pm. Resistance Centre, level 5, 407 Swanston St, City (opposite RMIT). Organised by Socialist Alliance & Green Left Weekly. For more info ph 0413 377 978.

Tuesday, January 22

Concert: Against Me! The group has supported a variety of progressive and radical causes over the years, including the rights of queer and trans people. (See Trans singer confronts bigotry). 8pm. Hi Fi Bar, 125 Swanston St, City.

Friday, January 25-Sunday, February 3

Exhibition: The Gay Agenda. Social and political conservatives are deliberately whipping up a frenzy of hatred toward our community, plotting to undermine our collective strength, unity and place in society and further brainwash their faithful into despising our existence with an invention they call The Gay Agenda. Photographer Kris Darmody and commenter Brenton Geyer interpret this absurd and fictitious notion through a series of photographs and words addressing what conservatives are telling you is The Gay Agenda. Mon-Tues by appointment, Wed-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 10am3pm. OnStone, 285/287 Coventry St, South Melbourne. For more info visit Midsumma.

Saturday, January 26

Rally: Invasion Day rally & march. See display listing above. 9am. 186 Gertrude St, Fitzroy.

Festival: Share the Spirit Indigenous music festival. Treasury Gardens. From 1pm.

Festival: Belgrave Survival Day. Celebrate the survival of the worlds oldest continuing culture at the 6th Belgrave Survival Day. Musical acts are: Benny Walker and band with a mix of soul, Blues and reggae; Deadly award nominee Miss Lady Lash with her mix of hip hop and urban blues. Other acts and speakers on the day will be the HICSA children's choir and hip hop, Gnarnayarrahe Waitairie with story telling and digeridoo meditation, traditional dance group Jindi Worobak, Uncle Bill Nicholson and Aunty Dot Peters. 12 noon-4:30pm. Borthwick Park, Benson St, Belgrave (next to the Belgrave Pool). We will also be celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of Corranderrk an Aboriginal mission in Healsville with an outdoor museum and speakers with knowledge of Corranderrk.

Sunday, February 3

Rally: Pride March 2013. Pride March recognises and celebrates the people and events that inspire the courage, solidarity, pride, diversity and strong sense of community of Victoria's gay, lesbian, bisexual, intersex and transgender people. We organise cultural activities that bring our community together in a safe and positive environment. The annual Pride March is our signature event and celebrates a bright future while preserving our history. Assemble from 12 noon. March 2pm sharp. Albert Park, cnr Lakeside Drive & Fitzroy St, St Kilda.

Wednesday, February 6

Rally: Forgotten Australians National Day of Action. We, The Forgotten Australians, survivors of institutional, foster care, and out of home care and all victims of abuse request your presence at our gathering of Forgotten Australians. This event will take place at Parliament House in each state. Our aim of this gathering is to peacefully yet firmly protest the lack of resources available to us, given the torture and abuse of many of us while in the care of the state governments across the nation during the 1950-80s that has permanently left the majority of us physically, mentally, emotionally and/or psychologically challenged on a day to day basis. 10:30am. Parliament House.

Saturday, February 9-Sunday, February 24

Festival: Sustainable Living Festival. The Sustainable Living Festival raises awareness and provides tools for change by showcasing leading solutions to the ecological and social challenges we face. The Sustainable Living Festival aims to inspire and empower everyday Australians to accelerate the uptake of sustainable living. The Festival attracts over 150,000 visits and engages with hundreds of organisations and individuals to stage Australia's largest and oldest sustainability festival. 9am-5pm. Federation Square. For more info visit SLF.

Sunday, February 10

Exhibition: Zine fair 2013. Sticky Institute presents their annual zine-based festival. 12–5pm. Melbourne Town Hall. For more info visit Sticky Institute.

Tuesday, February 12

Public meeting: The struggle for freedom in West Papua. For 40 years, Western countries such as Australia have been complicit in Indonesia’s brutal occupation of West Papua. The harsh regime has helped facilitate the exploitation of the area’s riches in natural resources by Western and Indonesian companies. Papuans see little benefit from the pillaging of their land and have the lowest standard of living in Indonesia. This forum will look at the struggle for self-determination and an end to Indonesian occupation of West Papua. 6:30pm (cheap meal from 6pm). Resistance Centre, level 5, 407 Swanston St, City. Organised by Socialist Alliance & Green Left Weekly. For more info ph 9639 8622.

Friday, March 29-Sunday, April 7

Friends of the Earth's Radioactive Exposure Tour to South Australian outback. From Melbourne via Adelaide. For more info ph Gem 0421 955 066, email Radioactive Exposure Tour or visit FoE.