Dale Hess's Calendar - 2013-05-20 : Mondragon and Co-operatives : William Dalrymple : Monsanto : Reconciliation and more

Tuesday, 21 May, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm: Film Screening - We the Owners, Employees Expanding the American Dream: Employee Ownership Australia and New Zealand. Interested in Mondragon and the employee-owner revolution in the US? We the Owners captures stories from the founders and employees from New Belgium Brewing, Namasté Solar, and DPR Construction, sharing the worker's perspectives on shared ownership structures, highly empowering corporate cultures, linked reward and risk incentives, and human-capital innovation models. The film follows as decisions are made on founding the company, expansion, succession, recruitment, and layoffs. Following the film will be apanel discussion featuring Loren Rodgers, CEO, US National Center for Employee Ownership. Venue: Elisabeth Murdoch Theatre A, Universityof Melbourne. Free entry, but need to register need to register. 

Website: http://wetheownerseoaestw.eventbrite.com.au/  

Tuesday 21 May, 8.30 pm: William Dalrymple: The Return of the king: the battle for Afghanistan. In 1839 The British launched an invasion ofAfghanistan largely as a result of false intelligence. William Darymple has told the story of the first Anglo Afghan war and the subsequent "war of retribution" using Afghan sources. As well as being a great read the book draws parallels which shed light on the current situation. Venue: Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne. Cost: $20; $12 concession. Further information: Wheeler Centre

Saturday 25 May, 2 pm: March Against Monsanto. The movement for GM-free is now grass roots and global! Millions of people everywhere will demand the right to know and to choose GM-free crops and foods, when we March Against Monsanto on Sunday May 25. Marches and meetings are planned in 321 cities, so far. We March Against Monsanto because: most foods and ingredients made using GM techniques are unlabelled; some types of Monsanto's GM soy, corn and canola harm experimental animals, and maybe us; Monsanto's control of the world's seed and food supply using patents is 27% and growing. Venue: State Library of Victoria. Further information: website: http://on.fb.me/17FMbKS; email:marchagainstmonsantomelbourne@gmail.com.

Sunday 26 May, 9.30 am – 11 am: Walk with Reconciliation Victoria. Walk the first steps with Recognise and then join us for some Black Olive catering after the launch at Batman Park on the river, hosted by Reconciliation Victoria. The movement to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution is taking to the road to build even more public support for this quest: http://goo.gl/IbeXR. Venue: Federation Square, Melbourne.

Thursday 30 May, 6 pm: Life in Gaza Today: A Humanitarian and Human Rights Perspective with Dr Mon El Farra, Health Chair and Vice President of the Red Crescent Society for the Gaza Strip. Dr El Farra is a physician who now works as a public health advocate. She works in developing community based programs that aim to improve health quality and link health services with cultural and recreational services all over the Gaza Strip. Her particular focus is on the rights of women and children. Venue: Building 80, Level 2, Room 7, RMIT University. Further information: Michael Shaik 0431 573 368.

Friday 31 May, 8 am: Meet Dr Mona El Farra. MAPW will host a breakfast where Dr El Farra will address the health situation in Gaza. The meeting will begin at the Travellers Bookstore, 294 Smith St, Collingwood, which will be open from 7.45 am. Please RSVP to mapw@mapw.org.au.

Saturday 1 June, 9 am -11.30 am: Breakfast conversation: What's being female got to do with sustainability? Come & listen to Jenni Goricanec, a facilitator at the OASES Graduate School, as she shares some fascinating insights on what it means to be female in a society trying to live more sustainably. Cost: $25/$15 including delicious buffet breakfast (with vegetarian options). For more info & to register, click here. You can also register by e-mail, or phone on 9819 3502. Venue: Oases Graduate School, Community Learning and Research Centre, 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn.

Sunday 16 June, 12 noon: World Refugee Day Rally. Rally organised by the Refugee Advocacy Network. Venue: Exhibition Building, Nicholson Street,Carlton.

Sunday, 16 June, 1 pm Shared meal; 2 pm discussion: Resisting war to make peace. Pax Christi invites you to hear Professor Michael Hamel Green of Victoria University will introduce and conversation around his experiences as a war resister, conscientious objector and peacemaker. N.B. Many of you have experiences to share.  Please feel free it invite others. Venue: Kildara, rear 39 Stanhope Street, Malvern. Further info: 0424 950 852.

Saturday 6 July, 9 am -6 pm: Special Breakfast Conversation and Open Day. The history, spirit & place of OASES, 9 am -11.30 am. Presented byDr Jacques Boulet & Rev Paul Sanders. Founding Director, Jacques Boulet, and concept initiator Paul Sanders, come together for a rare glimpse into the beginnings of OASES, & to explore our evolving vision, programs & sense of place. Cost: $25/$15 including delicious buffet breakfast (with vegetarian options).All are warmly invited to OASES for this special occasion, following on from the Breakfast, when we gather to showcase & celebrate all that is OASES. It'll be an afternoon of food, music, presentations & workshops that offer an insight into our programs, spirit & vision. If you are interested in exploring our courses, events, volunteer opportunities, or just being inspired by a wonderful community of facilitators & supporters of OASES, join us this Open Day. Entry free: 12 pm – 6 pm. Venue: Oases Graduate School, Community Learning and Research Centre, 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn.

Tuesday 16 July, 5 pm – 9 pm: An evening with Wes Howard-Brook and Sue Ferguson Johnson. Pax Christi invites you to hear Wes Howard Brook, who teaches biblical studies Seattle University, USA, and Sue Ferguson Johnson, who is a spiritual director.  Together they run “Abide in Me Ministries”. They will speak on restoring one's sense of bonding around the earth itself, focussing on creation, to help everyone to come out of their identity with violence and empire and into a life of peace and love. The first session will be between 5 pm - 6.30 pm, then a shared meal between 6.30 pm -7.30 pm. Please bring food to share. The second session will be between 7.30 pm – 9 pm. Venue: Kildara, rear 39 Stanhope Street, Malvern. Further info: 0424 950 852.

10 August, 12 October, 10 & 11 November: Community Development. A 4-day short course from one of the world's leading community development practitioners. Working with Dr Jacques Boulet, students will explore concepts, strategies and practices associated with community development. This course looks at ways to empower community not just for survival but with the aim that they will thrive in a way that is sustainable and life enhancing. 

For more info & to register, click here. Venue: Oases Graduate School, Community Learning and Research Centre, 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn.

11 August, 8 & 9 September, 13 October: Sustainable Relationships in a Technological Age. A 4-day short course at the heart of what it means to live well. How are your relationships with others and the rest of the living world being affected by this age of extraordinary technological progress? Under the guidance of one of Australia’s leading experts in social development, Dr Jacques Boulet, you will reflect on the last 600 years of human history and understand how to create better relationships and communities. For more info & to register, click here. Venue: Oases Graduate School, Community Learning and Research Centre, 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn.

Sunday 18 August to Wednesday 21 August: JCMA’s 10^th Winter Conference: Sorry is the Hardest Word: Forgiveness and Repentance. JCMA conferences are intended for anyone from one of the three Abrahamic faiths. Participants include men and women, academics, those working in support or welfare roles, tertiary students, and members and leaders of faith communities. Sunday Taster Opportunity:1 pm - 9.45 pm. Cost: $55. Sunday, the first day of the conference, will provide an overview of the main themes. People who unable to att­end for the whole conference are welcome to come to this Sunday taster. Applications closing date: Friday 19 July 2013. Conference Centre Pallotti College, Millgrove Melways 289 A2. An application form for registration is available from www.trybooking.com/CFGA.

Friday 23 August – Sunday 25 August: Pax Christi Australia National conference: Peacemaking, an Alternative Narrative! Venue: Edmund Rice Centre, Homebush, Sydney. More details soon.

Thursday 19 September (time & location TBA): Satish Kumar to visit OASES & present a talk in the evening. A former monk and long-term peace and environment activist, Satish Kumar has been quietly setting the Global Agenda for change for over 50 years. He was just nine when he left his family home to join the wandering Jains and 18 when he decided he could achieve more back in the world. Satish is Editor of Resurgence Magazine & a Visiting Fellow at the Schumacher College, a close affiliate of the OASES Graduate School. We hope you can join us for an evening with this warm, creative and highly respected man.

19 & 20 October, 16 & 17 November:  Creating Connections & Opening Up Creativity. A 4-day short course learning deeply about our inherent creativity. An aesthetic experience can spark an enlightening moment where things become clearer and make more sense. This course will guide participants to create your own bridges towards clarity. For more info & to register, click here. Venue: Oases Graduate School, Community Learning and Research Centre, 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn.