Dale Hess's Calendar - 2013-06-10: Rallies, movies and theatre, nuclear deterrence, refugees, peace, conversations and courses, environment

Monday 10 June – Saturday 20 July, Australian Premiere of Play: Solomon and Marion. Meg Bryne writes: I'm currently working at Melbourne Theatre Company as the Digital Manager, and we have an award-winning South African play coming up which I thought might be of interest to the other course participants. Solomon and Marion by Lara Foot tells the story of two injured people searching for redemption in the fragile, post-apartheid South Africa. You can find out more about Solomon and Marion, which won the Fleur Du Cap award for Best New South African play, on the MTC website. One free double pass is on offer for 8 pm on Friday 21 June. Let me know as soon as possible if you are interested.

Wednesday 12 June, 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm; 6.30 pm—7 pm drinks: Extended nuclear deterrence in the defence of Australia: fantasy, bluff or just a lie? Speaker: Richard Tanter. For two decades Defence White Papers have asserted that Australia relies on the United States to provide nuclear protection for Australia in the face of nuclear threats to this country. This claim to defend Australia with US nuclear weapons raises four main problems: No Australian government has ever pointed to a plausible nuclear threat to Australia (apart from those derived from the role of Pine Gap and North West Cape in US nuclear war planning); The US government has never given an assurance of nuclear protection to Australia; In the absence of such a public assurance, what does Australian reliance on US extended nu-clear deterrence actually mean?; Should Australia be defended by nuclear weapons - American or otherwise? Venue: Room 221, Level 2, Melbourne LawSchool, 185 Pelham Street. RSVP: Anna Hood: achood@unimelb.edu.au...

Sunday 16 June, 12 noon: World Refugee Day Rally. Rally organised by Refugee Advocacy Network. Venue: Exhibition Bldng, Nicholson Street, Carlton. Catch 86 or 96 tram or walk from Parliament Station. Music & Speakers: Graham Thom – Amnesty International; Misha Coleman – Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce; Michele O’Neil – State Secretary Textile, Clothing & Footwear Union of Australia; Adam Bandt – Greens Deputy Leader; Speakers from Hazara & Tamil communities. Marching to EMERGE Festival at Fitzroy Town Hall. Bring your messages of welcome – theme boats. For information: Website: http://refugeeadvocacynetwork.org/world-refugee-day-rally-2013/;  Downloadable Flyer: http://refugeeadvocacynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/world_refugee_day_20131.pdf

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.

Monday, 17 June, 10.30 am: Book launch: Alternatives to Offshore Processing. Labor for Refugees invites you to the launch of their book, which has a foreword by Malcolm Fraser. The book will be launched by Prof. Patrick McGorry, Australian of the Year 2010. Chair: Pamerla Curr, Asylum Seekers Resources Centre. Venue: Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth Street, opposite Victoria Market. RSVP by 6 June, acceptances only: robinro2@bigpond.com

Sunday 23 June, 1 pm – 4 pm: 'Be The Change' Symposium (based on Awakening the Dreamer from the Pachamama Alliance). St Peter Julian Eymard Primary School Mooroolbark. RSVP:  Jane 0416 279 811 or janefmb7@gmail.com or via this link:  Click here to RSVP

Thursday 4 July, 6.30 pm: War:  What is it Good For?  Screening of the documentary: On the Bridge. Keynote speaker: Victor Emanuele, who is a former US Marine of two tours to Iraq who refused to go again by laying down his weapon. He is now organiser for the Michigan chapter of Veterans for Peace and serves on the National Board of Directors of Iraq Veterans against the War. There will be a panel discussion with Vince, Chip Henriss from STAND FAST, and Sam Castro from Wikileaks Australian Citizens’ Alliance. Venue: Trades Hall, 54 Victoria Street, Carlton.

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 by Dr 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: OasesGraduate School, Community Learning and Research Centre, 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn.

Saturday 6 July – Saturday 13 July:  Nuclear Abolition Week. This week kicks off with activities across the world for a ban on nuclear weapons. This global week of action is intended to raise awareness of the unacceptable harm caused by nuclear weapons, and the urgent need for a ban. Website: http://www.icanw.org/

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 GraduateSchool, 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 CentrePallotti College, Millgrove Melways 289 A2. An application form for registration is available fromwww.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.