Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar - 2014-10-10

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar October 10, 2014 Public meeting: Stopping the East West Link Thursday, October 9, 7pm. Join Moreland Community against the East West Link (MCAT) for a public meeting on the campaign. Speakers: Andrew Herrington (author of East West Link blog and former advisor to the Brumby government); Sue Bolton (a co-convenor of MCAT, Socialist Alliance Councillor for Moreland); Mike Naismith (Tunnel Picket), Lambros Tapinos (mayor of Moreland). 7pm. Coburg Court House, 1A Main St, Coburg. Organised by MCAT. For more info contact Riki 0400 877 819, Michael 0417 354 169 or Sue 0413 377 978.Save Film screening: The Runner Friday, October 10, 6pm. The story of Western Sahara athlete Salah Hmatou Ameidan who became a symbol of the resistance of his country under Moroccan occupation since 1975. 97 mins. 6pm (for 6:30pm start). New Council Chambers, Trades Hall, Lygon St, Carlton South. $15 solidarity, $12 full, $8 concession. Presented by Australia Western Sahara Association. For info visit AWSA. Public meeting: Housing is a human right Thursday, October 16, 6:30pm. Speakers: Donna Bennett (Hope St Youth & Family Services); Fiona Ross (Friends of Public Housing); Sean Brockelhurst (Socialist Alliance); MC: Sue Bolton  (Socialist Alliance councillor for Moreland). 6:30pm. Old Court House, 1A Main St, Coburg (near Bell St). Presented by Socialist Alliance. For more info ph 9639 8622 or 0413 377 978. (PLEASE NOTE: This is the correct date.) This is the regular Melbourne activist calendar compiled by Green Left Weekly. Emailed to subscribers each Wednesday fortnight, it is a one-stop listing of the main left and progressive events in Melbourne and Geelong. Since it began in early 1991, Green Left Weekly has offered an indispensable alternative to the lies of the big-business media and has helped build the various movements for social change. To subscribe toGreen Left Weekly, visit our secure online website for rates and payment or call our national hotline on 1800 634 206. You can also contact us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Geelong we are at the Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4:30pm, Fri 10am-4:30pm); ph 5222 6900. New email address? Not already receiving this calendar regularly? Want to subscribe someone else? Let us know at Greenleft Melbourne. Thursday, October 9 Public meeting: Stopping the East West Link. Join Moreland Community against the East West Link (MCAT) for a public meeting on the campaign. Speakers: Andrew Herrington (author of East West Link blog and former advisor to the Brumby government); Sue Bolton (a co-convenor of MCAT, Socialist Alliance Councillor for Moreland); Mike Naismith (Tunnel Picket), Lambros Tapinos (mayor or Moreland). 7pm. Coburg Court House, 1A Main St, Coburg. Organised by MCAT. For more info contact Riki 0400 877 819, Michael 0417 354 169 or Sue 0413 377 978. Friday, October 10 Film screening: The Runner. The story of Western Sahara athlete Salah Hmatou Ameidan who became a symbol of the resistance of his country under Moroccan occupation since 1975. 97 mins. 6pm (for 6:30pm start). New Council Chambers, Trades Hall, Lygon St, Carlton South. $15 solidarity, $12 full, $8 concession. Presented by Australia Western Sahara Association. For info visit AWSA. Concert: Murru: 10 Songs of Freedom for John Pat. A musical tribute to John Pat, a young Yindjibarndi man who died in custody 30 years ago, sparking a royal commission and shining a spotlight on the increasing rates of Indigenous incarceration in our country. Featuring: Big hART, Archie Roach, Lucky Oceans, Emma Donovan, John Bennett and more. 7:30pm. Federation Square, cnr Swanston & Flinders Sts, City. For more info visit Melbourne Festival. Saturday, October 11 Rally: Support reproductive rights. Every year bigots take to the streets, led by Liberal MP Bernie Finn. to protest against our hard-won right to access abortion. These bigots want to see abortion outlawed, a move which would undoubtedly see women die. They want to silence and shame us for exercising our right to choose what happens to our own bodies. 1pm. State Parliament, Spring St, City. Rally: Protest the first anniversary of 'Operation Sovereign Borders'. No tow-backs! No offshore or onshore detention! Process asylum claims for permanent visas! Scrap 'Operation Sovereign Borders'! 2pm. State Library, City. Organised by the Refugee Action Collective. Film screening: Nobody's Child: Waiting to go home. The inspiring and moving  story of five survivors of the Stolen Generations who grew up in children's homes in the Whitehorse area. Jack, Helen, John, Karen and Sharon share memories of the places they, as removed Aboriginal children, called home, of friendships forged as well as the challenges they face as adults. (52 min). 3pm. Yarran Dheran Info Centre, Mitcham (Mel 49 B6). For info ph 9719 7661 or 0409 519 829. Fundraiser: Dinner for Lex Wotton speaking tour. This three-course dinner will cater for varied tastes including meat eaters, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten free. The event will feature a special performance by Ezekiel Ox, entertainer, singer/song writer and founding member of Musicians Against Police Violence. $40 solidarity, $25 waged, $15 unwaged. Bookings essential; to book email Sean Pickard. 7pm. Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Organised by Indigenous Social Justice Association. Wednesday, October 15 2014 transport election: We demand our say! Pro-public transport groups discuss plans for action in the lead-up the state election and beyond. 6pm. Multicultural Hub, Elizabeth St, City. Public meeting: Climate change: Risks & opportunities.  Speakers: Rob Gell (Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society & former TV presenter); David Karoly (University of Melbourne climate scientist), Kirsty Albion (Australian Youth Climate Coalition, via video); Jennifer Lauber Patterson (Yarra Energy/Frontier Carbon). 7:30pm. Brighton Secondary College, 120 Marriage Road, Brighton East. RSVP:Eventbrite. Gold coin donation at the door. Presented by Bayside Climate Change Action Group and Brighton Secondary College  Facebook event Thursday, October 16 Rally: Say no to $100,000 degrees. October 16 marks the first day of the senate inquiry into the Abbott government's budget. Students and young people are some of the worst hit by the budget and we have been protesting all year to stop its passage. 1pm. Bowen Lane, RMIT University (just behind Swanston St). Organised by National Union of Students. Rally & stop work:  Keep Community Health healthy. Your local Community Health Centre plays an essential role in Victoria’s healthcare system, taking the pressure of the over-worked hospital system. The centres urgently need an injection of funding to continue to provide essential services to communities across the state. Support your local Community Health professionals in their campaign to keep Community Health Centers healthy. 1:30pm. Parliament House, Spring St, City. Public meeting: Housing is a human right. Speakers: Donna Bennett (Hope St Youth & Family Services); Fiona Ross (Friends of Public Housing); Sean Brockelhurst (Socialist Alliance); MC: Sue Bolton  (Socialist Alliance councillor for Moreland). 6:30pm. Old Court House, 1A Main St, Coburg (near Bell St). Presented by Socialist Alliance. For more info ph 9639 8622 or 0413 377 978. (PLEASE NOTE: This is the correct date.) Friday, October 17 Concert: Outright. Melb LP launch, Free World, Old Love, Vicious Cycle, Aggressor. Celebrating the release of their new socially conscious LP Avalanche, Outright are heading out on tour and sharing the party with some special friends. Come and be a part of something real and inclusive, something meaningful, and most importantly, fun. 8pm. Bendigo Hotel, 125 Johnston St, Collingwood. Saturday, October 18 New International Bookshop one-day fair. 10am-4pm. NIBS, 54 Victoria St, Carlton. All books $1or $2 + bulk bargains. Rally: Reclaim the night 2014. 7pm. Protest violence and harassment against women. Brunswick Town Hall, Sydney Rd, Brunswick. All welcome. Sunday, October 19 Rally: Stop Abbott's attacks on Muslims. No to the anti-terror laws, no to attacks on civil liberties. 1pm.State Library  City. Rally: Free Cannabis Victoria 420 Picnic. Bring your glass, your goodies, munchies, friends and most importantly a smile! Meet like minded people and get even more like minded. 2-6pm. Flagstaff Gardens, 309-311 William St, City. Monday, October 20 Forum: The new era of climate activism.  Speakers: David Spratt (author & climate activist), Paul Gilding (author), Mark Wakeham (Environment Victoria). 6:30pm. RMIT University, Building 80, Theatre 80.02.007, 445 Swanston St, City. Entry free. Please register your attendance online at Breakthrough. Presented by Environment Victoria and Sustainable Living Foundation. Public meeting: Invasion to federation, Indigenous peoples, convicts & empire. Speakers: Henry Reynolds, Anna Clark (co-author History Wars). Panel discussion follows featuring Clare Land & Tony Moore. 7:30pm. Unitarian Peace Memorial Church, 110 Grey St, East Melbourne. Presented by the ANZAC Centenary Peace Coalition. To book visit Peace Forum. Wednesday, October 22 Protest: Fluro Fightback. Rally to fight against casualisation and insecure work. 8:30am. Southern Cross Station, City. Organised by NUW. Forum: A night with the Pacific Climate Warriors. Australia's fossil fuels are destroying the Pacific.RMIT Cinema, Level 1, Room 002, 445 Swanston St, City. For more info visit Pacific Warriors. Thursday, October 23 Rally: National Day of Support for Ms Dhu and to Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.  Julieka Dhu was a  22-year-old Yamatji Woman who died in police custody in WA on August 4 this year. 12:30pm. Old GPO, cnr Bourke & Elizabeth Sts, City. Organised by Indigenous Social Justice Association and First Nations Liberation.  Saturday, October 25 Rally: Walk Together. A celebration of diversity to present a picture to our leaders and media of the Australia that is possible, an Australia that recognises in its public debate, media conversation and legislation that we are all common people with common dreams, equally deserving of freedom, fairness, opportunity to contribute, welcome and belonging. 1pm. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. The walk will end at Treasury Gardens. Friday, October 31  Concert: Les Thomas. Performance by the Melbourne singer-songwriter and activist who follows in the same tradition as Joe Hill and Woody Guthrie. His songs are pointed and passionate, addressing matters both personal and political. 8pm. Some Velvet Morning, 123 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill. For more info visit Les Thomas Music. Saturday, November 8 Rally: Equal Love Marriage Equality. 1pm. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. Saturday, November 15 Rally: Stop the East-West Link! Rip up the contracts! Invest in public transport! 1pm. Flinders St Station, City. December 2 - 13, 2014 2014 Australian solidarity tour to Venezuela will be a unique an opportunity to observe first-hand, learn about and be inspired by a grassroots movement that is transforming not only Venezuela, but all of Latin America, and is challenging the greed and destructiveness of global capitalism by showing that a better world is possible. The registration deadline is October 3, 2014. For more info visit Venezuela Solidarity. Thursday, October 9 BENDIGO  Rally: Save jobs at La Trobe Uni. A group of La Trobe University students in Bendigo will hold a protest next week to express their concern for impending staff cuts. Protest organiser Natasha Joyce said she hoped about 100 students from different departments would attend the demonstration. 11am. La Trobe University, Bendigo campus. For more info see Bendigo Advertiser. Saturday, October 25 GEELONG Rally: Walk Together. A celebration of diversity to present a picture to our leaders and media of the Australia that is possible, an Australia that recognises in its public debate, media conversation and legislation that we are all common people with common dreams, equally deserving of freedom, fairness, opportunity to contribute, welcome and belonging. 1pm. The Pulse, 68-70 Little Ryrie St, Geelong. Walk to Johnstone Park, 28 Gheringhap St. Wednesday, October 29 GEELONG Trivia night: Socialist Alliance Election campaign fundraiser. Support Sarah Hathway for Geelong! 6:30pm. Downstairs, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St, Geelong. For more info ph 5222 6900. Saturday, November 1 ALBURY Rally: Rainbow Pride Day. A peaceful walk down Dean Street showing off your rainbow colours, a gathering in QEII Square featuring speakers, music, performers and stalls and a BBQ. Dean Street, Albury. Australian West Papua Association (AWPA). Struggles against the Indonesian occupation of West Papua and against environmental destruction and resource theft. For info 9510 2193 or email AWPA. Friends of the Earth's Anti-Nuclear & Clean Energy (ACE) collective. Meets every second Tuesday. FoE office, 312 Smith St, Collingwood. For meeting times & more info email Zin. Indigenous Social Justice Association. The Indigenous Social Justice Association was established in January 2005 campaigns to permanently stop Aboriginal deaths in custody. During 2013, ISJA will meet the first Thursday of every month. For more info visit ISJA. Quit Coal: No New Coal Power for Victoria. A Melbourne-based collective which campaigns against expansion of the coal industry in Victoria. We believe this is important because building new coal infrastructure locks in decades of dirty, old technology, when we should be moving towards clean, renewable energy. Quit Coal meets each Wednesday at 6pm, at FOE, 312 Smith St, Collingwood. For more info visit Quit Coal or email us. Refugee Action Collective. Established in 2000, RAC is a democratic, grassroots activist collective, representing a broad cross section of the community. It aims to mobilise opposition to Australia's inhuman refugee policies. For more info ph 0413 377 978 or visit RAC. Stop the East-West Link: Moreland Campaign Against the East-West Tunnel (MCAT) meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at the Temple Park Senior Citizens Centre, Hodgson St, Brunswick. For information contact Sue Bolton 0413 377 978; Michael Petit 0417 354 169; Riki Lane 0400 877 819 or go to Facebook. Yarra Campaign for Action on Transport (YCAT). For information on the campaign against the East-West Tunnel (pickets, meetings, info) visit YCAT. Timor Sea Justice Campaign. For info visit TSJC, email Tom Clarke or ph 0422 545 763. Recent articles from Green Left Weekly Glenn Greenwald: Abbott exploits terrorism to seize new powers Civil rights lawyer: Terror raids are 'political theatre' Kobane: Heroic defence resists ‘Islamic State’ assault Climate vs capitalism -- Klein's five key lessons for the left Check out Green Left TV: See Ten years of campaigning for marriage equality in Australia To subscribe to Green Left Weekly visit our secure online website for rates and payment or call our national hotline on 1800 634 206. Join us on Facebook. You can also contact us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Geelong: Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4.30pm, Fri 10am-4.30pm); ph 5222 6900. Links: 'Socialism for the 21st century' Links is an online journal which seeks to provide a forum for open and constructive dialogue between active socialists from different political traditions. It seeks to bring together those in the international left who are opposed to neoliberal economic and social policies, and reject the bureaucratic model of 'socialism' that arose in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Inspired by the unfolding socialist revolution in Venezuela, Links is a journal for 'Socialism of the 21st Century' and the discussions and debates flowing from that powerful example of socialist renewal. Venezuela: Chavista leader Robert Serra assassinated in likely right-wing terror attack Eyewitness Hong Kong: The 'Umbrella Revolution' unfurls Kobanê: Heroic defence resists ‘Islamic State’ assault; 'Kobanê will be a grave for IS' India: Eyewitness account, images of Kolkata’s huge movement for gender justice Socialist Alliance: Broad, non-sectarian, activist Socialist Alliance is a proud supporter of the Green Left Weekly project and contributes a regular column. Socialist Alliance is a broad, non-sectarian socialist party, dedicated to bringing together all those who want to resist the capitalist assault on our planet and its people and fight for a socialist society that puts people's needs before business profits. Anyone who agrees with the general approach of our policies is welcome to join and organisations are invited to affiliate. For more information visit Socialist Alliance or join us on Facebook. See our recent statements: Socialist Alliance: Solidarity with Rojava revolution! West prefers IS killers to humane, pro-woman, democratic revolution Socialist Alliance: No Australian military involvement in Iraq We are all Muslim. Defend civil liberties! Contact Socialist Alliance. Join with other socialists in the struggle. Melbourne: Visit us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Melbourne, Socialist Alliance meets on the first Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm, at the Resistance Centre. Geelong: Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4:30pm, Fri 10am-4:30pm); ph 5222 6900. Moreland Socialists Moreland Socialists is open to anyone (even if you live outside the area) who wants to work constructively to support Socialist Alliance councillor Sue Bolton and use her position to build up a stronger activist left presence in Moreland. In general, we meet monthly and alternate between Coburg and Fawkner. If you want to get involved in the group, email us at Socialist Alliance or phone Sue on 9639 8622 or 0413 377 978. For news and opinion visit Sue's Moreland Report or Facebook. Resistance Bookshop Christianity, Islam and Atheism: Reflections on religion, society and politics Indian-born and Catholic-educated, author Michael Cooke migrated to Australia in his teens. He moved away from religion and towards the political left. In this stimulating new work he focuses on issues where religion intersects with the secular society. He engages variously with the Catholic George Pell and the Muslim Waleed Aly. He also takes issue with Richard Dawkins and the so-called ‘New Athesists’. 124pp, $15. Available from Resistance Bookshop, Level 5, 407 Swanston St, City or online from Resistance Books.