The Greens have a plan for the future of Australian food - and its production, its distribution, and bypassing The Big Two

GREENS FOOD PLAN INCREASES FARMER AND CONSUMER POWER

Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne today announced an $85 million plan to help farmers bypass the big two supermarkets and sell direct to consumers.

"People care about where their food comes from and that local farmers get paid a reasonable price for it," Senator Milne said.

"Farmers don't have many options for selling their produce outside the low prices offered by the big supermarket chains.

"The Greens want to help farmers access infrastructure and markets so they can make a decent living off the land and improve our access to reasonably priced, fresh, local food.

"The communications revolution, particularly fast broadband heralds a new era of direct connection between growers and consumers.

"The Greens will provide $85 million over four years to help set up farmers markets, food box sales, farmers' co-operatives, regional marketing and food hubs."

Greens agricultural spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said more and more Australians want to "know their farmer" and buy food direct from local growers.

"Many people are already familiar with the taste and cost benefits of farmers' markets and buying boxes of seasonal produce and these should be expanded so more consumers can benefit," Senator Siewert said.

"Regional food hubs are where small-scale farmers can store, package, pickle, juice and bottle their produce. By sharing the equipment with other food producers they bring production costs down and improve their range of goods.

"Farmers co-operatives allow producers to band together to supply bigger contracts or start their own product lines with greater surety of supply than if they were working solo.

"Grant money could also be used to market a region for its products.

"Tasmania has a strong brand for high quality food and wine, as do WA regions like the Margaret River. Other regions and their specialities need similar opportunities, and the Greens' will help them do that."

Dale Hess's Calendar 2013-07-01 : War and Peace - Films - Women - Courses - Co-operatives - Spirituality - Military Intervention in the Pacific - Relationships

Thursday 4 July, 6.30 pm: War:  What is it Good For?  Screening of the documentary: On the Bridge. Keynote speaker: Vincent 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.

Thursday 4 July, 8.15 pm - 9.45 pm:  Film Screening: Frontrunner: The Afghan Woman Who Surprised the World. Frontrunner is a 50-minute documentary which tells of the courageous struggle of Dr. Massouda Jalal, the first woman to run for President of Afghanistan. Although Jalal faces obstacles such as death threats and bomb attacks, she perseveres and in turn inspires over 500 women to run for a seat in Parliament only a few months later. Guest speaker: Dr Nouria SalehiOAM (2012 Victorian Senior Citizen of the Year). Special Q&A: Guest Panel: Dr Salehi OAM and Ms Ming Yu (Amnesty Campaigner Co-ordinator). Tickets: $12 Amnesty supporters and concession holders, $15 all others. Venue:  The George Revival Cinema, 135 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

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: Oases Graduate 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/

Saturday 6th July, 2 pm – 4 pm: Can we build a mutually supportive economic model in Australia? 

Is it still possible to generate community empowerment and social dividends through credit co-operatives?  Does the astonishing growth of community credit co-operatives in South-East Asia in recent decades have lessons for us in terms of grass-roots community activism and integrated social development? Come and hear of humble methods and extraordinary achievements of Malaysian Cardijn Community member Paul Sinnapan, followed by reflections on the local scene by co-operative activist Jacques Boulet. Join a discussion moderated by Dr Race Mathews exploring what the first and third world countries might learn from one another. Venue: Evatt Room, Trades Hall Council, Lygon Street Carlton. Cost: Free. Registrations: Please register at Eventbrite: http://coopworkshopcredit.eventbrite.com.au/

Picture above from here

Tuesday 9 July, 6.30 pm for 7 pm: Bi-Monthly MAPW Victorian Branch Dinner. The next Victorian Branch dinner will be held at La Notte,140 Lygon Street, Carlton. Dr Peter Wigg will reflect on issues raised at the recent German IPPNW conference on small arms, where he presented a workshop with our President Dr Jenny Grounds. RSVP please to secretary@mapw.org.au ... Cost $35.00, student members subsidised at $20.00.

Friday 12 July, 10 am and finish off with lunch:  Bikes Not Bombs City Cycle Tour. ICAN invites you to take your wheels to the street, visiting and signing up Victorian and Federal parliamentarians on to the Parliamentary Appeal for a ban on nuclear weapons! The headquarters of several organisations involved  in funding and producing nuclear weapons will also be visited. Part of Nuclear Abolition Week. Venue: Meet at the ICAN-MAPW office at Trades Hall, cnr Victoria and Lygon Sts Carlton. Further Information: See the facebook events page

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.

Friday 19 July – Sunday 21 July: Resistance and Contemplation: A Retreat with Wes Howard-Brook and Sue Ferguson Johnson. Wes and Sue are authors, activist, theologians, spiritual directors and educators, with many years’ experience in community and activism. They are well equipped to help us explore the journey of resistance and contemplation. Venue: Amberley Retreat Centre, 7 Amberley Way, Lower Plenty. Cost: $210/$180. Registration closes 5 July.  Further info: Dale, d.hess@ozemail.com.au, 0488 012 272.

Picture above from here

Thursday 25 July, 6.30 pm:  Public Meeting: US Militarisation of the Pacific. MAPW with the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network is organising this meeting with visiting activists Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero from Guam, and Bruce Gagnon, US campaigner against the militarisation of space. Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero will speak about the US military build-up in Guam, and Bruce Gagnon will discuss Pacific implications of changing US strategy and the "pivot" to Asia and the Pacific. Venue: Meeting Room 1, Trades Hall, corner of Victoria and Lygon Streets, Carlton.

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 TasterOpportunity: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 PallottiCollege, 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.

Saturday 12 October: March Against Monsanto. Please organise or join the next March Against Monsanto in your town. The movement for GM-free is now grass roots and global! Find the cities already participating at: http://bit.ly/ZTDsk8.

Saturday & Sunday 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.

Community, Connections, Creativity and Sustainability at OASES: A Schumacher College partner : Masters, short courses, events and talks

Transformative learning for sustainable living June 2013       Last weeks of our Annual Appeal Please help us reach our goal of $10,000 by the end of June Your contribution is tax-deductible OASES is a world-renowned leader in education for sustainability. - Since OASES was founded in 2006, we have developed a ground-breaking & fully accredited Masters program unlike any in Australia. - In partnership with the Schumacher College UK, we are developing a global transformative education network. - This year we launched the OASES short course program with around a dozen courses featuring leading figures in sustainability, community development, strategic foresight, systems thinking, spiritual & arts-based enquiry, participatory action research & more. - Thousands have attended our regular talks & events. And unlike most other universities offering accredited post-graduate programs, we do not receive any public funding, yet are required to meet the same rigorous accreditation standards as larger tertiary institutions. We depend on you to keep OASES alive & thriving. Our goal of $10,000 will ensure we can continue to develop the programs & networks in education that enables more sustainable living.   To make a secure tax-deductible donation, click on the icon below Or call us on 9819 3502. Thanks for your continuing support of OASES. For more information about OASES, see our website or 'like' our facebook page. Applications are open for semester 2

Are you interested in sustainability? Do you seek ways to create more positive change? Are you looking for post-graduate courses that are more holistic, where learning takes place within a rich community context? If so, our leading post-graduate courses might be for you. Applications are now open for semester 2! Open Day on July 6 (see below). The OASES Graduate School offers an internationally acclaimed Masters Program in Integrative & Transformative Studies, & a Graduate Certificate in Sustainability in collaboration with the National Centre for Sustainability at Swinburne University.  Applications are now open for the 2nd semester intake. For more info & to apply,click here.   We're very happy to chat about our programs & your interests any time.   Contact Anthony James, the Head of OASES Graduate School to arrange a meeting or talk over the phone.         Events Open Day  Saturday 6 July, 12-5.30pm FREE ENTRY You're warmly invited to the OASES Open Day Meet OASES facilitators, staff, graduates & students Learn about our leading approach to education for sustainability Explore our ground-breaking post-graduate programs & short courses that offer ways to genuine address our sustainability concerns Hear about job & career opportunities that our courses can open up for you Join us for presentations, workshops, food, music, art, library tours & more All are warmly invited to OASES for this special occasion, following on from the Breakfast (see below), when we gather to showcase & celebrate all that is OASES.  If you are interested in exploring our courses, events, career opportunities, or just being inspired by a wonderful community of facilitators & supporters of OASES, join us this Open Day.   For more info as the date nears, click here.       Special Breakfast Conversations event What's the big deal about education at OASES? Saturday 6 July, 9-11.30am Presented by Dr Jacques Boulet & Rev Paul Sanders Come along to a very special Breakfast event featuring the founders of OASES, as they share the wisdom & spirit that was central to the creation of OASES & which underpins the courses we run today. In celebration & recognition of the thinking & spirit that continues to inspire & offer hope as we educate & advocate for more conscious, connected & sustainable societies. This is a rare event, not to be missed, leading into the OASES Open Day at 12pm (see above). Cost: $25/$15 including delicious buffet breakfast (with vegetarian options). For more info & to register, click here. Resurgence Film Night - film Thursday 20 June, 7-9.30pm A special 'Dine Below the Line' Resurgence film & discussion evening  You're invited to come along to share a dinner which costs no more than $2 per head to cater for (the global 'extreme poverty' line). We hope you will make a donation equivalent to what you would have spent on dinner normally, which will go towards continuing the education & campaigning work of the Global Poverty Project in Australia. After dinner, we'll gather around for the screening of Headwinds of Poverty 3 recreational cyclists. 5500km. 7 African countries. What could go wrong? What would make three Aussie guys travel to Africa, jump on their mountain bikes, & ride over 200km per day for 27 days through some of the hardest conditions imaginable? For more info about the film, click here. Special international guest Satish Kumar In conversation at the Abbotsford Convent Thursday evening, 19 September (time tba)  Presented by OASES in partnership with the Schumacher College UK 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 global partner of OASES. We hope you can join us for an evening with this warm, creative and highly respected man. More details about this special event coming soon. Stay tuned to the website & monthly e-news for all the latest. Short Courses Action Research: Human Inquiry for Living Systems 19 & 20 July (all day Friday & afternoon only on Saturday), then 2 & 3 August (again all day Friday & afternoon only on Saturday) A 3 day short course in 2 parts, facilitated by internationally recognised action researcher, facilitator, theorist & author, Yoland Wadsworth, with specialist associates. Here is an action research course which will offer you an opportunity to develop & deepen your understanding of this increasingly popular form of practice-based inquiry – its philosophy, history, theory, concepts, design, facilitation & practice. Conducted in the enjoyable, stress-free, co-learning conditions that characterise OASES. For more info & to register for one or both parts, click here. To contact Yoland about this course or her work generally, emailLivingSystemsResearch@gmail.com Closing date for registration: 8 July 2013 Sustainable Relationships in a Technological Age 11 August, 8 & 9 September, 13 October 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.   Community Development 10 August, 12 October, 10 & 11 November 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. Creating Connections & Opening Up Creativity 19 & 20 October, 16 & 17 November  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.               Reclaiming Yourself 7-10 November (with optional intro session at OASES on 10 August) A long weekend residential program near the Grampians This 4-day ‘live-in’ program in Dunkeld, set in the spectacular Grampians, is a deeply nourishing contemplative experience. You are invited to consider the rich history of human spiritual philosophy and reflect upon your own spiritual life and how it exists as a conscious presence in the world. All meals & 3 nights accommodation included. For more info & to register, click here. Volunteer Join one of our fun & supportive teams, & make a valuable contribution to OASES. Positions are currently available in our Events, Online Communications & Office Teams. If you'd like to know more, or explore the possibilities, please send your expressions of interest along with your resume to us by e-mail. From our friends Wild Law Conference 27-29 September, Brisbane Living within our ecological limits: law and governance to nurture the Earth community The Australian Wild Law Alliance will host a multi-disciplinary conference aimed at exploring key questions for living within ecology. How do we know our ecological limits? What legal and governance mechanisms can help us live within our limits? And how do we change our current economic, political and legal systems to create human societies that live in a harmonious relationship with the Earth community? For more info & to register, click here. EIANZ National Conference 23-24 October, Melbourne Adapt, Innovate, Advocate: Business as usual is not an option The Environment Institute of Australia & New Zealand is now calling for abstracts from those interested in presenting at the conference. OASES will be participating at this year's conference, and looks forward to seeing many friends, colleagues & peers there.  For more info & to register, click here.   Borderlands Cooperative A reminder that due to response to the recent Community Development courses, both the Introductory and Advanced courses will be run again in September. Stay tuned for more details, & visit the website for all the latest.  The Habitat Centre for Spirituality The Centre presents courses and activities offered by the Habitat Uniting Church and its community partners. Visit the website for the latest news.