Dale Hess Calendar - Dates for your diary

Thursday 18 February – Thursday 3 March: Transition Film Festival. The Transitions Film Festival is visionary program dedicated to spotlighting the complex challenges, cutting-edge ideas, creative innovations and mega-trends that are redefining what it means to be human. We present positive, solutions-focused films and showcase cutting-edge ideas from around the world, along with the creative, academic, governmental, community and business leaders who are creating change locally. http://www.transitionsfilmfestival.com/melbourne-program-2016/

Thursday 18 February, 6.30 pm – 8 pm: Market Forces Campaign Launch. Market Forces believes that the banks, superannuation funds and governments that have custody of our money should use it to protect not damage our environment. We're planning to make this year massive. Massive campaigns, resulting in massive change. We have climate change commitments from banks that need to be turned into concrete action that moves finance out of fossil fuels. We want to turn divestment from coal, oil and gas from a steady stream to an unstoppable torrent. And of course, we have new dirty coal proposals here in Australia and overseas that need to be stopped in their tracks.  Venue: Treasury Room, Imperial Hotel, 2 Bourke St, Melbourne (corner Spring Street). Food provided, drinks at bar prices. Free entry but bookings are essential as places are limited. RSVP here. Market Forces is proud to be an affiliate project of Friends of the Earth Australia and a member of the BankTrack international network, connecting us with passionate campaigners, environmental issue experts and advocates of environmentally sustainable behaviour from the finance sector.  

Get the details and RSVP for our Melbourne campaign launch here. 

Saturday 20 February, 5.02 pm – 7 pm: Peace, Faith and Solving Conflict. Invited speakers: Prof. Gary Bouma, UNESCO and Rev.Victor Kazanjian, Global Director United Religions Initiative. Venue: Cultural Infusion Centre, 49 Vere Street, Collingwood College Theatre (entrance from Campbell Street). Sponsored by Cultural Infusion and United Religions Initiative. Free event. Refreshments provided. Bookings:https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/culture-talk-tickets-21240877035

Wednesday, 24 February, 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm: Syrian Conflict Information Evening. The Amnesty International Bayside Team are hosting an information evening on the current Syrian crisis. Presenting an impartial account of the current internal armed conflict in Syria, as well as information about the settlement process for refugees and asylum seekers. From 7.30 pm we will have three speakers, discussing the current Syrian crisis, intake of refugees and settlement services for refugees and asylum seekers here in Australia. Tim Redfern from Amnesty International Bayside, Alanna Attard from AMES and Panos Massouris from AMES will be speaking. Venue: The Sandy Beach Centre - 2 Sims Street Sandringham. Register here.

Saturday 5 March, 9 am – 11.30 am: Oases Breakfast Conversation: Listening to Indigenous Voices. Dr Robert Hoskin will share insights from his listening to his Kimberley friends relevant to relating with land and community. Together we will explore how listening means a change of heart, if not our change in approach to life and relationships, and discuss how  knowledge of the past might save us from endless repetition in the future. $30/$20 Concession. Main Hall, Habitat Centre for Spirituality, 2 Minona Street, Hawthorn. To book:http://www.oases.edu.au/breakfast/

Monday 11 April; Sunday and Monday, 24 April and 25 April; Sunday 1 May: Ecological Literacy. Ecological literacy was initially used byDavid W. Orr and physicist Fritjof Capra in the 1990s, to understand the Earth as a living system whose well-being was dependent on our thinking in terms of the interdependence of all living systems. In his Web of Life Capra writes of the emergence of a new paradigm challenging the old mechanistic and linear view of the universe and challenging notions of continuous growth and development and with it consumerism and commodification as the “normal”. Ecological literacy is about using this interdependent view of the world to help address the complex dilemmas around the destructive impact that humans have had on the world bringing us to what is often called the Anthropocene… And together we'll draw on the experiences and wisdom of all participants, and the 'natural world' around us. Cost $800. Further details: info@oases.edu.au.

Monday 25 April – Friday 29 April: Living the Peace Testimony with Greg Rolles. Explore the connections between war, militarism, climate change, colonisation of Indigenous peoples, racism – and your own urges to help bring peace. Silver Wattle Quaker Centre, 1063 Lake Road, Bungendore, NSW. Telephone:02 6238 0588

Friday 10 June – Monday 13 June: Indigenous Spirituality and Culture with Karen Kime. Journey into Aboriginal ways of teaching country, kinship and cross-cultural issues in work and community. The workshop will also include examples of other indigenous people. Silver Wattle Quaker Centre, 1063 Lake Road, Bungendore, NSW. Telephone:02 6238 0588

Monday 11 July; Sunday and Monday, 31 July and 1 August; Saturday 10 September: Recreating our Organisations. We live in a world of organisations, educational, familial, work…each with its own culture and processes and each creating its own set of experiences for those who interact with it. Whilst we cannot escape from the reality of organizations in our lives, we can learn to better understand, work with and change (for the better) the organizations in which we play a part…In this unit then our central question addresses the possibilities of recreating or re-imagining the way we organise that would create more soulful, meaningful, value based,  collaborative and generative organisations that are relevant for 21st century sustainable and socially just organisations. Cost $800. Further details: info@oases.edu.au.

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar - 15-10-07

Activist Calendar, October 7

Rally: Stand up for refugees Sunday, October 11, 2pm. No turnbacks; Close Manus & Nauru; No Border Force Act; End mandatory detention. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. Organised by Refugee Action Collective. Film screening: No Free Steps to Heaven Friday, October 30, 7pm (meal from 6:30pm). 2014 documentary by Israeli journalist who visited Kurdish YPG and PKK fighters in Iraqi and Syrian Kurdistan. The film interviews Kurdish women fighters. Resistance Centre, Level 5, 407 Swanston St, City(opposite RMIT). $10/$5. Presented by Socialist Alliance & Green Left Weekly. For more info 9639 8622. Socialist Alliance day school: Australia’s role in the region: Racism, colonialism & imperialism Saturday, November 7. Proposed agenda: 11am-12:30pm: Opening panel: Australia’s racist and colonial history. 1:30-3:30pm: Workshops: (a) Fighting for self-determination: the Tamil and West Papuan struggles; (b) Australian imperialism and the Pacific; (c) TPP and free trade agreements. 3.45-5pm: Closing panel: Campaigning against racism and imperialism. ETU office, 200 Arden St, North Melbourne.

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 to Green 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.

Until Wednesday, October 30 Photo exhibition: 37 years of people's struggles and resistance against brutal Iranian regime. Daily 10am-6pm. Meeting Room 1, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South. For more info 0470 424 753. Wednesday, October 7- Friday, October 9 Latin American & Asia-Pacific Documentary Film Festival. For full details see Facebook. Thursday, October 8 Rally: Stop Ansell's union busting in Sri Lanka. For years, Australian company Ansell has been engaged in aggressive union busting in Sri Lanka. They have sacked around 300 workers fighting to have their union recognised in one of Sri Lanka's so called Free Trade Zones. Now it's Ansell AGM time. We'll be there to let their shareholders know of the disgraceful acts that are done in their name. Join us to tell Ansell to reinstate the sacked workers and recognise its workers' right to organise. 10am. Grand Hyatt, 123 Collins St, City. Friday, October 9 Commemoration: Peter Norman. In the 1968 Mexico Olympics, a young athlete from Melbourne put his his personal sporting glory aside to support his fellow competitors' stance on human rights. 12 noon. Human Rights Square, (aka City Square), corner Collins & Swanston Sts, City. Facebook Public meeting: A conversation with Ilyasah Shabazz. Malcom X’s daughter spreads his legacy in Australia. 50 years after Malcolm X's assassination, his legacy lives on through his daughter, Ilyasah Al Shabazz who is walking in her father's footsteps. Ilyasah Al Shabazz is a community organiser, social activist, motivational speaker and author. She promotes higher education, interfaith dialogue and helps build bridges between cultures for young leaders of the world. 6:30pm.Melbourne Town Hall, 90-120 Swanston St, City.  $25. Bookings. Organised by Islamic Council of Victoria. Saturday, October 10 Rally for diversity: Say NO to UPF in Bendigo. The United Patriots Front (UPF) have called another anti-mosque, anti-Muslim rally in Bendigo. This is a call to all people who support inclusiveness and diversity to rally against them and say 'not in our streets'. We'll be rallying 2 hours before the beginning of the UPF rally with the aim of disrupting it, so bring chants, songs, coloured balloons, placards, anything! The UPF include among their ranks open, proud, Hitler saluting Nazis who want to recruit Bendigonians to their vile racism and bigotry. The time is now to stand up for an inclusive, diverse Bendigo. 12 noon. Bendigo Town Hall, 189-193 Hargreaves St, Bendigo. Organised by Bendigo Action Coalition. Sunday, October 11 Rally: Stand up for refugees. No turnbacks; Close Manus & Nauru; No Border Force Act; End mandatory detention. 2pm. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. Organised by Refugee Action Collective. Monday, October 12 Rally: Speak out for fossil fuel divestment at Melbourne University. For more than 2 years now, students, staff and alumni have been calling on University of Melbourne decision-makers to take serious action on climate change by getting rid of their investments in the top 200 coal, oil and gas companies. 2 years is too late; we need action that is in line with the urgency of climate change. We need a divestment commitment now. 12 noon. Underneath Raymond Priestley Building, University of Melbourne. Rally: Solidarity with indigenous Mapuche people in Chile. 12 noon. Chilean Consulate, 390 St Kilda Rd, City. Tuesday, October 13 Film screening: Black Hole. Special Q&A with Filmmaker João Dujon Pereira. Black Hole reveals unseen footage of coal, corruption and community resistance of one of Australia’s most controversial mining projects – Whitehaven’s Maules Creek Coal Mine in the Leard State Forest. Set against the backdrop of the mining industry’s ever-increasing thirst for fossil fuels, Black Hole is an intense and riveting exposé of the tensions between large corporations, the Australian government and the community. 6:30pm. Village Cinemas Karingal, 197 Karingal Drive, Frankston. Wednesday, October 14 Rally: Fluro Fightback 2015. As part of Anti-Poverty Week the National Union of Workers is going to get active and help to raise awareness of the growing number of people, including working people, that are living in poverty. Our Union campaign, "Jobs you can count on", is a campaign to unite all workers - whether permanent, casual, labour-hire or contract - all workers deserve security, dignity and respect at work. While there are growing reports of people in work living below the poverty line, the increase of workers in insecure working arrangements is also growing, and we believe that something has to be done about it! 8am. Southern Cross Station, cnr Bourke & Collins Sts, City. Organised by NUW. Thursday, October 15 Film screening: Black Hole. Special Q&A with Filmmaker João Dujon Pereira. Black Hole reveals unseen footage of coal, corruption and community resistance of one of Australia’s most controversial mining projects – Whitehaven’s Maules Creek Coal Mine in the Leard State Forest. Set against the backdrop of the mining industry’s ever-increasing thirst for fossil fuels, Black Hole is an intense and riveting exposé of the tensions between large corporations, the Australian government and the community. 6:45pm. $20. Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton. Friday, October 16 Film screening: Citizen Four. An explosive and timely documentary that examines the ever increasing erosion of privacy and the government’s growing and alarming powers to monitor and record our every move. Holed up in a Hong Kong hotel room with Edward Snowden, filmmaker Laura Poitras captures the sensational now public series of events as they unfold in real-time. 7:30pm. $17/$13. Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, City. Bookings. Saturday, October 17 Public meeting: Russell Brand's 'Trew World Order'. Russel Brand tours a live version of his television series, The Trews. The show's name is a portmanteau of 'true' and 'news' and the premise, according to Brand, was to provide 'the true news so you don't have to invest any money in buying newspapers that charge you for the privilege of keeping your consciousness imprisoned in a tiny box of ignorance and lies'. 8pm. Rod Laver Arena, Batman Avenue, Richmond. Bookings. Sunday, October 18 Fundraiser: Run for refugees. Asylum Seeker Resource Centre's yearly Run 4 Refugees event is back on as part of the Melbourne Marathon. Bookings. Monday, October 19 Rally: Release the teachers in Iran! In Iran today, teachers wages put them below the poverty line. In 2015, nationwide rallies were held for better wages.In response, the Iranian Government threw the union leaders in prison. 10am. Parliament steps, Spring St, City. Organised by Victorian Trades Hall Council. Presentation: What will the new government leadership mean for the climate movement? 6:30pm. Followed by regular Climate Action Moreland meeting.Cheap meal available. BYO alcohol. Satay Anika (back room upstairs), 140 Lygon St, Brunswick.  Facebook Thursday, October 22 Film screening: Citizen Four. An explosive and timely documentary that examines the ever increasing erosion of privacy and the government’s growing and alarming powers to monitor and record our every move. Holed up in a Hong Kong hotel room with Edward Snowden, filmmaker Laura Poitras captures the sensational now public series of events as they unfold in real time. 9pm. $17/$13. Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, City. Bookings. Saturday, October 24 Activist Arts Festival 2015. The Activist Arts Festival is a tribute to activists out there, past and present, who have given and continue to give so much of their time and their lives to fight for a better, more compassionate world. It is an initiative to bring together activist groups throughout Melbourne to present on their work in the human rights, animal rights and social justice fields. It is hoped the Festival will enable access to these groups by local communities in a non-protest environment. The event also exhibits different forms of activism through art: photography, music, spoken word, visual art, performances, workshops and film. 11am-6m. Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South. Sunday, October 25 Public meeting: Save the Ballerrt Mooroop Aboriginal site. The Ballerrt Mooroop site is in danger of being sold off to private developers. If this happens we would lose a site of significance for Aboriginal people. There is a campaign to save the Ballerrt Mooroop site for a Gathering Place and a First Nations Community Hub. There is also a Spirit Tree and Ceremonial Ground on the site.BBQ, speakers, music, kids activities. 12:30-4:30pm. Gather at the Ballerrt Mooroop site, 208A Hilton St, Glenroy (10 min walk from Glenroy Station). For more info 0413 377 978. Thursday, October 29 – Sunday, November 1 Theatre: Little Black Bastard. Originally performed at La Mama Courthouse in 2003. Since then, the book has been published and the performance has toured the world to critical acclaim. Noel Tovey, 81, returns to the building where he was taken from his parents at five years old and sentenced to Pentridge at 17. Don’t miss this celebration of an artistic career spanning seven decades, honouring this elder, mentor to indigenous performers and advocate for the LGBTI community. Times: Thu-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 4pm. $25/$15. La Mama Courthouse, 349 Drummond St, Carlton. Bookings. Friday, October 30 Film screening: No Free Steps to Heaven.  2014 documentary by Israeli journalist who visited Kurdish YPG and PKK fighters in Iraqi and Syrian Kurdistan. The film interviews Kurdish women fighters. 7pm (meal from 6.30pm). Resistance Centre, Level 5, 407 Swanston St, City (opposite RMIT). $10/$5. Presented by Socialist Alliance & Green Left Weekly. For more info 9639 8622. Saturday, October 31 Moreland Socialists meeting. 1pm. Anatolian Cultural Centre, 195 Sydney Road, Coburg (100 metres south of Reynard St). For more info ph 0413 377 978. Saturday, November 7 Socialist Alliance day school: Australia’s role in the region: Racism, colonialism & imperialism. Proposed agenda: 11am-12:30pm: Opening panel: Australia’s racist and colonial history. 1:30-3:30pm: Workshops: (a) Fighting for self-determination: the Tamil and West Papuan struggles; (b) Australian imperialism and the Pacific; (c) TPP and free trade agreements. 3.45-5pm: Closing panel: Campaigning against racism and imperialism. ETU office, 200 Arden St, North Melbourne. Sunday, November 8 Fundraiser: Run for Palestine.  Initiative of the Australians for Palestine organisation that supports humanitarian efforts in Palestine. Join us in raising awareness and important funds to assist with these efforts. 10am. The Tan Running Track, Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra. Bookings.

Friday, October 9 GEELONG Organising meeting: Where to next for the marriage equality campaign in Geelong? Geelong held its first marriage equality rally on September 19 drawing in longtime campaigners as well as a new crowd of people wanting to be part of the campaign. Come along to be part of the discussion about where to take the campaign to next in Geelong. 5:30pm. Trades Hall, 127 Myers St, Geelong. Friday, October 23 GEELONG Red Cinema: No Free Steps to Heaven. 2014 documentary by Israeli journalist who visited Kurdish YPG and PKK fighters in Iraqi and Syrian Kurdistan. The film interviews Kurdish women fighters. 7pm (meal from 6.30pm). Entry by donation. Trades Hall, 127 Myers St, Geelong. Presented by Socialist Alliance. For more info 5222 6900. Saturday, October 31 BALLARAT Rally: Equal marriage now. Equal love Ballarat are working Hard to bring another rally to Ballarat. This time we are going big! October 31 is meant to be dark and spooky but not this year: We will make Halloween RAINBOW. We are having the rally then having an all ages event. 2pm. Bridge Mall, Ballarat. Organised by Equal Love Ballarat. Saturday, November 7 BALLARAT Theatre: I'll Be There! An inspiring music theatre show featuring songs and stories of solidarity that people really connect with. It was created, produced and performed by the Victorian Trade Union Choir in collaboration with award winning playwright Rebecca Lister and our musical director Michael Roper. The Victorian Trade Union Choir is a group of 30 committed trade union members who believe in the power of song. We sing at union meetings, rallies, protests, picket lines, conferences, celebrations, concerts and music festivals to support workers and connect to the broader community. 7:30pm. Ballarat Trades Hall, 24 Camp St, Ballarat. Bookings

Australians for Kurdistan. Meets regularly to build solidarity with the Kurdish freedom struggle in Rojava (liberated zone in northern Syria), Turkey and elsewhere. For campaign and open letter to have the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) removed from the Australian list of terrorist organisations see Lift the ban on the PKK. Meets on the first Thursday of each month. For information ph Gulay 0413 936 706 or Aran 0410 197 814. Australian Unemployment Union. The Australian Unemployment Union is an organisation by the unemployed, for the unemployed. Our mission is to protect the common interests of the 750,000+ Australians who are currently unemployed. For more information visit AUE or Facebook. 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. Climate Action Moreland. Meets regularly to develop action on climate change in the Moreland area. For information ph Andrea on 0424 508 535 or email CAM. 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. Timor Sea Justice Campaign. For info visit TSJC, email Tom Clarke or ph 0422 545 763. Victorian Climate Action Calendar. Online updates are available at http://vcac.org.au/calendar/.

Recent articles from Green Left Weekly Naomi Klein: Capitalism is waging war on life on Earth Inside immigration detention on Manus Island — Part 5 ‘We must say no to bombing Syria’ Exploiting young workers hurts all workers Check out Green Left TV: See Greece: Prospects for the fight against austerity by Dr Michael Karadjis 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. 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: Turnbull vs Abbott: Same shit, different shovel The case for a universal age pension How to fight the growth of the far-right 'Reclaim Australia' movement 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 Just out! The eruption of the brutal fundamentalist ‘Islamic State’ in the Middle East has placed the Kurdish people at the centre of the political stage.  The Rojava Revolution in northern Syria has attracted increasing interest and admiration around the world because of its unyielding resistance to the IS gangs, the heavy and unprecedented involvement of women in its defence forces and its attempt to build a people-centred society. Across the border in Turkey, the Democratic Freedom Party (HDP) and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) confront the racist, anti-Kurd war drive of the regime. This pamphlet concentrates on the Kurdish struggle in Rojava and Turkey. It aims to provide information and perspective on these tremendously important developments and, hopefully, furnish a basis for more active solidarity in Australia. By Dave Holmes, Tony Iltis & others.  44pp, $6. Available from Resistance Bookshop, Level 5, 407 Swanston St, City.

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar - 2015-04-08

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar April 8, 2015 Rally: Stop the forced closures of Aboriginal communities Friday, April 10, 4pm. A callout to hit the streets and voice your outrage at fascist Colin Barnett and the imposter governments forced closures of First Nations communities in Western Australia. National protests are being run around the country against this ongoing, slow motion genocide of our people. Flinders Street Station, City. Book launch: A Short History of Social Democracy Tuesday, April 21, 6:30pm. John Rainford's book examines social democratic attempts to civilise capitalism: from its origins in the socialist movement,  to its high point in the post World War 2 boom, and its surrender to neoliberalism in the 1980s and beyond. Speakers: John Rainford (former union official & director of Radical Wollongong) & Sue Bolton (Socialist Alliance councillor for Moreland). 6:30pm. Entry by donation. Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth st, City (opposite Victoria Markets). For more info ph 9639 8622. 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. Wednesday, April 8 Rally: 6 hours for 6 years. Demand freedom and permanent protection for indefinitely detained ASIO refugees. The Department of Immigration has kept these refugees locked up indefinitely on the basis of ASIO's secret assessments. In recent months, many have at last received security clearance, but they are now denied permanent protection and family reunion due to new migration laws. Speakers: David Manne (RILC), Trevor Grant (Tamil Refugee Council), Olivia Ball (Remedy Australia), Elizabeth O'Shea (social justice lawyer), Van Badham (social commentator), Jasmine Pillbrow (Walking for Freedom), Daniella Olea (long term detention centre visitor). 12-6pm. Immigration Department, cnr Spring & Lonsdale Sts, City. Speeches will start at 12.30pm and the day will end with a candlelit vigil from 5pm. Thursday, April 9 - Saturday, May 2 Exhibition: Ancient cultures, new futures. A photographic exhibition for Sri Lankan reconciliation. Photographs by Stephen Champion, Dominic Sansoni, Sivathas Sivasubramanium & Paul James. Mon-Fri 11am-5pm; Sat 11am-3pm. Opening night: Thursday, April 9, 6:30pm. RSVP Global reconcilliation. Walker St Gallery One, Dandenong. Facebook event Thursday, April 9 Gathering: Families, Friends, and Feminists Against Detention. This is our first public event, a group discussion about different concerning aspects of detention and then collectively decide on how we will enact solidarity around these on the day.10.30am. Coles Fountain, Parliament Gardens. Friday, April 10 Rally: Stop the forced closures of Aboriginal communities. A callout to hit the streets and voice your outrage at fascist Colin Barnett and the imposter governments forced closures of First Nations communities in Western Australia. National protests are being run around the country against this ongoing, slow motion genocide of our people. 4pm. Flinders Street Station. [Note change of venue and time.] Saturday, April 11 Rally: Stop the super trawler. Don't let this super trawler decimate out fishstocks and kill our marine wildlife. Hundreds of protected seals, dolphins and sea birds will be killed by this factory of death ship along with 16,556 tonnes of fish. 11am. Southern Beach reserve, St Kilda. Organised by the Victoria Marine Animal Defenders Conservation Society & the Trawler Alliance. Rally: Hands Off Venezuela! On the 13th anniversary of the defeated military coup against Hugo Chavez, join the community gatherings in solidarity with Venezuela to demand No more coups! End foreign intervention! Respect Venezuela’s revolution! Peace in Latin America! 12pm. State Library, cnr Swanston & La Trobe Sts, City. For more info ph Daniela Segovia (02) 6290 2967. Protest: Rally for kidnapped Hazaras in Afghanistan. Dozens of Hazaras have been kidnapped recently in Afghanistan. The government has been mysteriously silent on this issue and Afghan military has not taken any action. Demand that the Afghan government takes serious  action to free all the hostages alive. We also request UN and human rights organisations to take serious actions in this regard. 2pm. Federation Square, Swanston St, City. Comedy: Political Asylum late night riot. Melbourne International Comedy Festival gets invaded by outrage (and outrageousness) as Political Asylum returns once more! Featuring a fantastic line-up of smart and acerbic stand-up comics, this is the night for Abbott denialism, Labor lamentations and Palmer Party prophesising, all wrapped up in a flaming bundle of hilarity. 11pm. Town Hall, Supper Room, cnr Swanston & Collins Sts, City. $25/$20. To book visit Late night riot. Monday, April 13 Public meeting: Stopping deportations & the fight for refugee rights. The Abbott government is stepping up efforts to deport refugees to danger. Last year it forcibly deported asylum seekers back to Afghanistan for the first time. In December a deportation from Sydney was successfully prevented when the asylum seeker on board, in conjunction with passengers who stood up, demanded the deportee be removed from the plane This forum will hear about recent protests as well as past anti-deportation action, and will discuss their role in the broader refugee rights campaign. 6:30pm. ANMF Building, 540 Elizabeth St, City. Organised by Refugee Action Collective. Tuesday, April 14 Forum: Syria: Background to war; working for peace.  Speaker: Susan Dirgham (National Coordinator of Australians for Mussalaha (Reconciliation) in Syria). 6:45pm (for 7pm start). $5.To confirm your place on the night please call 9662 3744 or email NIBS. New International Bookshop, Downstairs, Trades Hall, cnr Victoria & Lygon Sts, Carlton South. Wednesday, April 15 - Saturday, May 2 Theatre: Beautiful One Day. A theatrical documentary about the irrepressible life and times of Palm Island; now touring Victoria. On Palm Island, 2004, an Aboriginal man dies in police custody. Members of the Palm Island community make a direct challenge to police power and the police station is torched. Eleven years later, the people of Palm Island continue to demand real justice, and all the while life continues. For metropolitan and country dates, venues and bookings see IlbijerriTheatre Company. Friday, April 17 Forum: The Kurdish freedom struggle today.  Discussion of the radical changes happening in the Kurds' long struggle against oppression in four countries. Speakers: Rob Pascoe (Professor of History VU), Seval Ulus (VU student, Kurdish Association), Rob Stary (civil liberties lawyer). 12 noon. Room E319, Victoria University, Footscray Park campus. Organised by Australians for Kurdistan. Saturday, April 18 Public meeting: Lex Wotton. A panel featuring veteran Palm Island leader Lex Wotton will discuss Indigenous liberation, leadership and what it will take to put an end to deaths in custody. The panel discussion will be followed by a social and reception for Lex. Start time TBA. Town Hall, 233 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Organised by Indigenous Social Justice Association. Ayotzinapa Resiste: Lunch in solidarity with missing Mexican students. Six months ago, 43 students from Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, were kidnapped by state forces and six more were killed. Six months later, the state insists in closing the case. Six months later we must keep demanding justice. Come along and support this event in solidarity with the missing Ayotzinapa students, their classmates and courageous families. Entry $10/$5; lunch $15 ($10 for children). Plus aguas frescas, beer, tea & coffee. MUA hall, 46 Ireland St, West Melbourne (near North Melbourne train station). For info ph Lulu on 0421 957 341 or Francisco 0432 565 470. Sunday, April 19 Rally: Legalise medical cannabis. Come and join us at our next event, as we celebrate 4:20 with speeches, music, comedy, prize drawers and freebies, and help weak and ill children and people everywhere access medical cannabis. 3pm. Treasury Gardens, 2-18 Spring St, East Melbourne. Monday, April 20 Public meeting: What is the future of Anzac Day? A century on from WW1, Anzac Day marches and pilgrimages to Gallipoli are attracting record crowds.  But it hasn't always been that way.  Will today's patriotic fervour continue to grow? Panellists: Michael Brissenden (ABC journalist ); James Brown (defence analyst); Carolyn Holbrook (historian); Celeste Liddle (trade unionist & Indigenous activist). 6pm (doors open 5.30pm). Deakin Edge, Federation Square, City. Free event but bookings essential. To book email Conversations or call 9658 9965 during business hours. Tuesday, April 21 Book launch: A Short History of Social Democracy. This new title from Resistance Books examines the social democratic attempt to civilise capitalism: from its origins in the socialist movement,  to its high point in the post World War II boom, to its surrender to neoliberalism in the 1980s and beyond. Speakers: John Rainford (former union official & director of Radical Wollongong); Sue Bolton (Socialist Alliance councillor for Moreland). 6:30pm. Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St, City (opposite Victoria Markets). For more info ph 9639 8622. Presented by Green Left Weekly and Socialist Alliance. Wednesday, April 22 National day of action: It's time to divest! Join us as we deliver a massive petition signed by students, staff and members of the community and a second petition from alumni calling on the University of Melbourne to divest from fossil fuels. 12pm. South Lawn, Melbourne University. Thursday, April 23 Public meeting: War and peace in Moreland. Along with other parts of Australia, Moreland sent men to fight in the Great War. Some 700 would not return. The argument over the war was particularly strong in Moreland, with Frank Anstey, Frank Hyett and John Curtin leading the opposition to conscription. Stuart Macintyre, a professor of history at the University of Melbourne, will relate the wartime experience and its affects. 7:45pm. Brunswick Library, cnr Dawson St & Sydney Rd, Brunswick (enter via Dawson St). Friday, April 24 Vigil: Rana Plaza anniversary. Mourn the dead, fight for the living. Vigil for the workers who were killed in the name of greed in Bangladesh's Rana Plaza disaster. 4:30pm.  8 Hour Monument, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South. Organised by Australia Bangladesh Solidarity Network. Sunday, April 26 These Machines Cut Razor Wire 2015. Fifth annual music fundraiser for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre  Performers: Jeff Lang, Kavisha Mazzella, Les Thomas Band, Little Foot duo and more. 6pm. Ding Dong Lounge, 18 Market Lane, City. Tuesday, April 28 May Day film night. 7pm. Democritus Workers League, 583 High St, Northcote. Wednesday, April 29 Film screening: Frackman. 6:30pm. $20. Bookings here. Jam Factory, 500 Chapel St, South Yarra. Promoted by Coal and Gas Free Communities. Thursday, April 30 May day wreath laying. 5pm. 8 hour monument, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South. May day Multicultural event. 5pm. Trades Hall Old Ballroom, cnr Lygon & Victoria sts, Carlton South. Book launch:  Collision Course: Endless Growth on a Finite Planet. The notion of ever-expanding economic growth has been promoted so relentlessly that the public is now convinced that 'growth' is the natural solution to virtually all social problems — poverty, debt, unemployment, and even the environmental degradation caused by growth in the first place. Warnings from scientists that we live on a finite planet have been ignored or even scorned as bogus predictions of doom and systematically resisted by economists and the corporate sector. Author Kerryn Higgs will discuss these and other themes and their importance for left politics in the 21st century. 6:45pm. New International Bookshop,  54 Victoria St, Carlton South. Friday, May 1 Book launch: Robbed of Every Blessing. John Tully's new novel is a dark tale set in Ireland and Van Diemen’s Land in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars; The title is taken from a traditional song about transportation to the Tasmanian penal colony. Speaker: Bronwyn Cran (Dean of the College of Arts, Victoria University). 6pm for 6:30pm start. Readings Bookshop, Lygon St, Carlton. Concert: I’ll Be There! Songs and stories of solidarity. The Victorian Trade Union Choir’s hit show, I’ll Be There!, brings to life inspiring moments of the trade union, labour and social justice movements. 7:30pm. Footscray Community Arts Centre, 45 Moreland St, Footscray. Booking I'll be there. Sunday, May 3 Join with Socialist Alliance at a May Day toast.  Breakfast from 10am; speeches 11am. Resistance Centre, Level 5, 407 Swanston St, City (opposite RMIT). For more info ph 9639 8622. Rally: May Day march. 1pm. Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South. Friday, April 10 TORQUAY Film screening: Isolated. When five surfers travel to West Papua in search of untouched waves, they discovered a lot more than just surf. The movie Isolated is the story that had to be told, of genocide and exploitation. Introduction from West Papuan Ronny Kareni, performances by The Black Orchard Stringband and Q & A from Greens Senator Richard Di Natale. 6:30pm. Beer & Mexican food available. The Usual Suspects Coffee Co,  4 Baines Crescent, Torquay. Monday, April 13 GEELONG Film screening: Frackman. 6:30pm. $20. Bookings here. Village Cinemas, 194-200 Ryrie St, Geelong. Promoted by Coal and Gas Free Communities.   Thursday, April 16 GEELONG Film screening: India's Daughter.  Leslee Udwin's documentary is based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman student. The film includes a confrontiong interview with one of the rapists. The government banned the film in India and the attempted to block it on YouTube. 6:30pm. Percy Baxter Theatre, Deakin Waterfront Campus. 6.30pm. Presented by Deakin Young Socialist Alliance & the Deakin Anthropology Department . For more info  ph 5222 6900. Friday, April 17 GEELONG Red Cinema: This Land Belongs to the Army. Highlights the post-civil war landscape in Sri Lanka, the government's policy of Sinhalisation and land grabbing through a brutal army of occupation. 7pm (dinner from 6:30pm). Downstairs, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St, Geelong. Entry by donation. Presented by Socialist Alliance. For more info  ph 5222 6900. Sunday, April 19 ANGLESEA Book launch: 'The Coal Face' by Tom Doig. The February-March 2014 Hazelwood mine fire was one of the worst industrial pollution events in Victoria's history. It may turn out to be one of the worst public health crises the state has ever seen. Speakers: Tom Doig & Wendy Farmer (President of the Latrobe Valley community group Voices of the Valley). 2:30pm. Community Hall, 5 McMillan St, Anglesea. Organised by Surf Coast Air Action. Wednesday, April 22 MORWELL Film screening: Frackman. 6:30pm. $20. Bookings here. Village Cinemas,  Mid Valley Shopping Centre, Princes Drive, Morwell. Promoted by Coal and Gas Free Communities. Wednesday, April 29 BALLARAT Film screening: Frackman. 7pm. $20. Bookings here. Regent Cinemas, 49 Lydiard St North, Ballarat. Promoted by Coal and Gas Free Communities. WARRNAMBOOL Film screening: Frackman. 6:30pm. $20. Bookings here. Capitol Cinema, 54 Kepler St, Warrnambool. Promoted by Coal and Gas Free Communities.  Australia Kurdistan Solidarity. Meets regularly to build solidarity with the Kurdish freedom struggle in Rojava (liberated zone in northern Syria), Turkey and elsewhere. For campaign and open letter to have the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) removed from the Australian list of terrorist organisations see Lift the ban on the PKK. For information ph Gulay 0412 926 706 or Aran 0410 197 814. 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. Climate Action Moreland. Meets regularly to develop action on climate change in the Moreland area. For information ph Andrea on 0424 508 535 or email CAM. 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. Timor Sea Justice Campaign. For info visit TSJC, email Tom Clarke or ph 0422 545 763. Victorian Climate Action Calendar. Online updates are available at http://vcac.org.au/calendar/. Recent articles from Green Left Weekly Counter-rallies challenge 'Reclaim Australia' Thousands rally for refugees on Palm Sunday Campaign launched to de-list the PKK Weekend penalty rates under threat thanks to South Australian deal Check out Green Left TV: See There is no price on culture 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 International Journal of Socialist Renewal is a journal for the post-Cold War left; a journal that rejects the Stalinist distortion of the socialist project; a journal that takes into account ecological questions; a journal that is taking steps to bring together the forces for socialism in the world today; a journal that aspires to unite Marxists from different political traditions because it discusses openly and constructively. Links seeks to promote the international exchange of information, experiences of struggle, theoretical analysis and views on strategies and tactics within the international left. Kurdistan: Political and cultural revolution unfolds in Rojava Ireland: Sinn Féin fights welfare attacks in north, power sharing threatened South Africa: United Front condemns COSATU's expulsion of Zwelinzima Vavi Greece: Radical Eric Toussaint to audit Greek debt 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 welcomes cancellation of Sydney CSG License State governments share blame for (not) closing the gap Paris massacre: Abbott's response 'no solution to cycle of violence 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 Just out! 184 pp, $20. Available from Resistance Bookshop, Level 5, 407 Swanston St, City & New International Bookshop, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton South.