Melbourne Free University - Gender wars - Poetry - Media Ethics;

There's a lot on at the MFU this week.

On Tuesday (3/10) Gender Wars continues with Bombshells, a discussion of nuclear disarmament, Australian anti-war movements and the role of women and minorities in times of war and protest. Our panellists this week are Geraldine Robertson (Women's Web), Dimity Hawkins (ICAN/Reaching Critical Will) and Carole Wigg (Medical Practitioners for the Prevention of War).  6.30-8pm at Some Velvet Morning, 123 Queens Pde Clifton Hill.

Do you read poetry?  On Wednesday (4/10) Bonnie Cassidy (Deakin/RMIT) talks about why she does.  Like a virus or an annoying ex-lover, poetry persists: in Australia alone, there are over a dozen independent poetry publishers, and in Melbourne, at least twenty regular events for its live performance. But why keep poetry in our lives when we have novels, films and virtual fun; can it make something else happen? Exploring provocative poems from very different times and places, this seminar is for anyone curious about why and how we read.  6.30-8pm at The Alderman, 134 Lygon St, E. Brunswick.

And on Thursday (5/10) our course on Media Ethics turns to the ethics of disaster reporting withMutiny Media director, Nicholas Hansen. The disaster zone is a vortex of information, much of it spun out by first responders to a hungry media. The public has a right to know, but where is actuality amongst these hurried impressions and in whose interest is the news we receive? We'll be discussing the factors that influence contemporary disaster reporting, and issues around its consumption. How are ethics stretched in production and reception, and where are the opportunities as media speeds up and our capacity increases to talkback?  6.30-8pm at The Alderman, 134 Lygon St, E. Brunswick.

We've added some great speakers to our current courses, so check out the attached flyer for full details of what's coming up in the next 4 weeks.

Hope to see you there!

the MFU

Mullum Mullum Festival 20-21 and 27-28 April 2013 : Mullum Mullum - a beautiful part of a city

The 15th Mullum Mullum Festival - 20 & 21 and 27 & 28 April

Mullum Mullum Festival PO Box 173 Mitcham 3132 http://mullummmullumfestival.org

The 15^th Mullum Mullum Festival will be held on 20 & 21 and 27 & 28 April 2013

Make sure to reserve these dates in your diary!!

Starting off with an evening of Astronomy on Saturday the 20^th April, the Festival will be officially opened on Sunday the 21^st April by well-known local naturalist, educator and environmental advocate Cecily Falkingham at the Yarran Dheran Reserve, Mitcham.

The opening day festivities will include a variety of events and performances from the Aboriginal community as well as walks & talks and workshops for both adults and children and damper platters provided by Australia’s

leading gumleaf player and damper maker extraordinaire, Uncle Herb Patten.

The Festival will continue on Saturday the 27^th and Sunday the 28^th April with a bike ride, walks & talks

and presentations at various locations throughout the Mullum Mullum Valley,

as well as environmental walks & talks and presentations at Currawong Bush Park, Warrandyte

A full program will be sent out via email/snail-mail closer to the dates. In the meanwhile keep your eyes on our website http://mullummmullumfestival.org for information and updates.

We would very much appreciate for MMF supporters to assist with the distribution of the hard copies of brochures to various locations. If you would like to help us distribute the brochures in the week starting the 9^th of March we would love to hear from you!  

If you have suggestions for places to leave brochures we would also like to hear from you.

To receive a hard copy of the program, to organise media interviews or for any other enquiries,

contact Monique on decortis@bigpond.net.au ph 9719 7661 or David on mob 0409 519 829

Occupy Policing: a report into the effects & legality of the eviction from City Square

Here's the official perspective, Networkers!

The events surrounding Occupy Melbourne

have brought you

OCCUPY POLICING:

A report into the effects and legality of the eviction of

Occupy Melbourne from City Square on 21 October 2011.

Further links:

Occupy Melbourne on Facebook

Occupy Melbourne on Twitter

Occupy Melbourne on Wikipedia

Occupy Melbourne on You Tube

Protestors arrested as chaos descends on CBD

In memory of Jill - reclaim the night on Sydney Road ... and wherever you are

We may not be able to reclaim Jill Meagher 

to walk this world once again.

However,

there is something constructive we CAN do.

We can walk, in her memory, to reclaim the night

on Sydney Road, Brunswick.

Please go here for more information

If you can't be in Melbourne,

please do what you can to 

Reclaim the Night

wherever you are.

Sydney road street party in Feb 2004, Sydney Road, Melbourne (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• Man charged with rape, murder of Jill Meagher
• Brunswick mourns Jill Meagher at candlelit vigil

Green Wedges in Melbourne under threat - support The Glenfern Road Green Wedge Forum

PLEASE SUPPORT 

THE GLENFERN ROAD GREEN WEDGE FORUM

Wednesday 22nd August 7pm 

Magpie House, 48 Main St Upwey.

More details http://www.magpiehouse.com.au 

.

We've collected 10+ pages of signatures in this one location - 

collective power will make our vote count, so please do attend. 

Poster below , please do send around. 

 Voluntary donation 

towards managing & purchasing more wedge land.  

"Taking the Green Out of Green Wedges: Melbourne's Disappearing Natural Environment".  

Talk by Dr Johanna Selleck, President of the Friends of the Glenfern Green Wedge. Enquiriespresident@fggw.org .

Please take this poster and publicise

Related articles

• Baillieu shifts green wedge boundary

Yarra Riverkeepers' Bulletin Spring 2011

I HATE DOCKLANDS #poorplanning in #Melbourne

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Picture from here

I rarely if ever post on the subject of planning in relation to cities and development.  However, I am to-day because I am impressed by this quote from Professor Kim Dovey:

''I don't believe what planning ministers say any more about growth boundaries - 

every time developers come and camp in the minister's office they just buckle.''

The image that is created of real estate developers camping in the office of a Minister of the Crown is mind boggling - and the Minister buckling at the knees because of the presence of those who are, we hope, unwelcome guests.  But then there is that other image - of developers being very welcome guests as they bring money to party hacks for the coffers of corrupt political parties.  

Can I say quite loudly "I HATE DOCKLANDS!".  I don't even refer to it as Docklands  To me it is Beijing South - because it reminds of me of the cheek by jowl high rise development of Beijing.  Victoria is known as The Garden State.  Melbourne likes to promote its boulevards and leafy streets.  Where are these in Docklands.  Sure there is a very small portion of greenery here and there but I wonder how these spaces will be in the years to come because I think they will be deprived of sunshine and the necessary components for plants to thrive.  

And, Networkers, in case you think I am just another carping critic, I am not alone.  My appraisal is based on what I consider an offence to the human spirit.  A more intelligent, articulate, and knowledgable response is here

  

Pedals down the Ponds : Yarra Riverkeeper Association : #yarrariver #vicenvironment #rivers&creeks

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Pedals Down the Ponds

for a  peek  at Melbourne’s “underside”

Come on our bike ride beside Moonee Ponds Creek which has been described as “arguably the most abused tributary of the Yarra River, and part of the true underside of Melbourne.”  

• Ride the peaceful path as it winds through the diverse landscape of concrete and parkland and even goes below sea level!  
• Learn from expert speakers about the creek’s dark and fascinating history, its community gardens and restored wetlands.  
• Hear the latest news about the state of our Yarra.  
• BYO lunch at the riverside Collins Landings in Docklands.

Sunday 10 April 2011

10 am to early pm

Full details and application form are attached.

Best wishes

Ian

Ian Penrose

Riverkeeper

for the Yarra Riverkeeper Association, ph 0409 510 766, emailinfo@yarrariver.org.au

   

Riverkeeper is a registered trademark of                        For contribution to the environment

Waterkeeper Alliance Inc and used

under licence.

2 attachments — Download all attachments  

Yrka bike ride flyer 10Apr11.pdf 230K   View   Download

yrka bike ride application form.rtf 40K   View as HTML   Download

Platform Artists Group celebrates twenty years: Degraves Street Subway even older #artandartists #melbourne #makesyathink

Click to enlarge all photos.

I am indebted to Melbourne Art & Culture Critic

for informing me about the 20th Anniversary

of the

Platform Artists Group Inc

The Plat form in question is the Degraves Street subway

which is accessed at one end from Flinders Street Station

and from the other at the Belgian Waffle shop end of Degraves Street.

I don't see every exhibition -

but I stop by quite a few and have photographed quite a number

and here are a few of my photos.

I am sorry that I don't know the names of all the artists -

except I can say with certainty that the one above

with the Eureka flag done in Aboriginal colours

is done by Van Rudd.

I always find Van's work intriguing.

The work displayed usually, but not always, makes a statement.

So it is good not to rush things.

It is good to look, to think, to try and connect with the mind of the artist.

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• 48 hours in: Melbourne (independent.co.uk)

Water at the Parliament of the World's Religions

There has been a long delay on contributing to this blog - it has been brought about by a combination of busy-ness when I have been up and about and debilitating ill health.  Apologies!

This video is from a series on the Parliament of the World's Religions website relating to the Melbourne Parliament held in December 2009.  I was the keynote speaker at the Melbourne Plenary held on Tuesday 8 December.  The theme of the Plenary was Water.  You can see some of what I said around about the 17th minute of this 30 minute video.  You will see quite a variety of speakers and performers.  It was a colourful, multicultural, multifaith event.

Melbourne Plenary 8 Dec from Parliament of Religions on Vimeo

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