Darkness at Noon

I’ve just heard about this, which sounds very interesting. PluginTV are a local group that help produce local social justice and enviro shorts. There are 4 films on at Loop, in Melbourne town, Wednesday October 3rd. Entry is free, from 7, starts at 8, finishes at 9.

Sheryl Oteyza presents Unheard, Unknown which investigates the

killings taking place targeting union and community leaders in the

Philippines. People defending their rights are being shot dead by

unidentified armed men… why is this happening and why don’t we hear

about it in the media???

 

Sal Castro presents Unmasking the G20 which looks at what the G20

really is. While the G20 promotes itself as a fair and democratic

platform for large developing countries to voice their concerns with

the worlds rich, deeper analysis reveals otherwise. This documentary

shows the inner working of the G20, its role in attempting to

neutralise geo-political dissent, its stealth tactics in promoting

neo-liberalism, and the alternatives to the G20 now emerging.

 

Kurt Diegert presents “Climate Change, Bicycling, and YOU”. Have you

been naughty? Do you drive your car three blocks to the grocery store

and leave your lights on all night? Well, sit back and be lectured.

You will be relieved to hear, first in the style a 50’s educational

film strip and then in a more modern fashion, that the easiest way to

mend your naughty ways is also the most fun: Bicycling.

 

Jose Ramos presents “Climate Change: the Real Options”. Now that the

general public accepts climate change and wants to help (thanks, Al

Gore) more information is needed. The real solutions need to be

separated from “greenwashing” and wishful thinking.

(via My2Cents)

Firstly, Workchoices redux (I’m sure there’s a comment here about remix culture and intelectual property but it’s Monday morning and I’m uncafinated thus far):

Then the latest from Naomi Klien:

Sign the pledge to LISTEN Up! *to Aboriginal and Islander voices*

The passing of the Howard Government’s Northern Territory Emergency Intervention Bills demonstrates that there is a crisis in Aboriginal and Islander policy formation and implementation. The bills roll back Aboriginal and Islander self-determination, land rights and the Racial Discrimination Act. They enact a national policy framework that works against Aboriginal and Islander children, families and communities. There is no evidence base for these actions.

LISTEN Up! is a coalition of concerned organisations and individuals seeking a better response to Aboriginal and Islander disadvantage; a response based on listening to Aboriginal and Islander voices, communities and services.

http://www.listenupaustralia.org/

A core principle of the Australian Centre for Democracy and Justice is that:

Social and ecological justice are part of the same whole.
We believe that a just society must be one that is in harmony with its physical environment. This is not to compromise either social or environmental justice but to complement them both. Both environmental and social considerations must be taken into account when dealing with any issue if a just and democratic outcome is to be achieved.

In our next three part forum series we explore this idea and why it is that we felt it was necessary to have it as one of our core principles.

Traditionally, the environment movement has been conceived at being at odds with the union movement. The equation was simple: Jobs or the environment. But is the equation that simple?

In this forum we will be exploring the commonality of the Environmental and Union movements. To help us do this, in a special extended session,are two of Australia?s most innovative thinkers on this topic who have worked hard over many decades to bring the environment movements and the union movements together.

Speakers:

• Cam Walker – Friends of the Earth
• Dave Kerin – Union Solidarity
  Dave became active around the Vietnam War. Became a Builders Labourer start of 70’s and was involved through the Green Bans period. On up through peace, environment and labour movement issues since. He is currently the coordinator of Union Solidarity; part of our brief is to move along the idea of union-supported Manufacturing Industry Cooperatives which will produce the green technologies here; currently three coverage-relevant unions are supporting a feasibility study towards that end.

When: Tue 25th September, 6:30 for a 7pm start. Finishing at 8:30
Where: Stork Hotel [504 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne]
Cost: $5 (free for ACDJ members)
Contact: centre@democracyandjustice.org

Well I’m back in town having successfully completely avoided anything APEC-related over the last week or so by setting up a tend in a national park in Southern West Australia. I only read the paper once the whole time I was away.

Just thought that it mightn’t hurt to mention to you all that the Centre has a new director who I have registered for this blog so hopefully he’ll start contributing soon.

We’ve got lots of exciting things lined up for the next few months including a great forum in a couple of weeks time – more details to follow.