Don’t Shoot the Messenger

WikiLeaks, a free press publishing and media organisation, has revealed human rights abuses, war crimes and corruption in governments across the world. Yet the US Administration wants to close WikiLeaks down and prosecute its founder Julian Assange. International financial services organisations have blocked payments to WikiLeaks, denying them vital income. The Australian government has failed to take a stand against the political persecution of Assange. PM Gillard's assertion that WikiLeaks activities were illegal was proved to be false by an Australian Federal Police investigation.

What does all this say about our democracy?

Come to a public forum presented by the Support Assange & WikiLeaks Coalition, with:

Scott Ludlam, Greens Senator

Christine Assange, mother of Julian Assange

Humphrey McQueen, Historian, ANU

Chaired by Mary Kostakidis

FRIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY, 2012, 6.30 pm to 8.15 pm, University of Technology, Sydney, Room 02.04.13

Gold coin donation | For more information: Anne 0404 090 710 / Helen 0413 381 408

At Black Rose Social Centre.

Write for pleasure - short creative exercises - and share what we write.

Sign up with Inner Sydney Writers' Salon meetup group at http://www.meetup.com/Inner-Sydney-Writers-Salon/

Why do we live in a society that has never been so unequal?
Why do the rich 1% put corporate greed before human needs of the 99%?
Why do homes cost so much and rents are so high? Why can mining CEOs get rid of a democratically elected Prime Minister?
Why do CEOs get massive pay rises while cutting everyone else's pay?
Why can't we have a say in how our workplace runs?
We are richer than ever, so why is there always less and less money for hospitals and education?
Why are we all always in debt?
How come the banks get away with charging so much?
How come insurance companies get away with not paying what they owe?
We agree that the system is broken, have your say at Parramatta forum as part of the 99% and together we can change the world.

Stay tuned for details of what will be in school!

About the Free School
Occupy Sydney has been present in Martin Place almost continuously since 15 October 2011. A crucial part of the occupation is open public discussion. Some of these discussions are organised into a ‘Free School’, held on most Saturday afternoons.

Free School is:

a space for honest, frank and respectful discussion and the
building of solidarity amongst participants

open for everyone to present or join sessions and workshops

a collective way to address questions about Occupy Sydney's
directions and purposes

an approach to building the movement and keeping it
relevant and sustainable

an occasion to discuss how we relate to existing movements,
groups and struggles

a place of learning about practical skills and interests helpful
to Occupy participants

an opportunity for enjoyable group conversations and fun in
growing together.

Occupy Sydney invites individuals, families and inviting community groups to join us for a festival at Martin Place on 10 December – the Global Day of Action and Global Human Rights Day.

This family friendly festival will feature music, art, workshops (free school), open mic, talks and participation from a variety of communitiesSydney talking about global human rights and social justice issues.

The Festival will be held between 1pm and 6pm. The event is family friendly and all are welcome.

What has been so positive about Occupy Sydney is that it is an alternative space where diverse communities and individuals can come together to discuss ideas, issues and current struggles with the public in a public place.

The 10 December Festival will provide a positive opportunity for communities, families and individuals to connect with people in Sydney, and engage, discuss and share information about global injustice and human rights in a friendly, family orientated atmosphere.

The basic run of the day will be:
9am-12pm – set-up, meet and greet
12-1pm – Creative Action – Art mobs the city!
1-1.30pm – Lunch – bring food to share!
1-5pm – Info stalls and Free School (see schedule below)
5-9pm – Acoustic music and open mic
6-8pm – Dinner – bring food to share

Theatre from Kinetic Energy Theatre Company

Workshops from the Free School
1.30 – 2.30pm
•DIY renewable energy
•A History of Radical Sydney
•Women in Activism

2.45 – 3.45pm
•Borders and Occupy
•Community Renewable Energy
•Culture, Language, Identity, Belonging

4 – 5pm
•Discussion on Occupy Melbourne
•Quakers – Non-violence and activism
•Circus workshop

Music from 5pm:
Bianca Moon - A singer/songwriter from AU who is also based in the US. Bianca was present at Occupy Wall Street on the first day of protest. She will perform original music and some ‘fitting’ covers.
Air Hi 5 - Pop-Funk, Sax Rock, World Music, Latin duo from Sydney. Music for people that want more out of life, to know that someone is out there that loves you and is always there for you. Music to open the soul. Music for you, and for me
John Gordon – Featuring the controversial protest song ‘Australia (Wh$re of the World). Songwriter John Gordon says Australian coal exports are a national disgrace and tantamount to Environmental Crimes against Humanity. He said he aims to expose what is happening Down Under by distributing the song in South Africa, during the UN Climate talks.

10 December Global Day of Action site: http://dec10.takethesquare.net/english/

Facebook event - http://www.facebook.com/events/125879054192065/

The Cross Border Collective, based in Sydney, works to create a world where people’s movement is not controlled in the interests of capital.

Our reading and writing group gets together once a month to talk about a few articles we have read and to work towards writing articles, zines and other materials that we can use in our on-going campaign to break down borders at the nation-state level as well as other social, cultural, political and economic borders which operate to divide us.

The readings are linked below. It is not essential to read these, although participants will gain much more from the conversation by having a look at them prior to coming.

1)
http://overland.org.au/previous-issues/issue-197/feature-liz-thompson-be...

2)
http://www.jura.org.au/node/1661

3)
http://liaquatalihazara.wordpress.com/2010/05/

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Levine ruling, which opened up access to safe,legal abortion for women in NSW, the Women’s Abortion Action Campaign (WAAC) is organising a public forum.

The forum, on Sunday, 23rd October, 2011 from 1.00 pm to 5 pm, will take place at the NSW Teachers Federation in Surry Hills.

While remembering the hardships Australian women faced when abortion was illegal, and commemorating the progress women have made in the last 40 years, the speakers will also take up today’s challenges in the fight to defend and extendreproductive rights.
The two panels feature speakers of many generations, with broad experience campaigning for women’s rights.

Recognising that the fight for abortion is worldwide we have aspeaker to outline the fight in Latin America,where many women continue to die from unsafe abortions.

There will betime for discussion and questions.

Afternoon teawill be provided.

http://www.waac.org.au

Two speakers will introduce Chomsky's radical ideas. Professor of Journalism, Wendy Bacon, will speak on Chomksy's ideas on the media, how they influenced thinking on the media, how they went out of fashion, and are they relevant today? James Goodman, Associate Professor in Cosmopolitan Civil Societies will speak on Chomsky's geopolitics: anti-imperialism from within.

Organised by the Sydney Chomsky Forum http://www.chomskyforum.net/

Facebook event - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=228705040521024

Music can help build a better world: to express common and different values, dreams and stories through song. This weekend will create time and space for us to raise our voices and remember the songs that kept our ancestors and past social movements strong, including movements for peace, liberation and civil rights.

The weekend will include a Friday night concert, theme- based music-sharing circles, workshops and a general music session on Saturday night.

Days in the FBEU building, 1-7 Belmore St, Surry Hills. Evenings in other places. Pass on the details!!

http://songweekend.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=152339318190223