Adelaide Chapter News
Hot off the press issue #5 of Spirit of the Times focuses on shifting the cultural paradigm, and is packed with news, analysis, comment and critique, as well as reviews of socially conscious media. You can read it right here on the website, download the pdf version by clicking right here, or even drop us a line to order a hard-copy to your home at cost only. We hope you enjoy reading this as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together!
Date: Saturday 5th May
Time: 2:30 – 5:00pm
Venue: The Exeter Hotel, Rundle Street, Adelaide CBD
Social get-together at Adelaide’s favourite activists’ pub. Come along and meet the team, discuss important global issues and solutions, and get answers to your TZM-related questions.
If you can’t make it for 2:30 no worries – just come along when you can. If it’s not immediately obvious where we are just ask at the bar and they’ll direct you to us.
Date: Wednesday 9th May
Time: TBA
Venue: Adelaide CBD
In the second week of May TZM Adelaide is taking to the streets with the One Planet Project – a streets-awareness campaign designed to survey local understandings of global issues and connect with our locals on their terms.
Look our for us in the CBD and feel free to approach the team with your questions!
Date: Wednesday 9th May
Time: arrive 5:30 for 6pm start
Venue: University of South Australia, City West Campus, Allan Scott Auditorium, rear Hawke Building, 50-55 North Terrace
Informed perspectives on preparing for climate change from Dr MA Quassem – Chairman, National Disaster Management Advisory Committee, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Professor Fran Baum – director of the Southgate Institute of Health, Society and Equity, and Brian Caton, and expert on sea-level rise generally and locally.
Date: Wednesday 16th May
Time: 6-8pm
Venue: Adelaide University Student Learning Hub
Planning meeting – focusing mainly on planning for August’s Z-media festival – a collaboration of local sustainability-oriented organizations and groups over issues of global importance.
Please come along if you would like to take part in planning this event, but understand that this is not a social or orientation meeting – questions regarding the Movement in general can be addressed following the business-bit!
Date: Saturday 19th May
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Venue: Conservation Council of SA Meeting Room, 1st floor of 157 Franklin Street, Adelaide CBD
Geoff Mosley’s talk will focus on the generally neglected question of what a viable steady state alternative to the prevailing economic growth model would be like. In particular he will pinpoint the changes to our present system which could hasten the transformation. He will explain how we will need to incorporate measures in the transition to deal with the damage to the environment already caused. The changes he will advocate cover every major aspect of life including values, institutions for governance, social and trade relationships and the use of physical resources including energy. Geoff is a former CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation and the current Australian Director of the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy.
Owing to limited seating capacity those intending to attend are advised to make an advance booking either by emailing: hermann {at} chariot.net(.)au or calling: 08 8264 4282.
Date: Saturday 26th May
Time: 6-9pm
Venue: Bliss Organic Cafe, Compton Street (off Gouger Street), Adelaide CBD
No need to book in, but please arrive by 6pm to ensure a seat and a prompt start. The screening will be followed by Q&A and a chance to gather further information regarding the Zeitgeist Movement and our actions on global issues.
That’s right – you usually hear the phrase “think global, act local”, and we’ve decided to take it a step further with our globally networked Movement of local community-based action.
When we act locally and network globally everyone can be an activist. Believe it or not it takes more than people like Martin Luther King and Gandhi to change the world - it takes little people like you and me! Taking small steps, making strong connections, and telling new, more positive stories are things we can all do to be the change we want to see.
The Zeitgeist Movement Australia’s latest Global Issues Awareness Campaign revolves around exactly that – local actions, globally networked. This month we’re kicking off a series of monthly local events, hosted by you! Yes – that’s right – hosted by you!
Well, April and beyond actually….
Now that the hectic haze of Z-Day is behind us we’re moving forward through 2012 with the momentum of a Movement that means business! Here’s how we’re doing it…
Since our inception in 2009 we have established 9 fully functional chapters around Australia in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Southern New South Wales. Now coordinator responsibilities are up for grabs in 5 more locations – Central Coast NSW, Far North Queensland, Newcastle, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. By the end of 2012 we aim to have at least 14 fully functional chapters established and networked together. If you’re interested in setting up a chapter where you live – in your town, village, university or even high school just drop us a line.
If you’d like to keep up to date with news and events from your local chapter or any other just sign up to the mailing list and you’ll get to hear all about what we’re up to.
Chapters are busy with a range of activities from public screenings of socially conscious documentaries to organized public lectures to assisting with projects building Earthships. We’re even taking part in a systems design studio with a coalition of other systems design initiatives to get the Resource-Based Economic model the recognition it deserves beyond the academic sphere, where it already enjoys considerable support. Want to get involved in the fun? Join your local chapter.
There are now lots of opportunities to put your skills to use in the Zeitgeist Movement including volunteering for our linguistics team helping to translate materials for our international supporters and researching global issues and their sustainability-focused solutions. Regardless of where you live it is possible to volunteer your time and skills to the Movement from a distance with the online coordination of our projects.
The Zeitgsiet Movement Australia has just launched a program that aims to reach every corner of the country with socially conscious activities and events. It is possible for anyone in any part of the country to host an event with the support of the Movement ranging from hosting a documentary movie screening at your local pub to a freeshare event in a public park. All you need to do to host an event is drop us a line and we’ll send you a support package to assist with promoting your event and helping it run smoothly.
The documentary chosen for the coming month of April is Into Eternity, an expose of the long-term impact of the dilemma of disposing of radioactive waste generated from nuclear power initiatives. A sobering wake-up call Into Eternity promises to raise awareness of an issue that is of contemporary urgency here in Australia, and highlighted by a major upcoming event in July, The Lizard’s Revenge, a music and art festival protesting the expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia.
To support Uncle Kevin Buzzacott and ANFA in their campaign to stop the disastrous rape and pillage of our land for current and future generations get involved in the Lizard’s Revenge, host a screening of Into Eternity, even be present for Uncle Kevin versus BHP at the Adelaide federal court on 3rd and 4th April – do what you can to reclaim the sustainability of our landbase.
There are many ways in which we can all engage ourselves in being participants in the changes we wish to see. Check out our website section on walking the sustainable talk and perhaps offer your support to the sustainability drive by contributing to our blog team with your own sustainable living advice.
“The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
– attributed to an unnamed Hopi elder
Hopi Nation
Oraibi, Arizona
What? Earthship biotecture workshop – theory and practice
When? Saturday 7th or Sunday 8th April
Where? Ironbank, Adelaide Hills
How much? $25 covers the tuition, materials, and lunch
Following Mike Reynolds’ tour of Australia Adelaide is fortunate enough to be able to present the opportunity to participate in an Earthship biotecture workshop!
Martin Freney, organizer of Reynolds’ Adelaide lecture and PHd candidate researching the sustainability of the Earthship biotecture model, is offering a 1-day hands-on workshop in the Adelaide Hills.
As the workshop is hands-on please note that spaces are limited and you will be getting your hands (if not everything else as well) dirty!
For further information and booking please see the attached Earthship Workshop flyer.
That’s right guys – the Z-movies are coming to telly! And very soon!!
It’s just a regional kick-start via WTV in Perth, but it’s a start…. so – if you’re able to please tune into channel 44 WTV on Saturday 10th (yup – international Z-Day!) 9pm WA time for Addendum, and on Saturday 17th (yup – TZM AU Z-Day – couldn’t be better!!) for Moving Forward!
If ratings are high it will set a great precedent for approaching other TV stations with a good prospect… I’ve a feeling 2012 could be the year we meet the 100th monkey… or at least the 12th one!! And what could be an easier form of activism than organizing a dinner and movie night with friends?
For further details of the WTV screenings please check their website.
Hosted by The Zeitgeist Movement SA
Date: Saturday 17th March 2012
Time: 11am – 6:30pm (doors open 10:30 for 11am start)
Location: Napier 102 (lecture theatre), Adelaide University, North Terrace, 5000
Price: Free!! (Event pass available here)
Event Description: This year TZM’s annual flagship event consists of a series of thought-provoking presentations and lectures to inspire and empower that desire for change. Hosting academics, experts and activists in the fields of economic and environmental sustainability TZM invite you to learn how you can become the change you wish to see!
Welcome to the latest issue of Spirit of the Times! Hot off the press – you can either read it online by clicking on the magazine for the pdf, print the pdf and read from the comfort of your sofa or on the bus to work, or even shoot us a line with your name and address for a hard-copy.
This issue is dedicated to the individual – the force within us all that says “I can” – and that which inspires and empowers us to be the change we wish to see.
We’ve had a great time putting this together and we hope you’ll have as much fun reading it!
Hard-copy prices:
Price includes postage – just provide your name, address, and payment by Paypal or bank transfer via the contact form. A subscription widget will appear on the website soon so that anyone interested in a year-long subscription can just sign up!
For further information, media and collaboration on ideas regarding the topics discussed below please like “zeitgeist mass awareness plan” on Facebook.
Communicating the ideals of TZM is not something easily brought up in discussion, especially with people who haven’t seen Zeitgeist: Moving Forward or Addendum. For some people it may be difficult to articulate the logic of a RBE through conversation. It’s not that the idea of an RBE is complex or irrational it is that it is so simple and rational that some people find it difficult to comprehend such a reality in our conditioned culture which accepts current complexities, inefficiencies, institutions and values as unchangeable static norms. People often dismiss and undermine TZM ideals because their perceptions are based on narrow frames of reference based on pre-existing political and cultural ideals and the distorted perception that money has value in our physical reality when in fact the only value money has is in our imagination and the artificial value is reinforced by culture.
Protesters from the environmental action group Lock The Gate unfurled a banner reading “No Fracking Way” at the sidelines of the Tour Down Under as a protest against the event’s corporate sponsors, Santos‘ plans for coal seam gas exploration. In the blink of an eye an official car arrived to rip the banner from the hands of the protesters.
As an attempt to save Santos from any embarrassment it failed since Youtube is everywhere and the clip has since become popular viewing for the Tour Down Under well-drilled anti-ambush squad.
The peaceful protesters from Lock the Gate held discussions with SA police, in the name of transparency, about their intentions to hold a peaceful protest, and declared they had no interest in disrupting the event or doing anything which would place cyclists in danger.
The behavior of the people who ripped away the banner and sped off shows a complete disregard for the right to freedom of speech.
Santos is largely responsible for ‘fracking’ down under – and people have a right to voice their concerns given the environmental issues surrounding coal seam gas and the fracking processes.
For more information about Lock the Gate see: http://lockthegate.org.au/