Stand Up For Mehdi

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I’m organising this charity gig during MICF and YOU TOTALLY HAVE TO COME. I can’t tell you the line up but it is A++++ and it’s a bloody damn good cause.

Book your tickets here now

People become refugees for lots of different reasons.

MEHDI SAVARI lived in Iran. His job was to tell jokes. One day he dared to tell some jokes.

Those jokes put him in danger and he had to escape.

Now he finds himself on Manus Island. He’s been there for more than three years.

Meanwhile in Australia, comedians can take the piss out of the government as much as they like. They’re quite inclined to do so, particularly when that government does things like putting Mehdi on Manus Island.

In this extraordinary event, a stellar line up of the best comedians at the Festival come together to perform in solidarity with Mehdi and all the other victims of Australia’s refugee policies.

This secret line up of champions will be (literally) standing up for justice and for not treating people like dicks. Plus they’ll be raising some much-needed cash for the HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CENTRE: an organisation that fights every single day for the rights and protection of refugees and people seeking asylum.

Hosted by award-winning comedian and aspiring sex symbol TOM BALLARD and featuring the finest comedic talent from Australia and across the world (and maybe even a musical treat or two), STAND UP FOR MEHDI is sure to be a stand out event at MICF 2017. Don’t miss it.

92 – Adam Jacoby

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Let’s talk about a little thing called democracy.

MiVote is a new political movement that launches next week and it’s all about direct democracy. It’s an online platform and political party that enables its members to directly influence their elected representatives: representatives that will be committed to enacting the people’s (informed) will.

Founder Adam Jacoby kindly gave me a lot of time to talk through the idea and answer my annoying questions. He sets out just how fucked the system currently is and why he believes this might just work.

Problematic is coming to Adelaide, Hobart, Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney

Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Adelaide, Brisbane & Melbourne

Stan Australia announces One Night Stan

Article: More Than Cory Bernardi: Why Right Wing Politics Is Fracturing In Australia by Matthew Knott

@adamajacoby

Article: Our democratic operating systems aren’t working: here’s how to upgrade them by Jon Barnes

Article: Mob rule: Iceland crowdsources its next constitution 

Fast Company story: Can direct democracy be revived through new voting apps? 

DemocracySquared.io

Cause of the Week: MiVote.org.au

 

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91 – Charlie Wood

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Charlie Wood is the Campaigns Director at 350.org, an international climate action organisation that are fighting for a future that’s free from fossil fuels.

Here she describes where climate politics is at in these troubling times, how divestment is changing the game, climate scepticism, just how much the fossil fuel industry influences our politics, fear-mongering, how she manages to maintain hope. Charlie explains why Trump might actually be a good thing for the movement and whether or not, actually, for real, we (the human race) are fucked.

Problematic is coming to Adelaide, Hobart, Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney

Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Adelaide, Brisbane & Melbourne

RISE Refugee’s #BlockTheBill campaign

#BlockTheBill Snap Rally this Saturday in Melbourne

@350Australia

350 Australia on Facebook

gofossilfree.org.au

Cause of the Week: 350.org

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90 – Nakkiah Lui

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Playwright, Black Comedy writer, tweeter and Aboriginal not-activist Nakkiah Lui joins me for a chat ahead of that ugly date, January 26th. Nakkiah reveals how she and her family mark Invasion Day and we discuss the merits of even having a national day at all.

We also touch on ideological diversity within Indigenous Australia, the “personal responsibility” narrative, deconstructing whiteness, the myth of multiculturalism, Bill Leak and the new TV series we’re now going to pitch all over town, Blackfulla Mirror.

Reconciliation Comedy Gala at at the Malthouse Theatre on Invasion Day

Invasion Day Melbourne Event on Facebook

My Work in Progress show starts at Perth Fringeworld next week

Article: Why are we fighting Islamaphobia at the expense of Indigenous Australians? by Sara Saleh

@nakkiahlui

Nakkiah on The Osher Günsberg Podcast

Article: It’s not racism that Australia needs to get rid of – it’s the privilege of whiteness

Article: As an Aboriginal teen I thought about killing myself every day

Article: Australia Day is a time for mourning not celebration 

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Black Is The New White coming to Sydney Theatre Company

An Octoroon coming to Queensland Theatre Company

Cause of the Week: Butucarbin Aboriginal Corporation (butucarbin.org.au)

 

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89 – Lara Jeffery

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Lara Jeffery is the director of MyChoice Australia and describes herself as a right-wing libertarian. She’s all about pushing back against the “nanny state”, reducing the size of government and letting the free market do what it does.

Here we discuss how she came to this worldview and how that plays out in relation to education, healthcare, social justice, housing, smoking, the environment and more. We also cover the legacy of Ayn Rand, claiming the moral ground and Uber.

Boundless Plains To Share is coming to Perth Fringeworld for 2 shows only!

I’m bringing a Work In Progress to Fringeworld from Tuesday January 31st

I’m also touring to Adelaide Fringe, Brisbane Comedy Festival & the Melbourne Comedy Festival

@larajeffery

mychoice.org.au

taxpayers.org.au

Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance forum: Women In Politics

Cause of the Week: Students For Liberty Australia & New Zealand (studentsforliberty.org/anz)

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88 – Sally Goldner

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Happy 2017 everyone!

Sally Goldner is the Executive Director of Transgender Victoria, the treasurer of the Bisexual Alliance Victoria and the first ever trans woman to be included on the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll.

Here she kindly shares her personal journey from the “soulless life” she lived for 30 years to the defiant person she is today. She lays out the challenges facing gender diverse folk, including the discrimination that often comes from within the queer community itself, outlines her thoughts on everything from identity politics to Cate McGregor and argues for the queer rights movement to take a more assertive and uncompromising approach to those who oppose us.

Boundless Plains to Share is on this weekend at the Belvoir Theatre, 4 shows only

And Boundless is coming to Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane & Melbourne in the coming months, on sale now

My new stand up show Problematic is coming to Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane & Melbourne, on sale now

My piece for Fairfax: A brand new Dutton-worthy citizenship test, with extra values

@salgoldsaidso

Article: Sally Goldner lands top award for her dedication to transgender advocacy

Article: A ten point guide to not offending transgender people

Cause of the Week: Transgender Victoria (transgendervictoria.com), 3CR (3cr.org.au), Bisexual Alliance Victoria (bi-alliance.org)

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