Ngara Institute in Mullumbimby | Community organisation

Ngara Institute

Locality: Mullumbimby

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• Community organisation

24.01.2022 Thank you, Professor Stuart Rees! One of my great fears when scribbling my last letter to you, was that I would forget to name one of our Politics in the Pub speakers. Lo and behold, and regrettably, I did just that, neglecting to mention the one and only Professor Stuart Rees. Stuart is not only one of the nicest people you could ever meet, with a legendary sense of humour and more wit than Gough Whitlam, he’s also an avid supporter of Portsmouth Football Club, but I’ve forg...iven him for that. Stuart is a leading and widely respected scholar, author and activist. He has devoted much of his life to the struggle against injustice, violence and cruelty. His upcoming book, Cruelty or Humanity Challenges, Opportunities and Responsibilities, is a testament to Stuart’s passion for peace with justice. He has been a strong supporter of Ngara from its inception, and has spoken twice in Mullumbimby. Stuart’s last talk delivered alongside Henry Reynolds was truly inspiring. He spoke without notes and delivered a stirring rallying call for human rights and concerted international action to put an end to the terrible cruelties being inflicted upon the Palestinian people. Now; before this begins to sound like an obituary, I want to assure you that Stuart is as energised as ever, taking on injustices when and where he finds them. I wish I had just a fraction of his intelligence and courage. So, without further ado, on behalf of the Ngara Institute, I wish to thank Stuart for all his support and, as Ali G might put it = respect! Apologies for being such a dunderhead in leaving your name off a lengthy list. Your talks were inspiring. Thank you again. Richard Hil

24.01.2022 IMPORTANT NOTICE Thanks to all those of you who sent such kind thoughts in the wake of Ngara’s shutdown. They mean a lot. We would like to think that together, we created a respectful forum for considered discussion of contemporary issues and ideas. We can be justifiably proud of what we achieved. There is little doubt that the space left by Ngara will be filled by others. It is important, however, to emphasise as clearly as possible that the Ngara Institute has no connect...ion or association whatsoever with any initiative that may arise. Should you hear anything to the contrary, it is simply not the case. Additionally, the Indigenous language name ‘Ngara’ was gifted to the Institute for the sole use of the Institute. Given that we are now folding, the name ‘Ngara’ may not be used by any future organisation as that would constitute appropriation of Indigenous intellectual property.

23.01.2022 BUILDING RESILIENCE IN A TIME OF HYPER-CRISIS - AN INTERVIEW WITH DR CHARLIE BRENNAN AND BRIDGET O'BRIEN by Dr Richard Hil ‘There are untold and often unheralded regenerative initiatives around the globe that concern themselves with food security and community resilience. In this conversation with Dr Charlie Brennan and Bridget O’Brien, I discuss their involvement in regenerative projects in the university town of Ann Arbor in Michigan, USA, Bellingen on the mid-north coast ...of NSW Australia, and elsewhere. These are places that Charlie and Bridget live and work in, devoting their energies to building networks and alliances that can respond to crisis situations. And right now, as we know, the US, UK and Australia are in the midst of rolling crises seemingly with no predictable end point. Charlie and Bridget talk about how they have built connections in Ann Arbor and other places and what it takes to establish food supply in a time of crisis. I was struck by the passion and commitment shown by Charlie and Bridget, their understanding of the global trends impacting on communities, and their appreciation of how individuals and communities can become more resilient. Their stories are compelling and we need to hear them.’ #climate #community #resilience #mentalhealth #sacredplaces #food

22.01.2022 PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately this evening's event with Catherine Ingram is unable to run as scheduled. We acknowledge any disappointment caused. Warmest, Ngara Institute.

21.01.2022 In this podcast, listen to Mary Kostakidis speak to Stuart Rees about his book, 'Cruelty or Humanity: Challenges, Opportunities and Responsibilities'. They look at how cruelty has long been a feature of states’ domestic and foreign policies, including how this will affect post-COVID societies. #humanrights #Cruelty #Humanity #Covid19 #politics #Trump #Fakenews

20.01.2022 BEING LONELY- Making sense of Australia’s epidemic of social and ecological disconnection, an essay by Richard Hil, Louise Holdsworth & Charlie Brennan August 2020 https://static1.squarespace.com//Resilient+Byron+and+Ngara

18.01.2022 Message from Ngara Institute’s Convenor Dr Richard Hil I’ve read some interesting commentary in the wake of Ngara’s shutdown. We created a space for serious discussion on the pressing issues of our time. My plea to anyone seeking to occupy this space, and I know of several potential initiatives, is to please avoid at all costs slipping into the dissection of Internet-inspired boutique issues and oddball theories, and instead focus on the big issues the climate emergency, ecological destruction, inequality, the erosion of democracy, the corrosive effects of corporate capital, militarism etc. If the ‘progressive left’ is to make headway in these turbulent times we then need to gather intersectionally around a shared agenda and not splinter into amorphous groupings. The latter will only ensure the consolidation of corporate power.

15.01.2022 THE STALINIST TRIAL OF JULIAN #ASSANGE. WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON? By John Pilger #Auspol #pressfreedom #journalism #journalismjobs #FreeJulianAssange #FreeAssange

13.01.2022 IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Stuart Rees’ CRUELTY or HUMANITY priority issue for post Covid societies. #CLIMATE #CO2 #Extinction #greennewdeal #humanity #democracy #authoritarianism #refugees #cruelty #politics #humanrights #war This dramatic new book by Professor Stuart Rees identifies the world wide, massive crises facing humanity. ... ‘The planet is burning, civil wars continue, authoritarianism and religious fundamentalism are on the rise, refugees’ rights are trashed, yet in democracies, dictatorships and theocracies, leaders are promoting violence and cruelty as a policy priority. The humanitarian lifebuoy for people, animals and the planet lies in ’A language for humanity’ which displays humane governance, explains the philosophy and practice of non-violence, and promotes human rights in every context and culture. ‘Cruelty or Humanity’ is highly original in linking political analysis with inspiring poetry. The great US jurist Richard Falk says ‘This is a roadmap for humanity’, Melissa Parke describes the book as a work of ‘inspiration and astonishing breadth’, Professor Joe Camilleri judges the book ‘a work of brilliance and compassion’ and the Inimitable Professor Noam Chomsky argues, here is ‘a wonderful guide for the challenges we face.’

07.01.2022 SPEAK LISTEN EMPOWER CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER by Professor Joseph A. Camilleri. #AUSPOL ‘In a nutshell, the aim of Conversation at the Crossroads is to try and raise the level of our national conversation on the many critical issues that will vitally affect Australia’s future. A few days ago, we had a very successful virtual launch with some 270 people in attendance, and many positive comments since. We are now working towards an exciting program of activities and event...s for the coming year. To fund this, we have launched the Crowdfunding campaign: SPEAK LISTEN EMPOWER CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER. https://startsomegood.com/projects/Speak-Listen-Empower. This page contains the background to our philosophy, our current activities and future plans. You can add your pledge here.’ Emeritus Professor Joseph A. Camilleri OAM La Trobe University, Melbourne Fellow, The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Managing Director, Alexandria Agenda Pty Ltd

07.01.2022 In honour of Richard Hil (no, Richard has not 'passed on'...just hung up his holster as founder and prime organiser for the Ngara Institute). Ngara brought the... local Byron/Mullumbimby community many great speakers on topics not often covered in the straight media. And analysis of topics that made the connectioin between the economic regime called neo-liberalism (aka 'globalisation' or 'economic rationalism') and the diastrous effects this economic philosophy has had on communities, tens of millions of people and the environment all over the world for the last 50 years. This is Part One of Richard's analysis of how we got stuck with it in a very carefully stage managed manouvre by conservative economists and philosophers who first met after the devastation of World War 2. And how, backed by billionaires, right wing think tanks which they set up, fostered and presented as the only way forward for humanity by right wing media moguls who pushed it. Richard tells us in Part 2 tomorrow what we can expect next from neo liberalism's newest spawn child - Disaster Capitalism - that Covid 19 is giving birth to right now. Forewarned is to be forearmed. Please share this important series with your thinking friends if you think Richard is incisive and instructive with laying out how we got to where we are today. And what awaits us just around the corner.

06.01.2022 Stuart Rees - Cruelty or Humanity Friday 23 October 2020 6:30 PM 7:30 PM ZOOM Online Ticket $5.00, Book (Cruelty or Humanity) $35.00 ... Tickets available until 23 October 2020 4:00 PM https://avidreader.com.au/e/stuart-rees-cruelty-or-humanity

02.01.2022 Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

01.01.2022 Cruelty or Humanity - Challenges, Opportunities and Responsibilities By Stuart Rees