hosted by RIIA and the SSF


As we are confronted with the stark realities of a world defined by profit and war it is hope we turn to for inspirational visions of an alternate world.

In March, the Sydney Social Forum, with the Research Initiative on International Activism hosted a series of forums centred around the themes Human Rights, the Environment and Peace.

HUMAN RIGHTS - MONDAY, MARCH 10

Nurdin Abdul Rahman,twice imprisoned Human Rights advocate and academic from Aceh, Indonesia, with the Aceh-based organisation, ‘Rehabilitation Action for Torture Victims’.

Olga Havnen, of Western Arrernte descent, from Tennant Creek, has a longstanding involvement in international human rights and Indigenous rights issues, including the National Indigenous Working Group, the Central Land Council, the Fred Hollows Foundation.

Carmen Lawrence, ALP MP, federal Member for Fremantle, former Shadow Minister and prominent critic of the Government’s policy of mandatory detention for refugees.




ENVIRONMENT - THURSDAY, MARCH 20

Jacqui Katona, member of the Djok Aboriginal clan, former executive officer of the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation which campaigned against the proposed Jabiluka uranium mine.

Anuradha Mittal, with ‘Food First’, campaigning for global food security. Originally from India, Anuradha is heavily involved in the global movement against Genetically-Engineered food.

Helena Norberg-Hodge, from Sweden, heads the International Society for Ecology and Culture, is co-founder of the International Forum on Globalisation and the Global Eco-village Network.




PEACE - MONDAY, MARCH 24

William Blum, anti-war journalist from the USA with Znet; author of Rogue State, a "mini-encyclopaedia" of US intervention around the world, Killing Hope and West-Bloc Dissident.

Karen Flick, a community activist who has campaigned against Black Deaths in Custody, and is currently engaged in establishing training and development programs with Aboriginal communities.

Maree O’Halloran, President of the NSW Teachers Federation, with a teaching career spanning city and country schools; in 2002 the Federation unanimously opposed the War on Iraq, calling for an end to sanctions on non-military assistance.

Tom Uren, former federal ALP Member for Reid; Minister in the Whitlam and Hawke Governments; an active member of the left wing of the ALP, opposed the Vietnam War, conscription and nuclear testing, and today, against the war on Iraq.

Click here for more detailed speakers' biographies.