The Permaculture Association (Britain) is a small education and research charity that supports individuals and groups to learn more about the theory and practice of permaculture. It is currently advertising two vacancies for a Project Coordinator and Finance Clerk at its Leeds office. Closing date: 27 June 2008. More information can be downloaded from its website
— Stuart Hodkinson
Hicham Yezza, a popular, respected and valued former PhD student and current employee of the University of Nottingham faces deportation to Algeria on Sunday 1st June. This follows his unjust arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 on Wednesday 14th May alongside Rizwaan Sabir and their release without charge six days later.
It has subsequently become clear that these arrests, which the police had claimed related to so-called “radical materials” involved an Al Qaeda manual downloaded by Sabir as part of his research into political Islam and emailed to Yezza for printing because Sabir couldn’t afford to get it printed himself.
There has been a vocal response from lecturers and students. A petition is being circulated, letters have been sent by academics across the world and a demo is being planned for Wednesday. 28th May. This has clearly been deeply embarrassing to a government currently advocating an expansion of anti-terror powers.
On his release Hicham was re-arrested under immigration legislation and, due to confusion over his visa documentation, charged with offences relating to his immigration status. He sought legal advice and representation over these matters whilst in custody. On Friday 23rd May, he was suddenly served with a deportation notice and moved to an immigration detention centre. The deportation is being urgently appealed.
Hicham has been resident in the U.K. for 13 years, during which time he has studied for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Nottingham. He is an active member of debating societies, a prominent member of an arts and theatre group, and has written for, and edited, Ceasefire, the Nottingham Student Peace Movement magazine for the last five years.
He is well known and popular on campus amongst the university community and has established himself as a voracious reader and an authority on literature and music. An application for British citizenship was underway, and he had been planning to make his yearly trip to Wales for the Hay Festival when he was suddenly arrested.
The authorities are clearly trying to circumvent the criminal justice system and force Hicham out of the country. Normally they would have to wait for criminal proceedings to finish, but here they have managed to convince the prosecution to drop the charges in an attempt to remove him a quick, covert manner. The desire for justice is clearly not the driving force behind this, as Hicham was happy to stand trial and prove his innocence.
Hicham had a large social network and many of his friends are mobilising to prevent his deportation. Matthew Butcher, 20, a student at the University of Nottingham and member of the 2008-9 Students Union Executive, said, “This is an abhorrent abuse of due process, pursued by a government currently seeking to expand anti-terror powers. Following the debacle of the initial ‘terror’ arrests they now want to brush the whole affair under the carpet by deporting Hicham.”
Supporters have been able to talk with Hicham and he said, “The Home Office operates with a Gestapo mentality. They have no respect for human dignity and human life. They treat foreign nationals as disposable goods – the recklessness and the cavalier approach they have belongs to a totalitarian state. I thank everyone for their support – it’s been extremely heartening and humbling. I’m grateful to everyone who has come to my aid and stood with me in solidarity, from students to Members of Parliament. I think this really reflects the spirit of the generous, inclusive Britain we know – and not the faceless, brutal, draconian tactics of the Home Office.”
From a group of Nottingham residents, concerned student and academics at the University of Nottingham.
http://freehichamyezza.wordpress.com/
Email: staffandstudents@googlemail.com
Phone: 07948590262 / 07505863957
— Stuart Hodkinson
A new book has been published bringing together the diverse stories about many of the UK’s social centres, along with thoughts on their effectiveness, the problems they encounter, and the political ideas they encapsulate. What’s this place? has been written by activists involved in social centres with support from the Autonomous Geographies project.
— Stuart Hodkinson
Undercurrents have released the latest episode of their video series ‘Living in the Future’ about Lammas and many other ecovillage type projects around the world. Living in the Future highlights how people have come together to build their own homes, grow their own food, and create lively and sustainable communities.
— Stuart Hodkinson
Rob Hopkins has recently released his new book “The Transition Handbook”. For an excellent review of this book by Robert Morgan and a video clip from Caroline Lucas MEP about the transition town movement and the new book, visit: transitionculture.org
— Stuart Hodkinson
Lammas have resubmitted their proposal to build to build an ecovillage in Wales which combines the traditional smallholding model with the latest innovations in environmental design, green technology and permaculture.
The proposal is for a new settlement of 9 eco-smallholdings, a campsite and a community hub building. It will be sited on 76 acres of mixed pasture and woodland next to the village of Glandwr, Pembrokeshire. Construction is planned to start in the autumn of 2008. They are asking for letters of support and looking for new members. See http://www.lammas.org.uk/ecovillage/proposal.htm
— Stuart Hodkinson
Transatlantic Slave Trade Seminars – Free Resources, Training And Networking Beyond The Bicentenary
2007 provided a basis for creating dialogue and sustained public education about the Transatlantic Slave Trade and its legacies, Anti-Slavery International with its Recovered Histories project, seeks to continue this work beyond 2007.
Anti-Slavery International is inviting participants to a series of free regional seminars in Spring 2008 to bring together a wide range of groups and organisations who are working on these issues and interested in making links, creating sustainable networks and sharing appropriate practice.
Seminar: 10 am – 5pm 17 May 2008 Leeds Metropolitan University
Civic Quarter Campus
Woodhouse Lane Entrance
(Opposite Dry Dock)
Enter through door marked “A”
Go to http://www.antislavery.org/archive/press/270308seminars.htm to register
or phone 02075018937
Also see http://www.recoveredhistories.org for more information about the Recovered Histories project
Reawakening the Narratives of Enslavement, Resistance and the Fight for Freedom
— Stuart Hodkinson
Personal tragedy inspired psychiatric nurse, Carol Grayson, to become active in Haemophilia Action and start to research the blood products industry. Her MA thesis was a major force in getting an independent Public Inquiry on the issue of contaminated blood in the NHS. She will talk about how blood has become commercialised and globalised as a profitable commodity, the dire implications for patients’ welfare, and the campaigns fighting for justice.
Monday 28 April 2008, 5.15pm
Venue: Geography Lecture Theatre, School of Geography, East Building, University Road
For more information, contact: s.n.hodkinson@leeds.ac.uk, 0113-343-1820
Directions: http://www.geog.leeds.ac.uk/info/school/contact.html
— Stuart Hodkinson
TRANSITION CITY LEEDS – Free One Day Workshop
Centenary House
North Street, Leeds. LS2 8AY
Saturday 19th April
10am until 5pm
A free one day workshop exploring:
*How will Leeds be affected by climate change and the end of cheap oil? *How can we build a positive, low carbon future for Leeds?
Oil is running out and Climate Change is affecting our local environment. With the increase of flooding in West Yorkshire and disrupted growing seasons, the evidence of Global Warming is becoming more visible. The Transition Town network is a grassroots action model for making the change to a low carbon future. Transition City Leeds aims to strengthen communities so they can reduce their carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependency.
What the day will involve:
*An introduction to the transition town idea *Open space workshops on climate change and peak oil, and how Leeds can make this transition *Documentaries on the topic *Networking opportunities.
Lunch and refreshments provided.
Child friendly event, but no crèche facilities
No need to book, come for all or part of the day
Email: transitioncityleeds@hotmail.co.uk
Website: http://transition-city-leeds.wikispaces.com/
— Stuart Hodkinson
Žižek: THE LECTURE!
http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/icstalks/
Slavoj Žižek – “The (Mis)uses of Violence”
Tuesday 18 March
5:30pm – 8:00pm
Conference Auditorium 1 (behind sports centre)
University of Leeds
Leeds LS2 9JT
Slavoj Žižek is an (in)famous cultural theorist, philosopher, psychoanalytical tour de force. Referred to as the “Elvis of Cultural Theory” and “The Marx Brother” he charismatically and provocatively examines popular culture using the unlikely pairing of German idealist philosophy and French psychoanalysis.
Author of numerous books, and the star of his own movie, Žižek! (Dir. Astra Taylor 2005) and the Channel 4 TV Series The Pervert’s Guide To Cinema, Žižek combines great intellect with a passionate delivery style and regularly draws huge audiences at prestigious venues across the world.
On Tuesday March 18th, he is talking at the University of Leeds about his latest book Violence (Profile Books 2008)
Admission to the event is free – all staff, students and alumni are welcome!
Schedule
5:30pm – Žižek on Screen, A compilation of Zizek’s TV appearances.
6:00 pm – Welcome, Prof. Margaret Atack
University of Leeds Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research.
6:05 pm – “Why Žižek? Why Now?”, Dr. Paul A. Taylor
ICS, University of Leeds & Editor of the International Journal of Žižek Studies.
6:15pm – “The (Mis)uses of Violence”, Prof. Slavoj Žižek
7:15pm – Question and Answer session
Links
Details of his Channel 4 TV Series The Pervert’s Guide To Cinema
http://www.thepervertsguide.com/
Žižek! (the movie)
http://www.zeitgeistfilms.com/film.php?directoryname=zizek
The International Journal of Žižek Studies
http://zizekstudies.org/
Map of the Conference Auditorium – it is building no. 33 at the bottom of the map.
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/timetable/assets/map/index.htm
— Stuart Hodkinson
The Permaculture Association (Britain) is a small education and research charity that supports individuals and groups to learn more about the theory and practice of permaculture. It is currently advertising two vacancies for a Project Coordinator and Finance Clerk at its Leeds office. Closing date: 27 June 2008. More information can be downloaded from its website
A former PhD student and current employee Nottingham University faces deportation to Algeria on 1 June following his unjust arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000 after he printed an Al Qaeda manual as a favour for a research student. Read on and see the Free Hicham Yezza campaign.
A new book has been published bringing together the diverse stories about many of the UK’s social centres, along with thoughts on their effectiveness, the problems they encounter, and the political ideas they encapsulate. What’s this place? has been written by activists involved in social centres with support from the Autonomous Geographies project.
Undercurrents have released the latest episode of their video series ‘Living in the Future’ about Lammas and many other ecovillage type projects around the world. Living in the Future highlights how people have come together to build their own homes, grow their own food, and create lively and sustainable communities.
Rob Hopkins has recently released his new book “The Transition Handbook”. For an excellent review of this book by Robert Morgan and a video clip from Caroline Lucas MEP about the transition town movement and the new book, visit: transitionculture.org
Lammas have resubmitted their proposal to build an mutually-owned ecovillage in Wales which combines the traditional smallholding model with the latest innovations in environmental design, green technology and permaculture. Construction is planned to start in the autumn of 2008 and they are asking for support. See http://www.lammas.org.uk/ecovillage/proposal.htm
On Sat 17 May at Leeds Metropolitan University (10-5pm), Anti-Slavery International is holding an all day workshop in Leeds on the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The event will offer free resources, training and networking beyond the Bicentenary. Click the title for more info…
On Mon 28 April (5.15pm in School of Geography, Leeds), Carol Grayson will give a seminar on the ‘Global Blood Trade and its Victims’. Grayson’s MA thesis was a major force in getting an independent Public Inquiry on the issue of contaminated blood in the NHS. She will talk about how blood has become a lucrative globalised commodity, the dire implications for patients’ welfare, and the campaigns fighting for justice.
On Saturday 19th April (10am until 5pm), the Transition City network will be holding a free one day workshop exploring how Leeds well be affected by climate change and the end of cheap oil, and how we can build a positive, low carbon future for Leeds. Lunch and refreshments provided, child friendly event, but no crèche facilities. No need to book, come for all or part of the day
http://transition-city-leeds.wikispaces.com/
The (in)famous cultural theorist, Slavoj Žižek, is coming to Leeds on Tuesday 18 March (5.30-8pm, University of Leeds). Referred to as the “Elvis of Cultural Theory” and “The Marx Brother” he charismatically and provocatively examines popular culture using the unlikely pairing of German idealist philosophy and French psychoanalysis. On Tuesday March 18th, he is talking at the University of Leeds about his latest book Violence. Admission to the event is free. Click the heading for more details.