Have fun at APEC!
I’m off to Perth and Margaret River to drink wine and sit on beaches for 10 days.
(In other words we’re on hold)
Archive for August, 2007
“Squeezed: People & Free Trade in the Asia-Pacific” Film Launch (updated)
In one of my other lives I work for and sit on the board of Global Trade Watch.
We have produced a film about the impacts of “free” trade in the Asia Pacific region which is well worth a watch. So come on down to the launch – it will be a blast!
Details are as follows:
This September, The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum comes to Sydney, bring together the leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific nations to discuss a possible Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP).
To help Australians understand what APEC is, and how its policies really affect people in the Asia-Pacific, Global Trade Watch has produced a new short film:
Squeezed: The Cost of Free Trade in the Asia-Pacific
Filmed in Thailand and The Philippines in July 2007, Squeezed tells the story of how globalisation and free trade agreements are changing the lives of millions of people living in the Asia-Pacific region.
Featuring interviews with farmers, workers and slum-dwellers, the film travels across the landscapes of Asia, from the lush rice paddies of Thailand to squatter settlements perched on a rubbish dump in urban Manila.
A short film of contrasts and contradictions, Squeezed is an emotional document of the impact of globalisation on people in the Asia-Pacific, and their responses to it.
Watch a teaser for Squeezed here: http://www.thescarab.org/ScarabStudio/APECteaser.wmv
** You’re invited to the launch of Squeezed:
1) In Melbourne:
Thursday August 30, 7pm
Kaleide Theatre (RMIT),
360 Swanston St, Melbourne.
$15/$12 Entry
2) In Sydney:Monday September 3, 7pm
Mori Gallery
168 Day St, Sydney CBD
$15/$12 EntryTo reserve tickets to the Melbourne or Sydney screenings, please ring (03) 9015 7667 or email info@tradewatch.org.au
: : : : : www.squeezedthefilm.com : : : : :
Joy of joys
Thanks to the good men and women down at Fitzroy Cycles, I’m well on my way to being the proud owner of this (I put a deposit down):
It’s by far the most I’ve ever spent on a bike and I’ll have proper clip-in shoes and all. Not to mention a very smart bib to make me look like a wrestler.
It also means I’ll single speed my current bike to make it the cadence building commuter I’ve been after for so long.
It’s just all too much excitement. Who wants to go for a ride.
Inland Empire
Saw the latest contribution from David Lynch at the film festival last night.
Five word review: “What the fuck just happened?”
It was over three hours long and lacked any determinable semblance of a story line. Still it certainly had a strong effect on me. I don’t know if I liked it or not yet and I think I’m glad I saw it but over all, this is the sort of feeling one is left with.
I’ve been a big Lynch fan for ever so I really want to like it. I’m just not sure though.
Moving on
Got a call from the real estate agent last night, I have to be out of my house of the last two and a half years by December.
I hate moving, I hate the real estate market, i hate that my rent is going to go up considerably, I hate that I have to negotiate the whole house mate thing again, I hate that I can’t afford to live on my own, I hate the uncertainty, I hate that all this has to happen around the end of the year.
Still, who knows what will come out of it and I’m looking forward to not living on a major truck arterial.
Less than 3 weeks to my holiday.
Portable Film Festival
I’m currently sharing an office with the Portable Film Festival guys two days a week. So I thought I’d give them a bit of a plug and show you a couple of clips which they are currently featuring. It’s pretty special:
Stop the amendments to the Northern Territory Land Rights Act!
The Northern Territory Land Rights Act amendments will be introduced to the House of Representatives today.
Central to this amendment is an abolition of the permit system which forms the basis of land rights for indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory. The 1976 Northern Territory Land Rights Act was a landmark piece of legislation for Aboriginal Australia and has created a livelihood for many communities in the Northern Territory. Please send a message to the government telling them that you do not want to turn back the clock to a pre-1976 Australia when indigenous communities had no land rights.
Please ACT TODAY. We’ve had a great response to our appeal. However if you haven’t already, please go to http://democracyandjustice.org
This will send an email to Prime Minister John Howard, Minister for Indigenous Affairs Mal Brough, Leader of the Opposition Kevin Rudd, Opposition Spokes Person on Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin, Leader of the Australia Greens Bob Brown, Leader of the Democrats Lyn Allison, and Leader of Family First Steve Fielding that this is not acceptable.
100 Friends
Yes, my Facebook goal has been reached.
I hate facebook, and all I’ve ever wanted from it was 100 friends. I now have this.
I would like to add that I’m quite distressed by the number of conversations I’ve overheard of late about facebook. I refuse to be sucked into these conversations.
Still, if you want to be friends, look me up. I’m yet to deny a friendship request.
Holidays
Well, I’m off on my first holiday for a year at the end of the month.
I’ve booked a flight to Perth and will be meeting a couple of friends in a camper van there. So I’ve got 10 days and am quite mobile. I’m thinking of heading down to Margaret river etc but really want some suggestions. If you had just landed in Perth, have 10 days, a camper van and a sense adventure, what would you do?
I’m so excited – hopefully there’ll actually be some sun over there.
Also, it will be the first time I’ve flown JetStar and the first time I’ve been to Avalon (fucken Avalon! Still, it saves me about $100).
