Sydney Ideas

In recent years, we have seen an explosion in the number of community organisations that orient themselves around the production and distribution of food. These food justice groups often focus on improving the availability and quality of food in urban environments, on reducing food waste, and on building local economies. How, though, does the “justice” of food justice manifest itself in practice? How do groups articulate, value and embody social and environmental justice concerns? And how is it that we can best achieve these goals? This event draws together academic and community perspectives on these questions.

Panel

David Schlosberg is Professor of Environmental Politics in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney,

Luke Craven is a PhD student at the University of Sydney and the Sydney Environment Institute.

Sharelle Polack, Community Gardens Team Leader at Cultivating Community

A Sydney Ideas and Sydney Environment Institute event in the Food@Sydney series http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2015/food@sydney_series_2015.shtml

In recent years, we have seen an explosion in the number of community organisations that orient themselves around the production and distribution of food. These food justice groups often focus on improving the availability and quality of food in urban environments, on reducing food waste, and on building local economies. How, though, does the “justice” of food justice manifest itself in practice? How do groups articulate, value and embody social and environmental justice concerns? And how is it that we can best achieve these goals? This event draws together academic and community perspectives on these questions.

Panel

David Schlosberg is Professor of Environmental Politics in the Department of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney,

Luke Craven is a PhD student at the University of Sydney and the Sydney Environment Institute.

Sharelle Polack, Community Gardens Team Leader at Cultivating Community

A Sydney Ideas and Sydney Environment Institute event in the Food@Sydney series http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2015/food@sydney_series_2015.shtml

Stranded Down Under: Are fossil fuels bankrupting our nation both financially and ecologically?

Numerous industrialised nations are taking to reduce their emissions and shift the world's energy system from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Yet Australia is set to invest over AUD 100 billion in new coal mining developments over the next 15 years. Who is footing the bill for these projects in Australia? All Australians are, through compulsory superannuation schemes that invest in the expansion of the fossil fuel industry.

Ben Caldecott, founder of Oxford University’s Stranded Assets Programme and author of the recent report Stranded Down Under? Environment related factors changing China’s demand for coal and what this means for Australian coal assets, sheds light on the ramifications of Australia’s fossil fuel addiction and how individuals can divest in funding this industry.

Introduction by Dr John Hewson, chair of The Asset Owners Disclosure Project, an independent not-for-profit global organisation whose objective is to protect members' retirement savings from the risks posed by climate change by improving the level of disclosure and industry best practice.

A Sydney Ideas event on 27 March 2014 http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2014/ben_caldecott.shtml

Stranded Down Under: Are fossil fuels bankrupting our nation both financially and ecologically?

Numerous industrialised nations are taking to reduce their emissions and shift the world's energy system from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Yet Australia is set to invest over AUD 100 billion in new coal mining developments over the next 15 years. Who is footing the bill for these projects in Australia? All Australians are, through compulsory superannuation schemes that invest in the expansion of the fossil fuel industry.

Ben Caldecott, founder of Oxford University’s Stranded Assets Programme and author of the recent report Stranded Down Under? Environment related factors changing China’s demand for coal and what this means for Australian coal assets, sheds light on the ramifications of Australia’s fossil fuel addiction and how individuals can divest in funding this industry.

Introduction by Dr John Hewson, chair of The Asset Owners Disclosure Project, an independent not-for-profit global organisation whose objective is to protect members' retirement savings from the risks posed by climate change by improving the level of disclosure and industry best practice.

A Sydney Ideas event on 27 March 2014 http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2014/ben_caldecott.shtml

Tom Szaky dropped out of Princeton University to found TerraCycle, a company that started by selling an organic fertiliser for plants made from worm poo in reused soft drink bottles. Today his company collects and recycles over 100 different kinds of products that were considered 'non-recyclable' garbage, in over 24 different countries. TerraCycle has been called the “Google of Garbage” by the New York Times and the “the coolest little start-up in America” by Inc. Magazine. Tom's first book was 'Revolution in a Bottle: How TerraCycle Is Redefining Green Business'. His latest book is 'Outsmart Waste: The Modern Idea of Garbage and How to Think Our Way Out'. For his Sydney Ideas presentation he detailed the research in the book that reveals how by mimicking nature and focusing on the value inherent in our by-products, we can transform the waste we can’t avoid creating from useless trash to a useful resource.

A Sydney Ideas event on 3 March, 2014

http://sydney.edu.au//sydney_ideas/lectures/2014/tom_szaky.shtml

Tom Szaky dropped out of Princeton University to found TerraCycle, a company that started by selling an organic fertiliser for plants made from worm poo in reused soft drink bottles. Today his company collects and recycles over 100 different kinds of products that were considered 'non-recyclable' garbage, in over 24 different countries. TerraCycle has been called the “Google of Garbage” by the New York Times and the “the coolest little start-up in America” by Inc. Magazine. Tom's first book was 'Revolution in a Bottle: How TerraCycle Is Redefining Green Business'. His latest book is 'Outsmart Waste: The Modern Idea of Garbage and How to Think Our Way Out'. For his Sydney Ideas presentation he detailed the research in the book that reveals how by mimicking nature and focusing on the value inherent in our by-products, we can transform the waste we can’t avoid creating from useless trash to a useful resource.

A Sydney Ideas event on 3 March, 2014

http://sydney.edu.au//sydney_ideas/lectures/2014/tom_szaky.shtml

Gabriela Ramos, OECD Chief of Staff and Sherpa to the G20

In the lead up to the OECD G20 Leaders Summit to be held in Brisbane in November in 2014 we we were delighted to welcome Gabriela Ramos, OECD Chief of Staff and Sherpa to the G20, to the University of Sydney. In her exclusive presentation for Sydney Ideas she underlined the economic dimension and imperative (beyond the moral and fairness issue) of reducing the gender gap and enhancing the role of women in economies and societies at large.

Introduction by Marian Baird Professor of Employment Relations and Director of the Women and Work Research Group in the University of Sydney Business School.

A Sydney Ideas event on 2 October, 2014

http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2014/gabriela_ramos.shtml

Gabriela Ramos, OECD Chief of Staff and Sherpa to the G20

In the lead up to the OECD G20 Leaders Summit to be held in Brisbane in November in 2014 we we were delighted to welcome Gabriela Ramos, OECD Chief of Staff and Sherpa to the G20, to the University of Sydney. In her exclusive presentation for Sydney Ideas she underlined the economic dimension and imperative (beyond the moral and fairness issue) of reducing the gender gap and enhancing the role of women in economies and societies at large.

Introduction by Marian Baird Professor of Employment Relations and Director of the Women and Work Research Group in the University of Sydney Business School.

A Sydney Ideas event on 2 October, 2014

http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2014/gabriela_ramos.shtml

An Arts Matters Forum - Why Feminism Matters

Compared with 30 years ago women are now better represented in politics but there is still more to be done. Hillary Clinton and Julia Gillard are examples of women gaining important leadership positions, but not the top job. So how far have women come in terms of political leadership and shaping the public policy agenda? Do men and women do politics differently? Do women have different interests to men and how should these be incorporated into political decision-making? How might contemporary feminism contribute to improving women's position in politics.

This forum included leading international political scientists along with Australian academics and researchers in a robust discussion on the state of contemporary feminism.

Forum Participants:

Rebecca Huntley, writer and social researcher

Karen Beckwith, Flora Stone Mather Professor in the Department of Political Science at Case Western Reserve University

Mary Fainsod Katzenstein, Stephen and Evalyn Milman Professor of American Studies and Professor of Government at Cornell University

Fiona Macka, Director of the Graduate School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Sue Goodwin, Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney

MC: Lisa Forrest

A Sydney Ideas forum on 22 March, 2010 http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2010/why_feminism_matters_forum.shtml

An Arts Matters Forum - Why Feminism Matters

Compared with 30 years ago women are now better represented in politics but there is still more to be done. Hillary Clinton and Julia Gillard are examples of women gaining important leadership positions, but not the top job. So how far have women come in terms of political leadership and shaping the public policy agenda? Do men and women do politics differently? Do women have different interests to men and how should these be incorporated into political decision-making? How might contemporary feminism contribute to improving women's position in politics.

This forum included leading international political scientists along with Australian academics and researchers in a robust discussion on the state of contemporary feminism.

Forum Participants:

Rebecca Huntley, writer and social researcher

Karen Beckwith, Flora Stone Mather Professor in the Department of Political Science at Case Western Reserve University

Mary Fainsod Katzenstein, Stephen and Evalyn Milman Professor of American Studies and Professor of Government at Cornell University

Fiona Macka, Director of the Graduate School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Sue Goodwin, Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney

MC: Lisa Forrest

A Sydney Ideas forum on 22 March, 2010 http://sydney.edu.au/sydney_ideas/lectures/2010/why_feminism_matters_forum.shtml