Why is it that so many of us who would profess liberal humanitarian values would object if a homeless shelter was erected in our street?
That’s an uncomfortable question social provocateur and comedian Mandy Nolan will be asking the audience when she hosts a ‘conversation about community and connection’ in Mullumbimby later this month.
Mandy says that the idea for the event, The Courage to Care – Putting Hope into Action, came from the irony of trying to ‘find meaning that is relevant to us… in a world saturated with information.’
Helping her along will be three keynote speakers, each of them extraordinary in their own field
Alan Clements is an author, activist, spoken word artist and world dharma teacher. One of the first Westerners to become a Buddhist monk in Burma, he is now a maverick working for global sanity, while sharing his spiritually incorrect message worldwide.
Helena Norberg-Hodge is a pioneer of the new economy movement and recipient of both the Alternative Nobel prize and the Goi Peace Prize. Helena’s inspirational classic Ancient Futures has been translated into almost 40 languages. She is also the producer of the award winning documentary The Economics of Happiness.
Mark Swivel is a lawyer and writer who lives in Mullumbimby. He believes in building social capital and has long worked with credit unions, arts companies and other non-profits as advisor and director. He has written plays over the years and is currently performing his show How Deep is Your Love? a seriously funny show about a man who falls in love in Bangladesh – with a bank.
Mandy says the evening will examine ‘some of the challenges facing ordinary humans as we negotiate the reality of climate change impacts, unsustainable population growth, energy crisis, terrorism, depression, first world chronic illness, world poverty, exploitation, globalisation….’
She adds it will be ‘a robust, entertaining and highly informative conversation with three inspirational thinkers whose ideas and actions challenge the dominant paradigm, pushing comfortable people way out of their comfort zones!’
The Courage to Care – Putting Hope Into Action takes place at Club Mullum (Mullumbimby Ex Services) Saturday 28 November at 8pm.
Entry is $10 (further donations also welcome). Tickets at the door
All proceeds go to the Mullumbimby Neighborhood Centre’s More than a Meal Program. (The centre lost significant funding in recent federal budget cuts.)
