Presenting the inaugural Ralph Summy Annual Lecture & Australian Activist of the Year Award on behalf of the Ngara Institute, Julian Burnside will be at the Civic Hall in Mullumbimby on 1 July.
The lecture is named after one of Australia’s leading peace scholars, Professor Ralph Summy.
‘Ralph has had a long and distinguished career as a peace activist and scholar, having established the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and heading the Peace Institute in Hawaii,’ stated the Ngara Institutes press release.
Julian Burnside has pursued a range of social justice issues throughout his career and has spoken out on abusive politics, climate change, racism and human rights violations as well as advocating for refugees and asylum seekers.
In the inaugural Ngara Institute Annual Lecture, Julian will convey why activism is necessary and what it can achieve.
‘His is a story of courage, passion and principle, and the desire to create a better world,’ continues the release.
According to their website the Ngara Institute ‘seeks to enliven national debate through critical, independent and outspoken voices.’
Based in the Nothern Rivers they are a not-for-profit and community based group that are not aligned with any political party. They also coordinate the new politics in the pub on a monthly basis.
‘Ngara is a term used by the Darug people meaning to listen, hear and think. The Darug clans stretched from Broken Bay to the Blue Mountains and down to the Southern Highlands and the Illawarra.’
The event will also be awarding the first Australian Activist of the Year award.
The two recipients are the leading Indigenous opponents of the Adani Mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin.
‘They are Adrian Burragubba and Murrawah Johnson,’ continued the release.
‘Outstanding and passionate activists seeking to protect their traditional lands against the incursions of a powerful corporation backed by state and federal governments. Like Julian, they are acting because they believe a wrong has been done to people and the environment. They have drawn a line. They deserve our respect.’
More information and to book tickets to the events click here.
