Tuesday 23 June 2009

Richard Hoggart conference in Leeds

Richard Hoggart: Culture & Critique Conference

An international conference hosted by:
The School of Cultural Studies and The Institute of Northern StudiesLeeds Metropolitan University10-11 July 2009
Keynote speakers include Peter Bailey, Ros Brunt, Sue Owen, Jim McGuighan, Mac Daly, Jeremy Seabrook, John Corner, Sean Matthews, among others.
Conference Papers will be discussed on aspects of the work or influence of Richard Hoggart on the following themes:
. Cultural Studies: Then & Now. Uses of Literature. Cultural & Social History . Adult Education . Media, Culture & Society. Cultural Policy. Gender, Sexuality & Race
Papers will be organized into panel sessions of 90 minutes, each comprising three 20-minute papers and time for discussion.

Monday 22 June 2009

Leeds Salon on Energy Innovation

ENERG!SE: A Future For Energy Innovation
James Woudhuysen will present and debate Energise: A Future for Energy Innovation by James Woudhuysen & Joe Kaplinsky at Leeds Metropolitan University, Room C409D on the fourth floor of the Civic Quarter Building, Woodhouse Lane, LS1 3HE - entrance opposite the Dry Dock pub.
Monday 6 July 2009, 6:30pm (for a 6:45pm start) - 8.30 pm.

About the Authors
James Woudhuyen is visiting Professor of Forecasting and Innovation at De Montfort University, Leicester, and a contributor to Computing magazine. He read physics at the University of Sussex, and at the Science Policy Research Unit, Sussex, did postgraduate research in the political economy of nuclear energy. His website is www.woudhuysen.com
Joe Kaplinsky is pursuing postgraduate research in chemical biology at Imperial College London. He read theoretical physics at the University of Manchester, staying there to do research in low temperature physics.

About the book
Energise looks at why the future of energy has become so fraught and puts the case for an alternative. At a time when the debate is dominated by calls for us all to cut back and reduce our carbon footprint, Energise makes the case for an expansion of supply. Instead of trying to conserve our way out of our problems, it argues, we need the innovation and investment capable of building up a new energy infrastructure.The book looks at the prospects for different technologies - nuclear, fossil fuels and renewables, and explains why each has become so contentious. The book builds on a solid but accessible technical analysis. But in each case it looks beyond the technology to take apart the political myths that are holding back energy today, ranging from the association of oil and war, to nuclear risks, to the idea that we are all greedy consumers addicted to energy consumption.Energise puts the energy problems, with special attention to climate change, in perspective. It argues that, rather than be overwhelmed by the difficulties, we can and should generate more energy as the key to building a better world.

Relevant readings
Joe Kaplinsky talking about nuclear fission and fusion: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2698144/chill_out_desk_nuclear_fusion_fission/

James Woudhuysen on nuclear and tidal energy: http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/6611/ and http://www.nce.co.uk/the-severn-barrage-calling-greens-bluff/1967356.article

This DIUS website outlines the UK government’s investment strategy in energy: http://www.dius.gov.uk/partner_organisations/office_for_science/science_in_government/key_issues/energy.aspx

Energy is one of the highlighted areas of UK government research spending, an overview is here: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/ResearchHighlights/Energy/default.htm

The US government’s department of energy: http://www.energy.gov/

Please note, a voluntary contribution will be asked for on the night towards costs. To let us know you’re coming please reply to this e-mail. Visit our website and join our mailing list at: www.leedssalon.org.uk/contact-leeds-salon.html

Leeds Salon is a new public debating forum which aims to promote lively and open debate around contemporary political, social, cultural and scientific issues.

Paul Thomas

Revitalising parliamentary democracy

Public meeting: Lidgett Park Methodist Church Hall. North Park Avenue, Roundhay, 7pm-9pm Friday 3rd July 2009 –all welcome
Come and take part in a debate on how to revitalise our democracy with the Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton, and the Leeds North East parliamentary candidates for the Conservatives, Matthew Lobley, the Candidate for the Liberal Democrats, Aqila Choudhry and representatives from the Green Party and the Alliance for Green Socialism.

CAN BRITISH DEMOCRACY BE RENEWED?
HOW CAN WE CHANGE THE WAY WE DO POLITICS?
HOW SHOULD PARLIAMENT BE REFORMED?
Amongst the questions to be debated are:
How do we make politics more open and transparent?
Electoral reform: Does it matter how we elect our representatives?
What do we think our representatives role should be?
Does it matter most of our representatives are male, middle class and white?
Should citizens have the right to call for the reselection of their MPs?
Should there be fixed term parliaments?
How do we hold the government to account? Do MPs need more power to scrutinise government legislation?
Should we restrict the role of party whips and allow more cross party voting in parliament?
Do we need a written constitution or a bill of rights?
How can we empower citizens?
Should local government have more powers?

For further information please contact
Sarah Perrigo
01132 686426

Thursday 18 June 2009

Join the debate: politics after the crash

Texts now online to the Soundings seminar Saturday 20 June

Lynsey Hanley, Mike Kenny, Paul Mason, Doreen Massey, Andrew Pearmain, Ben Rogaly, Becky Taylor, Ejos Ubiribo and Leanne Woods are discussing the role of place and belonging in a post-crash politics.


Read Leanne Wood on civic nationalism in Wales



Read Andy Pearmain on Labour's lost voters and the BNP



Read Ejos Ubiribo on young black men and street life



Read Doreen Massey on London as a global city




Politics after the Crash
10.30am-4.30pm, Saturday 20 June 2009
120 Belsize Lane,
London NW3
(nearest tube stations Belsize Park and Finchley Road)



Registration: £25 (includes an excellent lunch).



Reserve a place online

Or: Phone 020 8533 2506 or email sally@lwbooks.co.uk

Tuesday 16 June 2009

The Ford McGuire Society (Leeds's own excellent local history group) is presenting a meeting on 'Trade Unions and Chartism' by Malcolm Chase from the University of Leeds (author of Chartism: A New History).

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 23rd at 7.30PM in Bridget's Bar in the Victoria Hotel on Great George Street behind Leeds Town Hall.

Should be good.

Wednesday 3 June 2009

Economic Justice for All: What needs to be done to move to a greener, fairer, future?

Special Cafe Economique on Thursday 11th June 2009 from 6.30 pm

Thursday 11th June 2009, from 6.30 pm, at the Methodist Centre, Town Street, Chapel Allerton.

Please note this is a different venue and a different weekday, in relation to our usual meetings.

A number of the speakers at previous cafes are coming to discuss with us ways forward to a fairer, more eco-sustainable future.
The question for the evening will be: Economic Justice for All: What needs to be done to move to a greener, fairer, future?

We think a useful framework for this discussion is provided by Professor Tim Jackson, of the University of Surrey, in his report for the UK Sustainable Development Commission -
'Prosperity without Growth? The Transition to a Sustainable Economy'
.
There is a useful summary on pages 6 - 13. This includes 'Twelve Steps To a Sustainable Economy' which are listed below.

Because this is a special event, two years since we started the Cafe Economique, we plan to have a simple buffet supper from 6 30 pm. You, and any other interested people you know, are welcome to join us for this. As usual there is no charge for this event, but if you are planning to come, please let us know, to help with the catering arrangements..

Attached is a list of all our previous cafes with the names of the speakers and the topics.
We also attach a schedule for the evening, and a flier that you may wish to use to advertise the meeting to people you think may by interested.

We look forward to hearing that you will be able to join us on 11th June 2009.

Lorna Arblaster, David Adshead and Claire Bastin
Economic Justice for All

Red Pepper Magazine in Leeds

We would like to invite you to our next event. It features a gig from the

'Red Pepper Magazine'. We will be discussing with editor Hilary Wainwright about RPs Plans and Political Prospects.

In the second part of the meeting we will discuss together with Wainwright and other on a Post-election Debate titled: What kind of progressive future?

See you there!

6.00 pm – 8.00 pm, Monday, 22nd June

Old Broadcasting House,
Leeds Metropolitan University, Woodhouse Lane