Forwarded from Christine Howes: Dear Everyone, We are trying to let as many people as possible know about this year's Heart Politics Conference. Could you please pass this message on to anyone you think might be interested or who you think would benefit from attending. Thanks, Garth Luke ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HEART POLITICS CONFERENCE The 11th Northern NSW Gathering - 'Courage to lift our dreams into the future' 24th - 28th September '99 An invitation ... We invite you to share with us this year's Heart Politics Conference. The conference is a gathering of people interested in social change - in sharing their ideas, their hopes and their fears. Heart Politics recognises the power of working simultaneously at the personal and political levels to achieve change. It encourages dialogue between people with different perspectives and cultural experiences, maintaining the dignity of opponents and respect for the humanity of all people. It recognises that people working for social change are human too and need to pay attention to their inner lives and strengths and weaknesses - to listen to their hearts. Heart Politics conferences have grown out of this recognition of our common humanity and its many strengths and weaknesses. The conference reflects this diversity and uses a range of strategies to help people explore issues not just with their heads but also with their bodies and hearts. The conference is about taking time out to reflect and to feel and it's about gaining inspiration, ideas, enjoyment and support from others. Whether you are an established change agent, or still seeking to find a way to contribute to community development, social justice or environmental healing, we welcome your participation. This conference will endeavour to help those striving for social change to find the courage, inspiration and support to work confidently with issues and challenges, and to invigorate the passion for a cause with which they feel truly aligned. Opportunities ... The four day Heart Politics conference offers participants the chance to: * meet people with similar passions * take time out to review your year * have fun and make new friends * build support back at home * learn new skills * have a rest * gain inspiration and hope from the work of others * be able to express your hopes and your sorrows for the world * sing and dance a lot * enjoy the beach, the bush, the lake * clarify your unique role and next steps as an agent of change. Conference style ... The gathering is a blend of conference, workshop and celebration. It will be a highly participatory event. There will be about 80 participants from a wide age range and about half will not have attended a Heart Politics gathering before. In addition there will probably be about 10 children. While many of the participants will be experienced activists covering a range of issues there will also be a number of people new to social change work who are looking for a way to contribute. This will be the Heart Politics community for the four days of the conference. Our speakers ... Sister Patricia Pak Poy is the national coordinator of the international campaign to ban landmines. This group was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in 1997 and is one of the most effective international campaigns in recent times. She is also a member of the Adelaide congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, a former school principal and is closely associated with Mercy and Jesuit Refugee services. In her spare time Patricia enjoys meditation and enjoys watching her garden grow. Gavan McFadzean is presently a national campaigner for the Wilderness Society. He has worked for environment and social justice organisations in Australia, North America and The Philippines. Before moving to the Wilderness Society Gavan co-ordinated the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre working on the Cape York, Daintree and Great Barrier Reef campaigns. Descriptions of Gavan almost always include the word 'inspiring'. Comments from past participants: 'A great mixture of practical skills and inspiring stories of the human spirit' ' The gathering is a holiday in a sense but it also helps me focus on what I want to do in the next year. It gives me new skills and energy to achieve my goals.' 'Heart Politics makes visible that there are people who care, and are doing things in all sorts of ways - there is a wonderful sense that we are all contributing.' The venue ... We have changed the venue this year to Camp Wollumbin at Cabarita Beach. Surrounded by national park and backed by a beautiful lake, Wollumbin is just a short hop to the beach. It is situated on the coast road just north of Cabarita township 32 km south of the Queensland border and 20 minutes from Coolangatta airport. Accommodation at Wollumbin is camping only however we have reserved a few shared motel rooms nearby for participants which can be booked when you register. No caravans or campervans are allowed on site but there is also a caravan park close by. The venue is flat, but the main hall is accessed by a flight of stairs so please give us a call to discuss any mobility problems. Childcare is available on site for 4 -12 year olds. Costs & Registration ... Adults: $210 - $390 Young People: see scholarship section Children 4-18: $80 Under 4's: $40 Prices include delicious vegetarian meals. Sliding scales: in recognition that there are wide differences in people's ability to pay, we ask you to choose an amount most appropriate taking into account your financial situation. The higher amount applies to those on a full-time wage ($30,000 and above) and the lower end to those who are unwaged. By paying the amount at the higher end of the scale you are contributing to the scholarship fund and helping others to come. Every attempt has been made to keep costs to a minimum and almost all of the organising is done voluntarily. Children: Our intention in providing childcare for a limited number of 4-12 year olds is to assist parents who could not otherwise attend. However you must book early. Childcare for under 4's will be worked out co-operatively between parents and others willing to contribute. While it is generally not feasible for young children to attend sessions, we welcome interested teenagers to join in. Enquiries ... Katrina Shields 02 6688 6116 or Garth Luke 02 6688 6198 ~~~~~~~ ------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/
