Pick Your Battle: A Practical Guide to Social Activism

More about Pick Your Battle

A pragmatic look at making social activism more engaging

This guide distills the absolute basics when it comes to making positive changes through grassroots activism. My aim is to inspire you as much as possible whilst also giving you a practical framework to follow.

The guide includes:

• Suggestions for thinking up smart, responsible solutions to base your activism around
• Practical guides to raising awareness, forming groups, lobbying decision makers, staging protests, volunteering and working with the media
• Cautionary advice about working with statistics, research, and guidance on finding compelling evidence to back up your goals
• A “When Things Go Wrong” section details some barriers and common criticisms you’ll come across
• Interviews with a handful of activists, including Sarah Maple, and the Guerrilla Girls

FEMINIST OPEN FORUM and HANNA’S HOUSE

Are delighted to invite you to a film screening followed by a Q + A with the director

on

Thursday 7^th June at 7pm

in

The Central Hotel, Exchequer St, Dublin 2

AS IF I AM NOT THERE

An award-winning film by

Juanita Wilson

An award-winning movie by Irish director JUANITA WILSON, whose previous film, The Door, was nominated for an Oscar, As If I Am Not There is a story of a young woman from Sarajevo whose life is shattered the day a young soldier walks into her apartment and tells her to pack her things.

Rounded up with the other women from the village and imprisoned in a warehouse in a remote region of Bosnia, she quickly learns the rules of camp life. The day she is picked out to ‘entertain’ the soldiers, the real nightmare begins. Stripped of everything she ever had and facing the constant threat of death, she struggles against all the hatred she sees around her.  In a final act of courage or madness, she decides to make one last stand: to dare to be herself.  And this simple act saves her life. It’s when she realises that surviving means more than staying alive that she has to make a decision that will change her life forever.

As If I Am Not There is a modern war story that explores love, identity and the connections between us.

From the Reviews

One of the most powerful – and harrowing – films you will see this year, and one of the most thoughtfully realised by debut director Wilson (Irish Examiner)

An unflinching examination of one of Europe’s darkest hours (Paul Whitington – Irish Independent)

An astounding feature debut (Eithne Shortall – The Sunday Times)

No histrionics, no melodrama just the complex truth … Extraordinary (Sean Rocks, Arena, RTE RADIO 1)

This is probably one of the best, and certainly one of the most harrowing, films you’ll see this year (Taragh Loughrey-Grant, RTE.ie)

Interview with JUANITA WILSON

http://www.movies.ie/interviews/as_if_i_am_not_there__interview_with_the_director_juanita_wilson

Ailbhe Smyth and Therese Caherty
Co-convenors

Reblogged from Laurence Gilson Summer School:

School of Applied Social Studies

University College Cork

Applications are now invited for the newly reconfigured Masters in Social Policy programme. This is a full-time, one-year course which provides students with an opportunity to engage critically in social policy analysis of contemporary issues confronting Ireland, Europe and the wider world. This is particularly relevant in the context of the current economic crisis. As recently highlighted by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, it is time for Irish universities to offer an intellectual response to the current crisis:

‘The economic crisis is not abstract in its form, or its consequences, as expectations are shattered, exclusions from real citizenship created, through poverty, unemployment and all of the insecurity that flows from fear of losing one’s home, loss of loved ones to unanticipated emigration and a bewildering confusion as to self-worth… Intellectuals are challenged to a moral choice, to drift into, to be part of, a consensus that accepts a failed paradigm of life and economy, or to offer, or seek to recover, the possibility of alternative futures… Universities have a great challenge in the questions that are posed now, questions that are beyond ones of narrow utility’ (The Irish Times, 26/01/12).

The M.Soc.Sc. (Social Policy) equips students with the theoretical and practical skills to engage in critical social research and policy analysis. As part of this course, students can now specialize in a particular social policy area of their choice. The specialist pathways include:

• ·         Mental Health and Disability: This module aims to provide a critical understanding of key perspectives in the areas of mental health and disability, and their implications for policy, research and practice. Particular consideration will be given to innovative approaches grounded in the principles of human rights and citizenship.

• ·         Children and Young People: Children and Young People: This specialist pathway encourages critical reflection on policy in relation to children and young people and facilitates research relevant to student’s own interests. Topics covered include: children and young people in society; children’s rights, participation and democratic engagement; and theorising and researching childhood & youth.

• ·         Critical Social Policy: This pathway provides students with advanced knowledge in critical social policy theory and skills to engage in the analysis of key contemporary social policy issues.  As part of this course, students will theorize and critically examine key current social policy developments, and consider the implications of recent trends for social policy and welfare states.

• ·         Conflict, Transformation and Peace Building: This specialist pathway aims to explore the causes and dynamics of conflict in society and grass-roots and governmental approaches to conflict transformation and peace-building internationally. Conflict in Ireland and the peace process in the North will act as a focus.  However, the course will also explore peace-building interventions globally and the concepts of ‘dealing with the past’, ‘transitional justice’ and ‘nation-building’ in post-conflict societies.

Programme requirements

The students take taught modules to the value of 50 credits. Core modules include ‘Contemporary Social Policy Issues’ (15 credits) and ‘Social research: methodology and ethics’ (15 credits). Elective modules include ‘Mental health and disability’, ‘Children and young people’, ‘Critical social policy’ and  ‘Conflict transformation and peace building. In addition, students must submit a 25,000 word dissertation.

Structure of the year

Lectures will take place on Tuesday & Wednesdays 5.30-7.30 pm. The core modules ‘Contemporary Social Policy Issues’ and ‘Social Research: Methodology and Ethics’ take place on Term 1, while the specialist modules take place on Term 2.

You will love this programme, if

o    You are curious about how society is organized and how this impacts on people’s lives.

o    You are interested in current debates in Irish social policy and the politics that surround contemporary societal change.

o    You are passionate about social justice and committed to human rights.

o    You are interested in linking practice with theoretical and conceptual debates.

o    You are interested in engaging in primary research and becoming an autonomous researcher.

o    You want to take part in evaluating policy and having an impact on policy agendas.

o    You are interested in forms of learning that encourage participative and collaborative processes.

Entry Requirements

Applicants should normally have taken social policy as a subject at undergraduate level and have a degree at Second Class Honours level or equivalent. Applicants with other relevant degrees (e.g. Sociology, Social Work, Politics and Government, Social Care, Early Childhood Studies, Public Health) and/or relevant experience (e.g. community activism, youth work, trade union activism) will also be considered.

Contact Details

For further information on the course, please contact Ms. Eluska Fernandez by phoning +353 21 4903765 or by emailing e.fernandez@ucc.ie.

The New Step (a ballet –drama) is a powerful but witty story about the love of beauty in which body image is an extremely poignant subject.

The plays debunks widely held assumptions about of what is beauty, how beauty is defined by external factors, and the consequences of these factors, emotionally and psychologically in the wider sociological context. As for many in today’s world, beauty and the quest for perfectness can be led to an internal struggle.

In The New Step story there are subtle references to all of these themes, delivered in a congenial, comical atmosphere, and the aim is that the audience, regardless of shape or size will feel good about themselves at the end.

Donna Bloss leads the cast of Mary Mc Morrow, Farah Mokhtareizadeh, Saskia Walters and Finbarr O’Conner

Donna Bloss makes her directorial debut in this production. Donna originates from a non- traditional route into theatre; free from the restrictions which are can sometimes evident in terms of casting and adapting work like this for the stage, Donna has an eye for raw talent and is very much in vogue to the ethos of Seven Ages Theatre Company.

Having worked behind the scenes as a stage manager on a number of projects in Ireland and Europe, Donna had garnered valuable cross disciplinary experience in all aspects of the theatre.

A proud Cork person, Donna Bloss hails from Mayfield, and has to date shown huge potential with regards to her insight and understanding of the art of theatre craft, as well as a great understanding/ interpretation of the script towards this particular subject matter.

A pro-active civil rights activist, Donna has been to the forefront of the new wave feminist movement in Ireland, and has made representations in regards to “Gender Specification “in The Hague, as well as in Austria and Hungary.

Donna advocates that “Everyone deserves equality based on social standings in regards to gender or media stereotyping “

She is supported in this by the producer and founder of Seven Ages Theatre Company Patrick Byrne, a lifetime feminist ,  who further explains,

“The ethos of being fair and equitable is reflected in all aspects of this and past productions, for example, with the auditioning of potential cast members, it was facilitated in an open and neutral way, without any interference by way post-production cherry-picking.

…each cast member was eventually chosen on their attitude, and theatrical skills displayed, rather than having certain look or knowing somebody involved in the production, which is all too common and can be discriminative towards an array of undiscovered talent the Cork region.

The same criteria apply for those interested in the many aspects of production work or front of house. It’s a highly valuable process as it allows talent to take ownership as it also allows creativity to flourish”

The company therefore, is a very special and unique collaboration of visual artists, musicians, set designers, theatre practitioners.

Seven Ages are also committed to producing theatre shows that are engaging, entertaining and affordable to everyone, and we are aware of the economic situation that most people find themselves in,

We also pride ourselves of having ability in engaging people whom don’t come from a traditional theatre background; it involves a huge undertaking in regards to public relations.

This is seen as critically important as it helps dispels the myths and perception that only a certain class of people have ownership of the arts, we advocate that theatre belongs to everyone.

So all tickets are only 5 euro and will be distributed on a first come , first served basic at the venue

Seven Ages Theatre Company ( established 1997) is an Irish based company committed to providing good quality entertainment through drama and storytelling.

Seven Ages have always supported new and diverse projects that involve highlighting social issues in a way that is both educational and insightful. Past productions have been mainly children’s based projects but we have also, on occasion, given artistic support to one-off worthy issues and projects such as The New Step.

These include working with Special Needs children and producing Christmas shows for the travelling community, asylum seekers and disabled young people or groups from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

For interviews and further information please contact

Director Donna Bloss

0866619143

Reblogged from NewsFeed:

Theory may well be daunting and academics, and particularly feminist ones, have a big responsibility to address the presentation of information in user-friendly form. But the dauntingness of theory and what needs to be done about it are not what I want to address here. What I want to do is to point out the history and ongoing use of ‘theory’ as a very effective weapon of anti-equality.

‘Theory bashing’ is a very contemporary feminist phenomenon where any propensity to intellectual analysis is all too frequently derided as boringly anachronistic and as much a part of the ‘feminazi’ stereotype as hairy legs and armpits. It’s an attitude that sadly ignores the role that ‘theory’ plays in the processes of social policy decision-making that affect every level and every aspect of women’s lives, from the personal to the global. Many ‘Siren’ articles from Ailbhe Durkin’s ‘Are You Leading Me On?’ to Hannah McCarthy’s ‘Spotlight On Trinity’ highlighted continuing chronic imbalances in male and female representation in positions of influence from corporate boards to politics and academia. It’s not possible to influence decisions when you’re not there at all or when there are simply too few of you to count.

Social policy decision-making is a self-confirmingly circular process. Decisions are made based on upon empirical and theoretical research related to any given issue. But those who hold majority influence ( and the  research funding purse-strings ) tend to determine the formation of that knowledge base…..which then confirms their own views…..which then justifies the decisions that they make.

Psychological perspectives, to take just one example, have been consistently created and used in this way to the detriment of women and their struggles for equality. Following the course of the development of psychological ‘theories’ about women over the last hundred years or so illustrates this point as feminist advances have invariably been accompanied by dominant ‘expert’ analyses that serve to negate and obstruct progress.

It can surely be no coincidence that Freud’s disparaging views on the deficiencies of the female psyche should find prominence in perfect synchrony with women’s demands for rights and suffrage on both sides of the Irish sea. Or that theoretical perspectives on the desirability of daycare for infants should be lauded when war-labour was required of women in 1940s England but overturned by those of maternal deprivation a decade later when men wanted both their jobs and their household status back. And if divorce came late to Ireland its women would do well to look across the water to the use that the UK Family Law system has made of psychological ‘theories’ that have facilitated the placing of children with provenly abusive fathers whilst imprisoning and sanctioning mothers who have tried to protect them.

When dominance makes decisions its interests have to be both reflected AND justified…which is exactly where theory comes in and why feminists ignore or deride it at their own cost.

Knowledge is power.

Don’t knock it…you have to be in it to win it.

Gaia Charis    www.gaiacharis.com

I am sending this e-mail to you to ask for your support in recruiting participants for my study, which offers participation either through an informal face-to-face interview, filling out an online questionnaire or by taking part in a once of focus group. (Please see below and attached for more information). Participation is open to all male and female individuals aged between 18 to 29 years of age. As an member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, I believe that the results of this study may help promote a better understanding of how young people dealt with their altered family status when their parents come out.

I would really appreciate if you could include the information about my study on your website, forward this email to the people on your listserv, your colleagues, friends, family members and help me spread the word about my study.

If you require more information, please contact me at 105124239@umail.ucc.ie or on 087-2240400. Alternatively, you can contact my supervisor Ms. Lydia Sapouna, on 021-4903495 or at L.Sapouna@ucc.ie

Thank you for your time and support.

Research Invitation

My name is Rudie Pamer and I am a postgraduate student in the School of Applied Social Studies at University College Cork. I am looking for volunteers to participate in my masters thesis ‘The experiences of young adults when their heterosexual parents ‘Come Out’ as lesbian or gay.’

Are you aged between 18 and 29 years? Do you have at least one parent who has ‘come out’ as lesbian or gay from a heterosexual identity during your childhood?

If so, you can participate in this study in four ways:

Through an informal face-to-face interview with me lasting for about 40 minute. Through taking part in a once off focus group of a maximum of six people lasting approximately 90 minutes. Through filling out an online questionnaire. This should not take longer than 15 minutes. Please follow this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XCDSYM3 If you do not feel like taking part in this study at all, please, tell your friends, colleagues, partner, family members, neighbours etc. about it and pass on this information. Thank you.

Participation is open until the end of May 2012

The benefit of this study is that by exploring this topic and hearing directly from individuals and their experiences it will help us understand how children deal with changing family situations.

For further details or to volunteer, please contact

 Rudie Pamer on 087-2240400 or at 105124239@umail.ucc.ie

* If you volunteer, you can be assured that all of your information will be completely confidential. This study is supervised by Ms. Lydia Sapouna, who can be contacted on 021-4903495 or at L.Sapouna@ucc.ie

About the research project