Mobilise now, City of Sydney talks on local political activism in the digital age

by StreetCorner
08/08/2011

The next City of Sydney, 'City Talk' focuses on how we can all help mobilise communities and citizens. Organisations like Access Now, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and Get Up! have all mobilised thousands of people behind causes. Alternative community media initiatives like Streetcorner, EveryMap are also empowering citizens to set the news agenda themselves and to get coverage and action on local issues that other organisations are unable or unwilling to cover. Most 'community action' groups have to date focused on campaign tools to drive action on a particular issue but recent media scandals have put the spotlight on the the close relationships between media companies and politicians and have reinforced the need for citizen powered news services. News networks like Streetcorner and similar sites around the world often break stories that mainstream media has no interest in covering, from local environment damage, local impacts of development proposals and reporting on local council activities.

Speakers at the City Talk will include Brett Solomon, the co-founder and Executive Director of Access Now, who also worked with Oxfam Australia, Avaaz.org and was Getup’s first executive director. Solomon founded the International Youth Parliament at Oxfam which tackles issues from poverty to AIDS. Access Now, aims to ensure access to internet for all peoples as a neccessary tools for protection of human rights across the globe.

Other speakers include; Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore, Anna Rose, Co-founder and Chair of the Youth Climate Change Coalition and Darryl Nichols the Executive Director of Garage Sale Trail, Simon Sheikh the National Director of Get Up, Amanda Tattersall the Coalition Director of the Sydney Alliance and Jon Dee the Founder and Managing Director of Do Something.

The City Talk will be held at the City Recital Hall on Tuesday 16 August. City Talks are free but bookings are essential so call or go online to get your tickets.

CityTalk, Mobilising communities and citizens: Dynamic action in a world of social change: City Recital Hall, Tuesday 16 August 6.30pm – 9pm, seating from 6pm.

Bookings: City’s Angel Place Box Office on 02 8256 2222 or www.cityrecitalhall.com

Free valet bike parking: Ash Street (behind City Recital Hall) from 6:00pm – 9:00pm

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