2017 Big Red Bookfair – Calling for Book Donations NOW
Upcoming Panel: Revitalising the Union Movement: What needs to happen?
Left Q/A – Clive Hamilton – The Story of Protest in Australia
When: Thursday April 6th, 7pm
Where: Bella Union Bar, Upstairs Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St (entrance off Lygon st)
Prominent public intellectual Clive Hamilton will give a lecture about his new book ‘What do we want: The story of protest in Australia’. 
The book explores the colourful, enthralling and stirring forms of protest used in the big social movements that define modern Australia. He includes dedicated chapters on the peace movement, women’s liberation, Indigenous rights, gay rights and the environmental movement, and examines how these movements have confronted the ugliness in Australian society and caused epoch defining shifts in social attitudes. He describes protests with scores of thousands marching or sitting down in the streets of capital cities; colourful camps of a handful of protesters in Australia’s forests, singing at bulldozers and blocking paths; acts of bravery by individuals using technology to disrupt stock markets or coming out on television; as well as vigils, leafleting, street theatre, occupations and myriad other creative forms of protest. Hamilton shows that progress occurs because a few individuals begin to demand change.
Copies of the book will be available to purchase on the night.
Tickets: $7 general admin, $5 NIBS members. Pre-Booking here.
NIBS Red Review #2 – February 2017
Robert Jensen, The End of Patriarchy: Radical Feminism for Men, Melbourne, Spinifex Press, 2017
U.S radical journalist Robert Jensen’s latest book ‘The end of Patriarchy’ is a great little introductory primer outlining the case for radical feminism. At a short 165 pages, and written in easily accessible style with all technical terms clearly explained, it would make a great gift for somebody new to feminist ideas. The book is particularly relevant for men who want to be better allies in the feminist struggle and who often badly need to hear and heed Jensen’s message – indeed, I include myself, someone who has struggled with many of the issues discussed.
One of the great strengths of the book, I believe, is Jensen’s clear definition of key terms, such as the basic difference between ‘gender’ and ‘sex’ – that is, ‘sex,’ understood as the biologically determined category of male and female, in contrast to ‘gender’ which, Jensen suggests should be understood as the socially constructed ‘meanings attributed to sex difference’. I believe this is particularly important in the context of the often confusing way in which such terms are used within much contemporary feminist debate. Of course, Jensen is well aware that even this basic distinction is controversial with some arguing that sex itself is a social construction. Jensen, however, disagrees and, I think, makes a persuasive case for the distinction, as well as its importance within broader discussions.
The heart of the book is an attempt to persuade men of the continuing damage done to women by patriarchy – that is, ‘a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress and exploit women.’ And, perhaps more importantly, sensitively prod each of us to consider the ways in which we may participate in, and help to reproduce it. While Jensen effectively cites many of the alarming statistics, particularly the shocking prevalence of rape and sexual assault (which are likely to underrepresent the true scale of the problem), I often found some of the more anecdotal evidence just as persuasive – precisely because it rings so true. As somebody who has spent a lot of time around male football change rooms, for example, Jensen’s insights into the routinely aggressive way in which men often talk about women, resonated. Powerful too was his description of anti-violence seminars in which men are asked what actions they have taken in the past week to minimise their risk of being sexually assaulted – a question which, of course, is meet with uncomfortable silence or lame jokes. When women are asked the same question, hands are immediately and urgently raised!
Through such means Jensen is able to build his case that, notwithstanding the history of liberal feminist reforms, patriarchy stubbornly persists. Aside from direct violence against women, Jensen follows a long line of radical feminist thought in suggesting that patriarchy is powerfully manifested through pornography and the wider sex industry. Contrary to the common belief, for example, that porn is simply a ‘natural’ expression of male sexuality magnified by the internet, Jensen challenges us menfolk to view it as ‘one way in a patriarchal society that male dominance is eroticised, that male power is made sexually exciting.’
Of course, for many people engaged in contemporary feminist debate this book will be controversial, to put it mildly. Jensen makes strong critiques – though always in a respectful and sensitive way – of the trans-gender movement which, he argues is one manifestation of a prevalent but problematic form of liberal and post-modern feminism. Jensen claims to know from personal experience what it is like to feel out of step with prevailing gender norms, and thus to understand something of the experience of transgender people. But, he argues, the best way to respond is to embrace “radical feminism’s long-standing resistance to patriarchy” and its polarised gender norms. It has to be said, however, that on this issue Jensen is swimming against a very strong political tide. Still, one hopes his book is able to provoke some fruitful dialogue and debate about these difficult and divisive issues.
As somebody who is deeply concerned about the ecological crisis, Jensen makes several very interesting arguments for why overcoming patriarchy will be essential if humans are to live both in long term harmony with each other and the planet.
Though very challenging, this book is an important intervention. It left me with the sense that patriarchy is one of the most profoundly destructive and deeply ingrained forms of oppression today. And yet it also left me with a renewed sense of the importance of working to overcome it, both personally and politically. Highly recommended.
Review by Jonathan Rutherford
The End of Patriarchy: Radical Feminism for Men by Robert Jenson is available at NIBS for $25. Copies can be posted out (inc mail charge) on request – contact us here.
Left Q/A: What does Left & Right when cooperation is required to fix the planet
We are facing a fundamental change in the way we need to see the world as humans. Up till about 100 years ago the planet was relatively empty of humans and competitive systems of politics and economics were an effective, if at times wasteful, way to colonise all parts of the planet. The planet is now full and so the competition between, left and right, conservative and liberal, communist and capitalist and within all the global markets has run into limits. What are these limits and how do we organise to live within them?
Come hear Steb Fisher, Honorary Research Fellow and Sessional Lecturer in Environment and Sustainability, elaborate on these issues, followed by Q/A.
Admission: $5 Nibs members, $7 non-members
Left Q/A: Rethinking socialism for sustainability
Thursday 23rd February, 7pm.
Bella Union Bar, 54 Victoria St, Carlton (upstairs, Trades Hall).
Price: $7 (NIBS members), $10 (non-members). Pre-Book here.
Increasing numbers of people agree that capitalism can’t solve our environmental challenges. Many argue that this constitutes a powerful case for reconsider socialism. But, if so, how does socialism need to be rethought and re-envisioned in light of these same challenges? Come listen and interact with two leading thinkers in this space, Hans Baer and Terry Leahy, discuss their ideas.
Speakers: Hans Baer (Senior Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Social Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne) & Terry Leahy (lecturer in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Newcastle, Australia)
Book Launch – Geoff Mosley – Repaying my debt
Thursday 30th March at 7pm
Dr Geoff Mosley – RepayingMy Debt – A Conservationist Tale
Trades Hall, 54 Victoria Street, Carlton, VIC 3053
Repaying My Debt – A Conservationist’s Tale ($30.00)
To be launched by Geoff Goode…………..
In this extensive memoir Geoff Mosley tells of his early
formative years spent in the famed Peak District of the UK. The book gives a good account of what life was like during those turbulent years (1931–50) before moving on to his student days. Trained as a geographer Geoff tells of his early adventures abroad, his time spent completing National Service and then his embarking on further travel to Canada and New Zealand before eventually settling in Australia in 1960.
It was here in Australia that Geoff was to make his mark as a conservationist of both national and international significance. The Australian Conservation Foundation and Geoff’s involvement with it from its earliest days is part of this detailed story. There is also a personal story of a busy life with a growing family and the sacrifices made along the way. A tireless worker still, these pages also outline his message on how to save the Planet from the excesses of today.
RSVP
Date and time: Thursday 30th of March 2017, 7pm @ The International Bookshop, Melbourne
Please RSVP here nibscoordinator@gmail.com or phone 03 9662 3744
New NIBS Opening Hours
Hi all,
We have made some slight changes to our opening hours on Friday and Saturday this year – we are now open from 12-5pm on both days. Opening hours are now:
Tuesday – Thursday: 12pm – 7pm
Friday – Saturday: 12pm – 5pm
Closed: Sunday & Monday
Cya in the shop!
Left Q/A: The populist right and the anti-globalisation backlash: how should the left respond?
Date: Thursday 2nd Feb, 7pm (doors and bar open at 6:30pm)
Venue: Bella Union Bar, Level 1, Trades Hall , 54 Victoria Street (corner of Victoria & Lygon Streets), Carlton South (enter via Lygon Street)
Admission: $5 NIBS members, $7 non-members. Pre-book tickets here.
Brexit, the election of Trump, and the rising popularity of several other ‘populist’ right figures around the world, calls for much reflection and debate on the left. Come listen to and discuss these crucial issues with panelists from various left traditions.
Panelists include:
Arran Gare (Philosopher, Swinburne Uni, author The Philosophical Foundations of Ecological Civilization),
Sue Bolton (Councillor for Moreland, Socialist Alliance),
Graham Dunkley (Vic Uni, author of ‘One World Mania: A critical guide to free trade, financialisation and over-globalisation‘)
Louise O’Shea (Socialist Alternative)
The New International Bookshop 