| site search by freefind |
September 2011
Afghanistan, 10 years on—why western troops must leave
Afghan writer, feminist and anti-war activist, Malalai Joya will give a talk at the Armidale Town Hall in September about issues affecting her country.
Malalai Joya (born 25 April, 1978) is an activist, writer and a former politician from Afghanistan. She spent her teenage years in refugee camps in Pakistan and later worked as a teacher/activist smuggling books to clandestine schools beneath her burqa.
She served as a Parliamentarian in the National Assembly of Afghanistan from 2005 until early 2007, when she was dismissed for publicly denouncing the presence of what she considered to be warlords and war criminals in the Afghan parliament. The youngest person to have been elected to the Afghan parliament, she is an unwavering defender of the rights of ordinary Afghans, and Afghan women in particular. She is a critic of the ongoing occupation of her country by Western forces and the fundamentalist forces, including the Northern Alliance and the Taliban. She has also been outspoken in her criticism of the Hamid Karzai regime for its alleged corruption and lack of democracy.
Her suspension in May 2007 generated protest internationally and appeals for her reinstatement have been signed by high profile writers, intellectuals such as Noam Chomsky, who said, “Malalai Joya leaves us with hope that the tormented people of Afghanistan can take their own fate into their own hands if they are released from the grip of foreign powers.”
In 2010, Time magazine placed Malalai Joya on their annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Foreign Policy Magazine listed Malalai Joya in its annual list of the Top 100 Global Thinkers. On March 8, 2011, The Guardian listed her among "Top 100 women: activists and campaigners".
Her first visit to Australia was in 2009, when she was promoting her autobiographical book Raising My Voice. Her visit this year coincides with the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the US and the Coalition invasion of Afghanistan.
This year, Malalai is a guest speaker at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival and is visiting some regional areas to give public talks and raise funds.
DATE: Monday 5 September, starting 7:00 pm.
VENUE: Armidale Town Hall, Rusden Street
COST: Entry to her public talk will be by donation—$5, $10 or $20—which can be paid at the door.
All proceeds will go to Malalai.
Her visit to Armidale is being hosted by New England Writers’ Centre, Women in Black, Socialist Alliance New England, Peace Studies UNE and Uniting Church Armidale.
Inquiries
All workshops must be booked and paid for in advance. For information about the program or to book for events:
Phone (02) 6772 7210 or send an email message to newc44@dodo.com.au
NEWC membership entitles you to do the workshop at the reduced member rate.
You can become a member when you book a workshop. Our annual membership fees are:
| Adults: | $30.00 including GST |
| Students (tertiary): | $20.00 including GST |
| Students (under 18): | $15.00 including GST |
Venue
Unless otherwise stated, all events will be held at the New England Writers' Centre (NEWC), in the Neighbourhood Centre, 129 Rusden Street, Armidale (between the Council Building and the Town Hall).
Access
During opening hours and workshops, access is through the Cinders Lane car park (first door on left, in the corridor).
Parking
There is a one-hour parking restriction in the Cinders Lane carpark.
The New England Writers' Centre is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.
 |
|
||
|
|
|
 |