South Australia’s government is running an ‘Open State’ festival with all the usual buzzwords about innovation, participation, engagement blah blah blah. I’ve been to three of its events, all of which were good for thinking with – not about ‘innovation’ and ‘democracy’ (the events were deeply problematic) but about how the neoliberal state tries to... Continue Reading →
Extracting value from the Festival of Ideas #AdlFoI
Show me. Don’t tell me. Show me that sharing and challenging are important enough to keep a clear promise to a 2/3 to 1/3 split between sage-on-the-stage and audience interaction. Alternatively, if you’ve no intention or capability to enforce a 30 minute/15 minute split between talking and Q and A, then don’t promise it. It’s... Continue Reading →
Seven blog posts about one event? Really? #tediousselfpromotion
The only way I know what I think is to read what I wrote. Sort of. And then that writing serves as an aide-memoire (and, yes, a calling card on occasion). Here's a list of the ones I did after today's Festival of Ideas event. Athenian Democracy? A few funny things will need to happen... Continue Reading →
Ideas about the festival of ideas #AdlFoI
[Seventh of a series of blog posts about sessions at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas on Saturday 22nd October] So, had a great time at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas today. Met some very interesting people (some famous-ish, some as obscure as me). And while not ever disgruntled, I was also not completely gruntled. I... Continue Reading →
‘Roads to ruin, pathways to prosperity’ for South Australia #AdlFoI
[Sixth of a series of blog posts about sessions at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas on Saturday 22nd October] Finally today, John Spoehr looked at South Australia’s future ‘Roads to ruin, pathways to prosperity’. Again, he bigged up Labor’s response to the GFC, compared the Abbott government’s 2014 budget as a throwback to Fightback (!),... Continue Reading →
Climbing from the Abyss? Not sure on that… #AdlFoI
[Fifth of a series of blog posts about sessions at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas on Saturday 22nd October] Barry Jones really is a living legend. The list of his achievements and honours is very very long. But… But this. When Jones gave the Don Dunstan Oration today (Dunstan was a game-changing Labor leader of... Continue Reading →
Solar Citizens launch at Adelaide Festival of Ideas #AdlFoI
[Fourth of a series of blog posts about sessions at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas on Saturday 22nd October] Next up was the launch of Solar Citizens. It covered the ‘solar rooftop revolution’ (1.5million Australian houses with solar panels, from a basically standing start 8 years ago), the start of solar citizens and its plans for... Continue Reading →
I’ve seen the Future baby, and it’s… social media #AdlFoI
[Third of a series of blog posts about sessions at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas on Saturday 22nd October] Dr Fiona Kerr (of Adelaide University; all the best people went there) gave a barnstorming tour through the brain (her day job), and talked about the impacts on it of prolonged exposure to new technologies. She made... Continue Reading →
Sustainable jobs in sustainable communities #AdlFoI
[Second of a series of blog posts about sessions at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas on Saturday 22nd October] “Sustainable” is one of those motherhood-and-applie pie words (fnords,if you will) that don’t offer clarity. However John Spoehr, Heather Smith (a friend) and Sean Williams overcame this as far as could be expected in a short session.... Continue Reading →
Athenian Democracy? A few funny things will need to happen on the way to the forums… #AdlFoI
[First of a series of blog posts about sessions at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas on Saturday 22nd October] Nicholas Gruen started out with a stark example of the limits/dangers of ‘Vox Pop Democracy’. In the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis the Obama Administration asked for people’s suggestions/priorities. And the answers were not ‘health/education’... Continue Reading →
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