Malak Amidan is a Saharawi human rights activist and trade unionist and will share her experiences of life in her homeland where the Saharawi people have lived under Moroccan occupation for 37 years.
This will be the first time a Saharawi living in the occupied zones of Western Sahara visits Australia.

Melbourne 30 April – 6 May Canberra 7 – 10 May

Sydney 11 – 18 May

Malak will call for Australia to support:

-  The right of the Saharawi people to determine their own future through a free and fair UN referendum

-  The inclusion of human rights monitoring in the mandate of the UN mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO)

To interview Malak or for more information contact:
Ron Guy 0428 173 970 (Melb) and Lesley Osborne 0439 363 010 (Syd) or visit www.awsa.org.au 

For Australian Customers, please click the following link to order this product.
AfricanozShop.com

Melbourne Museum
Until 7 October 2012
Did you come and see Tutankhamun last year? Perhaps you popped into Titanic? Or maybe you visited A Day in Pompeii?

Well, today we’re opening our next big exhibition, The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia, which features over 170 extraordinary archaeological treasures from the world renowned British Museum.

In developing this exhibition the team rediscovered the intriguing story of Mesopotamia – its extraordinary role in the development of human civilisation, its discoveries and inventions that shaped our modern world.

Did you know that the watch you are wearing, the written word you typed earlier, the laws you abide by and even the superheroes you aspire to, all had beginnings in ancient Mesopotamia?

We’re proud to be finally sharing Mesopotamia’s forgotten wonders with you and we hope you enjoy the exhibition!

Brett Dunlop
Manager, Melbourne Museum

P.S. You can buy tickets online or find out more at museumvictoria.com.au/mesopotamia

An African Election

The Human Rights Arts & Film Festival

AN AFRICAN ELECTION

MELBOURNE
Saturday, 26 May 2012, 3:00 pm
ACMI Cinemas,Federation Square, Russell Ct  Melbourne VIC 3000 (03) 8663 2200

Australian Premiere

Jarreth Merz / USA/Ghana/Switzerland / 2010 / Doc. / 89 min / English and Akan with English subtitles

Sundance Film Festival 2011
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam 2010
Best Documentary, Pan African Film & Arts Festival

‘In the uncertain aftermath of the ‘Arab spring’, there is no more heartening message’ -Los Angeles Times

In 2008, Ghana held its fifth presidential election since democracy was reintroduced in 1992.  With sparks of violence and accusations of corruption tainting past elections, the eyes of the world turned to see if Ghana could sustain its experiment in democracy.  Given unprecedented access from campaign to ballot box, Merz invites audiences into this frenzied political race.  An African Election unwinds with the terse pacing of a political thriller, revealing the human frailty, spirit and faith that fuel the political machine.

http://anafricanelection.com/

THE HUMAN RIGHTS ARTS & FILM FESTIVAL

LAUNCHES FULL PROGRAM

 FESTIVAL OPENS WITH PAUL SIMON DOCO UNDER THE AFRICAN SKIES

15 – 27 May 2012

MELBOURNE, 16 April 2012 – The fifth Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (HRAFF) will open on Tuesday 15 May with the highly anticipated documentary Under African Skies by award winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger.

Twenty-five years have passed since Paul Simon broke a UN cultural ban and entered South Africa to make the album Graceland. The album would go on to be a global phenomenon, salvaging his career while also polarising audiences. To mark this anniversary, Simon returns to South Africa to reunite with the Graceland musicians, and clear the air with his greatest critic, Artists Against Apartheid founder Dali Tambo. Under African Skies pays homage to this time.

Tuesday, 15 May 2012, 6:30 pm
The Forum Theatre

Opening Night After Party at ACMI, The Cube following screening. Includes drinks, food and music by JABULA!

Joe Berlinger / USA / 2012 / Doc. / 102 min
Sundance Film Festival, 2012
SXSW, 2012

Thanks to Intrepid Travel everyone that purchases a ticket to Opening Night will go in to the running for a $5000 Asian holiday. Winner to be announced on the night.

Twenty-five years have passed since Paul Simon broke a UN cultural ban and entered South Africa to make the album Graceland. The album would go on to be a global phenomenon, salvaging his career while also polarising audiences.  To mark this anniversary, Simon returns to South Africa to reunite with the Graceland musicians, and clear the air with his greatest critic, Artists Against Apartheid founder Dali Tambo. Under African Skies pays homage to Simon’s genius whilst exposing his fragile naiveté. Raising pertinent questions about the role of art in politics and the complex power relations between those who are free and those who are not, the film attempts to answer the enduring question, was Graceland a blessing or a curse for the anti-apartheid movement?  From the director of Metallica: Some Kind of Monster and with an all star-cast, HRAFF is proud to present Under African Skies.

HRAFF Director Matthew Benetti said, “Fusing creative expression with human rights content through our program of films, art, music and forums, we hope to inform, fascinate and initiate debate. This year’s film program offers some incredible stories, including a president fighting for his nation’s existence and a legendary musician’s personal confrontation with his questionable past.”

ADELAIDE
Tuesday, 29 May 2012, 7:00 pm
Mercury Cinema, 13 Morphett Street  Adelaide SA 5000, (08)8410 0979

ALICE SPRINGS
Friday, 8 June 2012, 7:00 pm
Pop Cinema – Olive Pink Botanical Gardens

For more visit hraff.org