“Barbielicious” LEGOs. Does LEGO design only for boys? Or does it sell stereotypes? #dontdumbdown #lego #geekgirl

space-rocket-lego

Iconic toy brand LEGO recently launched a new line of toys meant just for girls — but two young women, Bailey Shoemaker-Richards and Stephanie Cole, think the products are unfairly “dumbed down” for girls.

The new line is called LadyFigs, and it’s made up of busty, pastel-colored figurines that come with interests like shopping, hair-dressing, and lounging at the beach. The uninspired toys even come with pre-assembled environments — so there is no assembly (or imagination) required.

Bailey and Stephanie say they’re frustrated that LEGO is pushing outdated gender roles on girls and cheating them of the opportunity to build and discover. So they took to the internet, blogging about what they call the new “Barbielicious” LEGOs and petitioning the toy company to lose the sexist LadyFigs line and go back to empowering both boys and girls with its original products. Click here to sign Bailey and Stephanie’s petition today.

LEGO hasn’t always thought its toys were only for boys. In the 1980s, the company was actually celebrated for a major advertising campaign that spotlighted a young girl and her LEGO creation with the tagline “What it is is beautiful.” But since then, LEGO reversed course and decided to market its products only to boys.

The company claims its research shows girls just don’t appreciate the original LEGO line. But Bailey and Stephanie argue that with LEGO’s renewed emphasis on boys — featuring only boys in its ads and stocking products in the boys’ aisles of toy stores — it’s no wonder young girls wouldn’t think LEGOs were meant for them.

Bailey and Stephanie’s fight to get LEGO to return to its gender-neutral toys is already making waves, with the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Time weighing in on the issue. But LEGO is stubbornly holding its ground and told Business Week that the LadyFigs launch is a “strategic” move to “reach the other 50 percent of the world’s children,” as if girls have never been part of LEGO’s focus.

Public pressure can prove LEGO wrong. If enough people sign Bailey and Stephanie’s petition, it could convince LEGO that the new LadyFigs are bad business and the company should return its focus to empowering boys AND girls with toys that inspire creativity and innovation.

Tell LEGO to stop selling out girls — sign Bailey and Stephanie’s petition today.

Editor’s note: Not everyone agrees and there have been some pretty funky designs built by gurls & boys using the new vibrant brick colours.. (One used them to build a spaceship.) I think it’s a personal choice if you want to condemn LEGO for being driven by what their marketing department tells them what girls actually want. LEGO has tried to counter-act the bad press (even though it’s damage control, rather than genuine insight): and it never hurts to make them think about delivering product to a mixed market with several different goals and interests.GG xox

Animal welfare & compassion in world farming activist Peter Stevenson guest lectures in Australia in August.

Victorian (Melbourne) date promoted here: but you can also view dates around Australia at the Voiceless website.

As a leading European expert on animal welfare, Peter describes Australia’s live export trade as “the world’s worst”. He explains that conditions in Indonesian abattoirs could not have improved in just one month and that the resumption of trade was met with shock in Europe.

In Australia for Voiceless’s Animal Law Lecture Series, Peter discusses European Union (EU) bans on some factory farming practices and how this cruelty continues in Australia. He suggests that better animal welfare can actually be more profitable for farmers and that changing consumer sentiments are driving more ethical products in Europe.

To listen to Peter’s full interview, please visit the website of ABC Radio National Breakfast.

Monday 15 August 2011
Time: 1.00pm – 2.00pm (doors open at 12.50pm)
Venue: Melbourne Law School
University of Melbourne
Ground Floor G08
185 Pelham St, Carlton, VIC 3053

Register Now! To view our flyer for this event, please download this pdf .

Details: This lecture, kindly supported by University of Melbourne Law School, will be chaired by Ruth Hatten, Legal Counsel of Voiceless and will feature guest speaker Peter Stevenson and Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan of the University of Melbourne.

AND

Monday 15 August 2011
Time: 6.00pm – 7.30pm (doors open at 5.45pm)
Venue: Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Level 36, Bourke Place
600 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

Register Now! To view our flyer for this event, please download this pdf .

Details: This lecture, kindly supported by Corrs Chambers Westgarth, will be chaired by Ruth Hatten, Legal Counsel of Voiceless and will feature guest speakers Peter Stevenson and Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan of the University of Melbourne.

CHERCHEZ LA FEMME: FEMINISM AND SLUTS #Melbourne #slutwalk #debate #geekgirl

cherchez-la-femme

On January 24th, 2011, a representative of the Toronto Police gave shocking insight into the Force’s view of sexual assault by stating: “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”.

Feminists in Toronto took to the streets, spontaneously calling the action SlutWalk, to protest against victim-blaming, slut-shaming and the rise of rape culture in their society. The movement triggered waves of SlutWalks all over North America, Europe and recently, Australia, with Melbourne’s SlutWalk taking place on 28 May.

The idea is to reclaim the word and dilute its power by throwing it back in the face of anyone who seeks to degrade, undermine and blame women by using it. But not everyone sees this as a positive expression of feminism. Join us as we talk through the debates surrounding SlutWalking, victim-blaming, slut-shaming and the culture of rape apology.

Karen Pickering will bring feminists Lisa Gye, Rhiana Whitson and Monica Dux onto the Cherchez la Femme stage to dazzle us all with their commentary, insight and wit.

Tuesday, June 7 · 7:00pm – 9:00pm
The Fox Hotel
351 Wellington St
Collingwood, Australia

Jumps: Victoria – the place to be ashamed #protest #killingfields #rspca #geekgirl

The 2011 season.
After previous commitments to end jumps racing in Victoria after the 2010 season, we are disappointed that Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) are going ahead with a a three year extension to hurdle racing and a one year extension to steeplechase racing.  This has been despite key performance indicators (KPI’s) not being met in the 2010 season.

Clearly the RVL CEO, Rob Hines has not been made accountable for his public comments of ‘Make no mistake, if the KPIs are not met, it will be the last season of jumps racing’, last year.  And with our new government using tax-payer dollars to provide an additional $2 million dollars to the ‘sport’, we are ashamed that our new leaders are focused on incentivising international competitors and boosting prize money.

Our new Minister for Racing, Denis Napthine is clearly a supporter of jumps racing – we need to illustrate to him, a key decision maker, that this cruel sport is not accepted by the community.

RVL is receiving pressure from pro-jumps racing groups and it is important we show that we will not be letting them of the hook either.  RVL must take further action to ensure horses no longer suffer for a sport that is not favoured by the community.We need you to the be the voice for jumps horses.  Especially with a new government and a new season upon us, we need your help writing to the respective decision makers.  Personal letters carry great weight and the more these stakeholders receive, the more they are likely to listen to our concerns.  In your own words, be an advocate for jumps racing horses by detailing the issues.

http://www.rspcavic.org/campaigns_news/campaigns_jumps_racing.htm

A demonstration will be held by the Coalition For The Protection of Jumps Racehorses in Bourke St Mall, Melbourne at midday on Friday 6 May, 2011

Facebook world Record are you in? #renewableeneregy #greenpeace #geekgirl

You have 24 hours to set a world record on Facebook and help get the social network to start powering their website from clean and unlimited energy sources like the sun and the wind, instead of the dirty coal-fired power they’re using right now. Are you in?

Back in February, Greenpeace gave Facebook a deadline of April 22nd to announce a plan to go coal free, but as of today we still don’t have a commitment from them to switch to renewable energy. So we figured it was time to do something that would really get their attention: set a Guinness world record on Facebook by generating 50,000 comments on one post in 24 hours.

The clock started at 1:00 AM EST on Wednesday. You’ve got 24 hours to comment and invite your friends to do the same. And you don’t have to personally have a Facebook account to participate. Just click on whichever link below works best for you and follow the instructions:

Yes, I’m on Facebook and want to set a world record.

http://us.greenpeace.org/site/R?i=uhroab64eKE6D8W5q9qRRg..

No, I’m NOT on Facebook but I want to set a world record.

http://us.greenpeace.org/site/R?i=_c7sUphMidIso2FtwntoNQ..

Mardi Grass Mind Candy #Nimbin #hippies #pot #maryjane #woohoo #geekgirl

Mardi Grass Mind Candy
Midday – 6pm Saturday 30 April
NIMBIN TOWN HALL

MCs: Miss Guidance, Neil Pike & JulianR
…
Join Pragmatic Visionaries & Solipsistic Psychonauts for an afternoon of Debate, Discussion & the Occasional Stoned Rave

Outrageous Truths & Believable Lies!

Mind candy? Afternoon distraction or hours of brain bending banter? You decide! This year the Nimbin Mardi Grass is playing host to a series of panel discussions to be held in the Town Hall from midday to 6pm on Saturday 30 April, focusing on the big issues: the legal, medical, spiritual, cultural & political aspects of plant life. For this reason we’ve assembled a cast of academics, intellectuals, professionals, politicians, public servants, activists, hippys, poets, career bullshit artists and just plain ol’ troublemakers to stir the pot (as it were).

Mardi Grass Mind Candy is excited to announce that Paul Cubitt, President of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition [LEAP] Australia will speak on our panel discussing policing choices. The panels will also feature international guest speaker, Dr Robert Melamede, CEO and President of Cannabis Science, Inc., as well as Australian drug law reform luminaries, Sandra Kanck, SA spokesperson for Families and Friends of Drug Law Reform, Prof Paul Wilson, Chair of Criminology, Bond University, and Dr Alex Wodak, President of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation. A full listing of our other magnificent speakers appear in the program below.

Whilst we recognise the ultimate futility of spending too much time trying to talk about what is essentially a non-verbal experience (getting high), there’s also quite a few pot-related topics that do need some discussion:

Midday – 1pm
THE GREEN GODDESS
Entheogenic cultures can increase benefits and reduce risks, offering a different approach to Western-style legal regulation
FACILITATOR: Dr Des Tramacchi
PANELISTS: Greg Kasarik [Community of Infinite Colour], Frank Kirk, Dr Bob Melamede [Cannabis Science, Inc.]

1 – 2pm
POLICE FORCE OR POLICE SERVICE?
What is good policing? What choices do police have?
FACILITATOR: Prof Paul Wilson, Bond University
PANELISTS: Steve Bolt, Paul Cubitt [Law Enforcement Against Prohibition], Dr John Jiggens, Sandra Kanck [Families and Friends of Drug Law Reform], Dr Alex Wodak [Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation]

2 – 3pm
BONG ON AUSSIE, BONG ON ~ DID CANNABIS CULTURE GET DUMBED DOWN?
Is anyone still getting high or are we just getting wasted?
FACILITATOR: JulianR
PANELISTS: David Hallett, Greg Kasarik [Community of Infinite Colour], Frank Kirk, Dr Bob Melamede [Cannabis Science, Inc.], Neil Pike [Pagan Love Cult], Alan Salt [HEMP Embassy]

3 – 4pm
LEGISLATING FOR LEGOLAND?
How do we react to drug policy?
FACILITATOR: Erik van Keulen
PANELISTS: Stephanie Clerc [Happy High Herbs], Mulga, Jake Potkonyak, [Students for Sensible Drug Policy], Torsten Wiedemann [Koda Phytorium]

5 – 6pm
HOW TO LEGALIZE DRUGS?
How can we proact in the drug policy discourse?
FACILITATOR: Erik van Keulen
PANELISTS: Tony Bower [Mullaways Medical Cannabis Pty Ltd], Dr Graham Irvine, Sandra Kanck [Families and Friends of Drug Law Reform], Dr Andrew Katelaris, Joe King, Dr Alex Wodak [Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation]See More

Saturday, April 30 · 12:00pm – 6:00pm
(be there or be straight!)

Ada Initiative launches to promote women in open technology and culture #opensource #adainitiative

Open source activists Valerie Aurora and Mary Gardiner announce the launch of the Ada Initiative (http://adainitiative.org/), a not-for-profit organization to promote women’s participation in open technology and culture.

Open technology and culture, including open source software, open content, and related communities, suffer from a dearth of women at all levels.  ”Open technology and culture are shaping our future and must reflect all people.  Involving more women in the creation of our
future is a critical step in building a healthy Internet world,” says Mitchell Baker, chair of the Mozilla Foundation.  The Ada Initiative will concentrate on focused, direct action programs, including recruitment and training for women, education for community members, and working with corporations and projects to improve their outreach to women.

The Ada Initiative’s first sponsor is Linux Australia (http://linux.org.au/), which promotes the development of free and open source software. Sponsorship funds will allow the Ada Initiative to retain expert staff to focus on major projects which are beyond the capacity of purely volunteer organizations.  The Ada Initiative is currently seeking additional partner organizations and sponsors.

About the Ada Initiative

The Ada Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing participation of women in open technology and culture, which includes open source software, Wikipedia and other open data, and open social media.  Co-founders Mary Gardiner and Valerie Aurora each have 10 years of experience in open source software, open social media, and women in computing activism.  The Ada Initiative is advised by a team of experts from open technology and culture fields including open source software, open government, Wikipedia, hacker culture, social media, remix and fan culture, and online activism.

Pets Haven Benefit Gig: #partyanimals #fundraiser #Melbourne #geekgirl

pets-haven

FEB 25th, 2011
PETS HAVEN BENEFIT GIG
NOISE BAR BRUNSWICK, MELBOURNE
DOORS OPEN 8PM
$10 ENTRY
18+

FEATURING :
CHINATOWN ANGELS
CYCLONE DIABLO
THE COMMITTAL
THE GREY FILE

ROCK N ROLL CAKE STALL AND RAFFLE DRAW ON THE NIGHT!!
RAFFLE TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE NIGHT $2.00 PER TICKET OR
3 FOR $5.00

DRAW #1
1st Prize Beserk Clothing pack
2nd Prize Delice Soap pack
3rd Prize Kittycat Black Rockabilly Jewelery

DRAW #2
1st Prize (male) metal merch pack (Soundworks touring)
1st Prize (female) metal merch pack (soundworks touring)
2nd Prize metal music pack (CDs, cassettes, merch etc)

DRAW #3
1st Prize Tattoo voucher courtesy of Down to Earth Tattoos
2nd Prize voucher for Mr. Nice Guy vegan cupcakes
3rd Prize DVD prize pack (over 25 titles)

For information on pets haven http://www.petshaven.com.au/

Digitise The Dawn: help the NLA digitise the first Australian newspaper to be run by women. #feminism #geekgirl

Digitise the Dawn

Donna Benjamin has started a campaign to raise funds to give the National Library of Australia so that they will Digitise the
first Australian newspaper to be run by women.

Louisa Lawson founded The Dawn: A Journal for Australian Women in 1888 and ran it for 17 years.  She was a pivotal figure in winning women the right to vote in Australia, and her publication played a key role in the struggle for women’s suffrage.

Donna discovered The Dawn is not yet online whilst doing research for her talk she gave at this year’s Haecksen miniconf. She contacted the library to find out if / when they might intend to add it to the Trove collection at http://trove.nla.gov.au

A brief email exchange with the Director of the digitisation project spurred her to try and raise the relatively small amount needed to see this happen.

After initially setting up a chipin, she has now set up a website with a direct paypal donate button – but will also accept direct deposits, cheques and money orders.

Even more than your money – Donna would appreciate all of us  helping to spread the word. Louisa Lawson is one of our founding feminists – and The Dawn trumpeted the charge.
–
Digitise The Dawn
Raising funds to digitise Louisa Lawson’s Journal for Australian Women
http://digitisethedawn.org
http://twitter.com/digitisethedawn

Out the Window: capture Los Angeles in two minutes #freewaves #riders #LA #geekgirl

OUT THE WINDOW
http://www.freewavesopencall.org/

What do you know about Los Angeles?   Want to share your knowledge on TV?

Submission deadline  March 1, 2011
Freewaves is seeking two-minute artists-activists-storytellers’  videos about places in Los Angeles (home, street, hood) to show to I million riders per day on all 2,200 Metro buses in L.A. County in June  and September-October, 2011. On Transit TV we will show animations,  documentaries, narratives and experimental videos about, by and in Los  Angeles.

Entry Form