That’s Racist!
On Thursday 2o November at 7:00PM in Hallmark Hotel Derby, Midland Road, DE1 2SQ Derby, the East Midlands Salon hosted a discussion entitled ‘What’s Racist?’
Our speaker will be Adrian Hart, film maker and author of The Myth of Racist Kids, who will introduce the themes of his controversial new book That’s Racist! Responding to his introduction will be Ruth Mieschbuehler (University of Derby) and Vanessa Pupavac (University of Nottingham).
In October 2014, the East Midlands Salon hosted a discussion entitled ‘What is a university for?’
Universities are distinct institutions that engage in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding without fear or favour. Historically universities have been seen as custodians and conduits for the best of intellectual thinking within and on behalf of society. This consensus view of what universities are for has been challenged by government and funding bodies concerned with the ‘impact’ of research and its benefits to wider society and the economy.
At the same time we have seen a complementary emphasis on the student as ‘consumer’ and a growing concern with ‘student experience’ and ‘student satisfaction’. Are we seeing the end of the university as a public good and its replacement by commercial forces or a shift in focus for the greater benefit of everyone in society?
In September 2014, the East Midlands Salon hosted a discussion entitled ‘Do we need a victims’ law?’
Barbara Hewson
In recent years victims have played an increasing role in the justice system, for example the rise of victim statements, and all major parties have pledged to increase their involvement further after the next election. Labour’s proposals for a new ‘victims’ law’ which will put victims at the centre of the criminal justice system is seen by many campaigners as a much needed reform that will give confidence in the legal process to people suffering from violence and abuse. As the Victims’ Taskforce director Sir Keir Starmer QC, says ‘For many victims the adversarial journey through our courtrooms is such an ordeal that most vow never to repeat it’ and we need to do away with the ‘Criminal Justice System’ and replace it with a criminal justice service fit for victims. Continue reading
In June 2014 at The Brunswick Inn, Derby there was a discussion of suicide and assisted suicide, introduced by Kevin Yuill author, ‘Assisted Suicide: the liberal, humanist case against liberalization’.
Kevin says “For some, suicide is the irrational act of an unsound mind requiring medical intervention, but for others it can be a moral decision made by rational individuals, troubled or otherwise. Either way, does emphasising the role of external pressures (such as recession-fuelled hardship or bullying and harassment) risk undermining the individual’s responsibility for the act itself?
The May 2014 Salon was a discussion of Education Secretary Michael Gove’s war against ‘The Blob’ – his name for left wing teachers and teacher trainers.
In April 2014, the East Midlands Salon hosted a discussion entitled ‘The politics of sport’.
This Salon discussion was introduced by Geoff Kidder – the Membership and Events Director at the Institute of Ideas and their resident expert on all matters sporting and will ask ‘Should we kick politics out of sport?
By way of introduction Geoff says: Continue reading
In March 2014 the East Midlands Salon hosted a discussion entitled ‘Safeguarding vulnerable adults – the State in your living room?’.
This Salon discussion was introduced by Barbara Hewson – a leading barrister based in London who practises civil liberties, public and regulatory law. She has a particular interest in autonomy and in reproductive rights. She has long been an outspoken critic of legal paternalism, and fought a successful campaign to halt the practice of court-ordered Caesareans in the U.K. She regularly writes for spiked. Continue reading
In February 2014 the East Midlands Salon hosted a discussion entitled ‘Is ‘community’ dead?‘.
Our speaker was Dave Clements, author of many publications including “Society Wars” (IOI, 2012), “Social Care for Free Citizens” (Manifesto Club, 2010) and “The Future of Community”(Pluto, 2008). Dave convenes the Social Policy Forum at the Institute of Ideas and blogs for the Guardian, the Independent and Huffington Post. As an introduction to his talk, he writes: Continue reading
At the December Salon the East Midlands Salon is hosting its second ‘Balloon Debate‘.
At this festive event Salon regulars and others will defend their favourite books as they metaphorically float heavenwards in a balloon. The Salon will vote on their attempts and, one by one, they will be thrown out of the balloon until we have a winner….come along and join in the fun!
Balloonists include: