Third Thursday of the month – The Monthly Argument Drinks, Dinner and Discussion
Melbourne University Graduate House (220 Leicester Street, Carlton). Location Map.
We had our last full scale regular debate on June 14, 2112 and have no plans at this stage to revive them. However, The Monthly Argument lives on as a less formal gathering for drinks, dinner and discussion on the third Thursday of the month at Graduate House. We may trial a few different formats such as pre-reading on a particular topic or a guest speaker. However, even if the evening is totally informal, the idea is to spend at least part of the time exchanging different perspectives on political and social issues and not just small talk.
Our topic for discussion on November 15, 2112 will be Education in the 21st Century.
Dinner will be a resident’s style buffet dinner comprising soup, main course and dessert all for only $15.00 for Graduate Union members and $20.00 for non-members. Drinks are at members’ bar prices.
Try to be there by 6.30pm for drinks and chat. We eat at 7pm sharp.
Book at monthlyargument@gmail.com by the Wednesday before or RSVP at The Monthly Argument Meetup Group if you are a member.
Subscribe to our newsletter
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June 14, 2112 Debate
Topic: Syria: Should there be an international military intervention?
Video of the debate: Part 1, Part 2
Arthur Dent (formerly known as Albert Langer).
Some pre-debate reading/listening material from our speakers:Robert Bekhazi:What’s Up with Syria? (Richard Stubbs’ interview with Robert Bekhazi and Dr Benjamin Mc Queen)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fnDI2u3rew (James Carleton interviews Robert Bekhazi)Some Syrian Australians Support the Syrian Government (Robert Bekhazi on ABC Radio Breakfast)The Syrian Mosaic Encounter. Radio NationalCharles Richardson:Syria: Counting the Cost of the West’s Stability Fetish
Violence in Syria: Bashar al-Assad makes public appearance
Russia goes its own way over Syria
Egypt’s Islamists prepare to govern
Can the peace option work in Syria?
Bahrain’s year of failed revolution
Arab spring: Saudi Arabi backs Syria rebels
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any questions? email us : monthlyargument@gmail.com
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You can find out about our past debates and watch them on video here
Click to see more debate photographs
Here’s my summary of the Zero Carbon Plan Australia, Plan or Pipe Dream debate between Matthew Wright and Arthur Dent. There was broad agreement by Arthur Dent that the Zero Carbon Energy Plan was technologically feasible. Arthur liked the breadth and large scale of the proposal. Both were against a carbon energy scheme.
Arthur argued that the ZCA underestimated peak load demands, Matthew countered that the figures Arthur was quoting were from a biased power industry energy lobby. Arthur suggested some of the costings were an underestimation and would like to see more economic research.
Arthur’s preferred path was to take no action on the plan, suggesting instead that there should be funding for continued research on power generation instead. He argued the current time frame about a climate change crisis was an exaggeration.
The major technologies proposed were wind turbines for 40% of Australia’s power generation, 60% of the power generation would be from CST (concentrating solar thermal) using molten salt for power storage and heilostat (mirrors) for collection, both proven technologies. The proposal suggests hydroelectricity for peak loads and photo voltaic power to supplement daylight demand. The proposed power grid would use High Voltage Transmission which has a low power loss compared to the current aging AC power grid.
Comments from the floor:
There was a claim that the coal industry has a $13 billion government subsidy to export coal via ports.
Another said China was committed to a greater renewable energy commitment than Australia, this was disputed as talk rather than truth by Arthur.
Is the Monthly Argument dead now, or will there be another? I went to the first but then I was out of the country for a year.
2 lefties against 1 righty – probably stacks up in terms of IQ
“| Raising the political temperature” was indeed a
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