Week 1: Capitalism Reconsidered: Harnessing Business for Social Benefit

Hosted by the Oxford Hub

Bill Gates recently stated: "We need a creative capitalism where business and non-governmental organisations work together to create a market system that eases the world's inequities." How can this be achieved? We bring together a panel of the UK’s leading proponents of social enterprise to discuss the issue.

Speakers:
Jonathan Bland: Chief Executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition
Paul Cheng: Investment manager for Venturesome, an investment bank for social welfare organisations
Sam Conniff: Social Enterprise Ambassador and founder of Livity
Claire Adams Williams: Founder of Hope Runs, an organisation working in AIDS orphanages in East Africa

Chair:

Jamie Hartzell: Founder of the Ethical Property Company

Week 2: WEST PAPUA: The Pacific's forgotten tragedy

Hosted by Amnesty, supported by Aegis

Benny Wenda will speak about his experiences growing up in West Papua under Indonesian military occupation, and his involvement in the peaceful movement for West Papuan independence. Richard Samuelson will speak about the background to the conflict, the current human rights situation, and the future. A 15 minute introductory film entitled "West Papua: the Secret War" will also be shown.

Speakers:
Benny Wenda: West Papuan Independence leader and former political prisoner
Richard Samuelson: Co-Director of Free West Papua Campaign (UK)

Week 3: Darfur: An Introduction

Hosted by Aegis
 

Showing of the award winning film ‘The Devil Came on Horseback’, documenting former US Marine Brian Steidle’s time in Darfur as an unarmed military observer for the African Union. Following this will be a short talk by Nick Donovan  discussing what we can do about the genocide, and a brief talk by a Darfuri survivor
 

Speakers:
Nick Donovan: Head of Campaigns at Aegis Trust
Darfuri survivor: TBC

Week 4: Poverty in our midst

Hosted by Child Poverty Action Group
 

You are invited to come and discuss poverty in the UK with our diverse panel. Despite its wealth, it is estimated that more than one in five people live in poverty in the UK. Debate the issues and learn about ways in which you can get involved in the fight against poverty, in Oxford and beyond…
 
Speakers:
Kate Wareing: Director of Oxfam's Poverty Programme
Andrew Smith: Project manager of the Gatehouse, which works with Oxford’s homeless and poorly housed population
Darren James: A community worker with 25 years of experience in working in Blackbird Leys, Oxford
Fran Bennett: Event chair, University of Oxford and former director of CPAG
John Gohari: giving a young man’s perspective of poverty in Oxford

Week 5: A Future Without Fossil Fuels: the problems and possibilities of climate change

Hosted by People and Planet & Christian Aid
 

A compelling discussion of how we will cope without fossil fuels. With the UK government targeting to reduce CO2 emissions 90% by 2050, whilst backing plans to build 7 new coal-fired power stations, what are we to make of the situation? Will non-renewable resources really run out? And if so, what can and should we do about it?
 

Speakers:
Oliver Tickell: Freelance Climate Change Journalist, Author of ‘Kyoto2’
Chris Goodall: Green Party Candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon, Columnist for the Independent on Sunday and author of ‘How to Live a Low-Carbon Life’
Paul Brannen: Head of Campaigns at Christian Aid, former Head of Company and Sector Communications in the Global Research Department of HSBC. 
WDM Representative (TBC)

Week 6: Hard Choices for Tomorrow’s World

Hosted by Oxfam
 

An overview of existing world problems and a discussion of what we should be doing to correct or reduce them. Lord May will emphasise what he sees as particularly important threats and opportunities for the developing world, and what he thinks might happen.
 

Speaker:
Lord Robert May: President Elect of the British Association for the Advancement of Science; Former Chief Scientific Advisor to HM Government; and former Director of the Royal Society.

Week 7: What has our £100,000 done in Darfur?

Hosted by Hands up for Darfur

Last year, Hands Up For Darfur successfully raised over £50,000 to help those caught up in a conflict that has claimed over 300,000 lives and made millions refugees. So how do we make sure that the money you donated helps those people? Hear live testimonials and see footage of the difference that you have helped to make and our future ambitions.

Speakers:
Patricia Parker MBE: founder of Kids for Kids.
MSF Representative (TBC).

Week 8: World AIDS Week panel discussion: Respect and Protect

Hosted by Stop AIDS

This event focuses on the World AIDS Day theme "Respect and Protect”. One of the greatest barriers to reducing the spread of HIV is the overwhelming stigma surrounding it. HIV is a global problem, yet changing social attitudes is one important way that we can do something about it.

Speakers:
Carl Burnell: representing Gay Men Fighting AIDS (GMFA)
Researcher from Sigma Research (TBC)
Support Services Coordinator: Terrence Higgins Trust Oxford
Faith Leader: Terrence Higgins Trust’s Faith Leaders Project (TBC)