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Talk and Debates Synergy November 2006 |
1)ANDY LETCHER, 'SHROOM author talking about MAGIC MUSHROOM scene and current state of psychedelic scene in general
10:10-11:10
Writer, lecturer and musician Dr Andy Letcher will give an illustrated talk about his new book, 'Shroom: A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom'. The magic mushroom was only rediscovered in the West fifty years ago, but has accumulated all sorts of folktales and urban legends along the way. In the book Andy strips away the myths to get at the true story of how hallucinogenic mushrooms, once shunned in the West as the most pernicious of poisons, came to be the illicit drug of choice. Chronicling the history of the magic mushroom from its use by the Aztecs of Central America and the tribes of Siberia through to the present day, he takes a critical and humorous look at the drug's more recent manifestations. The talk will end with a more open discussion about the pros and cons of contemporary mushroom use.
www.andyletcher.co.uk
2) PREM HOBDEN and RAW POWER
11:10-11:30
Prem Hobden is a very gifted gourmet raw food chef who has
been sharing his passion for gourmet health food across the world
through his classes and retreats. Since the age of fifteen he has been
researching and experimenting in the field of peak health after curing
himself of an apparently irreversible juvenile arthritis from a diet of
mainly raw organic food and juices. Since going to Australia he has
further developed his skill and passion for creating unbelievably
healthy dishes that are unbelievably good! and now he is in the UK! He
will try and give you a taste of his raw food classes where you can
learn how to:
- Create a huge variety of sumptuous meals with minimal preparation and without ever turning on an oven.
- Become vibrantly healthy and happy without sacrificing taste or pleasure.
- Lose weight while you eat like a king (or Queen).
- Free yourself of diseases and ailments without medication.
- Develop eating habits which will bring you a sense of inner peace and well-being.
- Free your children (and yourself) of many so-called behavioral problems
Prem is excited to be at Synergy and will share his skills and
recipes with the Synergy audience in the hope that they will be
inspired by the raw food lifestyle.
3)PETE PHOENIX..SQUATTING AND DIRECT ACTION LEGEND reviewing the past and looking at the future of squatting and direct action
11:30-12:30
Phoenix is a direct action veteran of Twyford Down, Solsbury Hill, M11, Criminal Justice Bill '94, Newbury, Wandsworth and StGeorges Hill. Since '92 he has squatted the BCCI bank, Rainbow centre in Kentish Town, St Georges Theatre in Tufnel Park and various other buildings as action centres leading to an agreement with Circle 33 Housing Assoc for a 13 room mansion in Hampstead as the Circle Community Centre. Phoenix is currently preparing a manual for squatters. His talk will review the squatting and direct action scene he has been a prominent part of and with the SYNERGY audience's help, look at the best ways of moving it further on.
4)JEWDAS...first of Jeff Lester's ALTERNATIVE SPIRITUALITY presentations about the New Wave Rave Generation Judaism
12:30-1:00
Synergy Talks host Jeff (‘Good Jeff’) Laster has been working in the alternative culture since the later sixties, both in the united states and in Britain. Formerly a radical activist, since 1993 he has specialised in organizing talks and debates of interest to the rave generation, putting on such events at clubs and festivals as well as helping to bring theatre to the rave scene in the form of the acclaimed WARP play. His aim is ‘Edutain’ by bringing relevant political, cultural and spiritual presentations to the alternative scene, examining and or portraying various aspects of current issues, agendas and belief systems.
Jewdas is the focus point of radical Judaism in the UK and beyond. Promoting hemisiche culture on acid, jewdas whips up Talmud, satire, heresy and cream cheese into a chicken soup of underground Diaspora culture. Jewdas fully supports the Anglo Jewish establishment and would never criticise the state of Israel .
Jewdas will bring the spirit of Eastern Europe to Synergy with manic singing dance and storytelling that will transport you to the Steppes of Russia, or at least to Stamford Hill. Not your average introduction to Judaism........
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