Festival of Debate: @FestOfDebate

At the time of writing we've had around six weeks of Festival of Debate, with 20 events covering a wide range of topics and formats, from keynote speakers (Melissa Benn, Martha Spurrier, John Pilger) to film screenings (I, Daniel Blake, Stuart: A Life Backwards). It's been a real pleasure to see your enthusiastic faces filling the various venues we have set up shop in around Sheffield. We don't claim to have all the answers, but we really believe that through informed discussion and debate, we can work towards a better society. The Festival draws to a close on Friday 25 November with the Word Life 10th birthday event at Weston Park Museum (more info in Word Life, p24), but there's plenty to sink your teeth into in the meantime. We strongly recommend Duty of Care (Tue 8 Nov, more on p9), Grayson Perry (Thu 10 Nov), How To Make Your Vote Count? (Wed 16 Nov), The Fight For Fairer Food (Fri 18 Nov) and Basic Income: Money For Nothing? (Wed 23 Nov), but we are honestly chuffed to bits with the whole programme, so please visit festivalofdebate.com for the full low-down. EU REFERENDUM: A GAME OF CONSEQUENCES? Wed 9 Nov | 6:30pm | DINA | Free Exploring the different approaches to our withdrawal from the EU, looking at existing agreements with non-EU countries and the potential for positive outcomes for economic and social justice. Panellists: Paul Blomfield MP (Shadow Minister for Brexit), Linda Kaucher (Stop TTIP), Dr Knut Roder (Sheffield Hallam Uni), Jane Thomas (campaigner) & more. Tickets (Free) THE CHURCH OF JIM Wed 9 Nov - Sat 12 Nov | 7:30pm | Moor Theatre Delicatessen | £7/£5 Join the Church of Jim for celebration, exegesis and live music as part of the Rise Up At Night season. Church of Jim attempts to find hope in a hopeless world. NSA and secret police welcome. Tickets GRAYSON PERRY: TYPICAL MAN IN A DRESS Thu 10 Nov | 7pm | Sheffield City Hall | From £20 It might seem almost redundant in a world facing climate change and vast imbalances in global wealth, but Grayson Perry sees masculinity as a highly active component in all the big issues. Join Grayson for an intelligent evening of laughs, discussion, insight and costume changes. In association with Sheffield City Hall. Tickets HOW TO MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT? Wed 16 Nov | 6:30pm | DINA | Free Hear about some of the options on the table for electoral reform from people in the know. Discussion followed by a chance to tell some people who make these decisions what it will take to make you get out and vote at the next election. Tickets (Free) A BETTER SHEFFIELD: CITY OF MAKERS Wed 16 Nov | 5:30pm | Workstation Creative Lounge | £4/£1 The third and final event in the series, looking at how Sheffield can revive its reputation as a city of makers. Speakers: Prof Vanessa Toulmin (University of Sheffield), Laura Bennett (TechCity) & more. Tickets HOPE, FEAR AND CLIMATE CHANGE: FROM RESEARCH TO ACTION Thu 17 Nov | 6-7:30pm | Quaker Meeting House | Free Join academics, including Nicola Dibben (music) and Nick Nuttgens (theatre), for a discussion on how research can help make sense of a seemingly insurmountable problem and its potential to influence our ability to take action. ​Part of Being Human Festival. Tickets (Free) COWSPIRACY Thu 17 Nov | 6-8:30pm | Regather Works | Free After a free screening of Cowspiracy, the audience will be invited to discuss ways of reducing the environmental impact of food production and comment on Sheffield Friends of the Earth's 'flexitarian' campaign strategy. Tickets THE FIGHT FOR FAIRER FOOD Fri 18 Nov | 7:30pm | Sharrow Old Junior School | Free In this event, hosted as part of the Our Fair City campaign, we hear from a range of people, from those affected by food poverty to those working towards positive change and a fairer food system. Tickets (Free) OUR MUCH-VALUED NHS IS UNDER HUGE PRESSURE, BUT WHY? Tue 22 Nov | 7pm | Quaker Meeting House | Free A panel discussion on how we can secure the NHS for future generations, featuring Dr Jillian Creasy, Dr Tim Moorhead, Dr John Carlisle & more. Tickets (Free) BASIC INCOME: MONEY FOR NOTHING? Wed 23 Nov | 7pm | DINA | Free Is a no-strings ‘basic income’ a good idea? Would it re-balance our economy and create a generation of entrepreneurs, or would we choose not to work and become dependent on handouts? Open panel featuring Jonathan Bartley (Green Party Co-Leader), Dr Kitty Stewart (Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion at London School of Economics), Andrew Gamble (SPERI) & Simon Duffy (Basic Income UK). Tickets (Free) festivalofdebate.com | @FestOfDebate )