Festival of Debate : Why not give a toss?

This year’s Festival of Debate spring season is well and truly underway. With 40 events planned for this spring, and April and May being the most eventful, we aim to get people discussing and engaging with issues that matter to them. In April, the festival promises a Palme d’Or-winning film, as well as big names like Bridget Christie (13April) and Steve Bell (21 April), among many others. A few bits are listed here, but the full programme can be found around Sheffield and online. Most of the events are free, but to reserve your space please sign up to the relevant Eventbrite pages listed at festivalofdebate.com. We’ll be documenting the whole festival with photos, reviews and more throughout, so make sure you keep up to date on our social media to find out more. We'll also be releasing another festival beer with Abbeydale Brewery, so get supping. Most importantly, make sure you head down to the events and get involved in the debate. Alex Townsend KETERMAYA’ REFUGEE CAMP Thu 7 April | 7pm | Regather Works Filmmaker Lucas Jedrzejak previews some of his unseen footage from a refugee camp in Ketermaya, including a Q&A with Lucas and a local speaker-led discussion. DHEEPAN Fri 8 April - Thu 21 April | Showroom Cinema Winner of the Palme D’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Dheepan tells the story of three Tamil refugees who flee the civil war-ravaged Sri Lanka and come to France in the hope of reconstructing their lives. INTRODUCING: ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS Wed 13 April | 5-6pm | Room G14, University of Sheffield Economics Dept This seminar will discuss how sustainability can be considered from an economic perspective and whether the current economic system is systemically unsustainable. BRIDGET CHRISTIE: A BOOK FOR HER Wed 13 April | 7:30pm | Sheffield City Hall Bridget’s tenth solo show answers several pressing questions, including 'Why has Bridget been sending her stained underpants to George Osborne at HM Treasury every month?' and many more. Tickets £16 via City Hall box office. ALL OR NOTHING? CHANGING THE ELECTORAL SHAPE OF SHEFFIELD Thu 14 April | 6-8pm | Mandela Room, Town Hall A panel debate with presentations from Sheffield’s Electoral Services, including contributions from political, academic and campaign groups, prior to the ‘all out’ local election in May. MEDIA COVERAGE & WOMEN ATHLETES Thu 14 & Sat 16 April | Various Locations A series of events exploring gender politics in the modern sports world, including films, panel debates and workshops. More info: sheffieldsteelrollergirls.com/fod. WORDS OF SUBVERSION Fri 15 April | 7-11pm | Union St. An evening of spoken word and poetry with a subversive edge and a fundraiser for the Sheffield Anarchist Bookfair. Donations welcome. THE SOCIAL PROGRESSIVITY INDEX Wed 20 April | 5-6:30pm | Lecture Theatre 3, The Diamond A lecture by Michael Green, who was part of the team that created the Social Progress Index, a standard to rank societies based on how they meet the needs of citizens. THE EU REFERENDUM: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SHEFFIELD? Wed 20 April | 6pm | St Marys Church, Bramall Lane Information, debate and impartial analysis about the EU. Panelists: Dr Matthew Wood (Crick Centre), Susan White (Voluntary Action Sheffield), Gary Bell (ASSIST), Julie Kenny (Pyronix), Prof Simon Bulmer (University of Sheffield) and Prof Michael Keating (University of Aberdeen). STEVE BELL Thu 21 April | 7:30-10pm | Auditorium, Sheffield Students’ Union Steve Bell reveals the deep dark secrets of the world of political cartooning and his ongoing mission to tear holes in the clothing of the political establishment. Tickets £8.80/ £6.60 via SU box office. SLEAFORD MODS: INVISIBLE BRITAIN Sun 24 April | 6pm | Showroom Cinema Documentary following the Sleaford Mods on a tour of the UK in the run up to the 2015 General Election, visiting the neglected, broken down and boarded up parts of the country that many would prefer to ignore. PROF MARY MELLOR: DEBT OR DEMOCRACY Mon 25 April | 7-8.30pm | Quaker Meeting House Prof Mary Mellor challenges entrenched myths about money and economic value, demonstrating the need to change the way money is created to move towards an economy that is environmentally sustainable and socially just. ​​ PECHA KUCHA: BEHIND THE CURTAIN Thu 28 April | 7:30-11pm | Abbeydale Picture House An increasing availability of information shines light in the murk as we strive for insights into the inners workings of the systems that make up our world. £9 seated, £6 standing. More info: pechakuchasheffield.com. STEPHEN LEA: IS MONEY A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM? Wed 4 May | 4:30-6:30pm | Lecture Theatre 2, The Diamond Stephen Lea is a foremost expert in economic psychology, authoring over 150 peer-reviewed academic articles, with extensive research on personal debt and its psychological consequences. THE DIVIDE Wed 4 May | 7-9pm | Quaker Meeting House The film follows the stories of people well-off and struggling, and the impact of the divide between them, inspired by the bestselling book The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. WORKSHOP: YOUR PARLIAMENT - AN INTRODUCTION Thu 5 May | 6-7pm | Boardroom, Hallam HUBS Increase your knowledge of what Parliament is and does and learn about the differences between Parliament and Government. )