ART FOR GRABS: Have a balloon!

AS MALAYSIA BECOMES A CIRCUS, why not join the carnival and celebrate freedom, justice and democracy with some creativity and craziness? Everyone's favourite art bazaar Art For Grabs is proud to partner with Amnesty International Malaysia, Lawyers For Liberty & SUARAM, which work daily to protect human rights in a country that seems only interested to protect the powerful. With over 80 booths of arts, crafts, causes and surprises, plus 11 events, Art For Grabs calls everyone to join us to dream of a Malaysia not afraid of balloons. ART FOR GRABS: Have a balloon! In collaboration with Amnesty International Malaysia, Lawyers for Liberty and SUARAM Sat 2 & Sun 3 April, 2016, 12pm - 8pm The School, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya. #ArtForGrabs #HaveABalloon Illustration by Arif Rafhan Othman, design by Pang Khee Teik. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Saturday 2 April Sat 12pm POLITIKO: KLASH OF THE TITANS Card game tournament by MCCHR Pusat Rakyat LB Politiko is a beloved Malaysian card game that makes it possible for anyone to win an election. This tournament will see 5 notable personalities including Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming, human rights lawyer Edmund Bon Tai Soon, political scientist Wong Chin Huat taking on each other to regain Putrajaya via Politiko and raise fund for an NGO of their choice. Members of the public and supporters of these personalities and NGOs have an opportunity to pledge for the player and NGO they support! It is set to be an afternoon of fun, laughter and excitement as we celebrate the work of our local NGOs! Who will you pledge for? https://www.facebook.com/events/598090613688014/ Sat 2pm MATA HATI KITA / THE EYES OF OUR HEARTS Booklaunch by Gerakbudaya, in partnership with Knowledge and Rights with Young people through Safer Spaces (KRYSS) Twenty-four personal accounts by lesbians, bisexual women and trans people. These true stories speak of our shared struggles of being human, of loving, of living for oneself and of living for others. Introduction by Angela M. Kuga Thas. Guest readers: Bernice Chauly, Jac Sm Kee, Syar S Alia, Jellene Eva, Oliver Johanan, Nana, Siti Kasim. https://www.facebook.com/events/1008370872569269 Sat 3pm CERITA PERJUANGAN I Presented by SUARAM Join SUARAM executive director Sevan Doraisamy as he chats with Malaysians who faced their breaking point and said 'enough is enough': FATIMAH BAH-SIN, women committee of Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia JOHN CANTIUS FRANCIS, Peneroka GATCO NALINI ELUMALAI, JERIT (Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas) N. KUMARAN, Taman Permata, Dengkil https://www.facebook.com/events/199468147099962/ Sat 4pm ZUNAR: TO FIGHT THROUGH CARTOONS Malaysian political cartoonist Zunar’s works are not allowed in newspapers and his books are banned. He is also facing 9 sedition charges for 9 tweets. Unfazed, he tells us why his talent is not a gift but a responsibility, and why laughter is the best form of protest. “How can I be neutral, even my pen has a stand?” https://www.facebook.com/events/1135505583150574/ Sat 5pm POETICALLY CORRECT by If Walls Could Talk - Poetry Open Mic "Freedom is a state of mind, yet not mine." Breathing hope into silenced stories, watch Kuala Lumpur's spoken word poets speak up, out and loud on all that it takes to be free in Malaysia. Poets: Muhammad Zhafir, Pavithrah Sambu, Lily Jamaludin, Nor Huda Mohd Izam, Aiman Azri, Enbah Nilah, Alin Roslee, Jack Malik, Andrea Tee, Dhabitah Zainal https://www.facebook.com/events/1680278488856377/ Sat 6pm WATCH ME, WATCH ME: Who’s really watching you on the internet? Forum by Lawyers For Liberty More and more Malaysians are being targeted by the authorities for what we post online. It seems they are watching us very closely. But are they also watching us through spywares and other surveillance techniques? What can we do to protect ourselves from Big Brother’s big eyes? Moderator: Sharaad Kuttan Panelists: Eric Paulsen, Jac SM Kee, Keith Rozario https://www.facebook.com/events/1722706634672119/ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Sunday 3 April Sun 12pm LIBERTY OR SECURITY: CHOOSE! by Amnesty International Malaysia Sedition, ISA, SOSMA. They have one thing in common. They claim to defend national security. And they claim that in order for us to have more security, we need to sacrifice some liberty. Why is the state always arguing for more security? Whose security is being defended? Whose liberty is being sacrificed? And why can’t we have both? Moderator: Ahmad Fuad Rahmat Panelists: Azmi Sharom, Shamini Darshni, Yin Shao Loong https://www.facebook.com/events/1195522510475422/ Sun 1.30pm WOMEN IN POWER/POWER IN WOMEN Forum by Feminism For All Hillary Clinton is in the running to be one of the most powerful human in the world. In Malaysia, Rafidah Aziz claims that we are good in terms of women development. Therefore we don’t need feminism. But do more women in power automatically translate to an increase in opportunities for other women? Is this power a power for change or is power always inherently unequal? Does it simply reinforce a capitalist, corporatist and competitive culture that further marginalises women who don't have access to similar connections? Or can women in leadership use power to resist patriarchy and oppression, champion human rights, and create a more democratic space for all? Panelists: Ivy Josiah, Low Ngai Yuen, Nalini Elumalai, Suri Kempe, Thilaga https://www.facebook.com/events/529795140535885/ Sun 3pm CERITA PERJUANGAN II Join SUARAM’s Right to Trial coordinator Amir Abd Hadi as he chats with Malaysians who have put their freedom at risk in order to fight for human rights and civil liberties in Malaysia: ADAM ADLI, student activist BILQIS HIJJAS, dance activist and balloon girl KHALID ISMATH, student leader SYED SADDIQ, debater https://www.facebook.com/events/199468147099962/ Sun 4pm VISI ALTERNATIF – REALITI, MIMPI ATAU SYOK SENDIRI Pelancaran buku oleh Dr Jeyakumar, MP Sungai Siput dan forum Dalam kemelutan ekonomi yang parah, perbalahan politik yang berterusan di kalangan pemerintah biarpun di kalangan pembangkang, ada cadangan kuasa ketiga bangkit untuk mengisi kekosongan untuk membawa perubahan. Dan di pentas dunia terutamanya di Negara Eropah timbulnya parti kiri mendapat sambutan sehingga berjaya membentuk kerajaan. Sosialisme seolah-olahnya balik ke pendebatan mainstrem. Ada juga orang yang mengatakan idea ini terlalu “utopia” dan tak mungkin dapat tercapai atau idea ini tidak mampu dipraktikkan sekalipun baik. Forum ini bersempena pelancaran buku bertajuk “Visi Alternatif Untuk Malaysia” ditulis oleh Dr. Kumar, seorang Wakil Rakyat di Dewan Rakyat yang beridentitikan sosialis. Moderator: Aduka Taruna (Aktivis Royalty dan AJK Pusat PSM) Panel: Ishak Surin (Ketua Parti Amanah Negara Batu), Fadiah Nadwa (Aktivis BERSIH) https://www.facebook.com/events/200058503702472/ Sun 6pm MENCARI ROH-INGYA: PELARIAN DI MALAYSIA Forum by Projek Dialog Dikatakan terdapat lebih 82,000 pelarian Rohingya di Malaysia. Disebabkan proses mendapatkan status pelarian dari UNHCR mengambil masa yang lama, pelarian Rohingya terpaksa bekerja secara "haram". Malah, pelarian yang ada status pelarian dari UNHCR pun tidak akan diberi permit kerja. Pihak berkuasa di Malaysia boleh menahan mereka sekiranya mereka membuat pemeriksaan. Apakah Malaysia sepatutnya lebih bersikap proaktif untuk melindungi para pelarian dan apakah tindakan-tindakan yang perlu diambil untuk memastikan keselamatan dan kesejahteraan mereka? Dengarlah pandangan dari komuniti Rohingya di Malaysia. Moderator: Maryam Lee & Ann Nicole Panelis: Faisal dan Tazmida dari Rohingya Malaysia Society (RMS) https://www.facebook.com/events/1586480865004783/ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ VENDORS: Juxta Art (Ajim Juxta) Anaicreation Anai Andi Miranti - Comic artist All The Ns Superdoofus & Fat Bidin Media (Arif Rafhan Othman & Zan Azlee) Be Good (James Wong) Biawak Gemok (Liyana Dizzy & Nine) Bingka (Ong Yi Lyn, Emmalyn Yum, Adrihana Rashid) Bojen & Sam's Art & Creativity Buku Jalanan and Rumah Nombor 19 The Bubble Lab Chin Yew The Covert Collective (Samuel Chew & Hannah Bhatt) CreaTee Wear (Richard Wong) Plusminus (Crystal Lee) EMO EGO (Jennifer Wee) Emoc - The Emotional Cloud Fixi fourjei FuturisBIG (Majidah Hashim) Gerak Budaya Good Eats and Sweet Treats ( Dorian Wilde & @Shanti) Hijab N the City IPPF, Jalan Ampang Jerome Kugan Jiet'Art (Jiet Wong) Kikiyaya Kuala Terengganu Hand Blocked Batik Initiative (Bijou Bazaar) Leatologie LittleSyam The Lollipop House Maplé Comics MHD (mhDivineartS) Michelle's Artisan Fruit Spread mimoku.mi (Chin Hsia) MUOC (Malaysian Unity Of Culture) My Date Is A Book NoisyArt Notbook-Notbuk Obscura Malaysia Ohsum Mossum Terrariums (Ronnie Khoo) Omar Khayyam Riharu art collections (Hubbyorkid) Owlstanding paper art (May Tan Mee Sen) Peanutzin Poetrydigestion Foundation (Kafayat Motilewa Quadri) Poodien Free Spirit Kedai Kopi Popek Popek (June Low) Putti's Treats The Renaissance Project (Sullivan Wang, Singapore) The Revolving Library Saat Omar Salt x Paper The Secret Hideout (Sliz Supertramp) ShawnClassroom (Sean Ching Cheang) Something Sweet (Ghali Foster) Toots Ismail Unique Penang Art Galley - 槟岛之恋 White Handcraft Atelier 白艺坊 Women's Aid Organisation Yayasan AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia Zunar Kartunis Fan Club FROM SABAH: Tamu Tamu Collective, representing: Tukäng (Adam Kitingan) Magic Borneo Beads (Eleanor Goroh & Shita Kusardy Cox) Bikin (Haizum Hassan Alban) The Pink Dinosoar (Imelda Joan & June Isabel) Pangrok Sulap All Nice Things (Jesse Joy) SPONSORED BOOTHS Bogus Merchandise and CherryBomb Dignity for Children Foundation Furry Tails Land (Persatuan perlindungan dan penyelamat haiwan) Gerai OA Hands of Hope Malaysia KL Book Exchange SUHAKAM (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia) SUKA Society TANMA Federation United Voice BALLOON BOOTH SUPA DUPA (Elroy Ng) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ABOUT THE SPONSORS Lawyers for Liberty is a human rights and law reform initiative that seeks to challenge the many unconstitutional, arbitrary and unreasonable decisions and acts perpetrated by the government, its agencies and other public authorities. Amnesty International Malaysia strives for the promotion and protection of human rights in Malaysia and across the globe. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) aims to work for a society that is peaceful, free, equal, just and sustainable by a process of empowering people and building a mass movement to uphold human rights. ABOUT ART FOR GRABS Art For Grabs is the pioneering art bazaar mini fest. Collaborating always with different sponsoring NGOs or festivals, the bazaar brings together creative folks selling home-made stuffs or simply promoting good causes, while also featuring back-to-back events. Art For Grabs is a vision of Malaysia as a buzzing bazaar of ideas, discourse, and creativity, where all of us actively participate by sharing the space, and exchanging ideas, hopes, and, who knows, maybe even love.