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IQ² Australia live debates

2010 series - future debates:
Melbourne and Sydney

Dr Simon Longstaff of St James Ethics Centre addresses the audience during an IQ2 debate in Sydney.

Below are summaries of the forthcoming live debates taking place in Sydney and Melbourne in 2010.

Many of our 2009 debates sold out, so be sure to secure tickets early.

Events in Sydney will again take place at the City Recital Hall Angel Place in will commence at 6:45pm - you must be seated by 6:35pm.

Events in Melbourne will take place at the Melbourne Town Hall, 90-120 Swanston Street. They will commence at 6:30pm and conclude at 8:30pm.

You can also read about and watch recordings of past IQ² debates from the 2010 series in Sydney, the 2010 series in Melbourne, along with the 2009 series and 2008 series.

Sydney live debates

Only capitalism can save the planet

Close up photograph of am electronic currency exchange rate board.

10 August 2010 - Sydney

Critics of capitalism have been crowing ever since the onset of the global financial crisis.

Capitalism has been blamed for nearly every one of the earth’s ills – poverty, pestilence, exploitation, environmental degradation, the lot!

Read more ...

We'd be better off without our armed forces

Photographs of the legs of soldiers in battle fatigues on parade.

12 October 2010 - Sydney

Australia spends a fortune on defence – money that could be invested in improving health, education and the security of our energy, food and water.

Some think that defence expenditure is the price of freedom – ultimately measured in blood and treasure.

Read more ...

The nation state is a rotten idea

Official sign reading: 'No entry, border crossing'.

17 November 2010 - Sydney

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace ...
John Lennon - 1971

Read more ...

Melbourne live debates

Feminism has failed

A woman wearing a bandana and holding up a fist in a powerful gesture.

22 September 2010 - Melbourne

After generations of effort, women still bear a disproportionate burden of domestic labour. Women are under-represented in the senior ranks of politics, business and the professions.

Women continue to be denied equal pay for equal work.

Read more ...

Our obsession with self is destroying our communities

Row of three soft drink cans in bright colours each with a letter to spell out the word 'pop'.

9 November 2010 - Melbourne

John Donne wrote that, “No man is an island, entire of itself ... any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee”.

Yet, does this sentiment hold true in the modern world?

Read more ...

2009 series

The 2009 series of IQ² Australia debates has now concluded. Learn more about the debates in this series - you can also watch online recordings of each debate.

2008 series

The 2008 series of IQ² Australia debates has now concluded. Learn more about the debates in this series - you can also watch online recordings of each debate.