Environmental Issues

**ATHEIST SOCIETY** \- Melbourne\, Australia\. ***"Artificial Intelligence".*** **Dr. Ian Storey** will present the topic and lead the discussion. **Venue**: Unitarian Hall, 110 Grey Street East Melbourne. (Adjacent to the Epworth Freemasons Hospital). **Zoom** Meeting ID: 852 9852 4260 Passcode: 249550 All are welcome. Come early to socialise before (and after) the meeting. These hybrid meetings are on the 2nd Thursday of the month, 8pm. Convenor: John Perkins - Tel: 0411 143 744 - **[jlperkins@tpg.com.au](http://jlperkins@tpg.com.au/)** Atheist Society: **[Website](https://reason101.tech/Atheist/Society.htm) \- \- \- [Meetups](https://www.meetup.com/melbourne-atheists/)**

Our regular monthly presentation night on the second Thursday of the month from 6:30pm! Thanks to Mantel Group for hosting us again this month. If you're coming in person we're there with food and drinks from 6pm. We will be live streaming the presentations as usual from 6:30pm at [http://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/live](http://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/live) \-\-\- In an unusual turn of events we have two AI-related talks this month — but I think both will be speaking to the state of our industry and offering perspective on where we are and maybe where we're going. **Agenda** \| 6:00pm \| Food \+ Networking \| \| 6:30pm \| Event begins\. Introductions \| \| 6:40pm \| Andrew Murphy — The five stages of losing our craft \| \| 7:15pm \| Rob Amos \(Bok\) — Forging a Sword Spirit: From AI skeptic to autonomy \| \| 7:55pm \| Wrap up \+ social time at a nearby venue \| \* All times are approximate. Presentation order will be confirmed on the night. \-\-\-\- We are always looking for speakers and believe everyone has an interesting talk hiding inside themselves. If you are interested in letting that talk out at a future event you can get in touch on the website [https://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/talks](https://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/talks) or on Slack.

Hi Gophers! We have started planning our May event at Atlassian. * **Agenda** **5.45pm — Food & Networking** **6:30pm — Intro + Go News** **6:45pm — Talks** **8.00pm — Wrap up then head out for kick ons** * **Talks** **🎤 Tristan Penman** **Robotics in Go** This talk will show how Go can be used for small networked robots. Everything will run natively in Go, on a Raspberry Pi using a simple MQTT message bus. In this whirlwind tour, we'll also see how Gobot and Periph can be used to perform IO. We'll finish with a sneak peek at how TinyGo can be used offload timing-critical IO to a microcontroller. **🎤 Yann Vigara** **Developer Onboarding That Doesn't Suck** You probably have a Makefile. It probably has a step that installs golangci-lint. Maybe goreleaser. Maybe buf. Maybe something someone added in 2022 that nobody's touched since and everyone's too scared to remove. And when a new dev joins the team, they clone the repo, run the Makefile, hit an error on step 3, spend 45 minutes debugging something that has nothing to do with the actual product, and then quietly wonder if they made a mistake joining. This month I'll show you how to fix that. Mostly terminal. Mostly live. Probably a few things that will go wrong in interesting ways. * **Interested in speaking at an upcoming event?** We will aim to have a mix of short (\~10min) and in-depth (20-30min) talks. If you’re keen to give a talk on a topic, share a project, or idea, please let us know [bit.ly/GolangMelbourneSpeakersForm](https://bit.ly/GolangMelbourneSpeakersForm)

Toastmasters is a worldwide organisation which empowers its members to conquer their fear of public speaking and become better communicators. There is no need to formally register for the event, just RSVP to this meetup event if you can, then simply show up in person on the evening. If there is no one at the entrance, please message one of the organisers on this app For more information, check out the City Centre Toastmasters website [here](https://citycentretoastmastersmelbourne.toastmastersclubs.org/). What we'll do at the meeting: \- Impromptu speaking \(Table Topics\): Everyone can take part in this\! \- Prepared Speeches: Please note that only Toastmasters members can give prepared speeches\. \- Get friendly and constructive feedback on your speaking\. \- Get to know each other during the break\, before\, and after the meeting\. Important to know * Members of this Meetup are not automatically members of the club. Meetup refers to people who belong to the City Centre Toastmasters Meetup group as 'members,' but from a Toastmasters' point of view, people are only members if they've paid their club dues.

Hello and welcome back to all our past members and welcome to our new members! This is going to be our **last meetup on Meetup.com**, as some of you know we are moving away from the platform. It has become quite expensive **(around $600 per year!)**, and we’ve also had issues with the software with members being removed, which made it hard to stay in touch with everyone, which is why for most of you this would be first time in a while that you've heard from us. Nevertheless, 12 years of minimalist meetups are not going to come to stop - we will still keep going but via the simple and free email list! So if you are still interested in Melbourne Minimalist Meetups please reply with your best email address or email me on **nyamkab@protonmail.com** *(Sorry for those who I have already messaged about this, we've been having some issues with this platform).* So for one last time this month we'll come together to discuss minimalism, with a focus on **frugal winter hobbies** given the increase in costs and decrease in temperature. It would be great to share and learn from each other about what gives us joy and meaning during fall and winter. As usual we will also have a **swap & declutter,** so bring anything you no longer need/want that is still in good condition. Anything that is not wanted will be donated at the opshop at the end of the event. Looking forward to seeing you! Nyamka & Aidan

**Who We are..... 🤝** Our journey to bring people together began in January of 2022. The group was started with a simple intention to gather and meet some likeminded people - connecting through the powerful act of meditation and sharing our genuine selves while sitting in a circle that represents equality, harmony and wholeness( *we believe everyone in the circle is a teacher and a student at the same time)*. And over the last 4 years of consistently coming together, we have fostered a beautiful, loving, dependable community where members from all walks of life have experienced a sacred space to sit in silence together and meditate, share their authentic selves, give presence to others and forge meaningful and long lasting connections. The Meditations are guided by Sana(co-founder and host), who is a Trained and certified meditation teacher by the Meditation Association of Australia, and has been guiding meditations for 3+ years in corporate and community settings. ✨ **Do you wish to....** * Experience a simple yet powerful meditation and breathing practice to find calm, relaxation and clarity * Connect with like-minded people in your local community and foster meaningful connections * Meet others who are passionate about growing, uplifting themselves, and supporting others * Share insights from your personal journey (or simply listen and learn) Or maybe you just want to... ☮️ **Spend your Sunday evening in a peaceful, zen space and meet new people? Bring a friend (or two!) and let’s connect.** **What’s on the evening’s flow?** * **Open meet & greet** – connect and settle in * **5 min guided meditation** to land into the space and connect within * **Sharing circle** (totally optional!) – share your thoughts or simply listen * **20-30 min guided meditation** – for relaxation and deeper connection **Where?** 📍 **250 George St, Fitzroy VIC 3065** Enter through the church gates. You’ll see a small garden on the left and stairs on the right leading up to the **Dance of Life Yoga Studio (first door on your right upstairs).** **What to bring?** * **Donation:** A contribution of **$15 or more is recommended**. Your donations directly help us cover venue, meetup membership and other costs, provide valuable resources, and keep this meditation community alive and growing. * **Warm jumper/jacket** (just in case!) * **Water** * **Any books/resources/inspiration you’d love to share** **Important Notes:** * Spaces are **limited**, so if you can’t make it, please update your RSVP to “Not going” or send us a quick message. * **No-show policy:** To keep it fair for everyone, repeat no-shows without notice may not be able to RSVP in the future. * Attendees under 18 must have a guardian present. **Everyone is welcome!** All ages (with guardians for under 18), backgrounds, genders, and experiences – no meditation experience needed. The event runs for about **2.5 hours**, but you’re free to come and go as you need.

**💖 Real Rounds Real People connecting North Melbourne People — Age Grouped** As a participant, you'll go through rapid one-on-one Zoom dates with North Melbourne people compatibility-matched and age-grouped, while the host manages transitions so you can focus on the person in front of you. Prior to the event, you complete a brief compatibility form — your personality data from the quiz to ensure your North Melbourne rounds are more than just random, which makes every round worth having. Once the event finishes, your mutual matches are disclosed — only when both of you selected each other — and you are in control of what happens next. **Choose your age range and claim your spot:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=the-sociable-singles-meaningful-adventure-network&ar=18-32&face_v=4.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=the-sociable-singles-meaningful-adventure-network&ar=30-46&face_v=4.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=the-sociable-singles-meaningful-adventure-network&ar=40-58&face_v=4.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=North%20Melbourne&groupurlname=the-sociable-singles-meaningful-adventure-network&ar=55+&face_v=4.0) **⚠️ Your seat is not locked yet:** Clicking rsvp is only the first step not the whole process, so select your bracket link, complete the registration form, and finish the personality quiz — places are finite so do not leave it to the last minute, and both steps together are what confirm your place. --- **You will love this if:** - Anyone at all from the North Melbourne area finished with matches that ghost after two messages and are after something more than a swipe can offer. - Professionals within North Melbourne bored of shallow connections that never lead anywhere and want to try something that actually works. - Women and men who live in North Melbourne who have had enough of swiping with nothing to show for it and are ready for a genuine first impression. **Here is how the evening goes** 1. **Select your age range** – via the link for your age group above, then complete the matching quiz, because registration and quiz together hold your seat. 2. **Show up on Zoom** – via your Zoom registration link at the right time, phone tablet or laptop all work equally well, and everything runs on the host's schedule from that point. 3. **Date** – focused private rounds with North Melbourne locals selected for your age group, as the host signals round starts and ends, because no round here is random — everyone was selected. 4. **Collect your mutual matches** – once it wraps we notify both sides of any mutual selection, with non-mutual picks remaining completely private, and the follow-up is yours to manage however feels right. **At a Glance** - **Format:** Structured over Zoom structured around guided private rounds, matched thoughtfully by age and personality data throughout. - **Where:** Fully remote — from whatever device you have handy, the only requirement is a device with a camera and internet, and at home or wherever you are most relaxed is fine. - **Host:** A dedicated host takes care of all the logistics from beginning to end, which makes the whole thing feel effortless — from opening to close everything is taken care of. - **Vibe:** Warm personal date rounds with locals from North Melbourne who skipped the apps, and the rounds go faster than you would think. - **Duration:** Somewhere around 75 minutes or so from opening to close, with most rounds feeling short. 💡 **Useful tip:** grab a glass of water before you start, which takes the pressure off in the early rounds, since everything else is taken care of by the host. --- ✨ Your next match could be one Zoom call away — lock in your spot above and you are in tonight. First round nerves always fade fast. 🎯 ✨

Join us for one hour of beach cleaning, socialising, and generally being a good person. It's a perfect time to head down to clean up the beaches that you love. Meeting Spot: Kerferd Rd Pier When: Every third Saturday, 9am - 10am Please arrive 850am for a 9am start! Bags provided. Please bring your own gloves if you like. Feel free to invite neighbours/family/friends/colleagues, etc to join in and lend a hand as we tidy up our beaches and bay!! 3205 Beach Patrol is a group that meets for One Hour each month to clear rubbish from South Melbourne Beach. Totally voluntary, totally optional, totally local. We meet every THIRD Saturday, same place, same time. Beach Patrol is a chain of volunteer community groups each defined by suburb, post code and t-shirt colour. Starting in 2009, by mid-2015 there were 18 groups running, covering over 50 km of beach across the top of Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay with approx. 1500 volunteers signed up to help keep our beaches clean.

Community Backyards Workshop Join us at the Ohio Herb Center in Gahanna to learn about sustainable home gardening. We can make small changes in our yards to make a BIG impact for a better environment and healthier waterways while saving money. This workshop is presented by Friends of Alum Creek and hosted by Ohio Herb Center. By attending, any participating community resident can receive a voucher for a rain barrel, compost bin, or native plants for attending. Vouchers are limited to one per household per year. Registration in advance is encouraged but NOT required. Click here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/65f65aw (Free Workshop Registration: Registration is free. Registering in advance provides your information to Franklin Soil and Water ahead of time, so when you come to the workshop, we will have your voucher ready for you when you arrive) * Location: Ohio Herb Center, 110 Mill St, Gahanna, OH 43230 * Date and time: Sat, May 23, 2026 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM * Organizer: The Community Backyards Program, (614) 486-9613, communitybackyards@franklinswcd.org **FAQs** **Our Community Backyards workshops are FREE and a great way to participate in the rebate program. Our workshops are typically 1 to 1 and a half hours long and held in-person. Our workshops cover the same content as the online course, but they are more detailed and allow the chance to ask questions and have discussions with the presenters and other residents. We occassionally have "advanced topics" classes where you dive deeper into one topic of Community Backyards such as invasive vs. native plants or rain gardens.** **Registration is encouraged but not required.** You can register in advance to receive your voucher at the workshop. If you don't register in advance, that's okay - you can still show up (unless otherwise noted - which is very rare) and sign up for a voucher at the class, and we will send you one via email or mail within a few business days after the workshop. **"Do I have to be a resident of that community to attend that workshop?"** Nope! Our workshops are open to everyone (unless otherwise noted - which is extremely rare). You can attend a workshop that best suits your schedule even if it is in a different community than your own. **"Why is registration closed?** Can I just show up?" Yes, you can show up without registering! We close registration typically 1-2 days before the workshop to give the vouchers and materials to the presenters. However, you are always welcome to just show up and fill out a short form to request a voucher at the workshop. If eligible, we will send one to you within 1-2 business days after the workshop. **Voucher note**: Classes are free for everyone but vouchers are for residents of Franklin county or participating community (list here: https://www.communitybackyards.org/participate) 2026 Participating Vendors: City Folk's Farm Shop, Fisher's Gardens, Leaves for Wildlife, Scioto Gardens, Hoover Gardens & Gift Center, and the FSWCD/SWACO Compost Bin Sale. *when redeeming your voucher at a vendor, Please bring a physical copy of your voucher to receive an immediate discount on your purchase. Additionally, to keep up with number of vouchers that are given out, we have changed the expiration date on the vouchers to 30 days

IMPORTANT INFO: I strongly suggest not reading anything about it online before seeing it. It's best viewed with no previous knowledge. This documentary contains crude terminology and deals with cyberbullying, which may be a trigger for some folks. AGAIN, PLEASE DO NOT EVEN READ ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU SEE IT. A very unusual choice for his group... Unknown Number: High School Catfish is an American [true crime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_crime "True crime") documentary film directed by [Skye Borgman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skye_Borgman "Skye Borgman") and released to [streaming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaming_media "Streaming media") on [Netflix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netflix "Netflix") on August 29, 2025. The documentary explores the events and investigation into an unknown person [cyberbully](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberbullying "Cyberbullying") and [harassing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harassment "Harassment") teenagers in [Beal City, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beal_City,_Michigan "Beal City, Michigan") using an unknown number via insults and sexual claims. It also explores the increasingly great impact of the harassment on the community, the eventual reveal of the culprit, and the trial that followed. Please be ready to discuss the movie by 7PM. We suggest arriving early enough to order and get food beforehand. Thanks. Unfortunately, it is only available on Netflix. If you would like to attend but do not have Netflix, say so and maybe we can figure something out.

**You're invited to join local Columbus animal advocates as we watch PETA's workshop together on cage-free campaigns. Free vegan pizza will be provided! After the workshop Q&A, we'll have a group discussion and brainstorm on future activism plans. Hope to see you there!** **Here are the details:** **WHEN: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 6pm EST** **WHERE: KTC Columbus** **If you cannot attend in person, you can still view the workshop virtually at https://www.facebook.com/events/1567122777711333** **Here's some background on the workshop:** **Please join us for an eye-opening online PETA Playbook discussion with PETA’s Associate Director of Vegan Campaigns, Amber Canavan, where we’ll ask the hard-hitting questions about the cage-free campaigns and their impact on both hens and vegan efforts.** **Whether you’re looking to strengthen your outreach or sharpen your messaging around the egg industry’s humane-washing tactics, this workshop will give you practical tools to help others understand what “cage-free” really means for hens and why the label is misleading.** **We’ll explore how to keep conversations respectful, fact-based, and focused on the animals’ reality while encouraging others to take effective action.** **Please join us for this important workshop to learn how you can cut through cage-free marketing and help animals.** **Come ready to learn, ask questions, and ignite your activism for animals!**

By popular demand, the group wanted to read and discuss the semi-autobiographical novel by Henri-Pierre Roche, that inspired the Truffaut movie we watched last year. The book is available through the Columbus Library's interlibrary loan system. They reported there are twenty-eight copies available in the state of Ohio. If you have a library card, you can file an interlibrary loan request here: https://www.columbuslibrary.org/library-services/ . There are also used copies available on Amazon and eBay for under twenty dollars. You may want to rewatch the movie after reading the book, so we can compare and contrast in our discussion. The Columbus Library has four copies on DVD, and it's streaming on HBOMax.

Community Backyards Workshop .Community Backyards Workshop - Westerville Join us for the Westerville Community Backyards workshop! This is a FREE class on how you can protect our waterways and environment with small changes in your gardening habits. We will discuss rain barrels, rain gardens, composting, and native plants. This workshop is presented by Friends of Alum Creek. By attending, any participating community resident can receive a voucher for a rain barrel, compost bin, or native plants for attending. Vouchers are limited to one per household per year. Registration in advance is encouraged but not required. * Location: Westerville Community Center, 350 N Cleveland Ave, Westerville, OH 43082 * Date and time: Sat, May 30, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM * Organizer: Community Backyards Program, (614) 486-9613, communitybackyards@franklinswcd.org (Free Workshop Registration: Registration is free. Registering in advance provides your information to Franklin Soil and Water ahead of time, so when you come to the workshop, we will have your voucher ready for you when you arrive) https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/h2w5ms8 **FAQs** **Our Community Backyards workshops are FREE and a great way to participate in the rebate program. Our workshops are typically 1 to 1 and a half hours long and held in-person. Our workshops cover the same content as the online course, but they are more detailed and allow the chance to ask questions and have discussions with the presenters and other residents. We occassionally have "advanced topics" classes where you dive deeper into one topic of Community Backyards such as invasive vs. native plants or rain gardens.** **Registration is encouraged but not required.** You can register in advance to receive your voucher at the workshop. If you don't register in advance, that's okay - you can still show up (unless otherwise noted - which is very rare) and sign up for a voucher at the class, and we will send you one via email or mail within a few business days after the workshop. **"Do I have to be a resident of that community to attend that workshop?"** Nope! Our workshops are open to everyone (unless otherwise noted - which is extremely rare). You can attend a workshop that best suits your schedule even if it is in a different community than your own. **"Why is registration closed?** Can I just show up?" Yes, you can show up without registering! We close registration typically 1-2 days before the workshop to give the vouchers and materials to the presenters. However, you are always welcome to just show up and fill out a short form to request a voucher at the workshop. If eligible, we will send one to you within 1-2 business days after the workshop. **Voucher note**: Classes are free for everyone but vouchers are for residents of Franklin county or participating community (list here: https://www.communitybackyards.org/participate) 2026 Participating Vendors: City Folk's Farm Shop, Fisher's Gardens, Leaves for Wildlife, Scioto Gardens, Hoover Gardens & Gift Center, and the FSWCD/SWACO Compost Bin Sale. *when redeeming your voucher at a vendor, Please bring a physical copy of your voucher to receive an immediate discount on your purchase. Additionally, to keep up with number of vouchers that are given out, we have changed the expiration date on the vouchers to 30 days

Mental Health, how do you understand it? How can you improve it? How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp. This group is hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Open to public: Friday, 5/15/26: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday 5/16/26: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Hosted by OSU The 2026 Chadwick Arboretum Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser Location: Lawn area south of the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center 2201 Fred Taylor Dr, Columbus, OH 43210 Spring Plant Sale Spring into greenery at Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens! Join us for our annual Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser and dive into a lush world of botanical delights. With over 16,000 fresh, exotic, and time-tested edible and ornamental plants, there's something for every green thumb! Experience the thrill of our tree and shrub auctions, where you can bid on unique specimens to enhance your garden sanctuary. Step into our Learning Lab, where engaging educational demonstrations on various garden topics will unfold throughout the three-day sale, enriching your knowledge and inspiring your green endeavors. Take part in an exciting, live auction offered each day, as well as a silent auction on Thursday and Friday. Explore vendor booths brimming with gardening essentials and delightful treasures. And while you shop 'til you drop, indulge in delectable treats from a delicious, local food truck. Proceeds from this event go directly to The Ohio State Chadwick Arboretum, student organizations, and local businesses alike. Come one, come all! Let's cultivate a brighter, greener future together. Credit/debit cards only.