Rubeno Fernandez ASENSIO (16 Nov.)
The 3rd Sunday of each month, 5pm Sydney time (UTC+11)
PLEASE NOTE: Sydney is now following summer-time.
If you would like to attend, or to present something yourself, please write to:
prezidanto@esperanto.org.au
(NOTE: All lectures are in Esperanto.)
> 2024 Lecture series
> 2023 Lecture series
> 2022 Lecture series
> 2021 Lecture series
Program
15 February 2026
(To be annonced)
Previous sessions
16 November 2025
The Universal Declaration on Archives (or Put an archivist in your life) – Rubèn (Rubeno) Fernández ASENSIO (Catalonia)
Esperantists and archivists have one thing in common: a serious problem of public image. This lecture will illustrate this image with personal experiences, dictionary definitions and word associations, and contrast it with practical examples of the field of activity and need of archivists in and outside Esperanto. This will show that the core characteristic of archives is not antiquity. More than mere assistants to historians, archivists see themselves as guardians of rights and duties, capable of thinking more long-term than others. The International Council on Archives, and one of its main activities to spread public awareness of the importance of archives, will then be presented: the Universal Declaration on Archives. The origin of the Declaration in Quebec will be discussed – its development and successes, its Esperanto version will be presented, and finally its first sentence will be analysed, to demonstrate how international archival terminology is much more artificial than Esperanto itself, because it does not reflect real usage, and how it makes not only international but also interdisciplinary communication difficult.
19 October 2025
An hour with a Brown Stone – Mikaelo BRONŜTEJN (Russia)
Mikaelo Bronŝtejn, pseudonym Bruna Ŝtono, has been writing in Russian and Esperanto for 60 years. About a hundred of his books have been published in Russia and other countries – novels, short stories, collections of poems, essays, etc. In addition, he writes and translates songs, performed in many world Esperanto congresses and other mass Esperanto events, also on 6 CDs. During the performance were a few poems by Mikaelo, a captivating short story and a song.
(Unfortunately, due to a technical problem, this presentation was not recorded.)
21 September 2025
Musical secrets – Francesco FRANCESCHINI (Italy)
Listening to, and simple analysis of, a three-minute score written two centuries ago provides inspiration to discover how music, overcoming cultural and national barriers, is able to move people and touch everyone‘s feelings. Through an easy universal language Esperanto, you will understand some secrets of the other universal language, music, and become aware of its effectiveness as a means of global understanding.
Francesco is an Italian publicist in technical and sporting subjects, an author of popular educational works on programming, a music lover with a five-year visit to a music conservatory and, following the example of dear maestro Renato Corsetti, a disseminator of “la bona lingvo” in Asian countries, especially China. He learned Esperanto thanks to the teaching of Renato Corsetti, Mark Giraud, Anna Lowenstain and Trevor Steele.
17 August 2025
The age of electricity – Benno LANG (Australia)
Benno explored the modern magic of electricity, the most useful form of energy, and the solution to so many problems. We have had electricity for over two centuries. Now begins the true age of electricity!
20 July 2025
One hundred thousand kilometres with and for Esperanto – WON Daewon / MÁRKUS Gábor (Hungary)
Márkus Gábor visited a Japanese university on an Esperanto scholarship, received a doctorate in Japanese economics and, as a member of the Hungarian committee at the UEA and president of the Eurasian Cultural Centre, visited many countries on all five continents. An article about his activities appeared on pages 250-251 in the magazine Esperanto, with the title One hundred thousand kilometres for Esperanto. While travelling the world, he became acquainted with the culture, mindset, ideology and religion of various peoples, and became a member of the Audit Committee of the International Catholic Esperantist Union. For the past ten years or so, he has regularly attended and lectured at the Ǔonbulist meditation meetings in Korea. He also taught Esperanto at universities in Thailand, Korea, etc, and received the ǔonbulist name “Won Daewon” from the Grand Master of that organisation. He summarised his conclusions regarding religions and ways of thinking in his book, Voyages to the summit of Mount Fuji
15 June 2025
Mitsumasa Anno, Japanese children’s book author and illustrator – Nicole ELSE (Australia)
Mitsumasa Anno worked as a mathematics teacher for 10 years. Several of his books are maths-related and teach concepts in a very fun and simple way. His books have been translated into many languages. He has also written books that have no text at all. In this talk, Nicole spoke about 12 of his books.
18 May 2025
The Soroban: more than an abacus: research and practice – Moisés HERRERA (Colombia)
This presentation will explore the soroban, the Japanese abacus, from its history, culture and development, to its basic functionality, amazing capabilities and contemporary applications. Through examples and games, we will discover how this thousand-year-old tool continues to be used as an educational and mind-stimulating tool. The approach will be dynamic and aimed at awakening curiosity and fun for everyone.
20 April 2025
Art is like boxing – Jonathan COOPER (Australia)
Controversy in art is not a new phenomenon; it was happening as early as the Renaissance. This lecture will examine some of the issues that artists have disagreed and argued about for the past 550 years, and in the process, you will learn some important and interesting things about art. Jonathan worked at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, for over 30 years. Among the positions he held there were senior coordinator of education programs and website manager. He is now vice president of the Australian Esperanto Association and president of Esperanto NSW.
16 March 2024
Cisarua 2025: Asia and Oceania – Hoan Trần (Ĝojo) (Vietnam) and Arya Bhaskara Ferduzi (Indonesia)
The 81st International Youth Congress (IJK) will be held in Indonesia 9 – 16 August 2025. This is a perfect opportunity to spend the Australian winter in a tropical paradise, meet people from Asia and other parts of the world, and work together to strengthen our work in Oceania. Fellow Esperantists of all ages, language levels and continents are welcome to the IJK. Come to this information session to find out what wonders await you in Indonesia.
16 February 2025
Logical thinking TV quiz – Nicole ELSE (Australia)
Usually to do well in quizzes, you need to know a lot of facts about history, movies, celebrities, sports, etc. Not for this one; you just need to think logically and read the questions carefully. Nicole hopes that you will actually try to answer them. A good exercise for the brain.