Racism at Port Augusta

Below is an email about current issues at Port Augusta. By the way the Mayor of Port Augusta is Joy Baluch (Lib). Who I’m sure would love a letter or two… (http://www.portaugusta.sa.gov.au/council/members.html)

Hi Everyone

Just a note to let you know that things are pretty tough in Port Augusta right now.

As you are probably aware Port Augusta has always been a meeting place for Aboriginal people. Long before non-Aboriginal people arrived here Aboriginal people from many different groups used to meet on the coast, especially in the summer months.

However, our racist leadership has now decided they are no longer allowed to do this.

A meeting on Friday with Police, Council and Aboriginal leaders was told that they are going to bring in the Star Force Police to move the people who currently meet on the coast (near the new foreshore development) and arrest them if necessary to ensure they no longer congregate there

The city manager is quoted as saying "we don’t want them in our town and we will get rid of them"

Another quote from the meeting was "the star force will come through like the Tsunami and clean up the rubbish"

I was not aware of the meeting and therefore not in a position to attend, however these quotes come from people who were in attendance.

Our town also seems to have a vigilante group of non-Aboriginal people who are attacking Aboriginal people in this town.

Our leaders do not wish to work through the issues
they do not want to listen to the people
the answer is simply to arrest them

Our local Minister with the Uniting Church Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress was himself arrested last week for being under the bridge where these people meet and he refused to move on when instructed.

I have just come back from a rally under the bridge where local people met in solidarity with the Aboriginal people who meet there. I have taken some hope from the people who gathered, but I fear for the safety of the Aboriginal people when the star force arrive and they are on there own

These people are the most vulnerable in our community - don’t our leaders have an obligation to them as well not just the racist population of this town?

Please pass this e-mail on throughout your networks and at least raise the awareness of the plight of the Aboriginal people in Port Augusta

Yours in solidarity

Gayle Mather
Australia - always was - always will be - Aboriginal land

Abortion Discussion

Recently people have been revisiting the debate on abortion. Some of these conversations have been about conservative politics and its love of the fifties while others have been worried about the ethics and rights of women and the unborn. The UCA has been talking about these issues for a while and has reminded us of some of this thinking

And here http://vic.uca.org.au/media/releases/2005/ from the Synod Committee on Bioethics who has specific concerns about late-term termination of pregnancy and makes the following statement to the church:
(a) That late-term termination of pregnancy, beyond 20 weeks gestation, should only be performed if at least one of the following indications is present:
(i) there is serious risk to the mother’s life;
(ii) there are foetal abnormalities that are incompatible with life;
(iii) the foetus has severe malformations. In these situations there are no hard and fast rules as to whether the foetus should or should not be aborted.
Judgments based on the best available scientific information, and ethical
and theological considerations, is required.
(b) That late-term termination should not be carried out for the purposes of sex selection.

And the Presidents response herehttp://nat.uca.org.au/news/mediareleases/2005/

I was wondering where your thinking is at with this issue?? Some thoughts running through my mind are:
When does life begin?
When does the value or preservation of one life overrule the life of another?
What is the role of the church?
What is the best way to care and support those in our midst struggling with abortion as an option?
What is the best way to care and support those who have had an abortion?

An Easter Installation

Looking for a different Easter worship experience? Cheryl from the UCA Alt Worship project is inviting people to a series of worship installations. Wednesday 23rd March, 5-9pm at Wesley Uniting Church, Lonsdale St in Melbourne.

"This worship will involve a series of installations or interactive spaces that will invite us to encounter the stories of Holy Week and Easter. The space will be open between 5 and 9. You are welcome to come for as much or as little time as you would like. And, of course, this worship is open to all. Invite anyone you think may need some space and time during Holy Week."

So consider yourselves invited.

Note: For those of you who have been to any of my art installations in the past and are thinking ‘Age probably is involved and will be using works I have seen…… ‘ Your wrong. I have no idea what they are. However, I am interested to hear what you thought.

Age