morepraxis

It began this spring without explanation: fire hydrants, street signs and bicycles all over Park Slope and Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn were suddenly standing watch over their own distorted chalk outlines, as if anticipating some violent demise. Whoever did this left no clue other than an ambiguous signature: “�� Ellis G. 2007,” scrawled next to the chalk etchings.

Here are a few links and quotes from articles about the race violence in Sydney.

Personally I am not surprised that racism could motivate violence in Australian – Racism or patriot was a huge card for one nation and is played in our politics continually. You only need one friend of dark appearance trying to fly interstate to see racial profiling in action. This violence is a shame on us as humans. I pray that we find ways ‘to love our neighbour as our self’.

The Age National News

It is no use saying that we are born two thousand years too late to give room to Christ. Nor will those who live at the end of the world have been born too late. Christ is always with us, always asking for room in our hearts. Yet now it is with the voice of our contem- poraries that he speaks, with the eyes of store clerks, factory workers, and children that he gazes; with the hands of office workers, slum dwellers, and suburban housewives that he gives. It is with the feet of soldiers and tramps that he walks, and with the heart of anyone in need that he longs for shelter. And giving shelter or food to anyone who asks for it, or needs it, is giving it to Christ.

Dorothy Day

Post prayers for our world, countries, cities, families, friends and selves.

After the death of Nguyen Tuong Van in a Changi gallow yesterday, John Howard suggested that if there���s one thing to take away from the ordeal, it���s ���to stay away from drugs���. As if, somehow, drugs were the cause of his death.

I���m sorry, but despite Nguyen���s guilt – smuggling 396.2 grams of heroin – the only reason he died is because of state sanctioned murder. Nguyen���s body will return to Australia soon, minus the life that once sustained it. The Singapore Government have taken something which wasn���t theirs to take.

The moral of this story isn���t about drugs. It���s about justice; justice is not about restoring the balance via an eye for an eye (and really.. does 396.2 grams of heroin equate to the life of a person?). His death doesn���t serve as a deterrent to would-be mules, and does nothing to catch the powerful drug lords who will have no trouble finding and exploiting another desperate person for their purposes. For our Prime Minister to suggest that staying away from drugs is the Doogie Howser moral of the story is pathetic.

The moral for me is that countries willing to take the lives of their citizens, or the lives of those who pass through their borders; are countries to be avoided, and are not to be trusted (especially those that wax lyrical about ���the sanctity of human life���, proving themselves even more incapable of understanding the deeper issues).

The second white arm band day is this weekend.

I thought a space to promote any local activities/actions could help people decide what to go to. So if you have something on tell us.

Melbourne: 12.45, Friday December 9, State Library
Make Poverty History Trade Justice Walk. Join the caravan of donkeys at the State Library and walk for trade justice from the French to the UK consulate. At the Consulates we will undertake a symbolic dumping of agricultural products from our caravan of donkeys and make a presentation to Consulate staff. Launched by Andrew Hewett (Oxfam Australia Executive Director) – concludes 1:45pm at Treasury Gardens.