Steve B - Video Interview on Poverty
October 31, 2006
Steve Bradbury (National Director of Tear & Chairman of The Micah Challenge)
Talking about how he personally faces the challenge/issue of local, national and global poverty, what is importnat to understand about poverty and how do people begin to engage with helping to end poverty.
12 minutes - 12.36MB
Download here or PODCAST with your fave on-demand app using the link over there ->
CPT - Hebron Refleciton: War is not healthy
October 29, 2006
CPTnet- 24 October 2006
by Jan Benvie
I have grown sad here in Hebron. As the 1960s poster says, “War is Not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things.”
Many Israeli soldiers are young men and women undertaking mandatory military service. The Israeli government sends them to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, gives them a gun, and puts them in positions of authority. A soldier from “Breaking the Silence’” (a group of discharged soldiers) has testified, “In Hebron, I was disturbed and frightened most of all by the unregulated and uncontrolled power, and the things it made people do.” (For the complete testimony of this anonymous soldier, see http://www.oznik.com/words/040630_a.html.)
I witnessed this unregulated power a few days ago when soldiers entered a Palestinian home. From an open window, we heard the cries of women, the voices of men and the shouting of soldiers. They kept the family prisoners in their home for almost two hours. The commander of the soldiers, angry at our presence, threatened to arrest us. When I questioned the legality of what he was doing, he said “I am the law.”
A few days ago, three Israeli settler boys attacked another CPTer and me as we walked past an Israeli settlement enclave. They threw stones at us, hit us, and kicked us. Nothing surprising in this context, you may think. Perhaps not, but what amazed me was the total lack of response from the many adult settlers witnessing this attack. I later saw a young four or five-year-old settler boy sitting alone at a military checkpoint. He looked at the young Palestinian men soldiers were detaining, and drew his finger across his throat several times, to signify cutting their throats.
Last week a young Palestinian boy, pretending to be a reporter, came up to me with his plastic juice bottle microphone. He aggressively thrust his “microphone” towards me and barked out his question. Female CPTers, especially younger ones face sexual harassment from other young Palestinian men in the street.
Israeli peace activists speak of their concern about the effect of the occupation on their young people who serve in the army. Palestinian friends are concerned that their boys and young men are becoming more aggressive and sexually harassing Palestinian girls and women, as well as internationals.
War is not healthy. A short time here in Hebron with the Israeli soldiers, settlers and Palestinians has confirmed that for me.
However, amid the sadness, Israelis and Palestinians who are concerned about the effects of occupation on their young people give me hope. I am happy to stand side by side with Israelis working to end the occupation and happy to support Palestinian groups working with young people here in Hebron. That is why I am in CPT.
Fairwear - Action
October 27, 2006
Fairwear needs your help!
The Uniting Church, with other Christian denominations has been involved for more than 10 years in a campaign to end the exploitation of homeworkers. There are up to 300,000 homeworkers, sometimes called outworkers, in the garment industry in Australia. Most clothing made in Australia is made by homeworkers - women sewing from home for as little as $3 an hour, without holiday pay, sick pay, and superannuation or workers compensation. State and Commonwealth legislation provides some safeguards against exploitation, but the fashion houses of Victoria need to lift their game!
As Melbourne gears up for the biggest race of the year, big label companies who make the fashion on the field will face court for breaches to the Federal Clothing Award (breaching the Clothing Award means outworkers suffer real risk of exploitation - not receiving proper wages or conditions).
JOIN US: in exposing companies who disregard the rights of their workers and outworkers and to demand that companies treat their workers ethically.
WHAT: FairWear will stage an action highlighting the names the major labels who will be prosecuted. We will create a vibrant racing carnival with men and women dressed up to go to the races, paper horses, champagne and a cup outside the courthouse. In the middle of the scene, an outworker will sit on a machine sewing away.
WHERE: Outside Federal Court, Corner William and Latrobe Street, City.
WHEN: 9:30 am – 10am Thursday, 2nd November
WE NEED: YOU and your friends, to come dressed in your best (flowers and hats, suits and dresses) as if you were going to the races. (WE have fancy hats you can wear if you don’t have your own).
If you would like to come along, but you don’t want to dress up, please come in solidarity to hold our banner or a placard to complete the scene.
RSVP/CONTACT: Daisy Gardener on 0415 344 717 / 9251 5270 - let Daisy know if you can play one of the carnival - goers or just support by holding a banner.
Solar Energy in Australia
October 26, 2006
A quick and simple way to ‘have your voice’ heard. Individuals can and do make a difference - it only takes a minute.
The morning Sunrise program on Channel 7 is running an online petition called ‘Cool the Globe’ to lobby the government against the withdrawal of rebates for solar power - yes, they are going to do away with solar power rebates in 2007!
This petition has around 100,000 signatures so far, which seems low considering the population of Australia, so any addition is a really good thing.
http://www.sunrisefamily.com.au/current/petition/
ACOSS Action - Dental Care
October 25, 2006
Dear Action Network Member,
Thank you to all members who contributed their thoughts on what is essential to make Australia fair.
One of the services many of you mentioned was unfair was dental care. Currently many low income Australians cannot afford to have their teeth fixed and suffer in pain.
ACOSS is calling on the Federal Government to take action to make dental care more affordable and accessible for low income Australians. We propose that the Federal Government fund a free course of basic dental services every two years for low income Australians.
Please go to www.acoss.org.au and send a letter to your local Member of Parliament expressing your support for urgent action to improve access to dental care.
Together we can make Australia fair. Kind regards,
ACOSS Team.
AIDS & Advent Art Resources
October 20, 2006
I have been busy with the CTM and UCA commissioning two projects from Zoriah, the 2006 photojournalist of the year. And a really nice bloke. What we have created are expositions of humanitarian photography and video clips for use in worship and reflection for congregations and groups.
The Human Face of AIDS: is a collection of twenty photos from Asia and the West that share the common humanity in the faces of people with AIDS. The large image exposition will be available for hire for $30, a CD of the video reflection will cost $10 and a set of 20 A3 Prints with a CD will cost $40.
As World AIDS day is Dec 1 these resources may be a way for your group to engage with this issue. See the exposition at the Upper Room Project - held upstairs in the Shine Café, 74 Kingsway, Glen Waverley – Monday Nov 6th, 6-8:30pm.
Hope.Peace.Love.Joy: is four series of works from Zoriah and four video clips for use during Advent. These themes utilise Zoriah’s photos from the Boxing Day tsunami and the
rebuilding one year on; images of recent conflict in the Middle East; the amazing spirit of people living in poverty, conflict and disaster zones and the love of families and those caring for loved ones.
The large image expositions will be available to hire for $30, the CD of the five video reflections will cost $30 and the four series as A3 Prints with the CD will cost $120. Individual Advent series (prints and CD) $40 each. See the exposition at the Upper Room Project - held upstairs in the Shine Café, 74 Kingsway, Glen Waverley - Monday Dec 4th, 6-8:30pm.
Download an order form
Latin American & Asia Pacific Solidarity Gathering - Sun22
October 20, 2006
Sunday 22 October
Organised by Latin American Solidarity Network. International guests include representatives from Bolivia, Venezuela, Fiji, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Chile, Philippines and more.
ENQUIRIES: email lasnet@latinlasnet.org or visit http://www.latinlasnet.org
4 Amnesty International - Actions
October 19, 2006
Asylum seekers out of reach on Nauru
Eight people of the Rohingya minority from Myanmar (Burma) reached Ashmore Reef around 15 August and were detained on Christmas Island until 17 September. From there, the asylum seekers were transferred to detention in Nauru. Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Amanda Vanstone, could have chosen to exercise her discretion and permit the asylum seekers to reside in Australia whilst awaiting the processing of their asylum claims, however, the Minister did not do so.
Amnesty International has serious concerns over the human rights situation in Myanmar.
Forcible return of Eritrean refugees
Take action to assist 300 Eritrean refugees who were rounded up and detained by Libyan authorities in early August. The refugees included 80 women and five children aged between two and six years. Without international action it’s feared that the refugees may be forcibly returned to Eritrea, where they’re at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.
Refugee handed back to Chinese authorities
Husein Dzhelil fled China in the mid-1990s as a refugee and resettled in Canada. In March 2005, he was detained while visiting his relatives in Uzbekistan and at the end of June 2006 he was handed over to the Chinese authorities.
Act now and call for Husein Dzhelil to be removed from the risk of torture or ill-treatment.
Get your picnic rug ready for Refugee Week
To celebrate refugees, their contribution to Australian society and their involvement in our community, Amnesty International Australia is encouraging people to host picnics during Refugee Week from 22 - 28 October. Picnics are being held in local parks and schools and some capital cities will be hosting MEGA picnics!
While these events aim to be fun and positive, the serious side still remains. Refugee Week is a time to consider refugees facing hardship. Our focus this year is on those refugees who hold temporary protection visas and who are separated from their families. Contact your local Activist Resource Centre to find out about Refugee Week events planned in your area.
Thank you for your continued support of refugees and Amnesty International Australia.
Sophie Peer
Refugee Campaign Coordinator
Intro to Christian nonviolence - Sat 21
October 18, 2006
Saturday October 21
9am-5pm
The Den @ Urban Seed
116 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne
Workshop exploring the spirituality and practice of active nonviolence and planning some Christian responses to the G20
RSVP to Simon smoyle@gmail.com
Information about G20: http://www.stopg20.org/ and http://www.g20.org/Public/index.jsp
Poverty in Oz & Malicious Marketing - Wed 18
October 17, 2006
Poverty in Australia Today
Wednesday the 18th October - 6pm-9pm
Speakers: - Right Reverend John McIntyre, the new Anglican Bishop of Gippsland & Antony McMullen, Social Justice Officer, Justice and International Mission Unit, Uniting Church (Victoria & Tasmania).
To be held at the Inverloch Anglican Church at The Crescent Meal provided, cost for attending: $12.00
Contact: - Ailsa Drent, the Inverloch Social Justice Task Group Committee: 0419 872 532
Malicious Marketing?
Wednesday 18 October, 6.30pm start
Wesley Uniting Church, 148 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
UNICEF research estimates approximately two million babies die each year because they are not adequately breastfed, but many people believe that the problems have been fixed.
Features: Annelies Allain & Yeong Joo Kean - International Baby Food Action Network
Refreshments provided
Supported by - Victorian Human Rights Education Committee
For further information contact (03) 9251 5271 or jim@vic.uca.org.au
Cheers - Antony
Recent Comments