A Spirituality for Christmas?

Below are some of the quotes from Gustavo Gutierez I will be using in my elective/chat at NCYC in Perth. Worth a ponder this Chrissy too. Have a great Christmas break.
May the peace of Christ disturb you this Christmas.
Age

“To place oneself in the kingdom means to participate in the struggle for liberation of those oppressed by others….. If this option seems to separate them from the Christian community, it is because many Christians, intent on domesticating the Good News, see them as wayward and perhaps even dangerous. If they are not always able to express in appropriate terms the profound reasons for their commitment, it is because the theology in which they were formed - and which they share with other Christians - has not produced the categories necessary to express this option, which seeks to respond creatively to the new demands of the Gospel and the oppressed…..

But theological categories are not enough. We need a vital attitude, all embracing and synthesizing, informing the totality as well as every detail of our lives; we need a “Spirituality.” Spirituality, in the strict and profound sense of the word is dominion of the spirit. If “the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:32), and the Spirit “will guide you into all truth” (Jn 16:13) and will lead us to complete freedom….. the freedom to love and enter into communion with God and with others. It will lead us along the path of liberation because “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2Cor 3:17)

Yesterdays Action Pix

Here are a couple of the pictures from yesterdays action - Im behind the ‘Stop Sweat Shop’ placard

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Below is the write up from http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/12/134274.php

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A 2yr olds Nativity and a 6yr olds hope…

As many know I have very cool and cute kids. I have two Christmas highlights from our mob for our pondering pleasure.

Above is a picture of our nativity as set up by our 2yr old twin girls. JJ (y6yrs) had originally set it up “properly” demonstrating the enculturation of our son then the girls raided it or has JJ said “got it wrong”. Joseph is under the stars; two wise men are together with the shepherd boy and Mary is showing baby Jesus to the animals while a wise man looks on. When asked about the deep theological significance of this arrangement Jazz answered BAA, and Chloé replied “Eeyore” and then both pointed out “Baby”

The second highlight was during dinner. We have been lighting candles in each week of advent one for hope, peace, love and joy as a family ritual. Each night we light the candles during dinner and ask a question about the idea/theme of whatever week it is. The first night James lit the ‘hope’ candle. We asked him what do you hope for? He replied, “I hope that all the people in the whole wide world are nice to each other.” Lynd and I said we couldn’t top that we would stick with his hope.

Carolling of a Different kind - Tues 19

Hi all

Daisy Gardener (FairWear Victoria Coordinator) and I are organising some Christmas carols with a difference.

Church groups from across the denominations have been supportive of the FairWear campaign over many years.

We plan to sing a few songs at a fashion shop that has been ‘more naughty than nice’ in relation to homeworkers. This will occur in the GPO building in the city at 1pm, Tuesday the 19th of December. Our songs will be:

The Twelve Days of Sweat Shopping;
God Rest Ye Weary Labourers; and,
Jingle Bells (with a twist).

At this point we have interest from Urban Seed (Christian not-for-profit social justice organisation with Baptist roots) and Union Solidarity.

We would like to know if you could come along. The Carols will take less than one hour to do.

If you can come along please email me back before 11am, Monday the 18th (next Monday).

Those who email me their interest by this time will receive a reply email confirming the event by 3pm on the 18th.

Hope to hear from you – Antony

For more information about the FairWear campaign to end exploitation of home and sweatshop workers go to http://www.fairwear.org.au/engine.php

antony.mcmullen@vic.uca.org.au

Tell Starbucks to Give Ethiopian Farmers their Fair Share

Each year, coffee companies make billions of dollars. Starbucks alone earned almost $5.8 billion in net revenues during the first three quarters of 2006.

With as many as 15 million Ethiopians dependent on coffee, Ethiopia has decided to get its farmers more of what they deserve. The country’s government has asked Starbucks to sign a licensing agreement that will allow Ethiopia to control the names of its coffees. That way, Ethiopia can help determine an export price that makes sure farmers see a larger share of the profits enabling them to feed their children, send them to school and get them better healthcare.

Oxfam and a coalition of allies are asking Starbucks to sign this agreement. According to one coalition member, control of the name brands could increase Ethiopia’s coffee export income by more than $88 million annually. This money could go a long way to help lift millions of Ethiopians out of poverty.
So please, help us convince Starbucks to sign this agreement with Ethiopia. Poor farmers deserve a fair share of the profits.

Take action: email Starbucks CEO Jim Donald: http://act.oxfamamerica.org/campaign/starbucks_mtf

For more general information about where you can go to buy fair trade coffee: http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/mtf/fairtrade/

Stop Violence Against Philippine Garment Workers

Bishop Ramento killed

The Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania has been highlighting human rights abuses in the Philippines (including murders) of workers in its partner church, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Many of these church workers are involved in defending basic labour rights. Furthermore, the Uniting Church is a member of the FairWear Campaign to end exploitation of garment workers (particularly homeworkers). FairWear often supports activity by the European-based Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC). The CCC is currently working on stopping violence against Philippine garment workers. The CCC is asking that people concerned with the situation in the Philippines support garment workers in the Philippines, whose attempts to organize in defence of their rights are currently met with repression and extreme violence. The incidents mentioned below strongly suggest that the Philippine authorities not only condone acts of union repression, but are also reportedly perpetrators of extreme violence against union representatives and other workers’ advocates. Philippine labour organizations call upon the international community to support their struggle.

Recent violent incidents include:

• The shooting of Gerardo Cristobal, a former union president and member of the Solidarity of Cavite Workers (SCW), a labour-related NGO;

• The brutal murder of Bishop Alberto Ramento of the Philippine Independent Church (the United Church of Christ in the Philippines enjoys a good relationship with this church), workers’ rights defender and chairman of the board of the Workers Assistance Center, Inc, a non-governmental labour institution; and,

• The continuous violence against strikers at two garment factories in the Cavite export processing zone: Chong Won Fashion Inc., producing for such major retailers as Wal Mart, Target and Mervyn’s, and Phils. Jeon Garment Inc., producing for such brands as Byford, DKNY, CNI Los Angeles, Dreamstation, Hanes and Bobson.

More information online: http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent/06-11-21.htm
Take action now at: http://www.cleanclothes.org/urgent/06-11-21.htm#action

Also please note current UCA Justice and International Mission letter writing campaign regarding the murder of Bishop Ramento and another IFI Priest who was murdered a few days after Bishop Ramento. Please email Mark Zirnsak mark.zirnsak@vic.uca.org.au if you would like a copy of this two-page letter writing guide.

E-Card the PM & local MP’s this Christmas

“Christmas is the season for giving, so ask your politicians to help Make Poverty History as they plan for the coming year and finalise the 2007 federal budget.

Choose a card from the images below, then simply enter your postcode in the search field to add your local MPs’ email address. Either use the message already in the box below or delete this text and use the tips at the bottom of this page to write your own. Here
Alternatively, choose a card from the images below and then select ‘Download print version’. You can then print the card, write your Christmas message and send it to the Prime Minister and/or your Member of Parliament. You can find the mailing address of all Australian politicians by visiting the Australian Electoral Commission’s website.”

Or use our morepraxis list here

Asylum Seeker Christmas Cards

The Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project have Christmas cards for sale to raise funds for asylum seekers with no form of income or healthcare. They are $10 per pack of ten plus $4.00 p + h.

The cards include art work done by Asylum Seeker Children.

If you would like to buy any please contact
Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project
Unit 2 - 579 Queensberry Street
North Melbourne 3051
9326 8245
Thank you very much for your continued support

Protecting Rights in a Climate of Fear

6th Annual Human Rights Oration
Wednesday 13 December, 12noon
Zinc, Federation Square, cnr Swanston and Flinders Streets, Melbourne

Since September 11 2001, governments in the Western world have adopted the rhetoric of war to justify a retreat from the protection of rights. The erosion of basic rights has advanced rapidly, and with it have come increasing threats to the rule of law.

EOCV invites you to hear Julian Burnside QC deliver this year’s Human Rights Oration as we mark the United Nations Human Rights Day.

REGISTER: by Thursday 7 December
ENQUIRIES: Ellen Orm on 9281 7147 or email ellen.orm@eoc.vic.gov.au

Funerals - UCA, Oz Flag & RSL

Hi guys thought others may be interested in the news coverage UCA is getting around the flag and funerals again. It would probably not surprise many that this issue has been very unfortunate, and in most cases misreported. The family of the deceased person (an RSL Digger) is most upset at their treatment in the media and the misrepresentation of the service that was held in his honour.

Below is the UCA and families media releases. You can download them here with the statement of events.
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