UpperRoom - Ethical Consumption @ Age’s

December 3, 2007
6:30 pm	to	9:00 pm

This month the Upper Room Project meets at Age’s place not Shine.

A few reasons for the change in venue.

• As it is the Monday straight after praxis07 weekend we didn’t know how many would be up for another night together:)
• the topic is Ethical Consumption and Shine isn’t a fair trade/organic/etc player who last month double booked us with a party so we had to meet downstairs
• we have our own fair trade coffee and praxis wine if we do it ourselves with cafe>praxis
• plus it is a great opportunity to have a shared meal of ethical stuff as an end of year thing.

So we will have shared meal of foods brought by us that fit somewhere in the ethical consumption framework. Should be a fun way to engage the topic as we give reasons for our contribution.

Of course there will be info, video clips and art playing on a wall and some Christmas shopping ideas for a better world.

Email Age if you are coming so he gets a feel for numbers and food age@morepraxis.org.au

[Read more]

AI - Stop Violence Against Women

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is a global campaign which sees more than 130 countries taking collective action to Stop Violence Against Women.The campaign starts on 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. Find out what’s on and get involved, register an event or take action.

Vote With Your Life - Poll Results

So we have 41 surveys cast and the results look like this

votewithyourlife.htm

I found the results for ‘whose views our ministers represents’ and ‘what stops us’ the most interesting.

Vote With Your Life

Alternative Polling Booth - Vote with your Life

This election/term why not commit to “being the change you want to see in the world” no matter who gets in.

This action is designed to give people a chance to comment on the political system in Australia and to reflect and commit to being a part of the change they want to see in their communities/world. For those who are donkey voting, or not voting, this is your opportunity to register your dissent. Online alternative polling booth here

Ok guys we are meeting at

300 Flinders st outside the voting centre

10am-1pm (Phil’s mob will be their earlier I believe)

Sat 24th (der)

We will have an alternative voting booth for the survey, action postcards, info on direct democracy and policies plus our cards with some groups that people can join to “be the change we want to see in the world”.

So whose in?

Vote With Your Life - Groups

Below is a list of groups and agencies that may be a first step in helping you build a better world.

Feel free to add links to groups I have missed or am unaware of.

amnesty.org.au- defending human rights and dignity

anz.jesusradicals.com/ South Pacific Christian Anarchist (SPCA)

avaaz.org -global campaigns (Avaaz means “voice” in many languages)

closethegap.com.au - closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians

getup.org.au - grass-roots community advocacy organisation

greenpeace.org.au - environmental non-violent action and education

justact.org.au - UCA monthly SMS alert on a different social injustice action.

makepovertyhistory.com.au - global development campaign for the poorest countries in the world (fairer trade, more aid & debt reduction)

morepraxis.org.au - UCA online community around spirituality, social action and involvement

tear.org.au - Christian - transformation, empowerment, advocacy and relief

rac-vic.org - refugee action collective (vic)

wecan.be - global web-based campaign to “be the change”

or go and join that group you always said you would join if you had time

Democracy links

democratic.audit.anu.edu.au/ - ANU audit of Australia as a democratic society

Try searching en.wikipedia.org for Participatory Democrac and Representative Democracy

you can find the online alternative polling booth at http://morepraxis.votewithyourlife.sgizmo.com

and the results of the polling here

votewithyourlife.htm

So RU coming 2 Praxis?

Well praxis07 is only 2weeks away!

Time to think of all the cool stories about your year, grab your propaganda and to look forward to hanging with our tribe at the lodge. I’m getting excited about drinking/making coffee and talking about life and the universe with everyone, and the campsite pool is looking good. Maybe a bit of aquatic theology?

So it looks like about 40 people are coming to praxis07. This includes a fair number of people who are yet to put in their rego forms and pay…. If you think that is you then you would be right (Campsite need info Tues)

We have a few families, some couples and individuals so a good mix really. Also a fair mix of different contexts and perspectives. I think this will be a good crowd for our first gathering like this.

Musicians consider yourselves invited to bring your instrument as there is a stage with a time slot for you. I’m expecting JB3 crossed with Jack Johnson and fused with world music from around da globe. Also, if you have music/songs that you use in church about justice, faith and hope then Jas’s elective would love to see them.

Kids and kids at heart may like to bring a few photos of family, community, where they live and play for use in the art elective (so not photos you expect back in same condition

draft program

Raize Awareness

November 18, 2007

7:00 pm

“Raize is a group of ten talented muso’s ranging in age from 17-28 who live on the Mornington Peninsula. The group forms part of the musical side of the Somers Camp leadership team, and decided around 16 months ago to use their abilities and their passion for creating a great sound for more than one week a year, and start a band. They have practiced weekly ever since! Raize perform mainly original songs that aim to create an inspiring worship experience, that can be both loud and lively and reflective in equal measures, geared towards the youth of the Uniting Church. Apart from having a lot of fun, Raize plays music that offers a way to connect with God for those who are making the first tentative steps on their faith journey as well as those who are more comfortable in their personal relationship with God. Raize aims to play at NCYC 2009, but in the meantime are available for worship at your church as either a full band, or acoustic group. They can be contacted at www.raize.com.au and you can check them out at www.myspace.com/raizeband
Their first three-track EP is going to be launched at 7pm on the 18th of November at High St Uniting Church’s ‘Revival’ service in Frankston (and they are very excited!). “

NT Intervention letter/web action

http://www.australiafair.org.au

 In recent months the Commonwealth Government has rolled out its intervention into the Indigenous communites of the Northern Territory. This intervention is distressing to many people in the communities because it is undermining their capacity to positively shape their lives for the future. In July the Congress came to the Assembly Standing Committee and asked that efforts be made to bring this issue to the forefront of the minds of Australian voters. It is also hoped that by raising this matter with members of Parliament and candidates at this time it will assist us to progress the discussion after the election - irrespective of who wins power.

Attached are two letters. One is from Rev Shayne Blackman as National Administrator of the UAICC and Lin Hatfiled Dodd as National Director of UnitingCare Australia outlining what has been done in response to the July ASC decisions and also how you can be involved in a campaign through a web based strategy and letter writing (with australiafair.org.au) A draft letter to Federal Members/candidates is also attached for your use.

 jointletteranddraftfedmember.pdf

 

 

alternatives2empire conference

November 16, 2007

to

November 17, 2007

ALTERNATIVES2EMPIRE ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE

Friday 16 November 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm and Saturday 17 November 9.00 am – 5.30 pm

Uniting Church Centre, 130 Little Collins Street, Melbourne
Friday 16 November – Project Launch Saturday 17 November – Conference

The Another World is possible conference invites people of all faiths and no particular faith to create a shared spiritual and moral vision of a new economic, political and cultural order; which rejects greed, domination and violence, respects the rights and dignity of all humanity; seeks sustainable and just stewardship of the Earth’s ecological systems; and which understands the sacredness and unity of all life and creation.

The conference will consider the fundamental questions of human existence: Who are we? What is our purpose on this earth? How should we live? How should we address the challenges that face humanity at this critical moment of its history? Only when we consider these questions can we begin the task of building political, economic and cultural institutions and policies that overcome the structures of greed, domination and violence.

The conference will provide an opportunity for the sharing of stories, ideas and experiences which offer a glimpse of how a different world can be realised.

Friday and Saturday $60 full $40 concession Saturday only $50 full $30 concession Friday only $10 full $7 concession. All prices include GST. Limited scholarships available.

Registration forms and enquiries – W: www.alternativestoempire.org
E: info@alternativestoempire.org

Daz’s take on Compass’s “UNITING CHURCH”

I have had a few conversations today about the program last night on Compass about the UCA,  Daz has captured much of what people were taking with me about.  so here is the intro and a link. Thanks Daz for taking the time to write about it.

“After watching Compass last night and their piece on the Uniting Church “a Church Divided” I was pretty miffed, it was lacking oh so much that they could have explored but chose not to in order to fulfill the initial premise, that our church, the Uniting Church is divided. After I calmed down a little I felt the need to respond to some points which I felt made the piece almost a complete waste of space, the following is my letter to Compass + an addition after an email conversation with a friend…”

 Continue reading here

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