World Aids Day - FeatureClip
November 30, 2008
A global disease needs a global/local response
http://www.vicaids.asn.au/content/default.asp
vic aids council link list here
http://www.straightarrows.org.au/
positive living - http://napwa.org.au/pl
People Living with HIV/AIDS Victoria http://www.plwhavictoria.org.au/default.htm
the plwha links page is also full of links for more info here
Iranian trade unionist to be hanged today
November 27, 2008
Urgent request from Labour Start
This morning I received news that jailed Iranian teacher union activist
Farzad Kamangar may be hanged within the next few hours.
According to the Education International, he has been taken from his
cell in Tehran’s Evin prison in preparation for execution. The guards
have told him he is about to be executed and they are making fun of him,
calling him a martyr.
We need your help and we need it right now.
Send off your message to the Iranian president:
http://www.labourstart.org/farzad
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=917&theme=rights&country=iran
(Something funny was happening with the link - Added 2 more-Age)
Pass on the this message to everyone you know who might support this
campaign.
We may only have a few hours left.
I know that I can count on your help. Thank you.
Eric Lee
Buy Nothing Day08
November 25, 2008
| November 29, 2008 |
Why do you buy?
Once upon a time, we used to buy what we needed, period.
Now that we have all we need, we buy for other reasons: to impress each other, to fill a void, to kill time. Buy Nothing Day is a simple idea: try not to shop for a day, and see how your view of our world changes.
Where does all this stuff come from?
Where will it go?
Why do we buy it?
Aren’t there better ways of spending our time?
About Buy Nothing Day
Quick Facts
Purpose
Provide a moment of pause in the production-consumption routine. Find alternatives to a shopping-centered life-style. Draw attention to the social, economic, environmental and psychological effects of overconsumption. Promote ecological economics (local and environmentally responsible business, non GDP indicators of wealth).
more?? http://www.buynothingday.info/
Take action for the Word - Holy Hardware
November 13, 2008
Word Bookstores Pty Ltd is a high-profile and successful Christian retailer involved in the selling of a range of products made in China where there are documented cases of gross disregard for the fundamental human dignity of working people.
The Justice & International Mission Unit of the Uniting Church in Australia has repeatedly tried to contact this company to start a dialogue about these issues; but there has been no response. In contrast, UniChurch Books and the Central Catholic Bookstore (both in Melbourne) have responded favourably.
Just because an item is made in China does not mean it is made under gross exploitation; however, without independent verification everyone is in the dark. We would just like to talk.
So we need your help. Could you send an email via our handy Just Holy Hardware website?
Much appreciated!
UpperRoom - Update - David Karoly
November 7, 2008
As of this morning Prof David Karoly will be attending the UpperRoom project on this Monday Night.
“There aren’t many people on the planet that know more about climate change than Australian climatologist Professor David Karoly.
His work with the Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change brought him international recognition. Now, as a Federation Fellow at the University of Melbourne, his expertise is back in Australia … and he’s determined to make a difference.” ABC-Catalyst
The inconvenient truth will be playing as we advertised earlier but now we can confirm that during the show we will be having a conversation and live commentary with David. 
This is the night to bring your questions and friends who are interested in climate change and the environment.
more links
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change
The University of Melbourne, Earth Sciences
National Snow and Ice Data Centre
I am worried about being involved in the political stuff at Converge - NCYC09.
October 29, 2008
This is a question that is being heard from NCYC delegates as their pick their submersion activities. And has found its way back to me. Mainly because I am close and easy to reach but also because about four years ago I floated the idea of a day of action and service demonstrating the good news.
The question comes in a few forms …. I am scared of being arrested, yelled at, looked at…. I don’t know enough to be interviewed about what I think, I don’t know enough about what I am interested in……
The fact that you are worried is good. (Smart people count the costs.)
The realisation that you don’t know enough about the cause you support or are interested in is good. (looook haarder Simba)
The truth is that which you fear is an illusion.
What the question and fear shows about us is important. We fear the unknown. We fear engaging politically because of the costs. We sing about risking the way of Jesus, taking the back roads, A God of justice, etc but our fear can stop us. We fear the power of others and we fear that we are going to be revealed as not who we say we are. What great realisations and challenges to our faith we are having already from Converge NCYC09 and it hasn’t even begun!!!
I say to you Fear Not.
Fear not because the unknown you fear is an illusion. In fact the reality is that most political action/stunts are peaceful, creative, fun and a cool story in hindsight.
Fear not because many of the activities are not political actions but service focused.
Fear not because we are with you. The organisers of the actions and services are happy for you to direct people/media to them with talk at a deeper level.
Fear not because it is new to you but not to the organisers. Some even get to do meaningful stuff like this for a living.
Fear not because people who know a lot about the issues will be running electives on them.
Fear not because reality of the service and actions we are engaging in will not have arrestable components.
Fear not because the realisation that you have power/influence to worry a security guard a sweatshop business or the government forces because you care deeply about people/an issue is liberating.
Fear not because speaking truth to power, standing up for people’s rights to a full life is a prophetic place of closeness with our God.
Fear not clap* clap* clap* for I am with you says the Lord (just wanted to get that song stuck in your head)
Fear not because your fear this is the reason we need to do this.
After NCYC09 when a person asks you if you would like to help clean up a creek with the local greenies, join an action to make poverty history or the like- you will have at least one more reference point. Your fear will be different, maybe gone; maybe a fear for the people involved in the issue will outweigh your personal fears. For certain it will feel different. This experience joins with all our other small steps that free us to engage our faith to make a better world.
Converge is all about thinking, acting and reflecting on the Good News. The themes of NCYC for years have been about risking the way of Jesus of personal and social transformation. Remember themes like Agents of Change, Now is the Time, Shaking the foundations, songs like crossroads- ‘takin the back roads’.. Well this year is no different just the location has moved to Melbourne which has good spaces to demonstrate this Goodnews.
So please don’t let fear stop you, join us and maybe bring even more of your friends.
Cya there maybe grab a coffee with me to chat further.
Age
Adrian Greenwood
Discipleship Educator - Young Adults
UCA - Vicmania
Part of the Submersion Team
morepraxis network in dots
October 23, 2008
Hi guys. Mike set up googleanalytics a week ago so now we can watch dots grow! (plus all the other features)
So here is the picture. See if you appear.
Just OZ
One week of morepraxis
The World
morepraxis world in a week
Police spying on activists like us
October 16, 2008
Here is an article in the Age with a photo of friends like Mark
VICTORIA Police’s secret intelligence unit has infiltrated Melbourne’s activist and community groups for two years to gather information on protests against the Iraq War, Japanese whaling and a weapons exhibition.
Reigniting civil liberties concerns about police spying, an officer from the police Security Intelligence Group has infiltrated groups such as Animal Liberation Victoria, Stop the War Coalition, Unity for Peace and Socialist Alternative.
The officer, who posed as a vegan, left-wing activist, has also had close contact with representatives of church and student groups involved in anti-war demonstrations. So successful was his operation that the organising committee for this year’s Palm Sunday peace march in Melbourne appointed him its minute-taker at meetings.
Welcome to Anti-Poverty Week
October 13, 2008
| October 12, 2008 | to | October 18, 2008 |
Anti-Poverty Week is an Australia-wide initiative that began several years ago and continues to grow.
This website provides a place where people who are interested in the Week can:
- find out about activities being held during the Week.
- find out ways of joining in the Week
- access resources about issues of poverty and hardship
- get information about useful contacts.
Click here for downloadable posters, flyers and other promotional material about the Week.
live and give
October 9, 2008
| October 31, 2008 |
Join the generous revolution - give away
Idea in a nutshell. - ‘Live & Give’
Join with other youth groups/church groups/action groups to go ‘trick or treating’ on Halloween to collect non-perishables. Phone cards, met cards, food or toiletries are a great way to support people who have no income to buy the basic things we take for granted.
This will be a fun way to look outside our needs, support people and actually meet our local communities.
Goods will go to a local charity/group (chosen by the group) or centrally to Hotham Mission’s work with asylum seekers and the Indigenous hospitality house.
These are good outcomes from my perspective.
Currently, approaching and looking for interested congregations and groups to try it this year. Contact me if you are interested - age@morepraxis.org.au Thinking it may become a good annual event.
Main costs would be the printing of cards for a letterbox drop. (or give tees although shipping time could be an issue)
Process:
- Adverstise and gather your group from now (maybe do a night on generous revolution generousrevolutionsheet)
- work out a realistic route for your walk
- Advertisement postcards to be letterbox dropped the week before Halloween.
- dress up
- meet and brief
- walk, collect and have fun
- donate the non perishables to your group (or back to me to get to the central groups)
Remember to be smart about door knocking (particularly as we don’t practice ‘trick or treating’ in oz)
- go in groups,
- Identify your self, group and what you are doing,
- remain outside the homes and
- be friendly.
About Central Groups
Hotham Mission
The Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project (ASP) is a Uniting Care agency that works with asylum seekers living in the community who do not have work rights, income or Medicare. These asylum seekers are on bridging visas and living lawfully in the community awaiting a decision on their refugee or humanitarian claim, yet are denied any government supports. Treat asylum seekers this Halloween!
Indigenous Hospitality House
The Indigenous Hospitality House (IHH) was established in response to a report written by Indigenous workers at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Lookin’ After Our Own, which identified the need for appropriate accommodation for families supporting a patient. IHH functions as a kind of extended family home, where those that live in and around the main house share the duties associated with welcoming, cooking, cleaning and chatting with guests. Treat Indigenous people this Halloween!
Local Groups
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