Hiroshima & Nagasaki Day

Remembering Hiroshima: Morning Vigil

This year will be the 65^th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is also the 25^th anniversary of the South Pacific Nuclear Weapons Free Zone treaty. A Vigil sponsored by MAPW, Pax Christi and the Society of Friends will be held on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral to commemorate and reflect, with a minute’s silence at 8.15, the time the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

• When: Friday 6 August, 7am to 9am
• Where: St Paul’s Cathedral (corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets).

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Memorial Concert

Sunday 8th August 2010, 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Village Roadshow Theatrette @ State Library of Victoria, Melbourne

Tickets at door: $15/$10 conc.

Warm up a cold wintry Sunday at a concert for peace
Sixty-five years after the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by nuclear blast, Japanese for Peace will bring together a diverse array of inspiring musicians, speakers and citizens of the world in a concert to celebrate peace and enable us to imagine a world without nuclear threat.

Performers:
Anne Norman – Shakuhachi
Dean Frenkel – Overtone Singer, Didgeridoo
Lee Morgan – Indigenous Musician
Liz Frencham – Singer/Songwriter
Wadaiko Rindo & Ayako Sato – Japanese Drums

Speaker:
Dave Sweeney – Australian Conservation Foundation

Supported by Victorian Multicultural Commission.
Concert proceeds to be donated to a charity organisation.

for more info http://mapw.org.au/

Carlton Conversations

Carlton conversations @ the Clare Castle Hotel

2010 series — ‘What I believe and why’

Election 2010 UCA Resources

Hi Guys, below is all the great work from uniting justice on some of the issues and things to think about leading up to the 2010 election. I have copied the page in full because it could do with a couple of home plus less clicks for you. I will have some hard copies at upperoom project this month or just download some now.  - Age

Your Faith, Your Vote, Your Voice

When it comes time to exercise one of our core democratic rights and responsibilities and vote in a parliamentary election, how do we think about our vote? Do we vote the way we always have? Do we vote on the basis of a single issue? Will we vote for whoever is promising the most? Is our vote based on which candidate will be better able to  represent our locality? Will we think about what kind of society we want and which politicians seem to share our values?

Building an Economy for Lifeinvites you to consider the values which underpin the policies of the political parties and candidates who are asking us to give them the responsibility of national leadership.

Download these resources

Building an Economy for Life Booklet

The cornerstone of the resources is the Building an Economy for Life booklet, which explores some of the major areas of public policy and current issues from a Christian perspective on human and ecological wellbeing. A fuller introduction to the theology and more detailed information about the purpose of the resource can be found here.

The booklet also includes an election toolkit with useful links to information on all things politics and elections and suggestions for planning activities such as pre-election candidates forums and a meeting with your local MP or candidates.

Click here to download the booklet

You can obtain hard copies of this booklet, free of charge, by contacting the Assembly office, on 02 8267 4300 or email enquiries@nat.uca.org.au

Hot Issues

The Hot Issues papers are A5 sized flyers that take a snap-shot look at particular topical issues such as Indigenous health, the Northern Territory intervention, gender pay equity, freedom of religion and multiculturalism. Several of these papers are available in hard copy - contact the Assembly office to place an order, on 02 8267 4300 or email enquiries@nat.uca.org.au

• Alcohol Misuse
• Christmas Island
• Taking the “Dis” out of Disability
• Gambling
• The State of Indigenous Health
• Northern Territory Indigenous Intervention
• Multiculturalism in Australia
• People Trafficking
• Freedom of Religion (web-only)
• Gender Pay Equity (web-only)
• A Tax on Financial Transactions (web-only)

Issues Papers

These web-only papers offer a more in-depth look at the issues and policies covered in the Building an Economy for Life booklet. Papers have been contributed from many parts of the Church, including the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and numerous Assembly agencies and units.

• Recognition and Respect: Justice for Indigenous Australians
• Protecting the Persecuted: Compassion for Asylum Seekers and Refugees
• Tackling Climate Change: Ensuring our Future
• Beyond the Urban Fringe: Issues for Outback Australia
• Protecting Human Rights
• Justice in Income Support
• Sharing the Wealth: A Just and Progressive Taxation System
• A Decent Life for Older People
• Embracing our Diversity: A Multicultural, Multi-faith Society
• Justice in International Development

Additional Resources

How to plan a candidates forum

Read the statement ‘An Economy of Life’ adopted by the 12^th Assembly. 
http://www.unitingjustice.org.au/uniting-church-statements.html#economyoflife.

* all Federal Election 2010 resources have been printed on ‘carbon neutral’ paper

mpg10

morepraxis gathering 2010

MPG10:There’s one in all of us

Think, pray, play and meet with more of your tribe who long for a Christian spirituality that interconnects social action and theological reflection.

Been waiting for this? Good, so have we.

Where: Clifford Park Scouts camp site - Clifford Rd, Wonga Park VIC (Melways 24 J6)
45 mins from Melbourne
Online Rego here and facebook event to help spam the gathering here

Costs PP: $45 Cabin, $30 Camp, Food $25 Adult/$15 Kids, Day Pass $35, Dinner Pass $30

This is an All Play event - Come ready to share.

http://www.regonline.com/mpg10

You have been preparing all your life to lead a conversation on something - come prepared to engage that conversation but don’t stress on the preparation.

Last year the adventure course was popular, ultimate frisbee was fun, conversations went deep, reconstruction of missles into prayers was beautiful, games, craft and relaxing also went well.

‘lightning talks’ are back and are your 5minutes of fame to spark more conversations.
Last year we had some presentations on activist strategies, politics, ultimate frisbee as discipleship and sermons that suck to name a few. I understand that pacebene may even offer NVDA training excercises and games in the gaps. So get thinking about what you can share.
Also, there will be a space set aside for participants to propaganda/promote their group, cause, next action, t-shirt, study, book…. you get the idea. (byo  for your promo space)

If you are at a junction where you need to think and chat about your vocation and the direction of your life with active, prayerful and wise mentors and co-travelers … there will be a bunch at MPG to bounce ideas with.

If you are a family that is interested in connecting social justice and spirituality then this gathering has space for your needs. The site is well equipped for free play and organised chaos

Its a girl - Eureka St

A perspective on our new PM from MOIRA RAYNER - Eureka Street.

It’s a girl! (cross to three wise men looking bewildered)

At 9.35 this morning I twinged pre-emptively for Julia Gillard. Being Prime Minister is not so much grasping a poisoned chalice as throwing yourself at Damocles’ throne. Rudd was thrust onto rather than fell upon his sword. All political careers end in disgrace — who said that? — which is why a lot of women don’t want them (some of us can act disgracefully without a Party).

Gillard’s moment was thrust upon her, as was Rudd’s decision not to contest. Factional politics, media interest and big advertising provoked exactly the crisis that neither wanted, at least not now.

As a woman, a lawyer, a Victorian, and a feminist, I am delighted to have such a smart, confident, self-assured, genuine woman leading my country. Especially after such a hard struggle within the ALP to make sure women political candidates are treated as serious contenders for winnable seats so that they can demonstrate how good they are, and bring a different and important awareness of community and electorate issues to the table.

The importance of a woman getting the highest political post in the land — remember that our Governor General is a progressive, savvy woman as well — is not so much in its being a ‘first’, but that the new Prime Minister is her own woman. She has not turned into an ‘honorary bloke’. The singular attribute of Julia has been her obvious sincerity and the genuineness of her public conversations. And she can laugh.

Women do have a different experience of the world, not least in our socialisation (playground politics tend to carry on into the grown-up workplace), but also in our opportunities. It takes a particular kind of woman to, so obviously, revel in her role as a minister and deputy PM, and a particularly strong character to have leveraged a grudging respect from her factional foes and overcome the truism that nobody from ‘the Left’ could ever gain overall ALP support.

Continue reading here

There are a heap of other articles and perspective  about the last few days happening on ES go clicking.

Calling all Merry Peeps!

Ok guys now is the time to pull back the bow and let some arrows rip! -Age

The call out from Robin back in Sherwood…

Two months ago we asked Robin Hood supporters to write to Treasurer Wayne Swan and urge him to consider a financial transactions tax. An incredible 2,500 of you responded, filling out an online e-action letter that was sent direct to the Treasurer. Today, we are asking you to once again spend just 0.05% of your day – that’s less than a minute – on writing to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

On June 26 Kevin Rudd will attend the G20 Leaders Meeting in Toronto where proposals for a financial contribution to society by the global banking and finance sector will be discussed.

Of all the proposals on the table, the Robin Hood Tax is the only tax which both dissuades some of the finance sector excesses and makes a significant contribution to society. All other proposals are focused instead on simply recouping the direct costs of bail-outs or providing a money pot for future financial crises.

The Robin Hood Tax is an historic opportunity to leverage a tiny tax on short-term speculative trading to both improve the finance sector and make a giant change to people’s lives, and our planet, in this lifetime. We want Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to back this tiny tax on financial transactions that will bolster public services, reduce global poverty and help tackle climate change.

According to the IMF, it was the strong public campaign which was responsible for keeping the Robin Hood Tax on the table. But, without continuing public support, this crucial tax could be pushed aside at the G20 Leaders Meeting in Toronto. It is vital we act now.

What you can do

Add your voice to the growing global movement supporting the Robin Hood Tax. Write to the Prime Minister today. Show Prime Minister Rudd that you want Australia to lead the world in championing global financial reform. Show him you want him to take this historic opportunity to create a better world.

It’s easy: we have a letter ready that you can use.

Write to Kevin Rudd Now

School of Discipleship 2010 -YA Scholarships

Young Adult Discipleship Scholarships

School of Discipleship 2010

Dear friends

We are seeking applicants for five scholarships to attend the School of Discipleship in Canberra from 9-12 July 2010, at Greenhills Conference Centre. The scholarships are for young adults in Vic/Tas Synod and cover the registration costs for the event. The successful applicants will be required to attend the event and write a 300 word reflection on their experience with a particular focus on the discipleship themes of ‘connecting life and faith’ and ‘being a young adult in the church today’.

Scholarship Details

• There are five scholarships available covering the registration costs of $200 (please note it does not include transport costs)
• Applicant is a young adult from the Vic/Tas synod
• Applicant attends the event
• Applicant will write a 300 word reflection on their experience to be used in raising awareness of young adults and discipleship in print and online
• Applications close 20 June

To apply simply email or post a short letter including contact details and a paragraph about why you would like to receive the scholarship. All applications need to be in by 20th June.

Email with subject line ‘SOD Scholarships 2010′: age@morepraxis.org.au

Postal address: 1 Morrison Close, Parkville, 3052

What is School of Discipleship?

The school is exactly what it says, a ’school’ where we come to work on what it is to live the Christian life. The truth is that a follower of Jesus can only authentically obey if they are biblically grounded and theologically informed. Our conviction is that the church today stands in constant need of renewed worship and testimony ? a determined struggle to seek faith with understanding.

Web Site with rego etc  = http://schoolofdiscipleship.org.au/

Keynote Speakers

School of Discipleship is very excited to announce the keynote speaker for our 2010 conference: David Batstone!

Prof. Dr. David Batstone is the President of Not For Sale. A professor of Ethics at the University of San Francisco, he is also founder and president of Right Reality, an international social venture firm. Batstone has authored seven books, the two most recent being Not For Sale (HarperOne) and Saving the Corporate Soul (Jossey-Bass). He was a member of the founding team of Business 2.0 magazine and served six years as executive editor of Sojourners magazine and founder of the SojoMail e-zine. He has contributed articles to the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, Wired, and SPIN. He is the recipient of two national journalist awards and was named National Endowment for the Humanities Chair at the University of San Francisco for his work in technology and ethics. During the 1980s, Batstone founded a non-governmental agency dedicated to economic development.

For more information and question feel free to contact me.

Thanks,

Adrian (Age) Greenwood?

National Reconciliation Week 2010

Week of Prayer for Reconciliation was started in 1993, and expanded to become National Reconciliation Week in 1996, becoming an Australia-wide focus point for reconciliation activities. The week gives us the opportunity to reflect, through prayer, thought, discussion, and act on what still needs to be done in reconciliation. The week follows on from Sorry Day (26 May) commemorating the release of the ‘Bringing Them Home’ report in 1997 which detailed the damaging effects of the policy of removing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.

National Assembly have created resources for Reconciliation Week this year that are available here.

Tomorrow, Friday May 28, Reconciliation Australia will launch a new public awareness campaign that encourages Australians to consider their own role in reconciliation. There will be online, television, cinema, radio and print components, and it will call for all Australians to help finish what was started. The Unfinished Oz website will be central to the campaign and offers a range of ways for people to get involved in the reconciliation process. Check out the website tomorrow atwww.unfinishedoz.com.au

Also this Reconciliation Week ANTaR is inviting you to show your commitment to reconciliation by participating in a Virtual Bridge Walk! Make your ANTaR Avatar, join the walk and then tell your friends to join in…

See below for events happening to commemorate Reconciliation Week. For further info about the history of Reconciliation Week and the theme for this year check out the Reconciliation Australia page here

And add your events to the mix here

ANTAR virtual bridge walk

ANTaR

Welcome to the virtual bridge walk for reconciliation!

10 years ago, hundreds of thousands of Australians walked to show their support for reconciliation, starting with a walk across the Sydney Harbour bridge during Corrobboree 2000. Now’s the time to show that, even if we’re not there yet, our passion has never been stronger.

Show your support for respectful and equal relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia by joining in this virtual bridge walk for a united Australia.

Join the virtual walk! I did and here’s my ANTAR-Avatar Age!! 

Click here http://www.bridgewalk.org.au/

ReGeneration Clip

Found this useful doco on Adbusters

Exploring our reliance on technology, disconnection with nature, excessive consumption and loss of history, the new documentary film ReGeneration calls out the widespread cynicism and apathy gripping this generation.

ReGeneration premieres at the Seattle International Film Festivalon Monday, May 24.

Looks like it deals with some of the on going questions and frustrations for those of us involved in social actions and working with young people.  Of course I would be keen to watch it if only to hear the interviews with Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, Amy Goodman and Adbusters founder Kalle Lasn They always have a great ideas but add to that young people speaking for themselves on the issues - I’m in.

http://www.regenerationmovie.com/

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