The Uniting Church in Australia has condemned the Commonwealth’s legislative response to child sex abuse in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities.
The church is calling for the Northern Territory Response Act, passed by the Federal Parliament in August, to be repealed.
The prime minister of Australia, John Howard is likely two days away from announcing an election date, and after 11 years of strained relations with Aboriginal people, has just announced his desire to make amends. Criticism aimed fairly and squarely at Mr. Howard suggest the public believes this is too little, too late.
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With hundreds reputedly killed for protesting the military junta in Burma, compared to the few in official reports, the internet has become a global gathering and lobbying place towards human rights in Burma.
Ricken Patel from www.avaaz.org urges us not be silent. One of the ways we can add to the voice of concern is to sign their online petition:
For information from Amnesty International about their current campaigning and fresh news regarding Burma, check http://www.amnesty.org/
For further news on Burma, try http://www.irrawaddy.org/Â and http://www.mizzima.com/
In the context of HIV and aids, Zambia, like many of her African neighbours are in dire need of practical justice that will make a difference to ordinary people. It is with the words of the prophet Micah echoing in the background that Andy Clasper, UK exec director of the Micah Challenge discovered what was already happening in Zambia.
Map-making has always been political, and wars have started over the drawing of a boundary, but climate change has injected a new political element into modern cartography.
It has been four years since the last edition of The Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, and cartographers say they have had to redraw coastlines and reclassify land to reflect significant geographical changes since then.
Read full news article from ABC >>
Leaders from many religious communities across the United States have urged Americans of all faiths and none to join a fast from dawn to dusk on Monday 8 October 2007 to call for an end to the Iraq War. They want to send out a clear message to government and society.
“This war must end!” say the religious leaders in their statement about the interfaith fast. “We must end the shattering of Iraqi and American lives by offering American generosity and support – but not control – for international and nongovernmental efforts to assist Iraqis in making peace and rebuilding their country, while swiftly and safely bringing home all American troops.”
The reading from Timothy this week invites us to reflect on how we live our lives as people of faith. In particular, the challenge today is how we can hope to make any difference when it comes to being agents of peace in the world.
The internet is rapidly becoming an exciting new tool to live out our gospel call.
Sermon, 23rd September, 2007
St. David’s Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
Today (September 21st) is International Peace Day.
“Peace in its most fundamental form is the connection of one human spirit to another.
10 Million Clicks For Peace hastens the connection process. What a beautiful and remarkable concept!”
Archbishop Emeritus
Desmond Tutu
Nobel Peace Laureate
The 10 million clicks for peace is a way to use technology to ease the burdon of peacemakers by involving ordinary people to create a more peaceful world. Their basis for increasing peace is to eradicate the reasons people go to war – which essentially means increasing the well-being of all people.
Can a few Clicks be THIS Powerful?
Finally, the Internet comes together to do something about peace. Now you really CAN make a difference to make this world a better place! Your clicks count. Make them now!
http://www.tenmillionclicksforpeace.org
Australia will try to find another country to take in 72 Sri Lankan refugees who have been detained on Nauru since their boat was intercepted by the Royal Australian Navy near Christmas Island in February.
A number of others on the boat are still being assessed to determine whether their claims for asylum are genuine.
Federal Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews says that because the group tried to enter Australia illegally they will not be allowed to remain here, despite their assessment as genuine refugees.
So far 21,172 people have faced up to poverty. The make poverty history campaign invites you to sign up as well…
Australia’s biggest photo petition:
Face Up provides a unique opportunity prior to the Federal election to show our political leaders the growing number of faces behind the call for policy change for more and better overseas aid.
Give more than just your signature to Make Poverty History. This is your chance to go that extra step and help get the Australian Government to Face Up To Poverty by adding your face to the first ever Make Poverty History photo petition.