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e-newsletter 11 April 2011
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- Category: News Archive
- Published on Monday, 11 April 2011 16:06
- Written by Jennifer
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UnitingJustice e-news 11 April 2011
World Environment Day resources
media release: detention on Christmas Island must end
Elenie urges us to 'Rethink Refugees'
'Children in Immigration Detention Centres' forum (Sydney)
petition on NT Indigenous Intervention
World Environment Day resources
celebrating the International Year of Forests
World Environment Day, celebrated annually on 5 June, reflects this year on the importance of forests for the integrity of creation and the survival and flourishing of all life on our planet.
UnitingJustice, with the help of Uniting Church staff and volunteers from around Australia, has produced a set of resources to assist Church members in marking this day – the pack features educational information about the importance of and risks to forests, suggestions for liturgy, a theological reflection and sermon starters, activities for children and suggestions for action to make a positive difference in your community.
You can find these resources here on our website
or, if you would like to be sent a soft copy or print-out, contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or 02 8267 4236
UnitingJustice, together with UnitingCare Australia, have been invited to participate in regular roundtable meetings with the Federal Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
These high-level meetings of the Stakeholder Liaison Group will provide a forum for information-sharing and feedback between the Department and community and business organisations, particularly on the work being done by the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee. The first meeting was attended by a number of senior public servants including the General Manager of the Macroeconomic Modelling Division of Treasury and Australia’s Climate Change Ambassador.
media release: detention on Christmas Island must end
We were extremely disturbed at the recent use of force against asylum seekers at the Christmas Island detention facility, and the Assembly issued a media release expressing this concern.
You can read this statement here on our website.
Elenie urges us to 'Rethink Refugees'
As part of their Rethink Refugees campaign, Amnesty International Australia has interviewed our National Director, Rev. Elenie Poulos, on her experiences in advocating for a humane response to refugees and asylum seekers.
You can view that video here on the Rethink Refugees website.
Elenie recently took part in a lobbying trip to Canberra with representatives from other refugee advocacy organisations. She had two big days at Parliament House, meeting with the Minister for Immigration Chris Bowen, the Opposition Spokesperson Scott Morrison, and other Members of Parliament and advisers, including members of the Government, the Opposition and Independents. The major issues for discussion included Australia’s system of mandatory detention and plans for a regional framework for processing asylum seekers. UnitingJustice will continue to take these opportunities to engage with our politicians on these and other issues important to members of the Uniting Church and to our work in advocating for policies which better care for vulnerable people.
'Children in Immigration Detention Centres' forum (Sydney)
Open forum at the University of Western Sydney
18 April 2011, 6pm
Click here for an information flyer
This investigative report from ABC News Online which examines the journey of unaccompanied child asylum seekers features the work of Uniting Church agency Hotham Mission Asylum Seeker Project.
Click here to check out this report on the ABC news website
petition on NT Indigenous Intervention
Ask the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to address the human rights violations occuring as part of the NT Emergency Response with the Federal Government during her visit to Australia in May.
You can find more information on this petition here on our website.
UnitingJustice has recently been engaged in a number of the Federal Government’s human rights initiatives.
The Government invited comments from the community on which of the recommendations made to it under the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review in February should be accepted, rejected and prioritised, in order to improve Australia’s compliance with international human rights principles. The submission from UnitingJustice focused on the need to implement the human rights standards Australia has committed to uphold internationally in our domestic laws (in line with the Church’s support for a national Human Rights Act), the importance of implementing the principles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and improving the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers so as to protect their human rights. You can find this submission here on our website.