Articles
e-newsletter 11 May 2011
- Details
- Category: News Archive
- Published on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 12:24
- Written by Jennifer
- Hits: 351
UnitingJustice e-news 11 May 2011
New fact sheets on refugee issues Developments in refugee policy - Malaysia and Manus Island
For Victorian readers - Justice and International Mission Annual Convention
Our response to the proposed carbon price
Week of Prayer for Reconciliation (27 May - 3 June)
World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel (29 May - 3 June)
Don't forget - World Environment Day resources now available
Call to Action on reducing Indigenous imprisonment
New fact sheets on refugee issues
Events in Australia’s immigration detention facilities continue to grab headlines and in the middle of heated and highly contested public debates, it can be difficult to get a handle on exactly what is really happening and why.
UnitingJustice has put together a series of fact sheets to help Church members cut through the myths about refugees and asylum seekers and understand more about the policies and proposals coming from Australia’s politicians.
You can find them here on our website.
Developments in refugee policy - Malaysia and Manus Island
In the last week we have seen two very disappointing changes in Federal Government policy regarding the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers – reports that the Government wishes to reopen the detention centre on Manus Island (originally set up under the Howard Government as part of the ‘Pacific Solution’) and the announcement of an agreement between the Malaysian and Australian Governments that will see 800 asylum seekers who arrive by boat to Australia sent back to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 refugees.
We released a response to both of these announcements:
Click here to see our response to the proposed reopening of the Manus Island
Click here to see our response to the agreement with Malaysia
For Victorian readers - Justice and International Mission Annual Convention
A Just Society: Voluntary Action or Government Intervention?
UnitingJustice National Director, Rev. Elenie Poulos, will be the Keynote Speaker at the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania Justice and International Mission Unit’s Annual Convention on 14 May.
The Convention will examine the place for voluntary behavioural change and laws imposed by governments in working towards a just society. For more information, see the JIM website.
Our response to the proposed carbon price
UnitingJustice has submitted comments to the Federal Government on its proposals for a price on carbon. In addition to the discussions taking place within the Multi-Party Committee on Climate Change (made up of members of the Government, Greens and Independents), the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency sought the opinions of the community to inform the Government's own position.
You can find this submission here on our website.
Week of Prayer for Reconciliation 27 May - 3 June
We're encouraged to reflect on the reconciliation process during the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation (which in 1993 was widened to also become National Reconciliation Week).
This year, the theme for National Reconciliation Week is “Let’s Talk Recognition”, topical as the public consultation process towards a referendum on recognising Indigenous people in the Australian Constitution begins. The Uniting Church has taken its own journey to a new Preamble of our Constitution which acknowledges Aboriginal and Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia.
You can find resources on the Covenanting section of the Assembly website to help you get started with participating in the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation.
World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel 29 May - 4 June
From the World Council of Churches
The WCC invites member churches to join a week of advocacy and action for a just peace in Palestine and Israel. Congregations and individuals around the globe who share the hope of justice shall unite during the week to take peaceful actions, together, to create a common international public witness.
Find out more information on the WCC website.
This new initiative encourages Australians to say "Welcome to Australia" to asylum seekers, refugees, new arrivals and other migrants by throwing a party between 19-26 June in your home, street, office, sporting club or other community group to celebrate the beauty and depth that diversity adds to our nation.
You can find out more on the Welcome to Australia website.
Don't forget - World Environment Day resources now available
World Environment Day, 5 June, this year focuses on the importance of forests for the integrity of creation and the survival and flourishing of all life on our planet.
The resource pack features educational information about the importance of and risks to forests, suggestions for liturgy, a theological reflection and sermon starters, and activities for children and making a positive difference in your community.
Find them here on our website, or contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 02 8267 4236 for a copy.
Call to Action on reducing Indigenous imprisonment
15 April 2011 marked 20 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody handed their Final Report to the Governor-General. The Report found that there are "disproportionate numbers of Aboriginal people in custody, compared with non-Aboriginal people" and that "too many Aboriginal people are in custody too often." Yet 20 years later this problem is even worse.
ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) have launched a National Call to Action for federal, state and territory governments to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system.