Justice News
MEDIA RELEASE
No 'winners' and 'losers' in climate change debate
7 July 2008
The Uniting Church today expressed its support for quick and decisive action to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and urged an immediate end to the language of winners and losers.
"We have one atmosphere and one planet. Either we all win or we all lose," said the Rev. Elenie Poulos, the National Director of UnitingJustice Australia.
"The Garnaut Review Draft Report has pulled together the best science in the world. This is not scare-mongering, but it is frightening. We are suffocating the planet and we are running out of time to make a difference."
Rev. Poulos said, "We are particularly concerned about the lack of trust some of our political and community leaders and opinion makers appear to have in the world’s leading climate scientists.
"The Christian church has a poor history of not trusting scientists and most of us have learned from our mistakes. No matter how much the church wanted it to be different, the sun did not revolve around the earth.
"No matter how much we would like it to be different now, the world is suffocating from humaninduced climate change and the problem is urgent."
"We must put a price on carbon as soon as we can. We must ensure that the most vulnerable in our society are well supported as we change our economic base. We need to recognise that we must do it together, working co-operatively not competitively. We must be bold, creative and, above all, courageous."
Uniting Church offices, agencies, congregations and members around the country are working to improve their own energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint.
Rev. Poulos said, "We know it’s not much in the grand scheme of things but like so many Australians, we want to live more sustainably and we want our governments to do all they can to help.
"It is time to move to a green economy that takes seriously our responsibility to the planet, all its creatures and future generations," said Rev. Poulos.
Christmas Island chaplaincy: a light in the darkness
Christmas Island is a tiny speck in the Indian Ocean, yet it will seem vast compared to some of the tight spaces Rev Christine Senini worked in. And she won’t have to sleep in a bunk bed.
The President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Alistair Macrae has added his name to the list of prominent Australians calling for reform to our asylum seeker policies. UnitingJustice has continually advocated for a more compassionate approach to these vulnerable members of our society.
UnitingJustice and the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly has joined the chorus of voices calling for Constitutional recognition of the unique contribution that First Peoples have made to this country. Amendments to the Australian Constitution should also include removal of racist and discriminatory language and clauses. The open letter was accompanied by a submission to the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition made by UnitingJustice.
UJA Reference Committee member, Professor John Langmore, discusses the political momentum behind and the public benefits of introducing a financial transactions tax.
Rethink Refugees - watch UJA National Director, Rev. Elenie Poulos, reflecting on her work in refugee advocacy as part of Amnesty's information campaign
Preamble posters and Covenanting resources
Download or print your own here.
Position Vacant: Senior Media Officer
The Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia seeks to appoint an experienced media professional to the role of Senior Media Officer. Read more...
Churches solid on poker machine reform
The major Christian churches in Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to the Government’s proposed poker machine reform this morning in the face of Catholic priest Father Chris Riley’s apparent support for the inaccurate, well-funded industry campaign. Read more...