Clean Up Australia is the largest environmental community event in Australia. You can run or join a Clean Up Australia event any day of the year, however the next Clean Up Australia Day is Sunday 5 March 2023. Registrations for Clean Up Australia events are… Read More »Clean Up Australia Day
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council ran their national assembly in September of this year in Townsville. It was an incredible event especially given this was the first time the community has been able to get together since COVID-19 began. The website now has a video available with photos of the assembly as well as a twenty minute wrap up video which summarises the event.
This week COP27 continues. It is the first of two crucial global meetings where world leaders will discuss and make agreements to combat climate change and rapid loss of biodiversity. The office has created this fact sheet to provide information, prayer and action ideas for those following these events closely. Feel free to share with friends, groups, schools and parishes.
Peter Arndt, Director of the Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace speaks about what is important to him in the role and thanks Dr. Sandie Cornish for her work and dedication in the role over the past two years. Peter speaks about the importance of a Culture of Encounter, “For me, social and environmental action needs to be situated where those struggling to overcome injustice and oppression are. I’ll be trying to encourage that approach through the work of the Office.”
An update is provided on the Uluru Statement from the Heart after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing that the referendum for the Voice to Parliament will occur in the 2023-2024 Financial year. The Australian Catholic Bishops endorsed the Statement last November and Dean Parkin spoke at the NATSICC Assembly. Resources and ideas for grass roots promotion are available through a new website.
The 16 days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and end on Human Rights day. This year, the OJEP will hold an online event on 25 November, 3-5pm, highlighting the voices of women with lived experience and promoting the Bishops Social Justice Statement calling out the use of religion to justify such violence. Many organisations are joining the 16-day campaign.
Anti-Poverty week (16-22 October) is being observed this week, and we are being called on to raise awareness and taken action against poverty and organisations such as Vinnies Australia are calling on all parliamentarians to halving child poverty by 2030. Recent reports show 761,000 children live below the poverty line. Pope Francis’ message for World Day of the Poor (Nov 13) states, “This is the moment for us not to lose heart but to renew.”
The Letter is a documentary showcasing the stories of frontline champions and promotes the message of Pope Francis’ letter to the world – Laudato Si’ Caring for Our Common Home. “Hello everyone. My name is Bilal Seck. My home has been affected by rising sea levels.” There is also a 40-day Laudato Si’ Prayer Campaign in the lead up to 14 November which marks when Laudato Si’ Planning Guides and all related materials will be published.
The UN COP27 and COP15 are coming up in the next two months. These are key opportunities for global leaders to make the commitments necessary to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius and put protections in place to protect the beautiful biodiversity in God’s creation. A new State of the Environment Report discusses the tragic impacts on Australia already and more information and resources will be provided by the office in the next weeks.
You are invited to contact your local Federal parliamentarians to join your voice with calls to end Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs). The federal government has committed to this however there is no timeline in place, meaning people seeking asylum continue to be in limbo. Advocates across the country are asking for this and for people seeking asylum to finally be granted permanent protection.