Office For Justice, Ecology and Peace

International Mother Language Day
2021-02-21 00:00 - 23:59 (Australia/Sydney)
As the United Nations’ website explains:

Languages, with their complex implications for identity, communication, social integration, education and development, are of strategic importance for people and planet. Yet, due to globalization processes, they are increasingly under threat, or disappearing altogether. When languages fade, so does the world’s rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Opportunities, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking and expression — valuable resources for ensuring a better future — are also lost. https://www.un.org/en/events/motherlanguageday/

This is a great day to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. The website of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies provides extensive information here.

Zero Discrimination Day
2021-03-01 00:00 - 23:59
Zero Discrimination Day is an opportunity to promote everyone’s right to live a dignified life free from discrimination regardless of their age, gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, skin color, height, weight, profession, education, and beliefs.

While many countries have laws against discrimination, it is remains a problem in reality around the world. Some countries even use discrimination as a way of governing.

1999: International Treaty to Ban Landmines enters into force.
2021-03-01 00:00 - 23:59
Find our more about the Treaty here.

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) provides advocacy tools for campaigners, including multimedia resources, ICBL statements, partner resources, and the Landmine Monitor, to keep you up to date on the landmine issue.

World Wildlife Day
2021-03-03 00:00 - 23:59
Find out more on the official United Nations website for the day here.

1970: International Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
2021-03-05 00:00 - 23:59

International Women's Day
2021-03-08 00:00 - 23:59
Pope Francis is making small but significant steps towards greater inclusion of women in decision making and leadership roles in the Church. He has amended Canon Law so that women may be officially recognized as exercising the ministries of Lector and Acolyte. And he has appointed a woman as Under-Secretary to the Synod of Bishops – with the right to vote. This is a good day to pay attention to women’s contributions in our local Church too. Here is a list women theologians in Australia and New Zealand 160+ Australian and New Zealander Women in Theology You Should Know About

In 2020 we marked the twentieth anniversary of the Australian Bishops’ response to research on the participation of women in the Catholic Church in Australia. The research results were published as Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus (Harper Collins, 1999) and the Bishops’ Social Justice Sunday Statement for 2000 was titled Woman and Man: the Bishops Respond. In 2019 the Office for Social Justice published a collection of essays marking these anniversaries. Titled Still Listening to the Spirit: Woman and Man Twenty Years Later, the book was a collaboration with the Office for the Participation of Women.

In their foreword to the collection, Archbishop Christopher Prowse and Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen acknowledge:

… twenty years down the track, women are still listening to the Spirit and seeking to engage the whole Church in a conversation about a more fulsome development of the participation of women in the Church, for the sake of us all, and for the sake of the Reign of God. There is unfinished business from the action commitments made by the bishops in 2000. There is also an opportunity to contribute to the communal discernment process of the Plenary Council 2020. This collection of essays enrages creatively with both of these elements of the present moment. Archbishop Christopher Prowse and Bishop Vincent Long, Foreword, Still Listening to the Spirit

Buy Still Listening to the Spirit: Woman and Man Twenty Years Later here. Download the discussion guide for the book here.

2003: Invasion of Iraq by USA and Allies
2021-03-19 00:00 - 23:59

International Day of Happiness
2021-03-20 00:00 - 23:59

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
2021-03-21 00:00 - 23:59

International Day of Forests
2021-03-21 00:00 - 23:59

World Down Syndrome Day
2021-03-21 00:00 - 23:59

World Poetry Day
2021-03-21 00:00 - 23:59

Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination
2021-03-21 08:00 - 2021-03-22 17:00

World Water Day
2021-03-22 00:00 - 23:59
“The earth’s biodiversity, the functioning of the various biomes and of the atmosphere, the cycles of water and climate remind us of how versatile and fundamental this precious creature of God is.” Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, Acqua Fons Vitae, p 13.

World Water Day has been celebrated since 1993. Now a core focus of the day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. The theme of World Water Day in 2021 is valuing water.

In Aqua Fons Vitae, the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development point out that as well as an economic value, water has a religious value, socio-cultural and aesthetic value, and even an institutional value and a value for peace. You can access a collection of Church statements, tools and initiatives related Aqua fons vitae here.

For Reflection

How do you value water?

Which of the proposals in Aqua Fons Vitae are the most important for your community?

World Meteorological Day
2021-03-23 00:00 - 23:59

International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
2021-03-24 00:00 - 23:59

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing UN Staff Members
2021-03-25 00:00 - 23:59

1975: Biological Weapons Convention
2021-03-26 00:00 - 23:59

Earth Hour
2021-03-28 20:30 - 21:30

World Autism Awareness Day
2021-04-02 00:00 - 23:59

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
2021-04-04 00:00 - 23:59
The United Nations established this day in 2005 through this resolution.

The annual message for the day, together with other resources, are available here.

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
2021-04-06 00:00 - 23:59
Find out more about why the United Nations declared this day here.

A Crown for Australia: Striving for the Best in Our Sporting Nation

Today is a great day to revisit the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement 2014–2015. It challenges us to look at the place of sport in our lives. Where are its strengths and how can we ensure that sport can thrive and in return can nourish our society? Equally, what are the influences that are undermining and distorting sport’s ideals? Most importantly, how can we work to realise sport’s potential to unite communities, overcome differences and be a force for social justice and reconciliation?

Prayer for Good Sports

God of all sports (and none);from our small minds,how amused you must bewhen our prayers about sportare about our own success or our team's.Whose side are you on?How do you choosewhen supporters from both sidesimplore your divine intervention?Remind us that in prayerour hearts are opened to youand our minds lifted beyond ourselves.Just as prayer changes us,not you, O God,so sport too, can lift us beyond ourselves.So we pray:We give thanks for the gift of our bodies,for the ability to run, walk, jump,swim, catch and throw.We pray for patience and discipline,that we may learn the joy of mastering new skills:achieving success, and cheerfully bearing failurein the company of others.We pray that our relationships be enrichedthrough the friendships we form.May we learn to include others across bordersof language, colour, gender and religion.We pray that we care for others.May we especially look out for thosewho are differently abled,and those often left on the boundaries.Through our vigilancemay we always play fair,and ensure that no one is abused or exploited.We ask this through Jesus your son. Amen.

International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda
2021-04-07 00:00 - 23:59
Ubumuntu (kindness, humanity, greatness of heart), from the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda Artist: Unknown.

For Reflection

The Rwandan Genocide in 1994 saw over 800,000 Rwandans, mainly from the Tutsi minority, massacred by the Hutu ethnic majority in three months. Over two million Hutu’s later fled the country, fearing revenge attacks. Fr Marcel Uwineza SJ, a survivor of the genocide, calls these horrific events in his home country an “intimate genocide……It was not an invasion by an outside country, but an intensive, systematic killing of Rwandans by Rwandans.”

Dehumanisation of people because of their ethnicity, and imbalances of power that illegitimately privilege one group of people over another, have contributed to atrocities throughout history. As Christians, we are called to break this cycle of violence. We honour the dignity of every human person, no matter their ethnicity, religion, or difference to us. Jesus offers clear teaching in Matthew 22: 34-40 on how to move forward in peace:

“’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the greatest and first commandment.
And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Marcel Uwineza SJ’s journey of healing and forgiveness: “To remember is to act so that those criminal activities never happen again. So, to remember is to do justice.”

Prayer

Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace

Music

Will You Be My Protector? by The Good Ones

Will You Be My Protector? by The Good Ones

World Health Day
2021-04-07 00:00 - 23:59
Christ the Healer Icon by Christine Hales https://americanassociationoficonographers.com/2017/10/30/feed-my-sheep/christ-the-healer-icon-details-064/

For Reflection

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Christ came to bring life in body, mind, and spirit to all people in their daily lives. Since 1950, every April 7 the World Health Organisation highlights a specific health area of concern. In 2021, the focus of the WHO is on building a fairer, healthier world: “…we are calling on leaders to ensure that everyone has living and working conditions that are conducive to good health.“

Christ challenges us to offer abundant life through ensuring people can access and experience secure employment, housing, education, gender equality, a safe environment, clean water and air, nourishing food, and quality health services. As Christians, we uphold and actively support the conditions that allow all in our human family to flourish.

Prayer for A Fairer, Healthier World

(adapted from the 2021 Social Justice Statement Prayer)

Jesus, you invite us all into the fullness of life.May we support one another to flourish in body, mind and spirit.Strengthen our commitment to ensure that nobodyfalls through gaps in our systems of care.

Help us to recognise youin those who suffer ill-health today.Show us how to eliminate inequality in our health systems, and in our world.

You drew near to thosewho were suffering in body or mind.May we too feel your nearnesswhen we struggle with health challenges.May we be one as members of Your Body.

You invite us to share in your ministryof love and true compassion.May we be empowered by your Spiritto reach out to all people in need.May we build communities of welcome and inclusion. Amen.

Music

By Our Love by Tom Kendzia

International Mother Earth Day
2021-04-22 00:00 - 23:59
Tree of Life – Mieke Boynton

Mother Earth is a common expression for the planet earth in a number of countries and regions, which reflects the interdependence that exists among human beings, other living species and the planet we all inhabit. Resolution establishing Mother Earth Day adopted by the General Assembly on 22 April 2009

The United Nations designated this day in 2009. It was already celebrated in a number of different countries prior to this. You can find a range of related resources for the celebration of this day here.

Artwork:

Tree of Life – Mieke Boynton

Music:

Tend the Ground – Curtis Stephan

Tend the Ground – Curtis Stephan

World Book and Copyright Day
2021-04-23 00:00 - 23:59
Did you know that this date was chosen by the United Nations because it was on this date in 1616 that Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inc Garcilaso de la Vega died?

Read the UNESCO resolution proclaiming the day here.

Access resources for celebrating the day here.

1945: First united Nations Conference opens
2021-04-25 00:00 - 23:59

1986: Nuclear accident in Chernobyl, Ukraine
2021-04-26 00:00 - 23:59

World Day for Health and Safety at Work
2021-04-28 00:00 - 23:59
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) began to celebrate this day in 2003 however the trade union movement internationally has marked this day as the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers since 1996. This celebration is an integral part of the Global Strategy on Occupational Safety and Health of the ILO.

As part of the 2020 World Day for safety and health at work campaign, the ILO will produce a global report, highlighting how a comprehensive OSH [occupational safety and health] framework at both national and workplace level could address violence and harassment in the world of work. This includes for example incorporating provisions related to violence and harassment into OSH laws, regulations and collective agreements and developing specific standards, code of practices and guidelines to support the implementation of programmes and preventive measures in the workplaces. At the workplace level, sound OSH management systems can include the assessment and control of psychosocial risks including the interplay with violence and harassment. ILO, World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2020 – Violence and Harassment in the World of Work

International Workers Day
2021-05-01 00:00 - 23:59
