Tag: Social Justice

Categories
Social Impact

We can do better for refugees and asylum seekers

Uniting Church members from congregations across WA will come together with other churches and community groups at 1.00pm this Sunday 9 April for the fourth Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees at St George’s Cathedral, 38 St Georges Terrace, Perth.

This year, it will be led by a couple of particularly special guests: two donkeys will be heading the walk, as part of a re-imagining of the original Palm Sunday story. Rev Steve Francis, moderator of the Uniting Church WA, went to visit the donkeys with James Jegasothy, vice-chair of the Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees (CARAD).

“They are very cute,” said Rev Francis, “but they are also a symbol that Jesus deliberately employed to communicate the nature of his message. A message of humility, peace and love, especially for the outsider and the stranger.”

The Uniting Church will be an active participant in Palm Sunday walks which are happening in cities around Australia. The Uniting Church has continually advocated for the rights of asylum seekers and refugees as reflected in the Assembly’s statement Shelter from the Storm. 

The Perth event has over 40 community organisations, churches and human rights groups calling for humane policies for asylum seekers and refugees (see list http://justice4refugeeswa.com/about/).

Rev Steve Francis, moderator of the Uniting Church WA, said, “The people stuck on Manus Island and Nauru are suffering, even though they sought our help.

“Australians are compassionate people. We know that we can do better than the limbo to which we sentence asylum seekers.  Whether it is offshore or onshore detention, bridging visas or temporary visas – people cannot lead fulfilling lives amid such fundamental uncertainty about their futures.” 

The voices of refugees themselves will be centre stage at the beginning of the walk with messages from refugees on Manus Island to be read out.  Iranian poet and refugee, Arad Nik will also be present to perform one of his pieces. Here he shares an excerpt from Boat and Pain (English translation):

My sad face, asks for your sympathy.

In my dream is a poor child.

‘Sleeping’ boat children on the beach, makes you distraught.

City mindlessness is poison for my thought.

Moaning buried in the sea, makes you sad.

The passion of this poetry – gives them voice anew.

Hearing tears from over the ocean, leaves us in sleepless vigil.

Participants are invited to bring a palm frond to St George’s Cathedral this Palm Sunday before peacefully following the donkeys on a brief circuit through the city.

Categories
News & Announcements

President responds to changes to the Racial Discrimination Act

Stuart McMillan, president of the Uniting Church in Australia has issued a statement in response to the Federal Government’s proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act. His statement follows:

Continue reading “President responds to changes to the Racial Discrimination Act”
Categories
News & Announcements

Uniting Church in Australia at the Royal Commission

The president of the Uniting Church in Australia, Stuart McMillan, has issued a pastoral statement to the church. On Friday 10 March, the Uniting Church in Australia will appear at a public hearing of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses into Child Sexual Abuse.

Continue reading “Uniting Church in Australia at the Royal Commission”
Categories
Social Impact

Hot topics for this State Election

The Western Australian State Election will be held on Saturday 11 March. Here, ‘Revive’ shares some
of our hot topics for the Uniting Church WA at this election.

Keep an eye out for election resources from the Social Justice Unit of the Uniting Church WA. For more
info call Geoff on 9260 9800 or email geoffrey.bice@wa.uca.org.au

 1. Climate change and renewable energy

The Uniting Church WA believes that God’s creation, the Earth itself and all the life it supports, is precious
and that the Earth’s resources exist for the good of all. It is calling for strong action to tackle greenhouse gas
pollution in WA, by moving towards renewable energy, improving transport and urban design, food security
and a process to help workers move away from coal and other destructive industries. The Uniting Church
WA is a recent signatory to the Renew WA Climate Consensus Statement. Follow them on Facebook to find
out more at ‘renewWA.’

The destruction of bushland for the Roe 8 project has been a big concern for the Uniting Church WA and the
Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, which not only is harming the Beeliar wetlands and the
wildlife it supports, but is destroying land which has been sacred to WA’s Indigenous people for thousands
of years. Revive has previously reported on this issue, and to find out more visit www.rethinkthelink.com.au.

2. Fracking

‘Fracking’ is a process of pumping fluid at high pressure into rock formations underground to help release
gas which is trapped in the rocks. It is a big issue for WA, as there are gas deposits all over the state,
including in the Kimberley, the South West and the Mid-West, with exploration licences also covering parts
of the Gascoyne region and inland from the Ningaloo coast.

Concerns surrounding fracking include health, water safety and availability, greenhouse gas emissions and
damage to the environment. Ask your candidates this election if they will support a legal framework that
enables landholders and traditional owners to refuse access to their land for gas exploration or production.

3. Uranium mining

The Uniting Church WA recognises there are complex issues surrounding uranium mining, but is calling
on individuals, churches, industry and government to work together to end involvement in the nuclear fuel
cycle. The current State Government has recently given approval to several mines, including the Yeerlirrie
proposal, despite it being rejected by the Environmental Protection Authority. Concerns are held about the
possibility of the uranium mined in WA contributing to the proliferation of nuclear weapons. There are also
potential health hazards in transporting radioactive material, and the process uses a large amount of water
– a precious resource in WA. Ask your candidates what will happen to the nuclear waste that began as
uranium in WA deposits.

4. Social Reinvestment

Through its involvement with Social Reinvestment WA, the Uniting Church WA has called for changes
to WA’s criminal justice system. A popular mantra around election time for both major parties is that WA
needs to be ‘tough on crime’ and that this will somehow keep our communities safer. The Uniting Church
WA, however, calls for a smarter, more holistic and preventative approach including an end to mandatory
sentencing, addressing prison overcrowding and reforms to the processing of women, people with
disabilities, mental illness and drug related problems who enter the criminal justice system. Read Revive’s
feature article here, or visit www.socialreinvestmentwa.org.au for more information.

Categories
News & Announcements

Reflections on Micah

The annual Micah Australia Voices for Justice Conference provides an opportunity for people to engage on justice issues with politicians in Canberra, from a Christian context.

Attendees from Christian communities all over the country participated in the conference, held in November last year. In our nation’s capital they were invited to pray, worship and speak up to influence our Parliament to work towards achieving goals in the direction of Australia becoming a better global neighbour.

The three-day event included advocacy training, lobby groups, Biblical teaching, worship and prayer, meetings with politicians in Parliament House, practical workshops and kids and youth programs.

Continue reading “Reflections on Micah”
Categories
Social Impact

UnitingCare aims for strong voice on social justice

Claerwen Little says her key focus as the new national director of UnitingCare Australia will be to ensure that the agency is a strong and respected voice in Canberra and across the nation achieving change for those who are most vulnerable.

Having recently commenced in the role, Claerwen says she is excited by what the UnitingCare network can achieve together.

“We represent the nation’s largest network of community service providers and I am ready and full of enthusiasm and inspiration for what we can achieve as a community of passionate people committed to social justice.

Continue reading “UnitingCare aims for strong voice on social justice”
Categories
Social Impact

Church leaders oppose Roe 8

This morning, a group of religious leaders from the Uniting Church WA, Catholic ministers, the Anglican Social Responsibilities Commission and Churches of Christ in WA joined Indigenous leaders to oppose the construction of the controversial Roe 8 highway through the Beeliar Wetlands.

Rev Ivan Clark, Uniting Church WA minister, and Rev Sealin Garlett, minister with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress were interviewed by media, including with Channel 7 and a live cross to the national Today Show on Channel 9.

Continue reading “Church leaders oppose Roe 8”
Categories
News & Announcements

UnitingCare Australia welcomes funding certainty but calls for policy reform

UnitingCare Australia has welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of the extension of the Transitional National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) until June 2018 but says a more comprehensive, long term response strategy is required to address homelessness.

“This $117million commitment now gives frontline services certainty until June 2018 and we appreciate that the Turnbull Government has brought the announcement forward ahead of next year’s Budget,” UnitingCare Australia’s acting national director, Martin Cowling, said.

“However, with the number of Australians accessing homelessness services increasing by eight per cent since 2011-12 to more than 255,000 people in 2014-15, and our frontline services reporting increasing demand and a critical shortage of safe, affordable accommodation to house these people, it is clear that new policy directions are needed.

Continue reading “UnitingCare Australia welcomes funding certainty but calls for policy reform”
Categories
News & Announcements

Scaling back of aged care funding cuts welcomed

The chair of the UnitingCare Aged Care Network, Geoff Batkin, has welcomed the announcement by the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Ken Wyatt, that the Government had scaled back  some of the more severe cuts to aged care funding.

The Commonwealth Government previously announced $2 billion in cuts to the funding to meet the complex health needs of residents in aged care services. The two tranches of cuts, announced in the May Budget and in December 2015, significantly reduced the funding to the Complex Health Care component of the instrument that funds residential aged care, the Aged Care Funding Instrument.

“Our Network is pleased that the Government has listened to the concerns of aged care providers that the proposed cuts would have a significant negative impact on the care of frail, older people and has made adjustments to reduce the severity of changes to the funding instrument. We are particularly pleased that the Government has reversed the proposed downgrades to funding for the critical areas of pain management and physiotherapy.

“We also welcome the increased supplement to support the viability of rural and remote aged care services. This is particularly important as those services were most likely to be hardest hit by the proposed changes and residents in these areas have fewer choices.

Continue reading “Scaling back of aged care funding cuts welcomed”
Categories
Social Impact

Racist remarks condemned

The president of the Uniting Church in Australia, Stuart McMillan, has condemned racist comments made by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton about Lebanese Muslim Australians.

Peter Dutton has suggested that the arrival of Lebanese Muslims in the 1970s is partly to blame for a small number of Australians joining ISIS/Daesh as foreign fighters.

“Mr Dutton’s remarks unfairly stigmatise one migrant community and serve only to promote division and undermine our vibrant multicultural society,” said Stuart.

“We need to name that for what it is – racism.”

“Mr Dutton’s attacks also defy common sense. No single generation can be held to account for the actions of future generations.

“Political leaders need to uphold and promote what is good about our society. The Immigration Minister has a special responsibility in this regard but he has failed us all.

“The Uniting Church stands in total opposition to all forms of racism as incompatible with the Christian faith.  [Assembly resolution 85.162]

“Comments that provoke fear, misunderstanding and distrust only serve to divide and isolate Australians from each other,” said Stuart.

Continue reading “Racist remarks condemned”