ERC InTouch 2012-02-14

Dear friends,

Welcome to the new year, the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. It is a UN initiative that calls for global attention to the importance of energy for development and poverty alleviation. Energy is opportunity. It transforms lives. Economies. And our planet.

Energy is central to nearly every major challenge, and opportunity the world faces today. Be it jobs, security, climate change, food production or increasing incomes, access to sustainable energy for all is essential for strengthening economies, protecting ecosystems and achieving equity.

While the industrialised world argues over new energy solutions in the context of global economic downturn, countless others suffer the everyday realities. Read the latest Just Comment about the current global food crisis, one that continues to devastate billions of lives around the globe. To find out what's happening on the ground in the Horn of Africa, read HARDA's report and follow the links to find out how you can support such relief. Participate in the next Afternoon Tea for the Future, which looks at the impact of Climate Change in Tuvalu and join in the discussion.

Throughout 2012, the Edmund Rice Centre continues to walk with those who have been made silent, and defend the participation of the marginalised over the preservation of an order which excludes them. To find out how you can be involved or support the efforts, please drop in or contact us to find out more.

ERC InTouch Team

Just Comment Vol.15 No.1: Famine: a man-made tragedy

"Every five seconds, a child under 10 dies of hunger. Thirty-five million people die each year from hunger or its immediate aftermath. One billion people are permanently and severely malnourished and the situation is becoming increasingly catastrophic."

Hunger is not a natural but a man-made tragedy. People do not go hungry because there is not enough food to eat, but because the system that delivers food from the fields to our plates is broken. Rising global food prices and increasing food insecurity, which affect the poor disproportionately, is seen as a business opportunity by the agribusiness industry. Whilst drought is largely a natural phenomenon, famine is political and avoidable.

In a time where we are becoming increasingly desensitised to largescale, deepening tragedy, this is a Just Comment that brings famine and our role back to the fore. As Desmond Tutu says, 'world hunger is man-made and only we can end it'.

Read more

28th Feb: ERC Afternoon Tea for the Future "Act on Climate Change"

"Act on Climate Change" is a DVD which gives a glimpse of the impact of climate change on poor communities and speaks about action that we, Australians can take. We’re all in this together; climate change affects us all. It is people in developing countries who are most affected despite the fact that they are the ones least responsible for creating the problem in the first place.

You are cordially invited as old and new friends and supporters to come and be re-energized on how we as individuals, community groups, and as a nation can take concrete actions. Come and watch this interesting documentary & share your ideas with us. Discussions will be facilitated by Sr Kateia Kaikai SMSM from Kiribati.

WHEN: Tuesday 28th February, 2012, from 2pm
WHERE: Edmund Rice Centre, 15 Henley Road, Homebush West (Flemington Station)
COST: $5 or $2, depending on your ability to pay
RSVP: please contact Stephanie on (02)8762-4200 or stephanies@erc.org.au

27 March: ERC Business Ethics Breakfast "Ethical Leadership" with Ged Kearney

As the last in the Edmund Rice Business Ethics Initiative's breakfast series on ethical leadership, Ged Kearney, President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), will present some of her experiences and reflections on leading with ethics on Tuesday, 27th March, 2012. Be part of a lively start to the day, with plenty of food for thought. More details and application form to come...

WHEN: Tuesday 27th March, 2012, 7.30am - 9am sharp
WHERE: Gilbert & Tobin Lawyers, Lv37, 2 Park St, Sydney
COST: $40 (general), $25 members and students
MORE: please contact John Sweeney on (02)8762-4200 or johns@erc.org.au

ERC International Human Rights Internships: Central America, July 2012

A formation program for people wishing to develop new and profound perspectives to their existing frameworks and commitment to social justice & reconciliation. The program will emphasise the use of a rights-based approach in development work and in systemic advocacy for social justice.

The immersion aims to foster engagement with the international partner organisations visited, and to bring about transformational education for justice. International immersion experiences develop a new and internalised sense of our world, and of structures of inequity within it, from the perspectives of the economically excluded.

El Salvador & Guatemala: Within processes of post -conflict social reconciliation, few places provide better examples of the use of programs of ‘recovery of historic memory’ as human rights strategies to confront structural impunity and to build social justice.  In our visit to the region we will meet with people who have risked all in the struggle for social justice in these countries. These are people who continue to be willing to put their lives on the line for the construction of a better society.

Read more

ERC Pacific Calling Partnership - Volunteer opportunities

Want to be part of making a difference this year? There are exciting opportunities for young adults to join one or both of these Pacific Calling Partnership (PCP) teams:

1. Forum Team (Sydney based): you are invited to join this committee that will develop your skills in event management, team work and leadership.
2. Blog-Website Development Team: be part of dynamic team to help develop and oversee a new PCP action oriented blog/website! Share your skills to help us develop a site that will build an action oriented community, reach out to Pacific Islanders and attract young people.
   

If you are interested in joining one of these teams please contact Maria Tiimon on mariat@erc.org.au

ERC Fairtrade Report

A new year and the schools are returning with their orders for fair trade products! Despite the world economic slowdown, fair trade sales have more than doubled in Australia over the last year, with more and more schools now purchasing fair trade products. Not only great value for money, the products themselves are of first class and the majority of these are now also organic. Schools like ‘Monte Sant' Angelo’, North Sydney are looking at providing fairtrade gelato and or Fairtrade chocolate for their school canteen, whilst Sportsmaster are purchasing Fairtrade balls for rugby, soccer, netball, cricket and basketball - doing their bit to fight against the abuse of child labor in the sportsballs area. Other schools, faith groups and businesses are purchasing fairtrade coffee and drinking chocolate which we are able to send and deliver Australia wide without delivery charges.

In 2012, the Edmund Rice Centre’s Fairtrade Education Program is also now starting its own newsletter to keep followers informed of the new products that become available and big-name producers that change their policies and move towards providing ethical or Fairtrade products.

For details as to how your school or organisation can support fair trade, or to simply find out more, please contact Danny Long on dannyl@erc.org.au or phone the Edmund Rice Centre on (02) 8762 4200.

ERC Partner Report: Horn of Africa Relief & Development Agency (HARDA)

For the year ahead, HARDA remains primarily focused on supporting famine relief in the Horn of Africa. So far, $172,000 has been raised and sent to relief organizations in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. In Northern Kenya, our support organization has reported that the funds received have been used to purchase food for over 3000 families, comprising 24,000 people. While no longer receiving as much media publicity, there is still an immense need for funds to help feed the people in these areas. Donate here

Other HARDA programmes, either ongoing or in the planning stages are:

•    “New Land New Life”: the production of a documentary film, in which a number of African refugees tell the story of their life in Africa, their arrival in Australia, and how they have succeeded in their new Australian lives.
•    “Cooking Pot”: a project which brings together people from different ethnic communities, to share experiences and methods of cooking food eaten in their own communities. Funded by a grant from Shell Australia.
•    “Somali Youth Outreach project”: this brings together refugee youth from different African and other backgrounds, for a series of workshops on various life skills, to assist them with their integration into Australian society. Based around soccer activities, with a trip to Melbourne to participate in a soccer tournament in December.

The Edmund Rice Centre is a long term partner of the Horn of Africa Relief and Development Agency. For more information about these programs, or to donate visit the HARDA website: http://harda.org.au/

Edmund Rice International – "Acting Justly" Course and Discussion Group

Would you like to learn more about how you can take effective action for justice at a global level? Want to know more about the work of Edmund Rice International (ERI) and how you can be part of it? Then why not sign up for the ERI online course which aims to raise awareness about more effective global action for justice.

No prior knowledge is assumed, and whilst informative and interesting, it is not an academic course. Best of all it is free and you can work through the material at your own pace. It is designed for busy people who would like a basic understanding of how organisations such as ERI can work within the UN system to bring about improved outcomes for the most vulnerable people on our planet and for our earth itself.

Read more

* Donna Mulhearn (Edmund Rice Networking Co-ordinator NSW/ACT) has registered to do this course this year and invites any other interested people to form a discussion group in Sydney and work through it together. If interested in being part of this group, register online (see link above), and contact Donna on dmulhearn@edmundrice.org.

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Related and other networks: human rights, social equity and eco-justice events

NOW-19 FEB: SOLID GROUND EXHIBITION (NSW)
At The Vanishing Point - Contemporary Art studio in Newtown, Sydney proudly presents "Solid Ground" - a network for artists from refugee backgrounds to meet, develop their skills and practice, and to find new avenues of art-making. Solid Ground is an evolving exhibition from artists from refugee backgrounds, as well as providing participating refugee artists (visual and electronic media artists of any mediums from amateur, emerging to established) the time and space to get together to share, discuss, design, develop and undertake activities with ATVP that will support and nurture their art-making practices. Read more

20-25 FEB: DYNAMIC GROUPS, DYNAMIC LEARNING (VIC)
What creates a dynamic group? What supports an effective, fun and successful learning environment? The jigsaw puzzle of groups learning and working together becomes an adventure in Creative Facilitation, Interactive Learning Methods, Personal Empowerment and Skills Development.
This 6-Day training course is especially for people involved in Permaculture, Community Gardens, City Farms and Transition Towns initiatives and those who would like more skills, tools and confidence to work and play with groups. Read more

21 FEB: "THE ARAB SPING: WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT" FREE LECTURE (VIC)
Tarik Yousef will share his experience and insights from the “Arab spring” and explain what he thinks the astonishing changes of the past year or so will mean for the people and governments of the Middle East. Formerly Professor of Public Policy at the Dubai School of Government, Dr Yousef now heads Silatech, one of the region’s leading social enterprises whose mission is “to connect young people with employment and enterprise opportunities.” A Harvard-trained economist and a leading expert on economic policy in the Middle East, Dr Yousef is especially well qualified to explain some of the big questions, opportunities and risks that pervade the “spring” and its longer term implications. Read more

21 FEB: COMMUNITY JUSTICE COALITION "MENTALLY HEALTHY" (NSW)
The Community Justice Coalition invites you to be part of their 2012 AGM, which will be followed by a presentation by the Hon John Dowd AO QC on the topic "Mentally Healthy". The Hon John Dowd (former Attorney General in NSW) is a distinguished advocate for the human rights of vulnerable people and is currently the Vice President of the Community Justice Coalition. For more information, contact info@communityjusticecoalition.org

28 FEB: OPEN FORUM "THE PRICE WE PAY" (NSW)
Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM, (Director of Equity and Diversity, UWS) invites you to the Open Forum ‘The Price We Pay’: Young and Old, Age Discrimination and the Economy. The guest speaker on the night is Age Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Susan Ryan. A commentary will be provided by Professor William Mitchell. This forum is a continuation of the series which started in 2008 and continues to deal with topical and contemporary social issues and aims to bring academia and the Greater Western Sydney Community together. Read more

28-29 FEB: SYDNEY ALLIANCE TRAINING (NSW)
The Sydney Alliance brings together diverse community organisations, unions and religious organisations to advance the common good and achieve a fair, just and sustainable city. The 2 day Alliance Building Institute introduces participants to the basics of “community organising” – the practical tools the Sydney Alliance uses to renew communities and create positive change. The 2-day training helps enable you to build communities that are rich in leaders and relationships, and respond to real needs, to make meaningful connections with other organisations in Sydney, and to learn more about how the Alliance works. Various dates and locations available. Read more

1-2 MAR: HAPPINESS AND ITS CAUSES (NSW)
Why are we here? How can we be happy? How should we live? Join the best and brightest minds in philosophy, science, psychology, spirituality and the arts in exploring these questions and more at Happiness & Its Causes 2012. Be motivated and inspired by an extraordinary roll call of 40+ speakers from Australia and abroad! Read more

3 MAR: TRAINING FOR TRANSFORMATION WORKSHOP (NSW)
Welcome to the first session for Training for Transformation workshops in 2012. Community groups interested in helping to make a better life for members of their community are gathered together by an animator, who leads them through a process Freire devised in order to bring about radical change in their situation. The focus for this session is answering the question "how do we get started?". Please RSVP to the Grail to ruthcrowe@ozemail.com.au or telephone 02 9955 6350.

4 MAR: OPEN FORUM "THE COMMON GOOD"(NSW)
You and your collegues are warmly invited to an open forum with key speakers Phil Glendenning (Director, Edmund Rice Centre), Niall Reid (Former Moderator Uniting Church in NSW and ACT) and Chantelle Ogilvie-Ellis (Justice and Peace Promoter, Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney), followed by an open discussion. Sunday 4 March, 2.30-4pm. Sponsored by the Wellspring Community, an inclusive and ecumenical group of Christians, developing an Australian spirituality with special concerns for justice and peace, the environment and reconciliation. Gold coin donation to cover expenses. For information contact Clabon Allen, (02) 9798 4663.

5 MAR: PAX CHRISTI AUSTRALIA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (NSW)
Pax Christi invite you to attend their 2012 AGM on Monday March 5, 2012 with guest speakers Joe Collins and Anne Noonan speaking about their activities for justice in West Papua. Joe Collins is a founding member of the Sydney branch of the Australia West Papua Association (AWPA). Anne Noonan is the Medical Association for the Prevention of War (MAPW) representative to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Sydney section and national vice president and spokesperson on West Papua. The AGM will begin at 6.00pm, speakers from 7.30pm. RSVP March 3, 2012 (for catering purposes) to Claude Mostowik msc, phone 02 9550 3845.

8 MAR: INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S EXHIBITION, INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY (NSW)
An exhibition curated as a bright and colourful celebration of Australian Indigenous Women. The official opening night is a celebration of International Women’s Day, with the artworks and artists chosen to represent an inspirational and powerful group of Australian women. Come along and share a drink with some of Australia's most talented female artists. All welcome. The exhibition runs all throughout March, at Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Bondi Beach. Read more

12-18 MAR: WALK IN HER SHOES (Aus Wide)
Women and girls make up 60 per cent of the 1.4 billion people currently living in poverty. Millions walk over six kilometres a day in search of food, water and firewood. Join CARE Australia and countless participants from around the globe to walk 10,000 steps a day to raise money to empower women to lift their communities out of poverty. Register now to be sent a pedometer to track your steps, and your own webpage where your friends and family can sponsor you and follow your journey. Read more

31 MAR: AN AFTERNOON WITH BOB GRAHAM AND CHRISTOBEL MATTINGLEY (NSW)
The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) invite you to come and listen to Bob Graham and Christobel Mattingley, Australia's nominees for the 2012 Hans Christian Andersen Award, discuss their work. Books for sale and signing. IBBY is a non-profit organisation and international network of people committed to bringing books and children together. Read more

ERC publishes the most up-to-date details to hand, however occasionally event details change. We encourage you to confirm event details with organisers.