NOVEMBER 2015    ISSUE 173

 

Welcome to the monthly news and information briefing from the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, the social justice and human rights agency of the Catholic Church in Australia. This email contains highlights only. The full Briefing is online.

 

 

 

FROM THE SECRETARIAT: Compassion shown to Syrian refugees must be sustained

That tragic image of the little boy Aylan Kurdi opened our minds and hearts. ACSJC Chairman Bishop Vincent Long welcomed the Australian Government's subsequent one off increased commitment to refugee settlement: 'These are the sort of vulnerable people we should focus on when responding to claims for refugee status.' But we also need to be moved to act on behalf of the children Australia continues to hold offshore. Read more

 

 

ISSUES: West Papua's 'irrepressible struggle for freedom'

A new report by Peter Arndt, Executive Officer of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Brisbane, highlights the ongoing human rights challenges faced by the people of West Papua. He explains how past atrocities, together with ongoing human rights abuses and constant monitoring by security and intelligence forces, have come to characterise life for indigenous communities in West Papua. Read more

 

 

PUBLICATIONS: 2016 Social Justice Diary

The Diary includes the dates of significant events, anniversaries and special days which celebrate particular aspects of social justice. The Diary provides a social justice resource for the full year. Information and ideas for prayer and reflection are included. Read more

 

 

EVENTS: 27-29 NOV - People's Climate March

As world leaders meet in Paris for the United Nations climate summit, Australians will gather and walk alongside millions of people in hundreds of major cities around the world. By coming together it will show that the government is out of step with the Australian community and the rest of the world. Read more 

 

 

NEWS: Religious Congregations question Australian bid for UN Security Council

Fr Claude Mostowik msc, Justice Network Coordinator for Catholic Religious Australia, criticised the move by Australia to seek a place for membership on the UN Security Council or on the UN Commission for Human Rights. Read more

 

 

DIARY: 12 NOV 1991: Dili Massacre, Timor-Leste: more than 271 people killed

The impact of this iconic event on East Timor's future was decisive. The essential difference between this and earlier crimes was that it was witnessed and recorded by independent (non-Timorese and non-Indonesian) reporters and other observers. Read more

 

 

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL PO Box 7246, Alexandria NSW 2015. Tel: (02) 8306 3499, Fax: (02) 8566 3498, Email: admin@acsjc.org.au Website: http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au. ACSJC Briefing is sent by email at the beginning of each month (except January). To subscribe or unsubscribe, send an email toadmin@acsjc.org.au