Dear CES Supporter
This
year CES has focussed on environmental issues.
Bishop George Browning set the scene in February, reminding us
that we humans are part of God's creation and we rely on the
created world for our survival, our good living and for our
joy in life. If our own actions reflect
God's love and care for all creation, there is every
likelihood that we can contribute to a future happy, healthy
and sustainable Planet Earth for all. Like the 'horse
and carriage' can you really have social justice without
environmental justice?
Today
one of our greatest concerns is that global warming of our
planet will change the quality of life and indeed the future
capacity for life. As carers of our world, we need to be
able to hear what the experts say and to make wise
judgments about what action, if any is needed.
But, in an age of spin, are we getting transparent
messages? How can we decide whom to trust? Whose
language is transparent?
CES
October forum will focus on the language of climate
change.
Our topic: 'Climate
Change Denial': Twisting Language?'
Our
speaker: Dr Haydn Washington has worked as an
investigations scientist for the CSIRO and as an
environmental consultant. He has been Director of the
Nature Conservation Council of NSW and a councellor of the
Australian Conservation Foundation.
When:
7.30 pm Thursday 13 October
Where:
Australian Centre for Christianity and
Culture, Corner Blackall St and
Kings Av, Barton
Haydn
and John Cook co-authored the recently published book
Climate Change Denial: Heads in the Sand. Copies
of the book will be available at the forum for $30.
There will also be copies of Haydn's earlier publication A
Sense of Wonder which costs $15.
Our Chair: Rev Rebecca Newland; St
Philip’s Anglican Church, O’Connor
For more information and a publicity flyer please
click on Current forum
November Forum
Topic: Sustainability and
Climate Change – Some Ethical Reflections
Speaker:
Peter Newman -
Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University and
Director of that university's Sustainability
Policy Institute which has 60 PhD students working
on all aspects of the green economy. Peter is on
the Board of Infrastructure Australia that is funding
infrastructure for the long term sustainability of
Australian cities. For 30 years, since he attended
Stanford University during the first oil
crisis, Peter has been warning cities about
preparing for peak oil. Peter’s book with Jeff
Kenworthy 'Sustainability and Cities: Overcoming
Automobile Dependence' was launched in the White House
in 1999. In
Perth, Peter is best known for his work in saving,
reviving and extending the city’s rail system.
He has three recent
books: ‘Technologies for Climate Change
Mitigation: Transport’; ‘Resilient Cities:
Responding to Peak Oil and Climate Change’; and
‘Green Urbanism Down Under’.
When: Friday 25 November (yes a Friday)
Where: Australian Centre for Christianity and
Culture
Chair: Rev Gregor Henderson
CES Committee News
CES held its AGM on 1
September. Professor John Nevile was elected
the new Chair. John has been our Vice-Chair
for a number of years and has represented CES
at the NSW Ecumenical Council meetings in
Sydney. Our new Vice-Chair is John
Goss. We welcomed Rev Colin Dundon to our
organising committee earlier this year
and are now pleased to welcome back to
the committee Dr Jeremy Dawson. We thank
other committee members for remaining on the
committee for the next 12 months.
NEWS from Salt
and Light
Australian Religious Response to
Climate Change: Ride to Worship Week 2011
The
second annual Ride to Worship Week runs from Friday
7th to Thursday 13th October 2011. To join in the fun,
all you need to do is to cycle, walk, or use another
form of environmentally friendly transport to get to
and from church. You can join in as an individual, a
family, or as a whole church or faith community. Read
more about Ride to Worship Week, and register your
participation at Ride to Worship
Working
Together Out Of Poverty - International Day for the
Eradication of Poverty - 17 October 2011
International
Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed
every year since 1993, when the General Assembly of
the United Nations designated this
day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate
poverty and destitution in all countries,
particularly in developing countries - a need
that has become a development priority.
At the Millenium
Summit, world leaders
committed themselves to cutting by half by the year
2015 the number of people living in extreme poverty,
ie those people whose income is less than one
dollar a day.
MAKE
POVERTY HISTORY is a coalition of more
than 70 aid and development organisations,
community and faith-based groups. In
Australia, they work in partnership with
Micah Challenge and the Global Call for
Action Against Poverty to achieve the United
Nation Millenium Development Goals and halve
global poverty by 2015.
On
October 15, 16 and 17 this year, MAKE
POVERTY HISTORY asks Australians to join
them to ask our politicians to Keep The Promise to the
world’s poor and their commitment to halve global
poverty by 2015. To find out how you can
join in click on Keep the Promise.
Anglicare's
State of the Family Report
The 11th State
of the family Report will be launched on Monday 17
October at the start of poverty week.
NEWS
from SEE-Change
- Green Savvy Sunday Old Bus
Depot Markets, Kingston; 9 October
- The Living Green Festival
at Albert Hall on Sunday 16 October 2011.
For details
click on SEE-Change
Events
Food Production
There is much discussion of late about the importance
of strengthening Australia's capacity as a food
producer. Such capacity to feed ourselves and
others requires good farming techniques and healthy
soil. Check out:
Healthy
Soils Australia
Indigenous Event: Wongee Our Bardip
(Telling Our Story Our Way)
Presentation and discussion: A
Tribute to Aboriginal Youth Suicide and Stolen
Generations
When: 10 October
Where: Manning Clark Lecture
Theatre, ANU
Tax Summit and the GST
Michael Mullins puts his views reflecting both the
views of Vinnies and Uniting Care in
Eureka
Street
I hope to see you at our forum on 13 October
best wishes
Heather McLaren