‘Engaging Nonviolence – Deep Listening to the Spirit’

NSW Facilitator Co-learning weekend

We are keen to have more workshop facilitators in NSW and will be offering this programme to any one who might be interested. We have an opportunity for the weekend of Dec 5-7th 2008 and are interested in finding out how many people would be available to participate at this time since it is getting close to Christmas.
Please email or phone Gill Burrows on gill.burrows@madtechnology.net or ph 02 99222927 if you are interested and indicate if you would be available in Dec this year or prefer some other time.

Communication from Gill Burrows

Dear Friends of Pace e Bene

Here is a brief update on Pace e Bene news and a few dates for your diaries: If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.

‘Engage – Exploring nonviolent Living’ will be offered again this year as four Saturday workshops starting on July 26th.

NSW Facilitator Training We have an opportunity to offer this programme over the weekend of Dec 5-7th 2008. Recognising that it is getting close to Christmas I would encourage anyone interested in participating to let me know their availability. We have funding to provide this programme in each state and would like to offer it to as many as possible in NSW. Thanks.

Weapons of War Expo, Adelaide November 11th – 13th 2008
Immediately after the Pace e Bene National Gathering, the city of Adelaide will also be hosting another significant gathering - a weapons Expo commencing on Nov 11th armistice day!!! …. to quote from the SA Premier’s press release:

Asia-Pacific Defence Security Exhibition

11-13 November 2008 Adelaide - Australia

Servicing your business needs!

http://www.eiaa.asn.au/upl_images/APDS%20Documents.pdf

"APDS has been launched for the Defence and Security industries creating a fully integrated, business orientated, and international forum for companies wanting to expand their business within the Asia Pacific. Market analysis clearly indicates that the Asia-Pacific is the significant growth market and yet it is the least represented by quality defence and/or security exhibitions"

Alternatives to Weapons of War, Adelaide Pace e Bene Australia intends to provide an 'alternative nonviolent presence' alongside this weapons marketplace. We are in the early stages of planning what shape this might take in Adelaide and in other parts of the country....what we hope is that there will also be some intentional activities around the country to raise awareness that there are other ways of doing business than by manufacturing and marketing machines that kill and injure people and the planet....we will keep you informed about what emerges - meantime, mark your diary and be creative in discerning how you might contribute to this conscientisation process - either by coming to Adelaide and/or staying on for a few days after the national gathering (I'm reliably informed that there are some interesting areas to visit where delicious grapes grow...) and/or by planning something in your own area/school/parish/community that seeks to provide a gospel-centred counter-witness on November 11-13th this year.



We would love your ideas and feedback together with info on activities planned by other groups. Thanks.

There is also a website campaigning to stop the exhibition: http://www.apdsexhibition.org and you can sign up to receive email updates at the campaign gets underway.
A Google search will provide lots more links if you are interested.

Solomon Islands Facilitator Training Pace e Bene Australia facilitators Brendan McKeague and Carole Powell, in conjunction with Caritas Australia recently completed three very successful From Violence to Wholeness Facilitator training programmes in the Solomon Islands. The local SI people gave Carole and Brendan a wonderful welcome. They participated keenly and really enjoyed their workshop experiences. They are now taking this work forward into their own communities.


Carole and Brendan kept a journal of their amazing journey and it will shortly be available on the PeBA blogsite. I will forward the link once it is available.

2008 REFUGEE THANK-YOU MARCH

2008 Dario Palermo Refugee Art Exhibition
2008 Refugee Humanitarian awards
2008 Refugee Short Film Festival

Thursday JUNE 19th

(2 weeks to go)

You are all formally invited to this years refugee celebrations starting with the Refugee Thank You March.

Refugees thankful for what Australia and Australians have done for them will march along side Australians that are thankful for the contributions that refugees have made to their lives and communities.

We will be carrying blue lanterns through the streets of Sydney, the symbolic United Nations blue which is used throughout the world as a sign of protection and assistance to refugees worldwide.

We encourage everyone to make banners, t-shirts and lanterns with positive messages of thanks to walk around hide park in sydney and then we will conclude at the opening of the 2008 Refugee Art exhibition, Refugee Short Film Festival and Refugee Humanitarian awards.

You can make your own (non flame glow stick) lanterns or Blue lanterns will be able to be purchased from 5:30pm in Hyde park for $10 with all proceeds going towards refugee programs in NSW


EVENT DETAILS


5:30pm -Marches to meet at Hyde Park Sydney Corner of Park St and Elizabeth St.

6:00pm -March commencement

6:30pm - March arrives at Venue

- Refugee art exhibition opening

- Free refugee food dinner

Date: 19th June

Venue: Uniting Church, 264 Pitt Street, Sydney

Time: 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Cost: FREE


7:00pm -2008 Refugee humanitarian awards

7:30pm -2008 Refugee short film festival

9:30pm -End of event

For any further information please don’t hesitate to contact me at the detail below.

See you on the 19th June

Gary Taylor

President Friends of STARTTS

(Services for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors)


www.friendsofstartts.org

Balanced policy the only way to peace

by Malcolm Fraser

The Age
10 May 2008
___________________________________________________

TWO months ago, the Australian Parliament passed a resolution celebrating
Israel's first 60 years. Until recently, Australia had preserved a balance
in Middle East policy that asserted Israel's right to survival and security,
but also the right of the Palestinian people to their own state. Under the
previous government, in lock-step with the US, our policies veered to a more
one-sided support for Israel. The vision of a Palestinian state seemed to
slip from view.

US President George Bush claims that it is possible for Israel and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to negotiate the establishment of a
Palestinian state before the end of this year. That ignores the realities of
the current situation, which Bush has done a good deal to exacerbate.

It is a fact that Israel has persistently established more and more
settlements on the West Bank and that it has ignored the US and the UN
Security Council, which have continuously branded these settlements,
together with settlements in East Jerusalem, as illegal. However, the US has
not exerted real pressure to stop them and the process continues. Through
most of my life I have believed that Israel was a beacon of hope. But
somewhere Israel's leadership lost its way.

Since the start of the war on terror, US policies have become increasingly
unrealistic, branding people as terrorists to be beaten with guns.

In Bush's world, discussion or negotiation with those who are labelled as
terrorists is unthinkable, and indeed would be a betrayal of American
values. Yet he should recall what earlier US presidents did in negotiating
with leaders of the Soviet Union. Those presidents avoided nuclear war and
won the Cold War. Britain achieved peace in Northern Ireland with similar
policies.

Failure to talk with an opponent or with an enemy is perhaps the major
mistake of the Bush Administration. A mistake that has made many parts of
the world more dangerous. Hamas won a legitimate election in early 2006. Aid
workers on the ground in Palestine knew that Hamas would win because Hamas
helps local people while Fatah, corrupt and inefficient, did not. The West
claimed to be surprised at Hamas' victory. It betrayed its own principles by
making it plain that democracy was only acceptable if it gave the kind of
result that Israel and the US wanted.

It would have been possible to say to Hamas: a number of your policies must
change but we welcome your participation in the democratic process and we
are therefore prepared to talk and explore possible areas of agreement. This
approach would have given Hamas an alternative to violence and the
possibility of a different future.

When a joint Hamas-Fatah government was formed, it was short-lived. Both
Israel and the US sought to undermine it and encouraged Abbas to pursue a
policy that would diminish or destroy Hamas. In this regard, Israel and the
US have played a major part in the continued divisions among the Palestinian
people themselves.

I know there are those who would say that Hamas cannot be believed. No
agreement would be sustainable because it wants the total destruction of
Israel. However, those who hold such views commit themselves in effect to
continued warfare. If this situation prevails, Israel will lose more and
more friends and will place its own future in danger.

Terrorism must, of course, be condemned but if one measures the loss of life
in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is clear that the scales are heavily
balanced against the Palestinians. The tactics used by Hamas are inefficient
as a weapon of war, almost futile, but they have extracted a
disproportionate response.

If there is to be any progress, in addition to talking to Hamas it is
critical to heal the divisions between Hamas and Fatah. No arrangement
between Israel and Abbas will be acceptable unless the divisions among
Palestinian people are addressed. But Israeli and American policy is still
focused on perpetuating those divisions, breeding more hatred and bitterness
and making a secure future even more remote.

Former US president Jimmy Carter has recently held discussions in the Middle
East with many of those with whom Bush will not speak. He has attracted a
great deal of criticism from many quarters, including the Israeli lobby.
However, his efforts are to be applauded because he recognises that talking
to Hamas is essential for progress.

Hamas has supported a ceasefire. But this was rejected out of hand as a
subterfuge for gaining time to reorganise and rearm. Hamas has said that if
Abbas can negotiate a solution and if that is endorsed in a referendum by
the Palestinians, it will support it, provided that there is reconciliation
among Palestinians.

What then should be done? The principles endorsed by the Baker-Hamilton
report in relation to Iraq must be adopted in regard to the Palestinian case
as well. There must be talks leading to negotiations involving all the
players including Hamas. Progress will not be quick, it could be months and
possibly years, but a ceasefire, even initially for a limited period, would
be a good start. The ending of the blockade of Gaza and the cessation of new
settlements in the West Bank would be a prerequisite. In addition, the
adjudication of boundaries of Israel and Palestine would be critical to a
final settlement.

Against this modern-day tragedy, it is important for countries such as
Australia to be even-handed. That is why I support the appeal for the
Australian Parliament to pass a resolution recognising the hardships of the
Palestinian people and committing Australia to work for a fair and peaceful
resolution and the establishment of a viable independent state for
Palestinians.
_____________________________________________________________________
Malcolm Fraser is a former prime minister of Australia.


Web link
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/balanced-policy-the-only-way-to-peace/2008/05/09/1210131260171.html

New Prospects for Nation Building?hursday, June 26, 2008

So, what? Public lectures in contemporary humanities and social sciences
SO.What@UNSW.EDU.AU
WWW.ARTS.UNSW.EDU.AU
Please join us for the next lecture in the UNSW Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences series.
We are pleased to present Professor Michael Pusey
School of Social Sciences and International Studies

Introduction by Bruce Petty
Has economic ‘reform’ run its course? What potential remains for constructive nation building?
Contrary to expectations Canberra emerges from twenty years of free market ‘economic rationalism’ with disciplined government, ample revenues, an effective regulative apparatus and — perhaps — the capacity for government to steer the economy towards a brighter future. For a quarter of a century neo-liberal politics has made the people serve the economy. Can we recover the political capacity, the clear-sightedness, and the will to again make the economy serve the people? We face three crucial challenges. We must deal with climate change, re-build our rotting infrastructure and
fix federal state relations. Are we up to it? Can our history of nation-building come to the rescue of our future?

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008
Time: Cocktail reception from 6.00 pm
Lecture from 6.30 - 7.30 pm
Location: Tyree Room, John Niland Scientia Building, UNSW
RSVP: so.what@unsw.edu.au (numbers are limited)
Null Doro
After completing his doctoral studies in sociology at Harvard University Michael worked with the Schools Commission and at the Australian National University. Over the last thirty years at UNSW he has taught on social theory, the media and the public sphere, economic ideas, and, most recently on quality of life in Australia. Michael is a Professor of Sociology at UNSW
and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. His writings and media commentary on economic reform and on the changing Australian middle class are extensive, including two highly influential and prize winning books,
Economic Rationalism in Canberra and The Experience of Middle Class Australia.
From 1995 to 2002 Michael was the Director of the Middle Australia Project. Michael is currently working with Paul Jones

Sydney to honour the Stolen Generations

MEDIA RELEASE

Busy weekday traffic will come to a standstill on Monday 26 May 2008 when hundreds of members of the Stolen Generations, their families and supporters march through the streets of Sydney. The City of Sydney and the NSW Police Service have given their full support to this public event, which commemorates the 10th Anniversary of Sorry Day and the historic apology of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The event, which is being organised by the NSW Sorry Day Committee, will commence at 10:30am from Hyde Park (Northern end) and proceed down Macquarie Street. There will be a flag raising ceremony at Parliament House before the march proceeds to Circular Quay and onto First Fleet Park where there will be entertainment, speakers and refreshments.

NSW Sorry Day Committee Chairperson and Stolen Generations member Marie Melito-Russell said:

We hope this march will raise awareness about the issues that continue to affect members of the Stolen Generations. The Prime Minister’s apology was an important step in our healing, but this must be followed with reparations. We want justice and the same basic human rights that apply to others in our society. We invite all those that were affected by the removals policies to join us in solidarity and ask all Australians to walk with us in unity for a better future for all people.


Interviews with members of the Stolen Generations will be available upon request. For further information please contact NSW Sorry Day Committee on 02 9319 1034

1. Week of Action on Peace in Israel & Palestine 4 - 10 June 2008

Two Invitations for Action in Peace

Week of Action on Peace in Israel & Palestine 4 - 10 June 2008

Global Week of Action Small Arms 2 – 9 June 2008


1. Week of Action on Peace in Israel & Palestine 4 - 10 June 2008

The International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel is an annual Week of Action advocacy initiative, convened by the World Council of Churches and supported by Pax Christi International. In 2008, the Week of Action will take place from the 4th to the 10th of June, and the theme is “It’s Time for Palestine.”

The goal of the Week of Action is to raise awareness in churches and civil society, and to impress upon governments the need for new efforts to end the conflict and negotiate a settlement. Four types of actions will be developed: Pray, Educate, Advocate and Public Action. The Ecumenical Service with the Heads of Churches will take place on the 4th or the 8th of June in Jerusalem. Member organisations of Pax Christi International are invited to join the Week of Action and develop their own type of actions in collaboration with churches, church related organisations, religious communities or congregations, and with NGOs at the national and/or local level.

The following material is available and could be used at the national and local level:

1. Invitation to Action: Who, What, Why, How and When?

2. The message “It’s Time for Palestine”

3. The Jerusalem Prayer for Sunday, the 4th or 8th of June 2008

4. A liturgy from the Churches in Jerusalem.


Some of you have been asking what you can do. Please read more for ideas at http://www.oikoumene.org/en/events-sections/icappi-2008.html.
2. Global Week of Action Small Arms 2 – 9 June 2008


A key focus of IANSA, the International Action Network on Small Arms, of which Pax Christi International is a member, is the next UN Biennial Meeting of States on Small Arms (BMS), scheduled to take place in New York, from the 14th to the 18th of July 2008. Countries are expected to provide written reports to the UN on their efforts to reduce small arms proliferation, and in particular to outline challenges and gaps in capacity. Shortly before that, the Global Week of Action, from the 2nd to the 9th of June 2008, will help link the commitments at the regional and global level with actions by national governments. Member Organisations of Pax Christi International are invited to join these opportunities for global advocacy. More information is available on the website: www.iansa.org

Paul Lansu
Pax Christi International
Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains 21
B-1000 Bruxelles
Belgium
Phone: +32 (0)2 502 55 50 fax: +32 (0)2 502 46 26

www.paxchristi.net