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By James, on March 7, 2010, at 12:00 pm
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people still die 10–17 years younger than other Australians. The Australian Government has committed to Close the Gap, however much more needs to be done. Ensure government gets it right – please show your support to close the gap within a generation and be a part of National Close the Gap Day on 25 March 2010.
oxfam.org.au/national-day
Oxfam requests that people register their events online by mid-March at www.oxfam.org.au/national-day to ensure timely delivery of their packs of materials.
By Renee, on February 8, 2010, at 8:21 pm
Time: February 22, 2010 from 6:30pm to 8pm
Location: Conservatorium of Music,
Organized By: Brisbane Institute. Free entry but please register to attend.
Premier Anna Bligh will kick off the first in a series of public forums titled “Our Future, Your Say: Queensland’s population.”
The series of four free public forums aims at encouraging debate about the problems and opportunities brought on by southeast Queensland’s strong population growth. The forums will provide a timely opportunity for residents to raise important issues and questions ahead of the Government’s population growth summit on March 30 and 31.
Ms Bligh will be joined by Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman, Sunshine Coast Mayor, Bob Abbott, and Griffith University Professor, Brendan Gleeson. Together they will debate the impact of the region’s rapid population growth.
The Our Future, Your Say series is organised by The Courier Mail in partnership with Griffith University and The Brisbane Institute.
Register your attendance by emailing your name and contact details to:
rsvp@brisinst.org.au before 19 February.
By Renee, on February 2, 2010, at 10:19 pm
Check out the video we used in our service a fortnight ago. Since watching it and our subsequent discussion, I find my urge to be a shopper and consumer has been greatly curtailed.
What is The Story of Stuff?
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
By Renee, on February 2, 2010, at 9:45 pm
Following last Sunday’s service which again highlighted the need for urgent personal action on climate change, here is an invitation to attend a Brisbane Transition Hub event which could help us find a way to move forward.
The Transition Hub movement is gaining momentum in Brisbane and is very active in some suburbs. The workshops and information provided support individuals to move towards a sustainable lifestyle.
You are invited to the event ‘T10 – THE TRANSITION DECADE’ on Brisbane Transition Hub!
The Transition Decade involves the collaboration of a whole number of groups, including Transition Initiatives. So the workshop is for all who are concerned about climate change.
Time: February 14, 2010 from 10am to 12:30pm
Location: MOWBRAY PARK
Organized By: Rolf Kuelsen
Event Description:
WORLD CAFÉ WORKSHOP + PICNIC IN THE PARK. EXPLORE OUR COMMON INTERESTS WITH A VIEW TO UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER, SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, GROWING OUR SUPPORTER BASE AND INCREASING OUR COLLECTIVE INFLUENCE IN THE COMING ‘TRANSITION DECADE’ WWW.T10.NET.AU
WHY COME TO THE WORKSHOP?
At both the state and national levels, local leadership has failed to deliver even very small cuts in carbon emissions. Not surprisingly recent Copenhagen negotiations have produced no meaningful outcome either.
We have to face it, conventional political change methods have not worked.
We have run out of time for half-measures. It is now imperative that a safe climate is restored as fast as humanly possible. This will require zero emissions, and more, at emergency speed.
It seems that what is essential to accomplish is impossible to achieve.
Clearly a breakthrough is needed.
The Transition Decade campaign has been designed to meet this dual challenge of going for the goals that are really needed and getting effective change too. The strategy is to harness the power of collaboration.
Explore how we can:
• Offer synergies
• Grow membership bases
• Network with other groups
• Share our joint aspirations
• Find kindred spirits
Can we do it together? Will a share plan work? Come along and decide for yourself!
WHAT TO BRING?
YOU ARE INVITED TO BRING ALONG A PLATE TO SHARE, AS WELL AS A PICNIC TABLE AND CHAIRS FOR WORK-SHOPPING. FREE PUBLIC BBQ’S ARE ALSO ON SITE.
TRANSPORT OPTIONS
Mowbray Park has a City Cat terminal, so that’s the easiest public transport option.
Cycling is another option; the approaches are quite good and remember you can take your bike on the City Cat.
There is a bus service, however, it is very irregular on a Sunday.
Driving wise; there is lots of off-street parking (off Park Ave)
See more details and RSVP on Brisbane Transition Hub:
http://brisbanetransitionhub.ning.com/events/event
By James, on December 19, 2009, at 9:22 pm
Recycle your old mobile phone over the Christmas period and MobileMuster will donate the gift of a chicken through Oxfam Unwrapped (*terms and conditions apply). The ‘Old Phones for Chickens’ campaign will run until the end of December 2009.
Your old mobile phone might not be worth much to you, but it means a lot to the environment and to a family fighting against poverty.
Go to http://www.mobilemuster.com.au/pages/Oxfam.Unwrapped.Chicken
to download and print a reply paid label and post your old mobiles on by 31 December 2009*
By James, on October 31, 2009, at 2:43 pm
Last weekend Australians joined with people around the world in the biggest climate action in history. There is a great video that I recommend you watch, done by GetUp….
https://www.getup.org.au/campaign/ThankYou350
One of our key Unitarian principles is “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part” – climate change threatens many countries and our way of life, as well as many species that are part of the web of life. Many most affected are from poorer nations, unjustly impacted harshly by the emissions of wealthy nations.
The 350 Day of Action is a reminder of the need for Australian and world leaders to take action on climate change during the crucial global climate talks in December. In Australia, we all have our role to play in encouraging our government to be part of the solution.
With the Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme being decided in Canberra in November and the international climate talks in Copenhagen in December, these are the pivotal weeks for climate change.
We need to send the strongest possible message to our own Government and to world leaders. The video shows the power of ordinary people from around the world coming together to demand action:
https://www.getup.org.au/campaign/ThankYou350
Thanks!
James
By James, on October 9, 2009, at 11:24 pm
The UU Ministry for Earth invites all congregations to participate in the International Day of Climate Action on October 24 in collaboration with 350.org, an international campaign to create an equitable global climate treaty that lowers carbon dioxide below 350 parts per million. Help build a movement to take one day and use it to stop the climate crisis.
CLICK HERE for more information.
Why 350? Scientists generally agree that if we continue to allow the amount of carbon in the atmosphere to top 350 ppm, we can’t sustain a planet similar to the one we know and to which life on Earth is adapted. Currently, the CO2 in the atmosphere measures well above 350 ppm.
350 represents more than just a benchmark for a safe climate – there are deep moral and spiritual reasons for getting back below 350. The 2006 Unitarian Universalist Statement of Conscience on the Threat of Global Warming/Climate Change begins:
“Earth is our home. We are part of this world and its destiny is our own. Life on this planet will be gravely affected unless we embrace new practices, ethics, and values to guide our lives on a warming planet?.We declare by this Statement of Conscience that we will not acquiesce to the ongoing degradation and destruction of life that human actions are leaving to our children and grandchildren. We as Unitarian Universalists are called to join with others to halt practices that fuel global warming/climate change, to instigate sustainable alternatives, and to mitigate the impending effects of global warming/climate change with just and ethical responses. As a people of faith, we commit to a renewed reverence for life and respect for the interdependent web of all existence.”
Guided by this Statement of Conscience, UU Ministry for Earth, the UU State Advocacy Networks, the UU-United Nations Office , the UUA Green Sanctuary Program , and the UUA Office for Advocacy and Witness call upon UU congregations to participate in the International Day of Climate Action, October 24.
We do this because we believe our deep Unitarian Universalist commitments to peace, equality, and justice rest ultimately on a safe and sustainable future for life on Earth. By pledging your participation, your UU congregation will join an unprecedented global grassroots call for nations set a bold target of 350 and begin to reduce and mitigate climate disruption immediately.
Please contact us if you can help organize a local action on October 24
The 350.org site has a map listing events being organised for Brisbane.
By James, on September 5, 2009, at 11:09 pm
Indigenous homelands resident, Barayuwa Mununggurr says:
“We all have equal rights to be clothed, to be sustained, to have shelter, and this also includes our homelands, big and small. These are places of significance to us, that have our songlines, where our names come from, where our dance comes from, where our art comes from, and where our law and culture comes from – it makes us who we are.
Next week we are meeting with the Government to look at ways in which we can work together in partnership for our future in our Homelands. But we can only solve this together. When we walk into meetings at Parliament House, it would make us so confident to have thousands of Australians there in spirit – then I’m sure they would hear us.”
By James, on September 3, 2009, at 12:03 am
Changes to the BUUF Web pages 2/09/09:
1. Added a social justice page
2. Reorganised the left side bar so Directions is immediately under Sunday Services to make it easier to find
3. Minor formatting changes
If anyone notices errors or omissions, please email james@brisbaneuu.org.au
By James, on September 2, 2009, at 11:58 pm
The secretary of a forum on the welfare of West Papua was in Brisbane last week. Accompanied by a few academics from the University of Queensland, he outlined the ways in which the indigenous people of that country are being ruled by the Indonesian army. They are losing their lands and therefore, their livelihood as thousands of Indonesians flock into the country each week. HIV/Aids is rising in West Papua and many locals blame Indonesian prostitutes. This is a complex issue that is covered in a number of online articles such as this. Some claim Indonesian army complicity in the HIV-AIDS crisis, with officers profiteering from legal and illegal brothels, where inadequate health testing means the disease spreads rapidly.
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