JourneyOnline
What’s happening this week?
Sustainable peace and development in a polarising world
From 9-11 April, The Centre for Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue at Griffith University’s Nathan campus will host the first ‘Commonwealth Conference’ from April 9-11, exploring the role of the Commonwealth of Nations in achieving sustainable peace and development.
Setsuko Thurlow who accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons in 2017 will be guest speaker during the opening night dinner. Tickets to the conference are available here.
Abundant Justice 2018
The Abundant Justice event, coordinated by the Social Responsibilities Committee of the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland will be held from 16-18 July.
The event will feature presentations from Michael Leunig, Rev Assoc Prof Matthew Anstey, The Very Rev Dr Peter Catt, The Rev Dr Sarah Bachelard, Dr Peter Kline, Priate Church! and Sociologist John Carrol, to name a few.
This is an opportunity to inspire fresh thinking about living in a world of increasing complexity and rapid change, and to seek insights into our prophetic vision for how the world could be. To find out more, visit the Abundant Justice website.
Week in review
Government cuts means homelessness for vulnerable asylum seekers
The Guardian Australia reports that Federal government cuts could mean homelessness and destitution for vulnerable people seeking asylum in Australia on temporary visas, refugee advocates are warning.
Ninety-five advocate groups spoke out on Monday to oppose cuts to a program that provides an allowance, caseworker support, housing assistance and counselling to potential refugees.
The cuts to the Status Resolution Support Service program, announced at the end of last year, will take effect in the coming weeks.
Over the weekend, the Uniting Church in Queensland joined 94 groups to protest about these imminent cuts.
Human rights under attack in Australia, says the UN
Eternity News reports that the Australian Government has been strongly criticised for the “chilling effect” its actions have unleased on human rights defenders in Australia in a recent UN report.
Special Rapporteur Michel Forst told the UN’s Human rights Council he was astonished to observe “mounting evidence of regressive measures” being pursued by the Government. He asserted that “the Government’s role and responsibility is to support defenders, empower them and engage them in meaningful consultations.”
However, he said a “culmination of recent actions and legislation indicate an attitude by the Government towards civil society that has oscillated from lukewarm to obstructive to hostile.”
Millions flick the switch for Earth Hour 2018
From Manila to Moscow, the Washington Post has a collection of images from Earth Hour 2018.
Palm Sunday rallies attracts thousands
Aljazeera reports that thousands of Australians marched in major cities across the country to protest the government’s treatment of refugees while demanding an end to its controversial policy of processing people seeking asylum overseas.
Under strict border control policies, asylum seekers who arrive by boat are sent to processing centres the Australian government manages in the Pacific and permanently bans them from settling in Australia with many waiting years for a country to resettle in.
