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Sunday Circle Refugee Conversations
You're invited to the Loreto Sisters' "Sunday Circle Refugee Conversations", Sunday 26 February, 3.30pm, Treacy Centre 126 The Avenue, Parkville
Sr Brigid Arthur csb will guide recent asylum seekers as they share their stories with us.
David Manne will discuss the legal position of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia.
David acted for asylum seekers in the recent challenge to the Malaysia Solution in the High Court.
Bookings and more information: 
Aboriginal leaders refuse to support continued government intervention
Calling on the federal government to apologise for the 'hurt, embarrassment, shame and stigma' and for the 'illegal' removal of the Racial Discrimination Act, the United First People’s Law men and women representing people of Prescribed Areas in the Northern Territory are refusing to support an extension to the Intervention legislation. They also say that Australia is in breach of its international treaty obligations to the First Nations Peoples. The seven leaders' statement came from a public meeting in Melbourne on November 5. Read it here.
The Vatican and the global financial crisis
As protesters demonstrate against corporate greed and politicians struggle with the eurozone crisis, the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace has published proposals for reforming international finance. It is a document that puts morality back into the heart of economics, says one expert. Read more from this Tablet feature article.
The financial reforms required
Economic growth has transformed the world over the last two centuries, accelerating in the last 50 years. The world population has followed a similar pattern. The latest United Nations forecast is for it to rise from seven billion today to 10 or even 15 billion by the end of the century. But is this a triumph, or a disaster? Read more of this Tablet editorial from 29 October 2011
Peace concert
A Spirit of Assisi Peace Concert, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Peace, will be held in Sydney on Saturday night, October 29. The concert will feature an evening of instrumental and choral music and reflections on peace.
Indonesian troops fire on leaders meeting in West Papua
At least six people are believed to have been killed and many more were injured when Indonesian military and police opened fire on a gathering of West Papuan leaders, New Matilda reports.
Meanwhile, West Papua's striking mine workers continue their standoff at Freeport's Grasberg mine despite increasing danger and the presence of a foreign security firm. Setyo Budi reports for New Matilda.
New era needs focus on rights
The end of Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year rule over Libya offers a unique opportunity for the country to end an extraordinarily long era of human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch says.
Climate Change – Cultural Change Religious Responses and Responsibilities
One Day Symposium – Saturday October 29, 2011, 8.50am to 5.00pm. Centre for Theology and Ministry, 29 College Crescent, Parkville, Victoria, 3052
Keynote address: Professor Norman Habel “Eco-wisdom and Climate Change”. The symposium includes papers, panels and workshops, from scholarly, community and grass roots presenters.
Be a voice
Sign the Caritas petition for a just climate.
Social encyclical still relevant in 120th year, say bishops
Australian Catholic bishops have marked the 120th anniversary of the first of the Church's official social encyclicals Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum saying it still rings true today. 
The ‘Million Pleas’ Campaign
The Million Pleas campaign is an attempt to create the world’s longest video chain letter through a unique website at www.millionpleas.com. People from all over the world are encouraged to take part in the project and ask for a world free from nuclear weapons.
In conversation... with Claire Anterea & Phil Glendenning, Pacific Calling Partnership
As rising sea levels in the Pacific threaten to engulf the tiny nation of Kiribati, Claire Anterea tells of how her country people are dealing with salt in their drinking water and Phil Glendenning of the Edmund Rice Centre describes being in an emergency ward with the high tide washing around his feet.
Social Justice Sunday 2011 - September 25
For details of the National Council of Churches' three-day focus on social justice from September 25 visit www.ncca.org.au/departments/social-justice.
Walk With Us
Aboriginal elders call out to Australian people to walk with them in their quest for justice. Walk With Us is a sequel to the highly regarded This Is What We Said (February 2010).
Beautifully illustrated, this hard-covered book provides an important update on current thinking about the Intervention. The book articulates the views of Aboriginal elders who gathered in Melbourne in February 2011 and of other leading Australians. Following her visit to meet with Aboriginal elders in Darwin, Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed her own concerns.
Elders are calling on the ‘People of Australia’ to walk with them as they seek the return of their basic human rights in their quest for justice.
For details of the book launch in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Darwin from August 30 to September 8, www.concernedaustralians.com.au.
To order, visit www.concernedaustralians.com.au.
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
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Major International Catholic Social Teaching Documents
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