Micah Australia updates : People's Climate March : Cuts to aid : Voices for Justice : Prayer vigils as advocacy

November Update Hi Everyone, here is your guide to Micah's latest events, actions and resources.

Events People's Climate Marches (27-29 November) This weekend world leaders will be gathering in Paris on the eve of the United Nations Climate Summit. Meanwhile, across the globe, millions will gather in their cities to create the biggest climate event the world has ever seen. Let’s stand together to protect God’s creation and stand with the vulnerable poor whose lives and livelihoods are threatened by climate change. Click here to find out when and where your local march is happening this weekend & take the opportunity to pray for the Climate Summit this week in personal and corporate prayer using this toolkit. Actions Dear Prime Minister After the biggest ever cuts to aid, Australia is on track to recording its lowest ever investment in aid. That's not something we want to see, so with the mid-year budget update just around the corner, please write to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, to ask him to stop the cuts and start investing in a better future for people in our region and for a world free from poverty. Once you've taken action, you may even consider hosting a 'Mailing Party'. Click here for more details and to take action.  Blogs Prayer as Advocacy In conjunction with our Voices for Justice gathering in October, hundreds of Christians from churches across the country gathered in prayer vigils as a form of advocacy to our powerful God.  Read about what happened in our latest blog and consider how you might use 'prayer as advocacy' this coming week as world leaders negotiate climate change targets which will have most impact on the poorest and vulnerable people in our word. You can download all prayer resources here. Micah Australia http://www.micahaustralia.org/

micahaustralia.org     (02) 8317 5080   |   info@micahaustralia.org   |   Suite 413/410 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 Micah Australia is a coaltion of churches and Christian organisations raising a powerful voice for justice and a world free from poverty. Copyright © 2015 Micah.

#BALLARAT VIGIL FOR HOPE TO STOP THE INDONESIAN DEATH PENALTY - TO-NIGHT - DETAILS BELOW

Dear Advocates,

Apologies for the short notice of to-nights's event.

Have only received notification this morning.

Details are in the re-published email below.

Please do your best to support this event.

Remember the mercy you give is the mercy you get! 

 The Ballarat group is part of the worldwide Amnesty International movement that opposes the death penalty in any circumstance, for any person.  Residents are invited to the

Spiritual Centre, 

Ballarat Base Hospital

7.00p.m.-8.00p.m. 

To-night 

Sunday 8th.February 

(entry from Sturt Street) 

to light the flame of justice, and send a public message that Australians oppose state-sanctioned executions.

The event is a response to comments by Indonesian President Joko Widodo that he would not grant clemency to at least 64 individuals who have been sentenced to death for drug-related crimes and that there were plans to execute all of them.

These include Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran in the next batch of 11 whose claims for clemency have been rejected.

Amnesty International is asking Australians 

to use the hashtag #KeepHopeAlive

 and sign

Amnesty International’s petition

calling for the executions to be stopped. 

The death penalty has been proven not to work in deterring crime. It is a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and it has no place in today’s justice system.

Amnesty International has been campaigning against the death penalty for the last 30 years, and most countries in the world have recognised the justice in this stance. When Amnesty International first pledged to abolish executions in the ‘70s, only a handful of countries had stopped killing people as a form of punishment; now 140 countries have abolished the practice.

Vigil for Hope ("Stop the Executions") 

 7.00-8.00p.m. 

Sunday 8th. February 

 Spiritual Centre, Ballarat Base Hospital. 

 Media Contact: Max White 5331 2502

Silencing community voices ...#ACOSS comments as does Kon from #ASRC

The Australian Council of Social Service today expressed deep concern at extensive funding cuts to community sector organisations  including policy and advocacy work. ACOSS believes this will severely weaken the Federal Government’s ability to engage with the community on important reforms that lie ahead.

“Cutting support for vital community expertise and voices is a major mistake. Community voices play a crucial role in providing on-the-ground advice and an important link connecting communities with government decision-making processes,” said ACOSS CEO Dr Cassandra Goldie.

To read more please go to the ACOSS website 
and then there is this from Kon of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
which is related to this

The Commonwealth will only continue to fund agreements that it has a legislated duty to fund, such as the National Affordable Housing Agreement with the states under the Council of Australian Governments process.

 

Bookmark this Abbott Gov saying will only fund NFP areas that it has legislated duty to fund. WOAH! Think about that. #ThanksTony #auspol
— Kon Karapanagiotidis (@Kon__K) December 23, 2014

Anti-Poverty Week 2014 - 12-18 October 2014 - Poster & Information to get on board the campaign against poverty and severe hardship - #1 - #Blogaction14, #Inequality, #Oct16, #Ballarat

For a calendar of activities, please go here.
Information and educational resources are here.
 

Health Advocacy Organisations call on Australian Government & Parliament to show leadership...

Health groups call for leadership in healthcare funding   Tuesday September 23, 2014As a new AIHW report showing declining health spending is released, a wide range of health advocacy organisations have joined together today to call on the Government and Parliament to show leadership in relation to health funding, and ensure that decisions take into account the health of everyone in the community, particularly the most vulnerable. A wide range of health advocacy organisations have joined together today to call on the Government and Parliament to show leadership in relation to health funding, and ensure that decisions take into account the health of everyone in the community, particularly the most vulnerable. "Good health is a fundamental building block to the well-being of individuals, communities and the economy. There is a need for considered and evidence based approaches to healthcare funding and services," CEO of ACOSS, Dr Cassandra Goldie said today while launching the statement. "Community organisations with a deep interest in health are growing increasingly alarmed about the significant changes that are being proposed in the area of health, without significant community discussion about the implications, particularly on those who are most vulnerable and most likely to be impacted by changes such as the proposed GP co-payment. "Organisations who have signed up to today's statement remain opposed to any form of GP co-payment, even one with exemptions as this does not go far enough to ensure that those who most need healthcare are not faced with cost barriers. "Any changes in healthcare funding needs to protect those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Current proposals on the table do not adequately address the impacts on groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those with chronic illness, and older members of our community. We also know that those who are poorer are more likely to be sick. So, it is those who are least likely to be able to afford it who are going to be most impacted by measures such as new or increased co-payments. "In addition to proposals such as the GP co-payment, and increases to the co-payment for PBS medicines, there are other adverse changes being made through the budget, such as the reduction of funding to health promotion and preventative health. It's hard to see how this will help improve people's health and take off pressure in the health system. "There is strong evidence that supports investing in preventive health as the most long-term, cost effective and ethical approach to maintaining and improving Australia's universal health care system. Investing in a healthy Australia takes strong leadership and a vision for a better future for all people and communities in Australia. "The groups who have come together today stand ready to work with Government to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the health system. We call on the Government and the Parliament to focus on evidence, and not be tempted to introduce short term fixes to expenditure which will only cost more in the long term," Dr Goldie concluded. A copy of the Joint Community Statement on Health and signatories can be found here Sign on Organisations Media Contacts: Australian Association of Social Workers - 0400 613 516 Australian Council of Social Service - 0419 626 155 Australian Federation of Aids Organisations - 0421 040 538 Australian Men's Health Forum - 0437 571 130 Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation - 0411 254 390 Catholic Social Services Australia - 0400 576 917 Consumers Health Forum of Australia - 0414 358 091 MS Australia - 0427959972 National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations - 02-6246 9347 Public Health Association of Australia - 0417 249 731

“Begin at the beginning," the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”

Morning everyone. 

This post serves to advise that the historic Ballarat parish of Saint Paul's Anglican Church at Bakery Hill is in the midst of establishing a voice for social and environmental justice under the title of Advocacy @ St Pauls. 

It would be so nice if you could help us to establish ourselves in the world of social media - by emailing our future posts to your networks as appropriate; friending us; liking us; re-posting and re-tweeting from our blog.

And if you think there is something we should be investigating and talking about, please let us know that too. We would like to hear from other Anglican parishes who have a similar group in their parish. If you wish to email us please write to: advocacyballarat@gmail.com

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Advocacy-at-St-Pauls/1511054672464178

Blog
Advocacy
http://advocacyatstpauls.blogspot.com.au/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/StPaulsVoice