A change must occur deep in our souls ...

"It is clear that there will be little development of life here in the future if we do not protect and foster the living...
Posted by Spiritual Ecology on Friday, 16 October 2015

POPE FRANCIS SPEAKS IN LAUDATO SI' - PRAISE BE TO YOU - ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME

The latest papal encyclical was released to-day, 19 June 2015 AEST - 18 June in The Vatican.  The encyclical will take time to read closely and carefully, to digest it, and comment thoughtfully upon it.

Advocacy is indebted to Crux in providing the encyclical in a number of formats to make it easily accessible to people.  Advocacy has embedded the encyclical in this post where it can be read on-line or downloaded.  However, it is also available on Crux here in linked chapter by chapter outline for easy access and reading. Linked here is the encyclical as it was posted on The Vatican website.  Crux also contains recent commentary.

Comment

ABC - Australia: Key excerpts from the Pope's encyclical on the environment

The Age - Neil Ormerod: Pope Francis's views on global warming cold comfort for Canberra

The Guardian: The pope's encyclical on climate change - as it happened

The Washington Post: Ten key excerpts 

The Sydney Morning Herald:  

Papal environment encyclical a win for the Greens, challenge for Abbott

To-day is the International Day of People with Disability. The theme is Sustainable development: the promise of technology

This is   a timely and important post excerpted from Carly Findlay's blog.  

Please go here to get the full post.

 

The state (and importance) of disability media.

Today is International Day of People with Disability. 

(I'm pictured with the amazing Quippings crew - a disability performance group.)

The theme of this year's Disability Day is 

'Sustainable development: the promise of technology'.

About a month ago I was recognised as a finalist in the Yooralla Media Awards for this piece.

Last week I declined my award. I couldn't accept it knowing what happened to people in the organisation's care and workplace.

As a writer with a disability, and knowing one of the victims, this just wouldn't be right.

The safety and dignity of those in care is where my values lie.

(And I also recognise the majority of ethical, dedicated employees and good work of this organisation and others facing similar allegations. Furthermore, I am still proud to be recognised by these independent judges.)

However, I maintain disability media and the recognition of such media through awards is so important. Whether it be disabled media makers, or media about disability, stories need to be told. This latest case highlights just important it is. I hope that Australia can run independent disability media awards through The Media and Arts Alliance or the Walkley Awards in the future.
I am scared for the future of disability media. There's very little mainstream media about disability, and what is shown is often inspiration porn. It's focussed on overcoming obstacles and even glamourising illness in Hollywood (see this article about The Fault in Our Stars - a book and movie which I loved).