Luke Wright - one of the founder's of Good Cycles - talks grant writing for social enterprise. While Green Connect is currently funded 92% through trade, plugging the gap is a constant challenge.
Posted by Green Connect on Thursday, 11 June 2015
Markets & Justice
Freely operating markets yield a just outcome?
White Australia Has A Black History
Saturday, 13 June 2015
Trading and funding Social Enterprise
Friday, 12 June 2015
Thursday, 11 June 2015
Stripping citizenship without judicial oversight: the law of unintended consequences
Peter Greste says he would be a prime candidate
to have his citizenship stripped.
A word or three from the AbC: Justin Welby preaches at the service for the new British Parliament - 15-06-09
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, preached at the Service for the New
Parliament, St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey, London, 9 June
2015.
To read what he said in its entirety, please go here. An extract is published below.
There are many different emotions here today. That is why the
readings today have deliberately been chosen to pick up two moments in
the Bible that have much emotion attached.
The reading from
Jeremiah speaks of the consequences of God’s judgement – and the reading
from John’s Gospel of what it means in practice to be a community of
values with a moral vision.
Jeremiah was a prophet of the sixth
century BC in the kingdom of Judah. Judah had survived for half a
millennium, more or less. But in the end, a combination of political
miscalculation and other factors meant that the kingdom was overrun, and
after a long and horrific siege (if you want to see what it feels like
read Jeremiah’s Lamentations) the city fell. In two great waves the
leaders of the nation – those who had survived – were taken on a death
march to Babylon.
Jeremiah had prophesied the defeat because the
nation had fallen away from God’s standards. Once the exiles were in
Babylon they wrote to Jeremiah, asking what they should do now. One of
the key parts of his answer is in that first reading.
The essence
of those verses, and those around them, is writing to the exiles at
this moment of the deepest possible blackest despair that we can
imagine. His answer was this: you’re going to be there a very long time
(that’s bad news), settle down and bless the community in which you
live. (‘But these are the people who massacred us,’ you can hear them
think.) The circumstances in which you find yourselves are not a cause
for despair, but for reflection on the past and a renewal of confidence
in the God who is greater than all of history.
And in fact, in due course, virtually uniquely among the people of that area they were brought back from exile.
The
people of Judah suffered the consequences of their turning away from
God to other gods, of seeking to find alternative values not based in
truth – the absolute truth of the revealed God – but in what was
convenient and easy.
Their society had been corrupted by materialism as the ultimate aim of existence, and by injustice and neglect for the poor.
Let
me be absolutely clear. I am not hinting or suggesting in any way at
all that anyone here is guilty of such things. One of the privileges of
my role is getting to know so many people in politics, and the more I do
the clearer it is that almost everyone I meet seeks to do what is
right, to make just decisions, and to serve their country with
integrity. Views to the contrary are mere descents into cynicism.
Yet
the best intentions can lead to the wrong conclusions. First, Jeremiah
says, we reap the consequences of our actions – and thus those actions
must be based in a moral vision and in an ideal that is founded on
eternal values that do not change.
Throughout the Old Testament,
time after time after time, from Genesis to Malachi, these values
include justice for the poor, reaching out to the stranger, integrity
without partiality in government, and a dedication to the flourishing of
the whole community.
Secondly, God is also saying through
Jeremiah that even when things go wrong, which in all societies they
will from time to time because we are all human (and let me say the
Church of England is not one to lecture others on how to be perfect),
God is greater than our greatest failures.
We have to seek to do
right, but we can trust in the providence and salvation of God for the
future. That is the promise made to the people of Judah, and thus they
were to settle down amongst their enemies; to make the best of their
situation, to bless the communities in which they lived, and look to the
moment of their redemption.
There is no coded political message
in this, but there is a very un-coded theological one: God can be
trusted, but we must do our part. And I know that is the belief and
desire of the vast majority here today.
So pragmatism does not
really work. Yet all politics is in the end about delivery, not merely
policy. Stating policies is the easy bit; making them happen is the
deepest of skills.
Pragmatism in the sense of short cuts to avoid
difficulty is not a good solution. It had taken Judah to defeat and
exile. But pragmatism in the sense of being practical and down to earth –
of making sure that delivery happens – is essential.
In the
reading from John 13 we see the greatest moment of holy pragmatism in
history. The Son of God Himself, Jesus – knowing confidently who He is,
what He is intended for, and that God can be trusted – sets aside His
pride and washes the feet of His disciples.
The truest leadership
is about service. And note that He even washes the feet of Judas
Iscariot, knowing as He does that this is the man who will betray Him to
torture and agony within twenty-four hours.
This truly is holy
pragmatism. It is the pragmatism of love without limit, of unconditional
love that reaches with generous, almost absurd grace to every person.
Such
pragmatism costs more than we can imagine and gains more than we can
believe. And yet it is the pragmatism to which we are all called, as
human beings, but especially those of you here, as national leaders.
So
we have two moments: in the first of them a nation in despair is told
that God can be counted on despite all their failures. The failures
matter. Actions have consequences. But they are never the end of the
story: God is.
Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Are you/we losing your/our own Eden
There is nothing you can claim, can demand, can take.
As soon as you try to take something as if it were your own-you lose your Eden.
— Bill (@Hokibil) June 10, 2015
Tuesday, 9 June 2015
Cornel West on Q&A in Oz
That human dynamo Cornel West impressed many on ABC's Q&A last night. A lot of Australians would never have heard of West before last night - but a lot of Australian Christians of a progressive bent have been West fans from way back. Melbourne is sold out or all but ... in spite of the cost of the tickets!
West is forthright - and faith full. He is blunt and logical. A scholar. A public intellectual. We all need a jazz up from someone like Cornel West from time to time.
"I want to be like Jesus" - New York magazine
Rural Australians for Refugees - #Bendigo ... and St Killian's give a hoot and strut their stuff
Rural Australian for Refugees - Bendigo shared their photo.
Rural Australian for Refugees - Bendigo shared their photo.
Friday afternoon the St Killians Social justice group stood up for asylum seekers and refugees on the corner beside the fountain. Yes lots of people tooted, they do give a hoot!
Monday, 8 June 2015
The madness must end says Father Rod of Anglican Church, Gosford. #ThemadsayGillianTriggsismad
#Auspol This madness must end. #Compassion for #asylumseekers The mad say #gilliantriggs is mad. pic.twitter.com/ZPGQRCXdsq
— Fr Rod Bower (@FrBower) June 7, 2015
Saturday, 6 June 2015
World Environment Day - 2015 --- a very movable feast --- WED events in #Ballarat this week-end
World Environment Day is a movable and moving feast!
As you can see Advocates, the official date is on June 5.
However, those wishing to mark the spirit of the date
are not hindered if they find people are not able
to fully participate on the published day.
So Advocacy is here to tell you of two WED events
occurring this week-end.
There is the Plant Day on the Yarrowee River
- see details below.
St Paul's Anglican Church, Bakery Hill, Ballarat
is also marking the day to-morrow.
Please come along for the 10am Eucharist.
And read on further to see
when Pope Francis is marking the day!
However, those wishing to mark the spirit of the date
are not hindered if they find people are not able
to fully participate on the published day.
So Advocacy is here to tell you of two WED events
occurring this week-end.
There is the Plant Day on the Yarrowee River
- see details below.
St Paul's Anglican Church, Bakery Hill, Ballarat
is also marking the day to-morrow.
Please come along for the 10am Eucharist.
And read on further to see
when Pope Francis is marking the day!
Follow this link and you will find that people
have been chatting about a Papal encyclical since
immediately after World Environment Day 2014!!!
Now time is/has run out on Pope Francis.
World Environment Day is here and no encyclical!
But we think it is coming -
approximately a fortnight after WED - June 18.
According to this report, there will me much reference
Now Anglicans are rather keen on Saint Franics.
On his feast day we turn up with our
dogs, cats, canaries and guinea pigs -
and if you live in fictional Dibley,
the vicar even manages to cope with a horse!
However, among all the jollity of Saint Francis' Day,
Advocates at St Paul's remember that this was the day
that the organisation established itself in the parish.
... and if you too are excited about what is in the PE
(Papal Encyclical)
How dare #FionaNash cut funds to get people away from the bondage of drugs.
Health minister Fiona Nash cuts $8 million from drug misuse programs http://t.co/hxqGrOZVd6 pic.twitter.com/anjmyhisPD
— Michael Woodhead (@mpwoodhead) June 1, 2015
Friday, 5 June 2015
Chris Graham tells it like it is - and how so many of us don't want it to be. Will Australia ever become a colour-blind nation?
The Not-So-Level Playing Field: Why We Love Cathy Freeman And Hate Adam Goodes http://t.co/oEk4OsSLns pic.twitter.com/EFe3DmsT6L
— Chris Graham (@chrisgatlarge) June 1, 2015
Thursday, 4 June 2015
Michele Harris has gone from our midst. Farewell, Michele - activist and friend of Justice and First Australians
In the wake of the Northern Territory Emergency Response - otherwise known as The Intervention - sprung up an organisation known as 'concerned Australians'. 'cA' drew prominent Australians such as Malcolm Fraser and Alastair Nicholson to speak out against this dreadful perversion of public policy.
There is an old adage: Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Not only did The Intervention bring out two professional spokesmen against the cruel and discriminatory policy in the persons of Fraser and Nicholson. It also brought out two women who personified energy applied intelligently: Michele Harris and Georgina Gartland.
Michele brought substantial experience, skill, and valuable contacts to the cause. Underlying Michele's activism was a debilitating illness.
Georgina, much younger than Michele and the mother of many children, brought great energy and inquiry in spite of family and domestic responsibilities.
So, for those who are tempted to plead illness, busy-ness and family responsibilities when asked to bring skills and talents into the service of a cause, I would draw attention to the substantial work carried out by these two women. Go to the 'cA' website and see what has been done, what has been produced. There you will find documentary material which will become part of any discussion of the impact of poor public policy on those whom the policy purports to serve.
There will be many outpourings honouring Michele's work. Click on Georgina Gartland's name below and you will be taken to her Facebook site. There you will find many testimonies to the effectiveness of Michele.
In addition, you should pop across to New Matilda where Michael Brull has written beautifully of Michele.
Brigid O'Carroll Walsh shared Barbara Oehring's photo.
3 mins ·
Vale Michele Harris OAM of 'concerned Australians'
More about Mabo....at the museum of the world for the world.
Yesterday, was Mabo day.
The British Museum - a museum of the world, for the world -
is marking Mabo with a wonderful exhibition
Development goals must always be under review - to include everyone
How do we work w/ youth to ensure their space in new dev. goals? See @UNDP4youth approach: http://t.co/85EWNRLOET pic.twitter.com/WTdp9z6Bs8
— UN Development (@UNDP) June 1, 2015
Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Refugee Week in Ballarat - 13 to 21 June - information, posters and publicity linked from here
Refugee Week is being celebrated in Ballarat from 13 to 21 June.
Below is the poster for one of the week's major events.
For more information on what is happening in Ballarat
- and to download posters and programs -
please go here to access information and publicity material
at Events - Refugee Week - 2015 - Ballarat
Below is the poster for one of the week's major events.
For more information on what is happening in Ballarat
- and to download posters and programs -
please go here to access information and publicity material
at Events - Refugee Week - 2015 - Ballarat
Mabo Day - June 3: the decision and its impact : should we make Mabo Day a Public Holiday?
23 years since landmark High Court Mabo decision yet much work remains to achieve land rights, justice & reconciliation pic.twitter.com/4Lo893MPhT
— HumanRightsLawCentre (@rightsagenda) June 3, 2015
To-day is the anniversary of the Mabo decision.To read the story of Eddie Koiki Mabo
please go here.
and
the landmark decision please go here.
For a brief outline of the impact of the Mabo judgment
please go here
Please email or leave a comment
if you think Mabo Day ought to be an
Australian public holiday -
because it sure has impacted the nation!
Role models or rent seekers?
Priorities in the first world have become absurd. pic.twitter.com/fiIFXA9X7q
— Deadly Serious Party (@DSP_AU) June 1, 2015
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Generations of Anglicans can't regenerate in the 21st century?
One million Britons stopped identifying as Anglican between 2012-2014. Anglican church one generation from extinction http://t.co/1PxdpHOsRu
— adam brereton (@adambrereton) June 1, 2015
Monday, 1 June 2015
Praying for the world - starting with the formation of the Guild of Saint Paul, an intercessory prayer group.
The letter below has come into Advocacy's mail box ... from Common Grace.
Please note, however, that Constantine, Parish Priest at St Paul's, is establishing the Guild of Saint Paul, an intercessory prayer group. His aim is to have members of the Guild praying in St Paul's four hours a day. So much happening in our world. We want to have consistent prayer for those events and situations which are plaguing humanity. We will burn a candle or three as well. If you aren't part of the community at St Paul's but would like to join in this work, please phone Advocacy's secretary on 0477 477 658 or email Advocacy at advocacyballarat@gmail.com.
Picture above is from here
~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friend,
We are writing to you
today with a call to prayer for the weekend ahead.
Leaders throughout the Asia-Pacific began meeting today to discuss the
humanitarian crisis unfolding in our region.1 At
this stage, around 7,000 Rohingya asylum seekers are still stranded on
the same boats they have been on for over two weeks, with
countries in the area continuing to refuse to accommodate
them.
As you probably are aware, our own government is also still refusing to help.2 It is a devastating situation for those of us who believe that all people are created in the image of God.
The reality is that, as Christians, we know a Saviour whose response is one of inclusion and acceptance. Who says 'Yes, yes, yes' to the 'whosoever' that would come, and extends unconditional love to all. Yet we can find our earthly leaders' response is the opposite, as rigid policies and political slogans take precedence over compassion and common sense.
As you probably are aware, our own government is also still refusing to help.2 It is a devastating situation for those of us who believe that all people are created in the image of God.
The reality is that, as Christians, we know a Saviour whose response is one of inclusion and acceptance. Who says 'Yes, yes, yes' to the 'whosoever' that would come, and extends unconditional love to all. Yet we can find our earthly leaders' response is the opposite, as rigid policies and political slogans take precedence over compassion and common sense.
Yet even in these times, we can hold on to the hope we have in Jesus, and bring our concerns to him in prayer.
Let's all join together this weekend and pray specifically that:
- The Rohingyas are helped off the boats and given shelter.
- A search and rescue operation is launched to find other boats from Myanmar.
- Governments work together to end the persecution of the Rohingyas.
- Governments provide a clear 'front door' for refugees to seek asylum in our region so that they aren't forced to come on boats.
- Australia takes a lead in the region by giving the Rohingyas and other refugees a permanent home.
- The people of Australia will be generous and offer welcome to those in need.
At the moment there seems little
hope, yet we believe in a God who raises the dead and for whom nothing
is impossible. Together, let's believe God will work miraculously to
bring a solution to this crisis.
With Grace and Peace,
Tim, Justin and the whole Common Grace Team
PS. Why not forward this email to your pastor or the person who will be overseeing prayer in your church service this Sunday?
Interfaith, multicultural and environment events from Faith Communities Council of Victoria - June 2015
Cross-posted from Beside The Creek, the blog Ballarat Interfaith Network
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