What Would Jesus Buy?
Nov 12th 2007Christop::Activism & ::Lifestyle & ::Culture
‘”Love thy enemy” — U.S. soldier gets discharge’
Nov 8th 2007Christop::Faith & ::Activism & ::Theology
A U.S. soldier who said his Christian beliefs compelled him to love his enemies, not kill them, has been granted conscientious objector status and honorably discharged, a civil liberties group said on Tuesday.
Capt. Peter Brown—who served in Iraq for more than a year and was a graduate of the elite U.S. military academy West Point—said in a statement issued by the New York Civil Liberties Union that he was relieved the Army had recognized his beliefs made it impossible for him to serve.
“In following Jesus’ example, I could not have fired my weapon at another human being, even if he were shooting at me,” said Brown, who plans to continue seminary classes he began by correspondence while in Iraq.
Read the rest here, at Yahoo News. (Props to Jarrod.)
Pakistan’s state of emergency
Nov 7th 2007Christop::Politics & ::Activism & ::Human Rights
Just gotten an email from Avaaz about what’s going on in Pakistan at the moment. (President General Pervez Musharraf has imposed martial law, sacked the Supreme Court and shut down the media and basic freedoms, saying that it’s necessary for the War on Terror.)
This is from an email written by Asma Jahangir (head of the Pakistani Human Rights Commission and the UN’s Special Rapporteur for freedom of religion worldwide), who is under house arrest in Lahore:
There is a strong crackdown on the press and lawyers… The Chief Justice is under house arrest (unofficially). The President of the Supreme Court Bar (Aitzaz Ahsan) and 2 former presidents, Mr. Muneer Malik and Tariq Mahmood have been imprisoned for one month under the Preventive Detention laws…
There are other scores political leaders who have also been arrested. Yesterday I was house arrested for 90 days… the President (who has lost his marbles) said that he had to clamp down on the press and the judiciary to curb terrorism. Those he has arrested are progressive, secular minded people, while the terrorists are offered negotiations and ceasefires.
Lawyers and civil society will challenge the government and the scene is likely to get uglier. We want friends of Pakistan to urge the US administration to stop all support of the instable dictator, as his lust for power is bringing the country close to a worse form of civil strife…
There is a petition here that you can sign, asking other countries to stop supporting Musharraf with military aid.
Walk Against Warming
Nov 5th 2007Christop::Politics & ::Activism & Environment & Events (Australia wide)
Walk Against Warming (organised by GetUp the Conservation Councils of Australia) is on this Sunday (November 11, two weeks before the federal election) in each of the captial cities as well as a lot of regional centres. The point of it is to tell our politicians that climate change needs to be taken seriously. Click here to find out if there’s one in your area.
Another reason to avoid driving
Nov 4th 2007Christop::Lifestyle & ::Culture
Just been reading this article from The Age, about how a lot of people are going hungry so that we can keep driving our cars:
And if the food runs out?
“The use of food as a source of fuel may have serious implications for the demand for food if the expansion of biofuels continues,” a spokesman for the International Monetary Fund said.
The outlook is widely expected to worsen as agri-industries prepare to switch to highly profitable biofuels, according to Grain, a Barcelona-based food resources group. Its research suggests the Indian Government is committed to planting 14 million hectares with jatropha, an exotic bush from which biodiesel can be made.
Brazil intends to use 120 million hectares for biofuels, and Africa as much as 400 million hectares in the next few years. Much of the growth, the countries say, would be on unproductive land, but many millions of people are expected to be forced off the land.
Oxfam has warned the European Union that the EU policy of substituting 10 per cent of all car fuel with biofuels threatens to displace poor farmers.
The full article is here.
Any ideas about how we can decrease our dependence on cars?
Sabbath
Oct 29th 2007Christop::Faith & ::Lifestyle & ::Theology & ::Culture
When I was down in St Kilda this afternoon I saw this advertisment, and was wondering if it’s suggesting something similar to the Jewish and Christian tradition of Sabbath. What do you think?
Who are you voting for?
Oct 26th 2007Christop::Politics & ::Activism & Events (Australia wide)
I realise that in some circles it’s considered inappropriate to ask who someone’s voting for, but I was wondering who our readers are voting for and why? (I’m particularly interested in what first-time voters are thinking.) I have some friends (Dave and Simon) who are choosing not to vote. I think they have good reason, but I’m pretty sure that I’m going to vote. Not 100% sure who I’ll be voting for yet though.
Good one John…
Oct 14th 2007Stephen::Politics & ::Activism & Events (Australia wide)
John called the election.
Let me explain to you why I think he is a cunning politician.
He left the call so late so that those who have turned 18 this or last year have to enroll by this Wednesday! And of course all the pollsters are telling us that the younger voters will most likely not vote for John.
Can you let everyone you know who is young, to register to vote by downloading a form here http://www.aec.gov.au/Enrolling_to_vote/ or by calling the electoral commission.
Good one John!
Got this three times via email today. Anyone interested?
ABC Radio National’s Encounter is a feature documentary series exploring intersections of religion, ethics, politics and culture.They are looking for new freelancers – younger people who are interested in radio as a form (and in learning how to use it), who have good background in theology and religious culture, and who have burning ideas about programs they would like to make.
If you would like to find out more, please email Margaret
Coffey at coffey.margaret@abc.net.au.
Inhabitat
Sep 11th 2007GlennEnvironment
I cannot recall if I’ve posted about this blog before, but I keep half an eye on Inhabitat a ‘greenish’ design blog – that being a key area of interest of mine.
They have a post on Solar House Design I thought I’d point it out as some others out there thinking ‘green’ quite practically.