| Posted: Feb. 14 2005,16:18 |
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen
progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of
action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade? |
The
NCCA adopted the World Council of Churches 'Decade to Overcome
Violence' initiative (DOV) as the main underlying theme of all of its
work for the current decade, working alongside the UN Decade. We
are working on the four key issues identified by the WCC consultation
as key for cultivating peace and reconciliation: 'transcending the
"logic" of violence' (or Truth concerns); 'addressing the use, abuse
and misuse of power' (cultivating Mercy-power or Compassion); 'doing
Justice'; and 'valuing religious identity and diversity' (cultivating
an open and valuing Community); and see the following issues as key:
just Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; a just refugee policy;
debt relief and a just world economic order; inter-faith cooperation;
and a renewal of international cooperation for nonviolence and ecology.
Small steps seem to be taken on some of these.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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The
biggest obstacles have been the unilateral aggression and so-called
'preventative' violence and war of the USA leadership, supported by
Australian leaders and others, and the continued failure by the
powerful to respect, respond to and work with the voices, peoples and
ecologies of the poor and dispossessed. Considerable progress has
been made in religious dialogue and faith-based justice and
peacemaking, but much also needs to be done in addresssing the
religious roots of conflict (in doctrine and practice).
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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2001
– DOV (Decade to Overcome Violence) launches in several Australian
States; adoption by NCCA of DOV as the overarching theme for the work
of all the NCCA’s departments, networks and commissions
2002 – creation of national Working Group; appointment of paid Coordinator and intern
2003
– 2 DOV kits for congregational and group use; national Release
(launch); campaigns against war in Iraq and for peace more widely;
‘Rolling Conference’ of events across several States and Territories
(focussing on different themes) ; Youth Network CD; poster competition
with remote schools; music competition; Pacific Peacebuilding
initiative and liaison with CCANZ and others; website resources
developed; ‘Unfinished Business – Treaty kit on Indigenous
Reconciliation; beginnings of theological reflection and resourcing
2004
– ‘Journey of Promise’ inter-faith youth project and video/DVD;
Renewing Creation – DOV Lent study on ecological themes; Safe as
Churches? – cross-member church consultation on abuse within churches;
enhanced double music CD of songs of peace and reconciliation; adoption
of Peacebuilding focus by NCCA world development commission/agency
Christian World Service; national Climate Change event and lobbying of
Government in Canberra; ‘Seeds of Peace’ initiative to collect,
celebrate and communicate grassroots stories of peacemaking in
Australia; development of educational game to raise awareness of
Indigenous issues and Reconciliation; Social Justice Sunday kit –
Security – at what cost?; support of On the Wings of a Dove WCC DOV
campaign with 'Prayerline' campaiggn and resource to highlight and
support Indigenous Australian women overcoming violence in their
communities and society;
participation in the Australian-Indonesian Government sponsored Asian inter-faith conference in late 2004
2001-2004 and continuing – Refugee support and work on the development of a just refugee policy for Australia
2005
- 'Stop Trafficking of women and children' campaign (especially with
partners in Thailand and Nepal) as part of our commitment to the WCC's
DOV focus on Asia this year.
Each year we have also drawn attention
to the International Day of Peace on September 21, providing resources
at that time on our website, supporting shared witness (last year at
the Baha'i Temple in Sydney) and last year linking this with our Social
Justice Sunday kit and celebration of peace at the end of September.
'Black and White together: Overcoming Violence in Australia (Thursday Island, Torres Strait)'
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ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
1.
to respect, genuinely hear and empower the voices of the poor
(including the cries of Creation itself), building on the work doen
with Indigenous peoples and with refugees and others
2. not to be brow-beaten by the powerful nations and forces of the world into nonviolent and iniquitous measures
3. to renew the structures and work of the UN into genuinely democratic and participative forms
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
The NCCA is in partnership with:
1. its (15 - Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox) member churches and other churches outside the NCCA
2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and bodies
3. other Australian Faith bodies (especially Muslim and Jewish) and national networks
4.
the WCC, Christian Conference of Asia, churches and Christian
development networks across the world (especially in Asia-Pacific)
region
5. Australian secular partnerships such as the Australian Collaboration(of third sector bodies working nationally)
6. Australian Government departments (notably DIMIA and DFAT in recent years)
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
We are seeking:
a.
further to develop partnerships with others in the Asia-Pacific region
(including the Pacific Peacebuilding Institute and the Peace for Life
movement supported by the Philippine churches and WCC)
b. to build on work with Indigenous Australians - with a major series of events in 2006
c. to build up nonviolent networks within Australia (with a National Nonviolence Gathering planned for April-May 2005)
d. to share Australian stories of peacemaking through various media
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Postal address of organization
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Locked Bag 199
Sydney
NSW 1230
Australia
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E-mail address of organization
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dov@ncca.org.au
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Website address of organization
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www.ncca.org.au
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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understanding, tolerance, solidarity
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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sustainable development
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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Asia-Pacific
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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Africa
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