I thin I need to stop using the “fair trade” language and start talking about Trade Justice. Not only does it cover more ground, it also removes the bias towards the FairTrade label.
The Youth Unit have asked me to organise a group of young adults who are interested in Social Justice issues. Im not sure how much I can blur the lines for all this. I have heaps of idea of things that would be great to do.
Firstly, there is getting the proposal and presentation for Trade Justice in the Uniting Church. For now this is specific to tea and coffee, but we can make it broader later.
Then, there are issues within Australia we should be vocal about, for example the Close the Gap campaign and the “Pacific Solution”
Then there are international issues, such as human trafficking (specifically the selling of Women in China), the Diamond trade issues, HIV/AIDS awareness, etc.
I really feel like I need to learn to make a website and soon so that I can have info about all this stuff on there. It would be a great way to communicate with the broader church too.
To me, there is no solution to any of the world major problems that dont have problems or reasons they might not be as effective as we would like. Does that mean its ok not to try?
I dont have too much power in this world. Im not rich and I dont have a powerful job. The biggest power I think I do have is my education and the fact that I am a consumer in the global economy.
I feel like I need to use this power to do whatever I can. If this means buying some things and not buying others I can do that. It may not make a huge difference in the world, but it might make a difference. If heaps of other people did the same thing we can actually make businesses bankrupt, we can change their practices, we can support businesses that might not otherwise make it, we can change the world.
This is not easy, Im not trying to pretend it is. It seems to me the biggest barrier at the moment is that people think that their contribution is too small so it wont make a difference. im disappointed that people have this attitude, when a whole society or country are all thinking that they cannot do anything then nothing will get done.
I hope that makes some sense. I really wish that we would give making a difference a go. Coming up to chrsitmas I want to point people to www.tear.org.au have a look at (arguably) the worlds most useful gift catalogue. Maybe you can use your Christmas gifts to make a difference in the world.
I am feeling a bit more positive this morning. I think the antibiotics the doctor gave me are helping (I went yesterday arvo).
Having all this time to sit around makes me think about what I am going to do after the ski season. I have quite a few options and I am having a really hard time knowing what to do. The ones that involve travel seem great, like go to Canada or Spain or Scotland for their ski season then work in the UK. There is something about those options that I cant handle, I think its that is just too selfish. I want to be contributing to the world and while travelling means I know and understand more its not really helping anyone.
I was also thinking about why I decided earlier this year I wanted to go into ministry. I think its because I see that as a way to be doing helpful, meaningful work. I just cant handle the idea of studying for another 6 years or so, not at this point anyway.
So todays theory on what I want to do (and this is one I come back to quite often) is that I want to end up doing refugee advocacy. Maybe start with doind part time youth work and part time helping at the House of Welcome and visiting people at Villawood detention centre (and finding something in Wollongong that would be helpful for refugees too, like SCARF). Then as I go along I would be able to be more and more helpful. I think that is the way to go, it means I wont be moving to the UK at all, but I can still visit at some point.
I have also been thinking that I want to get healthy enough to be able to teach aerobics classes, it would be a good way to have a second income and it would force me to stay fit and healthy. The trick is that I have to get fit and healthy enough first.
I think I could be happy with a life like that. Now I just have to find a way to make it happen, that can wait till I finish my holiday I think.
I just found a journal from when I went to visit some people at Villawood detention centre. For those of you that dont know, Villawood is in Sydney and a ‘detention centre’ is a place where refugees are kept in Australia, its like a gaol, they are not allowed to leave and to go and visit you need to know the name and ID number of someone living there. Anyway, here are some of the things I wrote down…
The ‘thing’ that struck me, well there was no one thing. There were many things. Firstly, I didnt even know there was a detention centre in Sydney. SO that was a shock from the start. Then the refugees, the human side of it. These are people, they are educated, they have families, they have goals, they want to study & want to learn more, they are multi-lingual. I met 2 guys from Iraq, young ones, about my age I guess [I was 23] I would never have guessed they were from Iraq, they were friendly, clean, looked respectable. [im not sure exactly what I meant there, I guess compared to the images all over the news? not sure]
I met another young guy from Africa, he has a commerce degree, also about my age, so nice and friendly. Happy to talk with us.
Then outside the detention centre we met a man called Hziz. He was at the House of Welcome. This is what I wrote about him
He is and old man from Iraq, a Christian. Was a Christian his whole life. While in Iraq was at war, he was a captain in the army and a mechanical engineer. So while he had planes to fix there was little room for him to be persecuted, but as soon as the US and others attacked Iraq, that was it, he had to flee for his life.He paid $18000 to people smugglers to get himself and his family to Greece. His family are still in Greece, he has been here for 6-7 years. In detention and out on Temporary Protection Visa’s, he recently got the ‘good news’ that he could stay.
There is no question as to ‘what good news’ its just THE good news. Its about getting permanent residency. Their whole life is about getting permanent residency.
I was also angry and disappointed at Australia’s leaders. To do this to peoples lives, it is enough of a struggle to even get here, then to be treated worse than criminals. It is appalling and and embarrassment to the nation.
On another page I have written, how does this effect my spirituality?
I dont even understand my spirituality. It makes me want to help & to be more aware of others & to make others more aware. But I think thats my humanity not my spirituality. I dont find myself asking God why, I ask the Government.
The only bible passage that I know that seems relevant is the “I was in Gaol, and you came to visit me” But these people are not criminals. They have done nothing wrong, they just want to live their lives.
Sorry, its in fragments. Its all I have. I had almost forgotten about this experience, when I get back from NZ, I am going to go back and visit again.
