G8 Summit

The G8 summit is happening now, Brittian has said it wants carbon emissons cut by 50% by 2050... And awaits suport from the US. If the US agree then other countries such as China and India are likely to have to follow.

THe thrirteen countries meeting, currently produce 70% of the worlds carbon emmissions (says the NZ Herald, B1, 7/6/2007. So this needs to be addressed.

Leaders- Take Responsibility!

For more infor on Climate change and the G8:

http://www.ft.com/indepth/climatechange

Sign the Petition:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/climate_summit

More Our World...

It is very cool to see New Zealand making moves towards dealing with climate change. we can do so much good as humans but we can also be so destructive. Maybe the key is personal responsibility? good and bad effects from our actions are inevitable but what are we going to do to replace what we took? we are often so busy we think someone else will do it... but we are that someone else!

New Zealand government have alsorts on this site, we also can find out how we can curve our destructive behaviours

http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/climate/

Our World

Global warming, Climate change... Words that bring feelings of uncertianty. This site has heaps of semi-home made vids about this issue. Particually how we can do things better.

http://www.hotscience.co.nz/index.php?hdrcode=1

Meet Changa- A real story of Human Traffiking

Read Changa s Story here: http://www.stopthetraffik.org/chocolateCampaign/chaga.aspx

Trading Fair

Fair Trade fortnight has just come to an end... or is it just the begining? I was fortunate enough to hear Will Padilla from Costa Rica, he is a part of Coope Agri- a co-operative benefiting from Fair Trade. Not only do fair trade co operatives get a fair price for their product, through setting a floor price and cutting out the middle men (yes to all you economists it sounds mad...) but furthermore, these co operatives are really enpowering. This is a really invaluable aspect of Fair trade. Farmers are paid properly, therefore their communites benefit, no longer are their prices being driven down and resulting in horrible financial situations. Now, becasue of the sustainable income, the farmers and producers, like you and me have choices. Choices to go to school, to buy things for their business that will improve their product and competitivness, to give greater options to their families.

So Fair Trade is not about Charity, its about equality, justice- these things give people choices. Poverty does not.

Easter & Chocolate (like peas & carrots)- Choose Good Chocolate!

Children love Easter eggs, but what of the children forced to make them?
27 March 2007-- Wellington, NZ

Will you support The Salvation Army's anti human trafficking campaign by buying Easter eggs that have not been made by children forced to harvest the cocoa beans?
We are free to choose—the children enslaved on some cocoa plantations are not!
So far only one chocolate manufacturer here in New Zealand states publicly that their Easter eggs come from fair trade sources. Scarborough Fair is the first company to produce fair trade Easter eggs in Australasia.

These Easter eggs are found in the following supermarkets:
Woolworths
Countdown
Foodtown
Supervalue
Freshchoice

The Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit supports the Chocolate Campaign organised by Stop the Traffik organisation UK... will you!

'Be the change you want to see in the world' ...Mahatma Gandhi

Jesus said, 'what you did to the least of these my brothers/sisters, you did to me."

Want more information?
Contact...
Mrs Chris FrazerSocial Justice AdvocateThe Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unitph. 04-8026269 ext. 8314email Chris

One to remember...

On April 4th 1968, a great man, was assasinated for his call for equality, for justice, for basic civil rights. Martin Luther King Junior, aided by others led the crusade for social justice in America.

Everyone deserves the basics to life (food, shelter, education, etc), to have choices and the right to life discrimination free. King's work included giving Black Americans equal voting rights, and changing the hearts and minds of Americans. King was convicted by what he saw in his nation. He saw people in slavery, lacking in the basics such as education, hate crimes and the inablilty to escape their circumstances. King brought changes through political means, America was not living up to its consitiution- he made them accountable.

BUT King went beyond this call for justice, he also went as far to extend mercy- transformation- not only should the law or the country abide to jsut practices but also the nation should be united with love for one another. He called for change of law, but also change of hearts, minds and attitudes. America has come along way, perhaps not to the place Kings speaks about in his speech 'I have a dream', but its getting there. Kings work was revolutioary, may his work continue to inspire America, its people, its law makers. And may it inspire us!

"And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Find kings speech at: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm