Peacemaking after Christendom

I just read an excellent post by Simon Barrow from Ekklesia on the challenge of peacemaking in our time:

So after Christendom we are called to reassess in a core sense what it means to be church, to be that body; what is means to be a peacemaker rather than just a refuser of war (a passivist); what political realism looks like in the face of Christ, rather than in the image of the Imperial Order and its realpolitik.

You can read the full post here.

Nonviolent direct action shuts down coal port

Peaceful protest on coal line in Newcastle
Peaceful protest on coal line in Newcastle

Last weekend Jarrod and I were both able to attend the Climate Action Camp in Newcastle, the highlight of which was shutting down the railway feeding the world’s largest coal port for a few hours (unconfirmed: over 24 hours as the police were apparently still searching for people overnight!)

Jarrod played an awesome facilitation role in some difficult spokescouncil meetings, helping diverse people work together for a common cause. Considering not everyone was even fully committed to tactical nonviolence (ie. a few thought that physical self defence was OK in a NV action), he and others facilitating did great work.

Jarrod was also a key part of the Parents & Kids Action Team, that enabled a whole bunch of kids to participate in a very safe and empowering way.

Justin joined a Newcastle-based action team / affinity group based around people from Rising Tide, the local anti-coal port NV action crew, and was one of 7 from his team and about 50 people overall who illegally walked onto the railway line (the police had helpfully stopped the trains already, so it was perfectly safe!).

Continue reading “Nonviolent direct action shuts down coal port”

From Violence to Wholeness in Brisbane

From Violence to Wholeness Workshop – a one day experiential introduction to the spirituality and practice of active nonviolence where together we learn to practice and experiment with the power of creative nonviolence, to transform our lives and our world (see a detailed introduction here).

Facilitated by Carole Powell PeBA, who recently had the joy of co-facilitating From Violence to Wholeness Workshops in the Solomon Islands.

Date: Sat. September 6th 2008 9am-5pm

Venue: Uniting Church Centre, 60 Bayliss St, Auchenflower (walking distance from Auch station).

Cost: $75 including lunch and morning and afternoon tea.

For bookings please contact:
Rev Rob Bos, Pilgrim Learning Community, Uniting Church Centre, GPO Box 674, Brisbane Qld 4001, phone (07) 3377 9724, email pilgrim@ucaqld.com.au