Christians and Climate Change: Nonviolence in Action Practical Workshop

Justin Whelan

We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Saturday 13th November, 1-4pm
Quaker Meeting House, Lower Hall
119 Devonshire St, Surry Hills
Gold coin entry

Learn about:

  • Why nonviolent direct action in the tradition of Martin Luther King, Gandhi and Desmond Tutu is a legitimate response to the climate crisis
  • The spirituality, theology and power of nonviolent direct action (NVDA)
  • NVDA principles, skills and tactics
  • How to get involved in potential actions, including the Climate Camp

With:

  • Justin Whelan, Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service
  • Simon Roz, World Vision
  • Catherine Cresswell, Bluegreen Media

Climate Camp:

Ordinary people around the world are participating in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, at coal infrastructure, government offices, carbon exchanges and more. In early December, people from all walks of life will come together in the Hunter Valley for the ‘Camp for Climate Action 2010‘ – five days of learning, planning and sustainable living, culminating in a peaceful mass action at Bayswater power station. Among those participating are Christians, who are moved by the urgency of climate change and the failures of the political process to address it, and by a long Christian legacy of nonviolence.

Download the flyer here

And here is a short blurb for inserting into church notices and bulletins:

Christians and Climate Change: Nonviolence in Action Practical Workshop

Learn about nonviolent direct action (NVDA) in the tradition of Martin Luther King, Gandhi and Desmond Tutu, why NVDA is a legitimate response to the climate crisis, NVDA tactics, and how you can get involved in potential actions.  Saturday 13th November, 1-4pm.  Quaker Meeting House, 119 Devonshire St, Surry Hills.  For more information see http://paceebene.wordpress.com/

Workshop: Nonviolence in the mainstream – the daily practice of peace

Justin Whelan

Perth
April 25-30 and Nov 28 – Dec 3

As individuals on a journey towards a sustainable practice of peace and nonviolence, we are seeking wholeness. We need to know who we are and how the dominant culture into which we were born shapes and conditions us. Sustainable spiritual growth requires the integration of the inner and outer journeys. Throughout the week, our conversation will move between the inner and outer concerns around developing a nonviolent foundation for living.

Download the brochure

The Daily Practice of Peace – Perth Workshop

Justin Whelan

Every day people face the challenge and consequences of violence and injustice. Some people confront violence with violence. Others remain passive. Neither approach is sustainable.

As individuals on a journey towards a sustainable practice of peace and nonviolence, we are seeking wholeness. We need to know who we are and how the dominant culture into which we were born shapes and conditions us. Sustainable spiritual growth requires the integration of the inner and outer journeys. Throughout the week, our conversation will move between the inner and outer concerns around developing a nonviolent foundation for living.

Friday, 6-11 December 2009.
Nathanael’s Rest, 800 Gill Street, Mundaring
Commencing 7pm Sunday and concluding 3.00pm

Costs – Includes program fees, accommodation, & meals/tea-breaks (and gst):

Early Bird Rates (up to November 2):
• Corporate = $660
• Individual = $550

Regular Rates (from November 3 onwards):
• Corporate = $700
• Individual = $600

If any individual finds the suggested costs might present an issue, please contact George to discuss.

Download the full brochure and registration form.

Nonviolent Peacemaking: in your community … in your world

Justin Whelan

23-25 October 2009 (Friday 7pm – Sunday 5pm)
Katoomba NSW
Cost: $100 / $70 conc.

A weekend retreat for beginners and experienced practitioners in the beautiful surroundings of the Blue Mountains.

Come and learn about:

  • the principles and power of active nonviolence in the tradition of Jesus, Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr;
  • connecting personal transformation and social change;
  • concrete skills for putting nonviolent power into practice.

Whether we like it or not, most of us are enrolled in a class called “Violence 101” throughout our lives. This violence is all around us, in the media, in our families, across all parts of our society. Consciously or not, we are continually being schooled in the logic and practice of emotional, verbal, physical or structural violence.

Take time to discern the movement of God’s spirit at work, breaking down the logic of violence, calling us to be peacemakers in every aspect of our personal and collective lives, drawing us out into creative possibilities we never imagined for ourselves.

role play silent vigil at baxter detention centre

Using materials from From Violence to Wholeness and Engage: Exploring Nonviolent Living, together we will be inspired to rise above the destructive logic of violence, learn new ways of resolving conflict nonviolently, and practice the art of nonviolent peacemaking – in our community, in our world.

Download the flyer here

Christians, Climate Change and Nonviolence

Justin Whelan4 Comments

coal power station vigil

Saturday 15th August, 1-4pm
Quaker Meeting House, Lower Hall
119 Devonshire St, Surry Hills

Learn about:

  • Why nonviolent direct action in the tradition of Martin Luther King, Gandhi and Desmond Tutu is a legitimate response to the climate crisis
  • The spirituality and theology of nonviolent direct action (NVDA)
  • The power of NVDA
  • How to get involved in potential actions

With:

  • Justin Whelan, Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service
  • Jonathan Moylan, Rising Tide
  • Catherine Cresswell, Greenpeace
  • Anne and Ian Hodgson, climate activists

Gold coin entry

For more info contact Miriam by email or 0447 730 772

Ordinary people around the world are participating in nonviolent direct action at coal infrastructure, government offices, carbon exchanges and more. Among them are Christians, who are moved by the urgency of climate change and the failures of the political process to address it, and by a long Christian legacy of nonviolence.

“We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

“We all know that times change, and what was acceptable in one era may not be acceptable in another. You have heard of how it was once legal to own other people, how it was illegal for women to vote. Well one way or another we are going to have to stop burning coal and move on from the fossil fuel era. And that means that the law will eventually have to change and acknowledge the harm that carbon emissions do to all of us, by making them illegal. The only question is whether the law will catch up in time for there to be anything left to protect.” (Closing Statement, Drax 22)

Download the Flyer here

Please pass on to your friends!

Nonviolence in the mainstream – the daily practice of peace

Justin Whelan3 Comments

Perth – April 19-24  – Download brochure

Adelaide – July 12-16  – Download brochure

As individuals on a journey towards a sustainable practice of peace and nonviolence, we are seeking wholeness. We need to know who we are and how the dominant culture into which we were born shapes and conditions us. Sustainable spiritual growth requires the integration of the inner and outer journeys.

Throughout the week, our conversation will move between the inner and outer concerns around developing a nonviolent foundation for living.


From Violence to Wholeness in Brisbane

carolepowell

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

Engage Workshops in Sydney

Justin Whelan

The Sydney crew of Pace e Bene Australia are running the ‘Engage – Exploring Nonviolent Living’ workshops over four Saturdays after the success of last year’s program.

These workshops combine intellectual and experiential learning to help participants take the next steps on the journey towards living nonviolently.

The dates are 26 July, 16 August, 6 September and 27 September, running from 9am to 4:30pm in Epping.

Full details and registration can be found here.

Open Invitation to our National Gathering

Justin Whelan

Adelaide: November 6th – 9th 2008

This is an open invitation to be a part of our National Gathering in Adelaide later this year which seeks to bring together people from around the country to network, share experiences and be further equipped for nonviolent life and action.

Costs will be kept to a minimum with scope for some part-scholarships.

This is the second such national gathering – the first was at Pallotti College in Millgrove, Victoria in December 2006 – from which Pace e Bene Australia emerged.  Click here for further details and registration.

The Pace e Bene AGM will be held on Nov 10th after the Gathering.

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