What's New Introduction text for the Whats New section

Social Justice Calendar - July 2000

Sat 1: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF COOPERATIVES
The UN has declared the first Saturday in July to be International Day of Cooperatives.  One of the most striking examples of a successfully functioning cooperative community is in the town of Mondragon, in Spain.  From humble beginnings in 1956, when five young engineers got together with the encouragement of their parish priest to form a cooperative making paraffin stoves, the Mondragon experiment has expanded to comprise 160 employee-owned cooperatives, involving 23,000 owner-members with sales grossing US$3 billion in 1991.  The Mondragon Cooperatives include community based based programs in areas such as health care, housing, social security and primary and secondary education.

Sun 2: ABORIGINAL SUNDAY - BEGINNING OF NAIDOC WEEK
National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week traces its history back to 1924 when the Australian Aborigines Progressive Association was formed to take up the long struggle for indigenous rights in Australian society.  In 1938 a special day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was first observed.  From there, NAIDOC evolved into its current week-long celebrations.   In 1997  the Catholic Church officially designated the first Sunday in July as  Aboriginal Sunday, thus encouraging Catholics  locally to focus their worship on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their culture and the issues of social justice they represent.
ACTION:  Contact your  local Aboriginal Catholic Ministry or NATSICC to find out about activities in your area.  Encourage those responsible for planning liturgy in your parish to celebrate Aboriginal Sunday.

Fri-Sun 7-9: REFUGEE AND MIGRATION CONFERENCE
The ACSJC and ACMRO are cosponsoring a conference in Sydney on refugee and migrant issues. It is hoped that representatives from all parishes will attend. For more information contact the ACSJC.
ACTION: Ask your parish council to consider sponsoring someone to attend the conference.

Sun 9: JUBILEE DAY FOR PRISONERS
Amnesty International is an organisation which works to free "prisoners of conscience", and to ensure that these people imprisoned or detained for reasons of conscience are treated properly. Amnesty International Day is celebrated on October 20.
ACTION: Find out more about Amnesty International by contacting your state branch, or the National Office, Phone 02 9211 3566.

Mon 10: SINKING OF GREENPEACE SHIP RAINBOW WARRIOR IN AUCKLAND 1985

Sun 16: ANNEXATION OF EAST TIMOR BY INDONESIA, 1976; FIRST ATOMIC BOMB DETONATED IN NEW MEXICO, 1945

Wed 19: AUNG SAN SUU KYI
REFLECTION: Today, on the anniversary of her father's death, we can reflect on the integrity, single-mindedness and clarity of purpose of Aung San Suu Kyi. Her love for the people of her country has inspired her advocacy for democracy in Burma. Often, this means personal suffering.
Dr Michael Aris, her husband, was dying. The Burmese military junta refused him permission to visit Burma to say goodbye to his wife. They hoped to force her to go to England instead, but would never have allowed her to return. The authorities even cut short telephone conversations between the two in the days before his death. Despite her anguish and grief, Suu Kyi refused to abandon her country and its people, for whom she is a sign of hope.

Thu 20: NEIL ARMSTRONG - FIRST PERSON ON THE MOON, 1969

Sat 22: MARY AIKENHEAD
Mary Aikenhead was born in Cork, Ireland on January 19, 1787. As she saw the poverty of so many around her, she realised the need for a group of religious women who would visit them in their homes, working with them to improve their living conditions. In 1815, she founded the Sisters of Charity who, as well as the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, would take a fourth vow of service of the poor. On December 31, 1838 five Sisters of Charity arrived in Australia, the first religious to come here. They soon commenced their work, visiting the Female Factory (Female Prison) at Parramatta and offering whatever services they could to the poor in their homes. Mary Aikenhead died on this day in 1858.

Wed 26: ARBOR DAY

Sat 29: BIRTH OF DAG HAMMERSKJOLD, 1905

Mon 31: IGNATIUS LOYOLA
Ignatius was born into a noble family in 1491. Seriously wounded in battle, he determined to redirect his life in the service of Christ. He established the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits, an order which has made an extraordinary contribution to scholarship, spirituality and service of the poor. Ignatius died on July 31 1556.