That Australia must do more to ensure vulnerable communities do not end up footing the bill for our damage to the environment, will be argued during a March seminar series.
This year's Jesuit Lenten Seminar Series will look at the established and potential effects of climate change. It will have a particular focus on those, both in Australia and overseas, who will be left paying the price.
Speakers at the seminars in Melbourne and Sydney are prominent environmentalist Don Henry, social welfare expert Michael Raper, refugee expert Dr Maryanne Loughry RSM, and Michael Kelly SJ.
While the Australian Government has now signed the Kyoto Protocol, recognising Australia's responsibility as a global citizen in protecting and preserving the environment, that responsibility also extends to communities, especially those most vulnerable to changes in climate.
"We need to care for the environment: it has been entrusted to men and women to be protected and cultivated with responsible freedom, with the good of all as a constant guiding criterion', said Pope Benedict XVI in his address on the World Day of Peace on January 1, 2008.
One of the speakers in both cities will be Maryanne Loughry RSM, who visited Kiribati late last year to observe the effects of climate change on that country and people.
Sr Maryanne said climate-change induced displacement - be it caused by rising sea levels, drought or other climate factors - was already a present reality in many nations. However, wealthier nations had yet to face up to this reality.
"The assistance and protection needs of these people are still primarily being addressed by the world's poorer more vulnerable nations, frequently in a piecemeal manner and without the weight and resource of the international community," she said.
The speakers for the series will be
DON HENRY - Executive Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation. (Melbourne only)
Mr Henry (pictured) has extensive experience campaigning to preserve native habitat, both in Australia and overseas. He has served as a Commissioner with the Australian Heritage Commission, President of the Australian Committee for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the Moreton Island Protection Committee. He's been Executive Director of the Australian Conservation Foundation for nearly 10 years, working with the community, business and government to protect and preserve the environment.
MICHAEL RAPER - Director of the Welfare Rights Centre in Sydney. (Sydney only)
Mr Raper is former President of the Australian Council of Social Services and is Director of the
Welfare Rights Centre in Sydney. He was Convenor of the 'Equity in our National Response to Climate Change' Roundtable in Melbourne in March 2007 and author of the joint (National Welfare Rights Network, Brotherhood of St Lawrence, and Catholic Social Services Australia) Equity Submission to the Prime Minister's Task Force on Emissions Trading in May 2007. The submission focused on ensuring climate change and measures to counter global warming don't worsen social inequality by penalising those from poorer economic backgrounds.
MARYANNE LOUGHRY RSM - Associate Director for Jesuit Refugee Service Australia.
An expert in refugee issues, with many years experience working in a number of different countries, Sr Maryanne has done extensive research on climate-induced displacement. She visited Kiribati in October 2007 as part of a study tour organised by the Edmund Rice Centre in Australia to witness the effects of climate change on low-lying Pacific countries and meet with local leaders. In December she presented a paper on climate-induced displacement to the at the Refugee Studies Centre at the University of Oxford. (
JRS)
MICHAEL KELLY SJ - Executive Director of Church Resources
A keen promoter and pioneer of new media use, Fr Kelly heads a non-profit buying cooperative,
Church Resources, which helps Church groups and other non-profit organisations achieve savings in their purchasing of goods and services so that they can more effectively pursue their core missions. He co-founded Albert Street Productions, a television production company; established Jesuit Publications;
CathNews, a Catholic news website and e-mail service;
OzSpirit, a similar service focusing on human rights issues; Christian News On-Line and Daily Prayer Online. He is a director of Aurora Community TV on Foxtel, and appears regularly on Channel 7's
Sunrise programme.
Dates and venues
Melbourne
Great Hall, Xavier College, Barkers Road, Kew, Victoria
Wednesday, March '; 7.30-9pm.
Sydney
Lavalla Hall, Marist Brothers College, Miller Street, North Sydney
Thursday, March 6; 7.30-9pm
The series is sponsored by Jesuit Social Services, Jesuit Refugee Service, Loyola Institute and Eureka Street.
Top of page
