Caritas Aotearoa The Catholic Agency for Justice, Peace and Development www.caritas.org.nz

ISSN: 1174-6793 UPDATEissue no.42 spring 2006

renew the face of the earth Environmental Justice Social Justice Week 2006 10 – 16 September photo: p.j. gibbs svd gibbs p.j. photo:

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We, and much more our children and future generations, are entitled to a better world. Pope John Paul II and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I photo: adrian heke photo:

new zealand

2 Letter from the Director 6 Country Brief: , and East Africa 2 New Staff 7 Domestic Brief 3–4 Social Justice Week 2006: Environmental Justice 7–8 Schools Spotlight

CONTENTS 5 One World Partnership and Child Sponsorship Letter from the director by the time you read this, i hope spring has sprung successful in accessing some funding in your part of new zealand. to me, spring is such a from our New Zealand Government wonderful season – it’s a time of new beginnings, a Aid Agency, NZAID, and through the time of hope, warmer and longer days, and vibrant support of individual donors, and as and fresh colours in our gardens and parks. caritas a result we have been able to provide too seeks to bring hope and new beginnings to the over $300,000 in emergency food vulnerable in our communities and around the world. aid and assistance in Tanzania, Kenya and Somalia so far this year. This Update provides an insight into some of the work of Caritas here in New Zealand and around the world. For our Social Justice We have also had some staff changes week, 10-16 September 2006, resources have been provided in the last couple of months. We to Catholic parishes and schools on the challenging topic of said farewell to Anna Sussmilch Environmental Justice. These are great resources and have been who had been with us for 3 years, and we have welcomed Dion very well received by parishes and schools throughout New Howard as our new Fundraising Coordinator and Leesa Roy as our Zealand. The resources are also available for viewing on our Communications and International Advocacy Coordinator. Leesa’s website: www.caritas.org.nz many roles include the production of these Update newsletters. A small profile on each person can be found below. A growing problem in our world is the senseless destruction of the environment – of God’s beautiful creation. The Catholic Thank you again for supporting the work of Caritas. I hope you Church’s approach, and hence our approach, to environmental enjoy our Spring Update newsletter. issues is very much a people-centred one. Caritas has been drawn Together we can make a difference. into considering environmental issues through the suffering of Michael Smith people: through disasters resulting in environmental degradation, Director through increasing hardship as traditional food and water sources disappear, and through the devastation of homes and livelihoods through pollution and industrial activities.

We are all called to be stewards of the earth, and yet our lifestyles, particularly in developed countries, often contradict this. The New new staff Zealand Catholic Bishops statement released for Social Justice week reminds us that: dion howard The existence of extreme poverty and environmental destruction Dion Howard is Caritas’ new Fundraising in our world are not natural forces, nor acts of God, but result from Coordinator. Dion has a background in human behaviour. That behaviour is driven by values, priorities and healthcare, as a nurse, and youth work, decisions which do not see human life as a paramount concern. where he worked on many fundraising For the sake of the poor and vulnerable, for our children and our events and projects for various youth grandchildren, and for the many generations to come, we must services and events. His most successful be better stewards of God’s creation. It is important that as fundraising accomplishment was a rapidly organised sell out individuals we take this issue seriously and take some personal concert in Wellington for the Boxing Day tsunami. responsibility for this global problem. One of his first tasks at Caritas involved working through How can we do this? We can all make choices in our daily lives the database of donor details. “What I thought would be in terms of what and how much energy we use, what size car we a tiresome task,” he says, “ended up being an inspiring drive, what products we buy, how much water we use and how one. Getting an impression of the ways and reasons for much rubbish we produce. Catholic social teaching calls each which people gave to Caritas was very humbling. It was like of us to make decisions mindful of the impact on others – after swimming in an ocean of human kindness.” all, we are one human family. Unless we do make changes, our environmental problems will continue to worsen. leesa roy The conflict in Lebanon and Israel has dominated the Leesa Roy joined Caritas in June as our news in July and August. Caritas pledged $20,000 to our partner Communication and International agencies and we are very grateful to the many Caritas supporters Advocacy Coordinator. Leesa has a who have supported the appeal for assistance. Caritas Lebanon and Masters degree in Development Studies Caritas Jerusalem are two well established Caritas agencies that from Massey University. Prior to coming have very strong humanitarian programmes in place. At the time of to Caritas, she worked as a Strategic writing a ceasefire seems to be holding, and I hope and pray that a Communications Advisor at Statistics New Zealand. lasting and peaceful solution can be found for the many thousands “The best thing about working at Caritas is knowing that each of people affected. day I am making a difference. As Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘You This newsletter also highlights the Caritas commitment to the must be the change you want to see in the world’.” ongoing humanitarian crisis in East Africa. Caritas has been

 SOCIAL JUSTICE WEEK 2006: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE Renew the face of the earth

Closer to home, sea level rises are already affecting the daily lives of people on low-lying Pacific atolls, such as Kiribati and Tuvalu. The loss of fertile land and the seepage of salt water into fresh water are making human life marginal in places that have been settled for over 2000 years.

In New Zealand, the 2004 floods in the Manawatu and Bay of Plenty contributed to growing requests from Catholic parishes and schools for material which considered New Zealand’s own environmental challenges in the light of Catholic social teaching on stewardship of creation and solidarity with those who are most affected by environmental damage.

Caritas has produced resources for parishes, schools and youth leaders to assist New Zealand Catholics to reflect on the urgent environmental challenges facing our world, including the Catholic social teaching on stewardship of creation and solidarity with High winds and seas surge across Kiribati, eroding soil and destroying homes. those who suffer most from environmental degradation.

The Caritas Social Justice Week booklet Renew rising sea levels in the pacific, increasing numbers the face of the earth: of weather-related disasters around the world, Environmental justice has the need for sustainable agriculture programmes been sent to all Catholic in development work, and a greater concern for parishes, schools and local ecological issues in new zealand have all youth contacts. A contributed to the choice of the 2006 social justice primary school resource week focus on environmental justice. God’s Earth our Earth, a CD ROM full of practical Caritas supporters have responded with great generosity to activities for years environmental disasters over recent years, including landslides in 1-8 has been sent to Central America, and the aftermath of the New Orleans hurricane all Catholic primary and flooding. schools, and material on As we saw graphically in the case of the New Orleans tragedy last environmental justice year, those who are already the most poor and vulnerable members for secondary schools of society are also those who suffer the most in environmental will be provided in 2007. catastrophes. In addition, a specific resource for youth leaders and Catholic chaplaincies has been distributed to Caritas youth contacts.

Caritas is very grateful for the assistance of a grant from the Global Education Fund in producing our resources on environmental justice.

For more information about these resources or to order copies, take a look at our website www.caritas.org.nz or contact the Caritas office by phone on 0800 22 10 22 or email us at The home of Pat and Willie Herlihy, of St Brigid’s parish, Feilding, which was [email protected]. swept away by the Oroua stream in the 2004 Manawatu floods.

 palmerston north diocese considers environmental justice

Palmerston North Diocese held four regional seminars in which people were given the opportunity to consider local environmental issues and become familiar with the Caritas Social Justice Week environmental justice resources with Caritas’ Research and Advocacy Officer, Lisa Beech.

The Palmerston North Diocese JPD Commission organised the Wanganui seminar participants discuss Catholic social teaching on the seminars, held in Palmerston North, Napier, Wanganui and Stratford, to raise awareness as well as to assist parish social justice environment. animators prepare for Social Justice Week in their parishes. In Stratford on 27 August, seminar participants heard from Palmerston North panelists debated on 19 August whether Inglewood farmers Victor and Christiane McIntyre, who have won structural change or personal lifestyle choices were the most awards for sustainable land use, about their efforts to protect both appropriate responses to the “environmental catastrophe” we are their farmland and local waterways through planting trees and facing. Lawrence O’Halloran argued that “green consumerism” alone vegetation alongside rivers. was not the answer, while Forrest Chambers and Krista Fullerton of Col Brown of Catholic Earthcare attended each of the the Catholic Worker movement called for simpler lifestyles. four seminars as guest speaker. Col spoke about the efforts the In Napier on 20 August, Peter Lloyd said that human beings had Australian Bishops have made to respond to Pope John Paul II’s call to learn from history that we need to change our attitude to the for an “ecological conversion”. environment, while Hawkes Bay regional council chair Eileen van Rex Begley, Palmerston North JPD Dadelszen called on Catholic schools to take up environmental advisor welcomes seminar participants education opportunities. who are learning about Catholic social Whanganui River Trust Board member Gerard Albert told teaching on the environment. participants at the seminar at the Josephite retreat centre on 26 August that the Resource Management Act was still failing to protect spiritual and cultural values.

kiribati: “who will be a good samaritan for us?”

Fr Michael McKenzie of the Diocese of Tarawa, Kiribati, made a Fr Michael and other Caritas Oceania delegates lobbied New passionate call at the Caritas Oceania regional forum, for New Zealand climate change Minister David Parker, who addressed Zealand and Australia to respond to the needs of the people of low the forum, about New Zealand’s willingness to provide for lying islands in the Pacific: “Who will be a Good Samaritan for us?” environmental in the future.

Fr Michael was keynote speaker at the Caritas Oceania regional The Caritas Oceania environmental justice working group, which forum, hosted in Wellington in July, which included representatives includes Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand’s Director Michael Smith, of Caritas organisations from Tonga, Fiji, Palau, Kiribati, Papua New is preparing a plan in order to respond to the new challenges that Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia and New Zealand. climate change brings to our aid, development and advocacy work in the region. He told delegates at the forum that the effects of climate change are already visible to the people of Kiribati. The loss of fertile land Photo: Fr Milio from New Caledonia, Dr Ueki from Pilau, and Fr Michael from and coconut trees, and the deterioration of fresh water supplies Kiribati (feeling the cold!) at Wellington’s wind turbine generator. were among the most serious changes affecting daily life.

But the rising sea level and temperatures were also apparent in many other ways. For the first time, many people in Kiribati found it necessary to wear footwear during the day because the ground was so hot, and coconut oil no longer solidified in the early morning as it used to, because temperatures had risen. photo: dion howard photo:

 CARITAS’ ONE WORLD PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME

caritas and child sponsorship Often we are asked whether Caritas has a child sponsorship programme.

Child sponsorship is now a significant fund-raising activity for many aid agencies. While child sponsorship is a good way of attracting money, Caritas does not believe it is a good way of spending it, as there are better ways people can help.

While donors may be attracted by the idea helping individuals because it seems more personal, one of the major disadvantages to these schemes is that they are expensive to run. The administration costs required to obtain pictures and letters and to match individuals with donors are high, so less money goes to the people who need it most.

Caritas prefers to keep our administration costs as low as possible and use more of our supporters’ money to go towards funding our community development, aid and social justice projects. around the world, caritas aotearoa new zealand, Even if child sponsorship were more efficient to administer, there your agency for justice, peace and development, are philosophical reasons why we would not use it. works with some of the world’s poorest communities regardless of , nationality or ethnicity. Caritas prefers to focus on the whole community, rather than the individual, as this reflects the reality of the situation and is true to The One World Partnership is a highly effective way you can provide Catholic social teaching principles, including human equality, the the support needed for longer-term development work in poor common good, participation and the role of family and community communities throughout the world. Through the One World in everyone’s lives. Partnership programme, you actively take part in the work we do through regular giving. From our experience, communities and families are the best people to look after their children and we aim to support them One World Partnership embraces much more than the economic in doing this. Our overseas partners have made the point that and social aspects of people’s lives. The One World Partnership child sponsorship runs the risk of undermining the child’s parents looks to full human development based on unchanging principles, and community. Children may look to their donor family as their which Caritas is committed to upholding. These principles include: provider, rather than the efforts of their own community and family participation, subsidiarity, human dignity and solidarity. to break the cycle of poverty. The projects supported by the One World Partnership programme Instead, the children in the projects we support are well looked range from working with communities to source water for after by their own families who are playing an active role in their drinking and irrigation; to strengthening primary healthcare; from own destinies. developing new skills and credit for small businesses; to teaching sustainable farm management. Further, the causes of poverty are varied and child sponsorship can sometimes simplify the issues. Caritas runs community based One World partners, in addition to receiving the Caritas Update, also projects that address complex and varied issues. These may range receive the One World Partnership newsletter. This newsletter gives from providing clean drinking water to achieving equality and its readers an in-depth look into ongoing projects and the regions freedom of movement for women in their own communities to recently visited by Caritas staff. educating indigenous peoples in their legal rights so that they are Through regular giving of as little as $20 each month you can help not cheated out of their land. in creating a world free from poverty and injustice. If you would like Rather than offering child sponsorship, Caritas offers the more information about the One World Partnership or to become One World Partnership. This is for people who want to make an a One World partner, please contact the Caritas office by phoning ongoing commitment to support development work in poor 0800 22 10 22 or email us at [email protected] or visit our communities around the world through regular-giving. website www.caritas.org.nz. One World Partnership works with communities not individuals, and empowers people, through solidarity and support, to help themselves.

If you would like more information about the One World Partnership or to become a One World partner, please contact the Caritas office by phoning 0800 22 10 22 or email us at [email protected] or visit our websitewww.caritas.org.nz .

 After years of CALDH attempting to bring legal cases against military leaders involved in the genocide of the 1980s, CALDH is Country Brief thrilled that the Spanish Supreme Court has issued an international arrest warrant against 6 top military officials. These officials are charged with murdering 3 Spanish priests and 6 nuns, during the lebanon military operations. In Lebanon the welcome ceasefire of 14 August continues to hold, if Until now, much of the work to bring legal cases against military somewhat precariously. leaders has been very difficult, as many have been protected by business interests, militias and the army. CALDH hopes that There is massive infrastructural damage across Lebanon, and Israel through the arrest of key members of the military the avenues to imposed a blockade by land, sea and air, which was only lifted on gain justice within Guatemala will be increased. Legal justice will 7–8 September. Yet the people of Lebanon are determined to rebuild assist Mayan communities to slowly recover from the trauma of their lives and livelihoods and the supporting infrastructure. this devastating conflict. During the conflict, the main focus of the humanitarian effort was to provide for the nearly one million people, almost one-quarter During Guatemala’s civil conflict, which lasted several decades, it of Lebanon’s population, who fled the bombing of their towns and is estimated that 200,000 people were killed, the vast majority of villages. them by the security forces. Since the ceasefire the humanitarian situation has changed drought and food shortages impact significantly. More than 90% of Lebanon’s displaced people have in east africa headed back home. Regrettably, many returned to find their houses, as well as their community health and educational facilities, badly From early 2006 communities across East Africa, especially those in damaged or destroyed. Many returnees have had to take temporary Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia have been struggling with severe food accommodation. The Government of Lebanon estimates there are shortages. The shortages have been caused largely by drought and now over 255,000 internally displaced people, most staying with repeated crop failures. host families. The expected rains in October to December last year were virtually The focus of humanitarian assistance is now on supporting a total failure. The drought has put immense pressure and stress on returnees and strengthening the capacity of the Lebanese people to people trying to feed their families, in a region already under strain respond to needs. from the devastating effects of HIV-AIDS. Our partner agency, Caritas Lebanon, is planning to provide 4,000 In Tanzania, it is estimated that food shortages are affecting 85% extremely vulnerable families with food parcels for the next two of Tanzania’s districts, with 3.76 million people in the country months. With the school year starting shortly, financial support experiencing severe food shortages. will be given to 4,000 families for tuition, registration fees, and The impact of food shortages has been immense for Caritas’ partner educational materials. Caritas Lebanon will also help 500 families Community Research and Development Services (CORDS). CORDS is repair damaged homes. a local rural development organisation that works with indigenous Additionally, Caritas Lebanon will provide grants to farmers to Maasai communities in the north of Tanzania. enable them to buy the necessary tools and inputs to restart CORDS reports that some families have been forced into migrating agricultural activity. Caritas Lebanon will support fishing families away from their villages in search of food, while other families have through financial assistance to cover the costs of fishing equipment. sold land or valuable household items in an attempt to feed their Small businesses such as handicrafts, electronics, and mechanics families. workshops will be given grants to set up or restart. In response to this situation, CORDS is currently putting in place a “Our main priorities now are on assisting people to resettle, as much short-term food aid project supported by Caritas. The project aims to as possible, giving priority to education and income-generating provide food relief, at the same time as preparing communities for activities,” said George Khoury, executive director of Caritas Lebanon. similar droughts that may occur in the future. Caritas is accepting donations to assist Caritas Lebanon. Donations Caritas has been successful in accessing funding from the New can be made by post: Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, PO Box 12-193, Zealand Government Aid Agency, NZAID, as well as through Thorndon, or by credit card by phoning Caritas on 0800 22 10 22. the support of individual donors. As a result, we have been able Jubilation and relief mark the day to provide over $300,000 of the official ceasefire in Lebanon in emergency food aid and after 33 days of fighting. Here a assistance in Tanzania, Kenya and father kisses his son as they pack Somalia so far this year. their mattresses and head home If you would like to help those after sheltering for weeks in a affected by the famine, you can school in East Beirut. donate by phone: 0800 22 10 22 photo: crs/david snyder. crs/david photo: or post: Caritas Aotearoa New guatemala Zealand, PO Box 12-193, Thorndon. The last three to four months in Guatemala have seen what Caritas A Maasai family herding their goats partner, the Centre for Legal Action on Human Rights (Centro during better times. The drought para Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos) (CALDH), hopes will be a has killed many livestock across East turning point in its work of bringing about legal justice for Mayan Africa. communities.

 The Gender Issues Committee, which includes Caritas Domestic Brief representatives, Tara D’Sousa (chair), and Mary Betz, hopes the example provided by Auckland will encourage other Dioceses to caritas supports training for responding to organise similar training, so that parishes can become “places family violence of safety” where calls for help are recognised and responded to proactively. With the support of Caritas, the Auckland Catholic Family and Community Services has provided training for Auckland parish workers in recognising and responding to family violence.

Initial work with priests followed a New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference Gender Issues Committee suggestion in 2003, and more recent training has been instigated following interest from Caritas Oceania members at a gender forum in Tonga last year.

Caritas has funded Catholic Family and Community Services to run further workshops for parish pastoral workers, and to produce a workshop guide that could be shared with other Dioceses and with Caritas groups in the Pacific.

Catholic Family and Community Services Director Eric Allan affirmed there was an increase in referrals to his agency following the 2003 workshop. A further workshop held on 8 August this year will hopefully be followed by others in the northern part of Auckland Diocese. NZCBC Gender Issues Committee Members, 2005.

The Catholic Church is SCHOOLS SPOTLIGHT calling us to an ‘ecological conversion’. Supporting Youth in their ‘Ecological Conversion’ “ecological conversion is to increase our spiritual footprint, and at the same time to lighten our ecological footprint.” Col Brown – Director, Catholic Earthcare Australia.

Catherine Gibbs, Caritas’ National Education Co-ordinator, has worked in schools and been closely involved with teachers and learners in schools for all her professional life. Over the last four months, she has been researching and writing education material for the Social Justice Week theme of Environmental Justice, which focuses on climate change.

Catherine’s research uncovered an overwhelming amount of information on environmental justice, including the significant amount published by the Church.

Catherine says some important questions arise for educators: • How can teachers encourage students to engage in environmental justice issues while interconnecting across curriculum areas? • How do children grow their awareness and responsibility for others now and into the future? • How do we link children’s understanding about the future to creating a sustainable environment? • How do teachers and students in Catholic schools take up their ‘ecological vocations’? (Pope John Paul II)

Catherine’s research shows a number of core teaching documents can be drawn on to link cross-curricular learning ideas that relate to environmental justice. “Weaving these core documents with the learning strands of the Religious Education curriculum for Catholic primary schools is central. It makes meaningful the connections between student expressions of their faith and their lives,” says Catherine.

In the new draft school curriculum, for instance, the key competency of Participation and Contribution involves developing an understanding of social justice. Students learn to develop ways of belonging in a range of contexts and understand the importance of balancing rights, roles, and responsibilities.

The new draft school curriculum also links children’s understanding about the future to creating a sustainable environment through its chapter on Values. Of particular relevance to the growth of ecological integrity are: Care for the Environment, Equity, Community and Participation for the Common Good, and Integrity.

Continued on page 8

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Number: Exp. Date: Caritas is the national Catholic Agency for Justice, Peace and Development. It is send to: caritas, p o box 12-193, wellington an official agency of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference. Caritas supports work for justice, peace and development in New Zealand, Africa, The Catholic , and the Pacific. Church is SCHOOLS SPOTLIGHT calling us to an ‘ecological editor: Leesa Roy conversion’. layout: Rose Miller, Parlour printing: The Print Room Ltd Continued from page 7 contents Additionally, the Virtues Project is gaining popularity in Catholic schools, as it encourages All articles, stories, reports printed education that touches the human spirit. The virtues of patience and tenacity are in the CARITASUpdate may be discovered and practiced through activities that promote the importance of process. For reproduced with acknowledgement. example, the creation story builds up the many interconnected layers of God’s creative gift over time. Other virtues practised within Catholic environmental studies include Caring, Contributions are invited from anyone Justice, Thankfulness and Self-sacrifice. interested in work for justice, peace Catholic schools provide opportunities for teachers and students to take up their and development in New Zealand and ‘ecological vocations’. Catholic schools can become energised participants in the ecological overseas. Letters will be printed at the conversion being called for throughout the world by providing opportunities for young discretion of the editorial committee. people to change their behaviour. Teachers can help create a mainstream environmental The opinions expressed in culture among our youth. CARITASUpdate do not necessarily Caritas has published materials for schools to assist them in their teaching and learning reflect the views of Caritas Aotearoa activities around environmental justice. For more information about these resources, have New Zealand. a look at our website www.caritas.org.nz or call Catherine on 04 496 1742. address Your ideas and feedback on environmental justice are welcomed. The Caritas website will Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand be used to share your success stories. Catholic Centre 22–30 Hill Street Wellington 6001 (Aotearoa) New Zealand P O Box 12-193 Wellington 6144 Phone (64-4) 496-1742 Facsimile (64-4) 499-2519 Email [email protected] Web Site http://www.caritas.org.nz

Exploring environmental justice awareness through art activities.