newsbriefsAUSTRALIAN Initiatives of Change through moral and spiritual transformation CONFERENCE REPORT SPECIAL ISSUE

Initiatives of Change international conference, Melbourne, 12-16 January 2007 ‘ as a neighbour ... Bridging the divides with compassion, integrity and global responsibility’

t was a summer of more than usual Victorian Multicultural Commission, I ferocity, with bushfires starting early which had given funds towards the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, , welcoming and spreading to burn out large areas of conference. delegates at the opening dinner. eastern Australia, most of all in . The conference was the vision of two Beyond the bottom line: ethics at But in mid-January as people from Melbourne couples, one Aboriginal and work, confronting corruption, around Australia gathered in Melbourne the other Asian Australians. The vision development as if people matter [p.7] for the ‘Australia as a neighbour’ was caught by others. Many elements Altogether 80 people spoke in the plenary conference, coming from the close were based on the work of the diverse sessions. Two cultural evenings Pacific/Asian neighbourhood, and from community that operates from and around introduced people to each other via as far as Japan and Europe, the weather Armagh, the Initiatives of Change relented and ‘marvellous artistry, music and dance as well as national headquarters in Melbourne, words. Workshops on environmental Melbourne’ was at its which in 2006 celebrated most captivating, initiatives, Pacific developments, its 50th anniversary. families, Peace Circles, turning on four mild Human and and sparkling days. measuring financial resources The weather was on corruption (led by were stretched. But people's minds in more Transparency on 12 January the ways than one. In International vision became 2006 the reality of director David reality with 285 climate change began Mattiske), people converging to force itself on the Aboriginal rush on International world's consciousness, not weaving and silk House, the least in drought-ravaged Australia. No painting, leaves of university residential college subject illustrates more decisively that all healing, Discover the also founded 50 years ago as the human beings are part of a global Other and Initiatives of result of a peacemaking vision. The neighbourhood where there are no Change, drama, yoga — all gave the Head of the college, Assoc Prof Jane borders. The conference began with a conference an interactive character. Even Munro, in welcoming the conference keynote address by Bishop George some plenaries were conducted commented how ‘love for the stranger’ Browning, convenor of the Anglican interactively. (Greek filoxenia) was a shared ideal of Communion Environmental Network. Half of dialogue is listening. Initiatives of Change and International [see p2] ‘Listening to the spirit within’ was the House. At the opening dinner Melbourne's theme at early morning reflection ‘Australia is a Lord Mayor, John So, welcomed the sessions introduced microcosm of the visitors. Australia, he said was now ‘at by Rev Glennis world,’ stated the the heart of fast-developing Asia’, and Johnston. Small conference invitation. Melbourne was one of the world's great group discussions ‘No one said it was multicultural capitals. He was supported gave everyone a going to be easy by George Lekakis, Chairman of the chance to say what living together. But was on their hearts if we can get it right and to get to know a we have something few people well over precious to offer a the four days. divided planet.’ In pursuit People travelled of that vision the conference tackled three from 15 countries to broad subjects: attend, from Cambodia, Fiji, India, Living with the neighbour who is Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, , different: discovering the other [p.3] the Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua Healing journeys: facing our past and looking to the future [p.6] Continued on back page 1 Keynote speech Righteousness and relationships By Rt Reverend George Browning, Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn ‘The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever’ — Isaiah 32:17 ‘Righteousness’ is to do with right it can be sufficiently remembered so that relationships: the relationship between it can be safely forgotten. Whether it's in the community and the individual; the the Middle East, or the Balkans, or relationship between people of different Northern Ireland, or with the Indigenous nations; and the relationship that people people of Australia: if pain is not dealt have with God. with appropriately, it is forever Today relationships are global, and the remembered. And the remembering of it failure of relationships in the 21st continues the violence and the Century will bring disaster for the whole perpetration of that violence from of humankind. This particular virtue of generation to generation to generation. righteousness is not optional. We cannot and must not fail in our relationships with Climate change one another. And the responsibility for I have become greatly involved in the is Convenor of the right relationships always rests more with environmental movement. I believe that (global) Anglican Communion Environmental the stronger than the weaker; more with it is the great social issue of our time — Network; Board Member and co-founder of the wealthy than the poor; more with the and that time is running out. We are the Australian Centre for Christianity and powerful than the powerless. In Australia actually at a point where we have to Culture; Member, Advisory Council, Climate as a neighbour we are powerful and decide whether we want our children and Institute; and Chair of the Board, Centre for an wealthy. We cannot and must not neglect our grandchildren to have a future or not. Ethical Society. our responsibility in this area. Every day I have a mantra that I ask reason to think that these were the main myself: ‘What will I do today that my Individualism issues that relate to righteousness. It is grandchildren will thank me for, or curse strange that I have to make the point that I have been quite a strong critic of me for, in 50 years’ time?’ This matter is matters of public morality, justice or various government policies and actions. important to me because: ethics are core to righteousness. A good But my greatest argument is with the It is one of the issues that unites all student of the Bible would understand ideology of individualism that lies behind people of faith. It is our core business. that these public issues are as much to do them. Individualism is the enemy of We believe that all human life and with righteousness as personal morality. righteousness, because individualism every living thing is sacred to God the I want to conclude by coming back to does not take into account the creator. We have no right whatsoever righteousness. One of the great failures relationships which undergird the to a standard of living that diminishes of righteousness is the case of David wellbeing of all humankind. what we have received. Hicks. The fact that we can abandon Individualism is seen in economic Like most other problems, ordinary human rights for a cause puts policy. It is also seen, tragically, in environmental degradation affects the into question the rightness of the cause policy with the Aboriginal people. It is poor the most. We will not ‘make itself. We in Australia are in a debate because of the view that an individual can poverty history’ unless we deal with about values. We've named ‘a fair go’ apologise only for what the individual has the environment issue as well. one of the main Australian values - but done that we have neglected one of our This issue affects future generations, when you think of David Hicks you great responsibilities to the Indigenous and as a person of faith I believe in wonder whether it actually is an people of Australia. In actual fact, we are intergenerational morality. Australian value. And yet it is a value all the inheritors of both the good and the As individuals and communities we which is held by all peoples universally. bad of the past. The effect of a corporate should take seriously our responsibilities Righteousness is a virtue. A virtue is sense of responsibility for what has gone in relationship to others, to the poor and far deeper than a value — it is an before, and the release that comes to future generations, and we should put expression of truth. Righteousness is one through apology for it, has escaped many pressure on our governments to act fundamental expression of truth that of the powerful leadership of our time — responsibly. Last December I wrote an requires courage to live by. My hope and to the great detriment of our country. open letter to the Prime Minister and prayer for this conference is that you'll There is a huge responsibility for us to Leader of the Opposition saying I did not hear truth spoken: that having heard it, deal with the pain of the past in order that believe it would be morally right for you'll live it and have the courage to anyone to vote for a party that did not make a difference in this world of which Speeches are mostly quoted briefly have a credible climate change policy. I we are a part. That we may truly be, as in this report. All have been believe our government must, with the Jesus asked us to be, good neighbours of shortened. You are invited to read rest of the world, price carbon. one another. complete versions under I haven't mentioned anything to do This is an edited extract of the ‘Melbourne conference’ on our with personal morality — euthanasia, keynote address at the opening of website http://www.au.iofc.org homosexuality — and in Australia at the present time you would have every the conference. 2 The theme of the first full day was ... Living with the neighbour who is different: Discovering the other New, old and original Australians and some of their neighbours looked across the barriers and saw that difference has a lot to teach us. John (Yanni) Patriki, co-chairing the and understand what people are session, shared his experience growing up telling me about their lives. It's not the as a Greek-Australian. He spoke about similarities but the differences that being caught between two worlds — that attracted me to China.’ of his ethnic origin and the wider Anglo Bowen Plug, a resident at International culture. ‘We need to belong, to be House and science student, comes from accepted and to have our difference WA. ‘Before I came to International valued,’ he said. House I never liked the idea of being with Phong Nguyen, Chairperson of the overseas tourists or immigrants. SARS, Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, terrorists, illegal immigrants and invasion told how he had dealt with a difficult were usually the first terms to spring to neighbour in his apartment block — a mind. So when I received my offer for white Anglo-Saxon woman who was this college I am ashamed to say I had to racially prejudiced and angry to be living spend two weeks deciding whether I in a mainly non-white neighbourhood. could handle living in such a racially Overcoming his fear, Phong took her diverse environment. Finally I decided from Vietnam and from Cambodia speaking about the some spring rolls to celebrate Vietnamese that I would fulfil my responsibility as a grassroots dialogue between their countries. New Year. This simple act of kindness citizen and ambassador of Australia. I started a warm relationship which would aspire to show to every person I Out of this grew a team of young people completely changed her attitudes. met from overseas that Aussies can be in both countries determined to keep the friendly, accepting and embracing of conversations going. Over the past two Life changed other cultures...’ years they have organised several visits to Jim Beggs, Melbourne Branch Adi Lamawa and Adi Paulini Vesikula each other's countries for relationship- President of the Waterside Workers 1971- from Fiji said they had a normal sister-to- building exchanges. 1992 and for many years National sister relationship. Lamawa said she was Abdul Mukti from Indonesia is a President, said his life had been changed a ‘drama queen’ while senior lecturer in Islamic education and by a next-door neighbour of a different younger sister Paulini Secretary of the Council of Education on political background who cared for him admitted being the the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, in practical ways and taught him the ‘irritating brat’. ‘We've one of Indonesia's two great Islamic secret ‘Change starts with myself.’ been brought closer organisations. Until 2006 he was Teresa Lawler told of the love she together through just Chairperson of the Central Board of found for another country when she went listening.’ Muhammadiyah Youth. to teach English in China and made ‘God is also a Indonesian stereotypes friends there. ‘When I came back to neighbour,’ said Troy Australia I started studying Chinese at Blow, a youth worker at Troy Blow He spoke of his own personal growth of university. People have assumed I'm the Maya Centre for perspective, coming from a village interested in some high-flying career. I'm Healing, telling about overcoming background where anything non-Muslim not studying Chinese for a career, alcoholism through ‘a spiritual way of was unfamiliar and suspect. Meeting although I do enjoy the challenge of such living’. Hindus and other non-Muslim a difficult language. I'm studying Phuoc Minh Ho from Vietnam and Indonesians in Bali, then living as a Chinese because I want to sit on a train in Vathnak Chhoeurm from Cambodia student in Australia exposed him to other spoke about an ongoing grass-roots viewpoints. dialogue between their countries. While He described negative Indonesian many Cambodians feel deeply that stereotypes of Australia and actions such Vietnam has caused their country much as Australian aid for tsunami victims pain and suffering over the centuries, which counter those views. He most young Vietnamese are unaware that concluded: ‘Based on my personal Cambodians feel this. The dialogue experience, we could attain peaceful and started in 2004 at an Asia-Pacific Youth harmonious relations with the neighbour Conference in Cambodia organised by who is different if we: (1) are aware of Initiatives of Change when two our differences; (2) understand the source Cambodians spoke of their decisions to of our differences; (3) respect the forgive Vietnam. The young Vietnamese differences with sincerity; (4) have present were shocked to hear these openness to discuss problems; (5) (L to R) and — two sisters from Fiji ‘brought together through perspectives and as a result three dialogue develop cooperation on the basis of listening’. sessions took place at the conference. shared similarities.’ 3 Public Forum Australia as a neighbour How can Australians improve our relationships with our neighbours — both within the country and in the region?

The fear button response. The implication was that the ‘humble David Mills is a singer/songwriter. On Australian’ was a fairly rare behalf of Initiatives of Change, he has species. helped organise a series of Muslim- People knew we had not Christian community dialogues around been good at neighbouring Sydney involving hundreds of when we moved into a (L to R) , former Deputy Prime Minister of participants. continent that had been Papua New Guinea, talking with and Sometimes the . inhabited for 60,000 years. want to make and then we might fill in business of being Many Solomon Islanders remember our the right kind of some details as we go. It's a highly practice of ‘blackbirding’ — forcibly competitive process — we all compete to neighbour gets taking thousands from their islands to pretty close to get our points in. labour in our canefields. And there is the It is completely the opposite of the home. My wife, deeply remembered stain of the White Jane, and I a few Pacific islanders’ way of communicating. Australia Policy. Their communication style is an inverted years back decided David Mills Our government has deplored the coup we should take a peace offering to our pyramid. They want to give you the in Fiji, but if we had cared consistently context first. They want to explain why next door neighbours after our two would things have been different? New families nearly got into a rather nasty something is important. It means you Zealand has had a heart-to-heart might not get to the heart of the matter conflict. We are now quite good friends relationship with the nations of the but I realise how different it could have for three Pacific. If we had humbly sought their sentences, or been. help perhaps The history of three hours, or together we could three days, the way 'If we had cared consistently would have spelt out Australians have things have been different?’ depending on the plainly the moral issue and the treated our changes necessary neighbours and circumstances. for our full support. If we had been They will the New Australians who have come to honest about our own flaws it might have make their home here is a very mixed Mary Louise O’Callaghan actually wait for got traction on key issues such as the space, for the bag. We have struggled to be inclusive exposing those who were behind previous but when the fear button is pressed we silence — and if you don't give it to them coups and tackling corruption at the they won't necessarily try and punch in can quickly revert to the ‘them and us’ highest level. attitudes. There was an element of this in that headline. Silence is something that We have proclaimed that we will we are pretty scared of. The ability to the Cronulla riots in Sydney a year ago. I decide who sets foot on our country. have been involved in programs enjoy and participate in non-verbal Perhaps we have to move on to the communication, in silence, is not attempting to address that issue with the realisation that it is God's country — and communities most affected. something familiar to many white we neither discovered it nor do we own it. Australians or Europeans. The 'humble Perhaps we need the wisdom of the I remember one of the first interviews original inhabitants and our neighbours to I did in Vanuatu. I felt there was a real Australian' sought know how best to use our bounty for the meeting of minds with this person and good of all. Jim Coulter was a was happy because he'd said things World War II pilot which confirmed the points that I'd and a journalist. Learning to listen wanted to make in my feature article. I After the war he Mary Louise O'Callaghan, originally raced back to the hotel to transcribe the pioneered many from Melbourne, has lived for the last 20 interview so that I could use his quotes. MRA/IofC years in Solomon Islands. She is The problem was that all of his sentences initiatives in married to Joses Tuhanuku, a former were finished off by me! I hadn't actually Australia. Member of Parliament and Government let him finish what he was saying — so I Last year my Jim Coulter Minister. She is an award-winning didn't have quotes I could use. wife, Rita, and I spent two periods in Fiji. journalist and commentator on regional I've had to discipline myself as an When I told of the conference here in Pacific affairs. Australian journalist to actually stop and Melbourne with the aim of making We white Australians tend to talk in listen and wait. That is what we need to Australia the right sort of neighbour, I headlines. We create a pyramid. We do more than anything in our relationship was challenged by the enthusiasm of the start off with the most important point we with the region.

4 The disease of egocentricity

Waleed Aly is a leading Muslim world would be a much better place if the political sphere is seen, by many, in Australian only everybody was just like me'. much the same way that people in the commentator, a Back in the very early period of the West see a bill of rights — as a means by commercial war in Iraq, the 'Coalition of the Willing' which rulers can be held accountable to lawyer and an was trying hard to create a post-Saddam some kind of external standard. Executive Hussein Iraq that was modelled on The same lessons apply closer to Committee American-style secular democracy. home. How do we overcome the climate member of the There's a lot of great things about the of fear? It's not about overlooking the Islamic Council of American system of government and the difficult issues. It's about having some Victoria. Waleed Aly way American society and politics are kind of intellectual matrix for Relationships between people who are structured. But Iraq is not America. understanding our differences. Then we noticeably different can only proceed This was most manifest when it came begin to understand that human once both parties to that relationship to the idea of the secular state. behaviour is a product of a whole conquer the intellectual disease of Throughout the Middle East, since the complex of inputs. When we do that, not egocentricity. What I mean is that the colonial period the absence of religion in only do we get a much more vast majority of us, if we are really being the public sphere has been accompanied sophisticated analysis, we get one that honest with ourselves, tend to approach by a stream of very dictatorial regimes. can provide a bedrock for a more positive people with a deep assumption that 'the So the idea of religion coming back into kind of interaction.

Sudanese Youth for Reconciliation and Hope

Sudanese Youth for Reconciliation and Hope is a Melbourne-based group A friend told me about the group working to end civil war in their country of origin. The group comes from ‘Sudanese Youth for Reconciliation and different parts of Sudan and from different sides in the conflict. In the Public Hope’ and the work to support the peace Forum a Southerner and a Northerner spoke together. agreement which has been signed in Sudan between the North and the South. Deng Riak came to minority. One day I We started to say sorry to our brothers Australia in 2004 and met a group of locals from the South. In November I and works as a security and without any another member of the group went officer: reason they jumped together to Sudan. We discovered the I was born in South on top of me and people still not believing this peace Sudan during the war. started kicking me. agreement will work. The Northerners I fled to Ethiopia in They called me the don't trust the Southerners and vice versa. the care of my older same names I used to We decided to have a conference in Deng Riak Ahmed Gillanie sister. In l991 we call my brothers from Juba, where the war started, and to were forced to run for our lives to Kenya. the South. I went home and looked at mobilise a lot of Sudanese youth from the As a young refugee I endured starvation, myself in the mirror and said, ‘Well, I North, the South, the West, and get them floods, mosquito bites, seeing dead deserve it.’ together and open our hearts. people, wild animals. Most of the time I would go to bed with an empty stomach. I slept shivering on a wet floor. These The Imam & the Pastor memories are still fresh in my mind. When I joined Sudanese Youth for A new documentary film The Imam and the Pastor Reconciliation and Hope, I told myself, had its Australian premiere during the Melbourne ‘Here is a chance at last for Sudanese to conference. make a difference.’ I didn't want It tells the amazing story of two Nigerian Sudanese children to go through what I religious leaders, Imam Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa had been through. and Pastor James Movel Wuye from the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna where in the past Ahmed Gillanie from North Sudan is thousands have been killed in Christian-Muslim studying legal services and has lived in fighting. Australia for 3 years: Both men were members of militias on opposite My life was happy, but I used to treat sides but were disillusioned by the violence. They my brothers from the South with now work closely together as joint directors of arrogance and racism. Because I am a Kaduna's Interfaith Mediation Centre. Muslim from an Arabic background I The film, produced by FLT Films, London, is thought I am better than everyone. available to Newsbriefs readers on DVD from Grosvenor Books, I was shocked when I left Sudan and Melbourne, price $32.50. It was launched at the UN in New York in November and went to a country where we were a in London in December 2006.

5 The theme of the second full day was ... Healing journeys: Facing our past and looking to the future Jane Mills, Sydney, Chair of Australian Healing is needed at the social, family and individual level, IofC Council of Management: Arabic is Sydney's second language. In the conference heard. Sydney for the last three years I and a number of women have been involved in Peace Circles. So far 14 have taken place and almost all have included Muslim women. Their participation has meant much to the non-Muslim women. Sherene Hassan, Secretary, Islamic Council of Victoria Executive Committee, spoke by DVD: After the horror of 11 September 2001 she wrote to the newspapers expressing her ‘immense grief and sadness’ at this ‘heinous crime’, and also her devastation that she was ‘no longer treated as a fellow Australian’ despite being born here. In Aboriginal didgeridoo players return she received a beautiful, supportive Reg Blow is CEO of the Maya Living Lasting improvements in health generally letter from an Australian non-Muslim Free Healing Association: occur when the initiative comes from the couple. ‘I have decided to dedicate my For Aboriginal communities in community and is instituted in a life to bridging the gap between Muslim Australia it's like a battle zone after the culturally appropriate way. and non-Muslim.’ fighting has ended. After 200 years of One simple practice I came to rely on dispossession, loss of language and during the year was my jog down the Andre Gorgievski, a cultural identity and worst of all deaths in airstrip at the start of each day when I student at the SAE custody and child laid the challenges and frustrations of the film Institute, abuse, you become a previous day before God. I would almost Melbourne, and victim of everything always get a fresh perspective and move manager of Major in life, and the victim from feeling dejected and annoyed to Street Basketball Foundation, showed a is not responsible and hopeful and at peace. Andre Gorgievski can wallow in self short film he had made Ron Lawler, funding services director in pity and 'woe is me'. depicting his journey from drugs and NSW State Government: We need to play a hopelessness to helping youth join him in Reg Blow role in this game of A highlight of my last 14 years in his positive passion for basketball. life. We Aboriginal people thought we South Western NSW has been the Mick Vertigan, teacher in Albany, WA.: had nothing to offer but there are establishment of a cultural and I've spent nearly 35 years teaching in thousands of years of our heritage. In our development centre for 12–15 year old secondary schools. traditional society sharing and caring was Aboriginal boys. Set on bushland away The effect it had on me at the end of a the basis of our life. If we didn't do that from town, it runs programs based on long day was that discipline at home was we didn't survive. In our situation today developing their resilience to prevent tight and often harsh. My style generated we need to start sharing some of the them from getting into the juvenile fear and resentment in my six children knowledge that we have. By giving we justice system. (Laura, below, is one of them) which they become empowered. My own contribution over many years have had to deal with, each in their own came from seeking inspiration from the way. Since that time I've taken time with Dr Penny Ramsay, General Medical inner voice for the way ahead. This was Practitioner, NT: each one of them individually to indispensable to my bureaucratic role as a apologise for that time and try and In 2005 my family and I spent a year planner. explain where it came from. living at a remote Aboriginal community in Arnhemland. Alexander Birnberg, former Laura Vertigan student of theology: As I started to see Commonwealth public servant: I think of my Dad now as a good mate. the complexity of Little things get in between people, He's been there for me even when I the causes of small annoyances or habits. With my needed to tell him that I hated his guts. poor health I sister-in-law, we got so angry with each What has been really powerful for me became less other over 30 cents' worth of vegetables, has been acknowledging the past, inclined to we didn't speak for a year. Then it came acknowledging my own pain and naively put to me: peace can only happen if it is the acknowledging my parents' pain, Aboriginal singer Johnny forward bright only goal. I met my brother and sister-in- recognising that we were more alike than Huckle. ideas about how law. We did not get into the past of who I ever imagined. Forgiving them and to 'fix things'. was right or wrong — just started anew. forgiving myself. 6 The theme of the last full day was ... Beyond the Bottom Line: Building trust and integrity This session began with a photograph from space showing the earth as a tiny speck in the universe. ‘Our global identity’ was the context for the discussion that followed on business and economic ethics.

Arnold Zable, Probably the best example is the Melbourne writer and relationship between Bakers Delight and novelist, author of The the Breast Cancer Society. They have set Fig Tree: up an office with computers and have The Earth seen from space: ‘the only home we have got’. (photo: NASA) The bottom line in given access to some 800 outlets. What business, in the Bakers Delight gets out of it is their soul. every day from the effects of poverty. workplace, is about We face an ethical choice: plan for a Arnold Zable Sandi Noble worked at building relationships. the high end of the world for everyone, or plan for a world If we look people in the eye and have fashion industry: for a few people who will make it and the conversations then we have got a chance. rest will be left out. The last job I had took Grahame Leonard is President of me to India, where Graeme Cordiner is co-founder of the Executive Council of Australian some of the dresses we Australian Independents Coalition for Jewry and a director of Transparency Sandi Noble sold were produced, for Political Integrity: International Australia: the Academy Awards and other We are about process rather than Corruption is the single functions. outcomes at any cost. What is success? major cause of endemic In Mumbai we were driving in a Success is having a go. poverty in the world. limousine and I saw these cardboard Joses Tuhanuku is a The AWB scandal is ‘lean-tos’. The driver said, ‘Those are former Trade Union an example of what the textile workers' homes.’ The woman leader, MP and happens when good I worked for wanted to reduce the wages Government Minister, governance is not in of the workers. Grahame Leonard Around that time I had an encounter and currently Director place. of Transparency with God. I was shown His incredible Corruption in Australia is fairly Solomon Islands: Joses Tuhanuku sophisticated. The real need is to bring it love for us and the lack of love with into the public arena. That's why TI has which we treat each other. Corruption hits the most basic needs of worked for effective whistleblower I made a commitment to work for my the people, not enough classrooms, not protection. values and not for money. I left the enough beds in the hospital. In Solomon wonderful world of fashion and worked Islands it is endemic. Denis Tracey is Deputy Director of the for 13 years as a volunteer mainly with I used to think you could stamp out Asia-Pacific Centre for Philanthropy and Mother Teresa's organisation. corruption. After 20 years involved in Social Investment at Swinburne At the Prahran Mission where I work these things I realise that is impossible. University Business School, Melbourne: now people have no personal power. What we have to do is organise ourselves Sensible companies realise that some sort Working ethically means seeing the to deal with corruption. That is how I see of relationship with the society in which divine spark in them. my involvement with Winds of Change they operate is good for business. and Transparency Solomon Islands. We Ron Lawler is a funding services must not give up, not give in, not expect director with the NSW State Government: that it is going to happen overnight. When I first applied ethics and values to Deane Belfield of Eco2Sys Consulting, myself I realised I needed to return some Nithi Nesadurai of Environment items I had stolen from the warehouse Protection Society Malaysia and Tom where I worked. When I get free from Duncan of Ecoplan Consulting led a the small compromises I am empowered well-attended workshop on to deal with the larger challenges. ‘environmental initiatives of change’. Phil Jefferys works with the Issues of climate change, drought, international program Farmers' environmental disasters, renewable Dialogue. Last year he and his wife energy, food vs. fuel debate, nuclear visited five African countries: power, nuclear waste, and carbon taxes Over 60% of the world's poorest people all came back to the question: ‘How can I are farmers. Farming is at the basis of as an individual make an environmental Ted Holmes from Melbourne talks with life and farming is the world's biggest change in my life that will be part of the Metuisela Tuivavalagi From Fiji business. Right now 50,000 people die solution?’ 7 ... Continued from page 1 The ideas behind Initiatives of Change Australia as a neighbour The conference was a gathering of people of making time for silence to search for New Guinea, Romania, Solomon Islands, who want to respond to the needs of divine guidance. It is the practice of Taiwan, the UK, Vietnam. Australia and its Asian/Pacific inner listening, of quietly waiting for the It was a chance to share burdens and neighbours. But how? intuitive leading of the still small voice hopes. A former Deputy Prime Minister i) Initiatives of Change works towards the that speaks in the heart. ‘Making space of Papua New Guinea, Sir Ebia Olewale, building of effective nations through the for grace.’ Ratu Meli Vesikula of Fiji and Joses powerful idea that each of us can Small steps of change are links in the Tuhanuku of respond by taking a step of action network working towards healing, faith Solomon Islands based on four universal and integrity. spoke of diffi- principles: absolute honesty, Nigel Heywood co-led the short daily culties in gover- absolute purity, absolute session ‘Heart of Transformation’ nance being unselfishness and absolute love. introducing the principles of Initiatives of experienced in ii) This is linked with the idea Change. each of their Pacific nations. IofC conference held in Suva From the morning reflections: Connections were the previous November ‘New made between Day 1: Values of the heart Hope from Fiji: making this a people enabling vision I made a start with putting right certain sometimes practical possible’. obvious things — a return of and sometimes moral support. Ana Vesikula, money, some apologies — but to At the final session people from across working in Fiji's turn away from deeply ingrained the region spoke from their hearts. A Ministry of greed, pride or self-seeking was Japanese whose paid position had been Reconciliation, another matter. This is where I discontinued with the sale reported found the standards of absolute of a conference centre said after the honesty, purity, unselfishness and that his commitment delegation love - a rough and challenging remained ‘obedience to returned: ‘The Conference was summary of the Sermon on the God's calling’. Japan wonderful. It lifted the self Mount - so helpful. — Garth Lean would host its 30th esteem of our young people — a international IofC Day 2: great confidence-building Journey into wholeness conference 15-17 June exercise. Our group participated Beware the fog of fear... When you're not in Tokyo, and in discussions as well as telling in touch with your soul, you'll think your collaborate with India in personal stories from the front. cravings — to have, to hold, to ensure, to hosting a conference in Panchgani There was a good representatation win, to be seen as a victim — are your (near Pune) in November on making ‘the from the smaller Pacific islands and a desires. They aren't. Fear shrinks the process of globalisation more equitable’. very visible representation of capacity of your soul to breathe, to live a A Malaysian was inspired by the the Aboriginal spirit of gratitude. — Patrick Oliver diversity of people he had met, people of and another Australia.’ The Day 3: Listening and discovery Malaysian Fijians are The true relation in prayer is not when apologised for a now taking God hears what is prayed for, but when mistake he felt he had opportunities the person praying continues to pray until made. A Taiwanese to present he is the one who hears, who hears what called for prayers for IofC ideas God wills. The ‘immediate’ person... his country, hit by a and makes demands in his prayers; the true high-level corruption approaches man of prayer only attends. — Søren scandal, and announced as a ‘base Kierkegaard the next Asia Pacific for nation- Youth Conference, to be building programs in the current Day 4: Living on the edge — risk- held next July 2007 in the situation [since the 5 December coup] and taking Philippines. for restoring hurt and fractured Fiji sent the largest delegation The golden rule for understanding in relationships.’ consisting mostly of young people keen spiritual matters is not intellect, but Peter Thwaites to continue the work begun at the major obedience. — Oswald Chambers All quotations compiled by Rev Glennis REPORT COMPILED BY PETER THWAITES AND MIKE LOWE. PHOTOS BY GEOFFREY CRAIG, JUSTINE KHAMARA, Johnston JONATHAN LANCASTER, MIKE LOWE, JIMMY NGUYEN, AND LAURA VERTIGAN.

All contributions of items, news, comments are welcome. Next deadline: Wednesday, 23 May 2007, to The Editor, NEWSBRIEFS, 226 Kooyong Road, Toorak, VIC 3142 Initiatives of Change Fax: (03) 9822 6871 E-mail: [email protected] MORAL RE-ARMAMENT ABN 22 004 350 789 New subscriptions and address changes: NEWSBRIEFS, 226 Kooyong Road, Toorak, VIC 3142 www.au.iofc.org 8