Photo of the week: Kerry Enright, National Director of Uniting International Mission, marching in the Philippines in a protest advocating the release of Pastor Berlin

World Vision Water and Sanitation Conference

October 27 - 29, 2008, Melbourne.

29.09.2008

World Vision Australia is pleased to present the Sanitation and Water Conference 2008. Produced with the support of the Australian Government through AusAID and with the assistance of the Watsan Reference Group, the Sanitation and Water Conference 2008 will be a significant event in the International Year of Sanitation.  It will focus attention on the challenge of sanitation and water development in East Asia and the Pacific.

Speakers for the conference include:
(please note speakers may change)

• Bob McMullan MP, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance – keynote address
• Piers Cross, formerly the Global Manager and Regional Leader in Asia and Africa of the World Bank's Water and Sanitation Program – Master of Ceremonies
• Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision Australia – keynote address
• Clarissa Brocklehurst, Chief Water, Environment and Sanitation, UNICEF
• Jaehyang So, Global Program Manager, Water and Sanitation Program, World Bank
• Almud Weitz, Regional Team Leader, Water and Sanitation Program – East Asia and the Pacific, World Bank
• Jocelyn Loughman, World Vision Vanuatu
• Carolien van der Voorden, Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council
• Bert Diphoorn, Director (Ag), Human Settlements Financing Division, UN-HABITAT
• Dr Juliet Willetts, Research Principal, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney
• Bronwyn Powell. International Water Centre
• Alison Baker, GHD

For more information visit http://www.worldvision.com.au/learn/conferences/watsan/

PASTOR BERLIN FREED

25.09.2008

Kerry Enright, National Director of Uniting International Mission, has today received word that Pastor Berlin Guerrero has had his case dismissed by the Philippine Court of Appeals.

Click here to read more.

Recession in the US threatens fight against global poverty

25.09.08

The UN Secretary General has expressed his concern that global financial crisis would threaten efforts to fight global poverty. Many others are also expressing their concern at the General Assembly of the UN in New York this week. The Millenium Development Goals are under review in todays session.

Click here to read more.

UN plans major food relief program to feed North Korea

17.09.08

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that it is launching a major relief campaign to help more than 6 million people in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which is experiencing its worst food crisis in a decade.

Click here to read more.

Atrocities in Orissa

17.09.08

Uniting International Mission has been in contact with Bishop Banu, the Bishop of Amritsar, of the Church of North India, a partner church of Uniting International Mission, regarding the violence against Christians in Orissa, North India.

Please click here to see how you can help

Click here to read Bishop Banu's summary of the facts.

Click here to view pictures of wrecked churches in Orissa.

PASTOR BERLIN FREED – BUT BATTLE FAR FROM OVER

12.09.08

After spending over a year in gaol, Pastor Berlin Guerrero was yesterday released by the Philippine Court of Appeals into the custody of his lawyers after the failure of authorities to substantiate charges against him.

Click here to read more.

ALERT

04/09/08

Uniting International Mission in the National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia is currently advertising for a Pacific Partnerships Manager.

We’re looking for a Pacific Ambassador who will work across Australia and with Pacific partners to provide leadership in the Uniting Church’s Pacific relationships.

Click here to read more.

We can help in the seasonal worker scheme

3/09/08

Concerns have been expressed recently in the media about the potential for exploitation of workers in the new Seasonal Worker scheme. One of our partner churches – The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa in New Zealand – is supporting the guest workers. This illustrates how the church can support and assist this scheme and ensure the wellbeing of the Pacific guest workers.

Click here to read more.

Please take our survey   3/09/08     Uniting International Mission, including Overseas Aid, is at a critical point in its history. We feel called to genuinely seek God ’s leading for the future and what we are called to be and do. In order to facilitate this we have engaged a Christian consultancy called Capacity Builders to ensure we have vital input across the Uniting Church leaders.   As part of the process of crucial input we have developed an online survey to hear YOUR opinion on Uniting International Mission.   Please take the time to fill out our survey – it won’t take more than 15 minutes. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us and will contribute directly to us building a stronger and more focused agency.

Guest Worker Scheme

18/08/08

The Rudd government yesterday announced a pilot scheme to bring Pacific Island guest workers to Australia to booster our horticulture industry.

The government has confirmed it will offer 2,500 visas to workers from Tonga, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea to come to Australia for up to seven months a year to pick fruit after an estimated $700 million worth of fruit rotted last year due to lack of workers.

Uniting International Mission supports this scheme, click here to view our full statement.

ALERT

New job position vacant. Uniting International Mission seeks an Executive Assistant.

Click here for more information.

Pacific Trade

15/08/08

Last week, Uniting International Mission welcomed Fei Tevi, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches to Australia.

Fei is vocal on issues of trade affecting Pacific nations and is working to engage the church with the broader debate on international trade. 

Pacific Civil Society Organisations today released a joint paper discussing trade justice issues in free trade agreements in the Pacific.

Click here to read the full paper.

Click here to read more about Uniting International Mission's involvement in international trade justice.

New King of Tonga Crowned

1/08/08

The Rev. Gregor Henderson, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Jason Kioa, Moderator for the Uniting Church Synod of Victoria/Tasmania, General Secretary Rob Brown and wife Jill Brown today attended the coronation of King George Tupou V, King of Tonga.

The coronation was an ornate affair held at the Centenary Free Wesleyan Church, a partner church of the Uniting Church Australia.

Click here to read more.

Pacific Migration & Labour Mobility Symposium 13 August

1/08/08

The Institute for Community, Ethnicity and Policy Alternatives (ICEPA) at Victoria University in Melbourne invites you to a public symposium on:

PACIFIC ISLANDS MIGRATION AND LABOUR MOBILITY

Click here to read more.

Offering of Letters

1/08/08

Just as we offer our money and our time to God, we can also offer our voices on behalf of the voiceless. This is part of our worship, and gives us the opportunity to “do justice and love kindness” by prayerfully writing letters to our Prime Minister.

For more information click here.

Inap Long Heaven DVD's

1/08/08

  In conjunction with the Pipel exhibition, Uniting International Mission is releasing a DVD to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the Uniting Church in Papua New Guinea.

DVD’s are available for a suggested $5 donation to Uniting International Mission. Please contact Amy on amyg@nat.uca.org.au to order.

Indonesia admits guilt over Timor

17/07/083

The Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has endorsed a truth commission's statement that his nation was to blame for gross human rights abuses against the East Timorese in 1999. Dr Yudhoyono stopped short of a formal apology and ruled out prosecution of those responsible.

To read more click here.

Charges Filed against Sudanese President

15/07/08

THE prosecutor of the International Criminal Court filed genocide charges last night against Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir.

Al-Bashir was charged with masterminding attempts to wipe out African tribes in Darfur with a campaign of murder, rape and deportation.

To read more click here.

To view report click here

Other News

Common prayer of the Churches of South and North Korea March 2008

Report on North Korean Mission Workers

Missionaries Safe in East Timor

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