The Asian Tsunami has been described as the worst catastrophe in living memory.  Indeed it is!  Never has the world witnessed such anger from the Ocean. South East Asia has been a sea of tears.   

The world came together and wept as they saw the images in their living rooms.  The Tsunami killed a quarter of a million people and the counting is still continuing up to this day. Fish and all the living things contained in the sea were killed.   

Houses and hotels were destroyed. Trees were uprooted.  Anything that was within reach was washed away and the world was stunned for the Ocean came out with a vengeance washing away anything in its path. 

All that could be seen were weeping men and women, children wandering around without mothers. Scattered bodies everywhere which were beyond recognition, and debris of houses plus hotels that had been ripped apart.  

The grief was everywhere.  If you walked into a room the silence was deadly. Action had to be taken immediately or else more bodies of the living would soon be history. 

But despite the tears – aid started pouring in from most continents. North America to Europe, and from Asia itself and the African continent, as well as Australia.  But the task of rebuilding will take years and the world is implored to still continue with the gesture of giving.  

The Christmas Bowl program of Christian World Service/the National Council of Churches in Australia is working with partners affected by the tsunami on long-term programs for reconstruction and rehabilitation 

Thank you to all our supporters for the generous response to the Christmas Bowl’s South Asia Tsunami Appeal.  Please keep giving generously.   Please keep praying so that our brothers and sisters can have courage and hope, and the strength, knowing that they are not alone as they continue with the struggle for re-building their lives. 

Reflection written by Margaret Kanongovere   

 

Give to the Christmas Bowl – give courage, give hope, give peace.Freecall 1800 025 101, www.ncca.org.au, Locked Bag 199, Sydney 1230    

Further Information/Photographs: Colleen Hodge, Education and Communications Programs, phone 02 9299 2215/0419 6852 48, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Charlie Ocampo, International Programs, phone 0407 1527 36, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

25 January 2005

from Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia

 

Holy God,

It is with shock and sorrow that we bring our prayers this day.

We pray for the people of the Asia - Pacific region

Who struggle in the face of three natural disasters,

Flooding, a tsunami in the Pacific and earthquakes.

The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) has expressed its strong sympathy with the Indonesian Government and people over recent threatening acts towards Indonesia and the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra. It has called on the Australian community to respect Australia’s relationship with our close neighbour Indonesia, and to celebrate the growing understanding between our two countries, and their respective governments.

The NCCA has close links with the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), and with other Indonesian faith communities, through various dialogue programmes aimed at increasing awareness and understanding between the people of our countries and their various beliefs and practices.

The President of the NCCA, the Reverend Professor James Haire, commented, “We very much regret the threats some people have made towards Indonesia and its representatives here in Australia, and we express our sympathy with them. Christians believe in good order in society, as the Bible teaches. We call on the Australian community to respect Indonesia, its laws and its people, and to celebrate the close ties between our two countries.”

The General Secretary of the NCCA, the Reverend John Henderson, added, “Since the generous and humane response to the tsunami there have been increasingly warm relations between Australia and Indonesia. This is how good neighbours act in times of trouble. We grow in stature as a nation when we act compassionately in the best interests of our neighbours, and every Australian can be proud of that.”

For further comment:
Revd Professor James Haire, President, ph (02) 6273-8805 or 0408 632 092
Revd John Henderson, General Secretary, ph (02) 9299 2215 or 0419 224 935

The National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA) wishes to express its deepest sympathy and extend its condolences to the Catholic Community in Australia following the death of Pope John Paul II.

“Australian Christians will deeply mourn the loss of such an immensely spiritual and holy man, especially after his two visits, as Pontiff, to Australia”, said the Acting General Secretary of the NCCA, Graeme Mundine.  

“Pope John Paul II was an inspirational and devout leader, who will also be remembered as a truly human man who led not only through his words, but also through personal example”.

“His Holiness was a strong advocate for the disempowered and disenfranchised peoples of the world and stood in solidarity with all those struggling for greater freedom and justice”.

“His Holiness was also a strong advocate for inter-faith dialogue throughout the world. His contribution to peace and reconciliation within many of the countries that he visited was renowned”.

“The Pope will be remembered as a close friend of the Australian peoples. During his visits here to Australia it was evident that he did have a true understanding of the Australian situation and fond love for this country and all its peoples”.

“In particular his visit in 1986 to Alice Springs and his speech to Indigenous Australians was a source of inspiration and great hope to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia, including myself, said Mr Mundine”.

“The NCCA extends its sympathy in particular to the Polish community who will be feeling greatly the loss of their fellow country man.

“Pope John Paul II was a respected and much loved man of the times and a great leader of our modern age. His impact on world events throughout the decades of his Papacy will be remembered for many years to come and the spiritual leadership he gave to Catholics around the world will be sorely missed”. Mr Mundine concluded.

For further information: 
Graeme Mundine - Acting General Secretary of the NCCA
0419 238 788

Responding to Immigration Minister Vanstone's announcement that some detainees may be released, James Thomson, refugee spokesperson for the National Council of Churches in Australia said it fell well short of expectations.

"The devil is in the detail of Cabinet's detention decision."

"While we are happy that some of Australia's longest serving detainees may finally be released, the announcement fails to give these people a future, some of whom are stateless and literally have no country willing to accept them."

"It does not create any limit to detention let alone the three-year limit proposed."

"It does not provide legal protection for stateless people, which under international law should be granted permanent residence, but under Australian law are subject to indefinite detention unless the Minister grants a visa. The Minister's powers are non-appealable and non-compellable and there is no public accountability or transparency regarding decision-making."

"Nor does it create any clarity as to whom exactly will qualify for release. It may only be a minority of high profile stateless detainees, such as Peter Qasim, who has been detained for nearly seven years. It is the Minister herself that must be satisfied that everything possible has been done to remove the person before they may qualify for release.

"Those released have no access to permanent visas so will still live in fear of being returned."

"They will have no family reunion or right to re-enter Australia if they leave so will have to give up any hope of protection in Australia if they want to see their family members."

"Last, but not least, Australia's system of mandatory, indefinite and non-reviewable detention remains in place awaiting more entrants."

"On the positive side, at least some of Australia's longest serving, and most scarred, detainees will not just be dumped in the community on release, but they will have access to essential services such as trauma and torture counselling, accommodation etc."

For further information, please contact James Thomson on 0402 67 55 44

The Christmas Bowl program of Christian World Service/the National Council of Churches in Australia (CWS/NCCA), and partners in Sri Lanka and India, have agreed they will be working together for the healing of people and the reconstruction of infrastructure for the next decade.

Volunteers from the Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR), based in India and Sri Lanka, have fanned out to meet with organisations and individuals in order to assist people affected by the tsunami.  The initial priority areas in the proposed action plan include identification and management of hazards on return to home areas, ensuring drinking water quality and food safety, sanitation and hygiene, managing dead animals and debris, ongoing provision of supplies, prevention and management of diseases like chicken pox, measles, typhoid, malaria, respiratory infections, addressing special needs of children, disabled and older people, and safety of workers.

The Chair of OfERR, Mr S C Chandrahasan, has emailed CWS: “We thank our partners for their messages of concern and support received in the wake of this massive tragedy.”

Within hours of the tsunami disaster the National Council of Churches in Sri Lanka (NCCSL) began purchasing emergency supplies and local congregations of the Anglican, Methodist and Church of South India took charge of distribution to affected families. 

Assisted by an initial grant of $ 50 000 from Action by Churches Together International (ACT), trucks with emergency supplies of food, clothing, water, water tanks, medicines and cooking pots, went to all communities on the eastern and southern coasts.

The NCCSL has also begun to organise training in post-trauma counselling.  The Reverend Sumithra Fernando, Executive Secretary of the Women’s Commission said: “We weren’t ready for this big a calamity, but we’re getting organised and things are falling into place, thanks to the help of our partners.”

A core committee of church leaders is helping to plan the response and is working with government agencies to better coordinate efforts.  Thousands of land mines have been washed loose.  With over 1 000 kilometres of coastline laid waste, employment in the tourist and fishing sectors will take years to recover. 

The new General Secretary of the NCCSL, the Reverend Jayasiri Peiris, said: “We’ve got to do more than rebuild buildings.  We’ve got to rebuild a people who have been left traumatised by this disaster.  That’s a process that’s going to take years and years.”

In India the churches have responded similarly.  The Director of the Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), Sushant Agrawal, writes: “Bringing relief by distributing material aid is only one way of addressing the needs of people.  They also need trauma counselling - and we are trying to assist them in this way as well.  We want to give people hope and strength for the future.  We and our partners will do everything to relieve their lives.”

Given the enormity of people’s losses of those they loved, he continued, “Whatever we give them, no matter how much, it can never be enough.”

Further Information/Photographs:

• Colleen Hodge, Education and Communications Programs, phone 02 9299 2215/0419 6852 48, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Charlie Ocampo, International Programs, phone 0407 1527 36, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A Multifaith Launch of South Asia Tsunami Appeals will take place at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, 15 Blackall Street, Barton ACT, at 11am on Friday 7 January 2005.

The Reverend Professor James Haire, President of the National Council of Churches in Australia and Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, will coordinate the launch.

Professor Haire commented. “In this time of great suffering and need in Asia, this multifaith launch is an expression of the importance of cooperation and consultation between faith communities, in the collection and distribution of aid.”

He added, “Cooperation between the faith communities is strong in Australia. In this launch, we wish to model that cooperation, for the Australian community and overseas.”

The participating organisations are:

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry
The Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils
The Hindu Council of Australia
The National Council of Churches in Australia

Representatives from each of these organisations will be present.

Funds will be channelled through aid agencies either connected with, or chosen by, each of the five organisations - details are available from the National Council of Churches in Australia, www.ncca.org.au/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./ 02-9299 2215.

For more information, contact:
The Reverend Professor James Haire: 02 6273 8805, 0408 632 092

ACT Appeal - Philippine floods (ASPH42)

Sydney, 23 December 2004 --The NCCA-Christian World Services (NCCA-CWS), donated $15,000 in response to the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Rapid Response Funding to assist victims devastated by floods due to the latest typhoons affecting at least five regions in the Philippines.

ACT reported that “four typhoons over a span of three weeks have wreaked havoc in at least five regions in the Philippines. Typhoons Muifa and Merbok battered Regions IV (Southern Tagalog), Region V (Bicol) and Region VI (Western Visayas). Tropical depression Winnie battered Region IV (Southern Tagalog), Super Typhoon Nanmadoe vented its fury on Luzon Island (Region III) and part of Region VIII (Eastern Visayas).”

“The fury of these typhoons has caused massive and widespread flooding, flash floods and landslides. By 2 December the number of dead or missing had reached 600 and affected around 6,500 families. Thousands of people have been rendered homeless and there is extensive damage to property, infrastructure and agriculture. Communication and power lines were broken, major roads eroded or blocked by mud and debris leaving the affected areas isolated.“

Donations from the Rapid Response Funding from ACT, channeled through the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), will be used to “provide food, potable water, sleeping mats, plastic sheets, light blankets and clothing. Medical missions will also be conducted.”

NCCA-CWS expresses its sympathy to the victims of the latest typhoons to hit the Philippines and hope that the people affected will know that there are concerned people from around the world who are willing to assist them, most especially this Christmas season.

“Emergency appeals are an activity NCCA-CWS undertakes as part of its development and aid work in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Pacific. NCCA-CWS work is supported by Christmas Bowl gifts,” said the Revd John Henderson, interim Director of NCCA-CWS.

For Media Inquiries:
Contact: The Revd John Henderson 02 9299 2215

Important candles of hope and understanding have been lit in the last 10 years’, says NATSIEC (the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission), ‘but much remains to be done in strengthening these flames in the hearts and lives of all our peoples.’   Commenting on the continuing struggles for recognition and justice as the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples comes to a close, Australia’s peak Indigenous ecumenical body draws attention to significant achievements as well as major enduring challenges in the days ahead.  ‘It is encouraging to see that the Decade’s theme of “partnership in action” has been taken up in many places’, said Graeme Mundine, NATSIEC Executive Secretary, ‘but the path ahead is still very rocky and uncertain, and it is questionable how far the will to partnership extends in many quarters.’

Amongst the achievements of the past decade, NATSIEC points to the development of education and the growth of the Reconciliation movement, highlighted symbolically by the Bridge Walks in 2000.  Progress has however been slow on main key areas of concern, not least in relation to genuine land rights and self-determination, care for the land and sea, and the health-crisis and poverty of so many Indigenous Australians.   Particularly shocking is the way in which, whilst health and age of mortality differentials have been narrowed between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the USA, Canada and elsewhere, in Australia matters have actually worsened.  Whilst welcoming recent renewed public attention to Indigenous issues, NATSIEC hopes that this will therefore be no mere smouldering fire, nor dependent on tragic events such as those associated with Palm Island at this time.

One of the greatest gains of the last ten years has been the growing international partnerships across the world between Indigenous peoples themselves.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christians have for instance been active participants in the work of the Encounter on Racism process of the World Council of Churches and in recently developed UN bodies such as the UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous Peoples.  Such partnerships have raised key issues of human rights, and strengthened the efforts of Indigenous peoples worldwide in upholding and reclaiming culture, identity, language and ancestral land, empowering the movement to establish respect for Indigenous Peoples’ right to define for themselves their political, economic, cultural and spiritual development.  Therefore, says Graeme Mundine, ‘on this International Human Rights Day, we call on all Australians to renew the partnerships begun.  May our hearts burn ever more fiercely with the gentleness of God’s love and the strength of God’s justice.’

Contact:
Graeme Mundine
Executive Secretary
0419 238 788