We partner the Australian community to empower vulnerable groups of children, youth and women in Asia-Pacific with special emphasis on those marginalised, overlooked or with disabilities. Support is offered irrespective of culture, race, gender or religion to programs addressing poverty alleviation & social development. Support always respects the dignity of partners and beneficiaries, shares their hopes and dreams helps them help themselves. Donations go 100% to their beneficiaries.
The Kuya Centre was established in 1991 by an association of religious brothers in the Philippines. The aim of the centre is to reunite street children with family or refer them to a more stable and supportive living arrangement.
The centre is run by a budget that is made up of the income generated by the efforts of the kids themselves as well as funds from International Marist partners. If you would like to help this project, you can make a designated donation to Kuya Centre for Street Children through the Marist Mission Centre.
Marist Asia Pacific Solidarity 2010, ‘Kuya Centre for Street Children’, viewed on 24 June 2010, http://www.maristsolidarity.net.au/maps/index.php?option=com_
Pope Benedict XVI says industrialised countries have to be responsible over environmental problems and that government policies, the activities of multinationals, and individual behaviour all have an impact on the environment.
In a message for World Peace Day on January 1 2010, released this week, the pontiff states: "It is indeed important to recognise, among the causes of the current ecological crisis, the historic responsibility of the industrialised countries."
"Less developed countries, and especially emerging nations, are not however exonerated from their responsibility... because the duty of gradually adopting effective environmental measures and policies belongs to all," he was quoted saying by an AFP report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
"We cannot remain indifferent to what is happening around us, for the deterioration of any one part of the planet affects us all," the pope said, according to a report by the Catholic News Service.
"Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions?" the pope asked.
"It is becoming more and more evident that the issue of environmental degradation challenges us to examine our lifestyle and the prevailing models of consumption and production, which are often unsustainable from a social, environmental and even economic point of view," the pope said.
CIDSE and Caritas Internationalis, the world's largest alliance of aid and development agencies, say the proposed‘Copenhagen Accord’ is a weak and morally reprehensible deal which will spell disaster for millions of the world’s poorest people.
“People in developing countries are already struggling with the effects of climate change. We only have a short window of opportunity to prevent even worse to come. The deal put forward in Copenhagen fails to provide the commitments that the science says is required. Millions of people are now fighting to keep their heads above water while political leaders stall’, said Niamh Garvey of CIDSE member Trócaire/Caritas Ireland from the Bella Center.
“It suggests an unambitious non-binding agreement that sees countries set their own individual targets based on what is considered economically and politically viable rather than what is required by science and justice,” she said.
While countries expressed a willingness to continue working, the proposed deal itself presents no clear time line for concluding a fair ambitious and legally binding agreement in the coming months.
Over the last decade, a lack of political will has hamstrung international efforts to tackle climate change whilst the impacts in developing countries have become increasingly severe.
‘It is inconceivable that with more than 100 world leaders gathered together in one room to make a pact to solve a global problem, they have failed to commit themselves to adequate and binding obligations, said CIDSE Secretary General Bernd Nilles.
“They can call it an historical accord, a declaration, whatever they like. The reality is that leaders have failed to deliver a concrete and effective solution; they have passed up this historical opportunity to set a clear and collective pathway to a sustainable future,” Nilles added.
The networks say the blame lies squarely at the feet of developed countries. Scientific evidence and economic analysis clearly sets out what is required from industrialised nations in terms of emissions reductions and support for developing countries, and they failed to produce the goods.
"Leaders may be lagging behind, but the level of commitment shown by people from all over the world in the run up to Copenhagen has shown unequivocally that the public is firmly behind a strong climate change deal. Leaders must now set a firm deadline for coming to a comprehensive and binding agreement as soon as possible in the coming months, and we’ll be watching them every step of the way,” said Lesley Anne Knight, Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis.
CIDSE and Caritas believe the world must accept nothing less than a fair, ambitious and legally binding agreement which commits developed countries to greenhouse gas emissions cuts of more than 40% by 2020 –based on 1990 levels. The alliance also wants to see wealthy nations provide $195 billion in funding by 2020 – on top of existing aid commitments - to help developing countries harness green technologies and protect themselves from the worst impacts of climate change.
Recently the Japanese Catholic Community of Sydney held a fundraiser at the Holy Name of Mary Parish Hall in Hunters Hill to raise money for Orphanages in Myanmar.
The event comprised of a concert featuring performances using the traditional stringed instrument national instrument of Japan called a Koto (see picture) and singing. There was a Japanese BBQ lunch and a raffle as well as a stalls featuring, Fr Paul Glynn's books soaps made by women of the Japanese Community and white elephant stalls made up of goods donated by the community.
Koto performance by Hitomi Kurosawa and Shoko Ono
Shoko Ono originates from Kanagawa prefecture in Japan. She regularly performs and instructs at koto workshops at Australian Shakuhachi Society Festivals. Shoko was awarded her teaching license from the SawaiInternationalKotoSchool in 2003. She plans to continue her Koto studies in Australia and Japan. Her vision is to make the Koto and Japanese culture more accessible to global audiences.
Hitomi Kurosawa has been studying koto since 1998 under Satsuki Odamura and she has also studies with koto master Kazue Sawai in Japan. She has accumulated a wide range of performance experiences in various formats as a member of The Sawai International Koto School and as an individual koto player.
Misako Piper accompanied by Hiroko Fisher
Misako Piper (Saito) is a soprano from the FukushimaPrefecture. She studied voice and piano at Senzoku Gakuen University, Japan. She was later awarded scholarships for singing and piano at the Canberra School of Music. Misako is also a triple Eisteddfod winner and continues her studies and performances with David Tatersall, the musical director the University of Canberra.
Hiroko Fischer is the president of the Australian-Japan Society the ACT,
Hiroko has made an outstanding contribution to the deepening of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and Australia. Also, she provided dedicated support to the student exchange programs as president of the Australia Japan Society (ACT) and promotion of Japanese language with in the ACT education system. She gained a Batchelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo.
Fr Paul Glynn's Books
(all available through MMC for purchase)
Fundraiser Mini Markets
Busy BBQing for lunch!
Japanese BBQ Buffet Lunch
Raffle Prizes
Fr Frank drawing the Raffle Prize winners
If you would like to get in contact with the Japanese Catholic Community please call the Marist Mission Centre on 02 9844 2275.
MMC supports a number of residences in the camps along the Thai/Burma Border. This year, a special issue of the IRRAWADDY Magazine featuring the lives of the Burmese Refugees on the Thai/Burma Border was published in October.
A Sad, Sad Celebration Twenty-five years of challenges and achievements for the Thailand Burma Border Consortium—and no end in sight. JIM ANDREWS reports. Link
Peace in Name only DAVID SCOTT MATHIESON explains why war and refugees will remain a fact of life in Burma’s borderlands as long as the causes of conflict are not addressed. Link
A State of Fear Caught in the crossfire of Burma’s civil war, hundreds of thousands of Karen, Karenni, Mon and Shan are trapped in No Man’s Land, reports SAW YAN NAING. Link
Homesick YENI finds that even after years of living on the Thai-Burmese border, most Karen refugees hope to return to Burma one day. Link
Blending In Unlike other ethnic minorities, the Shan are seldom recognized as refugees and must keep a low profile to survive in Thailand. KO HTWE reports. Link
A Fresh Start Resettlement programs offer tens of thousands of refugees the chance of a new life in the West, writes YENI. Link
Entangled in Red Tape The jobs are waiting for Burmese refugees in Thailand, but the road to them is full of obstacles. Link
MMC is an active supporter of these camps along the Thai-Burma border. To view our project page click here.
