OzSpirit: Taking Action

Simple ways to promote Fair Play today

	Be a Fair Trade shopper Find out where you can buy fair trade goods and much more…
	Become a fair trade School, university or workplace Check out what students in the UK are doing to promote fair trade in their local schools. Ideas include lobbying their canteen to sell fair trade products and encouraging the PE department to use fair trade soccer balls. Apply these ideas to your own school, university or workplace.
	Respect the environment – Plant a tree this Valentines day Why not avoid the commercialism of valentines day and give a unique gift of a tree. As degradation of the global environment continues, planting a tree is a simple way to give back to the environment. Many local councils give away free native seeds.
	Write a letter Concerned about David Hick’s ongoing treatment in Guantanamo Bay? Ninety Six Federal MPsincluding coalition member Barnaby Joyce recently sent a letter to members of the United States Congress urging them to try to get David Hicks repatriated. All ALP MPs bar Robert Ray, Michael Danby and Mark Bishop signed, as did the Greens, Democrats and independents Peter Andren and Tony Windsor. You can write to Kelvin Thompson (ALP), Lyn Allison (Dem), Barnaby Joyce (Nats), Peter Andren (Ind), Tony Windsor (Ind) and Kerry Nettle (Gre) for standing up and taking action on the inhumane treatment of an Australian citizen.
	Pass it on Let your behavior reflect the values you want others to espouse. Pass this edition of OzSpirit onto your friends or family so they can learn more about Fair Play for all. To do this, use the 'Tell a friend' form at the right hand side of this page.
	Share a story Celebrate International Mother Language Day on February 21 with dream time stories. At the time of invasion there were over 700 different Aboriginal languages and dialects spoken in Australia. Now there are less that 250 still in use. A common practice of colonisers was to stop Indigenous people speaking their own languages, which interrupted the passing of language from one generation to another. Help keep Australian indigenous culture alive and celebrate Mother Language Day by reading these dream time stories. This and other action ideas can be found by clicking here.

Resources for use in your parish or school throughout the Lenten Period

Deb Hocking During Lent we have a special opportunity to express our faith through acting for social justice. Please join us through Prayer, Reflection and Liturgy.

Prayers for intercession

Reflections for Lent

Liturgies for Primary and secondary schools

Make Aid Work - The World Can't Wait

G8 Logo The G8 have promised to revisit the issue of development when they meet in Germany in 2007. But will they ensure that the needs of the 1.2 billion people living on less than a dollar a day are accorded the attention they deserve and are put at the top of the agenda?

Support the call of One billion Catholics in calling on the G8 governments and heads of states to keep their promises of increased debt relief and aid to poor countries made at the G8 summit 2005: more…

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Fundraising ideas - Bringing Project Compassion to life

Children For ideas on how to take action during Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion 2007 and throughout the year, bringing Caritas Australia projects to life for students and parishioners, click here

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Don't miss this exhibition - The Bangladesh Health Project comes to Australia

Women in Bangladesh Caritas Australia’s partner in Bangladesh, BPKS, has put together a stunning photo exhibition to illustrate the positive impact their program has on people living with disabilities in Bangladesh. The exhibition ‘Access for All: Disability in Development’ will be featured at the launch of the Australian Disability and Development Consortium on Monday 26th February at Parliament House, Canberra. This exhibition is open for one week from 26th February until 2nd March. To find out more about this project and the exhibition.

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