Archbishops challenge people to learn lessons from slave trade
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are asking people to take time this weekend to reflect on the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and use the 200th anniversary of its abolition as a springboard for taking action to tackle the impact of the trade's legacies today, including human trafficking and oppression across the globe.

Christianity Today, March 24, 2007

World Bank provides Vietnam $50 million for poverty reduction
The World Bank has approved a US$50 million interest-free loan for Vietnam to help reduce poverty among its ethnic minority and other communities in remote and mountainous areas.

Thanh Nien News, March 23, 2007

Court decision will create employment for Indigenous people: NLC
The Northern Land Council (NLC) says a recent Federal Court decision to allow traditional owners exclusive rights over land in the Northern Territory will create employment for Indigenous people in the area.

ABC News, March 20, 2007

Savings promise could help the worst off to help themselves
Low- and no-income earners could benefit from a new scheme that matches their savings pound for pound, following an announcement in the [UK] budget. The principle of this scheme is simple: people earning below a certain threshold make monthly deposits into an account, and the government tops up their savings after 18 months with an amount ranging from 20p to £1 for every pound saved.

Guardian Unlimited, March 25, 2007

Desert weavers wow Womadelaide
Tjanpi Desert Weavers, the highly successful social enterprise project of the Ngananyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council, attracted exceptional attention at the annual world music festival WOMADelaide recently. This was made possible by a donation from Adelaide-based philanthropist, Maureen Ritchie to the WOMAD Foundation. Maureen's support enabled the realisation of two projects showcasing the talents of Indigenous artists from central desert communities. One was the Tjanpi Desert Weavers Project: a cultural exchange between fibre artists, the other the Nganampa Music Project.

National Indigenous Times, 22 March 2007

Dangers, toils and snares
Two hundred years ago, William Wilberforce introduced the parliamentary bill that eventually led to the abolition of the slave trade. But the fight is not over. If the scourge of people-trafficking is to be eradicated across the globe, anti-slavery campaigners will need patience, tenacity and faith.

The Tablet, March 24, 2007

Populorum Progression – forty years on
On the fortieth anniversary of the publication of Populorum Progressio, we feel that this encyclical remains as relevant today as when it was first published. Particularly, it advocates for the full development of all peoples (not just some people), for solidarity with the weak, justice in trade, universal charity and authentic development for peace. All peoples of goodwill are called to urgently act together in the world of poverty, hunger, consumerism, injustice in social and economic progress and all forms of violence." Asian Centre for the Progress of Peoples

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National Indigenous Times.
The National Indigenous Times is Australia's leading Indigenous Affairs news provider. Every day thousands of Aboriginal Australians, Torres Strait Islanders and ‘whitefellas' read NIT. From land rights, native title and treaty to reconciliation, stolen wages and Aboriginal art, NIT gives an in-depth look at black and white Australia.

www.nit.com.au   

In the latest issue read about how  Aboriginal landowners in the Northern Territory are facing the prospect of losing the land permit system which allows them to control who accesses their private freehold land. CHRIS GRAHAM takes a look at the federal government plans to 'determine who comes onto Aboriginal land and the circumstances under which they come."

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Living Black is SBS television's prime-time national indigenous current affairs program. Presenter Karla Grant and a team of video journalists, travel across Australia covering stories of an indigenous nature that affect all Australians. The format of the 25-minute program includes a lead story, a studio interview, a feature story and a lighter piece, perhaps profiling a successful Aboriginal identity.

SBS TV, Wednesdays @ 6:00 pm with repeats on Mondays @ 5:30 pm and Friday @ 3:30 pm

In this new century, many of the world's poorest countries remain imprisoned, enslaved and in chains. They are trapped in the prison of poverty. It is time to set them free. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is of our making and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings."

Nelson Mandela