Stay informed and take action - CCJP 2020
Information on CCJP's Sunday Seminar series - Upcoming Seminars and Transcripts/Summaries
Sunday Seminars cancelled until furthernotice due to COVID19
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. (Proverbs 31:8)
Seminars are held at Catherine McAuley Room, Mercy Congregationa l Centre, 6 Victoria Road, Parramatta
Keep up to date with Events and Rallies from Other Groups - Other Events page
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Thank you in anticipation of your continued engagement and activism in 2020
Latest News
Letter to the Minister regarding Rio Tinto's destruction of Sacred Sites
Posted 25 06 2020
Updated on 25 06 2020
Letter to the Minister Dear Minister I write on behalf of Catholics in Coalition for Justice and Peace Sydney, ccjp@bigpond.com to express our deep dismay at the wanton destruction of the two sacred sites at Juukan Gorge WA by Rio Tinto Ltd. As a faith-based organisation we understand the spiritual importance of sacred places in our lives and so appreciate, to the extent we can as non-Aboriginal people, the distress the Puutu Kunti Kurrama people must be feeling at this terrible loss to their culture, history and spirituality. We know that Aboriginal cultural heritage is a fundamental part of Aboriginal community life and cultural identity. It also has global significance, and forms an important component of the heritage of all Australians. These sacred sites gave Aboriginal people, and the world, a unique link to 46,000 years of Indigenous history, including 4000-year-old genetic traces linked to the current traditional owners. The barbarity of this act compares with the Taliban's demolition of the 5th Century Buddhas of Bamyan that outraged people around the world. These much more ancient and significant sites seem not to have raised similar outrage among Australians. Companies such as Rio Tinto just do not learn.Time has long passed for our major corporates ...more
Treaty, Makarrata at Sunday seminar
Posted 23 01 2020
Dean Parkin, from the Quandamooka People of Minjerribah and advocate of the Uluru Statement from the Heart which he helped to compose, will present the next Sunday Seminar on 16 February 2020. ...more
Water - a precious resource! What future?
Posted 16 10 2019
Save the date - Sunday 17 November at 10am to hear Professor Jamie Pittock speak on addressing the ecological crisis of the Murray-Darling basin and other inland waterways of Australia. ...more
Just Now - October 2019 edition
Posted 10 10 2019
Two and a half years after the Statement of the Heart, the latest edition of 'Just Now' from the CRA Justice Committee looks at the journey to A CONSTITUTIONAL VOICE FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS and separates the facts from various fictions. ...more
Leader in solar energy at Sunday Seminar
Posted 21 07 2019
Scientia Professor Martin Green AM ForMemRS of University of New South Wales is Director of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics. An engaging communicator, Prof Green presented on Sunday 18 August 2019. ...more
Sovereignty and Indigenous Voice to Parliament
Posted 07 06 2019
The Uluru Statement is at the forefront of discussion post-election. Henry Reynolds argues that the question of sovereignty overshadows every other consideration. Senator Pat Dodson urges government to 'deal with' Indigenous voice to parliament. ...more
Is Australia still an ethical country?
Posted 27 05 2019
Dr Simon Longstaff AO, philosopher and Executive Director of The Ethics Centre will present the Sunday Seminar on 16 June 2019. Over 25 years ago Simon pulled a circle of chairs together for a conversation about Ethics being at the centre of being human. ...more
Let's really talk about constitutional recognition
Posted 18 02 2019
Jennifer Newman's Sunday seminar on 17 February 2019 took us to understanding the two-way movement required for true decolonisation of Australia's history of over 60,200 years and for seeking equal participation in the national polity. ...more
Uluru Statement from the Heart and Indigenous incarceration
Posted 19 07 2017
The Uluru Statement from the Heart sets a way forward that invites all Australians to create our future together. The statement also highlights shocking rates of Indigenous imprisonment. The July issue of CLRI NSW's Just in Time publication looks at w ...more
Edited Transcript and Photos from Linda Burney February Address
Posted 26 02 2017
Read an edited transcript and see the event in images from the recent Sunday Seminar address by Linda Burney MP ...more
This Sunday - 21 August 2016 - CCJP Seminar: How inequality corrodes democracy and what we can do about it
Posted 18 08 2016
For our upcoming Sunday Seminar on 21st August 2016 we are delighted to be joined by Professor Carmen Lawrence who will discuss: How inequality corrodes democracy and what we can do about it *Please note the change in venue for this seminar only* About Prof. Lawrence: After training as a research psychologist at the University of Western Australia and lecturing in a number of Australian universities, Dr Lawrence entered politics in 1986, serving at both State and Federal levels for 21 years. She was at various times W.A Minister for Education and Aboriginal affairs and was the first woman Premier and Treasurer of a State government. She shifted to Federal politics in 1994 when she was elected as the Member for Fremantle and was appointed Minister for Health and Human Services and Minister assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women. She has held various portfolios in Opposition, including Indigenous Affairs, Environment, Industry and Innovation and was elected national President of the Labor Party in 2004. She retired from politics in 2007. She is now a Professorial Fellow at the University of Western Australia and Director of the Centre for the Study of Social Change. Venue: Mercy Convent, 6 Victoria Rd North Parramatta Date: ...more
Long-standing activist Christine Brenton is recognised with the 2014 CCJP Award
Posted 05 08 2014
CCJP is delighted to announce that the 2014 CCJP Award has been given to Christine Brenton for her long and dedicated commitment to the work of social justice. Christine is one of the ‘quiet achievers’ often in the background and with no fanfare speaking and acting for the vulnerable and most marginalised in our community. Read more
Poignant tale from Maggie about the battle to save the beautiful Bentley Valley
Posted 26 05 2014
It isn’t often justice groups have stunning success in their advocacy but the Bentley Blockade near Lismore is one such victory. Our September Sunday Seminar speaker last year was Maggie May Maggie has had a long term and active interest in environmental issues, climate change, sustainable living and social justice issues. She lives in Kyogle in northern NSW, and is part of the that region's "lock the gate" movement against Coal Seam Gas exploration. Maggie spoke at a CCJP Sunday Seminar in September 2013. Maggie tells a poignant story about their efforts to save the beautiful Bentley valley. I was staying overnight to keep watch and just before sunrise I sat outside the tent having a cup of coffee wondering if anyone would turn up to support us. Then I noticed car headlights coming over the rise, then a long line of car headlights heading our way. And I just cried! We are all pretty stoked at the moment, thanks for all the support of friends and rellies for Bentley, without widespread community action we would not have this result. We have won this round but it's not over yet, still maintaining the vigil. But I just can't express how much I have ...more