Our first Speaker was Brian O’Toole with his talk “Laudato Si’, Catholic Social Teaching and Sustainable Development Goals”
The next talk was Christine Allen “Creating A Culture Of Encounter” with James Trewby
Our final speaker was Sir John Battle with his talk “Advocacy as Faith Action”
High quality audio recordings of each talk are available below, with thanks to Paul Clarke,
Brian O’Toole
Christine Allen’s talk
Christine Allen’s Question and Answer Session
Sir John Battle’s talk
Sir John Battle’s Question and Answer Session
Sunday’s session:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Given that the NJPN Conference this year was based around the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Hexham and Newcastle Justice and Peace Co-Ordinating Council have kindly supplied a document document that we urge you to edit, print off, and send to your local MPs, making the point that it’s time they start acting on and making those goals a reality.
You can download the letter by clicking the link below;
As we approach the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 which unleashed the horror of nuclear warfare, the August edition of the NW NJPN E BULLETIN leads with a wide range of peace resources and events, including the film ‘Oppenheimer’, currently on general release, and ‘The Mistake’, a challenging play by Michael Mears touring in September and October and acted by Mears and a Japanese actress.
The Balfour Project announce a forthcoming podcast documentary “KEYS: A Troubled Inheritance” which intertwines the atrocities of the Holocaust for the Jewish people and 75 years of Nakba (catastrophe) of the Palestinian people since 1948. The podcast is devised, produced and narrated by journalist and broadcaster Mike Joseph with interviews of Jewish and Palestinian people who share painful and harrowing memories.
There are reports of Pax Christi’s recent AGM and also the July NJPN Annual Conference on the theme ‘Sustainability? Survival or Shutdown’.
Following weeks of catastrophic shifts in weather pattern: excessive heat, fires and floods Joseph Kelly urges concern to be accelerated into urgent action. This plea is echoed by young people for World Youth Day, held this year in Lisbon in the first week of August where Pope Francis will join them.
As the Government’s controversial Illegal Migration Bill becomes law, Ian Linden and Jesuit Refugee Service launch scathing criticisms, with JRS calling the Bill “anti-refugee and anti-human.”
Reports indicate major concerns about the effect of the Covid pandemic and missed schooling on children plus an inspiring account of a Liverpool Secondary School’s initiative to support the student’s mental well-being, led together by staff and students.
We pay a tribute to Brian Davies, formerly of CAFOD and known and loved by many, who died recently.
Please look at the diary page and also the first four pages of the bulletin which contain additional dates and events.
Best wishes
Anne O’Connor
NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin August 2023
National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales
Media Release
23 July 2023
Justice and Peace Network “is needed more than ever before”
“Our Network is needed more than ever before,” a former MP and Minister of State at the Foreign Office told last weekend’s annual conference of the National Justice and Peace Network of England and Wales. In a talk entitled, ‘Advocacy and Faith Action’, Sir John Battle, an NJPN patron and activist with Leeds Justice and Peace, said, “we need to shift from charitable action to challenging the causes of injustice in line with the preferential option for the poor.”
The 45th annual conference addressed issues crucial to the common good and the well-being of the natural world, with a particular focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Commitments at the end included lobbying politicians and leaders in general, involving the Bishops’ Conference, to remind the UK government of its promises in terms of the SDG goals. “No new oil, coal and gas” was another call and a promise to live more simply as individuals and in our communities.
“Work for justice is part of preaching the Gospel.” Christine Allen, Executive Director of CAFOD said in her presentation. Christine works closely with partners around the world, putting the SDGs into practice. A video was played of partner Caritas Brazil, which was founded by Dom Helder Camara, which embraces the SDG principle of ‘leave no one behind’. Caritas Brazil works to tackle social injustice and defend indigenous populations, “who are the primary guardians of forests and rivers,” and promotes the rights of nature as well as human rights. Christine also gave examples of CAFOD’s work with partners in drought-stricken Marsabit, Northern Kenya and in DR Congo with victims of sexual violence in the context of conflict. All of this was applauded by participants.
In another presentation, Brian O’Toole, Director of the Presentation Sisters Justice Desk for Ireland and England, said the International Presentation Association is committed “to respond to ‘the cry of the Earth and to people kept poor’ and it is doing this by embracing the SDGs in a human rights framework, addressing such issues as women and children, care of creation and indigenous peoples.”
The 2023 NJPN conference gathered Justice and Peace campaigners from across England and Wales, taking the theme: ‘Sustainability? Survival or Shutdown’. It was held 21-23 July in Derbyshire, with around 150 participants. Justice and Peace activists from 16 dioceses and from National Justice and Peace Scotland, priests from three missionary societies and six orders of religious sisters joined representatives of CAFOD, CSAN, CARJ, Missio, Pax Christi England and Wales, SVP, Archbishop Romero Trust and the Laudato Si Movement to highlight social justice issues, structural injustice, climate change, conflict, and migration.
The weekend included a screening of ‘The Letter’ film. It follows the stories of front-line environmental champions from around the world, each of whom is facing the effects of our planetary crisis, as they come into dialogue with each other and Pope Francis and build new bonds to face the future with hope. A ‘Just Fair’ hosted more than 20 stalls, including Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Justice for Palestine, and Global Justice Now. Ecumenical partners included Christians Aware, Christian Climate Action, Green Christian and Church Action on Poverty.
Of the 12 workshops, Columban Missionaries explored responses to people seeking asylum in the UK in the light of the Illegal Immigration Bill. Westminster J&P introduced materials for bring the Season of Creation into the life of parishes and schools. Other workshops included, ‘Farming in the Future’, ‘How can we answer Pope Francis’s call to live more simply’, and ‘Being peacemakers in time of war’.
The conference chair was Anne Peacey of Hallam Diocese, vice chair of NJPN. The Conference Mass was celebrated by Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Chair of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission, accompanied by Columban Fr Ed O’Connell. Fr Dominic highlighted the Hope that Justice and Peace work brings. He talked about “the huge amount of good work going on”, singling out support for asylum seekers and people in need of food banks and advocacy on decarbonisation, “but we need more”. He called for more integration with local Catholic communities. The Liturgy was led by the Lay Community of St Benedict, and involved children’s contribution of artwork, and hymns with a strong theme of social and environmental justice.
Two long-time supporters of NJPN who died very recently were remembered at the Mass – Brian Davies, former Head of Education at CAFOD, and Mike Clarke, former NJPN Treasurer.
Fr Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development sent a video message to the conference urging participants to promote the SDGs and the Laudato Si Action Platform. “May justice and peace embrace so that the life of all can flourish,” he said. Tomas Insua of the Laudato Si Movement in Assisi said in a second video message that, “the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth are deeply connected, and I hope this gathering motivates action for our common home, particularly during the Season of Creation in the Autumn.”
Almost eight years have passed since the international community agreed to take bold and transformative steps to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a UN plan to end poverty while protecting the planet. Yet, only about 12% of SDG goals are on track to be achieved by 2030. The international UN SDG Summit, in September 2023, must mobilise the political commitment and breakthroughs our world desperately needs. The NJPN conference showed how people of faith can support that process.
The overall message of the conference was one of Hope. Participants were urged to bring hope by advocating back in their dioceses for the political will to take human rights and sustainability more seriously.
Talk recordings and photos at:
Contact: ebulletin@justice-and-peace.org.uk
In 2005 Mike became Treasurer of NJPN and since that time we have totally relied on his skill and expertise, as he steered NJPN through some difficult and challenging times. Mike inspired confidence in our ability to continue to maintain and strengthen the network, meeting financial challenges in a clear and calm manner. He did not waste words as he presented his financial reports. His approach was direct, on the lines of ‘this is what we spent, this is what we have left. Any questions?’ In my mind I have a clear picture of Mike during our many meetings at CAFOD, reclining at the back of the gathering, until called upon to present his financial reports. We knew with certainty that Mike had all the information at his fingertips and that NJPN was in very safe financial hands.
In meetings Mike would listen without comment to the thrust of discussion and then quietly produce the appropriate comment or strap line, one that no one else had considered, e.g., Conference 2023: Survival or shutdown.
Mike was much more than his role as NJPN Treasurer. He was wonderful company, and we were lucky to have been able to share time socially during our annual away days, relaxing with wine and nibbles, enjoying his humour and hearty laughter. Mike was in his element whenever he could engage in a good hymn singing session, his powerful voice resonating around the room.
NJPN wishes to express enormous gratitude to Mike as its long serving treasurer and for his longstanding commitment to issues of justice and peace. More importantly we wish to say thank you for so many years of friendship and support. We will certainly miss his towering presence and we offer Lauri and all his family our love and prayers.
Funeral arrangements for Mike:
Mike’s funeral will take place at 12.30 on Monday 10th July at St Edmund’s Church 115 Hertford Road, Edmonton, London, N9 7EN. There will then be a short service at Enfield Crematorium, followed by the reception in the Church Hall in Croyland Road.
The funeral service also be live streamed on YouTube St Edmunds RC Church Edmonton.
Sustainability ? Survival or Shutdown
Spaces available for 45th Annual NJPN Conference, Hayes, Swanwick from Friday 21 – Sunday 23 July.
The subtitle Survival or Shutdown presents each of us with the reality of the current state of our planet, the major challenges we face and the informed choices we must all make so that those who come after us may experience the beauty of creation, living secure and sustainable lives.
Following Conferences 2021 and 2022, Conference 2023 aims to continue the process of journeying in hope as we try to discern a more sustainable path to the future for all Creation. Brian O’Toole, Presentation Order’s Justice Desk will be introducing the Sustainable Development Goals,
‘Adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests’.
Making links with Laudato Si and CST. Christine Allen, CAFOD, will be a keynote speaker on Saturday morning. There will also be a range of workshops and the Just Fair. (Look out for more details on each of the workshops)
On the Sunday morning we will gather the strands that have emerged over the weekend and begin the work of discerning emerging themes by listening, considering what shared actions could be taken individually and collectively, then producing and sharing a statement as a guide for all until the next conference in 2024.
Anne Peacey 29 May 2023
The June issue of the NW NJPN J&P E BULLETIN has a packed diary of summer events and in-depth articles on a wide range of topics including a stirring opinion piece by Fr Robin Gibbons who challenges the clergy to preach ‘green sermons’ (inspired by Laudato SI)’ to highlight that “the least are as important as the greatest, that all creation and life belong to us, that it is what we do to the least that shows the way of love.” As climate crisis deepens, Catholic writer and theologian Joseph Kelly warns that “humanity is finally having to confront a disturbing new climate reality.” We report on the first face-to-face meeting between Pope Francis and Ukraine’s President Zelensky since Russia invaded and started the war against his country and Professor Ian Linden looks at the impact of President Erdogan’s recent victory at the polls after fifteen years in power and asks is this the decline of democracy for Turkey? The campaigning group Forces Watch express concerns about the rise of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and what the outcome might be for the future.
Please pass on to others.
Best wishes
Anne O’Connor
NW NJPN Justice and Peace E Bulletin June 2023
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