Upcoming SPC Events

SPC EVENTS:

'Making taxation more equitable'

A Conversation with US tax specialist, John O Fox

Wednesday 18 March, 7.30 pm,

at the new Study Centre, Yarra Theological Union, 98 Albion Rd., Box Hill. Entry also via 34 Bedford St. Entry by donation.

John is a frequent media commentator exposing the gross inequalities in the US tax system, and the author of If Americans really understood the income tax: uncovering our most expensive ignorance (2001), and 10 tax questions the candidates don't want you to ask (see www.10taxquestions.com). He argues that the Obama and Rudd governments have an unprecedented opportunity to undertake a major reform of tax policies to make them more equitable.

'A response to global warming'

by Mr Geoff Lacey, with Dr Stephen Ames

Wednesday 1 April, 7.30 pm. Entry by donation

at the new Study Centre, Yarra Theological Union, 98 Albion Rd., Box Hill. Entry also via 34 Bedford St. Entry by donation.

A civil engineer, Geoff Lacey is also well known as a pioneering environmentalist and naturalist. He is the author of a landmark work on the ecology of the Yarra: 'Still glides the Stream': the Natural History of the Yarra from Heidelberg to Yarra Bend (2004). He is an honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

Stephen Ames will draw out some theological reflections on the implications for how we might adjust to environmental threats. Stephen is an Anglican priest, a Canon at St Paul's Cathedral and lectures in the History and Philosophy of Science programme at the University of Melbourne. He is one of the founders of Social Policy Connections, and first president of the Yarra Institute for Religion and Social Policy.

LAUNCH of the Yarra Institute for Religion and Social Policy

with Brian Howe, in his address,

'The churches and social policy: past and future'

Thursday 23 April, 7.30 pm

at the new Study Centre, Yarra Theological Union, 98 Albion Rd., Box Hill. Entry also via 34 Bedford St. Drinks to follow.

Prof Brian Howe from the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Melbourne will speak at the launch from his extensive experience and scholarship on the churches and social policy in Australia. He was Deputy Prime Minister of Australia from 1991 to 1995, and a member of Federal Cabinet in a range of Ministries from 1984 to 1996.