![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/compass-resized.jpg\" "\\"compass")
<\/a>We extend our thanks to all our members and supporters who have encouraged us at Social Policy Connections to continue our efforts during 2012 to energise debate and action fo growing justice in our nation and our world. We endeavour to keep expanding the conversation and encouraging everyone to contribute where he or she can. To read this article in full, click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/h1>\nTough times challenge the Christmas message<\/h1>\nBy Bruce Duncan<\/h2>\n
By Bruce Duncan<\/h2>\n
You can help by making a donation in one of these ways…<\/p>\n Consider study through the Colleges of MCD University of Divinity, including Yarra Theological Union at Box Hill, United Faculty of Theology, Catholic Theological College, and Whitley College.<\/p>\n For further information, see http:\/\/mcd.edu.au\/<\/a> and http:\/\/ytu.edu.au\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n At a public forum following SPC’s 7th Annual General Meeting on 21 November 2012, Bruce Duncan CssR spoke on Faith, values, & social policy<\/em>, how faith perspectives bear on values in society, and could help social policies to address major issues of equity, social justice, and climate change. He began:<\/p>\n “Our topic is a complex one, reflecting themes deep in our history over many hundreds of years. The issues were often contentious, dealing with the role of religious groups in society, particularly the churches, their views about human values, their relationships with civil society, governments, and debates over social policy. The cultural accommodation to these various pressures in our increasingly secular societies has been to pressure religiously-inspired voices out of the public forum, nd to privatise their views and activities. But many religious traditions resist this pressure, and claim a right to engage in the public forum in debates about values and social policies in general. Social Policy Connections is\u00a0 one such group that seeks to draw from our faith traditions’ core values to enhance people’s lives, and to help address social issues.”<\/p>\n To read the full text of this talk, click HERE<\/a>.![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/indian-santa-resized-150x150.jpg\" "\\"indian")
<\/a>Each generation faces difficult times. Yet the challenges facing us are altogether unique: the fate of future generations is in our hands because of climate change. Worldwide CO2 emissions are reportedly increasing more quickly than expected, and global warming could rise much more than the 2-degree increase in temperature that United Nations organisations had urged as an upper limit. To read this article in full, click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\nPhoto Christmas Gujarati Style<\/em> by Meanest Indian, flickr cc<\/pre>\n
Help support SPC<\/h1>\n
SPC relies entirely on donations to continue and expand the conversation about social justice and advocacy<\/h4>\n
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Social Justice studies<\/h1>\n
Serious about social justice?<\/h4>\n
Undergraduate and Masters courses include:<\/h4>\n
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Books available at SPC<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/bruce-social-justice-w342-resized-150x150.jpg\" "\\"bruce")
<\/a>NEW! Social Justice: Fuller life in a fairer world<\/em>
\nby Bruce Duncan
\n$35, or $28 for financial members of SPC,
\nplus $5 postage and handling.
\nOutlines social justice in the Scriptures, how later generations lived these values, and issues today of the economic crisis, equity, global poverty, hunger, climate change, peace, and indigenous issues. It highlights the contributions of Frederick Ozanam, Barbara Ward, Rosemary Goldie, Helder Camara, Joseph Cardijn, and Aboriginal activist ‘Mum Shirl’. Download an order form HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/lacey-cover-w342-resized-150x150.jpg\" "\\"lacey")
<\/a>Sufficient for the Day: Towards a Sustainable Culture<\/em>
\nby Geoff Lacey. $20 plus postage.
\nGeoff Lacey has something new and important to say about the roots of the environmental crisis and the way forward. His combination of deep reflection and practical attention to problems provides a much-needed corrective to a sustainability debate dominated by narrow economic perspectives. <\/em>Paul Mees, Senior Lecturer in Planning at RMIT. Download an order form HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.socialpolicyconnections.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/gibbs-cover-w342-resized-border-150x150.jpg\" "\\"gibbs")
<\/a>Towards a Better World<\/em> by Arthur Gibbs. $15 plus postage. An SPC member, Arthur worked as an economist. Towards a Better World is a cautionary tale of what can happen when world leaders and corporations jump on an ideological bandwagon with little reflection about the long-term consequences for all.<\/em> Anne Tuohey. Download an order form HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/h1>\n
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Faith, values, & social policy<\/h1>\n
By Bruce Duncan<\/h2>\n
\nTo listen to the podcast of this talk in full, click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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