22 June 2005
SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN .....?
These events reinforce several beliefs that form part of the reason for the production of this bulletin.
(a) Generally our political leaders follow public opinion, or worse, seek to exploit it to retain power. Rarely will a leader take an unpopular stand based on principle. It follows then, that often change will only occur when enough people demand it.
(b) If we are to bring about change in the world we need to convince those around us of the need for that change, and in order to do that we need to:-
- ensure we ourselves are first open to the possibility and need for change;
- inform ourselves about the issues that need to be changed;
- share our concerns and insights with family, friends and colleagues;
- exercise our democratic right and responsibility and write or speak to our parliamentary representatives to point out the need for change
- network with others to work for change
Hopefully the recent developments described in the posts above will provide further encouragement and motivation to readers of this bulletin to continue to work for the building of a more just world – the 'kingdom' which Jesus preached and for which Edmund Rice and his followers have laboured.
A momentum for change is building. Now is the time when your voice can be most effective. Write a letter, send an email, wear a white wristband, sign a petition or take some other action, no matter how small.
As Pope Benedict reminded us recently "… the just destiny of peoples is the main concern of those who have accepted to administer public affairs, not for themselves, but for the common good. Our heart cannot be in peace when we see our brothers suffer for lack of food, work, housing or other fundamental goods."
"The Church," said the Pope, "will never cease to remind people that all men must be attentive to a human fraternity made of concrete gestures, at the level of individuals as well as at the level of governments and international institutions."
(a) Generally our political leaders follow public opinion, or worse, seek to exploit it to retain power. Rarely will a leader take an unpopular stand based on principle. It follows then, that often change will only occur when enough people demand it.
(b) If we are to bring about change in the world we need to convince those around us of the need for that change, and in order to do that we need to:-
- ensure we ourselves are first open to the possibility and need for change;
- inform ourselves about the issues that need to be changed;
- share our concerns and insights with family, friends and colleagues;
- exercise our democratic right and responsibility and write or speak to our parliamentary representatives to point out the need for change
- network with others to work for change
Hopefully the recent developments described in the posts above will provide further encouragement and motivation to readers of this bulletin to continue to work for the building of a more just world – the 'kingdom' which Jesus preached and for which Edmund Rice and his followers have laboured.
A momentum for change is building. Now is the time when your voice can be most effective. Write a letter, send an email, wear a white wristband, sign a petition or take some other action, no matter how small.
As Pope Benedict reminded us recently "… the just destiny of peoples is the main concern of those who have accepted to administer public affairs, not for themselves, but for the common good. Our heart cannot be in peace when we see our brothers suffer for lack of food, work, housing or other fundamental goods."
"The Church," said the Pope, "will never cease to remind people that all men must be attentive to a human fraternity made of concrete gestures, at the level of individuals as well as at the level of governments and international institutions."
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