• Read the Calls to Political Partiesfrom the Australian Council for International Development
• Find and attend a Make Poverty History Forum near you
• Find and attend a Survive Past Five 5th Birthday Party near you

From a small handful of groups who began the campaign with Jubilee Australia end March, the Robin Hood Tax coalition in Australia has already grown to include 22 Development organisations, Unions, Green Groups and Faith communities around the country.

This weekend, Treasurer Wayne Swan will attend the G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Washington where the Robin Hood Tax will be discussed. This tiny fee on financial trading is a real chance to improve the finance sector and make a genuine change to peoples’ lives in this lifetime. It will bolster public services, reduce global poverty and help tackle climate change.

SIGN UP on the website, if you haven’t already, or tell your friends: www.robinhoodtax.org.au

WRITE TO TREASURER TODAY (G20 meeting begins Friday 23 April). There is a letter prepared for you, or you can add your own words. Wayne Swan has already received 2000 emails from Australian supporters: LETTER TO TREASURER

Professor Frank Stilwell, University of Sydney “As a professional economist, I support this proposal. The ‘Tobin tax’ has been advocated by leading economists for over a quarter of a century, as a means of curbing speculation in currency markets. This more general application of a similar principle to financial transactions is appropriate and timely, especially in the wake of the global financial crisis. Taxes either raise revenue or deter the taxed behavior. In the case of the proposed Robin Hood tax the likely outcome would be a bit of both – revenue for progressive purposes and less financial speculation.That would be a step forward in making the economy serve, rather than frustrate, social needs.”

2. JUBILEE In Action

- MARCH Jubilee coordinated the public launch of the Robin Hood Tax campaign, with Australian profiles including Peter Singer, Julian Morrow, Professor Ross Buckley and Tim Costello uniting as spokespeople for the new initiative. See the Robin Hood Tax website for details of the media coverage.

- APRIL Jubilee, along with other NGOs, met with government representatives at the Multilateral Development Bank roundtable; Jubilee spoke about Climate Justice and the need for reform of the policies and practices of institutions like the World Bank, before they are given any role in administering funding for climate change adaptation.

- Also this month Jubilee made a detailed submission to EFIC (Export Finance and Insurance Corporation) outlining social and environmental concerns regarding their proposed financial support of extension of the Lihir mine in Papua New Guinea.

- Jubilee has also this month been preparing the framework for further research into the social and economic impacts of the PNG LNG project, to be undertaken over the next year.

3. COMING UP: Jubilee Sunday May 16

Jubilee invites those of our supporters involved in faith communities to take the opportunity, on Sunday May 16, to remember the prophetic Law of Jubilee in the Old Testament, and to reflect on how we can bring the spirit of the Jubilee Law (in its care for the environment and humanity, and in its desire to restructure systems and relationships legally) into our world today.

Ecumenical Resources for use on May 16, plus an accompanying Fact Sheet on Haiti, are ow available from our website.
http://www.jubileeaustralia.org/jubilee-sunday-2010

Over the next two weeks, our leaders will negotiate the most important agreement of our time –- one that must stop a climate catastrophe.

Leaders are still desperately far from a real deal. For them to come together, the people need to first, like never before.

That’s why the weekend of Saturday December 12 will be one of the largest global climate actions in history. Thousands of towns and cities will light up with climate vigils with one united message — The World Wants a Real Deal!

In just a few days we have created over 1450 vigils in 110 countries! Click below to find if there’s a event near you, or why not host one — they’re dead easy to organise:

http://www.avaaz.org/map

The events are simple, important, and enjoyable — just show up and light a candle. We will read short messages about why a real climate deal is so important, then take photos that will be immediately delivered to global media and world leaders. And don’t forget to bring friends and family along!

And here’s why they’re effective: we’ve proved that this works. We came together for both the Global Wake Up Call and 350 day of action earlier this year and both made huge impact in the press and prompted direct responses from world leaders.

If this moment doesn’t warrant huge global action, what does? And if we don’t call for a strong climate deal, who will?

http://www.avaaz.org/map

The whole world, including 200 civil society organizations representing tens of millions of individuals, as well as many governments and virtually every climate expert and scientist, are coming together around what’s being called ‘the real deal’. It’s a simple 3 point deal: fair ambitious and binding. Its concrete benchmarks are our spin protection against politicians dressing up a bad deal as a heroic victory.

But to create global impact will require all of us across the world — and that includes Australia. Click below to find an event, or register one if there isn’t one nearby:

http://www.avaaz.org/map

Hope to see you there,

Alice, Ricken, Ben, Iain, Sam, Paula, Milena, Paul, Luis, Lisa and the whole Avaaz team.

PS – If the links above aren’t working for you, go to http://www.avaaz.org/en/real_deal_map to find a nearby event.

Want to support Avaaz? We’re entirely funded by donations and receive no money from governments or corporations. Our dedicated online team ensures even the smallest contributions go a long way — donate here.

ABOUT AVAAZ Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means “voice” in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Buenos Aires, and Geneva. Click here to learn more about our largest campaigns. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace and Bebo pages! You can also follow Avaaz on Twitter!

http://blog.sojo.net/2009/05/29/god-is-not-and-has-never-been-white-biblical-post-colonial-theology/

1. Realize I’m not God; I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable.
”Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.” Matthew 5:3

2. Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover.
”Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

3. Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control.
”Happy are the meek.“ Matthew 5:5

4. Openly examine and confess my faults to God, to myself and to another person whom I trust.
“Happy are the pure in heart.” Matthew 5:8

5. Voluntarily submit to any and all changes God wants to make in my life.
“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires.” Matthew 5:6

6. Evaluate all my relationships, offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others when possible, except when doing so would harm them or others.
“Happy are the merciful” Matthew 5:7 “Happy are the peacemakers” Matthew 5:9

7. Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His work for my life and gain the power to follow His will.

8. Yield myself to be used by God to bring this good news to others, both by my example and by my words.
“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.” Matthew 5:10

http://www.celebraterecovery.com.au/8principles.php

http://www.themennonite.org/issues/11-18/articles/Welcoming_the_stranger_in_your_life

http://msainfo.org/articles/living-simply-with-kids

http://deepgreenconversation.org/practical-strategies-for-honoring-the-sabbath-by-nancy-sleeth/

http://www.themennonite.org/issues/11-15/articles/Growing_compassionate_kids