Everything is politics... but politics is not everything... Anon.

All politics has some kind of ethics behind it... Jan

People get the government they deserve... Truism

First they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out - because I was not a Jew.  Then they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out -because I was not a Communist.   Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out -because I was not a trade unionist.  Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me! -Pastor Martin Niemoller

To ignore politics is to ignore life.  To ignore politics, or worse, simply support the status quo, is antithetical to the Christian Faith.  Christ critiques all culture.  How can we as his followers do less, or fail to follow him in his defence of the poor and dispossessed. Christians who say we should avoid politics have missed the basics of their faith and live a lie each time they vote or declare an opinion in their own assembly.  Jan

Jan's Ethics and Politics Page  

Click on the Yellow Headers  to see more on each topic

The Political Imperative
The Political Imperative December 2 2001
The Radical Iconoclastic Imperative December 2 2001 
Wedge Politics in the Church September 28 2003 
What can I do? Jan 2 2003
Who Cares? Why the Bakhtiaris matter? 4-1-2005
Freedom how?  April 3 2005 How is freedom maintained?

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Jan's General Pages... like they didn't fit anywhere else!
War is a racket   (General Butler)  28-08-2004
The End of Terror, or a new beginning? August 11 2003 
Oh the irony... Tobacco finally owns up? July 16 2003
Reducing Rights Nobbling the Human Rights Commission May 16 2003 
Political Interference? Alston sits on the ABC over Papua Concert March 8 2003 
Australian Federal Cabinet Email Addresses

Australian Senate Email Addresses 
Australian House of Representatives Email Addresses
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Australia, and the Refugees

         an Ethical Scandal in order of date of posting

Australia's Shame December 29 2001
Tampa =  Disgrace January 19/1/2002
John Mendadue on John Howard  November 11 2001
Spin-doctoring at its worst November 11 2001
Ian McPhee... don't vote Liberal November 11 2001
Malcolm Fraser November 18 2001
Censorship to get re-elected  November 2001
Compassion... the slave ships of Ashmore reef.  November 12 2001
John Howard - a personal perspective A cross post from 1997
Sermon touching on Boat People (October 2001)
Jesus the Refugee December 29 2001
Those Lucky Refugees  January 19 2002
Myths and Lies
More Myths
PM Slammed January 19 2002
Cheap Bastards - The Outrageous Behaviour of The Australian Govt continues... March 31 2002
Changing the Rules UCA Press Release 15 Aug 2001
Who causes riots?  UCA Press Release 22 April 2002
Use and Abuse of Refugees UCA Press Release 22 July 2002
UN Report P.N. Bhagwati August 3 2002
The Bhagwati Report: Human Rights and Immigration Detention in Australia Posted Nov 2002
Concentration camps in Australia August 3 2002
Suffer the little children: A government without mercy August 3 2002
Action for Refugees One man's plans  August 5 2002
Truth Overboard The Politicians Knew!!! Nov 2002
Nicholson's Cartoons Dec 28 2002. This page will take at least a minute to download
Children In Detention Can't Wait 12 Months Dec 2001 
         Press Release from Royal Aust. New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
The Untold Story of Parents in Detention  RANZCP Press Release June 2002
Mental health care in detention a contradiction in terms  RANZCP Press Release Oct 2002
Wake Up Mr Howard: You are the one who is out of step! January 2003
Why burn the place down?... You reap what you sow. Jan 2003
Over board and over here "Children Overboard" refugees make it to Australia March 8 2003
Going "Home to Iran" An Australian Scandal and Indecency March 13 2003 
Going Home to Timor???
UCA Condemns Iran Agreement (News Release) May 17 2003
A Generous Offer... not. Iranian forced repatriation May 17 2003
A Denial of Basic Rights Malcolm Fraser on the Howard government's policies May 1 2003
Medical Negligence Doctors sue Detention Centres over treatment of refugees May 16 2002 
Detention is mental torture Psychiatric illness caused by detention in Australia's refugee prisons May 23 2003 
Escape from Woomera The Game is Good June 1 2003
Compassion as it should be Bob Brown on Tampa June 1 2003
Intolerant and Untruthful  Sir William Deane on Aust Government June 1 2003
Tampa not forgotten Australia still stinks June 1 2003
Children in Detention (1) Statistics from Mr Ruddock June 7 2003
Children in Detention (2) The horrible truth June 7 2003
Is there a Christian view on refugees? June 7 2003
Letter to Phillip June 29 2003 Turn around, Mr Ruddock. Go back. 
Life in Detention June 29 2003 How bad can it get?
No mercy for children Ruddock goes to court to keep them in jail July 2003
An American in Baxter  The irony of what we complain about!  July 2003 
Who killed Jesus? A Palm Sunday Sermon about us July 2003
The Australian Solution   What an indictment July 16 2003
Serial Ignorance... Rev Prof James Haire  UCA Press Release July 16 2003
Never, ever... is the tide turning?  July 16 2003
Anger and Despair Australian Democracy and Refugees August 11 2003
Visits to Baxter 11-8-2003 
The Link  Visits in Baxter 24-9-2003
Ruddock Promoted to Attorney General 29-9-2003 
Convenient Compassion... Not really compassion at all 9-11-2003
Lies UCA Press Release on the Minasa Bone
The year that was... a reflection on 2003 7-1-04
No Psych Needed?! Not after suicide attempt anyway  6/06/2004
Erosion and Redemption... Will Howard never give up? 6/06/2004
Unlawful to release children... 6/6/2004
HREOC.. Aust Govt breaches human rights 6/6/2004
What can I do?   A small, personal reflection on justice and politics for the little person who is not an activist by nature. 2/1/2005
Who Cares? Why the Bakhtiaris matter? 4-1-2005

Iranian Refugees

Iraq War 2003  
Uniting Church Condemns Aust Govt (Press Release) Jan 2003
John Valda seriously questions Howard Jan 2003
February 16 Peace March Adelaide SA (1)
February 16 Peace March (2) Pictures
Not Listening, John The preparations and protests over the Iraq war continue March 7 2003
Why trust the generals? A US military scandal to keep in mind as George walks Johnnie the dog March 7 2003 
Guantanamo Bay
The War at Home  Fourth day impressions of the war March 23 2003
Lies, True Lies The way we let media lie to us April 13 2003
Slaughter, Guilt, Comfort and Denial Dr Carmen Lawrence April 9 2003 
We stand passively mute  Senator Byrd Feb 2003

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Ethics  

The TV News The questionable largesse of Telstra Feb 2003

TV or not TV? The leadership of Prime Minister Howard Feb 2003
No TV! The PM gives it back.  March 8 2003
Scapegoat  The Fall of the Governor General May 10 2003
Hung Out To Dry What Lying Does to Us May 10 2003 
Gambling: A net benefit?!! July 2003
The End of Terror, or a new beginning? August 11 2003 
Erosion and Redemption... Will Howard never give up? 6/06/2004
 

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News
Reducing Rights Nobbling the Human Rights Commission May 16 2003  
Free Trade?! Ha!  Craig Emerson MP May 14 2003
A Denial of Basic Rights Malcolm Fraser
Ruddock Promoted to Attorney General 29-9-2003

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