17 February 2005: The new SCMA website is being launched tonight. New and updated information will be available at http://www.scm.org.nz/home/ from this time. Please direct any questions to webmaster@scm.org.nz.
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17 February 2005: The new SCMA website is being launched tonight. New and updated information will be available at http://www.scm.org.nz/home/ from this time. Please direct any questions to webmaster@scm.org.nz. |
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The Newsletter of the Student Christian Movement of AotearoaAugust 1998No. 36SAVE OUR HUMAN RIGHTS ACT! The Human Rights Amendment Bill has had it's first formal reading in Parliament, and may have its second reading in the next few weeks. The bill gives the Government exemption from the Human Rights Act for legislation and regulation. This means that: € All current discrimination in laws and regulations will continue. € Any future legislation can breach the Human Rights Act. € Any future regulations can breach the Human Rights Act. Regulations do not even go to Parliament, they just go to the Cabinet! This Human Rights Legislation is extremely precious to many people. For the first time in 1993, many people gained the right to be treated as equal citizens in the private sphere, and we were looking forward to being equal citizens when dealing with the government after the year 2000 as well! The present Human Rights Act says that the government and all other legislation must be brought up to date and comply with the Act by the year 2000. Is this really too much to ask!? The whole point of Human Rights Legislation is to protect people who are unjustly marginalised in society. It is too dangerous to have any government able to ignore it at will. Action: With our present minority government, there is a chance of the bill being defeated at the second reading. It is especially worth writing to the independent MPs: Manu Alamein Kopu, Rana Waitai, Ann Batten, Hon Neil Kerton, Hon Deborah Morris, the United MP; Hon Peter Dunne, National MP; Hon Christine Fletcher and NZ First MP; Hon Robyn McDonald. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- AUSTRALIAN SCM WOMEN'S CONFERENCE With funding from the CCANZ Women's Programme, Ellen Murray and Emmeline Taptiklis went to the ASCM's women's conference entitled 'Daughters Rise Up' in Adelaide, South Australia, from the 6-9 July. They both found it an inspiring and enlivening experience, meeting many wonderful women and making new friends from around Australia. In forging these trans- Tasman relationships the miles between us seemed to melt away!! The conference was followed by participation in the ASCM July Executive meeting. This helped us to see the familiar and unique aspects of SCM throughout Australasia. We experienced generous hospitality from our glam hosts and both feel empowered for future work in SCMA. We look forward to the possibility of hosting some of our ASCM friends in Aotearoa in the not too distant future! - A more detailed account of the visit can be found in the next edition of SCMA Women'sTalk. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- A LIVE-IN THEOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE - DECEMBER 11-17 - An opportunity for young people to explore theology and spirituality with gifted theologians. SCM decided to run this conference with other organisations in order to open up the attendance from just SCMers, and be able to provide a special type of conference aimed at helping us treat Christianity with the same level of intelligence as our studies. School leavers and tertiary students are especially welcome. A pamphlet is included with this SCM Update, and more are available from the National Office (address at the bottom of this newsletter). Local SCM groups may be able to help with costs, and we are doing as fundraising at a national level to cover as much travel cost as possible. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- WSCF GENERAL ASSEMBLY The General Assembly of the World Student Christian Federation, of which SCMA is a part, will take place in Lebanon next year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- AKONGA The magazine of the Student Christian Movement of Aotearoa. Published before the National Conference in July this year, and available for just $5 from the National Office; this high quality magazine contains articles on issues for Christianity in 1998, international student programmes SCMers attended, and what has been going on in SCMA. Issues covered include leadership training programme, Mexico, voluntary student membership, looking after the environment, Philippines, democracy and Christianity, anti-racism dialogue and vegan eating. Local groups may like to get a whole bunch to sell or give away. Especially good if you want to keep involved with SCM Senior Friends in your region. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- TAX REBATES After a few years of correspondence, the Inland Revenue Department has finally confirmed that SCMA has both charitable status and donee status. This means any donations over $5 qualify for a tax rebate. All you need is a receipt! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT OF CATHOLIC STUDENTS Have an international conference coming up 17-23 January 1999 in Adelaide, Australia. Anyone who is interested in going, please contact the SCMA National Office, or talk to your National Coordinating Group representative. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- NATIONAL COORDINATING GROUP The NCG had a happily short meeting on Sunday 6th September. They received the usual Administrator's and Treasurer's reports and approved spending some of the "new movements" budget on Massey. Two issues about the World Student Christian Federation were talked about: the first was a suggestion that we contribute to a solidarity fund for SCM Indonesia (GMKI) - the NCG felt that we had acted in a proactive way already by funding a visit from an SCMer to Aotearoa, and facilitating discussion with MPs and non-governmental organisations. The second issue is about SCM Aotearoa's relationship with WSCF: how we find it in supporting our movement, what strategies we suggest for strengthening the relationship, what we think of the decision-making processes of WSCF-AP. Please discuss these issues at your local SCM group, so your NCG representative will have a good idea of your views. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- STUDENT EMPOWERMENT FOR TRANSFORMATION Marie McMillian attended this leadership programme for SCMers in the Asia- Pacific Region. It was held from the 16 to 30th August in Chaing Mai, Thailand. Unfortunately it was not a good experience for her. Marie found it an unsafe environment for queer people. She found the Christianity there very Americanised and conservative. However, she does say that she feels really enriched as well, mainly by re-discovering strength within herself. We admire your strength Marie! In the content of the programme, she saw how the IMF is seen as a saviour in Thailand, but its massive negative effects are apparent too. Globilisation has brought to the surface deeply entrenched inequalities that were already in place in Thailand. Part of the Exposure was to go to Burma. They were told how Burmese children are smuggled across the border and sold into prostitution. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- WSCF-AP REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPRESENTATIVE The next NCG will nominate a man and a woman for this position. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- RECENT ARRIVALS AT THE OFFICE The Debt Cutters Handbook from Jubilee 200. Christian Faith and the World Economy from the World Council of Churches. SCMsMove Newsletter of SCM Singapore. Te Manutukutuku, WaitangiTribunal. More copies of April- June 1998 Praxis. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------- SCM UPDATE is compiled by the National Administrator of SCM Aotearoa. Your contributions, news and information are welcome! Submission date is the 25th of each month.
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