Passionist Office for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation

EVALUATING WIND POWER
The use of wind turbines as a means of harnessing the wind to produce electrical power may seem a new innovation in finding a more sustainable source of energy to counteract climate change, but our use of wind power is not new. Wind has been an essential source of energy throughout human history, from powering sailing ships to windmills. (For full story visit jpiccp.wordpress.com)

AUSTRALIA'S ELECTRIC CAR FUTURE
In this article I want to explore Australia’s short sighted response to this promising and sustainable industry. (for full article visit jpiccp.wordpress.com)

AUSTRALIA'S LOST OPPORTUNITY
When Donald Trump became president of the United States, he promised to prioritize corporations, businesses and jobs over the environment and public health. In many ways, he succeeded. Donald Trump came into office as a climate denier. When he took office, he almost immediately pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Without the US pushing countries for more action on climate, Trump cost the planet four years of progress on climate and energy. (for full story visit jpiccp.wordpress.com)

DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF DISABILITY
There has been much on the news regarding Australia’s treatment of Asylum Seekers in off shore detention; protests about freedom for those on the mainland; and some recent wins in that regard. But the story I read in ‘The New Daily,” an online news service of the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), on the 22nd of March this year, had me flabbergasted. It seems that ‘The Migration Act,’ is one of the few pieces of legislation in Australia where it’s OK to discriminate against people based on their disability. (for full story visit jpiccp.wordpress.com)

SOCIALISM VS. CAPITALISM FOR THE SOUL OF THE CHRISTIAN
What motivated me to write this piece is the strong reaction I received from Catholic republican supporters for some articles I have written of late regarding the recent US election. In particular the irrational way they utter the word, ‘socialist’ as if it were a dirty word. Living in Australia where democratic socialism is part of the landscape, this came as a shock. The attitude I got from some was so strong as to suggest that any pro-Democrat leaning was totally contrary to Christianity and Catholicism. I had always found socialist ideas to be much more compatible with the Gospel and the Church’s social teaching than Capitalism. So I decided to look into it. (for full story see jpiccp.wordpress.com)

PSYCHOLOGY OF FANATICISM
The recent US elections confronted me with the reality of political and religious fanaticism as I’ve never been confronted before. Even family members and friends seemed to blindly believe the slogans and online propaganda, to the point of getting upset and defensive when I tried to challenge their beliefs. I found it hard to comprehend that people could reject facts, reason, common sense to defend Trump or the conservative and narrow Catholic view of who Catholics should all vote for and support. As a result, now the dust has settled a little, I thought I’d try to explore in this blog article something of the psychology behind fanaticism. (For full story visit jpiccp.wordpress.com)

PROTECT HUMANITY FROM SELF-DESTRUCTION
“She (the Church) must above all protect mankind from self-destruction.” This remarkable statement caught my attention on re-reading Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si. He was quoting Pope Benedict (XVI)’s encyclical, Caritas in Veritate. It is remarkable to me because I had never considered this to be ‘the’ primary mission of the Church – to save humanity from itself. Wow! (for full story visit: jpiccp.wordpress.com)

CONSCIENCE VOTE
The recent Queensland election for State leadership, like the US election, has highlighted for me how Catholic voters can vote based on a single issue of justice concern while ignoring all else. I speak here about whether a political party permits or disallows abortion. It is a very narrow way of approaching politics, yet clearly affects hundreds of thousands of votes and cannot be discounted. (for full story visit jpiccp.wordpress.com)

MURDER, MAYHEM AND MERCY
In this month’s Blog article, I share a reflection by Brian Gleeson, CP, on the East Timorese struggle for independence.
Lest we forget! (for full article visit jpiccp.wordpress.com)

PETER'S RUBBISH SCHOOL
In this month’s blog, I’d like to tell you about the ‘Rubbish School’ in Cambodia and the work one of our Australian Passionists, Peter Gardiner CP, is doing with them. (for full story see jpiccp.wordpress.com)

A HISTORY OF SLAVERY
For this month’s blog article, I thought I’d offer you this ‘History of Slavery’ by Ron Davoran CP, who is community leader of our Sydney based community at Marrickville. Ron took a trip to Ghana in 1999 and to New Orleans in 2018, where he visited sites connected with the slave trade. His writing this history was motivated by the recent wave of ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests that have swept through the USA and have spread throughout the world. (For full article see jpiccp.wordpress.com)

COVID AND THE SURVIVAL INSTINCT
For all our success, we obviously aren’t out of the woods yet. A new outbreak of COVID-19 in Melbourne has meant that the state of Victoria has been put into lockdown for 6 weeks. That is 6 weeks without social interaction – of social distancing (no handshakes or hugging, touch or togetherness) along with the closing of businesses, the loss of civil liberties and personal freedoms. Again we will comply as this is the price to be paid, a sacrifice to save lives. After all, we are the lucky ones in Australia. (for full story visit: jpiccp.wordpress.com)