Bula!
Here we are again. And here's what happens on Monday mornings after Chapel. Our Women's Fellowship bring the weekly flower arrangement for the PTCEE office, which we gladly buy from them at $5 Fiji dollars a time to contribute to their fundraising and projects, and we enjoy a bright and uplifting Monday moment! I recommend it highly to anyone needing an uplifting Monday (or Tues, or Weds...) moment. This week Roslyne Keleb from the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu was the floral artist on duty. What a star...
We joined forces on Friday for lunch: the forces being our Extension tutorial group and Pastoral group. Some prayers, some sharing, and on the menu, walu fish in coconut milk, lamb sausages with spicy noodles, chicken drumsticks, dhal and roti, rice, sweet potatoes, (kumala), sliced cucumbers, pineapple and bananas. Should've bought ice cream. Forgot. Next time...
In the green dress is Radini Temalesi who's ploughing the Diploma furrow and has become fascinated with Christian Ethics. She gave the student presentation earlier and challenged us thus:
3. FAITH PERSPECTIVE
We believe in a Love caring God but most of the time we do not show love. Forgiving enemies is like a healing process and that is Christ-like Love. Evil destroys everything eg. anger stirs our hearts. Evil is everything that goes against God.
The post-presentation discussion then got into 'forgiveness' in a big way, and whether prison sentences, eg. for rape cases, are not really God's way. Some argued that victims of rape need to be encouraged to forgive, however difficult, and the perpetrator's 'mistake' deserves forgiveness not a long sentence. There have been some high profile cases in the Fiji news recently and its a really hot topic. An undercurrent to all this is the view, among some, that Christian ethics and criminal justice systems aren't an easy alliance and Fiji is more and more required to conform to and be squeezed by imported models of justice, human rights etc: models which contradict, unhelpfully, traditional family and village values. I've heard such views expressed many times.
As I moderated the discussion, I wondered how different the dynamics might have been had someone from, say, the very active and vocal NGO networks constantly on the campaign trail of ending violence against women been present? Nothing in the fairly typical NGO paragraph below contradicts, to my mind, Christian ethics....
Violence against women prevalence surveys in the Pacific have shown that the incidence is the worst in the world with over 60 per cent of women and girls having experienced violence at the hand of an intimate partner or family member.
Violence against women, and intimidation of violence, is an abuse of women’s human rights. It limits women’s participation in social, political and economic life. This significantly impacts on development outcomes, affecting families and communities and placing significant strains on health care, social services and policing and justice systems. For example, the children of women who experienced violence have increased levels of child mortality and emotional and behavioural problems, and are more likely to become perpetrators of violence.
In the Pacific, support services for survivors of violence have seen minimal progress in recent years. However, local organisations focusing on a human rights approach to the issue are having some success.
Violence needs to be prevented as well as services provided for survivors. Supporting the transformation of deeply held values and beliefs that justify men’s violence against women is a crucial long-term goal of violence prevention efforts. Prevention of violence requires coordinated efforts at all levels; aimed at raising awareness of related issues, changing community norms about violence and increasing women’s status in society.
Significant advances in the Pacific have been achieved in expanding women’s access to justice. However, the implementation of laws, as well as the overall functioning of the judicial and police systems, remains fragile. Violence takes many forms and is multi-causal and multi-dimensional so interventions to respond and prevent it need to take place on multiple levels. Strategies to reduce violence against women must involve civil society initiatives, the church and government institutions. Coordination between these groups needs to be greatly strengthened and improved.
... but in Church-related contexts here, the challenge is always to offer a credible, tightly argued Biblical and theological grounding to the issues, if they're really to be heard and received.
Male advocacy goes a long way of course and there's an encouraging article at the next link by our PTC colleague Rev Raki Tigarea on Male Advocacy for Eliminating Violence Against Women - you have to scroll down to page 8 - in the light of a workshop he recently attended.
So it was a heartfelt and pretty gutsy student presentation and discussion. Vinaka, Radini Tema. We don't paddle our toes at the edges here, we plunge right in. When I returned to the PTCEE office afterwards, it was good to glance again at the powerful poster below, featuring the convictions of the Methodist Church in Fiji's President, Revd Dr Tevita Nawadra Banivanua. It greets us at our Reception desk each morning.
As well as flowers.
Now then, there are some jobs going here if you're interested?
Vacancy: Short-Term Lecturer in Theology and Ethics
Pacific Theological College (PTC) is looking for full-time short-term lecturer for its Theology and Ethics Department. This is to cover sabbatical leave of the current Head of Department, Dr Vaai. The period to cover will be from mid-April (Semester 1B begins 16 April 2018) to the beginning of September (Semester 2A ends 7 September 2018). Actual start and finish dates will be negotiated with successful candidate.
For full details see the Job Description, and see our Vacancies page.
Closing date for this one is 31 July 2017
Or, do you fancy being our College Receptionist? Click here if you do or have a quick glance below.
And, please pray for Fiji and our Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama who's got something of a challenge coming up...
01/06/17
The decision by the Trump Administration to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change is deeply disappointing, especially for the citizens of vulnerable nations throughout the world.
It is also a grave disappointment for millions of people living in those areas of the United States that are threatened by the effects of climate change, whether it is the flooding that threatens cities like New York and Miami, or the periods of drought and deluge that have plagued California and other states, or the temperature rise that is affecting cities, wildlife and natural areas across the United States.
As incoming President of COP23, I did what I could – along with many leaders around the world – to try to persuade President Trump to remain standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us as, together, we tackle the greatest challenge our planet has ever faced. While the loss of America’s leadership is unfortunate, this is a struggle that is far from over.
That is because the world has reached the consensus that all nations must meet this challenge together, and we need not forgo economic growth to do so. On the contrary, solving the climate crisis through cooperation, innovation, new technologies and improved access to capital around the world will create real, sustainable economic growth for those who have the vision to make this moment of challenge a moment of opportunity.
The rest of the world remains fully committed to the implementation of the Paris Agreement. I am especially encouraged by the commitment being shown by China, India, the European Union, Canada, Mexico and the vast majority of other nations. They will continue to lead this process, with or without the support of the Trump Administration, but with the knowledge and assurance that many ordinary Americans support participation in the Paris Agreement, and that many American states, cities and businesses will continue to pursue the ambitious climate action the Agreement entails.
As incoming COP President, I reaffirm that I will do everything possible to continue to forge a grand coalition that will accelerate the momentum that has continued since the Paris Agreement, embracing governments, civil society, the private sector and millions of ordinary men and women around the world. I am also convinced that the United States Government will eventually rejoin our struggle because the scientific evidence of man-made climate change is well understood. The issue is settled, and the impacts are obvious, and humankind ignores these facts at its peril.
Thanks - see you next time.
For full details see the Job Description, and see our Vacancies page.
Closing date for this one is 31 July 2017
Or, do you fancy being our College Receptionist? Click here if you do or have a quick glance below.
01/06/17
COP23 Presidency deeply disappointed with Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement
Statement by the Fijian Prime Minister and Incoming President of COP23, Frank Bainimarama
It is also a grave disappointment for millions of people living in those areas of the United States that are threatened by the effects of climate change, whether it is the flooding that threatens cities like New York and Miami, or the periods of drought and deluge that have plagued California and other states, or the temperature rise that is affecting cities, wildlife and natural areas across the United States.
As incoming President of COP23, I did what I could – along with many leaders around the world – to try to persuade President Trump to remain standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us as, together, we tackle the greatest challenge our planet has ever faced. While the loss of America’s leadership is unfortunate, this is a struggle that is far from over.
That is because the world has reached the consensus that all nations must meet this challenge together, and we need not forgo economic growth to do so. On the contrary, solving the climate crisis through cooperation, innovation, new technologies and improved access to capital around the world will create real, sustainable economic growth for those who have the vision to make this moment of challenge a moment of opportunity.
The rest of the world remains fully committed to the implementation of the Paris Agreement. I am especially encouraged by the commitment being shown by China, India, the European Union, Canada, Mexico and the vast majority of other nations. They will continue to lead this process, with or without the support of the Trump Administration, but with the knowledge and assurance that many ordinary Americans support participation in the Paris Agreement, and that many American states, cities and businesses will continue to pursue the ambitious climate action the Agreement entails.
As incoming COP President, I reaffirm that I will do everything possible to continue to forge a grand coalition that will accelerate the momentum that has continued since the Paris Agreement, embracing governments, civil society, the private sector and millions of ordinary men and women around the world. I am also convinced that the United States Government will eventually rejoin our struggle because the scientific evidence of man-made climate change is well understood. The issue is settled, and the impacts are obvious, and humankind ignores these facts at its peril.
Thanks - see you next time.
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