editorial This issue of Just Voices is dedicated to Environmental issues. In 2015 AJDS released our environment policy. It states: “The Australian Jewish Democratic Society places itself amongst progressive voices globally, striving for peace and social justice for all of humanity. Today, the progressive vision has inevitably become entwined with environmentalism. A holistic progressive vision […]
Environmental movements and indigenous sovereignty movements often intersect in their agendas and activities. However, what seems like a natural ally ship based on preservation and conversation of the environment has mounted a history of tension between these two movements. For example, the language and concept of wilderness, held dear to much of the environment movement, […]
Anonymous AJDS MemberI am concerned at the slow and steady loss of environmental values in our community. I am worried that children and young people are spending less time in natural settings. I know that more people are sipping coffee during the day, and the apparent lack of care and consideration for our natural systems […]
Rabbi Jonathon Keren-Black is the rabbi at Leo Baeck centre. He established JECO (the Jewish Ecological Coalition) and was instrumental in establishing GreenFaith Australia. About a month ago, Rabbis across Melbourne were invited to meet with Scott Morrison, who I note is still described as ‘Our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison’, in case you might think […]
Anna Bodeenberg is a member and board member of Earthworker Cooperative.Reading the news, scrolling social media, listening to politicians it feels like every day there is a new threat to our environment, our climate, our communities. There are countless reasons to feel angry, countless things to protest, countless moments of sadness. What can seem lacking […]
From the AJDS website: www.whatsbehindjnf.orgThe JNF in Australia have tax deductibility status as an environmental organisation. According to the JNF’s website:“Donations of $2.00 or more to the JNF Environment Gift Fund for the planting of trees and other environmental projects are tax deductible.”The JNF advertise themselves as a primarily environmental organisation but they are complicit […]
David Rothfield is President of the Bayside Climate Change Action Group (BCCAG) and an AJDS committee member.It’s nearly thirty years since climate change first came on to our political agenda. In 1990, the Coalition under Andrew Peacock pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% within 10 years if they won office. Officially, Australia’s emissions have […]
Robin Rothfield. [email protected] Last year the Jewish Left remembered the 50th anniversary of the 6 day war and the occupation which followed this war. On the occupation the Left was united in its condemnation of the government of Netanyahu in its failure to curb the expansion of the settlements and to prevent the ongoing severe abuses […]
Bassam Dally is a Palestinian-Israeli-Australian academic, advocate and commentator. He is an executive member of AFOPA and Vice President of APAN. “We should establish a new organisation called Palestine-Israel Liberation Organisation” said Obada in a conference on Palestine, late last year in Adelaide. He explained that Jews and Israel need liberation as well, to the […]
There is an expectation in Jewish communities around the world that all Jews embrace Zionism and offer unquestioning support for Israel, ‘right or wrong’. Jewish identity and Zionism are commonly and deliberately blurred. Jews who criticise Israel or question Zionism are often excluded, vilified and threatened. If they express sympathy for the plight of the […]