Category : Member Area

HomeArchive by Category "Member Area" (Page 6)

Volunteers required: Bushfire Recovery: Plants for Peace

The monster fire season 2019-2020 saw many million hectares of bush and farmland burnt up and down Australia’s east coast, causing massive losses in wildlife and sweeping damage to natural landscapes made vulnerable through sudden loss of ground cover. Cities were enveloped in a pall of thick yellow smoke throughout January; Lasting health impacts are yet to be fully understood. Direct damage from fires devastated the life of numerous small communities – destruction of farm buildings, fences, and private and public property. At the human level the task of recovery has been slow – people have had to build from the ground up their livelihoods and their health; communities have been a hub for this recovery stepping up months ahead of promised government assistance. 

Through fortuitous circumstances IVP was able to quickly put together a project to bring surplus garden plants, regularly discarded from wholesale nurseries, to affected communities as a quiet gesture of solidarity. First delivery was in July to a coastal village that had been cut off for weeks by fire the previous January – images from the time show residents retreating into shallow water of the nearby lake; to a backdrop of burning bushland. 

The 70 plants we brought disappeared quickly and were gratefully received. We have been working since to reach other communities – supplying several hundred plants to a cluster of small communities further inland, partnering with the local council, and planning to extend our deliveries to coastal areas further south. 

Even though it is approaching a year since the fires, attention to re-establishing a garden from scorched earth and weeds, delayed while makeshift accommodation arranged, can be a link on the path to restored mental health, and revived communities. Our action rested on willing cooperation from one of the largest wholesale nurseries – who supply city garden centres. The rescued plants are tangible ingredients in psychic healing for people who have lost homes and possessions; and communities coming to terms with a succession of calamities: 4 years drought, then fire, then storms then pandemic. The bush fire experience has exposed the sober virtue of walking with people – not just the drama of survival that makes the news, but the months and years for confidence to return.

If you would like to help with this project, please get in touch with David at placements@ivp.org.au or Stephen at admin@ivp.org.au

Raising Peace – Reunion and celebration of 100 years of SCI – Peace Festival

Dear member,

Banner

International Volunteers for Peace invite you for the

Reunion and celebration of 100 years of SCI

Peace Festival

Sunday 20th September: 2pm to 8pm
107 Project, 107 Redfern Street, Redfern

What’s happening and why? SCI is 100 years old in 2020. This is an invitation to a reunion for IVP members and a celebration of IVP’s contribution to peace. Meet old friends, exchange memories, be inspired by what is happening in the field of peace.

But wait, there’s more! The Peace Festival will be a public event and many other peace groups will join us with stalls and exhibitions, movies, speakers. The Nobel Peace Prize medal will be on display. There will be activities, music and refreshments. An fantastic exhibition celebrating peace will be on display at the same venue from 20th Sept to 4th Oct. More details will be provided on the IVP website closer to the date including a detailed program and booking information.

How can you help?
Put it in your diary and commit to being there.
Get in touch to offer assistance and help shape the event.
Renew your membership before or at the event.
Make a donation towards the event.
Volunteer at the event. Help out with refreshments or with your event management or marketing skills.
We are making a big effort to contact all previous IVP members and need your help with that too. Please spread the word to anyone you know who was once associated with IVP as well as your friends and networks.

COVID-19 restrictions may impact on the event and if necessary we will postpone it, but the event will go ahead. A decision on postponement will be made in the next few weeks.

Organised by: International Volunteers for Peace, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (NSW), who both celebrate 100 years in 2020, and the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network.

Participating organisations: International Campaign Against Nuclear weapons, SEARCH Foundation, Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition, Pax Christi, PEN Sydney, Marrickville Peace Group, The Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education, Pace e Bene, Medical Association for the Prevention of War, Teachers Federation, Wage Peace, United Nations Association of Australia, Peacifica, Quakers.

Contact: raisingpeace2020@gmail.com

IVP
103A Goldsmith Street,
Goulburn NSW 2580
Australia
E: admin@ivp.org.au

[Sci-exchange] ONLINE CAMP: Wikipedia for Peace: No More War!

Dear friends,

We gladly present you our first online camp “Wikipedia for Peace: No More War!”, which will take place from the 12th to the 19th of June.

We are now looking for the participants from all over the world, who are interested in working on the Wikipedia articles about peace, non-violence and antimilitarism.

The only requirements for the participants are:

– Age from 16 to 99,

– Good Internet connection,

– Laptop,

– Letter of motivation.

More information about the workcamp can be found via the link: https://bit.ly/3c00T4O

SCI Switzerland will not charge any additional fees for organizing the camp. Swiss residents will be asked to pay a membership fee but no participation fee will be charged.

In case of any questions you are welcome to contact me through e-mail: placement@scich.org

AGM Notice – 17 May 2020

All IVP members and friends are invited to attend
Saturday 2pm, 17 May 2020
Place: JOIN US on Google Meet!

Agenda:
1. Minutes of the last AGM
2. Annual reports
3. Election of new Committee
The following positions are declared vacant and nominations are called:
– Convenors (2)
– Secretary
– Treasurer
– Webmaster/Promotion
– Up to 3 Ordinary members
– Public Officer

We look forward to meeting you online. Keep up the volunteering!

IVP Newsletter – April 2020

The latest edition of IVP’s newsletter, The Flying Penguin, is now available! Click here to view.

Contents:
– What is International Voluntary Service (IVS)?
– Australian Workcamps and Projects
– International Peace News from SCI