Henrietta Dubb's Diary

Point Lonsdale's Development Goals

Stockland currently believes its project should be phased in, step by step, over a ten year period. That would bring us to 2015.

Readers might know that 2015 is also the year set by the UN for the fulfillment of its Millennium Development Goals. These are listed as:

1. Eradicating poverty and hunger

2. Providing universal primary education

3. Promoting gender equality, empowering women

4. Reducing child mortality

5. Improving maternal health

6. Systematic combating of disease

7. Ensuring environmental sustainability

8. Building global partnerships in development

More information can be found at http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/

Do these goals have any relevance to us as we form our community life here at Point Lonsdale? Looking through the list it might seem that there is nothing of much relevance until we get to number 6 or number 7. We've had our Bairnsdale ulcer scare and we are now waiting for the debate to begin over the proposed development west of Fellows Road.

But then we do have a Uniting Concern Op-Shop that is providing funds for social welfare, and there have also been local initiatives to help and assist asylum seekers.

As a community we are not merely focused upon Point Lonsdale and our own local affairs. Many of us also have places elsewhere. Many of us have connections all over God's earth. And that is one further reason why the Millennium Goals are worthy of our reflection. They can help us think about how we can be outward looking neighbours, how we can develop our awareness of what is going on everywhere in the world, at home and abroad. As sensitive neighbours we train ourselves to be ready, ready to give our assistance when the time comes to give it.

Stockland's development proposal is now on the Point Lonsdale community radar. This is good time for us to talk and think about our local and global responsibilities for development, for sustainability, to seek wider horizons, to reflect upon our shrinking globe, and find new ways to do the many good things that we are called to do here, there and everywhere.

Point Lonsdale is called to be a community that will become known for its open-hearted generosity. NGOs and others working to achieve the UN millennium goals are worthy of our local support as well.

Henrietta Dubb, Christian citizen of the 21^st century.

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July 2005 © Henrietta Dubb's Diary, written and published by Bruce C Wearne, 29 Lawrence Rd., Point Lonsdale Vic 3225 AUSTRALIA, 61-3-5258-3913. Each entry in the diary may be photocopied or retransmitted in its entirety but shall not otherwise be reprinted or transmitted without the author's written permission. This project encourages positive Christian citizenship, the development of policies and political attitudes that better express our love for God and our neighbour. Comments are welcome. Email can be sent to: bcwearne@ozemail.com.au  Web-site http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bcwearne/hdd.htm