The political climate also changed. Communism was seen as a real threat, so even the mild socialism of Labour was considered dangerous. We were now given a new political vision, where everyone could have their dream of a life full of material wealth. We began to despise and stigmatise those who could not reach this goal. The car became king, so the railway system was not maintained. We know how that worked out.

We were one of the most egalitarian countries in the developed world: we became one of the most unequal in terms of wealth, health outcomes, violence towards children and educational opportunities. If we changed once, we can change again. This time of Advent is one of waiting in expectation and hope for the Christ Child.

We need to give thanks to God for our beautiful country and to all those who are working to bring about just outcomes for all of us - so let us turn to Powershift, the gathering of young people in Auckland last weekend. Over 700 of them from across the whole country and the Pacific came together to listen to enthusiastic speakers, participate in workshops on the wider effects of climate change, share their ideas - and have fun. They are the hope for our future, the catalyst for change.

We sponsored four young people from Wellington, and we will hear from them early next year. Watch this space!

Here is an extract from the website. [Powershift.org] ‘Moving beyond fossil fuels is 100% possible![1]

Not only is this 100% Possible - it's the fair, responsible and smart path for Aotearoa to take... But to get on track we need leadership at every level, from communities to central government.

Throughout 2013 through nationwide and local projects and our own researched reports we will build up our vision to show New Zealand that this is not only 100% possible - it's the fair, responsible and smart path forward. We can and we will move beyond fossil fuels.' [My emphasis] — Patricia Kane

We have been gifted this beautiful world to use and enjoy. Not to plunder and pollute. Governments seem paralysed by inertia or denial of the disastrous effects of climate change, already evident in the Pacific.

But there are significant signs of hope, in this season of Spring. Not mainly from the older and supposedly wiser generation, but from young people, some still students, who can read the signs of the times. They are determined to make a difference - researching the subject, evaluating which sources are reliable, coming together in groups of thousands around the world to make their voices heard. We ignore them to our detriment.

I want to highlight three groups, originating elsewhere, but now working in our country - 350.org and Generation Z, who are organising Powershift - see below - and A Rocha - mostly young people giving their time and energy and enthusiasm to fighting against the blindness and inaction of governments and big business with regard to climate change.

A Rocha, the rock [of Christ], was founded 30 years ago in Portugal, as - literally - a grassroots movement, to care for creation. They build community by restoring ecosystems, with volunteers working at the local level, with schools and local councils. The Karioi Maunga in the Waikato is one such project. Some of their story was told at the recent conference in Wellington, ‘Christianity and the ecological crisis', with the themes of lament, hope, action. The conference was jointly organised by A Rocha and Caritas, two organisations with complementary and overlapping aims - a perfect fit. More on this conference later.

Powershift, born from the failure of Rio + 20, gives me hope. Australia held a Powershift in 2011, now it is our turn, including Pacifica young people. UNICEF is a supporter, as it did the nation-wide meetings of young people aged 13-25 before Rio + 20. Now these same young people, from 350.org and Generation Z, disgusted by the failure of their elders, will hold a hui in Auckland in December. 1000 young people will gather to share their vision of a better world. They want to make a difference. Watch this space! Or Google it. They have a very informative and creative web site, including a video of the Australian event.

Is this an opportunity for the rest of us to support them? Young people from the Pacific may find the expense too great. Our parish justice group is considering sponsoring one or more, as well as encouraging a young person from the parish to attend. Reporting back will involve us in the work required to move from vision to action. The registration is $90, bed and breakfast at a new university hostel $150 for 3 nights - less than a weekend sampling wine in the Wairarapa for those of us in employment.

The Lord helps those who help themselves. Prayer with action is the way forward. Tricia Kane.

• Tricia Kane is a grandmother and a retired librarian.

Shakespeare put it succinctly - ‘If you pay everyone what they deserve, would anyone ever escape a whipping?'

Jesus was even more direct - ‘Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.' We will be judged, as we have judged others.

Frankly, that scares me, as I look back on my life from the standpoint of the last quarter of my life. We need to be generous in judging others, not solely from self-interest, but because our innate sense of fair play, imprinted by our Creator God, gives us a feeling of well-being when we do. We only have to reflect on our feelings of ‘rightness' or of ‘dis-ease' to find where God is acting in our lives, as St Ignatius teaches. Our consciences can be stifled by being disregarded, in the constant battle to keep afloat in a harsh world, but this dismal scenario is not the only one.

We have only to look at what is happening beneath government level in local communities everywhere. People are giving their time, their skills, yes, even their money, to make our world a fairer place for those who need assistance at particular times in their lives.

There are community gardens, language and NZ culture classes for refugees and new migrants, grannies who help new parents with young children, the transition-towns network, Catholic Social Services, community health centres, Downtown Community Ministry, the night shelter for men and initiatives to provide something similar for women.

All these and more are involving many of us, often with minimal or decreasing support from government. In times of fiscal austerity, you can be sure it is the ‘poor who have to pay' to supposedly keep our economy going. We do have the ability to change our society, if we only have the desire. ‘Power to the people' is not an empty slogan, but it needs prayer, tenacity and perseverance to effect change. The YCW dictum, see, judge, act has much relevance. Look at a situation objectively, judge whether it is just, and act to change it, in accordance with Catholic social justice principles. If all this seems to be too hard, join with others. Be inspired by the Sermon on the Mount - it is all set out clearly for us. With the Spirit's guidance, we can fulfil our Creator's plans for us and for all of creation, the mission we were entrusted with at our baptism.

Tricia Kane is a retired librarian and a grandmother

One sign of hope: UNICEF sponsored forums all over NZ asked young people of 15-24 years to describe 'The Future We Want'. The 6 main topics are surely what we all want:

• Equity
• A thriving natural environment
• Clean rivers and oceans
• Sustainable food
• Sustainable cities
• Fair trade

The young people's recommendations have been sent to the Government and New Zealand's delegates to Rio. After all, the young will inherit the mess we are leaving, and have a right to have their views listened to - and implemented.

These concerns fit well with the 7 priority themes identified for Rio plus 20:

• Water
• Sustainable agriculture
• Energy
• Green jobs
• Oceans
• Disasters
• Sustainable cities.

All of these themes are fleshed out to highlight the vital components within each that need to be addressed.

Another sign of hope, an amazing one, New Zealand, through Amy Adams, the Minister for Conservation, is championing a new global deal, initiated by concerned citizens in the US and a number of other countries, to end nearly $1 trillion dollars of taxpayer subsidies to big oil, coal and gas companies. If this money were to be switched instead to greener, more just development, it would literally save our planet. Please God this new plan to save the planet will have been included on the agenda for the Rio plus20 Earth Summit preparatory meeting in New York.

The results of the first Earth Summit may be ambiguous, but the global environment is certainly better than it might have been without them, and global awareness of environmental concerns has come to the forefront of our consciousness, even politicians!

The alternative social summit at Rio, the People's Summit, which includes NGOs, Jesuits and other groups working for justice in the fair distribution of the earth's resources, will be worth watching.

There will be more Jesuits - mainly from the Global Ignatian Advocacy Network (GIAN) on migration - at the official summit.

Mary-Ann Greaney from the Wellington Archdiocesan JPD will also be there.

What can we do? Pray confidently that the Holy Spirit will guide the deliberations at Rio plus 20

Kia kaha, e tangata!

To know more on Rio 20 we recommend the materials of CIDSE, the Third World Network and the EcoJesuit newsletter

Click here for CIDSE
Click her for Third World Network
Click here to sign up to a daily online newsletter sent from EcoJesuit.

for Global Ignatian Advocacy Network (GIAN) on migration

Trica Kane is a grandmother and retired Librarian

The Occupy Wall St movement one of the events shaping our world right now. Amazingly, it has been given the tick of approval by the Vatican. Are we at last taking seriously the words of Scripture ‘Serve God or Mammon', and ‘the love of money is the root of all evil'?

Occupations have been happening all around the world, almost spontaneously it seems, in response to the collapse of finance companies and systems. These Occupations are being treated differently in different countries. The response of the city councils in Dunedin and Wellington is one of negotiating with a view to resolving the situation, rather than calling in the police to use force. The individuals camping on public space in the city are causing very little disruption or offence to anyone, and are being supported by restaurants and others in the city.

It is hoped that their peaceful presence and willingness to engage in dialogue will cause some reflection among the public. The group is not offering solutions; the powerful corporations caused the problem; they must find solutions.

Possible solutions are being suggested. One is a financial transaction charge on every transaction that would yield a substantial fund. It could be used to rescue banks, defaulting countries even, but more importantly, reimburse ordinary people whose life savings have vanished with the failure of the banking system.

On another plane, increasingly, individuals and communities are exploring other ways of exchanging goods and services - the transition town movement in New Zealand and elsewhere; Living Economies in the Wairarapa, the Wellington South Time Bank just launched in the suburb of Newtown for example. There are many co-operative initiatives springing up in response to the failure of the traditional financial model, that offer a much more human and caring approach - not all overtly motivated by the Christian spirit. All these give me hope for the resilience of the human spirit.

'Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream of the modern world' is a symposium that is being presented around New Zealand, offering a changed view of our world.

Tricia Kane is a retired librarian and grandmother

Image: I have no ideas