Gandhian Movement of Australia

What Gandhism Stands For
Gandhism is the religious, moral, political and social philosophy developed by
Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa and India.  In India, Gandhi wanted not only
independence from Britain, but a far-reaching transformation toward a more
just and equitable nonviolent social order.  Governments in India have largely
ignored his vision.  But his ideals rooted as they are in the principles of
Truth and nonviolence, are, as Gandhi himself believed, of universal and
timeless relevance.

For what does Gandhism stand?   Firstly, it is fundamentally religious, with
the moral principles common to all religions as its basis.  (Gandhians
respectfully disagree with Christians who believe there is only one path to
God, but still revere Christ's teachings.)   Gandhism stands for the
recognition of the underlying oneness of global society and all life.  Partly
from this derives the sacred principle of nonviolence (ahimsa), the acceptance
of which rules out meek tolerance of fundamentally violent political, economic
and social strutures, or of clear injustice in any form.

Gandhism seeks the expression of a true balance between the material and
spiritual dimensions of life.  In the West, we feel the purpose of life for
ordinary people and nations should be regarded as very much more than an
endless, empty and violent struggle for ever greater material abundance and
sophistication.  It also upholds the possibility of the nonviolent resolution
of conflict, and seeks to identify with the ordinary man and woman, the poor
and oppressed.   In short, it seeks a phased, nonviolent transformation of
individuals and society to a more nonviolent way of life.

Why a Gandhian Movement of 
Australia?
Gandhi's teachings can contribute much to the tasks of understanding and
reforming Australian society, in which violence and untruth have taken such a
strong hold.

The Gandhian Movement of Australia believes the moral foundations of our
materialistic ethos must be challenged.  We ask, what becomes of other
important values, to society and to ourselves, when all else seems
subordinated to an increasingly competitive struggle for ever greater material
wealth?  We believe that the increasing incidence of violence in Australian
society reflects a deep malaise rooted in our violence-inducing political,
economic and social structures, and that the station of morality (though not
in the conservative sense) in individuals and society needs urgently to be
raised.   In the political sphere, for example, the G.M.A. urges the
observance of truth.

There are many important issues in Australian society to which we believe
Gandhi's teachings hold great relevance.  
* Extremely important is the  plight of Australia's 'untouchables', the
Aborigines.  We believe Aborigines should be regarded by other Australians as
their brothers and sisters and treated as such. 
* Equally, oppression of women should be resisted, nonviolently, by all.  
* Gandhians wish to encourage a deep respect for nature and the adoption of a
less exploitative relationship with the natural environment.  
* Gandhism is closely aligned to the great socialist idea of equality, and
stands for the reduction of what we feel is an immoral gap between rich and
poor in our society, and globally.  The Gandhian social ideal is Sarvodaya
(the welfare of all).  
* It is also concerned about the health of Australians.  Poor nutrition,
inadequate physical activity and consumption of harmful substances have in our
view created far too high an incidence of avoidable illness and premature
deaths.  
* Finally, Gandhism stands for nothing if not for peace, including nuclear
disarmament as a first step.

Gandhism provides the thousands of Australians concerned with social issues
with a philosophical framework rooted in the principles of Truth and
nonviolence which makes clearly visible the organic link between all such
issues.  With this insight, we hope more individuals will come to appreciate
what we believe is the urgent need for far-reaching reform in Australian
society.  Individuls can also attempt to gradually reform their own lives
according to these principles.

The G.M.A., launched on January 30, 1988, the 40th anniversary of Gandhi's
death, is building a network of part-time volunteer "Workers" as well as
"Supporters" throughout Australia.  

Aims and Objectives
The specific aims and objectives of the Gandhian Movement of Australia seek to
increase awareness and understanding of Gandhian ideas in Australian society,
and elsewhere, and ultimately to bring about change nonviolently.  In
particular, the G.M.A. is concerned to create an awareness of Gandhism's
relevance to various movements (the peace, anti-nuclear, Aboriginal, women's,
environmental and socialist movements, for example) and to those interested in
religion, in diet reform, including vegetarianism, and in general health. 
These objectives are pursued in the following ways -
* supporting, participating in and organising public campaigns on relevant
issues
* attempting to have the G.M.A.'s views expressed in state and national media
* making Gandhian literature more readily available to the public.  (We are
the Australian distributor for Navajivan Trust, publisher of Mahatma Gandhi's
works)
* publishing a newsletter
* publishing booklets on aspects of Gandhism
* creating a library of written as well as photographic, audio and
audio-visual