Social Justice Issues

I am one of many students that attend St Margaret Mary’s Catholic College, an all-girls high school in Townsville. This term in religion we have been learning about different social justice issues (including poverty and homelessness) and the Catholic Social Teachings (CST). Through this we have learned how these issues and the teachings can relate to us, and influence everyone's lives. We have also seen a wider view on how the teachings can assist in creating a world, that is less affected by common social justice issues. For our assessment the task was to choose one of four Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), explore what issue the goal is set to address and write a letter to you, suggesting ways in which we, as Catholics, may be able to
Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable refers to instructing people to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable before the needs of the rich or those who are more well-off. This principle gives the main priority to those who are poor and vulnerable, over other people who have better profits. For the poor, this means, that they should be given the advantage over the rich, until both are on the same level. The Principle of Human Equality states that all people should be entitled to the same respect and dignity. It is also targeted at bringing equality amongst everyone - both those who are rich and poor -, therefore helping to give everyone the same opportunities. Following this principle the poor should be regarded the same, as those who are more wealthy, and be treated with the same consideration and
This a rural problem, due to 80 - 90 percent of poor people living in rural areas, in-which they do not have sustainable resources to live off. In this situation the CST (mainly including the principle of human equality and the principle of preferential option for the poor and vulnerable) say that more developed areas should be sharing supplies and giving first priority to areas that are in need. Although they are going through hard times, people affected by poverty, in Southern-Asia should be treated with the same respect as those who are rich. This would follow the principle of human equality and help to smooth out the differences between the two living categories; the rich and the poor. Based on the Catholic Social Teaching it would be recommended that poor living standards and meager possessions of those in Southern-Asia, should be improved, through donations, support and equal sharing of possessions from more successful areas. To help these people in poverty, Australian’s can donate money to to Caritas. From there the money will get distributed to different regions of the world, that are being affected by poverty (including: Africa, Asia, Latin America, The Pacific and the Middle East), in the form of supplies, such as farm animals and money to set up