I know Alice Springs and other areas are going through incredibly difficult times but this book is full of relevant questions it invites us to answer. Not for the now, but for the where we want to be. Law and order now is important for the safety and security of everyone. But we certainly need a next step. Craig Blanch - reader.
books
in stores now
The Elephant's Tooth
Crime in Alice Springs
Suzanne Visser
&
The Elephant's Tooth
Crime in Rural Australia
Suzanne Visser
Prisoner Diaries
Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Elizabeth M. Schulz
‘In the little world in which children have their existence’, says Pip in Charles Dickens’s Great Expectations, ‘there is nothing so finely perceived and finely felt, as injustice.’1 I expect Pip is right: he vividly recollects after his humiliating encounter with Estella the ‘capricious and violent coercion’ he suffered as a child at the hands of his own sister. But the strong perception of manifest injustice applies to adult human beings as well.
Sen, Amartya. The Idea of Justice
Justice is the first virtue of social institutions, as truth is of systems of thought. A theory however elegant and economical must be rejected or revised if it is untrue; likewise, laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust.
John Rawls, A Theory of Justice
What is sustainable justice?
Sustainable Justice is justice that is directed at intra and intergenerational well-being and fairness.
(This definition is still in development)
The veil of ignorance
Elements of sustainable justice
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Fairness for all
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This fairness is transferable to the next generations without harm to the environment and society
Justice contains the word ‘just’. Justice is the drive to a ‘just’ society. What is a just society?
A society that not only promotes but also executes fairness for all. Many societies promote fairness but do not execute it sufficiently. The result is an unjust or unfair society.
Fairness in society is hindered by self-interest.
A famous thought experiment is The Veil of Ignorance by John Rawls.
John Rawls created the experiment in 1971, as part of his book A Theory of Justice, to investigate the concept of justice. The experiment entails a group of individuals deciding on principles to establish a new society without any knowledge of their future status within it, such as their race, income, gender, or religion. After setting these principles, they would be placed into the society they created. Rawls' argument is that in such a scenario, since individuals cannot know their self-interest, they would aim to establish a just society with equal rights and economic security for the poor, both out of moral considerations and as a means to secure the best possible outcome for themselves. However, others argue that individuals would prioritize maximizing their freedom or ensuring perfect equality. This experiment raises questions about the extent to which our self-interest hinders progress towards a just society in our present-day society.
Obstacles to sustainable justice
Achieving sustainable justice in Australia is a complex and ongoing process, and there are several obstacles that may hinder progress towards this goal. Here are some of the biggest obstacles to achieving sustainable justice in Australia:
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Systemic inequality: Australia, like many other countries, faces significant systemic inequality that can make it difficult to achieve sustainable justice. This includes issues such as discrimination, poverty, and unequal access to education and healthcare.
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Lack of resources: Many areas of the justice system in Australia are under-resourced, which can make it difficult to deliver effective and sustainable justice outcomes. This includes issues such as understaffing, inadequate funding, and a lack of access to appropriate technology.
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Limited access to justice: Many individuals and communities in Australia do not have equal access to the justice system, which can create significant barriers to achieving sustainable justice. This includes issues such as language barriers, cultural barriers, and economic barriers.
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Political and institutional barriers: Political and institutional barriers can also hinder progress towards sustainable justice in Australia. This includes issues such as the influence of special interest groups, corruption, and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
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Resistance to change: Finally, resistance to change can also be a significant obstacle to achieving sustainable justice in Australia. This includes resistance from individuals, organizations, and institutions that may be invested in maintaining the status quo or resisting progressive reforms.
Overcoming these obstacles will require ongoing effort and commitment from all levels of society, including individuals, organizations, and governments. This may involve initiatives such as increasing resources and funding for the justice system, promoting greater diversity and inclusion, and advocating for systemic reforms to address inequality and promote sustainable justice outcomes.