text:
In recognition of increased government focus on sustainability, this report provides additional information on the environmental, social and economic impact of its activities. Customs has chosen indicators from the Global Reporting Initiative that are relevant to Customs and for which data is available. In the year ahead, Customs will seek to improve its focus on sustainability to better reflect the social, economic and environmental impact of our activities.
This section incorporates mandatory reporting requirements under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and voluntary reporting on social justice and equity.
Customs has always endeavoured to meet principles of ecologically sustainable development and social justice and equity in policy development and operational activity. Risk management is applied at planning and project levels and includes assessment of environmental, geographic, social, commercial and trading relationships that may impact on corporate performance. Established reporting and review processes ensure that the risks are assessed regularly, and that systems and processes support continuous improvement.
Customs Corporate Plan commits the organisation to being responsive and accountable to Parliament, community and industry. This year, Customs Corporate Priorities include a focus on protecting Australia's health and safety by working cooperatively with partner agencies involved in issues associated with:
- immigration
- quarantine
- fisheries
- police
- aviation
- industry
- foreign affairs and trade
- revenue collection
- health
- the environment.
These priorities also include international capacity building initiatives that support Australia's interests, and the need to contribute to national and international efforts to achieve secure trade.
Customs officers on remote area patrol in the Pilbara.
Customs teams – making a difference in remote areas
While Customs work in protecting borders at international air and seaports is well known, a significant amount of lesser known work is undertaken by Customs district offices in remote areas of Australia.
An example is the patrols undertaken from district offices in Western Australia where Customs officers gather information and inform the public on how to detect and report illegal activity. The range of threats in these isolated areas includes smuggling of native flora and fauna, narcotics smuggling and illegal entrants. To ensure exchange of information with a wide range of groups, Customs regularly visits local businesses, remote communities, park rangers, schools and state and federal government agencies. It asks them to provide information on unusual activity in their area —such as suspicious aircraft or sea craft activity, hidden camp sites or fuel dumps, unusual objects at sea or ashore or evidence of interference with flora and fauna — that may indicate illegal activity.
Although the primary purpose of the patrols is to detect and deter illegal activity, Customs recognises that in visiting remote areas they can assist communities by bringing fresh provisions, reporting damaged fences and injured stock to property owners. Sometimes they assist at the scene of motor accidents and breakdowns or help with rescues where people have become lost, ill or injured in remote locations. Customs officers provide information to remote communities on employment with Customs and other Customs related matters.
Many patrols are undertaken in ecologically sensitive areas, and Customs takes precautions to ensure that any negative environmental impacts are minimised. Where possible, teams stay on existing tracks, avoid fragile dune areas, avoid damage to plants and wildlife habitats, observe fire restrictions and remove their waste and rubbish. Contact is maintained with conservation agencies to ensure that quarantine and restricted areas are avoided.
Environmental impact
Customs Environmental Policy Statement commits to continuously improving environmental performance in its activities. Customs monitors activities, including the management of energy, water and waste products, the vehicle fleet and purchasing.
Customs Environmental Management System provides a framework for considering and minimising environmental impacts in the workplace.
Customs reduced energy consumption in its offices by almost three per cent in 2002–03 to 2003–045. Electricity and gas consumption for services common to all tenants in office buildings such as air conditioning, lifts, security lights, lobby lights and domestic hot water were also reduced (See indicator EN3).
Direct energy use in non-office locations increased by 36 per cent. This reflects the establishment of additional Container Examination Facilities in the year, with significant increases in the volume of containers scanned.
Between 1997–98 to 2003–045, Customs reduced its energy usage in office accommodation by 16 per cent.
Posters and cards are displayed to remind staff of the importance of recycling, energy efficiency, computer monitor switch off programs, and reduced paper use in the office.
Other initiatives are:
- recycled paper is used for most purposes in Central Office
- used fluorescent tubes, used printer and photocopier cartridges are collected for recycling
- providing bins for the recycling of paper, glass, cans and plastic
- negotiation or variation of service contracts.
Initiatives to decrease water consumption or increase water reuse include:
- effective maintenance including changing washers
- installing water efficient showerheads and chilled water dispensers during refurbishments
- water efficient window washing using buckets in place of high pressure water
- education – reminding staff and visitors to be careful with water usage.
Customs did not conduct any energy audits in the past year but continued to implement cost effective energy audit recommendations from the previous year.
Customs worked cooperatively with other agencies to protect the Australian environment. Some activities and achievements this year include:
- detection of 51 live tropical fish concealed on an incoming female airline passenger. These fish could have posed a potentially serious quarantine, environmental and health risk
- charges laid over an alleged attempt to smuggle 24 turtles and a shingleback lizard out of Australia in the post. Customs, Australia Post and Conservation and Land Management (Western Australia) worked together to halt the export of the turtles, which are protected fauna
- detection of four live turtles (suspected North American Loggerhead Musk turtles) concealed in an arriving passenger's baggage. These turtles could have carried diseases that, if introduced to Australia, could have serious environmental consequences. The turtles were handed over to Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
- detection of 26 live spiders in an international mail parcel
- patrols in Australia's territorial waters surrounding Heard and McDonald Islands to prevent illegal fishing in this sensitive environment
- National Marine Unit vessels provided marine transport to Conservation and Land Management (Western Australia) officers, researchers and volunteers to:
- – Montebello Islands for monitoring of a rat eradication program to help prevent re-infestation and confirm absence of possible remnant rodents
Kimberley Islands to conduct a census of breeding, shelter use and population of red-tail tropical birds; examine the effects of the 2004 tsunami on intertidal coral communities; and examine turtle nesting activity and collect DNA samples
Bernier and Dorre Island Nature Reserves to study and DNA test populations of the Boodie (Bettongia Lesueur), which is one of the most endangered Australian mammal species.
- National Marine Unit provided transport to Department of Environment and Heritage researchers and volunteers to Ashmore Islands Nature Reserve to monitor seabird and shorebird populations, research ginger ants and assess their impact on bird and turtle populations and to monitor terrestrial plant species
- participation in Operation Clearwater aimed at detecting and deterring foreign fishing vessels in the Gulf of Carpentaria and in the waters to the north of Arnhem Land. During the operation, 29 illegal fishing boats and 258 crew were apprehended. Officers seized 12 927kg of fish products including Reef Fish and Red Fish and 295kg of shark fin (see Operation Clearwater).
In February 2005, approximately 300 to 400 litres of diesel fuel was accidentally discharged into the harbour at Thursday Island while refuelling a National Marine Unit vessel. The incident was reported to State and Federal authorities, and investigations are continuing. Measures have been implemented to prevent a repeat of the incident.
Customs work in assisting environmental protection in previous years resulted in the following successful prosecution this year:
- Coastwatch and the National Marine Unit worked with State and Federal agencies in gathering evidence for prosecution of a case related to the discharge of 9300 litres of oil mixture in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park by a cargo ship. The ship owner was fined $180 000 and had already paid $34 277 in clean up costs. The fine was the largest imposed on a company under the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983.
5 2004–05 figures were not available at the time of publication
Social impact
Customs meets a range of Commonwealth requirements led by APS Values and the APS Code of Conduct to ensure its actions are lawful and meet community expectations.
Customs, with 63 other Commonwealth agencies, was assessed in 2004 as meeting the performance indicators for implementation of the Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society. Customs is committed to the principles of social justice and equity and endeavours to ensure that information and services are available to people from a range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In the past year Customs:
- delivered cross-cultural awareness training to enforcement staff as required and provided access to cross-cultural training for all staff through an online learning package
- provided clients from non-English speaking backgrounds with access to interpreter services through staff or the Translating and Interpreting Service
- produced selected publications in different languages and in various formats
- maintained a register of staff with language skills and utilised these in communications with clients as required
- ensured that arrested persons were provided with the caution in a language or form understood by them.
Customs promotes equity and diversity in the workforce through the Workplace Diversity Policy and APS Values and Code of Conduct. Examples of workplace diversity initiatives in the past year include:
- an entry-level recruitment program specifically for people in the Torres Strait to join the National Marine Unit for 12 months as sea-going crew. Trainees attend courses to obtain qualifications and a fellow crewmember acts as a mentor and adviser
- recruitment of cadets under the National Indigenous Cadetship Program, a joint exercise between the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and participating agencies, including Customs. Successful applicants are sponsored while they study at university and undertake work placements during holiday periods.
Customs complies with the Commonwealth Disability Strategy to ensure that services, information and policies are accessible by, and do not discriminate against, people with a disability (see Appendix E).
Customs is committed to providing a safe and healthy work place for the welfare of staff, contractors, clients and visitors through implementation of an occupational health and safety management system (see Appendix A).
Customs carried out a significant role in community protection through its responsibility in deterring and detecting unlawful movement of goods and people across the Australian border. Prohibited and restricted goods can cause environmental, social or economic harm. These include:
- illicit drugs
- objectionable material
- wildlife
- cultural and heritage items
- hazardous waste
- chemicals
- Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme medicines
- un-manufactured tobacco
- intellectual property
- weapons and unsafe products.
Customs continues to support Government priorities relating to counter-terrorism, security arrangements and protecting our borders. Customs developed a business continuity policy to plan for critical business functions to be open for business during or after an incident, even if at a reduced level of service, until normal operations can resume.
Customs participated in research, reporting and projects in relation to criminal activity, including illicit drug markets and their dynamics, in collaboration with research bodies and law enforcement agencies.
Where requested, Customs undertakes search and rescue operations. Rescues carried out this financial year included:
- nine search and rescue operations in the Torres Straight successfully returning vessels and people to land. Customs utilises Ready Response Vessels based on Thursday Island and four outer islands (Darnley, Saibai, Mabuiag and Coconut) and relies on Torres Strait Customs officers' local knowledge to safely attend to vessels in distress and provide the necessary assistance to bring them to safe haven
- five Indonesian fishers found stranded and dehydrated on Ashmore Islands in November 2004. The fishers had been separated from their vessel and washed ashore. They were given medical attention and fresh supplies of food and water before being returned to their vessel
- a Portuguese sailor who became critically ill on board a fishing ship in the Southern Ocean in December 2004. The Customs and Fisheries patrol vessel Oceanic Viking was diverted from its patrol to respond to the medical emergency. The sailor was taken to Fremantle where his condition was stabilised prior to his return home
- a maxi yacht which had been disabled in strong winds and was dragging its anchor towards rocks on the western side of Dent Island in Queensland. A Customs vessel towed the yacht with its 14 passengers and three crew, to a safe anchorage in the lee of Hamilton Island.
Customs worked with Australian government agencies to undertake capacity building activities in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. These activities aim to improve the ability of Australia's nearest neighbours to effectively manage their borders and reform and modernise Customs.
Economic impact
Customs undertakes a variety of activities on behalf of government that contribute to the economic performance of Australia. These include:
- revenue collection through the administration of duty, indirect taxes and other border-related revenue
- revenue protection through compliance activity, which prevents illegal products from entering the market
- protection of Australia's offshore oil and gas facilities
- anti-dumping and countervailing administration which supports the Government's objective of creating competitive Australian industries and strong sustainable economic growth. It provides, where appropriate, Australian manufacturers and producers with a remedy against injurious dumping by overseas industries, or injurious subsidisation by foreign governments, of goods exported to Australia
- administration of the Tariff Concession System which:
- – assists Australian industry to become more internationally competitive
- – encourages investment in efficient and sustainable industries
- – reduces costs to the general community through the removal of import duties where there is no local manufacturer of substitutable goods
- contribution to Australia's trade facilitation agenda through participation in free trade agreement and World Trade Organization negotiations, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation work program and bilateral customs cooperation initiatives. These efforts result in reduced transaction costs for goods flowing between Australia and its trading partners
- contribution by Customs overseas posts to the development of trade by working with other customs administrations and organisations to establish and implement measures to support border management and trade facilitation
- contribution to international supply chain security initiatives.
Global Reporting Initiative environmental indicators
The Global Reporting Initiative has more than 100 optional performance indicators for sustainability. Customs has chosen to report against 24 which are relevant and for which data is available. Those not reported against are listed at the end of this section.
EM1: Environmental Management System (EMS) Conformance |
Customs conforms with its Environmental Management Policy by: |
EM2: Environmental performance improvement process |
Customs measures performance against energy targets and energy audit requirements as required by the government. |
The CEO committed Customs to both the Greenhouse Challenge and the Environmental Management Policy. |
EM3: Integration of environment with other business management systems |
Customs incorporates environmental factors into its highest-level planning documents, the Corporate Priorities and Corporate Strategic Risk Profile. These documents are integral in the planning and performance framework, and form the basis of planning at all other levels. |
Building specifications and leases integrate some environmental aspects. Customs is requesting five per cent new green (renewable) energy in all new major contracts where the head lease is held by Customs. Life cycle costing is incorporated into procurement processes. |
EM5: Environmental liabilities |
Customs identified sites that have asbestos and other hazardous material. Occupational health and safety guidelines are in place for hazardous substances and managing the identified risks. |
* This increase is due to the Customs Container Examination Facilities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Fremantle becoming fully operational.
^ Figures were not available at the time of publication.
EN3: Direct energy use (transport)* |
2002–03 |
2003–04 |
2004–05^ |
Passenger Vehicles |
2256 |
838 |
.. |
Automotive Diesel (L) |
37 135 |
35 607 |
.. |
Petrol (L) |
612 233 |
595 335 |
.. |
Total GJ |
22 430 |
21 756 |
.. |
Distance Travelled (km) |
6 217 853 |
5 547 908 |
.. |
MJ/Distance Travelled (km)/annum |
3.61 |
3.92 |
.. |
Other Transport |
Automotive Diesel (L) |
2 795 958 |
3 660 243 |
.. |
Total GJ |
107 924 |
141 285 |
.. |
Entity Totals |
Total GJ |
197 657 |
234 206 |
.. |
*These figures cover leased vehicles only. Owned vehicles, vessels and leased aircraft are not included.
^Figures were not available at the time of publication.
EN8: Greenhouse gas emissions |
2002–03 |
2003–04 |
2004–05^ |
Office – Tenant Light And Power |
CO2 /person/annum (tonnes) |
4.70 |
4.90 |
.. |
CO2 /m2/annum (tonnes) |
0.19 |
0.18 |
.. |
Total CO2 /annum (tonnes) |
14 |
14 469.70 |
.. |
Office – Central Services |
CO2 /person/annum (tonnes) |
880.05 |
0.91 |
.. |
CO2 /m2/annum (tonnes) |
0.85 |
0.12 |
.. |
Total CO2/annum (tonnes) |
0.13 |
2670.26 |
.. |
Other Buildings |
CO2 /m2/annum (tonnes) |
0.08 |
0.09 |
.. |
Total CO2 /annum (tonnes) |
5769.93 |
7840.58 |
.. |
Passenger Vehicles* |
Total CO2 /annum (tonnes)—LPG |
3.60 |
1.47 |
.. |
Total CO2 /annum (tonnes)—Diesel |
112.09 |
107.48 |
.. |
Total CO2 /annum (tonnes)—Petrol |
1700.17 |
1653.27 |
.. |
*These figures cover leased vehicles only. Owned vehicles, vessels and leased aircraft are not included.
^Figures were not available at the time of publication.
EN17: Initiatives to use renewable energy sources and increase energy efficiency |
Global Reporting Initiative social indicators
HR12: Description of policies, guidelines and procedures to address the needs of indigenous people. This includes indigenous people in the workforce and communities where the organisation operates or intends to operate |
Customs works in partnership with the Australian Public Service Commission and several other Federal agencies to pilot the Indigenous Entry Level Recruitment Initiative. This initiative seeks to increase the number of indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders in the Commonwealth public sector. |
Customs participates in the National Indigenous Cadetship Project. The National Indigenous Cadetship Project is aimed at improving the professional employment prospects of Australian indigenous and Torres Strait Island peoples. |
Customs participates in a whole-of-government Indigenous Graduate Recruitment strategy aiming to recruit indigenous graduates for the 2006 Customs Graduate Trainee program. |
LA1: Breakdown of workforce, where possible, by region/country, status (employee/non employee), employment type (full time/part time), and by employment contract (indefinite or permanent/fixed term or temporary). Also identify workforce retained in conjunction with other employees (temporary agency workers or workers in co-employment relationships) segmented by region/country |
Total |
Full-Time |
Ongoing employee |
1 025 |
1 138 |
760 |
630 |
153 |
434 |
31 |
109 |
4 280 |
Non-ongoing |
102 |
8 |
4 |
8 |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
124 |
Full-time total |
1 127 |
1 146 |
764 |
638 |
153 |
436 |
31 |
109 |
4 404 |
Part-Time |
Ongoing employee |
43 |
233 |
153 |
106 |
26 |
58 |
1 |
5 |
625 |
Non-ongoing |
12 |
6 |
- |
3 |
- |
2 |
- |
- |
23 |
Part Time total |
55 |
239 |
153 |
109 |
26 |
60 |
1 |
5 |
648 |
Casual |
Non-ongoing |
1 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
3 |
Total |
1 183 |
1 386 |
917 |
747 |
179 |
496 |
33 |
114 |
5 055 |
Males |
750 |
832 |
564 |
446 |
97 |
304 |
20 |
57 |
3 070 |
Females |
433 |
554 |
353 |
301 |
82 |
192 |
13 |
57 |
1 985 |
Total |
1 183 |
1 386 |
917 |
747 |
179 |
496 |
33 |
114 |
5 055 |
* Includes staff employed under the Public Service Act 1999, staff on leave, higher duties and staff on loan from other agencies. Figures do not include contractors. Numbers are headcount and reflect actual occupancy (derived from Customs Human Resource Information Systems). Financial statements report on staff numbers by full-time equivalent (FTE).
# ACT figures include National Marine Unit.
LA2: Employment net creation and average turnover |
In 2004–05 Customs staff turnover rate was 6.62 per cent.6 The total number of people recruited from external sources into Customs for 2004–05 was 636. |
6 Only ongoing staff are included in the separation rate.
LA4: Policy and procedures involving information, consultation and negotiation with employees over changes in the reporting organisation's operations (eg restructuring) |
Customs employee participation strategy meets the Government's objective for employers to more directly engage their employees on matters affecting the relationship between employees and employers. Customs has established a Staff Council comprising of management, staff and union representatives. Staff Council considers and discusses longer-term strategic directions and emerging issues impacting or potentially impacting Customs employees. |
LA6: Description of formal joint health and safety committees comprising management and worker representatives and proportion of workforce covered by any such committees |
Customs Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Policy outlines the formal workplace arrangements to promote effective communication and consultation on OH&S matters. An OH&S Agreement is in place with the key union covering Customs staff on formal consultation arrangements. Customs OH&S Committees provide a forum for consultation and communication for all staff. The National OH&S Committee oversees the effectiveness of the national policy framework while regional OH&S committees ensure Customs OH&S management systems are working effectively in each region. Designated work groups promote consultation on OH&S issues. Health and safety representatives are elected in each designated work group to represent the health and safety interests of all employees within the designated work group. |
LA7: Standard injury, lost day and absentee rates and the number of work related fatalities (including contracted workers) |
OH&S Performance Indicators* |
Performance measure |
2002–03* |
2003–04* |
2004–05* |
Accepted compensation incident claims |
243 |
215 |
173 |
Claims per 100 Staff (headcount) |
4.83 |
4.47 |
3.42 |
Accepted compensation incident claims with time off work |
134 |
115 |
98 |
Accepted compensation incident claims resulting in 5 or more days incapacity |
71 |
55 |
64 |
Claims of 5 or 5 or more days incapacity per 100 Staff (headcount) |
1.41 |
1.14 |
1.27 |
Quality of Return to Work Outcomes |
87% |
91% |
88% |
Annual absenteeism** |
.. |
.. |
12.17% |
* as at 31 July of that year
** Annual absenteeism rates are calculated at the end of the March quarter
LA10: Description of equal opportunity policies or programs, as well as monitoring systems to ensure compliance |
The Customs Workplace Diversity Policy defines workplace diversity within the Customs and Australian Public Service context. It outlines Customs legislative obligations in relation to workplace diversity and supports adherence to these obligations. It promotes workplace diversity and guiding principles, defines workplace diversity roles and responsibilities for all employees. The policy is embedded into national business plans. |
The Workplace Harassment Policy includes information on formal and informal approaches to resolving cases of harassment and reinforces the role of the APS Values and Code of Conduct. It clarifies roles and responsibilities for staff. |
This year's focus has been on promoting awareness of these policies through the delivery of training and induction and supporting this with promotional and support materials and activities. Online training modules covering APS Values and APS Code of Conduct, workplace diversity, and cross-cultural awareness are developed and implemented. Customs workplace harassment reporting process is developed, providing a safe and confidential means of reporting harassment. |
LA11: Composition of senior management and corporate governance bodies, including male/female ratio and other indicators of diversity as culturally appropriate |
Female |
Born Overseas* |
Indigenous |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
Senior Executive Service |
15 |
40.5 |
5 |
13.5 |
- |
- |
* Number of staff born outside Australia
LA12: Employee benefits beyond those legally mandated |
Customs is committed to providing a range of flexible work practices to assist employees to balance personal responsibilities and lifestyle preferences with organisational requirements. Benefits that could apply depending on individuals' employment conditions include: |
LA16: Description of programs to support the continued employability of employees and to manage career endings |
The Customs Framework for Learning and Development 2005-2007 integrates a range of current learning and development policies and programs to provide staff with opportunities to develop, from their entry into Customs and throughout their career. |
The most significant aspect of the Framework for Learning within Customs is the Customs Development Program. The Customs Development Program identifies the core skills required of all staff and specialist skills that vary depending on assignment. The Program enables staff and supervisors to satisfy individual as well as organisational needs. Various development options are available, including formal modules through tertiary institutions. Staff who attain the required number of competencies are eligible to receive a nationally recognised qualification. This assists in entry to other tertiary courses. |
Customs has a well-established approach to workforce planning, succession management and career reassignment. In 2005, a succession management and career reassignment policy and toolkit was developed to improve these processes within Customs. |
SO1: Description of policies to manage impacts on communities in areas affected by activities, as well as description of procedures/programs to address this issue, including monitoring systems and results of monitoring. Include explanation of procedures for identifying and engaging in dialogue with community stakeholders |
Customs Regulatory Philosophy ensures that Customs intervention activity is targeted and that impact on legitimate traders or travellers is minimised. Customs fosters an environment of co-operation with clients to achieve client compliance with the laws and regulations administered by Customs. |
The Customs National Consultative Committee (CNCC) is a national forum for communicating policies, practices and procedures relevant to the trading community. The CNCC works in partnership with the trading community to resolve perceived difficulties and is the major forum for regular consultation on a wide range of matters. |
Customs Complaints and Compliments Management System provides clients with an opportunity to provide feedback on any aspect of their dealings with us. Feedback is used in assessing ways that the service can be improved. |
Frontline is a cooperative program between Customs and industry groups involved in international trade and transport. Frontline members draw on their commercial expertise to identify suspicious behaviour and assist Customs. |
The Customs Hotline is a community participation program that draws on the knowledge and expertise of people living and travelling throughout Australia to report potential or actual illegal activities. |
Customs increased use of technology minimises the intrusive nature of inspection and expedites the process where intervention is necessary. For example, x-ray of cargo and baggage can, at times, eliminate the need for physical examination. |
In February 2004, Defence Minister Senator Hill and Justice and Customs Minister Senator Ellison signed Indigenous Land Use Agreements with the people of Dauan and Badu Islands in the Torres Strait to install High Frequency Surface Wave Radar facilities. Local communities were provided employment opportunities during preparation of the site and construction and there will be ongoing employment during the trial for residents undertaking the role of caretakers. |
Global Reporting Initiative economic indicators
EC3: Cost of all goods, materials, and services purchased |
$537.345m* (this includes resources received free of charge $145.832m) |
* these figures relate to operating expenditure only and exclude any capital acquisitions
EC5: Total payroll and benefits (including wages, pension, other benefits, and redundancy payments) broken down by country or region for 2004–05 ($m) |
New South Wales |
92.129 |
Victoria |
57.607 |
Queensland |
49.882 |
Western Australia |
33.238 |
South Australia |
10.288 |
Tasmania |
1.918 |
Northern Territory |
7.716 |
Corporate, including the Australian Capital Territory |
102.756 |
Total |
355.534m |
PA11: Describe procurement policy of the public agency as relates to sustainable development |
Customs complies with relevant government policy contributing to sustainable development. These policies include environmental policies as outlined in the Department of Finance and Administration, Financial Management Guidance No. 10 Guidance on Complying with Legislation and Government Policy in Procurement—January 2005. Customs complies with these policies through including model environmental clauses in request for tender documentation and considering (and possibly excluding) tender responses that identify non-compliance with government policies. |
PA12: Describe economic, environmental, and social criteria that apply to expenditures and financial commitments |
Customs applies economic, environmental and social criteria in its procurement operations that are outlined in the Department of Finance and Administration, Financial Management Guidance No.10 Guidance on Complying with Legislation and Government Policy in Procurement— |
January 2005. Customs complies with these policies through evaluation criteria in procurement documents that consider economic, environmental and social criteria such as occupational health and safety, whole-of-life costing and ozone-polluting substances. |
Purchasing requirements consider a wide range of policies that meet government requirements for effective purchasing. Examples include: |
APS Values, Ethics and Standards of Conduct, Chief Executive Instructions, Occupational Health and Safety Policy, Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. |
PA14: Percentage of the total value of goods purchased that were registered with voluntary environmental or social labels and/or certification programs, broken down by type |
Customs requests tenderers to provide details of any certifications they might have as part of the tender process. A quality accreditation may provide tenderers with higher tender scores. |
Customs does not report against the following global reporting initiative indicators either because data is not available, or the indicator is not relevant to the sustainable performance of Customs:


text:
CPX-2 TT 9mm
Two-tone, no manual safety
Two-tone, no manual safety
- Barrel: machined from bar stock with 7 lands and grooves having a 16‐1 right hand twist.
- Receiver: 7075‐T6 aircraft grade heat treated aluminum alloy, machined from bar stock.
- Grip/Frame: Made from Zytel polymer, with ergonomic finger grooves and an integral "RE-COIL CUSHION" on the back‐strap.
- Recoil Spring System: all steel, fully encapsulated for ease of disassembly and reassembly.
- Slide Lock/Release: steel with a Zytel over molded polymer extension for ease of operation.
- 3 dot sight system: steel rear sight, adjustable for windage only with locking screw.
- Hammer firing system: double action only, internal hammer with inertial firing pin to prevent accidental discharge if dropped.
- Double action trigger: specifically designed for shooter comfort and accuracy by designing the system to have a smooth effortless, consistent 9 pound trigger pull.
- Magazine: included with (2) double stack, 10 round capacity magazines with finger extension base installed and 2 flat magazine bases included.
- Trigger Guard Lock: custom designed to properly fit and be child resistant. Includes 2 keys.
Barrel Length: 3.1"
Height: 4"
Length: 5.7"
Width: 1"
Weight: 15oz
Stainless Steel MSRP $314
Natural stainless steel finished by ceramic abrasion, producing a non-reflective satin finish.
Stainless Steel Black Nitride MSRP $314
Self-lubricating, hard nitride treatment with scratch-resistant black nitride surface.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Case File: Ajax and Hector
Police Reports
Case Description: Early in the Trojan War, Hector challenged any Greek soldier to single combat. At first the Greeks would have none of it, but eventually a few came forward and Ajax took up the challenge. Hector and Ajax duked it out all day. Though Ajax did manage to wound Hector, neither one could really get the best of the other. In the end, the two decided to call it a draw. They were both so impressed with the other that they gave each other parting gifts. Hector awarded Ajax his sword, and Ajax gave Hector his girdle.
Addendum: Both of these gifts seemed a little cursed. Ajax actually ended up killing himself with Hector's sword, and Hector ended up having his dead body dragged behind Achilles' chariot with Ajax's girdle.
People who Shmooped this also Shmooped...


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Hmm, it's been so long since I have even written/typed my thoughts out. So I am not the best artist in the world but I enjoy drawing. I need to use my Wacom Bamboo more. The pen just hurts my hand so much and it is very weird looking at the monitor while I drawn. I see so many spectacular works from friends and from many people on DA. You all are inspiring.
When I was a teenager, I used to paint all the time. I'd paint flowers, stars, rainbows, and other fun, whimsical things. I'd do my flowers in an O'Keefe style. I just love blending colors together with the strokes of a paintbrush. It's not so easy for a n00b trying to use a drawing tablet like me. :/ It's alright, I'll get the hang of it.
Anyway, done for now. Not a whole lot to talk about art-wise. Just stay tuned for some wonky art from me. xD I have my Pikachu that I made on my Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 and my rainbow cake I love to make. The camera truly does no justice to the beautiful colors or the delicious flavor of the cake.


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It's not a secret, it's making the change. Eating healthier and working out, that's it. Having a workout partner helps, but you can only count on you in the end. Keep motivated. Lots of times you'll eat unhealthy or not work out, just get back to it. That's it.
If you are afraid of again failing with your weightloss attempt, make a priority list of everything you want to accomplish in order to live a healthy lifestyle. Concentrate only on item 1 & work on that until you are comfortable w/the change b4 moving onto numbers 2, 3, 4, etc. Find what works for U
Spark points is the key to my motivation and learning how to change my life and health.
Don't starve yourself and don't limit yourself to an unrelasitic diet. Make a lifestyle change.306


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NIST Authors in Bold
Author(s): | Raghu N. Kacker; Ruediger Kessel; Klaus-Dieter Sommer; Xin Bian; |
Title: | Metrological Compatibility and Statistical Consistency |
Published: | September 05, 2010 |
Abstract: | The traditional concept of consistency in multiple evaluations of the same measurand is statistical. The statistical view of consistency does not match the modern view of uncertainty in measurement; in particular, it does not apply to the results of measurement expressed as measured values with standard uncertainties. Therefore, the International Vocabulary of Metrology, 3rd ed (VIM3) introduced the concept of metrological compatibility of multiple results of measurement for the same measurand. We prefer the term metrological consistency for the VIM3 concept of metrological compatibility. This paper discusses the differences between the two concepts of consistency |
Proceedings: | Proceedings of the Tenth International Symposium on Measurement and Quality Control, |
Location: | Osaka, |
Dates: | September 5-9, 2010 |
Keywords: | interlaboratory evaluations, uncertainty in measurement, metrolgogical compatibility, statistical consistecy |
Research Areas: | Math |
PDF version: | Click here to retrieve PDF version of paper (128KB) |


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All this seems to be - from a distance, at least - just another manifestation of how insular and inward-looking the British have become over the last few years. No doubt British TV is full of programs about World War II and how "we stood alone against the enemy" and all that stuff. The British don't appear to understand that the USA regards the UK merely as a useful English-speaking outpost of the EU and nothing more. Nor would "the Commonwealth" be particularly interested in propping up the former Imperial master. So the reality is that a fairly small island in the North Atlantic with a modest and nearly static economy that has far too little innovation and far too little get-up-and-go needs to be part of Europe and continue to try to push the EU towards more trade-friendly policies and away from chronically misconceived French ideas that in the last resort, after France has wrecked its own economy, "les allemandes doivent payer pour tout."
Equally, instead of resenting "foreigners" for their entrepreneurial hard work, the Brits need to get up off their complacent over-stuffed backsides and try a little entrepreneurial activity for themselves. The nation that invented the phrase "more than my job's worth, mate" can use all the outside injection of dynamism and courage it can get.
The GDP of Poland is about 500 billion euros.
In 2012, Poland received 11 billion Euros from EU. This is far from the "majority from the EU budget".
Still, you have problem grasping a simple fact that the majority of Poland's GDP is manifestly NOT made up of EU handouts, no matter what other numbers you showed. Can't you understand that 11 billion Euros is not exactly half of 500 billion?
Besides, let's agree that the EU budget is not solely determined by the generosity of the UK contribution.
Because the Dutch have no weight... Poland is a 40m country and a leader in the region attracting support from similarly minded Czechs, Slovaks and the Balts.
All together this is a 60 m people block with a rapidly modernizing economy.
FYI: As far as I remember cutters claimed once that Poland is a Christian Orthodox country.
Your claim was about the whole country, so you meant that either the whole or the significant majority of the population of Poland is Orthodox Christian. Prove it with some reliable sources of information available online.
BTW, send a link to some infomation about that church.
"And it makes me very happy to learn, that modern Poles seem to feel alike towards Germany today. "
A few more movies like "Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter" and those naive feelings will evaporate, as they evaporating, for different reasons, even towards US, which has a much more positive balance of actions towards Poland compared to Germany and Germans.
Only cold-blooded political calculations will remain.
However, I agree with you that for UK to leave EU would be shoot in the foot. The time of the British Empire passed a while ago.
While Polish fighters fought for Britain, and Britain only fought Germany when Germany attacked France and England, I hardly feel Poland is a leach, except for British Marxists who can't get over the strong Polish Catholicism which rejected Soviet Communism time and time again, from the Polish Bolshevik war to WW II, to Solidarity. It was British Labour which stymied efforts for ammunition and weapons to be loaded onto boats for Poland involved in the 1918 Polish Bolshevik war, which almost led to the spread of Communism to Western Europe, had it not been for the Polish victory. Communist agents in the British WW II government did everything possible to help the Soviets at the cost of Poland. The Milliband brothers, according to their own words, were brought up in a Marxist household, and this is one context that should be considered when discussing the Milliband opposition to anything Polish. It was one of them who tried to insinuate that the Poles were responsible for the Holocaust, which is a known Communist tactic to defame Poland. Thanks to the uproar after his comment, Milliband reluctantly apologized. We now read in the Morning Star, a British Communist paper, that a Ukrainian accused of being an SS Commander responsible for killing innocent Polish Nationals, is somehow a Polish SS Commander, with no mention of the Polish victims. The Guardian is notorious for falsely insinuating that Poles were complicit in the Holocaust, when, in fact, they were victims of it, by amongst other phrases, comments and misleading reporting, repeatedly use the "Polish Concentration Camp" phrase, or "Nazi Camps in Poland", instead of calling such camps "German camps in occupied Poland". Poland is a leach? I think British colonialists were leaches, as are British Communists. God Bless the rest!
God defined your boundaries, it's called the coastline. But whenever your lords, the likes of Balfour, Curzon or those who delineated Northern Ireland try to do it on land, they generally make a dog's dinner of it. Well, perhaps you're not God.
"Both are large; both are outside the euro zone; both are proponents of a Thatcherite economic credo." I find this claim to be laughable in respect to both countries.
I could not have said it any better. It is very difficult to understand why Britain keeps lamenting its deminishing influence in Europe. It all began with Maggie´s rebate. You cannot expect to be treated as an equal if You don´t want to contribute Your fair share of the burden. And now that Britain is playing with the idea of leaving the Union completely it complains that others are looking to Germany as their anchor at stormy seas. That is simply ridiculous. And why is there this envy towards Germany? Why does Britain feel threatened by an increase of German influence? Have we pronounced any intention to invade the isles? No! And we won´t! You should be reliefed instead, that with Germany there is at least one big nation that mainly defends also british positions. Germany is always looking for compromise. We want Britain to stay. Partly because of our own interest, as Britain is necessary to counterbalance France, but mostly because we see Britain as an important centerpiece of Europe and as our friends. Yes. You read correctly. As our friends. Thankfulness for British participation in Germany´s liberation outweighs the feeling of revenge for the deliberate bombing of German civilians by far - no matter how many documentaries are broadcasted about the war. We remember the war just like You do. But we are in general far less preoccupied by stereotypes about Britain. We simply do not feel threatened.
And it makes me very happy to learn, that modern Poles seem to feel alike towards Germany today. Perhaps Britain should trust in its own strengths and have confidence when it comes to defend British interests in Europe rather than rely on other nations.
I repeat the question, as you apparently have some problems with understanding it:
"Your claim was about the whole country, so you meant that either the whole or the significant majority of the population of Poland is Orthodox Christian. Prove it with some reliable sources of information available online." As you have already shown in this thread that you have difficulties with calculating fractions I make it easier for you and define a significant majority of population of Poland as 30 million. So you need to prove that 30 million of Polish citizens belong to the Orthodox Christianity. Will you make the cut?
The chapel you linked to has "Anglican" listed as the denomination, so explain why you randomly throw it into your hilarious attempts to prove that majority of population of Poland is Christian Orthodox.
P.S. Have you considered working as a comedian?
referred to the Thatcherite part, to be clear
Yes, it is a Roman Catholic church, not an Orthodox one. What was your point? Is trying to prove the existence of 30 million Orthodox Christians in Poland too much of cognitive load for you?
The primary duty of every government is to look after the interests of its own country. Great Britain, given its geographic position, can afford to withdraw into "political splendid isolation" as its primary interest is the widest possible free market for trade, the more so that London as the leading financial capital is in effect the world's the largest off-shore business centre. British industry eg the suppliers of major sub-assemblies to Airbus, are far more positively "pro-european", as are corporations formed by foreign inward investors such as the Japanese. Great Britain inherently dislikes anything that smacks of political union as being against its own particular interests. It has always gained in the past from the many immigrants it has attracted over the centuries, as a place of relative freedom and economic opportunity. Each wave of immigrants was initially greeted negatively as it took time to be integrated. No doubt however, the same process is already taking place with the post 2004 migrants from the eastern EU, notwithstanding the rantings of the populist gutter press led by media belonging to the American and ex-Australian Murdoch in a time of economic recession. Great Britain has also been the source of massive out-migration to what once was its Empire.
Poland is in a completely different environment. Geographically and politically sandwiched between Germany and Russia it has to chose which neighbour it prefers to align with. "Splendid isolation associated with dreams of regional imperialism" is not a realistic option, though kept alive by some populistic nationalist right wing politicians. The latter seem to conveniently forget that Poland's smaller neighbours don't want "Polish leadership" as it smacks of arrogant domination/bullying with standard Russian behaviour being more than sufficient. Other than the exception of the 19th Century and WWII, historically relations with the many predecessors of what is now modern Germany were actually quite good (Poland's western frontier was largely static and stable for over 400 years). In post 1989 Europe close integration with the other member states of the EU as well as militarily within NATO means that Poland is currently in its best ever (for 300 past years) position. Germany is by far the largest and most important trading partner of Poland and Poland is a larger trading partner for Germany than Russia. Poland sees the UK as a free market democracy, with a generally pragmatic political leadership (notwithstanding various ex-Marxist politicians) which provides a useful counterbalance to Franco-German hegemony. The withdrawal of Great Britain from the EU would herefore upset this balance, which would not be in Poland's interest.
As to France it continues in Cardinal Richelieu's definition of State policy from the early 17th century: "France does not have friends it has common interests". Thus for Poland to expect support from France would be fundamentally naive. It shouldn't be forgotten that France was against Poland's membership of the EU as it directly weakened France's position. "En parler mais jamias y penser" (talk about it but never think it)was French policy. It was thanks to Germany and Great Britain that the Polish application for membership was successful, as France led the anti-bloc of southern (Catholic) EU States.
Given the above, it should not therefore be surprising that Poland would like Great Britain to remain in the EU. Withdrawal from it into a relationship similar to that of Norway with the EU does not seem to give Great Britain any real advantages, other than for the bankers of the City of London who want to maintain and expand their relatively unregulated activities. Poland has more to gain both in the short and long term from EU membership as it is by far the fastest way of modernising and integrating the country with what is the world's largest trading bloc. A Great Britain inside the EU is of both political and economic interest to Poland.
So you confirm that there is a difference between Roman Cahtolic and Christian Orthodox Church. Let's celebrate that you managed to see the difference eventually, although it took you around a year to understand it!
The were preparing for war, not only because they had a dangerous lunatic running Germany, but also because they had en even more dangerous lunatic running the Soviet Union. And in the 1920s they were actually fighting wars with Germany and Russia for Poland's very existence. Please remember that Germany, Russia and Austria were the former powers that had carved up Poland for themselves in the late 18th century. Poland had through their own determination and willingness to fight (including a significant contribution from Polish Americans) only just de facto regained independence in 1918, before the Versailles Conference. Please remember that as a fledgling state created out of the war-torn fringes of three distinctly different empires, Poland was extremely poor, far more impoverished than Germany, Britain or the USA during the Great Depression. And yet ordinary Poles were donating wedding rings and family heirlooms for the creation of a modern army with tanks, an air force and navy. In WWII Poland produced the 4th largest military force on the Allied side in Europe. Poles having the top scoring squadron during the Battle of Britain did not come from nowhere, they didn't learn to fly like that overnight, but in an excellent school in Dęblin. Must finish this later
I don't know what the question of age should have to do with it, but for your information Poland as a Christian state is over a thousand years old, i.e. much older than Lord Curzon and pre-dates the first Protestant settlers in Northern Ireland, a term that is actually even younger than the Second Republic of Poland. But who am I to teach you history if you haven't even heard of the Balfour Declaration? Like your lofty lords, you have no need of understanding history, geography or any other foreign nonsense, I'm sure.
Thankfully, Radek Sikorski is not Poland, nor is Donald Tusk, and their days of representing Poland are numbered. Last Sunday they lost in pre-term local elections in the traditionally left-wing town of Elbląg to the conservative party of Law and Justice, and this was not the first in a series of setbacks, including the referendum to sack that wretched PO mayor of Warsaw, Gronkiewicz-Waltz. Currently former Nazi and Stalinist oppressors of Poland are treated by those in power as stars, I mean the likes of Bauman, Kiszczak, Jaruzelski, Kamprad or Grass. But this is bound to change. I don't exactly approve of the booing out of Bauman from a University of Wrocław conference, but I also don't exactly approve of the mayor of Wrocław officially inviting Stalinist oppressors of our mothers and fathers to university conferences. "Kogoś zaprosił?" that bit of chanting I fully approve of. And it is heartening that the sense of outrage is most strongly felt by the young, Civic Platform's greatest victims.
That's why I think Timothy Garton Ash should not worry. Poland has not changed. It is still the same, except now perhaps we've learnt we have common interests rather than friendships. As always, we have common interests with Germany, we have common interests with Britain, we have common interests with the USA, we even have common interests with Russia.
Countries dont have friends, they have only interests. And Polands main interest is a strong politically and economically eu - thus Britain being an anti-eu country means the two will not get along - until one changes its strategy and foreign policy.
So why does Poland want a strong eu? The answer is very simple, and it is economic. Germany became rich on the back of the eu and the eu is making Poland rich too. So for example, export out of Poland in 2003 was roughly 40 billion euro, in 2012 the same figure has grown to nearly 140 billion euro. And all this because of liberalisation of trade. Similarly, eu structural funds are the second largest investor in Poland, after direct foreign investment.
On top of that people can live and work in 27 different countries, and unlike the monolingual English, Polish people make very good use of these freedoms of movement as they are bi-lingual, sometimes even tri-lingual.
Eu membership can be very beneficial to those who can use it, unfortunately Britian is not using it to its advantage and Poland is.
Britain's election campaign: April 18th: Ed Miliband maintains momentum
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Jesus: The way of Jesus is our way. Before and in all things we value Jesus as the image of the invisible God. We long to worship Jesus by imitating his life and ministry. Both our theology and praxis is relentlessly Christological. He is our model, mentor, hero, mediator, savior, judge, king and ruler of all. All of our values flow from what we understand about his character, concerns, and the practices of his ministry. (Matt 28:19, John 1:3, John 13:15, John 14:6, John 17:18, Rom 5:10, Eph 1:22-23, Phil 2:5, Col 1:15-20, Col 2:9, Col 3:17, Heb 1:3, Heb 12:2, model [Eph 5:1-2], mentor [John 13:14-15, Acts 26:16], hero [Rom 1:4], mediator [1Tim 2:5, Heb 7:25], savior [Acts 4:12, Titus 3:6], judge (Rom 2:16, John 9:39, 2 Tim 4:1), king (Rev 1:5, Rev 19:16) and ruler of all (Col 1:18, Rev 17:14).
The Poor: We will remember the poor because we believe that God does. We believe that they are central to his mission in the world. It is our conviction that God is always on the side of those who have no one on their side. For that reason we believe the church should also stand on the side of the poor, and in so doing stand in solidarity with the heart and work of God. Jesus' own ministry is our model. We welcome all people but prioritize the poor in our ministry concern, allocation of resources and advocacy. We do this, not because the rich and middle class are less important to God, but because they already have access to resources and are able to advocate their own cause. It is our belief that the church should therefore prioritize and remember those who have less, and access to less, so that in all things there might be equality. (Deut 15:7, Deut 15:11, Psalm 82:3, Psalm 140:12, Prov 14:31, Isa 61:1, Jer 8:21, Jer 22:16, Matt 11:5, Matt 25:40, Mark 2:17, Luke 4:18, Luke 6:20, Luke 7:22, Luke 14:23, Luke 18:22, 2 Cor 8:9, 13, Gal 2:10).
The Lost: We value lost people because they are spiritually poor. We believe the good news of the kingdom is the most important commodity with which the church and the people of God have been entrusted. For this reason we will engage the lost. We believe that the church should not expect lost people to come and find them, but that we are called and sent to "seek and save that which was lost". Again, we will emphasize the life and ministry of Jesus by prioritizing those who have not yet heard and believed the good news. This is our first and most important task, even in our ministry to the poor and the lost (who could be considered the spiritually poor). They are our first concern. (Gen 22:17-18, Matt 4:23, Matt 10:7, Matt 18:14, Matt 28:19, Mark 13:10, Luke 15:4, 6, Luke 19:10, Luke 24:46-47, Acts 1:8, Acts 10:42, Rom 10:14-15 and 15:20, Gal 2:10).
The Whole World: While we understand that our most transforming ministry will take place where we are planted and in our own city, we commit ourselves to the mission of God to reach the whole world. We believe that Jesus came as the savior, not of one people, but of the whole world. We value the world because we believe that God is a global God. We assume responsibility for the world, not because we believe we can reach it alone, but because we accept the mandate of the great commission and the heart of God to love and sacrifice for the discipleship of the whole world. We accept this apostolic mandate to send and be sent into every part of the world and our place in partnership with the global church. (Psalm 22:7, Psalm 24:1, Isaiah 41:9, Matt 24:14, Mark 16:15, John 1:29, John 3:16-17, John 4:42, John 6:33, John 6:51 John 8:12, John 12:46-47, John 17:21, Romans 5:18, 2 Cor 5:19, 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:14, Revelation 14:6).
Culture and Ethnicity: Similarly, we affirm that every culture and ethnicity, while imperfect, reflects the mosaic of God's own image and together we better glorify and serve the God of creation. We value every people, language and culture in our city and in the world. We believe that the church of Jesus Christ was meant to demonstrate the power of the gospel through reconciliation, unity, and the beauty of a multi-ethnic community. For that reason we do not just admire multi-ethnic communities, but purpose to become one. We do not believe in being color blind. Rather, we hope to accept and include the beauty and wisdom of every culture in our city and in our communities. (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 67:2-3, Isaiah 56:7, Daniel 7:13-14, Joel 2:28, Hag 2:7, Malachi 1:11, John 17:20-22, Acts 10:34-35, Acts 17:26-27, Romans 14:11, Romans 15:5,6, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Ephesians 2:14-22, Philippians 2:10-11, Revelation 5:9-10, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 14:6).
Contextualization: We will not trust in franchising or empire building through paradigm propagation. Rather we will value the empowerment of every micro church community to contextualize the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel to the people they hope to reach. Our paradigm is that there is no one paradigm. We believe in contextualized structures with revolutionary content. Learning from the ministry of Jesus we will not try to bring surface transformation (to culture or structures) but rather contextualize our structures to what people can and will understand, so that the revolutionary message of the kingdom and the liberating work of the Holy Spirit will be received. (John 1:14, Acts 16:3, Acts 17:22-23, Rom 12:2, 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, 1 Cor 9:19-23, 1 Corinthians 10:32-33, Philippians 2: 5-8, {the passages of the ministry of Jesus and his parables are all examples of contextualization}.
Zeal and Contemplation: We will value the paradox of exuberance and zeal in worship, community life, and evangelism while at the same time whole heartedly pursuing the rhythm and profound importance of silence and solitude for personal contemplation and rest. We affirm seasons of zeal and charismatic expression of the greatness and majesty of God along with seasons of silence and stillness before God. We value each and both together. We hope for a fusion of the two in a life of zeal, lived ablaze and unashamed for God, and contemplation, lived in deep awareness and quiet appreciation for God. (Zeal: Psalm 47:5, Psalm 98:4, Isaiah 42:13, Matthew 11:28-28, Matthew 17:5, Mark 6:31, John 10:27, Rom 12:11, Titus 2:14, Contemplation: Psalm 46:10, Psalm 48:9, Psalm 95:6, 2Cor 3:18, Col 3:2, 1 Peter 1:13,).
Simplicity: We commit to live a life free from clutter and the allure of materialism. We affirm that every believer and every community of believers has a responsibility to renounce the sins of its own people. As North Americans we renounce the slavery and idolatry of materialism by embracing a simple lifestyle. We do not believe that money or things are in themselves evil or to be avoided, but that the love of money and things is one of the greatest perils facing western Christianity in our time. We willingly use material things and wealth for the service of the kingdom, but not for personal fulfillment or inappropriate luxury. In so doing we again value the poor who have less, justice in living for equality and personal holiness in pursuing a whole hearted devotion to God. (Ecc 5:10, Matt hew 6:19, 24, 26, Matt 10:10, Mark 4:19, Mark 12:43, Luke 9:3, Luke 12:15, 33, 1 Tim 6:7, Hebrews 13:5).
Sharing and Giving: Because we value community and simplicity, we commit ourselves to both sharing and giving. We will share because it promotes relationship and breaks the bondage of possessiveness. We believe the western doctrine of personal property is imperfect and needs to be tempered with the more biblical value of generosity and sacrifice. In sharing what we have with others we confess that God is the true owner and that we are only stewards in his vineyard. We will also give, because in giving we destroy the grip of materialism over our hearts because we release the resource, wealth, or possession completely into the control of another. For that reason we will pursue relentless generosity and the holding of all things in common. For this reason we encourage our people to give as often and as generously as they can, and to consider themselves stewards of the rest. Likewise, the collective finances of the church and ministries should set an example in this regard. (Mal 3:10, Matt 25:40, Luke 3:11, Acts 2:43, Acts 4:32, Acts 20:35, 2 Cor 8:7, 2 Cor 9:10-13, 2 Cor 8:13, Eph 4:28, 1 Thess 2:8, 1 Tim 6:18, 1 John 3:17).
Each Other: We commit ourselves to each other. We believe that God calls us into his mission together, never alone. We value mission and ministry done in community. We believe that God did not intend for us to be alone, and that isolation, fear of each other, and spiritual competition are cancers in the church. We believe that moral and theological failures, controlling leadership, and many of our emotional struggles stem from a lack of community. We value free, committed and loving friendship. Whenever possible we will lead through teams and the sharing of life at every level with trusted friends who are an extension of the grace and presence of God in our lives. (Ecc 4:9-10, Matt 18:20, John 15:13, Acts 2:44, Romans 12:4-8 and10, Romans 13:8, Romans 15:7, 1Corn 10:24, Gal 6:2, Eph 4:11-13, Eph 5:21, Phil 2:3-4, Heb 3:15 and10:24-25, Hebrews 6:10-11, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 John 3:16, 7-12, Rev 4:4,10).
Kingdom Mission: We will do mission because we are sent people. We believe that the church is not the church until it is engaged in the mission for which God has called it into His marvelous light. We crave healing, discipleship and intimacy with God. But we believe that all of these things come in large part through obedience to the mission. We believe that healing comes through offering healing to others, that discipleship does not primarily take place in a lecture but through doing. We believe that intimacy with God comes from being in his presence and through submission to His will, by doing what He is doing. Since we believe that the life of Jesus and the early church demonstrate that God himself is with the lost and the poor of the earth, proclaiming the good news of His kingdom, we also believe that when we co-labor with Him as workers in that harvest field, we not only bring the kingdom into that place, but that we also experience the deepest and truest intimacy with God. (Psalm 51:10-13, Isaiah 58:6-8, Matt 9:35-38, Matt 25:40, Matt 28:18-20, Mark 1:14-15, 38, Luke 4:18-21, John 4:34,35, John 6:27, John 9:4, John 12:26, John 15:9-10, John 17:18, Acts 1:8, Romans 15:20, 1 Cor 15:58, 2 Cor 5:18-19, Eph 2:10, Philippians 2:3, Col 3:17, 23, 1 John 3:18, 1 Peter 2:9).
Humility: We commit to pursue humility as one of the chief virtues. We expect it in leadership, in community and relationships, in our theology, in the contextualization of our mission, in our prayer, and even in our appraisal of ourselves and others. We are convinced that humility is necessary for following Jesus as an individual and as an organization. In individuals we hope for humility in all our relationships and leadership roles. As an organization we hope to be a flexible learning organization, looking always to refine our commitments and expand our understanding and revelation of God and His call upon us. We believe in the living prophetic word of God, that it can be heard and obeyed, yet we also believe that we are flawed listeners and should always listen and follow with humility. (Psalm 25:9, Psalm 51:17, Psalm 147:6, Psalm 149:4, Prov 11:2, 18:12, 22:4, Ecc 5:2, ISA 29:19, 57:15, 66:2, Mic 6:8, Matt 5:3, 11:29, 18:3-4, 20:26, 23:12, Luke 1:52, 6:20, 10:21, 14:10, 17:10, 18:13-14, 22:26-27, John 13:14, Rom 11:20, 12:3, 10, 16, 1 Cor 1:28, 3:18, 10:12, 13:4, 2 Cor 11:30, 12:6, 10, Gal 5:26, 6:14, Eph 4:2, Phil 2:3-11, Col 3:12, James 1:9, 3:1, 4:6, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 Pet 5:5-6).
Biblical Justice: We will live for the biblical concept of justice. We have to take a prophetic stand against all kinds of evil, not only spiritual, but also societal. All sin and injustice is the enemy of the church and the kingdom of God. The search for the kingdom of God is also a search for justice. They are the same longing. In the kingdom we find ultimate justice, and biblical justice is more than just punishment for wrongdoing and oppression, it is also the restoration of wholeness, equality, and peace between people and with God. Our value of justice is a call to seek the welfare of every person in our city and in the world that we can influence. It is to hope and work for the kingdom of God to come to bare on the place where we are. For that reason, our value of justice will mean action in the places where we have power, as well as the pursuit of justice in the proclamation of the kingdom wherever we have voice. (Psalm 9:8, Psalm 96:10, Prov 31:9, Isaiah 1:15-17, Isaiah 56:1, Jer 29:7, Ez 34:16, Hosea 12:6, Amos 5:15 and 24, Micah 6:8, Matt 5:6, 6:10, Matt 6:33, Matt 12:18, Matt 18:5, Matt 25:40, Luke 11:42, Luke 18:7-8, Luke 19:8-10, John 2:14-17, Acts 6:1-6, Eph 6:12, James 1:27, 1 John 3:17,18).
Passion: With Jesus as our model, we want our lives to be characterized by passion. In the most surface sense it means that we should be moved by our relationship with God, and maintain a high level of dedication in all we do for Him. In a deeper sense it means that we value suffering and sacrifice. We see Jesus' willingness to suffer for the lost and the hopeless as a model for all who would come after Him, and that we likewise are to take up our cross and to walk the way of suffering. Not seeking pain or persecution, but not shrinking back from it either. We are convinced that the clearest expression of the gospel is love, and that love is forever re-defined by Jesus in His death for us. We value the kind of radical faith that expects every believer to be ready and willing to suffer and sacrifice for Jesus, His name and His kingdom. We realize that this value is not mainstream, and that it contradicts the cultural current of prosperity and the idea that in all things God wants to give us personal success. We denounce this idea and affirm that the kingdom will not be built through selfish ambition, but through passionate, sacrificial love. (Psalms 63:1, Matt 10:22, Matt 16:24-25, Matt 26:38-39, Rom 5:3 and 8:18, Luke 9:61-62, Luke 14:27, Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 1:5, Ephesians 5:1-2, Philippians 2:3, Phil 3:10, Col 1:24, Col 3:17, 23, 2 Timothy 2:3, 2 Timothy 3:12-15, 1 Peter 3:17, 1 John 3:16).
Prayer and Dependence on God: We commit ourselves to live a life of prayer because we believe that only God can accomplish what He calls us to do and that God should receive the glory. For this reason, we believe the church should be committed to night and day pray for the world, the coming of the kingdom and a deeper revelation of God. Without prayer and dependence on God for all things we are destined to either fail or become conceited in our success. We value constant prayer because we desire to know God, to deepen our understanding and revelation of his love for us and the world. We value prayer because we believe we are all called to the ministry of intercession and we want to see his kingdom come. We believe that can only happen if we ask the Lord of the harvest to send us and other laborers in to the harvest field. (2 Chronicles 7:14, Ezra 8:23, Psalm 17:6, Psalms 91:1-2, Isaiah 26:9, Jeremiah 29:12, Matthew 6:9-13, Matthew 6:33, Matthew 9:38, Mark 1:35, Luke 11: 9-13, Luke 18:1,7, Acts 2:42, Acts 6:4, 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, I Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Tim 2:1-2, Hebrews 5:7, James 5:13-16, 1 Peter 4:7, Jude 20).
Microchurches: We affirm micro church as the most basic expression of the church and therefore, our ecclesiology is simple. When believers work together in sincere worship, and genuine community to accomplish a part of the mission of God, they are the church. Worship, community and mission then are the ecclesial minimum. We encourage biblically appointed leadership, sacramental worship, the pursuit of the gifts of the Spirit and giving, but these are desired and not required to be considered a micro church. We believe that these churches also need the larger network, leadership and resources of a city wide church to strengthen, empower and help direct the micro church expression. We gather for worship, training, and as leadership primarily to strengthen and supply the micro churches in their labor to obey Jesus and proclaim the good news of the Kingdom to their mission field. We believe the larger church expression exists to serve the smaller and not the other way around. (Matthew 18:20, Luke 10:1 Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:24, 31, Acts 6: 3-4, 6, Acts 14:23, Acts 16:4-5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, 1 Timothy 3: 2-7, 1 Peter 2:5,9, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Acts 20:20, Romans 15: 5-6 Romans 16:3-5, Colossians 4:15, Matthew 28: 19-20, John 4:23, I Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, Ephesians 2: 22, Ephesians 4:16, Colossians 3:16, , Hebrews 6:10-11, Hebrews 10:24-25, Revelation 1:6).
The Bible: We trust the authority, reliability and truth of all Scripture. In humility, we acknowledge we do not fully understand God and the world he made. For that reason we rely on the bible to be the rule of our faith, teaching us what we do not know, challenging and leading us away from our misconceptions, self deceptions, and convenient ideas about life and God. We don't choose the parts of the bible we prefer or want to believe, obey or understand; instead we submit to all of Scripture believing it reveals the truth that is beyond us. We believe that Jesus is the word of God and for that reason we don't just obey Scripture, we love it. Because, like a mirror it shows us who we really are, and like a window it opens our lives to the beauty, wonder, and love of the God we long to know. (Deut. 4:10, 2 Sam 7:28, 22:31, Neh. 8, Ps. 18:30, Prov. 30:5, Isa. 40:8, Jer. 15:16, Matt. 4:4, 2:29, Luke 8:21, 11:28, 24:32, John 1:1-17, 5:24, 5:39, 8:51, Acts 8:35, 18:11, Rom. 3:2, 1 Tim. 4:13, 2 Tim. 3:16, Col. 1:25, 3:16, 1 Thess. 2:13, Heb. 4:12-13, 1 Peter 4:11, 2 Peter 3:16, 1 John 2:5, Rev. 3:8, 19:9).
Empowerment: We affirm the priesthood of all believers. We affirm that each person who has given their life in surrender to Jesus and his cause has a unique calling from Jesus to fulfill in mission and in the church. We believe that this is only possible by the Spirit of God living in and working through each and every believer. It is the Spirit of God that empowers. Therefore we work towards empowering each and every believer to hear and fulfill the calling of Jesus on their life. This value of empowerment is expressed in all spiritual gifts and callings for all people regardless of race, gender or age for the sake of Jesus' mission and for the equipping of all believers towards their maturity. (Matthew 4:18-20, Matthew 10:1-15, Mark 6:7-13, Luke 4:18-19, Luke 6:12-16, Luke 11:13, John 14:26-27, John 15:1-4, John 15:26-27, John 20:22, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 4:29-31, Acts 6:3, Romans 8:9-11, Romans 8:15-17, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Cor 2:4-5, 1 Cor 2:9-16, 1 Cor 12, 1 Cor 14:1, 1 Cor 16:19, Gal 5:22-26, Eph 4:11-13, Eph 4:10, 1 Tim 1:18-19, 2 Tim 1:7, 2 Tim 4:19, James 4:10, 1 Peter 2:9-10, Jude 20-21, Rev 1:5-6).


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