Shepparton Interfaith Network will join in the Coffee and Chocolate for Religious Harmony event at Lemon Tree Cafe in Fryer St, Shepparton on Thursday 15 December beginning at 10:30.
Come and join us at Lemon Tree Cafe, for our Chocolate and Coffee Day. Bring chocolate! Thursday 15 December – 10:30 at Lemon Tree Cafe!
Chocolate and Coffee Day for Religious Harmony
Religious diversity is increasing in Australia. As people from a wide range of countries and cultural backgrounds start to call Australia home, we are faced with dilemma of how we integrate everyone into a harmonious society. Clearly, in this day, we are facing some major controversy around this topic and finding acceptance within it is vital for us to maintain our peaceful way of life.
“Let’s talk about that over coffee,” is a common phrase in our society. It is something people do from all walks of life, all backgrounds, cultures and religions. It is a way that people connect, learn about each other and find common ground.
This is exactly what people were doing on 15th December 2014, when they walked into the Lindt Café on Martins Place, Sydney. The last thing they expected was a gunman to hold them captive. The gunman claimed he was doing it in the name of Allah. Sadly 2 innocent people lost their lives that day, however in the aftermath something amazing happened. The #Iwillridewithyou response came.
People refused to be “terrorised” by this event and instead responded in love and understanding for their follow Australians. A spirit of Religious Harmony swept the county. In honour of this, and with a passion to unite people of all religions and cultures in this country, I urge people to come together, over Chocolate and Coffee on the 15th December to make a stand for Religious Harmony. Wherever you may be, with your friends, families, workmates, groups or organisation, share together and start the conversation.
Anniversary
It’s the anniversary of the 2014 Sydney hostage crisis, on 15–16 December 2014 when a lone gunman, Man Haron Monis, held hostage ten customers and eight employees of the Lindt chocolate café located at Martin Place in Sydney, Australia. The Sydney siege led to a 16-hour standoff, after which a gunshot was heard from inside and police officers from the Tactical Operations Unit stormed the café. Hostage Tori Johnson was killed by Monis and hostage Katrina Dawson was killed by a police bullet ricochet in the subsequent raid. There is a commemoration of this event on 15 December. See https://www.facebook.com/ChocolatePeace
Tori Johnson
Tori Johnson was the cafe manager. He was a good and wonderful man who brought joy and happiness into other people’s lives, particularly children who were allergic to most chocolates. Tori obtained a recipe from overseas and made special batches of chocolate for these children.
Come and join us at Lemon Tree Cafe, for our Chocolate and Coffee Day. Bring chocolate! Thursday 15 December – 10:30 at Lemon Tree Cafe, Nixon St, Shepparton.
