Moses and King Solomon are two of the most popular figures in the Hebrew Bible, but what do we really know about their lives, and how did they reach such legendary status?
… Read more…
New Human Rights Website for Victoria
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission launched a new website, accompanied by a refreshed organisational brand.
… Read more…
Line of Remembrance – Indigenous Deaths in Custody
Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group members together with members and supporters of Shepparton’s indigenous community have organised a silent vigil in which 437 stakes bearing messages will be placed around Victoria Park Lake marking the number of indigenous people who have died in police custody since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody ended in 1991. The “Line of Remembrance” will commence at 09:30 am Saturday, 18 July 2020. The earlier event was a washout, due rain and vandalism.
… Read more…
Multicultural Commission Condemns Racism
The Victorian Multicultural Commission unequivocally condemns racism and commits to taking a leadership role in addressing racism in Victoria. We unequivocally condemn all forms of racism, vilification or discrimination directed at someone because of their colour, ethnicity, faith or national origin.
… Read more…
Advice on Wearing a Mask
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has updated his advice to recommend anyone living in metro Melbourne or Mitchell Shire to wear a face covering or cloth mask when leaving home for one of the four permitted reasons – where it is not possible to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres from other people.
… Read more…
US woman becomes the first observant Sikh to graduate from top military academy
An Indian-American woman has become the first observant Sikh to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Anmol Narang, who was newly made second lieutenant, is a second-generation immigrant who was born and raised in Roswell, Georgia.
… Read more…
What’s the point of interfaith dialogue?
ABC Radio program “God Forbid” examines Interfaith Dialogue. Peaceful solutions to the world’s problems are hard to find — and religious tensions are part of the problem. What needs to happen so we can all share in the bounty of peace? James Carleton joins a panel of three people who have made interfaith dialogue their life’s work.
… Read more…
Bendigo Islamic Community Centre takes shape as construction continues
The first stage of the Bendigo Islamic Community Centre is taking shape, with the walls of the structure now up. The first sod was turned at the Bendigo East site a little under a year ago, and last month the first concrete slab was poured. This week, the walls of the first building were erected.
… Read more…
Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia
What is it like to grow up Aboriginal in Australia?
This anthology, compiled by award-winning author Anita Heiss, attempts to showcase as many diverse voices, experiences and stories as possible in order to answer that question. Each account reveals, to some degree, the impacts of invasion and colonisation – on language, on country, on ways of life, and on how people are treated daily in the community, the education system, the workplace and friendship groups.
Accounts from well-known authors and high-profile identities sit alongside newly discovered voices of all ages, with experiences spanning coastal and desert regions, cities and remote communities. All of them speak to the heart – sometimes calling for empathy, oftentimes challenging stereotypes, always demanding respect.
Shabbat in time of Quarantine
Shabbat observance fulfils a special purpose in nursing home settings. In the residence where I serve as cantor and hospice chaplain, Shabbat marks a unique kind of transition. The week, structured with activities and sessions, makes way for a quieter time of simple togetherness. It also signals the weekend, when spouses, children, and grandchildren, off from work and school, visit their loved ones and provide companionship.
Above all, Shabbat is an anchor that connects people to a past they may fear they’re forgetting and helps shape the identities of those whose lives look different in their new surroundings. Here, we talk about our Jewish Shabbat Prayer in time of quarantine.
Silent reminder of Indigenous deaths in custody
Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group members together with members and supporters of Shepparton’s indigenous community have organised a silent vigil in which 437 stakes bearing messages will be placed around Victoria Park Lake marking the number of indigenous people who have died in police custody since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody ended in 1991. The “Line of Remembrance” will commence at 10:00 am Saturday, 11 July 2020.
… Read more…
Meditation, prayer, perspective: How faith is helping some through the struggles of coronavirus
Shu Xian Leong has spent most of the year in a small Sydney apartment, thousands of kilometres from her family in Singapore. “Being in isolation kind of took a toll on me,” the third-year design student says. “I was in the same space that I was working, eating and resting, and that ultimately made me feel really lonely.”
… Read more…
Buddhism: Meditating on Whiteness
Don’t think for one moment that the Buddha was white. Don’t even think that Jesus was white, much less the avatar Krishna. (Krishna means “the dark one”.) White privilege is insidious and lays a fundamental challenge to our place in the world. While we may be good people, good citizens and take up community service, what is our appreciation of whiteness vis-a-vis people of colour? Here, an American Buddhist practitioner engages in meditation and reflections on whiteness and its impact on the community.
… Read more…
Black Lives Matter Exhibition: Goulburn Valley Voices
There will be a silent Community Voices Exhibition at Victoria Park Lake Shepparton on Saturday 13 July 2020 from 10:00am – 4:00 pm. Social Distancing will be strictly enforced at this event. This event is not a gathering at one place; it is an opportunity to walk and reflect, walk and learn: 437 deaths to reflect upon.
… Read more…
Statement from Victoria Police
Victoria Police is aware of recent media reporting and online community discussions suggesting that certain communities are to blame for the latest rise in confirmed coronavirus cases.
We know this may cause many people to feel that they are being unfairly targeted. We want the community to know that we stand by you.
If you have been racially abused or are the victims of a prejudice-motivated crime then please speak to police.
Racism and discrimination have no place in our society. Every Victorian has the right to feel safe and secure in the community. Incidents of racism, discrimination or vilification based on religion, culture or ethnicity not only have direct impact on individual victims, but also the whole community.
We take all reports of this nature seriously, and we are here to support you. Anyone who experiences or witnesses these crimes is encouraged to report them to their local police station.
For more information on prejudice motivated crime, please visit the Victoria Police website. In an emergency, please call Triple Zero (000).
Statement on Islamophobia
The Islamic Centre of Victoria has recently produced a Statement on Islamophobia. The statement explains Islamophobia, violent extremism and countering violent extremism. The statement has significant support from public leaders and the religious communities of Victoria. We provide a truncated summary of this document.
… Read more…
Lockdown and Mental Health: Meditation and The Sanctuary Experience
In times of lockdown – and hard lockdown, mental health is most important for those living in lockdown – especially hard lockdown. The Brahma Kumaris commumity of Australia has produced a series of meditations which may be of help in bringing peoples to inner stillness. We take a look at The Sanctuary Experience and how it can help people in lockdown.
… Read more…
Covid-19 Racism is not acceptable
The Australian Government is currently running an information campaign to support and inform multicultural communities in response to an increase in reports of racist behaviour targeting people of Asian appearance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the campaign we are reaching out to the most affected communities through community leaders such as you.
… Read more…
Self-Care Is Not Selfish: 7 Jewish Reminders for Caring for Yourself
A tale is told of a well-known 17th-century Chasidic rabbi named Zusya, who, when he died, went to stand before the judgment seat of God. As he waited for God to appear, he grew nervous thinking about his life and how little he had done.
He began to imagine that God was going to ask him, “Why weren’t you more like Moses, a great leader?” Or, “Why were you not wiser, like King Solomon, or braver, like King David?” But when he faced the accounting before God of his life, God simply asked him, “Why were you not more like Zusya?”
Seminar: Forgiveness and Optimism
The Centre for Optimism presents Dr Fred Luskin of Stanford University in conversation at The Centre for Optimism via Zoom on the topic of Forgiveness and Optimism. This Zoom event will take place in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane 9 July 2020 at 7pm.
… Read more…