Peace, harmony - and an equal footing.

The post below, together with the two posts further below it, forms a triad.

1. The post of 19 May 2018, emphasized the common elements people from different cultures share.
2. The post of 20 May 2018, emphasized the Jewish/Christian feast of Pentecost which has ever been a festival of multiculturalism before the latter term had been invented.  
3. To-day, 21 May, 2018, the emphasis is on the nations of the Pacific Ocean.

In spite of the many avenues of humanity to come together to live in peace and harmony, we are still not making a success of the ventures available to us: governments, religions, political organisations, civil institutions.  We seem to last for so long or go so far geographically and then we explode and fracture into divisions, wars, and bondage.  

One way or another, forms of bondage and slavery and oppression exist across the world - even in places where one would consider they no longer existed or had no need to exist.  

In Australia, most forms of payment for work are regulated by industrial awards and agreements.  However, many industries are notorious for trying to avoid regulated payments to their employees. The very meaning of the term "employee" is frequently dodged so that such people hide under the term "contractor".  

This can often mean that the so-called contractor unwittingfly foregoes legal entitlements such as sick leave, holiday entitlements, workers compensation for workplace injuries, holiday pay and long service leave.  And, of course, the employer (well, that term is avoided of course) - does its level best to displace anything that can be used to define an employer/employee relationship - does not approve of trade union membership

LISTENING TO THE FEMALE VOICE : WOMEN AND FAITH

From: Fatih Erol Tuncer [mailto:Fatih.Tuncer@acu.edu.au]
Sent: Thursday, 15 February 2018 4:37 PM
To: Aziz Cooper
Subject: Upcoming Public Panel Discussion on Listening to the Female Voice: Women and Faith

On behalf of Australian Catholic University and Australian Intercultural Society, I am delighted to invite you to:

Listening to the Female Voice: Women and Faith

A Public Panel Discussion

Date:  Tuesday 6 March 2018
Time:  6.00 – 7.30 pm
Venue:  Christ Lecture Theatre, Australian Catholic University Melbourne, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy.
Registration:  Registration is free via https://womenandfaith.eventbrite.com.au

A copy of the event flyer is attached for your information. You are also invited to pass these details on to those in your networks who may be interested.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Fatih Erol Tuncer

Project Officer, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy

Australian Catholic University

Office 460.4.23, Level 4, 250 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002,  Australia

T: +61 3 9953 3920

E: fatih.tuncer@acu.edu.au

W: www.acu.edu.au

Australian Catholic University & the courses offered by the University are registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Provider registration codes: ABN 15 050 192 660 CRICOS Reg. 00004G. This correspondence is for the named person’s use only. It may contain confidential or legally privileged information or both. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by this transmission. If you receive this correspondence in error, please immediately delete it from your system and notify the sender. You must not disclose, copy or rely on any part of this correspondence if you are not the intended recipient. SPEAKERS DETAILS Speakers details are here.

Disclaimer: This communication is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review,retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking any action in reliance on,this communication by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please inform the City of Darebin immediately by return email and delete the material including all copies from the computer. The City of Darebin makes no express or implied representation or warranty that this electronic communication or any attachment is free from computer viruses or other defects or conditions which could damage or interface with the recipient data,hardware or software. This communication and any attachment may have been modified or otherwise interfered with the course of transmission. ...

Victorian Government Forum on LGBTI inclusion in faith communities

From The Star Observer

Victorian Government Forum 

on LGBTI Inclusion in Faith Communities 

Dear Faith and Community Leaders 

As part of the commitments made by the Victorian Government in the 
Victorian. And proud of it. Multicultural Policy Statement, 
you are invited to participate in a Forum on LGBTI Inclusion 
in Faith Communities to be held at: 

Woodward Conference Centre, 
10th floor, Melbourne Law Building (106) 
185 Pelham St, Carlton VIC 3053 

on 

Thursday 17 August 2017, 9:30 am – 3.15 pm

The Forum will build upon discussions held at last year’s Roundtable on LGBTI Youth in Faith Communities, which focused on mental health and well-being and the increased risk of self-harm and suicide experienced by LGBTI Victorians 
(see attached Roundtable report). 

Research conducted among LGBTI people of faith in Victoria has highlighted the need to create safe, welcoming spaces in our communities and places of worship, and to create supportive networks for faith leaders in which to share experiences and learn from each other. 

The Forum will address the role that faith and community leaders play in fostering inclusive environments for LGBTI people of faith. Guest speakers will include Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Robin Scott MP; Minister for Equality, Martin Foley MP; leaders from diverse faith communities; and LGBTI people of faith. 

Participants will have the opportunity to share best practice approaches, including the provision of pastoral care to LGBTI people of faith, the use of inclusive language and interpretation of scripture. 

We invite you as a faith and/or community leader to contribute to a sensitive and respectful conversation to support positive mental health and well-being outcomes for LGBTI people of faith. 

Please advise of your attendance, including any accessibility and dietary requirements, to shoshana.silverman@dpc.vic.gov.au by no later than 8 August 2017. 

We look forward to welcoming you to the Forum. 

Best regards, 

Helen Kapalos                                                              Rowena Allen                                 
Victorian Multicultural Commission Chair                    Victorian Gender and Sexuality Commissioner                 




Shoshana Silverman  | Senior Policy Officer |  Community Resilience and Social Cohesion Branch 
Department of Premier and Cabinet  | Level 9, 1 Spring Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000 
T 03 7017 8174 |  www.dpc.vic.gov.au  |  www.vic.gov.au 
________________________________________________________ 
 

Women of Islam - 9

Daisy Khan (USA, 1958-Present)

In 2005, Daisy founded the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE), the only cohesive, global movement of Muslim women around the world that works to reclaim women's rights in Islam using a human rights and social-justice based framework.

 

Further, in 2008, Daisy spearheaded the creation of the Global Muslim Women's Shura Council, whch is comprised of eminent Muslim women scholars, activists and lawyers from 26 countries.  The Council's statements have informed numerous university curriculums and legal opinions. 

 

Daisy is viewed as a credible, humane and equitable voice within the global Muslim community.

 

 

 

From the Huffington Post

Women of Islam - 8

Dr. Amina Wadud (USA, 1952-Present)

In 2005, Amina was the first female imam to lead a mixed-congregation prayer. This act caused a shock wave to run throughout the Islamic world.

 

Some viewed it as an awakening and a return to the equalitarian way of Islam. Others viewed it as an offensive innovation.

 

According to Amina, "The radical notion that women are full human beings is already inscribed in Islam by our notion of tawhid. So the binary that tries to give women less than full human dignity is transformed into a relationship of equality and reciprocity."

 

Despite individuals' views on the subject, she has created a platform where diverse Muslim views can be voiced.

From Huffington Post

Women of Islam - 7

 

Shirin Ebadi (Iran, 1947-Present)

In 2003, Shirin became the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

As a judge in Iran, she was the first woman to achieve Chief Justice status. However, she was dismissed from this position after the 1979 Revolution.

 

As a lawyer, Shirin has taken on many controversial cases and in result, has been arrested numerous times. 

 

Her activism has been predicated on her view that, "An interpretation of Islam that is in harmony with equality and democracy is an authentic expression of faith. It is not religion that binds women, but the selective dictates of those who wish them cloistered."

From Huffington Post