William Cooper Walk, 5 December 2010, Federation Square: an Aboriginal and Jewish celebration

AThank you, Avraham, for keeping Desert updated on this.....

1) There will be a new feature on William Cooper on the "7.30 Report" one night this week on ABC-TV, probably this Wednesday 1^st December.
Watch out for it - also it will be archived on 7.30 Report's website!
2) On Sunday 5th December, Uncle William's Great-Grandson, Kevin Russell, will retrace Uncle William's famous 1938 Protest Walk from Footscray to the City. Kevin will personally walk the entire route, with invitees joining him for certain parts – 
However, ALL are WELCOME to join in from the
“William Cooper Footbridge” (Footscray Station), at 9.00am approximately.
The Walk is culminating in a 
huge Jewish/Aboriginal celebration at Federation Square from 11.30am - 2.00pm. 
NB: Aunty Joy Murphy-Wandin will WELCOME to COUNTRY 
BYO instruments, celebrate Jewish Chanukah and enjoy Aboriginal musos and dancers!
All details on the flier above - and background info from this website:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171662672858332
Please, please!... spread the word -EVERYWHERE!
Place this Event on blogs, in Newsletters, print out and distribute, and of course through Facebook - let us know your RSVP by saying "I'm attending!"  
Teachers/Youth Leaders - bring the whole group!
3) William Cooper entourage joining Kevin Rudd and Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on the following Sunday 12th and Monday 13th December - when the main Holocaust Museum in the world, Yad Vashemin Jerusalem, hosts a tribute to its first ever Indigenous Australian. 
(Fundraising for this trip continues - please see Facebook of Kevin Milstein for details). 
Looking forward to seeing you as this amazing journey continues 
of Uncle William being honoured far-and-wide... 
"when you see evil, even 1 person can make a difference..."
- if only the Federal Government of Australia 
would show the interest shown by other Governments...
Please reply-email with any requests for further details, etc. 
Thank you, 
Shalom, 
A
Further Info - 0413 962 037

Advent or advent: a celebration of life in Christ or a life of consumerism?

Advent for those in the Western tradition

begins on 28 November

Advent for those in the Eastern tradition

begins on 15 November.

Advent to is a time of looking forward.  Below is a dictionary definition of the word "advent".

ad·vent  (dvnt) n. 1. The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important: the advent of the computer. 2. Advent a. The liturgical period preceding Christmas, beginning in Western churches on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and in Eastern churches in mid-November, and observed by many Christians as a season of prayer, fasting, and penitence. b. Christianity The coming of Jesus at the Incarnation. c. Christianity See Second Coming. [Middle English, the Advent season, from Old French, from Latin adventus, arrival, from past participle ofadvenre, to come to : ad-, ad- + venre, to come; see gw- in Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

As you will note from the derivation of the word, it refers to an arrival or a coming.  Currently, advent calendars are arriving in the shops which rely more on sale because of novelty or chocolate consumption with no hint of the what Advent means.  Please note, I have used the capital letter for Advent which relies on the spiritual context and lower case for the word when used in relation to consumerism.

I take the trouble for remembrance of this because Advent is a time of preparation to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and to remember that while there was a First Advent as faithful people looked forward to His coming, this is also a time of preparation as faithful people look forward to His second coming when He returns to reclaim His own.  

So, with the help of Christine Sine's beautiful video above, let us take time to emphasise Advent and truly enter into the the spirit of the Christmas season with a life lived in Christ.  If we only celebrate advent, what is it that we are commemorating? An introduction to and preparation for consumerism and life with monopoloistic retailers and confectionary and noveltry producers?

,

The Uncluttered Heart: Making Room for God During Advent and Christmas

 

Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen: Daily Scripture and Prayers together with Nouwen's Own Words

 

  We Light the Candles: Devotions Related to Family Use of the Advent Wreath

 

 

Simply Wait: Cultivating Stillness in the Season of Advent

  

Advent and Christmas Wisdom From G. K. Chesterton 

 

Preparing My Heart for Advent

  

A Family Advent: Keeping the Savior in the Season 

Mining disaster, Pike River, New Zealand: please pray for the men, their families and friends, and those involved in their rescue.

From here.

It is looking bleak.
Families hope against irrational hope.
Our boys, Kiwis and Aussies, need to be home
with those that love and care for them.
Whatever is the outcome,
may love, grace, blessing, peace and providence
prevail in the lives of all.

Josh Ufer from Townsville, Queensland

Willy Joynson from Tinana near Maryborough, Queensland

Grew up in Howard, an old coal mining town.

Further reading:

Mine blast:  'considerable force'

(above link includes video with CEO explaining explosion)

Related articles

• New Zealand mine rescue grinds slowly as hopes fade (reuters.com)
• Officials Admit Possible Loss of Life in New Zealand Mine Blast (nytimes.com)
• New Zealand Mine Explosion Traps New Zealand Miners (Video) (rightcelebrity.com)
• "Coverage of the Pike River mine explosion" and related posts (sciencemediacentre.co.nz)
• Robot sent in to assess toxic fume-filled mine as hopes fade for two Britons among 29 miners trapped (dailymail.co.uk)
• Mine blast hurled me about like a rag doll - NZ survivor (thesun.co.uk)
• New Zealand Mine Explosion: Hopes fade for two Britons among 29 miners trapped in toxic fume-filled pit (dailymail.co.uk)
• New Zealand mine explosion: conditions underground - Telegraph.co.uk (news.google.com)
• Australian miner had bags packed (heraldsun.com.au)
• New Zealand mine explosion: conditions underground (telegraph.co.uk)

The coal miners of Pike River, NZ and their families are in my thoughts

Please go here to leave a message.

Mine says:

Thinking and praying for those below the ground and those above. 

Peace be to you and may your men come home to where they belong

Women's Interfaith Network and National Council of Jewish Women of Australia celebrate Chanukah

Chanuka Interfaith Celebration

promoted

by Women's Interfaith Network, Melbourne.

Film night to raise funds for TEAR’s Pakistan Flood Relief fund

OSAMA - Inspired by a true story, this film which centres on three generations of women, deeply affected by the advent of the Taliban's rule in their land. "Osama," is a Golden Globe award winning film. It was the first feature film to be made in post-Taliban Afghanistan. Some review comments: “a powerful film”…. “ offers valuable insights into a foreign culture that few of us have more than a cursory knowledge about” …. “great films like Osama, thoughtfully considered, give us the ability to withhold blanket judgments and come that much closer to the truth”
· Note: The film is rated M. It is not suitable for children under 15 years of age.

Picture from here

· John Tresidder is TEAR’s Pakistan coordinator. He will have been back from Pakistan from less than one week. He will give an up-to-date description of the post-flood situation in Pakistan, how TEAR is involved in the re-development of communities and how future funds will be spent.

· Pakistan Christian Fellowship has kindly offered to supply supper for the evening, so there will be plenty of tasty snacks to enjoy during the evening.
· Suggested donation: $15 (all funds go to TEARs Pakistan and North India Flood Appeal)

WHO: 

ETAG (Eastern TEAR Action Group) are organising the night.

WHERE:
Blackburn South. 

Because this is being held at a private address, 

Miss Eagle is not including this in the post. 

If you are keen to come and need more information,

 please email misseaglesnetwork(at)gmail(dot)com. 

WHEN:

Saturday 20 November, 7:30pm – 10pm

WHY: 

“In the past I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world, but nothing like this”

(UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon). 

In the worst flooding in 80 years, up to 2.6 million people in Pakistan have been made homeless. The waters have swept through 124 districts and have led to the widespread loss of houses, crops and livestock, as well as civil infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water and irrigation systems and schools. While the world’s media has largely moved on from the situation in Pakistan, the reality of re-building from one of the worst natural disasters in history continue for millions of people. This night will help raise much needed funds as well as provide an opportunity to hear an on-ground account of the current situation.

NOTE: 

BYO Bean bag or comfy cushion (not essential but will help with seating arrangements!)   

Further reading:

Pakistan floods and the timber mafia

Pakistan  flood damage 9.7 billion dollars: World Bank, ADB

Will the Pakistan floods strike again

Pakistan's floods are not just a natural disaster

Pakistan's floods: is the worst still to come?

International Union  for the Conservation of Nature Pakistan   

Related articles

• How the floods have destroyed trust in the Pakistan ruling class (blogs.telegraph.co.uk)
• Pakistan PM urges donors for patience on reforms (reuters.com)
• US Allocates USD500M from Pakistan Aid Law for Reconstruction Efforts (devex.com)
• China vows support for Pakistan's post-flood reconstruction (topinews.com)

Australian Quaker Tapestry Project

The Australian Quaker Tapestry Project

Religions and ethics: public broadcasting in Australia

Miss Eagle has been a radio listener since she was brought home from hospital after birth during World War 11.  Don't have much time for commercial radio.  I love public radio.  
In Australia this is the Australian Broadcasting Commission known as the ABC.  I am also a fan of the BBC.  Until a couple of years ago, the ABC used to have a marvellous half-hour program, The Religion Report.  This was a very sharp program which covered religion in a current affairs manner.  It was a a great shame when the powers-that-be-at-the-ABC closed this down.  Nothing has quite taken its place. 

At about the same time, the Religion anf Ethics portal took over from a previous net presence.  The ABC, like the BBC, is remarkable not only for the quality of programming currently produced. It is remarkable for its archival material. 

As a public broadcaster, the ABC covers all manner of spiritual values and faiths under its Religion category.  This means that there is much to explore and some to leave behind like scraps on a plate.  Generally speaking, the religious broadcasts of the ABC enriches me.  In the main, I find it - as often as not - a sound substitute for Sunday sermons of varying quality. 

Below is what is on offer this week. In these wonderful days of the internet, we don't have to rely on shortwave radios. We can live stream media as if it is right next door. So please see this post as your introduction to Australia's ABC. Enjoy!

The sacrifices of war
ABC Religion and Ethics - 11 Nov 10
In his book War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning, Chris Hedges, a war correspondent, tries to explain why he became so addicted to war that he could not live without being in a war. War had quite simply captured his imagination, making it impossible for him to live "normally." He…
More
 
Seeking asylum in Australia, 1888-2010
ABC Religion and Ethics - 11 Nov 10
The legacies of our past weigh heavily on us. Our attitudes to asylum seekers - those who appear on the horizon, from over the seas, not-white in appearance and uninvited - have deep roots in our formative history as a nation. Indeed such attitudes were constitutive, in a quite l…
More
 
The moral dilemma of asylum seeker policy
ABC Religion and Ethics - 09 Nov 10
On the issue of asylum seekers, I think we have reached a point of crisis. If it were up to me, and if I did not care about the wider political consequences, I would allow all asylum seekers who arrive spontaneously on Australian shores to live in the community after a short peri…
More
 
Rights in conflict: The problem of defamation of religions
ABC Religion and Ethics - 10 Nov 10
The "defamation of religions" issue was first brought to the United Nations' Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1999 under the agenda item of "racism." According to Pakistan, members of the OIC were grow…
More
 
This week on ABC TV
Compass - The New Noffs
ABC1 | 14 November 2010
Presented by Geraldine Doogue
The story of Ted Noffs, a maverick Methodist minister, whose groundbreaking work with the young and destitute in 1960s Australia lives on through his son and grandsons. But with one major difference - the Christian message is no longer part of the mission.
More
 
Songs of Praise - Rochester Cathedral
ABC1 | 14 November 2010
Presented by Pam Rhodes
Rochester Cathedral began life in 604 AD as a monastic community. The building, and its treasure trove of historic art and architecture, has been an inspiration to generations of worshippers and visitors.
More
 
This week on ABC Radio
Encounter - The Outsider
ABC Radio National | 14 November 2010
Just because God is dead it does not mean that everything is permitted. Fifty years after his death Nobel laureate, Albert Camus, remains compelling for our time.
Producer: Florence Spurling
Repeated Wednesday 17 November, 7.05pm; and Thursday 18 November, 4.05am
More
 
For The God Who Sings - Cantate Domino
ABC Classic FM | 14 November 2010
Presented by Stephen Watkins
For marvellous things, DeLalande sings a new song, with harp, trumpet and voices.
More
 
Sunday Nights - Compounding Abuse
ABC Local Radio Across Australia | 14 November 2010
Presented by John Cleary
How well is the church dealing with the issue of sexual abuse, not just in acknowledging the victims, but in addressing the structures that facilitate abuse? This week Australia plays host to an international conference which brings together key advocates for reform, and you can join them on Sunday Night with John Cleary.
More
 
The Rhythm Divine - Walls Come Down
ABC Radio National | 12 November 2010
Presented by Geoff Wood
'Something there is that doesn't love a wall'. On the 21st anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, we take that line by the poet Robert Frost and run with it, adding glorious noise from Beethoven and Leonard Bernstein, Danish band Slaraffenland, Tamil devotional singer Susheela Raman and the Los Angeles Gospel Choir, all confirming that no matter how imposing they look, walls do come down in the end.
Repeated Sunday 14 November 5.05am
More
 
The Spirit of Things - Aborigines Choosing Islam
ABC Radio National | 14 November 2010
Presented by Rachael Kohn
'Ramiz', who is part Aboriginal and part Afghan, realised he did not 'fit in' and he spent his youth finding alternative paths, until his life hit 'rock bottom'. That was when Islam offered a way out, and he explains how it gave him a sense of 'manhood'. Dr. Peta Stephenson, author of Islam Dreaming: Indigenous Muslims in Australia, has surveyed the phenomenon Aboriginals turning to Islam and explains its varied expressions and motives.
Repeated Tuesday 16 November 1.05pm and Wednesday 17 November 2.05am