Join us to celebrate LIVING THE CHANGE on Sunday 6 December 2020 where we will be working together towards creating a flourishing world for all. We gather as members of diverse faith communities and those who care for our planet to share our stories of change, transformation, and regeneration. Living the Change is brought to you by Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, Religions for Peace Australia, Cultural Infusion and United Religions Initiative.
STORIES BEYOND COVID – Celebration of life
The Islamic Council of Victoria will conduct a Video Festival from February 15-21, in 2021. Diverse communities across Victoria are invited to share their experiences of Covid-19 and the unique ways of coping taken up. Video submissions are invited before 31 December 2020.
Victoria: Stand Together, Safe and Equal: Interfaith Webinar
The Darebin Interfaith Council and the Hume Interfaith Network join to present an online webinar on the importance of gender equality in promoting healthy relationships and safety for women, online, on Thursday, 3 December 2020.
NSW: Standing United against domestic and Family Violence
The NSW Ecumenical Council’s Overcoming Domestic and Family Violence Commission is hosting the inaugural Standing United Against Domestic and Family Violence Conference on Tuesday, 1 December, 2020.
Online prayer service on World AIDS Day
The World Council of Churches will host an online prayer service on World AIDS Day, observed this year on 1 December. The Prayer Service is available for download and reading during the livestreaming.
The Dalai Lama on Surviving the Climate Crisis Together
For the sake of future generations, the Dalai Lama tells journalist and activist Franz Alt, we must develop a sense of universal responsibility — for the earth and all humanity. Working together as one is the only way we’ll survive the climate crisis.
faithSAFE
Family Violence and Violence Against Women is a major social and human rights issue in our society. In Australia, one in three women will experience some type of intimate partner abuse at some stage in their life. Family Violence has an enormous impact on women and their children, eroding their mental, physical, emotional and financial well being.
Preventing and responding to family violence requires action from all sectors of our society – including faith communities. In particular, faith leaders can play an important role in raising awareness and emphasising equality and respect toward women.
faithSAFE is an online resource designed to assist faith communities in taking a primary prevention approach to the issue of family violence and violence against women.
Overview: Faith Communities Supporting Healthy Family Relationships
‘Faith Communities Supporting Healthy Family Relationships‘ is a Participatory Action Research project established by the Multifaith Advisory Group based on recommendations 163 and 165 of the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence. It is funded by Multicultural Affairs within the Department of Premier and Cabinet and is being implemented in partnership between University of Melbourne and the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health.
2020 Narrm Oration
The University of Melbourne presents the 2020 Narrm Oration by Associate Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher on the topic of Our Country, Our Way: How Indigenous people and knowledge can save Australia’s environmental and social unravelling. The Oration will be delivered online on Thursday 26 November 2020, at 6PM.
2020 Australian Refugee Association Oration: The Future is Intercultural
The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre (UniSA) and Australian Refugee Association (ARA) present the 2020 Oration, The Future is Intercultural. This oration will examine Australian capacity to interact across all cultures in a post-pandemic world. Intercultural competence will be explored in the Oration.
Human Rights Week 2020
In 2020 Human Rights Week will be a virtual program of human rights related events and activities, beginning on Thursday 3 December and ending on Thursday 10 December – International Human Rights Day.
Anyone can participate in Human Rights Week.
During this week, organisations, community groups and individuals across Victoria may host a virtual morning tea or lunch for their staff, a picnic in a park, others might have a film screening or invite a guest speaker, and some could host a workshop or training session to help their staff build their understanding of human rights.
The theme for Human Rights Week 2020 is ‘Rights in recovery’.
Cooler Earth – Higher Benefits
Celebrating International Children’s Day, the World Council of Churches has released a research paper “Cooler Earth – Higher Benefits: Actions by those who care about children, climate and finance.” The publication gives suggestions of how churches and other organisations around the world can respond to the climate emergency through investment decisions which are crucial to protect children from global warming.
Hindu Dharma Ambassador Course
The Hindu Council of Australia in collaboration with the Hindu American Foundation is offering an online course for Hindus to become Dharma Ambassadors and represent Hinduism cogently to family, friends and the community. The course – online – is free and commences on 28th November 2020, 10am to noon.
South Australia: November – December 2020
The Multifaith Association of South Australia lists interfaith events, climate events and faith festivals happening both locally in South Australia, and nationally, with internet participation – for the month of November 2020. For December 2020. Hope’s Cafe event Connecting across Cultures is attached, along with the screening of the 2040 Film and the conjunct Living the Change session.
River Above Asia Virtual Launch
Asia and Oceania share a common image in the ‘River Above’– the Pacific Ocean is the life, the river of Asia feeding all rivers, seasons and lives. The welfare of the lands and peoples is bound to the welfare of the seas.
The River Above Asia Oceania Ecclesial Network (RAOEN) seeks to serve the dialogue of integral living so that broader collaboration is possible and breadth and integrity of the ecology and territory are maintained.
The River Above Asia Oceania Ecclesial Network (RAOEN) are inviting you to the RAOEN Virtual Launch on 24 November, 3:00 p.m. (Philippine time)/ 7:00 p.m. (Fiji time) 18:00 Sydney (AEDT).
The swastika and the problem of cultural appropriation
Much confusion exists over use of the Swastika by the Third Reich. Nazi Germany appropriated an ancient sacred symbol for their own purposes. For thousands of years, this symbol has been used in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Many people brook no argument nor debate and refuse to accept the sacred origins of a symbol Nazi Germany has damaged. This continues to be a problem wherever this symbol is used in sacred settings, nearly 100 years later.
Far-right terrorist jailed for 12 years after plotting against ‘Muslims and lefties’ in Melbourne
A far-right terror plotter who was dobbed in by his own mates after making plans to wage war against “Muslims and lefties” has been jailed for 12 years. Phillip Galea, 36, was on Friday sentenced in Victoria’s Supreme Court and has to spend at least nine years behind bars before he is eligible for parole.
Galea has effectively been in solitary confinement for four years, so could be eligible for parole in just under five years. Galea was found guilty of plotting attacks on the Victorian Trades Hall and the Melbourne Anarchist Club. The judge said Galea showed “no remorse or contrition” for his offending.
Galea, who was a member of Reclaim Australia and the True Blue Crew, was found guilty of preparing for a terrorist act and making a document likely to facilitate a terrorist act.
Climate Action – Greenfaith
Greenfaith – in collaboration with many faith and inter-religious councils has recently conducted online gatherings for climate justice. You are invited to sign the climate justice statement and participate in world-wide multifaith climate action in March of 2021.
Symposium on Human Trafficking
Religions for Peace Japan will conduct an online symposium on the “Current Situation of Human Trafficking” on 24th November 2020, 14:00~17:00 (JST) (16:00 – 19:00 AEDT). Simultaneous translation will be available; all are welcome.