Celebrating Humanity on Eureka Day, 2015 t Bakery Hill - St Paul's, 305 Humffray Street - 5.30 to 7pm - an afterwork venue

We are celebrating at Saint Paul's, Bakery Hill in #Ballarat this evening. To-day, December 3, is the day we celebrate...
Posted by Brigid O'Carroll Walsh on Wednesday, 2 December 2015

x

Pax Christi : Islam and the West : Islam and Christians

               Pax Christi Victoria

        International Christian Peace Movement

PO.Box 31

CARLTON SOUTH 3053

6 November 2015

Email: ahmkerr@hotmail.com   

Dear friends & members of the ANZAC Centenary Peace Coalition.,

An invitation to another organisation’s AGM might seem like the ultimate turn off.

Nevertheless Pax Christi Victoria does warmly invite you to our AGM for the following reasons:

We live at a time when relations between the West and Islam are at low ebb. This raises troubling but unavoidable questions for all of us.

How should we relate to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Australia at what is a rather difficult time for them? Many Muslims feel isolated, harassed and humiliated by the words and actions of politicians, important sections of the media and bigoted elements of society.

To help us think through this and other questions we have invited Ghaith Krayem to address us on the occasion of Pax Christi’s Annual General Meeting on Sunday 15 November, at 2.00 pm.

Ghaith was until recently president of the Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV), the umbrella body of the Muslim communities of Victoria which brings together some fifty member and affiliated organisations. In his position as president and before that as Secretary of ICV, he has played an important leadership role in guiding the Muslim community’s response to terrorist incidents, the government’s counter-terrorism policies and so-called deradicalisation strategies.

Ghaith is one of Australia’s most thoughtful Muslim leaders, articulate and outspoken, with a firm grasp of the needs of Muslim communities and of the diverse views and traditions within Islam. He has at the same time a sharp understanding of how mainstream society operates. Ghaith has held many senior positions within Australia Post, and presently runs his own consultancy Hikmah Consulting.

Ghaith Krayem’s address on Sunday 15 November and the lively discussion that will no doubt follow will help Pax Christi and its friends, supporters and partner organisations to develop a clear set of objectives, strategies and actions over the coming year. The issues to be dealt with are morally and politically challenging. They include:

·                     Christian-Muslim relations

·                     Appropriate responses to terrorism and the ‘war on terror’

·                     Practical ways of promoting a peaceful end to the conflict in Syria

·                     Australia’s role in the Middle East

·                     The dangers posed by the Sunni-Shia divide within Islam

·                     The need to rethink the future shape of interfaith dialogue and multicultural Australia.

The address by Ghaith is open to the public. So, please bring the event to the attention of people in your networks, and feel free to mention it to your social media contacts, whether through Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or other avenues.

I very much hope that you will be able to join us for this crucial discussion on 15^th November.

Sunday 15 November,  Kildara Centre rear, 39 Stanhope St, Malvern

1 p.m. Shared meal to which you are warmly invited. Bring some food to share.

2 p.m. Address & discussion, Ghaith Krayem until 3.30

Don’t feel obliged to stay for the AGM business. (Actually we lock the doors & don’t let you out until you have agreed to join the committee!)

Warm regards.

Harry Kerr, Convenor, Pax Christi Victoria

Rev Harry Kerr
101 Katrina Street,
BLACKBURN NORTH,
Victoria Australia 3130
Phone +613 (0) 9893 4946
Mon +61 (0) 424 950 852

Notes from a crisis : Homelessness in #Ballarat : Feedback from a Forum

Cross-posted from Beside The Creek
The blog of the Ballarat Interfaith Network.

The above PowerPoint presentation

has been gathered and edited  from 

the feedback of participants at the Forum.

Not only can it be viewd on line -

it can be downloaded and screened.

Please give it wide coverage in your groups and associations/

Please encourage people to attend the next Forum on 9 October.

Details to be announced

On 21 August 2015, approximately 80 people gathered at the Eastwood Leisure Centre in Ballarat for a Forum on Homelessness. The place was packed. The place was lively. 

People working in organisations related to Homelessness were present. Some of these gave presentations of their work. Most of these were in government funded organisations but there were some present who received no government funding whatsoever and relied wholly on community support to fund their activities.  Prominent among the latter was The Soup Bus - a well known #Ballarat institution.  

A favourite of many people was Josh Wilkins, the founder of One Voice.  One Voice operates without government funding and provides free, clean shower facilities for homeless people.  Keep watch because there may be a #Ballarat version pop up thanks to the energies of local people.  A bus has already been given for the purpose but there is much more to be done before bus and showers can hit the road. Josh said that his ambition is to become like the community of Sant'Egidio in Italy who started small but now have moved on to providing health care and facilities.  

There were people from the general community who were concerned about Homelessness and who were seeking solutions to this grave problem. The forum was co-sponsored by Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council and Ballarat Interfaith Network. Many thanks to Father Constantine Osuchukwu (Treasurer, B.I.N. and Interfaith Officer, BRMC) and Margaret Lenan Ellis (Public Relations Officer, B.I.N.) who were at the forefront of organising the Forum and a special thanks for the great job that Father Constantine did in chairing proceedings.

If you attended, the Homelessness Forum or if you were prevented from attending, another gathering will be held on 9 October. Stay tuned for further details.

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar 15-08-25

Activist Calendar, August 26

Rally: Stop Turkey's war on the Kurds Saturday, August 29, 11am. With a big decline in its vote in the June 7 elections, the regime of Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan is trying to create a security crisis to regain support before calling fresh elections. It has scrapped the peace process with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the large oppressed Kurdish minority, just as it was starting to take some important steps forward. Instead the regime is risking restarting the ruinous civil war with its violent attacks on towns and villages across the Kurdish southeast. The death toll is rising and hundreds of activists have been detained. War on the Kurds but continued covert support to the Islamic State terrorists in Syria — that is Erdogan’s real policy. Stop the attacks on the Kurds! Restart the peace process now! Federation Square, City. Organised by Australians for Kurdistan. For more info email AFK. Facebook

This is the regular Melbourne activist calendar compiled by Green Left Weekly. Emailed to subscribers each Wednesday fortnight, it is a one-stop listing of the main left and progressive events in Melbourne and Geelong. Since it began in early 1991, Green Left Weekly has offered an indispensable alternative to the lies of the big-business media and has helped build the various movements for social change. To subscribe to Green Left Weekly, visit our secure online website for rates and payment or call our national hotline on 1800 634 206. You can also contact us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Geelong we are at the Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4:30pm, Fri 10am-4:30pm); ph 5222 6900. New email address? Not already receiving this calendar regularly? Want to subscribe someone else? Let us know at Greenleft Melbourne.

Until September 5 Theatre: Stone the Boats. Candlelight Productions presents a new multimedia theatre piece about asylum seekers and the storm of opinions surrounding their arrival upon our shores. Fear. Anger. Compassion. Forgiveness. Perseverance. Follow the journeys of five people swept up in this controversy that is affecting us all. Metanoia Theatre at The Mechanic's Institute, 270 Sydney Road, Brunswick.Book here. Facebook Wednesday, August 26 Strike: National Union of Workers. NUW Stores members will be taking action and stopping work on  August 26. NUW members at CSL are proud of the contribution they make each day to create lifesaving products. They will be using the time they are taking action to hold a fundraising event for the Australian Red Cross. We would love for you to come and have some cake with us for a worthy cause. 12:30-4pm. CSL Behring, 189 Camp Rd, Broadmeadows. Public meeting: Nazeem Hussain. He has played an influential role in creating insights into multicultural challenges through his comedy. Unlike the standard flavour of comedians, Nazeem has been known to bravely tackle issues, people, groups and cultural segments in the community through his stand up, pranks and various TV series over the years. His ability to raise serious issues using comedy has brought to the fore important discussions of multiculturalism. Bookings are essential.$25. 6pm. The Cluster, Level 17, 31 Queen St, City. Thursday, August 27 Forum: The Steady State Alternative to Endless Growth: A sustainable vision for the future. Geoff Mosley, former CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation, will explain his vision for a steady state economy and will discuss the ‘how’ and ‘when’ of the transformation, including the obstacles to be overcome. 6:45pm. $10/$5. Trades Hall, Meeting Room 1, 54 Victoria St, Carlton. Presented by New International Bookshop & the Search Foundation. For more info ph 9662 3744. Comedy: Rod Quantock: Sustain this. Comedian, activist and now AOM, Rod Quantock at the Newport Comedy room. Come and check out what Transition Hobson Bay are up to and maybe walk away with a spring in your step. Newport Bowls Club, 4 Market St, Newport. Book here. Friday, August 28 Public meeting: Ghada Karmi: Diaspora & belonging.  Ghada Karmi was born in Jerusalem and trained as a doctor of medicine at Bristol University. 11:30am. ACMI Cinema 1, Federation Square, City. Rally: Stop the China Free Trade Agreement. 12 noon. Parliament steps, Spring St, City. Sponsored by AMWU; CFMEU; ETY; NUW; TCFUA; TWU; MUA. Racists not welcome. Public meeting with Tariq Ali: Why is democracy under siege and what can be done to restore it? Part of the Melbourne Writers Festival. 7:30pm. Federation Square, cnr Swanston & Flinders Sts, City. Bookings here. Saturday, August 29 Rally: Stop Turkey's war on the Kurds. The Turkish regime has scuttled the settlement process with its large oppressed Kurdish minority. Instead it is restarting the ruinous civil war. Stop the attacks on the Kurds! Restart the peace process now! 11am. Federation Square, City. Organised by Australians for Kurdistan. For more info email AFK. Facebook Rally: Bersih 4.0. The time has come for us to support our friends and families back home, and take a stand in support of democracy, rule of law and common decency in Malaysia. Lets get together to support the demand for institutional reform back home. Central to this demand is freedom for Malaysians. Freedom not just by namesake but freedom of expression, thought and association. 2pm. Federation Square, City. Public meeting: Ghada Karmi: The Future of Palestine. Ghada Karmi was born in Jerusalem and trained as a doctor of medicine at Bristol University. 4pm. Deakin Edge, Federation Square, City. Public meeting: An audience with Naomi Klein. Naomi Klein’s international bestseller No Logo exploded the way we think about global brands and their impact. In her latest game-changer, This Changes Everything, she exposes the war capitalism is waging on our planet. Have your assumptions challenged and discover how we can do better. 6pm. Athaneum Theatre, cnr Collins & Swanston Sts, City.Bookings here. Sunday, August 30 Concert: Juice Rap News. Live at Estonian House with special guest Nazeem Hussain. Juice Rap News is an online show that provides a broader, saner context and analysis of current affairs, media and politics — all via the medium of rap, music and comedy — revolutionizing the news with a unique and riotous collision of radical satire, rigorous research, righteous beats, and razor-sharp rhymes. 1pm. Estonian House, 43 Melville Rd, City. Bookings here. Public meeting: Naomi Klein: This changes everything. Naomi Klein is a Canadian author, social activist and filmmaker known for her political analyses and criticism of corporate globalisation and capitalism. She is best known for No Logo, about branding and the alter-globalisation movement; The Take, a documentary about Argentina’s occupied factories; and The Shock Doctrine, a critical analysis of the history of neoliberal economics. Her 2014 book This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate argues that the climate crisis can’t be addressed in the current era of neoliberal market fundamentalism. 4pm. Federation Square, cnr Flinders & Swanston Sts, City. Bookings here. Tuesday, September 1 Public meeting: Defying the Border Force Act. Speaking out against detention cruelty. Speakers: Christine Cummins (recently returned psychiatric nurse from Christmas Island); Christine Craic (National Vice-President of the Australian Association of Social Workers); Nathan Kennedy (President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights). 6:30pm. Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St, City (opposite Victoria Markets). Organised by Refugee Action Collective. Thursday, September 3 - Monday, September 21 Film screening: Environmental Film Festival. Groundbreaking films, traversing the relationship between humans and their environments, challenging the way people think about the natural world and inspiring them to discuss, explore and act on important environmental issues. For more info visit Environmental Film Festival. Thursday, September 3 Book launch: Decolonizing Solidarity. Launch of Decolonizing Solidarity: Dilemmas and Directions for Supporters of Indigenous Struggles, a book written by Clare Land, in conversation with Robert Thorpe, guided by Gary Foley, Tony Birch and Marjorie Thorpe and Bob Pease. 6:30pm. Readings Bookstore, 309 Lygon Street, Carlton. Fundraiser: An Electronic Feast. A star line-up of local experimentalists and electronic artists band together to raise money for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, an organisation that provides vital services to new arrivals to Australia. In this time of dire funding cuts to essential services, we want to do what we can to help some of the most vulnerable people in our community find a connection and home in Australia, as so many people have done before them. 7pm. $10 online, $15 on door.Buy your tickets here. Shadow Electric, Sacred Heart Courtyard, 1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford. Friday, September 4 - Friday, September 11 Photo exhibition: Chile: 42 years of struggle, resistances and solidarity. It has been 42 years since the overthrow of the popular and democratically elected government of President Salvador Allende in Chile. After nearly 42 years the Chilean people have continued the struggle and are still fighting for real democracy and better conditions of living, which have not improved even under successive, so-called 'democratic' governments. Foyer, Victoria Trades Hall, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South.Organised by LASNET. Friday, September 4 Comedy: Rod Quantock & Charlie Pickering. This 'Young Bull' of razor-sharp Australian political satire will be joined by the Godfather of the genre, Rod Quantock, an 'Old Bull' of comedic wisdom and insight if ever there was one. One show only! 8.30pm. The Yarraville Club, 135 Stephen St, Yarraville. Bookings from Yarraville Laughs. Saturday, September 5 Rally: Slutwalk. Stop victim blaming and violence against women. 1pm. State Library, Swanston St, City. All welcome. Thursday, September 10 Book launch: The 1% and the Rest of Us. Tim Muzio, senior lecturer in international relations and political economy at the University of Wollongong in Australia, will give a talk about his new book which explores what it means to be part of a socio-economic order presided over by the super-rich and their political servants. 6:45pm. $5. NIBS, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South. Friday, September 18 - Friday, September 25 Comedy: Corey White 'The Cane Toad Effect'. Sifts through the wreckage of a broken home, mental illness and failed love, delivering an hour of sparkling stand-up comedy that cuts through woe to the beautiful heart of life. This is a show that affirms the power of the human spirit and the glory of being alive. Times: 9.15pm (Sun: 8.15pm). Fringe Hub - The Loft, Lithuanian Club, 44 Errol St, North Melbourne.Bookings Melbourne Fringe. Sunday, September 20 Rally: Declare Victoria gasfield free. From country to city, we come together to protect our land, our water and our health from unconventional gas. Help us send a clear message that fracking and gasfields will never be welcome in Victoria. 12 noon.State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. Organised by Coal & Gas Free Victoria. Facebook Monday, September 21 - Sunday, October 4 Comedy: Abbott! The Musical. A fast-paced, musical comedy about 28th Prime Minister, Tony Abbott. Through a clever combination of satire, comic embellishment, catchy original songs and verbatim quotes from the man himself, the show is brilliant at pointing out the government's hypocrisy. 6pm. Tuxedo Cat - The Atrium, 293-299 La Trobe St, City. To book visit Melbourne Fringe. Tuesday, September 22 Comedy: Political Asylum. Join us at the Fringe Club as Australia's preeminent political comedy group Political Asylum presents a massive evening of side splitting satire live on stage! Featuring a curated lineup of some of the funniest topical jokesters from around the country, including local favourites and special guests! 9:30pm. Fringe Club - Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall, 521 Queensberry St, North Melbourne. For more info visit Political Asylum. Saturday, September 26 Film screening: Ayotzinapa: Chronicle of an atrocious state crime. New documentary about the forced disappearance of 43 Mexican students. On the one-year anniversary of the events which left six civilians dead and 43 student activists rounded up by police and handed over to a drug trafficking syndicate to be disappeared. 6:30pm. RMIT Swanston Academic Building, Room 20 theatre, 445 Swanston St, City. Suggested donation $10. For more details ph 0421 957 341. Tuesday, September 29 - Sunday, October 4 Performance: Climamania. Join Australian jazz icon Bob Sedergreen, comic master Rod Quantock and the Soul Theatre ensemble as they put a carbon-neutral rocket under our entrenched complacency. 6:30pm. Metanoia at The Mechanics Institute, Studio, 270 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Bookings at Melbourne Fringe. Sunday, October 11 Rally: Stand up for refugees. No turnbacks; Close Manus & Nauru; No Border Force Act; End mandatory detention. 2pm. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. Organised by Refugee Action Collective.

Friday, August 28 GEELONG Equal love campaign meeting. Discussion on organising a marriage equality rally. 5pm. Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St, Geelong. Saturday, August 29 BENDIGO Protest: Stop the bigots in Bendigo! No to fascism, no to Islamophobia.Fascist group the ‘United Patriots Front’ (UPF) have called a protest in Bendigo outside the Town Hall in order to protest the construction of a mosque. After three highly succesful counter mobilisations by anti racist activists, unionists, students and progressives in Melbourne, we need to take the spirit of solidarity on the road. If you are in Melbourne there will be a convoy leaving from Trades Hall in Carlton (cnr Victoria & Lygon Sts, Carlton) at 12:30pm. For more information text SUBSCRIBE to 0422 726 843 (SMS only). 2:30pm. Bendigo Town Hall, 189-193 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo. GEELONG Public meeting: Laurie Penny: Unspeakable Things. Laurie Penny calls boldly for a new and braver feminism. She argues passionately for social justice and freedom in all its forms. Penny will speak the unspeakable in this no-holds-barred discussion with Clementine Ford. 3:30pm. Deakin University Geelong, Percy Baxter Lecture Theatre. Bookings here. Friday, September 18 GEELONG Red Cinema: Selma. 2014 American historical drama film directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Paul Webb. It is based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King, Jr., and John Lewis. Dinner at 6pm. Film at 6.30pm (note change of time, starting earlier than usual). Downstairs, Trades Hall, 127 Myers st, Geelong.

Australians for Kurdistan. Meets regularly to build solidarity with the Kurdish freedom struggle in Rojava (liberated zone in northern Syria), Turkey and elsewhere. For campaign and open letter to have the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) removed from the Australian list of terrorist organisations see Lift the ban on the PKK. Meets on the first Thursday of each month. For information ph Gulay 0413 936 706 or Aran 0410 197 814. Australian Unemployment Union. The Australian Unemployment Union is an organisation by the unemployed, for the unemployed. Our mission is to protect the common interests of the 750,000+ Australians who are currently unemployed. For more information visit AUE or Facebook. Australian West Papua Association (AWPA). Struggles against the Indonesian occupation of West Papua and against environmental destruction and resource theft. For info 9510 2193 or email AWPA. Climate Action Moreland. Meets regularly to develop action on climate change in the Moreland area. For information ph Andrea on 0424 508 535 or email CAM. Friends of the Earth's Anti-Nuclear & Clean Energy (ACE) collective. Meets every second Tuesday. FoE office, 312 Smith St, Collingwood. For meeting times & more info email Zin. Indigenous Social Justice Association. The Indigenous Social Justice Association was established in January 2005 campaigns to permanently stop Aboriginal deaths in custody. During 2013, ISJA will meet the first Thursday of every month. For more info visit ISJA. Quit Coal: No New Coal Power for Victoria. A Melbourne-based collective which campaigns against expansion of the coal industry in Victoria. We believe this is important because building new coal infrastructure locks in decades of dirty, old technology, when we should be moving towards clean, renewable energy. Quit Coal meets each Wednesday at 6pm, at FOE, 312 Smith St, Collingwood. For more info visit Quit Coal or email us. Refugee Action Collective. Established in 2000, RAC is a democratic, grassroots activist collective, representing a broad cross section of the community. It aims to mobilise opposition to Australia's inhuman refugee policies. For more info ph 0413 377 978 or visit RAC. Timor Sea Justice Campaign. For info visit TSJC, email Tom Clarke or ph 0422 545 763. Victorian Climate Action Calendar. Online updates are available at http://vcac.org.au/calendar/.

Recent articles from Green Left Weekly Tony Abbott’s woes mount as public deserts him Trade union witch-hunt must be shut down MUA’s battle for jobs intensifies at Hutchison Ports Britain: Corbyn campaign has Blair running scared Check out Green Left TV: See Protesting against 'Reclaim Australia' To subscribe to Green Left Weekly visit our secure online website for rates and payment or call our national hotline on 1800 634 206. Join us on Facebook. You can also contact us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Geelong: Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4.30pm, Fri 10am-4.30pm); ph 5222 6900. Links: 'Socialism for the 21st century' Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal is a journal for the post-Cold War left; a journal that rejects the Stalinist distortion of the socialist project; a journal that takes into account ecological questions; a journal that is taking steps to bring together the forces for socialism in the world today; a journal that aspires to unite Marxists from different political traditions because it discusses openly and constructively. Links seeks to promote the international exchange of information, experiences of struggle, theoretical analysis and views on strategies and tactics within the international left. Greece: New radical left front to challenge SYRIZA in snap election RISE: Scotland's new left alliance to launch Japan: Government statement marking 70 years since WWII end is deceitful Ecuador: Zombie neoliberalism threatens 'Citizen's Revolution' Socialist Alliance: Broad, non-sectarian, activist Socialist Alliance is a proud supporter of the Green Left Weekly project and contributes a regular column. Socialist Alliance is a broad, non-sectarian socialist party, dedicated to bringing together all those who want to resist the capitalist assault on our planet and its people and fight for a socialist society that puts people's needs before business profits. Anyone who agrees with the general approach of our policies is welcome to join and organisations are invited to affiliate. For more information visit Socialist Alliance or join us on Facebook. See our recent statements: Stop the rorts: Put politicians on an average worker's wage The case for a universal age pension How to fight the growth of the far-right 'Reclaim Australia' movement Contact Socialist Alliance. Join with other socialists in the struggle. Melbourne: Visit us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Melbourne, Socialist Alliance meets on the first Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm, at the Resistance Centre. Geelong: Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4:30pm, Fri 10am-4:30pm); ph 5222 6900. Moreland Socialists Moreland Socialists is open to anyone (even if you live outside the area) who wants to work constructively to support Socialist Alliance councillor Sue Bolton and use her position to build up a stronger activist left presence in Moreland. In general, we meet monthly and alternate between Coburg and Fawkner. If you want to get involved in the group, email us at Socialist Alliance or phone Sue on 9639 8622 or 0413 377 978. For news and opinion visit Sue's Moreland Report or Facebook.

Resistance Bookshop Just out! An account of the pathbreaking 1980s struggle of women to gain jobs in BHP's Port Kembla steelworks. 76pp, $10. Available from Resistance Bookshop, Level 5, 407 Swanston St, City.

Divisive rallies bring violence to the streets of Melbourne and a forceful police intervention as Muslims celebrate Eid

THESE ARE THE HEADLINES REGARDING 

WHAT HAPPENED IN MELBOURNE

ON SATURDAY 18 JULY 2015 

AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE.

Who was the centre of attention in front of and near Victoria's Parliament House yesterday?  Reclaim Australia and their associates wanted to provide a double focus of attention: themselves and Muslims living in Australia.

No Room for Racism and its sympathisers were equally determined on a dual focus: to counter the racism of Reclaim Australia and its cohort and to make the public aware of their organisation.

Did the events of the day go as planned for both sides?  Possibly. Possibly not.  However, it seems that there were elements on both sides who were prepared for trouble one way or another.  

A group with a similar title to Reclaim Australia hit Ballarat early in 2014.  Restore Australia arrived in Ballarat trying to incite antagonism to the building of a mosque in the city - a city which was the site of Australia's first document demanding democratic rights.  As can be seen from this Facebook presence, drumming up opposition to the mosque being built by Ballarat's small Islamic community was not too successful.  

What Restore Australia did not take into account in the Ballarat situation is that community friendships had already been forged within the broader community by the time they blew into town.  The local Islamic community had friends - a broad spectrum of friends.  And the then Mayor was an early responder.

Meanwhile, amid all this swirling of clashing tensions and violent police intervention, what were Muslims doing? Yesterday was the beginning of Eid celebrations. Muslims were enjoying themselves. Behind them was a month of fasting. Now can come the feasting.  Perhaps Reclaim Australia chose the day and date deliberately with an intent to insult Muslims - or perhaps they knew there would not be a Muslim in sight or hearing of their rampage!

The Faith Communities Council of Victoria has issued the following statement.

Statement on Nationwide Rallies:  Faith Communities Council of Victoria The Faith Communities Council of Victoria (FCCV) has issued the following statement in light of reports that over the weekend of the 18/19th July 2015, Reclaim Australia is planning nationwide rallies which we believe are divisive and not in the nation’s best interests.  The acceptance of our multicultural and multifaith society is one of Australia's greatest achievements and assets. The celebration of this rich diversity that exists in our society ensures we remain innovative, resilient and globally competitive - all of which enhances our society and increases our standard of living. Like any asset, our multicultural and multifaith identity needs to be continuously nourished and threats to undermine it need be addressed. The current environment fueled by economic uncertainty and fear is encouraging the rise of extreme groups like Reclaim Australia and UPF (United Patriots Front), who are intent on disenfranchising minorities and disturbing the peace within our society. These groups demonstrate they possess anti-Muslim, anti-Asian, anti-Indigenous, anti-Semitic and anti-Refugee sentiments. We, the Faith Communities Council of Victoria, actively discourage any kind of involvement with these groups and see them as a threat to peace and social cohesion within our society.  We believe there has to be a continuous dialogue promoting multiculturalism and multifaith. We also encourage all to discourage others from supporting these groups in any way. The harmony and diversity in our society is the basis of the beauty of Australia, and we request your support in maintaining this. Faith Communities Council of Victoria is comprised of the following peak bodies: Baha'i Community of Victoria, Brahma Kumaris Australia, Buddhist Council of Victoria, Hindu Community Council of Victoria, Islamic Council of Victoria, Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria and Victorian Council of Churches.