Today, June 20, has been named World Refugee Day by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office. The theme this year is Keeping the Flame of Hope Alive.
Throughout their long and daunting journey from oppression and persecution to asylum and protection, and eventually to a place they can call home, refugees show incredible strength, courage and determination. Their journey is a dangerous and arduous one and every day spent in exile is a day too long.
But in every step of their journey refugees carry with them an unshakable, unrelenting hope. By hanging on to their hopes for basic survival, sustenance and protection, and for the chance to one day rebuild their lives, refugees defy all odds. As the UN Refugee Agency we continue to be impressed by the tenacious hopefulness of refugees which, in turn, motivates us to leave no stone unturned in the fulfillment of our mandate, to protect them and to find durable solutions to their plight.
On World Refugee Day, we ask you to remember the millions of refugees under our care who are trying to pick up the pieces of once-peaceful lives. As different as they are from each other, one thing connects them all: hope for a better future and a chance to restore lasting peace to their lives.
Latest Statistics: 20.8 million
Latest statistics indicate that of the 20.8 million people of concern:
8.4 million are refugees who have fled their countries due to civil wars and ethnic, tribal and religious violence and who cannot return home
6.6 million are internally displaced persons - people forced to flee their homes, but who have not crossed a border
2.4 million are stateless people
1.6 million are returnees
773,000 are asylum seekers
960,000 are others of concern
Brisbane Candelight Ceremony
In Brisbane there’s an interfaith candelight ceremony being held on Friday night, June 23, to mark the World Refugee Day. It is beginning at South Bank Forecourt at 5 pm and processing to the Nepalese Pagoda. Candles will be provided. All are welcome.
The ceremony is co-sponsored by Believing Women for a Culture of Peace, the Multi-Faith Centre of Griffith University, and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.
One of the Old Testament lectionary readings for this week focuses on David’s defeat of Goliath, as found in 1 Samuel 17. Some denominations are following Job 38, God speaking in the storm.
Rana Mariem Ghassan is a Palestinian painter, a refugee living away from her homeland. Her most well known painting, David and Goliath, provides an insight into Palestinian resistance. The entire water colour is in black and white except for the stones which are in the colours of the Palestinian flag. It’s not clear who the other figures are, soldiers or fellow Palestinian youths. Neither is it clear whether the hope and future of Palestinians lie in the power of those rocks.
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio painted two of the most well known depictions of David with the head of Goliath. What I’ve found fascinating about Caravaggio’s work here is the autobiographical element. Caravaggio was wanted for murder. He had killed a man in a brawl in Rome and was on the run from those who were calling for his arrest and execution. Here he has portrayed himself in the position of Goliath, a hint of his own sense of mortality.
Here’s an opportunity I highly recommend. In March this year I moved from the position of ‘Mission Consultant’ to ‘Vision for Mission Advocate’. The position I left has been tweaked to provide a docus on dicispleship, formation and spirituality relating to mission. Here’s the advertisement for applicants for the new job…
MISSION CONSULTANT (DISCIPLESHIP FORMATION & SPIRITUALITY)
Full time 5 year contract
The Queensland Synod is seeking an individual (lay or ordained) with passion and drive for discipleship practices, spiritual formation and Christian education processes. You will be required to work with and support Church leaders in their local content and model behaviour which will develop and enhance discipleship, Christian spiritual formation and theologically reflective practices.
To be successful, you must have:
The successful completion of theological degree and training qualifications.
Knowledge of and experience in discipleship formation, spirituality and Christian education for ministry within congregational and presbytery settings.
The ability to engage with others to facilitate the development, implementation and evaluation of resources and methods of discipleship formation, spirituality and Christian education for ministry within local contexts.
Well developed communication skills including facilitation, mentoring, consultation, public speaking, networking, resource production and training.
High-level analytical, problem solving, project management and research skills.
The ability to work effectively within team settings and establish work priorities, meet timelines and work with minimum supervision.
Commitment to and understanding of the mission and ethos of the Uniting Church.
This position will be based in Brisbane, with travel throughout Queensland and interstate as required.
To obtain an information pack to apply for the position contact Kristine Bromiley (07) 3377 9825 or kristine.bromiley at uccentre.ucaqld.com.au.
APPLICATIONS are to be marked CONFIDENTIAL and addressed to: Rev Jenny Tymms, General Secretary Qld Synod, GPO Box 674, Brisbane Q 4001 by CLOSE OF BUSINESS MONDAY, 10 JULY 2006.
This last week four of my Uniting Church colleagues have been exploring the human impact of the Queensland Government’s decision to flood the Mary River for Brisbane’s water supply. The Mary River is inland from the Sunshine Coast, south of Gympie.
Last week David Pitman (Queensland Moderator) and Heather den Houting (Synod Social Justice Advocate) visited the Mary Valley with David Fanning, Presbytery minister and Iain Watt, local minister. They met with about 60 people in the Imbil Uniting Church Hall and the following day visited the Mary Dam Information Centre set up at Kandanga, and several properties that will be inundated or become unusable if the dam project proceeds.
Here’s what David had to say on his return.
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In all, about 850 homes and/or farming properties will be resumed to make way for the dam. However, that is only the beginning of the impact this project will have on the local community and beyond.
Let me briefly summarise the issues as I now understand them.
For some time now, the Government has had on its agenda the construction of a new dam on Amamoor Creek and the raising of the existing dam at Borumba to increase its capacity. The land required for these projects has already been acquired and their implementation would have minimal impact on the community. While some people are opposed to any further dam construction, most of the residents in the Valley have long since adjusted to the possibility of these projects and are willing to accept them.
However, while the possibility of a dam at Traveston on the Mary River has been investigated and rejected on two previous occasions, there has been no hint that the Government was considering this option yet again. Consequently, the announcement regarding the construction of a mega dam at Traveston, coming as it did without prior knowledge or consultation, caused shock and dismay in the community.
It is not really possible to appreciate the depth of pain and trauma this announcement has caused without personal contact with those most directly affected. The Premier, whose public statements have been particularly insensitive and uncaring, did fly over the region a few weeks ago, but has chosen not to visit the area or meet with local residents.
Telephone help-lines that have been set up are a joke! People are being asked to put their concerns in writing and are waiting for up to three weeks for a response. Financial compensation is being promised but the emotional pain and distress being experienced remains ignored and unaddressed.
Some of these families have been on the land in this area for more than 100 years. Others have moved there just recently, expecting to spend the last years of their lives in peaceful retirement in a lovely rural environment. Business people face financial ruin. Unemployment will increase greatly as farms and businesses are forced to close.
Even if it was decided right now not to proceed with the dam the adverse impact on the community has already been very significant.
Now all of this has happened while the current process of investigation into the suitability of the site is still in its early stages. Notwithstanding the commitment by the Government to undertake thorough geological research, along with environmental and community impact studies, the Premier has repeatedly declared that the dam must and will be built! I would like the Premier to explain the basis on which he can commit to this project before any such significant investigation has taken place, and in the absence of any prior consultation with those most directly and adversely affected. I find his attitude and the intention both mystifying and irresponsible.
Queensland managed to win the second match in the State of Origin National Rugby League series, played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. Score was 30 Queensland, 6 New South Wales.
At half time Queensland led at 14-0. Queensland tries were scored by Carl Webb, Justin Hodges (from an intercept), and Adam Mogg. NSW only scored their try in the last quarter (Timana Tahu).
Queensland Man of the match was captain Darren Lockyer.
This morning ABC Brisbane featured the story of Wally Lewis’ statue being painted in blue by some NSW-loyal prankster. I’m wondering if it was an inside job - designed to get Queenslanders more enthusiastic about the game. ABC commentators have been talking about the lack of rancour in the State of Origin series. Interestingly the Queensland players have been quite relaxed about it all.
Hey hey! Australia’s done it and won its first game in the FIFA World Cup finals, 3 - 1 against Japan. I spent the night munching on wasabi coated peas with a Bud. Must admit that after a while the wasabi was too much so switched to popcorn!
Fitness and perserverance showed through. Despite a goal against them in the first half, Australia dominated the shots at goal. The introduction of Cahill, Kennedy and Alloisi in the second half made the difference - we had players poised for scoring three goals in the last eight minutes. That made up for the controversial goal from the first half in which the goalie appeared to have been impeded.
I’ve just discovered Rowland Croucher’s blog, Victoria Concordia Crescit, one more site among several developed by the pastor, teacher, writer, used-to-be academic based in Melbourne. Rowland’s main site is John Mark Ministries, an incredible collection of articles on ministry, mission, recovery, spirituality, personality. Rowland used to be the editor of World Vision’s GRID leadership letter that was sent out to a high proportion of Christian leaders in Australia.
Recent articles at Rowland’s blog I found helpful:
I’ve just sent out an update for Duncan’s TV Ad Land. It’s a monthly post of what should have been four weekly posts. Never mind.
Duncans TV Site Development
Posts now have words rather than numbers in the permalinks. It took a few days to get this right. I discovered that I really do need to have a date in the title to avoid mucking up RSS feeds.
All RSS subscriptions now are channeled through my Feedburner account, which gives users capacity to email, add to del.icio.us and submit to Digg. At last count there are 133 RSS subscribers.
I’ve added a favicon to the site - which means that in most browsers there’s a little television beside the title of each page.
I’ve started adding Technorati tags - though they’re invisible in the posts.
I’ve added a page of links to advertising agencies, under ‘About This Site’. More to come on production, edting, post production and sound/music companies.
You’ll notice that more recently every third ad has been connected with the FIFA World Cup. I’ve placed an asterisk beside those spots. The top search engine on Duncan’s TV works perfectly if you want to find these spots.
April
Mercedes Sound of Summer
Adidas Hello Tomorrow
Nicorette No Gary No (AU)
Subaru Impreza Numbers (AU)
Budweiser Stadium Wave
May
Duncan Yo Yos - Throw Duncan
Global Warming - Tick, Train
Inghams Chicken - Swearing Mum (AU)
Carlsberg - Old Lions *
Ford Courier -� Barbecue (AU)
Virgin Mobile Russell (AU)
Finnish Finishing Sauce (AU & NZ)
Starburst - Party (AU & NZ)
Assistance Dogs - Pick up the Phone (AU)
TLC - Life Lessons
Toyota Prado - Ice Sculptures (AU)
Quit Smoking - Gangrene Amputation (AU)
Amoisonic Mobile - Phone Reincarnation
Red Meat - Evolution with Sam Neill (AU)
Adidas Adicolor Pink
Lamb Fragrance (AU)
Adidas Adicolor Green
Jaguar - Gorgeous
Bud Light - Secret Fridge
Nike Football - Joga Bonito *
Sydney Anglicans - Challenging the Da Vinci Code (AU)
Honda Fit
Virgin Mobile Exciting Ad with Russell (AU)
Squeezy Marmite - Man with broken Arm & Mother with Baby sick of Marmite-flavoured milk
Adidas +50 TUNIT Modular Man *
Suncorp Bank/Insurance sponsors Skin Cancer research with Aint No Sunshine (AU)
BNZ - Piggy Banks (NZ)
Adidas -� Football Recruitment *
Peugeot 207 - Ladybird and Firefly
March of the Penguins and too spoofs
Coca Cola Argentina Football stop motion ads *
Libra Tampon - The Comparison (AU)
Burger King - Kiwis Love Eggs (NZ)
Sure Deodorant - Wild Animals *
Apple - Get a Mac with John Hodgson and Justin Long
IKEA - Moo Cow Milker
ESPN World Cup Soccer - C�te d’Ivoire, Tartan Army, Sick Days, Anthem *
Pineapple Lumps - Sweet As (NZ)
Absolut - Cut the Crap (AU)
BBC - FIFA World Cup Imagination *
Boots Sun Shop - Summer Rush
June
American Express - Kate Winslet
Nike - Juggle Chain *
Geico Gecko - New Voiceover
National Bank Student Life (AU)
Christ Jesus - What A Ripper combination (AU)
Subaru Impreza Accelerated (AU)
Carlton Draught - Worth It and Deep Cleansing Formula (AU)
Dictators Wearing Fur
Adidas Oliver Kahn Bridge
Os Guinness is speaking at a Christian leaders gathering in Brisbane next Friday.
At lunchtime he’ll be speaking at a lunch at the Mercure Hotel on Globalisation and its human challenges. The event is aimed at Christian business people and leaders. 12 noon to 2 pm, Mercure Hotel, North Quay, Brisbane.
In the afternoon he’ll be speaking on the “Third Mission to the West: Opportunities and Challenges in Winning Back the Modern World”. He’ll be at City Tabernacle Baptist Church, 163 Wickham Tce, on June 10, 3 pm to 5 pm. The event is for pastors and ministry leaders and costs $15. Members of Christian Management Australia get in for free. For further information contact Gary Williams at 07 5533 2039 or by email: events at cma.net.au Register here.
From the CMA promo:
Os Guinness is one of the Christian world’s most respected analysts of the intersection on faith and culture, and he has been doing a lot of thinking and work in the area of globalisation recently. This address, entitled ‘Third mission to the West - opportunities and challenges in winning back the modern world’, provides a stimulating insight for pastors and ministry leaders into the world in which we minister, and Os’ enormous grasp of faith and culture in the modern / post-modern world is sure to be a stimulus for some interesting questions in the concluding question-and-answer session. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to spend an afternoon with one of the great Christian minds of our times.
Duncan Macleod posts on life, faith and culture in Australia, drawing from his involvement in the creative industry, the Uniting Church, the blogosphere, generational research, the emerging church and life on the Gold Coast.
In all, about 850 homes and/or farming properties will be resumed to make way for the dam. However, that is only the beginning of the impact this project will have on the local community and beyond.
I’ve just discovered Rowland Croucher’s blog, 
From the CMA promo:
