[islam-info] ICV Bulletin #104: ICV News, Volunteer Call and Community Events

[admin at icv.org.au]

Bulletin #104

Please find some new additions to our bulletin


-	WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING

-	CALL TO VOLUNTEER AT ICV

-	IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING TERROR RAIDS

-	EVENTS

1)	RMIT Islamic Society Female Defense Class at ICV
2)	Al-Ghazali Islamic Classes at ICV
3)	ISSA Strategic meeting
4)	Youth Central Roving Reporters positions
5)	Racism and Mental Health Study
6)	Victorian Shared Values Symposium
7)	The ten conditions of love – now at NOVA
8)	New Musala (prayer room) at Docklands as well as Southern Cross Station



WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING

The last couple of days have been quite busy for the ICV as we have  
been working hard with the community and media to ensure the Muslim  
community get fair representation during this period. We have also  
been in contact with law enforcement agencies in relation to getting  
more clarification on the recent events

As well this week, two members from our executive committee sat in  
front of a parliamentary committee on amendments to the Equal  
Opportunity Act arguing on behalf of the community in term of what  
benefit and harm the amendments may bring.

Also an update on our Gaza campaign that we ran a few months ago  
during the incursion. The Four Wheel Drive has been bought for the  
relief agency over there. We have collected the money for an ambulance  
and are waiting for one to become available locally (bringing an  
ambulance from outside Gaza is impossible due to ongoing blockade). We  
will inform you once the purchase has been made.



CALL TO VOLUNTEER AT ICV

Join the ICV volunteer database. The ICV are looking for volunteers in  
the community. We are looking for people with admin skills to sit at  
the front desk. This will provide you with great experience with what  
the ICV deals with on a day-to-day basis
Secondly we are also looking for people to volunteer at our upcoming  
soup kitchen that we are setting up. Also interest to get involved in  
general community work is encouraged as more programs will be rolled  
out over the coming months.
To register interest, send your details to mohammed at icv.org.au


COMMUNITY MESSAGE FROM AMCRAN (Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy  
Network)

- The raids and arrests in Melbourne early this week remind us of the  
need to be informed of our rights and responsibilities under  
Australia's anti-terrorism laws.

You should know:
If you are contacted by ASIO or the police, you should remain calm and  
ask them to identify who they are and to explain what they want.

Officers can only search you or your premises with a warrant.  If they  
do not have a warrant, you can object to being searched.  If they  
insist, make your objections clear but do not try to stop them.
ASIO officers can only question you if they have a warrant, and you  
have to answer their questions only if they have a warrant.  If they  
do not have a warrant, you do not have to answer their questions.

The police, on the other hand, can ask you to provide your name and  
address even without a warrant, but you are not obliged to make a  
statement, especially if you have not talked to a lawyer first.  It is  
in your interest not to answer police questions unless you have a  
lawyer present as anything you say to the police can be used against  
you as evidence.

Always remember to keep a record of the names and identity numbers of  
the officers visiting you, and the date and time. We urge you to keep  
detailed records of your contact even if you do not intend to make a  
complaint.  If necessary you have the option of doing this and a  
lawyer can assist you in formulating and making the complaint.
For more detailed information about making complaints, ASIO and police  
powers, as well as general information about the anti-terrorism laws,  
please read through AMCRAN's guide, 'Anti-Terrorism Laws: ASIO, the  
Police and You'.  It is available in English, Arabic, Urdu, and Bahasa  
Indonesia.
AMCRAN is monitoring Muslim experiences of being questioned, stopped  
and searched by authorities.  An anonymous incident report will be  
available on our website shortly.   In the meantime please email us a  
summary of your experience at amcran at amcran.org. This information will  
be invaluable in supporting AMCRAN's work in advocating for Muslim  
civil rights.
AMCRAN – Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network  
http://amcran.org or email amcran at amcran.org



COMMUNITY EVENTS



1 - RMIT Islamic Society Female Defense Class at ICV

The RMIT Islamic Society will be holding a Female ONLY! Self  
Defense/Kick Boxing Class this Saturday at the Islamic Council of  
Victoria, if you are interested email info at rmitis.org.au
What: Female Self Defense/Kick Boxing Class
When: Saturday 8th August 2009 at 11AM SHARP
Where:  The Islamic Council of Victoria 66 Jeffcott St West Melbourne VIC 3003
Cost: FREE!
For more info Visit www.rmitis.org.au
Or Email info at rmitis.org.au


2- Al-Ghazali Centre Study Circle at ICV

Islamic classes have begun at the ICV every Friday night. With a LIVE  
audio-visual telecast from Al-Ghazzali Centre in Sydney, Imam Afroz  
Ali presents a study circle on Imam al-Ghazzali's 40th book of Ihya  
Uloom ud-Deen, Kitab Dhikr al-Mawt wa ma Ba'dahu (The Remembrance of  
Death and the Afterlife) to different cities within Australia, New  
Zealand and Fiji.
Question time is allocated at the end.

When: Every Friday until Ramadan
Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm
Cost $5 per person, per class
Enquiries: melbourne at alghazzali.org



3 –  ISSA Strategic Meeting

ISSA, or Islamic Social Services Agency, is a registered charity based  
in Dandenong managed entirely by volunteers, aimed at providing  
services that benefit the Muslim community and all encompassing ethnic  
groups.

They are in touch with the matters that concern Muslims and help  
create projects within the framework of our objectives.

The meeting is open to all interested members of the community, both  
ISSA members and non-ISSA members, where you will meet other  
individuals in a relaxed, informal gathering also committed to the  
empowerment of Muslim families and bringing about positive change to  
society.
Lunch and refreshments provided.

WHEN: Sunday 9th August 2009,
TIME: 11am start (10am for Committee Meeting) until 3.30pm
WHERE: 2/43 Clow Street, Dandenong (entrance Stuart Street, near  
corner opposite Dandenong Plaza carpark).
RSVP: dakhylina at gmail.com


4- Youth Central Roving Reporters positions

Youthcentral.vic.gov.au  is currently recruiting for the next team of  
roving reporters,
the team of young Victorians who write articles and reviews for their
website.

This is an opportunity for people who are interested in the world of
professional writing, and are either looking to try it on for size, or who
are interested in building a portfolio of articles to use in future job
applications.

It's also a great opportunity to get paid for your writing - roving
reporters are paid a set rate on a per-article basis.

Successful applicants will receive a two-day training workshop in writing
for the web, and will write on a freelance basis for a period of around six
months.

The workshops will be taking place in late september/early october in North
Melbourne. Travel and accommodation for successful non-metropolitan
applicants will be arranged and paid for.

Enquiries: http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/jointheroverteam

Applications close 5pm, Monday 17 August 2009.


5- Racism and Mental Health Study

Have you experienced racism? Do you want to help stop racism? Are you over
18?

If so, please participate in a new research project investigating racism and
mental health.

The study’s aim is to add to the literature on racism and mental health.
There has been much research on racism indicating various negative mental
health outcomes. However, this research has focused on African-Americans and
has rarely been conducted outside the United States. There have been few
Australian studies into the effects of racism and no study has been
published that has examined the effects of racism on the mental health of
Australia’s diverse racial/ethnic populations.

The study involves answering a 20-minute questionnaire about your
experiences with racism and your mental health.


Enquiries:  Kaine Grigg on kaine.grigg at student.rmit.edu.au.


6 - Victorian Shared Values Symposium

Pre Parliament Event of the Parliament of World Religion

This unique annual Victorian project, presented by Unity in Diversity  
Inc., a non-denominational community organisation, offers community  
education to foster understanding and unity of fellow Australians. A  
panel of experts will provide rare insights into the value of Inner  
Peace shared by all faith communities.

When: Sunday, 16th August
Time: 2.00 – 4.30 PM
Where: Applied Learning Centre, Mansfield Secondary College, 15 View  
St, Mansfield
Enquiries: :http://www.multifaithnetvic.net.au/events-symposium.php


7 - The ten conditions of love – now at NOVA

Rebiye kadeer spent six years in a Chinese prison before being exiled  
to Washington DC. A tireless advocate for the independence of her oil-  
rich Uyghur homeland - known as East Turkestan- she has been punished  
at every turn by the Chinese Authorities, who have now condemned two  
of her sons to lengthy prison sentences.

The popular film looking at the leader of the Muslim Uyghur people is  
now having a wider cinema release

Where: Nova Cinema
When: from August the 13th


8 - New Musala (prayer room) at Docklands as well as Southern Cross Station

For Muslims who need prayer space in the Docklands area, there are two  
new prayer facilities available. A prayer room is available at  
Southern Cross station. Follow the signs at the station.

There is also a new musala with wudu facilities.

For more information contact: 9328 8600
info at harbourtownmelbourne.com.au