CENTREFOLD 16 - 17
AMUST
LIFESTYLE 18 - 23
UMMAH 24 - 25
EDUCATION 26 - 28
SOCIAL 29 - 31
AUSTRALASIAN MUSLIM TIMES
www.amust.com.au
Multicultural News & Views
ISSUE # 174
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MAY 2020; RAMADAN/EID 1441
Recipes for Ramadan CENTREFOLD PAGES 16 - 17
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Storytelling and story listening
LIFESTYLE PAGE 18
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Domesticating Australian Stingless Bees
Launch of Primary School in Vanuatu
SOCIAL PAGE 29
UMMAH PAGE 17
Ramadan feasting under COVID-19
Turnbull attacks media bullies Malcolm Turnbull. Mohamed Ainullah
Mehar Ahmad With COVID-19 family lockdowns, Ramadan 2020 will be different to any previous Ramadan, no congregational prayers at the mosque, no community Iftars, no night markets and no Eid festivals. Under these circumstances, an innovative project Recipes for Ramadan, an initiative of Jane Jeffes, a former head of ABC Religion and Ethics, will provide invitation to virtual home Iftars, sharing in different families’ food, culture, stories and beliefs across the month of Ramadan and beyond in order to build a sense of community around Ramadan 2020. As family lockdowns, online learning, vid-
eo calls and video conferencing and #stayathome go on, Muslim leaders and schools have identified growing concerns for the social and emotional connectedness of communities and ‘a need to break the current gloomy atmosphere’ specially during the special fasting month of Ramadan. Jane Jeffes from Firefly Productions, being a passionate proponent of greater diversity in the media and having 30 years experience in film, tv, radio, online and print as producer and director in UK as well as Australia, has put together the project Recipes for Ramadan in partnership with Amity College, Unity Grammar and AMUST in order to celebrate Ramadan 2020 inspite of constraints due to COVID-19 lockdown. Public awareness of Ramadan has grown
over recent years and public interest in food and its origins likewise. In 2020, with more than 50% of Australians born overseas or having one or more parents born overseas and 30% of us first generation Australians born overseas, the culture, the stories, the traditions and the food traditions we bring with us are central to Australia’s rich cultural tapestry and something to celebrate and share. This project does that. The participation of Australian-Muslim public figures from the Grand Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed to community leaders, politicians, business leaders, entertainers and sports people will add a role model dimension for a younger generation and celebrate the contribution of Australian-Muslims to Australian life. continued on page 4
The former prime minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull has made scathing attacks on the Murdoch media empire who “routinely exploit and encourage intolerance and racial and religious animosities” on an international scale, in his new memoir, A Bigger Picture published on Monday 20 April 2020. Mr Turnbull singled out 2GB shockjocks Alan Jones and Ray Hadley being full of “vanity and megalomania” who loved to berate and bully politicians like him who weren’t “in their pocket”. He says that the News Corp campaign against his government was driven in part by the Murdoch’ concern that he could not be bought. He also blamed News Corp newspapers for undermining his efforts to combat climate change and said that Murdochs are the “fiercest defenders of Trump” and “keenest promoters of Brexit”. Mr Turnbull said that media outlets including Fox News must take much of the blame for the US being a divided, inward-turning nation today. continued on page 2
Witch-hunt of Shaoquett Moselmane condemned Zia Ahmad The disgraceful treatment of the Honourable Shaoquett Moselmane MLC by the Murdoch media led by 2GB shock jocks must be condemned and his witch-hunt by pro-Israel lobbyists because of his proactive support for justice to Palestinians and South Lebanese against Israeli aggression is appalling. The weak-kneed response of this onslaught against a colleague by the NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay MP is highly disappointing and shown to be a leader incapable of standing up for her colleagues and for what’s right.
The COVID-19 pandemic having its origins in China has led to the spread of conspiracy theories against China and racist stereotyping of Chinese people by bigoted people in many parts of the world including Australia. While responsible political leaders have taken commendable action to contain the pandemic, some of them including President Trump continue to play the blame game in their anti-China stance. Mr Moselmane had expressed the view in February that China has largely contained the pandemic with swift action most competently and criticised the xenophobia against Chinese people in Australia and elsewhere. continued on page 2
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Shaoquett Moselmane. Dispose of this paper thoughtfully - PLEASE RECYCLE