Former UN chief Kofi Annan has opened formal mediation to try to end Kenya’s post-election crisis, pulling together both sides to strike a political deal and stanch violence threatening to spiral out of control.
Mr Annan opened the meeting in the Kenyan capital Nairobi flanked by President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. Western nations have urged both sides – who appear far apart – to take the talks seriously or risk losing aid.
“There is only one Kenya,” Mr Annan said as he spoke to open the ceremony.
With Shrove Tuesday rapidly approaching, the Oakleigh community is gearing up to support the ‘Take a break’ program while eating their share of savoury and sweet pancakes.
‘Take a break’ is an initiative of the Wimmera UnitingCare agency to help out drought affected families to take a holiday from the stresses and distresses of living on drought affected land.
The annual pancake day at the Oakleigh Uniting church serves as a fun community day while also raising awareness of UnitingCare, and in particular this year, the ‘Take a break’ program.
The pancake day is open to everyone, and begins at 5:30pm on Tuesday February 5th at 154 Drummond St., Oakleigh.Â
Indigenous groups have warmly welcomed the announcement of a date for a formal apology to the Stolen Generations.
Christine King from the Stolen Generations Alliance says it will be a historic and emotional day.
“Sorry is the most important word because it has great meaning in our community,” she said. “It means having having empathy and compassion and understanding.”
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says it is unacceptable that after 16 years of economic growth, up to 100,000 Australians can be sleeping in shelters or on the streets on any given night.
Mr Rudd wants a new approach to get people off the streets and back on their feet and has formed a committee to improve crisis services and help people get long-term housing.
Experts cite drug and alcohol abuse as well as mental illness as the main reasons people end up homeless. Homeless people give their own, varied accounts.
Osama bin Laden’s 26-year-old son Omar wears dreadlocks and a biker jacket and tells the AP “there is a better way to defend Islam than militancy: Omar wants to be an “ambassador for peace” between Muslims and the West.”
A director who shares the ideas of Iran’s hardline President has produced what he says is the first film giving an Islamic view of Jesus Christ, in a bid to show “common ground” between Muslims and Christians.
Nader Talebzadeh sees his movie, Jesus, the Spirit of God,” as an Islamic answer to Western productions like Mel Gibson’s 2004 blockbuster The Passion of the Christ.
A Virginian Baptist minister, Steve Reynolds, appauled at the addiction of many of his flock to fatty takeaway foods decided it was time to make a difference.
A year ago he set his entire congregation on a diet, and developed a Bod4God program.
There has been a remarkable difference in outlook as between them there are 952 less kilograms …
In a recent gathering of the Society of Christian Ethics in Atlanta, Georgia, Father Frank Brennan reflected on politics in Australia, and how it came to be that former Prime Minsiter, John Howard, ended up with his religious allies speaking out against his policy.
The paper explores the idea that while individuals make decisions based on a personal morality, there remains principals by which the churches take their stance on issues such as industrial relations and the war in Iraq.
The edited article appeared in The Australian newspaper.
A new breed of missionaries is trying to convert the world. Evangelists of unbelief say religion is a relic left over from the past that stands in the way of human progress. Once the world is rid of religion, immemorial evils such as war and tyranny can be overcome, and humanity will be able to fashion a new life for itself better than any known in history.
Such is the creed of anti-religious missionaries such as Richard Dawkins.
Paddington Uniting Church on Oxford St has welcomed the gay and lesbian community to a light-hearted Christmas celebration last Sunday.
It’s a first Christmas Together event conducted with St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Oxford St and St George’s Anglican Church at Five-Ways.