Dear readers

In the last month, the Australian Citizenship Act finally commenced operation which will see prospective citizens required to pass a multiple choice exam in English in order to become Australian citizens.

The test has been subject to much debate since late last year.  Both the ECC and FECCA have been at the forefront of voicing Australian migrants' concerns in the media about the changes.

The changes to the citizenship test were justified by the Government on the basis of assisting Australian migrants to integrate into the country.

But if the sample exam questions released over the last month are representative of the type of questions to be used in the actual test, it is doubtful the changes will achieve their intended aims. 

Many of the sample questions tend to focus on historical dates and events.  While there's nothing wrong with learning about Australian history and geography, encouraging migrants to develop basic skills using oral English in every-day life activities would have been far more useful and beneficial.  It is more useful for migrants to learn for example, how they can ask for a bus ticket using English, or how they can access certain government services, than to know exactly what year the first European settlers arrived in the country.  And if the aim of the test is to help migrants integrate into the country, why stretch out the waiting period to 4 years? Read more

Please note that the Management and Executive Committees of the ECC have resolved that the 2007 Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday 26 August 2007 at 221 Cope Street (Corner of Wellington Street) Waterloo, NSW 2017 Australia.

All ECC members are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

More details about the AGM will be available on the ECC website and in the August edition of the newsletter.

The Australian Maronite Church, headed by Bishop Ad AbiKaram, gives priority to youth issues and acknowledges the pressures and increasing demands placed upon our young and vulnerable. In line with this, Raymond Arraj has recently interviewed Sandra Kaltoum, a 17 year old young lady from Becharrie, the natal place of the internationally renown Gibran Khalil Gibran. 

Sandra has two brothers, Damien and Hayden, and attends Our Lady of Lebanon College. Her father, Elie Kaltoum was born in Becharrie and her mother Mona Hawach first saw the light in Mizyara, north Lebanon.

Social interactions are very predominant in Sandra’s personal development. Her relationships are the source of her support and strength. “My family is an unconditional provider of love”, she says “and my school is a major source of my relationships with my peers and I am often able to empathise and be empathised with when I am in the presence of my friends. Comfort is a key gift I receive from my peers when I face hardships at school”.

"Teenagers face images of Angelina Jolie and Britney Spears, and are told that they are our leaders” adds Sandra. “Teenagers then strive to look and act like these famous unrealistic images. The media uses its persuasive powers to brainwash its viewers into believing that we must act and look a certain way. I think the world has enough fame and materialistic beauty and so teenagers should want to strive for something more”

"The youth of the 21st century gather around the alter on Sunday to hear the priest speak and then leave, hoping that one hour a week will earn them a position in heaven and keep their parents satisfied! Our religion extends beyond what happens in church. Maronite youth need to live out the words that Saint Maroun preached”.

“Jesus should be the image of the 21st century; so a greater sense of pride in religion can exist among peers. The presence of God is an assurance of love to all teenagers while facing their hardships. A great sign of our religion is that our God is always there for us.

An attribute that Sandra values very highly is the ability of those who have been hurt to forgive. Forgiveness is what makes her a more strong-willed and confident student, daughter and friend. “When I know that I can make mistakes” states Sandra “and still be entwined in the net of connection with my family and friends, I become fearless”.

When Sandra is asked to compare her life as a young Maronite lady growing up in Australia with the life of a young girl living in Lebanon, she responds “Lebanon is a country that has many expressions of beauty but this beauty is overshadowed by political instability which I lament. In Australia, all citizens are treated equally and are given the same liberating rights. Despite huge progression in Lebanon, I feel as though the nation lacks the strong sense of women’s liberation, at least in some sectors of the Lebanese society, not all thankfully, and the strong principles that reflect the importance of education for women”.

And which one does she prefer and why, Sandra adds: “I believe that, despite all the natural wonders within Lebanon’s boundaries, Australia is a nation that truly expresses a deep recognition of women’s rights and also opens doors of opportunity to all willing to open them. Therefore I feel as though my Australian citizenship entitles me to more than a girl of my age in Lebanon, and God bless Australia”.

What does Sandra mean when she says” I am Maronite"?, Sandra replies: “I understand that being a Maronite permits me many wondrous gifts in the name of God. To be a Maronite, one must express a yearning desire to befriend God and through prayer, within our churches and hearts, fulfil this desire. I believe that when I say “I am Maronite” I am referring to the faith I have that is a mirror of Catholicism but also an expression of my rich Lebanese culture”.

And when Sandra is asked about Lebanon, she gazes for a moment, and with a twinkle in her eyes, she sighs:” Lebanon, to me, means culture and a cultivated heritage that is evident in many aspects of my life. It is a symbol of the past struggles and future determination of my family regarding the way of life and is a nation that, even though very small in size, has withstood much hurt and suffering with the aid of its courageous people. Lebanon is a symbol of hope and an example of determination and strength within my life”.

“I want to give Lebanon”, young Sandra affirms, “a chance to really express its culture across the world and give the nation the strength to illuminate and exemplify the true love of God”.

“Australia” Sandra digresses “is the nation that has provided me with many opportunities and bestowed many great gifts upon me. It is the nation that is accepting and welcoming. It is a country that represents the epitome of equality, freedom, political stability and strong foundations reflected through a high quality of life”.

“I hope that, with the assistance of my faith”, Sandra Kaltoum wraps up: “I will one day work in a Legal Aid office where my main ambition will be to porovide legal representation to those citizens who are unable to afford their own lawyer. I also hope to one day enter the political arena to fight injustice within the policies and laws. I believe that through these occupations, I will not only assist the Maronite community but also the Australian society in general”.

Raymond Arraj

ECC Assistant Secretary

When film companies run out of ideas, there are a few well-known options open to them. For example, they can make a sequel, make a new one on some spin-off character from the original movie, or, when both of the above fail to work, try remaking the same movie released decades ago.

So we have "Superman Returns" and "Spider-man 3". Pirates of the Caribbean is set to top box office record (again) and Shrek has told us his comeback to screen will happen very soon.

Perhaps equally intriguing, but far from being entertaining is the latest comeback drama in Australian politics. Pauline Hanson, the former One Nation party founder, decides to return to politics and run for one of the Queensland Senate vacancies at the next election after a near decade's hiatus.

This comeback drama is directed, as widely expected, by Ms Hanson herself, but this time, it's the "United Australia Party", rather than the collapsed One Nation, that will proudly present the "Hanson version 2.0". There is no guarantee that "Hanson version 2.0" will be as exciting as Ms Hanson's appearance on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2004, but we can all be sure that her extreme stance on issues like immigration and environment will once again help increase her media exposure without splurging on advertising.  Read more

A Youth Leadership Camp will be held from 29 June to 1 July 2007, at 20 Wills Road, Long Point (Macquarie Fields), New South Wales. This event will showcase notable successful Sikh entrepreneurs from the South East Asian and Canadian regions, each recounting their experiences in their respective fields of expertise.

"This camp focuses on the development of overall life skills through the combination of entrepreneurial skills and spiritualism, and we encourage participants from a variety of faiths to develop a well-rounded approach to leadership," says Satwant Singh Calais, camp convener. "It also gives them the opportunity to interact with like-minded youths to create lasting networks for life."

The keynote speaker, and perhaps most relevant to the youth, will be e-business extraordinaire Ash Singh. A graduate of the Richard Ivey School of Business, the 25-year-old is currently serving as director of Ad.WRIGHT, a Singapore based branding, advertising and new media specialist company. A lecturer and speaker at the INSEAD Business School, he also serves as a consultant to Google in South East Asia.  Read more

Myra Glassman is the Chief of Staff for SEIU Local 880 (USA) and will be in Sydney to present a seminar for Working NSW on 9 July 2007.  She has been with SEIU Local 880 since 1984 and will tell the story of its growth and success, its organising method and its coalition work. Working NSW is pleased to welcome interested unionists and community organisers to attend this important seminar.

SEIU Local 880 is an unusual union. It was set up by a community organisation – Association of Community Organisations for Reform Now (ACORN) in 1984, and has successfully translated community organising techniques such as door knocking and leadership development to master organising new members in growth industries.

It has grown from the smallest SEIU local to the 5th largest SEIU local in the United States in the last thirty years, and it has done so by organsing some of the lowest paid workers in the country - homecare and home childcare workers. At the same time, the union has strongly committed to working on issues beyond wages and conditions, including affordable housing and living wage campaigns including the living wage campaign that challenged and beat Wal-mart in Chicago between 2003 and 2006.  Read more

Multicultural Mental Health Australia
National Multicultural Art Competition 2007
Topic- “I Identify-My Identity’
Entries close on Friday 5th of August 2007 @ 5:00pm
More information www.mmha.org.au 

Sutherland Shire Carer Support Service
Beauty Care Workshops for Chinese community
Sutherland Community Centre
3a Staplerton Ave
Sutherland
Tuesday 19 June 1:30-3:30pm
FREE
Fo more details, ring 02 9542 6292

National Day of Action August 11th
Same-sex Marriage Rights and Equality for all.
Rally for the National Day for Action on August 11
More information email do_the_bim@yahoo.com or ben8721@hotmail.com

Arabic Community Cultural Event
Friday 22 June, 6-8.30pm
Marrickville Town Hall, Marrickville Road, Marrickville

As part of a series of events showcasing and celebrating Marrickville’s diversity, Marrickville Council will present an evening of Arabic entertainment on Friday 22 June from 6-8.30pm at Marrickville Town Hall.

The evening will showcase Arabic entertainment, from traditional drumming and dance through to live duo and band performances. Entertainment will include traditional Tabla drumming performed by Simon Loueizi, who regularly features at Arabic wedding ceremonies. There will also be a colourful and vibrant belly dance performance by Hathor Dance Theatre, who have entranced and delighted audiences at the Sydney Middle Eastern Festival, Egyptian Day Carnival, and many other Arabic community festivals and events.

A special feature on the night will be a performance by internationally acclaimed brothers Joseph and James Tawadros. Egyptian-born Joseph, an oud virtuoso, and Australian-born James, a percussionist, have toured and performed with orchestras all over the world, and last year completed a highly successful tour with the Australian Chamber Orchestra. They also received an ARIA nomination in 2006 for Best World Music Artist for their latest CD, Visions.

Also appearing on the evening will be exciting party band Azadoota. Their unique cross-cultural fusion of Iraqi music with other styles of world music has built the group a reputation in recent years as one of Sydney’s most spirited live acts. The group performs in Arabic and English, and are guaranteed to hold your attention from start to finish. Azadoota means “Freedom”, and the band stands for freedom from cultural and ethnic prejudice, encouraging their audience to embrace diversity.   Light refreshments, including a variety of Arabic foods, will be served, entry is free and all are welcome.

For further information on the Arabic Cultural Event, please contact Marrickville Council on 9335 2222. A copy of the invitation is available at http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/livinginarea/culture/events.htm