By Marcelle Mansour

The first Al-Bayyati Festival of “Abdul Wahab Al Bayyati League For Poetry, Literature and Culture” was held at Monamor reception, Fairfield on 17 June 2015, under the auspices of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Australia. In the presence Mr. Shorsh Ako who presented the Kurds’ representative in Australia, His Excellency Haval Syan; Mr. Mozaffar, representing the Consulate General of the Republic of Iraq; Media Representatives and elite of the Australian Arabic communities’ members who appreciate culture.

Significant speeches were delivered by Mr. Shorsh Ako, Mr. Mozaffar, and the Rev Fr Yousif Jazrawi, President of Al Bayyati League. Master of Ceremony (MC) was performed by Iraqi poet Mr. Haidar Kareem.

Leading Poets participated in a poetry reading received awards in recognition of their contribution in advancing Arabic poetry in Australia, namely, the two Australian Iraqi Poets Mr. Yehia Samawi and Mr. Makki Al-Rubaie, the two Australian Lebanese poets Mr. Charbel Baini and Mr. Antoine Kazzi and also the writer/journalist Mr. Abdul Wahhab Talabani.

Al-Bayyati’s certificates of appreciation and medals, were delivered in its first Festival this year (2015) to a number of Australian creative people including: Mr Ahmed al-Yasiri (Iraqi poet), Mr Shawki  Moslemani and Mr Wadih Saadeh (both Lebanese poets), Mr Sarkis Karam (Lebanese writer), Mr Adel Deno and Mr Namrood Salioh (both Syriac poets), the Australian Palestinian Fine Artist and Writer Mrs Marcelle Mansour (the writer of this report), Dr Sahar Alsomiei, and to the soul of the late Dean of Journalism in Australia (Botrous Indari) where his wife Lamya received the award on his behalf.

It is worth mentioning that an honorary award will be sent from the festival management to the poet Abdul Wahhab Al-Bayati’s daughter who resides in the United States of America, in the memory of her father‘s significant contribution in the Iraqi and Arab literature world.

The cultural event was highlighted by beautiful music and songs of Al-Bayyati’s poems which were performed by both singers Mr. Ismael Fadel and Ms. Lena Souro where the violin player was Imad Rahim.

It was a successful cultural event indeed for the first Al-Bayyati Festival. Congratulations to the committee members of Abdul Wahhab Al Bayyati League for Poetry, Literature and Culture and to all the award recipients with best wishes for more bright achievements in the future.

By Marcelle Mansour

A poetry evening was held by the Australian Arabic Cultural Centre (AACC) /Peter Indari Forum, at the Arab Council Australia, Bankstown on 9^th June 2015, to commemorate the third annual departure anniversary of the late Peter Indari, in the presence of his family – (Wife Lamya, Daughter Hannan, son Emad) –and an elite of the Australian Arabic- speaking Community members.

Speakers were: Dr. Mustapha Alam-Eddin (President), Dr. Imad Berro on behalf of Mr. Assad Khoury (Australian Journalist in Lebanon), and Mr. Tony Maroun (who was closed best friend and companion to the late Botrous), Mr. Maroun made an interesting English speech and received an appreciation award by the Centre). Mr. Shawki Moslemani (Poet) was the MC. Magnificent Poets were: Mr. George Mansour, Mr. Charbel Baini, and Mr. Fouad Neeman El-Khoury accompanied with musical pieces of Oud Flute by Mr. Samir and Mr. Khaled Marabani.

All speakers and poets delivered poetic words which highlighted the significant contribution of the late Peter Indari, the “Dean of Journalism” who has made a remarkable impact on those who interacted with him in life and on society. It was meaningful to share this important annual cultural occasion.

  Bedro Hajje, Al-Awadi’s Family and Others are the

UPF Award Recipients, at the Ambassadors for peace

meeting, celebrating Africa Day and Parents Day.

By Marcelle Mansour

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF), Ambassadors for a peace meeting, held on Monday at the Oceania Peace Embassy on the 1^st of June 2015, to celebrate the special days of Africa and (25 May) and the UN Global Day of parents (1^st June).

The occasion was organised by Mrs. Catrine Van Dinklage, UPF Events Coordinator and the MC was performed by Mrs. Aila Willitts, the Women’s Federation for World Peace Australia. The event was attended as usual, by a large number of UPF’s Ambassadors for Peace in Australia from various ethnic origins including Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, Ancient Assyria and others: UPF Ambassadors present were: Mr Hormiz Eshoo and Dr Alaa Alawadi, Mr Maurice Mansour, the writer of this report Marcelle Mansour and other ambassadors from various origins and backgrounds.

Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the African Union (AU) that comprised of 54 member states which brought together the continent of Africa to collectively address the challenges that it faces. UPF supports the celebration of the Africa Day around the world and It seeks to foster cooperation between diverse Australian communities and making world peace.

The Global Day of Parents was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2012 and honours parents throughout the world. The Global Day provides an opportunity to appreciate all parents in all parts of the world for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship.

The guest speaker was Mr. Assefa Bekele, the founder of the Ethiopian Community Association of NSW and Multicultural Liaison Officer with NSW Police.

Mr. Greg Stone the UPF President, first delivered a speech titled (Integrating our understanding of God): “Abrahamic Faiths emphasize a God of character, who created humanity from Adam and Eve as one family. Far Eastern religions emphasize an original being of duality and harmony. Some Scriptures refer to God as our common origin. All these insights can help us in our understanding of God. God can be understood as the parent of all humanity.”  Mr. Stone stated that it is one world family under God and we can conclude God’s purpose for human life. What will be the underlying order of this new age and a new society, and how are we raising up constructive members of such a global society? This question can be answered only in terms of the order of God’s creation, with the discipline of love as its central axis. “

On this grand occasion ceremony, five people received the Peace Awards: Mr. Bedro Hajje, 2ME presenter, Mrs. Nadia Al-Awadi, Mr. Sultan Al-Awadi, Mr. Samir Shimone and Mr. Assefa Bekele.

Congratulations to all the UPF Award Recipients and wishing them productive and successful achievements in the future. Bedro Hajje made a patriotic wonderful gesture by raising the flag of Lebanon and later he gifted his award to the country of his homeland Lebanon through the Consul General of Lebanon his Excellency Mr. George Bitar Ghanem. Congratulations once again to all UPF receivers, wishing peace to prevail in Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine other Middle Eastern countries and the world.

By Marcelle Mansour

The historic canonisation of the first Palestinian Arabic speaking saints by Pope is another victory for Palestinians, followed the announcement by the Vatican of first two-sided accord with the “State of Palestine” two years ago. It is a vital call for reviving the Palestinian map, which means peace with justice indeed.

On Sunday the 17th May, 2,000 Palestinians gathered in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City to pray and celebrate their first saints of modern times, as the Pope was paying tribute to the two new saints who lived spiritual experiences in the worship and ‘eternal love’ of God and who were humble servants of their people. Marie Alphonsine Ghattas (1847-1927) of Jerusalem, and Mariam Bawardy (1843-1878) of Galilee, both of whom lived in Ottoman Palestine during the 19th century, were declared saints in a ceremony at the Vatican.

Although the event is a spiritual religious ceremony it positively has a political national message. Such a development has great significance and is likely to have a considerable impact on a matter of advancing the peace process and consideration of conflict settlement by the direct bilateral negotiations. It could hopefully remove the main obstacle to accelerate the progress of peace in the region and indirectly help Palestinians in the establishment of an independent, sovereign and democratic “State of Palestine”.

The Vatican had previously welcomed the decision by the UN General Assembly in 2012 to recognise a “Palestinian State”, and has officially recognised the “State of Palestine” in a new treaty on the 15 of May 2015, that is significantly coinciding with the commemoration of the sixty-seventh Anniversary of AL-Nakba. The Palestinian Authority considers the Vatican one of 136 countries to have recognized Palestine as a State, and such holy occasion making explicit its recognition of Palestinian statehood. This was confirmed by The Vatican’s Foreign Minister, Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, who acknowledged the change in status, given that the treaty was initially inked with the PLO and is now being finalised with the “state of Palestine”. The agreement, he said, “expresses hope for an end to Palestinian-Israeli tensions and supports the existence of two separate, independent nations living side by side in security and peace.”

Although the holy occasion has been interpreted by some parties as a positive intervention by the Vatican in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the canonization is significant on many levels: It is regarded as a strong message from the Holy See where his Holiness recognizes that Palestinian Christians are rooted in Jerusalem, they do exist in land of Palestine which is called Israel now (after the 1948 occupation), and that Palestinian Christians have a heritage of more than 2,000 years, and they actually lived in the time and the same land of Jesus Christ who was Palestinian.

This recognition confirms that Palestinians according to history under Ottoman rule were part of a diverse, productive society, who lives in peace, tolerance, and harmony with other people including Muslims in the Palestinian holy land of serenity, contrary to the mainstream sidelining of Palestinians from the region’s history.

In1948, when Israel was created, Christians in Palestine made up around 18 percent of the population. Over the years it has been dwindling and now it is less than two percent, for thousands of them have been suffering under political situations and pushed to leave Palestine. This act is significant in a way that encourage Palestinian Christians to stay in their country of Palestine and puts Palestine back on the map, among not only the Christian world, but the whole world, and will also help people to understand that the land of Palestine was existed hundreds of years ago and was inhabited by Palestinian Arabs before the occupation of Israel.

The religious ceremony has also a significant national message; for the two nuns are Palestinian Arab Christians and therefore Arab Palestinians are proud that they have two saints from Palestine, the birthplace of Jesus Christ which could have a significant effect to inspire all Palestinians on spiritual transformation to overcome all surrounding problems and how to peacefully live in harmonious co-existence like they did hundred years before the Israeli occupation.  It is also a message to the world that the Middle East is not just about media headlines on violence and terrorism, rather the Arabic speaking people have a rich history that consists of diverse communities in the Middle East, such as the Christian minority who have significantly contributed to building the Palestinian nation, to the world precious heritage and peacemaking.

This historical event also shows how the Pope religiously and politically cares for Palestine and Palestinian people because he knows the TRUTH.  His action is indeed is a positive step towards a socio-political change to get involved in the peace process of justice and freedom, to end the Zionist occupation of seventy years. For, in fact, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict concerns the whole world and it should be resolved by finding a satisfactory resolution that reshapes the reality and makes the world peace of freedom and justice.

By Marcelle Mansour

As I was unable to participate in the dawn service … I thought to live the experience in creating my artwork last night where I felt the soul just flying like clouds and doves from the centre of the helmet I kept.
On Gallipolis’s centenary I commemorate the Anzacs. I remember all Australians who served and passed away in all wars, In particular the late Mr Iverson. I have kept his army helmet that I found under the ground of my house in the past. This helmet is from one hundred years ago, since the Gallipoli battle of World War 1. I honour all WW1 Veterans, specially the names of those I met during my twelve years work in Concord Repatriation General Hospital for it was the main hospital for all Veterans that specialised in burns. I met Mr & Mrs Iverson only once in my life during the inspection of their house that was for sale. Nevertheless I was following up the development of Mr Iverson’s health condition to give his news to all my neighbours of widow Veterans who used to ask about him. All these neighbours passed away. Young generations have become the inhabitants of the area…but the memories are still dwelling in the core of my being, for their souls are immortal and are still living in the eternal world.
This helmet has inspired me to use it in my light artwork to pay homage to brave soldiers, to honour Mr Iverson in particular and the memory of the fallen in general.
This World War I’s helmet for me is: The Anzac spirit, where the souls of all these servicemen are immortal. May their souls rest in peace.
In this occasion I am thinking of all soldiers who are currently participating in wars around the warold…and I wish to end wars and to make peace prevail the world. I also pay tribute for all Australians who show respect to the Australian national identity for I am a Palestinian migrant who proudly become an Australian citizen by my own choice. I love Australia and feel grateful to this great country and pray for God to protect it always and forever.