be.encouraged

be encouraged by stories from around the world

Prayer Vigil For Asylum Seekers

The Huffington Post UK  |  Posted: 21/03/2014 14:21 GMT  |  Updated: 21/03/2014 14:59 GMT A group of Australian protesters have been arrested after holding a peaceful prayer vigil outside the office of the country’s immigration minister. The group of nine people had been praying in protest over the government’s “cruel” asylum seeker policy. Participant Matt Anslow told Australia’s SBS that the protest was […]

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We Light Up The Dark

On Sunday night, we were a sight to behold. We stood with 20,000 Australians, across the country and around the world, to spread light during a dark time in Australian history. We gave hope and radiated compassion to asylum seekers under our government’s cruel and punishing policies. It’s absolutely amazing what you made possible in […]

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A ‘Perfect’ Refugee Camp

How to Build a Perfect Refugee Camp www.nytimes.com Kilis is one of the cleanest, most humane, most efficiently run refugee camps in history. And therei…

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Muslim Reflections On Holocaust

A Muslim Leader Reflects On The Holocaust After Visiting Auschwitz Posted: 27/01/2014 11:26 am Muhamed Jusic was quiet throughout much of our journey and we only learned afterwards why. He had his own story to tell. From the Kenyan mall massacre and the Boston Marathon to renewed violence in Iraq, Muslim extremists capture the headlines. […]

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Pope: Whistleblower For The Poor

Chris Arnade  theguardian.com, Thursday 12 December 2013 06.15 AEST Edward Snowden was not chosen as Time magazine‘s Person of the Year, and for this many in the media are outraged. Instead Time chose Pope Francis, a man who in the last year has been transforming the Catholic church by focusing on the searing inequalities brought […]

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Israel Loves Iran – Peace Campaign

Israel loves Iran is not a refrain you’ll hear often from politicians. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called Israel “a cancerous tumor”. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Iran “brutalizes its own people, colludes in the murder of thousands of innocent Syrians and leads millions in chanting ‘Death to America, death to Israel’.” But […]

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Israel And Iran: A Love Story

This is great example of how we can reach out to one another across the divide of hatred between nations. When war between Israel and Iran seemed imminent, Israeli graphic designer Ronny Edry shared a poster on Facebook of himself and his daughter with a bold message of love for Iran. http://youtu.be/6Lp-NMaU0r8 Israel and Iran: A […]

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Community Meal – Getting Together

Listen now Download audio Saturday 23 November 2013 1:23PM Fortnightly, a group of residents in Brisbane organise a community meal in a church hall in South Brisbane. On first appearances it appears to be at least a little chaotic and haphazard. But it’s well loved by those who go. It’s most definitely NOT a soup […]

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Taher Forotan – Pride Of Australia

BRISBANE man Dr Taher Forotan has taken out national honours at the 2013 Pride of Australia ceremony in Sydney this morning. Taher Forotan is a refugee from Afghanistan and was awarded for his work helping other refugees through the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma. Pic: Sarah Keayes Source: News Limited An Afghan […]

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Black Teen Who Saved ‘White Racist’

29 October 2013 Last updated at 00:29 GMT By Catherine WynneBBC News In 1996, a black teenager protected a white man from an angry mob who thought he supported the racist Ku Klux Klan. It was an act of extraordinary courage and kindness – and is still inspiring people today In 1996, a black teenager protected a […]

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A Sikh Faces Assault With Grace

People keep asking me what it feels like to have been assaulted in a hate crime. Honestly, I can’t come up with a better response than simply “gratitude.”I’m thankful for a few reasons. If they had attacked me any more violently, I may not be awake right now to tell my story. If they had […]

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Malala’s Reply To The Taliban

BRIAN JONESTODAY 7:38 AM Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old Pakistani advocate for womens rights and access to education, appeared on the Daily Show last night, ahead of Friday’s pending announcement for the 2013 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Her answer to one of Jon Stewart’s questions left him speechless. An outspoken critic of the Taliban’s tactics […]

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