By Marcelle Mansour

 A Genuine Warm Cheers for the Celebration on the Palestinian National Day annual function, organised as usual by Mr Albert Jubian, President of the Council of Australian Palestinians, held at the Parliament of NSW, Jubilee Room on Wednesday, 11 November 2015.  In the Presence of the Senator the Hon Bob Carr, former Premier of New South Wales and former Australian foreign minister (Labor NSW), H. E. Mr Izzat Abdul Hadi-Head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, the Hon John Ajaka MLC MP - Representing Mr Mike Bird, MP, the Premier of New South Wales, the Mr Luke Foley MP-the Leader of the Labour Party in NSW, Mr Jihad DIB MP-Member of the Lgislative Assembly/ Member of Lakemba, Ms Julia Finn MP- Member of the Legislative assembly/ Member for Granville, Prominent political, diplomatic and academic, Media Journalists, various community leaders and public officials as well as a crowd of the Palestinian community members.

The ceremony started by playing the two national anthems of Australia and Palestine. The Hon. Peter Thomas Primrose introduced all the speakers.   

The Hon John Ajaka MP spoke a word on behalf of the Premier Mike Bird MP and said that multicultural Australia has 220 ethnic origins who speak 225 languages. Around 1 in 5 Australians were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. Communities are embracing our diversity and differences to be able to unite, to live in harmony and to build a mutual respect to be able to develop communities of shared values. The Minister Akaka mentioned that he himself is of Lebanese descent and he strongly support the common goal of achieving an independent free Palestine and encourage the two-state solution.  

The Hon Luke Foley MP mentioned Edel McKenna, his Irish-born wife whom he married in 2005. As they making trips back and forth to her farming family in County Tyrone, he saw her neighbour raising the Palestinian Flag for several times. He certainly knows how important to be committed to solidarity and supportive to freedom and justice. The MP Foley declared that he issued orders to Labour MPs to visit the occupied Palestinian territories if they need to visit Israel, stressing that the Palestinian people are suffering from injustice at the hands of the Israeli occupation that kills Palestinians including young children. 

Former Australian Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Bob Carr, who has regularly been attending the Palestinian National Day commemoration for decade’s remains very supportive to the Palestinian cause, and concerned by the failure of negotiations and finding solution and recognising the Palestinian rights. Carr stated that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that has lasted for 48 years and the peace process for more than 22 years. On May 15, during the Nakba, Zionist forces exiled 750,000 Palestinians from their homes, committed 31 slaughters, and destroyed 531 Palestinian towns. Carr has made it clear that he is completely against the Israeli policies of apartheid, ethnic cleansing and illegal settlement. The reality of the situation now is that 500,000 settlers will never depart, rather Israel aims to achieve their goal of greater Israel and Israelis are opposing a Palestinian State solution. Carr, the patron of Plaestine, noted the inevitability of Palestinian resistance. 

The Ambassador Izzat Abdulhadi made an extensive speech in which he thanked the audience in celebrating the Palestinian National Day, and stated that Palestinians mark their National Day on November 15, the anniversary of the Palestinians' unilateral declaration of independence proclaimed by Yasser Arafat in 1988 where he reaffirmed the declaration of independence of the State of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital, the right of the refugees to return and the right of self-determination. Today marks the 11th anniversary of the passage of the immortal Palestininan leader Yasser Arafat passed away on the 11thof November 2004 and today, the 11th of November 2015 also marks the Remembrance Day National Ceremony of the Australian War Memorial.”  We are paying tribute to the selfless struggle of all. The Ambassador Abdulhadi spoke about the persistent struggle of Palestinian people for freedom and justice despite the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, their ongoing demolishing Palestinian house and expansion of existing illegal settlements, their violent attack on Gaza and Jerusalem and Netanyahu keeps hindering peace process. There are formal agreements between the Australian government and the Palestinian Authority; in particular the Labour Party has issued a decision to recognize a Palestinian state, hoping that Australia will join the 140 nations who have already recognized Palestine as a state whom Palestinians feel grateful to their support. The Ambassador Abdulhadi highlighted the ability of the Palestinian commitment to tirelessly working towards the support of Palestininan statehood during the current difficult times and to be determent and hopeful in the future. 

The distinguished speakers, who always do their best efforts to focus on the Palestininan human rights and freedom, delivered significant speeches.  They shared their views, experiences, analysis and hopes to the Palestininan cause. 

The event ended with gathering for a drink, socializing and networking.

Sadly, and unfortunately, our beloved Lebanon and up till today is merely an Iranian occupied and oppressed country by all means and in accordance to all global standards. 

In this occupational and oppressive context, and despite all the on going presidential derailing day dreaming and delusional media rhetoric chaos, confusion and false debates that we are encountering, the Iranian occupier through its denominational, criminal and terrorist Army, Hezbollah, will appoint the new Lebanese Maronite Christian President no matter what are our stances or wishes.

In reality, and according to the current occupational status quo, the Iranian Lebanese appointed president will be totally a puppet and will be entrusted not to serve the Lebanese people, Lebanon's interests, or safeguard the Lebanese constitution, but to blindly serve the Iranian occupation, and its Mullahs' colonial expansional, denominational, terrorist agendas and schemes against both Lebanon and all the regional countries.. 

This appointed president no matter who is he, will actually be a Trojan no more, no less and his name will make no difference at all.

Our last three presidents, Elias Hrawi, Emile Lahoud and Michael Suleiman were all appointed by the Syrian occupier, and not elected or chosen by the Lebanese, and this same humiliating and devastating scenario will keep on replicating itself as long as our beloved Lebanon remains occupied and UN Resolutions 1559 and 1701 are not implemented.

It is worth mentioning that in 2005 the Syrian occupation was over, but since than this occupation was replaced by an Iranian one through Hezbollah Army, with the evil help of a punch of Lebanese mercenary political parties and politicians like Micheal Aoun, Suleiman Frangea, Walid Jumblat, Nabih Berri, and many others including prominent clergymen among them our derailed Maronite Patriarch, Bchara Al Raei.

In summary, Lebanon is still an occupied country by all means and standards, and the occupier is the Iranian Mullahs' dictatorship regime through it Hezbollah terrorist army.

The new Iranian chosen Lebanese president might be Suleiman Frangea, Michael Aoun, John Khawagi, John Obeyed, or any one else that is cut from the same mercenary garment, while politically, enslaved and castrated. 

Accordingly, all the Lebanese efforts and on levels and all domains needs to be focusing on ending the Iranian occupation which is the main cancerous and devastating problem, and not to naively and stupidly be totally pre-occupied with the symptoms of this occupational cancer and keeping a blind eve on the disease it self.

In the realm of Lebanon's Iranian occupation we, the sovereign and free will Lebanese citizens from all sects and walks of life be in Lebanon or Diaspora are ought not to be fooled by the blinding evil manoeuvres of the current rotten politicians in both 8th or 14th of March coalitions due to the fact that the majority of them are puppets, merchants, cowards, opportunists, hypocrites and their priorities are to serve their own interests, riches, personal gains and not the country and its citizens.

In conclusion, with the current status quo, and as long as Lebanon is occupied by the Iranian Mullahs regime and its army, Hezbollah controls the country and oppresses its people, the Iranian Lebanese appointed president will make no difference no matter who is he.

*Elias Bejjani

By The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane MLC.

I acknowledge my parliamentary colleagues Victor Dominello, and former members the Hon Jim Longley and a dear friend the Hon Marie Ficarra as well as the many local government colleagues.

Most importantly, I acknowledge each and every one of you who has come not only to give generously but for Standing up, for speaking out and for being proactive in preventing violence against women.

One should not shy away from describing Domestic violence for what it is. It is no less than household terror. 

For thousands of Australian women who are regularly assaulted, it is a life of continuous terror. 

Worse still, as Commissioner Scipione says, this year alone in NSW, 27 women have died as a result of domestic violence. 

Ladies and gentlemen, this is not only horrifying but an unacceptable statistic.

The question Scipioni asks: Where will it end?"

Well the answer is that it unfortunately won’t end, until we as a society collectively end it. 

Education, advocacy and public awareness is crucial to ending the violence. 

Tackling domestic violence should be a top priority for all of us and it must be addressed in a way that engages and brings the whole community with us.

Everybody deserves to feel safe and secure in their own home and those who commit domestic violence must be held to account for their actions.

Domestic violence does not discriminate and it impacts on all parts of our multicultural society. 

As we all know, it is often hidden, and victims, for fear for their safety and that of their children, do not speak out.

It is therefore imperative that we speak out and change attitudes and educate people about this heinous crime that ravages all communities, regardless of socio-economic backgrounds.

Tonight, you will hear from three outstanding gentlemen, Newcastle Knight's, Clint Newton, Australian representative and Cronulla Shark, Luke Lewis, and Penrith Panther's, Josh Mansour, who are football leaders on the field and leaders off the field in their campaign to stop violence against women.

White Ribbon has played an integral role in raising community awareness on this issue and it is changing attitudes. 

But what make white Ribbon a successful Organisation are those men and women who carry the flag ….. And in this instance here tonight it’s Vince De Luca. 

By way of recognition and encouragement people like Vince, I would like him to come up to present him with this certificate of recognition for his commitment to fighting violence against women.

The Hon. SHAOQUETT MOSELMANE [11.20 a.m.]: 

I speak on this very important motion. First of all I express my sympathies to the Cheng family. The sad loss of an innocent life taken by a 15-year-old child was a shocking act condemned by all decent-thinking human beings. I take this opportunity to also express my sincerest condolences to the families of all those whose innocent lives were taken by a heinous act of terror carried out by ISIS in the French capital. The terror attacks which targeted the Bataclan concert venue and the Stade de France football stadium, along with cafes and restaurants, left 129 people dead and many more injured. 

Similar horrors were executed in other countries around the globe: Turkey, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Nigeria, Kenya, many of the African States, China, and many others we do not hear of—attacks committed by ISIS, al-Nusra and the many sister terrorist groups in Syria and in Iraq—al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and many others too numerous to mention. They should all be condemned. No-one should play to their tunes for foreign policy interests. I offer condolences to the Russians and the families of the 240 innocent victims holidaying at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt and to those of Christian faith and other people of faith in the Middle East, including the Palestinian people, who have suffered 70 years of oppression.

Terrorism has not, does not and will not discriminate between Muslim and non-Muslim, between Arab and non-Arab, between poor and rich or between young and old. It has impacted on Muslims of all colours, Christians of all denominations, Yazidis, Kurds, Copts and any other minority that exists in the Middle East. Unfortunately, the picture we get in Australia of what is happening in the Middle East is a distorted keyhole view of the world as dictated by those in power and narrated by those entrusted with producing the agenda. 

Those in positions of dominance construct knowledge and manufacture truths, stereotyping and categorising people. Manufacturing assumptions about violence due to Muslims as innate barbarism and tribalism is wrong and should not be perpetuated. Such representations become language, institutionalised and normalised, reproducing a narrative about the other, in this case the Muslims, as barbaric. That is how certain structures of knowledge become the dominant norm and that is why in Australia and around the world Muslims are depicted as a security threat, a threat to public safety, a cultural threat or an economic threat.

This skewed view of Islam legitimises public hate campaigns and thus lays the ground for further vilification and hatred of Muslims in Australia. It legitimises the nasty, trashy, vitriolic, hate-based attacks that we often witness in public and sometimes here in this House. The Islamic community, like any other community, is made up of people who go on with their daily lives like any other citizen. They work, they earn a living, they raise their kids and they contribute to the overall good of society. They have no more power or authority over criminals—in this instance, terrorists—than any other citizen. They do not sit in the wee hours of the night plotting the destruction of the State. Therefore people should not blame the Islamic community for what is currently unfolding. Muslim Australians deplore ISIS, condemn their attacks and are angry that they commit such horrific acts of violence in the name of Islam.

We have faith in the Australian Federal Police Specialist Response Group, the Australian Federal Police Protective Service, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, the Royal Australian Corps of Military Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. The Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command is responsible for the NSW Police Force's preparedness for, prevention of and response to the threat of terrorism in New South Wales. There is also the Coordinated Response Group, the Anti Terrorism and Security Group, the Operations Group, the State Protection Group and other groups within New South Wales police including the Middle East crime squad and many others. We have many security institutions and agencies that can keep us safe. Having said that, I believe everyone has a role to play—and that means everyone.

Finally I take this opportunity to raise a very important issue for all to note. The State Government will reportedly overhaul hate speech laws. Attorney General Upton says, "The laws just don't work." And I agree. The Attorney is right. They do not work, particularly for the Muslim community in Australia. One of the reasons is that neither the New South Wales anti-discrimination law nor the Commonwealth racial vilification laws provide the Muslim community with necessary protections. It is time we fixed that. This is why in New South Wales we must immediately stop such attacks on this community and we must amend the New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 to include religion as a ground of discrimination. With the exception of one or two States, all other State and Territory laws have religion, religious activity, belief, affiliation or religious conviction as a ground for unlawful discrimination. The Government needs to address this deficiency and ensure the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 provides proper protection to all religions, including Islam.

This Act ought to be looked at. In Victoria, for example, religious vilification is treated in similar terms to racism. The Human Rights Commission's recent report finds that Muslims have "limited protection" under the Racial Discrimination Act. This report has found that Muslim Australians are facing persistent abuse and discrimination. That ought to be addressed. Once again I congratulate the mover of the motion, the Hon. John Ajaka, and the Government on this motion. I mourn all the innocent lives lost and I condemn all responsible for the loss of innocent life. I commend the motion to the house.

By Marcelle Mansour

On Thursday 12th November 2015, I was fortunate to be invited by the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS) to attend the event of “An Afternoon with George Gittoes”, which was held at the CPACS Centre at the University of Sydney. 

George Gittoes AM is a distinguished Australian and International Visual Artist of War and Peace, Photojournalist and Film Maker, who has been awarded the 2015 Sydney Peace Prize on Tuesday 10 November at Sydney Town Hall. “Australia’s only international peace award, “for exposing injustice for more than 45 years as a humanist artist, activist and filmmaker; for his courage to witness and confront violence in the war zones of the world; for enlisting the arts to subdue aggression and for enlivening the creative spirit to promote tolerance, respect and peace with justice.” The 2015 Sydney Peace Prize Jury’s citation stated. “The Jury felt his unique approach to peace building and social justice should be recognised and applauded.”

The Master of Ceremony was performed by Mr Mujib Obid. George Gittoes gave an interesting talk about his journey as the war and peace artist. He started his talk holding his Angel of Peace puppet, and then he spoke about the conception and the significance of his art and the conflict with brutality that has shaped his work. Particularly in Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan where Gittoes has survived war, death threats and a pet monkey where he has established the Yellow House Jalalabad (YHJ). 

George Gittoes: “Art proved that creative people create things rather than destroy stuff. So all my life I've been going to war zones. I saw the destruction of Baghdad, I've seen the destruction of Gaza and all this destruction through war and for me it's been enough just to create in the face of it, to be making stuff.”

George’s speech was followed by Q & A with the help of his partner, Helen Rose, a talented singer and actress from Sydney, who shared George answering some of Q & A dialogue with the audience.

In my turn, I made a short spontaneous unwritten speech and a poem about my experience of special friendship with the artist George Gittoes over the years, and the following is graphically what I said: 

“Good afternoon everyone: I feel privileged to day that I am invited to meet the great Artist George Gittoes together with his partner the amazing Vocalist and Performer Artist Helen Rose. I would like to thank the Committee Members of (CPACS): Dr Wendy Lambourne-Deputy Director and Post Graduate Research, Dr Ken Macnab-President Council, Juliet Bennett-Executive Officer, Katie Pokorney-Acting Executive Officer; for providing me with this wonderful opportunity.    

I have known the amazing Artist George Gittoes since the late 1980s and early1990s when I was a regular contributor to the An-Nahar Australian Arabic newspaper as a journalist and a weekly communist. When I came across his name in the English newspaper, I visited his art exhibition where I first met him and I wrote about him and introduced his arts to the Arabic speaking communities. I still remember his incredible art exhibition titled “The Realism of Peace“at S. H. Ervin Museum and Art Gallery in 1996 where I accompanied a group of Australian Lebanese and Palestininan community members to view his artworks and to listen to his marvellous talk, where we realized that Gittoes witnessed war conflicts and destructions in Rwanda, Somalia, Cambodia, Bosnia, Congo, Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza/ Palestine and other countries.  

At that time we both displayed in a group exhibition at Barry Stern Gallery, Paddington. Then I invited the Artist George Gittoes to the Australian Palestinian Club where he commended my community artworks of the Past, Present and Future triptych that depicts the story of the Palestinian cause, 48 Nakba and Diaspora. In1998 I had a nicely written article about my work, titled “Paintings from the Heart”, by the Art Historian and Critic G. Dalton, in my book of Shifting Waves p5. In 2002 George Gittoes headed to Gaza my birthplace where he was embraced by my relatives who coincidently were the point of connection.” 

Then I said: “George Gittoes is totally a complete hero, he was exposed to death and threats all his life. I know for sure that he has a strong faith, where he always creates artistic Guardian Angel moppets; and there is no doubt that God amazingly protect him from all harms.”  

Last year I attended George Gittoes Art Exhibition of ‘Vincent and the Snow Monkey’ and his book launch titled ‘George Gittoes I Witness’ on 31 Jul 2014 at the Art Equity Gallery where he signed for me his unforgettable words “Peace and Freedom for Palestine”.  

The Palestinians are still living under the horror and terror of the Israeli occupation for 67 years and the peace process’ failure is persisting for 21 years with only bloodshed and hatred from both sides which offer no logical resolution in ending the occupation and war or making peace with justice. The United Nations designated 2014 to be the ‘International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.’ 193-nation body had expressed the hope that, by now, the State of Palestine would be a sovereign and independent Member State of the UN. The majority of the world is on the side of justice with Palestinians, but not "power of veto" nations. Israeli Ministers are totally and permanently against a Palestinian State. This rejection does not count as ‘Justice’ or “Human Rights’. I had my ‘Threshold’ art exhibition and seminar of light and perception last week at the Parliament of NSW, and I explained how we creative artists highlight the notions of humanity, freedom, peace and justice in our work so that we may laid the foundation for modern critical political thought by working on changing the mentality of politicians who lead the world nations so that they may cross the threshold of transformation towards recreating the reality of our world.  

Therefore, George Gittoes’ words are just perfect of what we want to happen: “Peace and Freedom for Palestine.” Today I would like to congratulate the artist George Gittoes on receiving the 2015 Sydney Peace Prize and to present him with the portrait I have painted of him that is accompanied with my poem. This is my tribute to the amazing artist George Gittoes.” as follows:

A Cry Out for

“Peace and Freedom for Palestine”

These unforgettable glorious words

Are so precious and worthy to be voiced

To be heard by all the leaders of the world

What the Australian Artist George Gittoes wrote

When he signed his book for me with his heart of gold

‘George Gittoes I Witness 

The extraordinary Artist of Peace and Anti-War

Who documented the history and revealed the truth

Wishing Peace and Freedom for Palestine and All

Marcelle Mansour, Thursday 12 November, 2015

At the end I spontaneously pulled a ‘Kofeyye’ Palestinian scarf out of my handbag and proudly put it on around George’s neck, reading what it says: ‘Return to Jerusalem.’ Coincidently my tiny hair brush hooked with the scarf and George humorously asked me to comb the knots on his hair which I pretend doing it. George Gittoes certainly has a great sense of humor that makes him survives the brutality of war he witnesses around the world. George said he will be hopefully heading to Palestine very soon.

The event ended with gathering for refreshments and drink, socializing and networking. It was a good afternoon with a wonderful insight into an amazing creative world of peace. 

MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES COUNCIL OF NEW SOUTH WALES

Dear Mr Raad,

Re: Terrorist attack in Beirut, Lebanon. When the terrible news of the series of co-ordinated terrorist attacks in Paris on 13th Friday came to us we were simply stunned and shocked. We were equally stunned and shocked when we also learned of the terrorist attacks in Bourj Al Baraajineh in South Beirut on Thursday 12 November, which unfortunately received less publicity.

We strongly condemn the callousness of the perpetrators as they murdered at least 41 innocent people and wounded many, many more. We join in spirit with the Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam in calling for unity in the face of attempts to create strife in Lebanon. On behalf of the Multicultural Communities Council of NSW, representing Australians of all diverse backgrounds, we wish to convey our sincere condolences to the families of the victims who died needlessly at the hands of those terrorists. We also hope and pray for those wounded to quickly recover, and for those suffering life-threatening injuries to soon move from a critical to a stable condition.

Although Lebanon and Australia are far apart geographically but we share the grief of the families of the victims and the plight of the Lebanese people and in particular the Australian Lebanese Community and our thoughts go out to them on their national day of mourning Please convey our message to the Lebanese Government and to the members of the Lebanese Community in Australia.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Anthony Pun, OAM

Multicultural and Indigenous Media celebrated at NSW Parliament House

The 4th annual Multicultural and Indigenous Media Awards (MIMA) dinner presentation were held last Wednesday night at NSW Parliament House. Representatives from Multicultural and Indigenous media outlets, Members of Parliament and community representatives joined together to recognise and celebrate the achievements of multicultural and Indigenous media.  

 “Tonight - is all about the journalists in our communities who are at the frontline of multiculturalism and Indigenous Australia. This is but a small tribute to all the tireless work that you do.” The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane, Chairperson of the Awards, said.

“For me, the idea of having a MIMA was simple, but long overdue. Multicultural and Indigenous media had never been celebrated in a specific event acknowledging their achievements and in particular the many talented migrant and Indigenous Journalists who have been serving their communities through multicultural media yet go unrecognised” said the Chair of MMA, the Hon Shaoquett Moselmane MLC.

The Multicultural & Indigenous Media Awards are intended to recognise excellence among journalists, photographers, editors and publishers as well as to encourage and recognise their significant service to Multicultural and Indigenous Australia. 

Australia’s ethnic media has come a long way. From the foreign language press, as it was called, viewed with suspicion, as a hindrance to assimilation, to an important voice serving multicultural Australia. 

Similarly, Indigenous-specific media has made significant strides in promoting community issues and putting community agenda on the national platform. From its grassroots origins Indigenous Media is staking a hold in the mainstream while retaining its authenticity and Indigenous political discourse.

This empowerment of Indigenous people through Indigenous specific media is engaging the highest public institutions in our nation, and has highlighted Indigenous issues long untold.

The Award Winners were:

News Reporting Award was won by Mr Pawan Luthra of Indian Link Media Group. 

Online News Coverage was won by Mr Shant Soghomonian of Armenian Media Incorporated. Indian Link Media Group continued their successful evening taking out the award for Photographer of the Year, to Mr Sachin Wakhare. 

Miss Margherita Angelucci of Il Globo/La Fiamma won the award for Editorial Reporting, and this award was accepted on her behalf by La Fiamma Chief Editor Armando Tornari. Ms Violi Calvert of the Filipino Australian was humbled by her victory in the category of Coverage of Community Affairs. 

The Encouragement Award was presented to 13 year old Miss Natalie Sukkarieh, who impressed the gathering with a speech stating how she loves investigative journalism and to bring the truth to light. 

The Hall of Fame Award had two recipients this year, first to Editor in Chief of the An-Nahar Arabic newspaper, Mr Anwar Harb AM, for bringing news and analysis to the Lebanese and Arabic-speaking communities since 1978. 

The second hall of fame Award went to Chief Executive Officer of the Sing Tao Daily Mr Simon Ko, who has been in the media business and at the helm of Sing Tao for 17 years bringing local, international news to the Chinese Australian community. 

The Young Journalist of the Year was won by the Indian Telegraph’s Arijit Banarjee and the most prestigious award of the night, Journalist of the Year award was won by Ms Natalie Ahmat of NITV News, who dedicated her award to her small but hard working team of colleagues.                       

Category Winner Media Organisation

Coverage of Community Affairs Ms Violi Calvert The Filipino Australian

Editorial Reporting Miss Margherita Angelucci Il Globo/La Fiamma

Encouragement Award Natalie Sukkarieh the World observer 

Hall of Fame Award Anwar Harb AM An-Nahar Newspaper 

Hall of Fame Award Simon Ko Sing Tao Daily 

Journalist of the Year Ms Natalie Ahmat NITV News

News Reporting Mr Pawan Luthra Indian Link Media Group

Online News Coverage Mr Shant Soghomonian Armenian Media Inc

Photographer of the Year Mr Sachin Wakhare Indian Link Media Group

Young Journalist of the Year Mr Arijit Banarjee The Indian Telegraph 

For media comment please contact:

Kenrick Cheah, 92302526

By Marcelle Mansour

On 28th Oct 2015, I was invited by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) in Sydney, Australia to exhibit and speak about the role of art in peace building, at the Parliament of NSW, in the presence of  the Hon Glen Brooks representing the Hon David Clarke, MLC, Mr Gregory Stone the President of UPF Australia, and a number of elite from the Australian Arab communities of writers, poets, doctors, artists, intellectuals, journalists and those interested in the artistic and cultural, social and political affairs. The audience varied from Australian Communities of Lebanese, Egyptian, Jordanian, Iraqi, Syrian, Palestinian, and ambassadors of peace from other ethnic communities.

At the event, I addressed the topic of Threshold, The Art of Light and Perception for healing, renewal and rebirth of world peace and spoke about my innovative art of light aiming to help crossing the Threshold of Transformation through Light and Perception Towards Peace-Building with Justice. I displayed a series of artworks that are a part of Threshold Art Exhibition which was created to be exhibited over the two years of 2014 & 2015, for it has coincided with the world‘s commemorating the centenary of the First World War, along with UN declaring 2014 as the ‘Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People’. This year, the exhibition is coinciding and celebrating the 2015 International Year of Light, and also with the UN international Day of Peace with slogan says: “Partnerships of peace dignity for all.”, and also the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. It was previously and virtually exhibited in New York City during the Armory Week in March 2014; in Bankstown Arts Centre in April 2014, in Mary MacKillop Museum, North Sydney for four months from Dec 2014 until March 2015, at UPF embassy in April 2015, and recently a selected artwork has been exhibited at the Fifth Annual Award, International display at the Louvre Museum in Paris in July 2015, and currently at the Parliament of NSW in Oct 2015.

Jana Lajdova professionally performed the Master of Ceremony, The Hon Glen Brooks welcomed the attendees, and stated that the Parliament of NSW is the oldest in Australia and it is available for all. Then he delivered a brief speech about art and light, highlighting the importance of light in the art, especially he uses it in his work in the advertising company, he knows the value of light and what it could do in the sense of imagination and calmness. The Hon Glen Brooks on his own words: “Some of the artwork I can see here on display is what I consider is a great art and to have light work involved with the peace is a wonderful thing.” 

Greg Stone, the UPF President Australia stated: “We are really happy to have Marcelle invited here to exhibit and to explain about her inspiring and stimulating exhibition tonight that is a beautiful display in light, for light talks about truth and beauty and we need light in our life and our world. Mr Stone said: “The reason the UPF is involved in art is because there is a kind of foundation in our work and Marcelle’s work, because UPF is dedicated to world peace, harmony and prosperity for all. We should all relate to each other as brothers and sisters as all one family created by God. Spirituality is a lead to our life we appreciate the importance of the moral principle that should guide what we do as strong families and communities. Our tradition is to teach the gold rule to serve others which makes amazing peace building exercise for unity. We are very diverse in this world but we need to break down the barriers and dividers, it means we should appreciate the great diversity and break the barriers that dividing and creating harm, contributing to establish true love and peace.” 

In my turn, I was able to deliver multiple presentations including my speech of my art conception of Threshold, reading my English exphrasis poetry of ‘Spiritual Dialogue with Light’ and my Arabic poem of ‘Come along to Change’, then a screen presentation that conveyed the message at the various numerous levels. I provided a brief history of my parents’ displacement from Jaffa, Palestine since the Nakba in1948, and my birth and life in the Gaza Strip, providing historical, cultural, intellectual, social and political presentation of the concept of the Palestinian cause, then explaining what is happening in recent times where Palestininan children and youth are being exposed to genocide and to the horror and terror of the Israeli occupation; “ The occupation and war is still on for 67 years and the peace talk keeps failing for 21 years....What we  are seeing now is that more bloodshed only leads to more violence and hatred on both sides, without any fair logical solutions." I also asked for prayer for those who lost their loved ones, and for children who became orphaned.  

Then, I spoke on the topic of "How to cross the threshold through light and perception towards a just peace building". I explained at length about the concept of the art of light and perception in Contemporary Art, its objectives, aims and goals, and the motives that led me to create this work. “This comes out of my voice, as an Australian Palestinian Artist, I have a point of view that has been shaped by the impact of conflict and displacement, but also have a great love and sense of connection to my motherland. The impetus driving my work comes from a strong desire to see my motherland Palestine liberated, to be transformed by the light of peace and freedom, liberation and universal humanity that is in opposition to the barbarous occupation which is building a de facto reality on the earth.”

“Through my art, I present a kind of an intersection between me, my identity, my cause, the history and the world. In my vision, I visualize the reality of the world. Art is central to politics and to social relationships, for works of art can create reality, works of art can transform and transfigure our experiences in our continual remaking of the world. Therefore, I humbly wish for some politicians to have some creativity and spirituality, to help in gaining better guidance in making wiser decisions. Some religion leaders need to redirect and re-educate the new generation regarding to the actual purpose of faith. Therefore, we really need a kind of deep transformation which will make a radical change to enable us to recreate our reality and reshape the world’s reality.”

Inspired by both my roots in Eastern and Western Art and spiritual and philosophical traditions, I have explored the phenomena of perception as a path to self-knowledge. I focus on universal human experiences through phenomenology towards positive socio-political change via renewal of the inner soul. In my work, I paint with light as a focal point to explore the mystery and to reveal the invisible. This perception is appreciated by the spirituality within various religions or no religions, regardless of ethnic origins, because of the abstraction of nothingness or zero form. This may depend on people’s visions and thoughts, and that’s why, viewers are a part of my work. I focus on light as a metaphor for knowledge and wisdom through phenomenological arts. Light is a manifestation, a presence, a source of the ‘holy’ and ‘sacred’ which enable us to experience the inner life. This is where the ‘invisible becomes ‘visible’ and the light shines out of darkness and helps to transform us so that we become a source of light. Inspired by my roots in Eastern Culture, I have used materials and elements that have a significant meaning in our tradition such as: gold leaf, alchemy, salt, frankincense, olive oil and earth dust, marble stones, holy bread and gauze. 

My art represents crossing the threshold of transformation. The shifting colour of light while circulating represents threshold when a deep alchemical transformation happens to cause renewal and rebirth to exist which affect healing and embracing love and peace.

Through my creative works I invite my viewers/ audience to cross the perception, to reveal the invisible truth, to be loyal citizens and to unite in peace and harmony. Through my art of light and perception, I want to enrich Australia and the world by creating a culture of Peace-building through crossing the 'Threshold of Transformation for Healing, Renewal and Rebirth. Painting with Light and Perception affects minds and senses -regardless of origin or religion, faith or no faith- to cross the ‘Threshold of Transformation', to rethink ourselves and the world conflicts, for healing humanity and reshaping reality, towards changing War into Peace, Occupation into Liberation, Violence into Peacefulness, Terrorism into Elevations and Materialism into Spiritualism.”  

At the end of the seminar, where the speakers provided important perspectives, it was the discussion’s time for questions and answers through the interaction between the Artist and the viewers, with an excellent positive audience’ feedback, where they could sum up and draw some conclusions of that peace with justice, freedom and humanity is the right for all peoples. It is great to paint with light and perception that may lead to transformation and change the world for the better. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the officials of the Parliament of NSW for heir tireless efforts and the UPF members who organised the event, in particular, Mr Greg Stone, and also the Arabic Media representatives, including writers and poets, all the attendees and community members for their excellent support.