SUPPORT SALMA YAQOOB FOR MP

I’ve been out a few times this week leafleting for Salma Yaqoob’s campaign to become the first Muslim woman MP in the UK. Standing on a progressive programme of investment, green initiatives, ethical foreign policies and for a vigorous and creative defence of multiculturalism , she has a real chance of being elected in my local constituency of Hall Green, where in the Sparkbrook ward she has been an impressive councillor for the last 4 years.

Salma has developed a significant national political profile appearing on Question Time and national media in her role as campaigning councillor and anti-war activist. Although officially standing as a Respect Party candidate she has built a good progressive alliance in support of her campaign beyond traditional party boundaries, with the Green Party officially endorsing her candidacy and support coming from major figures in the local Labour Party; including the public support of outgoing principled MP Lynne Jones who resides in the Moseley and Kings Heath ward of the Constituency.

Salma's faith inspired politics should be appealing to Christians committed to community action and global justice. She spoke at my book launch about how influenced she is by Islamic liberation theologian Farid Esack - a leading activist in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa in 1980s and a prominant voice in the Global South initiated interfaith Peace for Life movement. She draws inspiration from creative radicals like Arundhati Roy and Naomi Klein - she represents a real possibility of having a Member of Parliament committed to the radical global justice movement as well as being a locally rooted MP, resisting cuts in public services, promoting green initiatives, campaigning for an ethical foreign policy and resisting the rising tide of racism and Islamophobia.

If you live in Hall Green constituency please consider voting for her and actively supporting her campaign.

If you don't live in Hall Green consider actively support her campaign.

For more information ring 07812 172 885

Follow Salma's campaign through her regularly updated blog at http://www.salmayaqoob.com/

EDL DEFEATED IN DUDLEY

I was unable to get to Dudley on Holy Saturday when the racist EDL came to town but by all accounts there was an excellent united local response. This developed around a locally inter faith inspired One Borough initiative and led to a creative and peaceful counter gathering with the Bishop of Dudley speaking, organised by local inter faith networks, Muslim community groups and Unite Against Fascism.

The EDL exposed their true colours - frustrated by not being able to wind up or get into a fight with a confrontational counter demo (because there wasn't one!) they sought to break the police lines and attacked a mosque but were quickly contained by police. Any nonsense about the EDL not being racist and Islamophobic can now surely be put to rest and the change in attitude by the police authorities in Dudley to how they reacted when the EDL came to Birmingham, should now be repeated around the country. The EDL are an anti Muslim pogrom movement - and if they can't be banned from gathering then they should be treated as violent hooligans and policed in that fashion.

The excellent anti fascist and local community response in Dudley should also be repeated wherever the EDL threaten to gather - concentrating on drawing together a wide coalition of groups for a creative peaceful counter-gathering, away from the EDL, that celebrates multiculturalism rather than directly confronting the EDL, whilst building a strong broad local consensus that demands the police authorities approach policing of the EDL as defending local communities from their abuse and violent attack rather than facilitating the EDL's 'right to protest'.

Buddhist Christian?

One of the least talked about but growing phenomenons in our contemporary culture is the rise of Buddhism in the west and the increasing number of Christians who are finding benefit in a serious engagement with Buddhism some of whom end up becoming Buddhists. In my last parish the congregation included people who termed themselves Christian - Buddhists, people who were in relationships with Buddhists and/or incorporated Buddhist practices into their own spirituality and others who had less neatly worked out relationships with Buddhism and Christianity even if they strongly and publically identified with one over the other..

One of the most read books on the reading list of my recent module at Queen's on Christianity and Dialogue was Paul Knitter's latest work Without Buddha I could not be a Christian so widely read amongst the Buddhist stream was it that the librarian has ordered extra copies for next year!

I have discovered that Paul now has a blog How a Buddhist Christian Sees It and there is also an interesting podcast of him in discussion on 'Walking more than one path - Is multi religious belonging possible?'

As an alternative to Knitter's approach you can take a look at Harold Netland and Keith Yendall Buddhism: A Christian Exploration and Appraisal which whist respectful and engaing with Buddhsim take a more traditional view of Buddhist - Christian Relations. Or to see how Buddhist - Christian interface has been explored in Sri Lanka see Aloysius Pieris ' Love meets Wisdom

THIS IS HOLY WEEK

Some resources for reflection on the Passion of Christ


He leaves the bright heavens
comes again
condemned to hang
between heaven and earth.
And there he remains
he absolves the guards
lets the tortured forget
makes hatred subside
teaches the weary to breathe
the trembling to sleep
the dreamers to act
the doers to dream.

Dorothee Solle


Biblical scholar and Christian activist Walter Breuggemann on Lent, Good Friday, Easter and the "shutdown" of the way it used to be.




This is Holy Week - Bible Readings and reflections for each day

Alternative Good Friday Intercessions here

Israel and Palestine - What is to be done? Public Meeting in Coventry Tommorrow

I am hoping to get to this that I only learnt about towards the end of last week.

Also check out a recent publication from Concordis International...the publicity blurb states

'The Christian peace organisation Concordis has just published a booklet to help churches understand the issues around the Israel / Palestine conflict. It follows a gathering of Christians with different perspectives on the conflict, aims to seek greater consensus and unity, and suggests some actions'

You can download the booklet here

Public Meeting:
Israel and Palestine – what is to be done?
Coventry Muslim Resource Centre, Red Lane, Coventry
Monday March 22nd, 6-8pm
Speakers:
• Ismail Patel, Chair, Friends of Al Aqsa
• Dan Judelson, former Chair, Jews for Justice for Palestinians
Background:
The situation of the Palestinians in Gaza remains desperate, with the continuing Israeli and Egyptian blockade preventing reconstruction after the devastating assault on Gaza’s civil society carried out by the Israelis a year ago. The situation in the West Bank is little better, as Israel
continues to expropriate land and evict Palestinian families from their homes in order to expand its settlements. Yet it often seems that Western governments turn a blind eye to Israel’s behaviour, and treat Israeli violence far more leniently than that of the Palestinians. When the recent Goldstone Report on the Gaza war accused the Israelis of war crimes, our government refused to back it. Many people in the UK, perhaps even a majority, recognise the injustice of this situation, but feel powerless to do anything about it.

• If we organise and speak out, could we change UK government policy?
• What could the UK do to restore some kind of justice in Palestine?
• How can we contribute?

This meeting hopes to bring together Muslims, Jews, Christians and all
others who long for a just peace in the Middle East, in a common effort
to answer these questions and bring about change.

Schedule:
• 6.00-6.30 refreshments • 6.30-7.30 talks • 7.30-8.00 discussion
Organisers: Justice for Palestinians-West Midlands and Coventry Muslim
Resource Centre. Please contact david mond@yahoo.com or the CMRC,
on 024 7663 7933, for further information.

"It SHOULD have been called Christian Jihad" - The launch of A Heart Broken Open

There was a great turn out for the launch of my book 'A Heart Broken Open - Radical Faith in an Age of Fear' on Monday evening at Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education. Thanks especially to Toby Howarth The Bishop of Birmingham's Adviser on Inter Faith Relations and to Salma Yaqoob Birmingham City Councillor and Respect Party Parliamentary Candidate for Hall Green for their powerful and inspiring contributions and to my step son Luke for his filming of the event allowing those of you who were not able to make it to see the speeches below

One Society, Many Cultures - Support the Early Day Motion

Please ask your MP to sign EDM 1079 - Muslims in Britain.
You can do this easily by clicking on this link, http://t.ymlp116.com/juadamubadamuybatausmqe/click.php it takes less than two minutes.
The motion follows rising concerns about negative portrayal of Muslims in sections of the media and anti-Muslim demonstrations by extreme right wing groups such as the English Defence League, which recently marched on Parliament demanding the closure of the East London Mosque. If they had singled out a Church or Synagogue, there would rightly be an outcry.
We believe the targeting of communities in this way is creating a climate of fear and division, and undermines civil liberties and the right to freedom of expression. The motion welcomes the contribution of Muslim communities and their full participation in British society, including in politics.
EDM 1079 - Muslims in Britain :
“That this House opposes the increased demonisation of Muslims in sections of the media; expresses its deep concern at the recent visit to the House of Lords by the far right politician Geert Wilders; condemns the English Defence League demonstration outside Parliament in support of Geert Wilders and their slogans and placards inciting hatred, such as their demand for the closure of the East London Mosque, that will only lead to a climate of fear, division and disharmony; welcomes the participation and contribution of Muslims in British society, including in politics; believes that the full participation of all communities in the forthcoming general election is in the interests of democracy.”
Take action and click here to urge your MP to sign this important motion
One Society Many Cultures