CCN has set up a special web page for Ramadaan goodwill messages for CCN readers.
On this holy occasion reach out to your friends, family, associates, acquaintances with warm wishes and inspiring thoughts.
Send a warm message on this auspicious occasion from yourself, your family, your organization or your business by emailing theteam@crescentsofbrisbane.org with the details.
Suicide terrorism is rising around the world, but there is great confusion as to why. In this paradigm-shifting analysis, University of Chicago political scientist Robert Pape has collected groundbreaking evidence to explain the strategic, social, and individual factors responsible for this growing threat.
One of the world’s foremost authorities on the subject, Professor Pape has created the first comprehensive database of every suicide terrorist attack in the world from 1980 until today. With striking clarity and precision, Professor Pape uses this unprecedented research to debunk widely held misconceptions about the nature of suicide terrorism and provide a new lens that makes sense of the threat we face.
FACT: Suicide terrorism is not primarily a product of Islamic fundamentalism.
FACT: The world’s leading practitioners of suicide terrorism are the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka–a secular, Marxist-Leninist group drawn from Hindu families.
FACT: Ninety-five percent of suicide terrorist attacks occur as part of coherent campaigns organized by large militant organizations with significant public support.
FACT: Every suicide terrorist campaign has had a clear goal that is secular and political: to compel a modern democracy to withdraw military forces from the territory that the terrorists view as their homeland.
FACT: Al-Qaeda fits the above pattern. Although Saudi Arabia is not under American military occupation per se, one major objective of al-Qaeda is the expulsion of U.S. troops from the Persian Gulf region, and as a result there have been repeated attacks by terrorists loyal to Osama bin Laden against American troops in Saudi Arabia and the region as a whole.
FACT: Despite their rhetoric, democracies–including the United States–have routinely made concessions to suicide terrorists. Suicide terrorism is on the rise because terrorists have learned that it’s effective.
In this wide-ranging analysis, Professor Pape offers the essential tools to forecast when some groups are likely to resort to suicide terrorism and when they are not. He also provides the first comprehensive demographic profile of modern suicide terrorist attackers. With data from more than 460 such attackers–including the names of 333–we now know that these individuals are not mainly poor, desperate criminals or uneducated religious fanatics but are often well-educated, middle-class political activists.
More than simply advancing new theory and facts, these pages also answer key questions about the war on terror:
• Are we safer now than we were before September 11?
• Was the invasion of Iraq a good counterterrorist move?
• Is al-Qaeda stronger now than it was before September 11?
Professor Pape answers these questions with analysis grounded in fact, not politics, and recommends concrete ways for today’s states to fight and prevent terrorist attacks. Military options may disrupt terrorist operations in the short term, but a lasting solution to suicide terrorism will require a comprehensive, long-term approach–one that abandons visions of empire and relies on a combined strategy of vigorous homeland security, nation building in troubled states, and greater energy independence.
"Not everyone accepts the stereotype of suicide bombers recruited by the Al Qaeda network, as religiously-inspired haters of Western values, intent of destroying Western civilization. One American analyst has conducted a comprehensive study of every act of suicide terrorism over the past 25 years to understand what drives suicide bombers and why suicide terrorism is on the rise around the world. He says it's too simplistic to assume Islamic fundamentalism in the central cause." Kerry O'Brien, 7:30 Report ABC TV.
You can mention CCN to him ........... but it won't make a drop of difference to the price!
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Two workers (1 male and 1 female) who identify with the Muslim faith will be employed by ACCES Services Inc. with funding and support from the Queensland Department of Employment & Training and the Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs, to work in the Greater Brisbane region, with an outreach focus to rural and regional areas.
The project aims to support unemployed and underemployed Muslim people, with a focus on people aged 17-24 years, who are disadvantaged in the labour market, and to examine/address barriers to employment for Muslim people in the workforce. Initial period of employment 12 months at SACS Level 5.1 (full time).
Application available 3808 9299. Closing date 11/9/06 5pm.
Atlantic Records has announced the signing of Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, via a pact for North America with the artist's Ya Records label. Ya/Atlantic will release Yusuf's first album of modern pop songs in 28 years this November, which will also mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the first Cat Stevens record.
''We are thrilled and honored to welcome Yusuf into the Atlantic family,'' said Atlantic Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman. ''He is one of the greatest singers and songwriters in history, and one of the personal heroes of my youth. Yusuf's new songs are as moving and timeless as the classics that inspired a generation. His spiritual quest is one of the most extraordinary stories of our time -- a life journey marked by courage, devotion, and transformation. We are all truly fortunate that Yusuf has chosen this moment to return to contemporary music, delivering a deeply heartfelt album that addresses peace, love, and the higher self.''
Atlantic President Julie Greenwald noted: ''Yusuf has made an amazing record that is sure to be embraced by his longtime fans and newcomers alike. Cat Stevens' songs have remained a vital part of our musical landscape for the past three decades, and his voice and his style are as unmistakable and vibrant as ever. It is a true privilege for each of us to be working with a legendary artist and an exceptional man who has created some of the best music of his brilliant career. I join Craig in thanking Yusuf for choosing Atlantic as his new label home.''
Of his return to the pop music world, Yusuf says, ''I feel right about making music and singing about life in this fragile world again. It is important for me to be able to help bridge the cultural gaps others are sometimes frightened to cross.''
"There were 100 reasons for leaving the music industry, not least because I had found what I was looking for spiritually," said Islam. "Today there are perhaps one hundred and one good reasons why I feel right making music and singing about life in this fragile world again."
He added: "Much has changed, but today I am in a unique position as a looking-glass through which Muslims can see the West and the West can see Islam.
A female Muslim teacher has been suspended by a school in Utrecht, Holland for refusing to shake hands with men.
The management at Vader Rijn College asked the Equality Commission to examine the case to confirm whether it had acted correctly. The school teaches pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO).
Newspaper 'AD' broke the story on Friday that the woman, who is not native Dutch, has been asked to stay at home after she decided on religious grounds not to shake hands with men ever again. The school feels this is unacceptable
School director Bart Engbers said the woman's decision had come as a total surprise. She has worked for a little over a year at the school and her objection to shaking hands with men comes at the start of the new school year. "If she doesn't want to shake hands at home, fine. But everyone is welcome at this school. Discussion is great, but religious and political flag-waving must stay at home," Engbers said.
He said teachers had to set a good example. "We are preparing our boys and girls for the labour market. We all know how fragile the situation is for allochtone (non native Dutch) young people. Therefore it is good that they shake hands during a job interview. We believe that is important."
Moreover, refusing to shake hands with men is discrimination, the director said.
With Ramadaan and Eid just around the corner this could be vital life-saving information for some.
An enquiry concerning whether marshmallows in our local supermarkets were halaal received the following response:
Thank you for your email and enquiry. In reference to the marshmallows, yes our marshmallows are halal accredited. You maybe referring to our natural range of products that have been deleted however I can confirm that the following marshmallows are available and halal accredited:
Rochelle Drinking Mallows 125g (hot chocolate/beverage section of coles supermarkets)
Mallow Bakes and Rainbow Bakes 100g – available in the baking section of supermarkets
Rochelle Vanilla and Raspberry Puff Marshmallows – available in Kmart
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Vegetable Filling For Samoosas & Pies
Cheese, Onion And Corn Filling
Scooped Potato With Corn Filling
Red Chutney
Green Chutney
Sour Cream Cutlets
Sosaties
Cheese Balls
Chicken Lagan
Chips Kebaabs
Delicious Bhajias
Easy Cutlets
Moothias
Potato And Steak/Chicken Pie
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Articles and opinions appearing in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Crescents of Brisbane team, CCN, its Editor or its Sponsors.
Atlantic Records has announced the signing of Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, via a pact for North America with the artist's Ya Records label. Ya/Atlantic will release Yusuf's first album of modern pop songs in 28 years this November, which will also mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the first Cat Stevens record.
A female Muslim teacher has been suspended by a scho
ol in Utrecht, Holland for refusing to shake hands with men.
