While the Middle East continues to form the backdrop to religious conflict and play stage to US foreign policy, a group of young Adelaide professionals are uniting to show us that interfaith peace is possible, as HANNAH FRANK reports.
It’s well past a respectable closing hour on a Tuesday night when I pull up to the Digimob phone shop in Pultney Street; the last customer left hours ago but the lights are still shining through the showroom windows into the street. I’m here to catch the end of a committee meeting for new not for profit organisation United for Peace. After dark, the store has been transformed into a theatre for animated debate between the committee of Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims, Orthodox, Catholic and Maronite Christians and Druze members, who form a ‘mini-UN’ as they sit on a mix of office chairs and armchairs around the perimeter of the showroom.
Well into their agenda items when I arrive through the back door, it’s clear this dispute has nothing to do with religion. Instead, the committee is debating the performance fee for a well known Lebanese singer, who they are flying from interstate for the next United for Peace fundraiser. This is no small event; talk of television advertising, contracts and media coverage fills the room as each person volunteers their time to contribute to the project. In the Middle East, where religious segregation and cultural conflict form part of everyday life, such a scene of interfaith dialogue and cooperation is a long way from realized.
United for Peace formed last year after the 2006 Lebanon War, which saw a 34 day military conflict between Lebanon and northern Israel end in more than 1000 mainly Lebanese deaths and displaced more than 1.5 million people. It was the result of fighting between Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces; after the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers the country sought to enforce air and naval blockades against Lebanon whilst inflicting massive airstrikes which damaged the international airport in Beirut as well as much civilian infrastructure. More than 1.5 million people, approximately two thirds of whom were Lebanese, were displaced. Both Lebanon and Israel supported a United Nations resolution to end the conflict on 11 August and the ceasefire came into effect on 14 August.
Set up to educate Australia about the the complex political, cultural and social issues in the Middle East, United for Peace also aims to provide financial aid to the region through fundraising events. Sitting next to me at the meeting is Faten Shahin, a 20 year old university student and a ‘full Palestinian’. Last year her relatives in Lebanon were devastated by the war along with thousands of other families. ‘My dad’s nephews have a plastic company where they manufacture all the plastic equipment for hospitals, like IV tubes. That whole company got destroyed and it cost them about $20million dollars. Now they’ve started to rebuild it, but just a fraction, just one [production] line, not twenty. They had to start again from scratch…each person is affected in different ways’.
The chair of the organisation is Houssam Abiad, who at 31 is the CEO of Digimob, which he proudly tells me is the second largest mobile phone repair company in Australia; this is his shop. He’s also got a double degree in biomedical science with honors, and is currently studying for an MBA. There’s no shortage of qualifications on the UFP committee; at tonight’s meeting there’s also Hala Abokamil, 26, a graduate psychologist ‘but still kind of attached to uni at the moment’, and Heba Najjar, 22, who has a double degree in Health Science and Social Science. She is currently studying for a Masters of Audiology. Among the other committee members are a property developer, a lawyer, several business owners, and more than a handful of management and finance students.
The strength of the committee in business and finance has obviously served United for Peace well. In just over a year, UFP has raised more than $10,000 for a variety of organisations, including a recent quiz night which attracted more than 100 people in support of the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Faten considers the night her favourite moment so far in the short life of the organisation. ‘I was put up to be MC –they know I hate public speaking! So when they put me up for it I was a nervous wreck, but once I did the intro it was fine’.
Other events have included a 600-strong concert with famous Lebanese singer Ramy Ayash as well as highly successful film nights, bowling and karaoke fundraisers and participation in the Government funded ‘Bringing Communities Together’ event in Rundle Mall. This in particular is the kind of event UFP seeks to participate in. Hala cites this as one of the most important activities for United for Peace, most importantly because it allowed the public to interact with Muslim people and see that they aren’t so different.
It hasn’t always been easy to fulfill that goal. ‘I think a lot of the events that we do we tend to attract the converted anyway – which is great that our family and friends come and support us, and we get such a great level of support from the Lebanese community – we wouldn’t be where we are right now without it – but I think the best thing for us to do is to get out there and reach out to the wider Australian community, and get our message across and let them know what’s going on. You know, make them more informed… we wouldnt just want to make ourselves a cause for the Lebanese people or the Middle Eastern Community, we want to be a cause for everyone.’
This task is undoubtedly made more difficult in the current political climate post-September 11 and the Iraq War, where foreign governments and the media have invariably linked the phrase ‘Middle East’ with Islamic fundamentalism, dictatorships and terrorism. But Hala has a surprising assessment of the influence of US foreign policy on the portrayal of Middle Easterners. “I wouldn’t fault the agendas of any certain governments”. It seems odd that this intelligent and well spoken woman would hesitate to acknowledge the vilification the Middle East has suffered, so when I press her about the influence of media on Middle Eastern stereotypes, she admits that her position has more to do with her self-critical nature than any desire to validate US foreign policy.
‘I will acknowledge that [the media have made it more difficult] but at the same time I will fault the Middle Eastern community and say: “Why aren’t we going out there and presenting a positive image of ourselves to counteract what’s going on?” Personally, I think we do a very poor job of that. We have a very long way to go in presenting a good image. I don’t know why we let certain media organisations run away with that stereotype that they’re trying to paint of Middle Eastern people… I think we need to get a bit more organized and get involved in the community. You just have to appeal to people’s humanity, and make them understand that the value of a child in Palestine is as great as the value of a person who died in September 11.’
Ranim Kaddoura, one of the youngest committee members at 18, was in Saudi Arabia when September 11 happened. Being in an Arabic country rather than a Western one, ‘I didn’t feel it as much. When I came to Australia, I had my headscarf on. Some of my family members were quite concerned before we came here, and they thought “careful, discrimination”. But I am quite surprised and very pleased to say that I have not been bothered by anyone. Everyone’s been very understanding. I just think that the way you treat people reflects on the way you are treated, and I haven’t had any difficulties with it.
Like most people on the committee, Ranim, now a first year university student studying food science has complex ties back to the Middle East. ‘I was born in Saudi Arabia, although I’m Palestinian, but in the Middle East it doesn’t work that way. We came here in 1995, got the citizenship and then went back to Lebanon’. On her return to Australia following a series of moves around the Middle East ‘it was because of my Dad’s work’ she got involved in United for Peace when the 2006 Lebanon War broke out. ‘I really wanted to do something to help…the only thing that I could do personally was to contact Mars chocolate fundraising and I started selling that chocolate. One of the places that I selling it was at a Flinders [University] lecture by Dr David Palmer and Houssam [Abiad] was there and he saw me and asked me if I wanted to get involved’.
Sitting in his office after the meeting, I ask Houssam about his vision for the organization. ‘Obviously we’re a very young organisation… what I’d like to see is something that is beyond me. I might not be around to see it, but I think my ultimate goal at the end of the day is, living in Australia we must all be Australians.’ The statement seems an ill fitting answer to the question, but it’s obviously something he feels need to be said, so I drop the line of questioning and ask him what he means by ‘being Australian’. ‘To me? It means opportunity. It means freedom of speech, freedom of thought…having the ability to express myself at any time of the day without having to feel fear…without having to feel inhibitions.’ His words remind me that many Arab-Australians now feel more pressure to prove themselves as ‘’fair dinkum” Australians, especially after some gave the rest a bad name at the 2005 Cronulla riots.
Heba has experienced the feeling, too. ‘I’ve had to justify myself in a number of situations. Although I’m not Muslim I still have attachments to the Middle East. A lot of people would make assumptions of what my stance was on certain situations. On the other hand, it’s made me think twice about how I look at other people and races. There are extremes in all cultures. You have to give people the benefit of the doubt’.
But personal identity takes a backseat here: more important is the task at hand, developing the policies and direction of United for Peace. Houssam tells me that it is ‘completely apolitical’, and ‘purely humanitarian’, but at present their fundraising channels seem to have a heavy bias towards Lebanese and Palestinian interests. It’s a young organisation but from the outside, the partiality seems to work in noticeable contrast to their mission statement of impartiality.
So does that mean United for Peace, whose committee members are ‘mainly Lebanese and Palestinian’ according to Ranim, would raise money for an Israeli cause? ‘Absolutely’, says Houssam. ‘In fact, just recently Anthony Loewenstein came down and talked’. However, the fact that the Sydney based author of ‘My Israel Question’ is Jewish is not enough. His book has been criticized for being ‘overwhelmingly pro-Palestinian’, and containing ‘aggressive public criticisms of the state of Israel’. These comments formed part of a review in the Sydney Morning Herald written by Philip Mendes, a senior lecturer in social policy at Monash University. Mendes also suggested that Loewenstein ‘depicts the Palestinians as largely defenceless and innocent victims and provides only limited discussion of the long history of Palestinian hatred for and violence towards Israel’.
Given these comments, United for Peace may need to make a more concerted effort in order to avoid being seen as taking a political stance; fundraising on a broader scale and the inclusion of some Jewish committee members could all go a long way to achieving the objective of the organisation. This perhaps, more than anything, would ensure there is a true representation and balance within the group. In the meantime United for Peace continue to build a very important organisation and with a savvy, professional and enthusiastic team, they look set for success in achieving the interfaith and intercultural dialogue that they have set out to accomplish.
Friday, 5 October 2007
Tuesday, 18 September 2007
Old Lion Hotel - Restaurant Review
My favorite animal is steak.” ~Fran LebowitzIt’s hard to go past the Lion’s famous steaks when you’re after seriously satisfying food. A spontaneous culinary stop late on a weekday night, our corner table looked out over groups of suited business men, a birthday gathering and a few older couples sipping their way through bottles of good reds. Comfort food also calls for favourtie wines, and tonight an ordered glass of Rockford Alicante Bouchet turned into a bottle when the waiter pointed out the mere allocation of two-and-a-bit glasses per person between us. Nice one.
With my hypochondriac of a dining companion declaring he definitely needed steak ‘because I’m all pale, I probably have anemia’ we decided that the Coorong Angus MSA Graded Scotch Fillet with Coriole Olive Oil Mash, Beerenberg Tomato and Beetroot Relish and Peppercorn Sauce would be the best cure for his clearly morbid announcement.
Perfectly tender and juicy on the inside, our request for them to be well done was dutifully executed in the most skillful fashion, the fat slightly blackened and crisp. The distinctive Coriole characteristics of the olive oil shone through the mash and the peppercorn sauce was delectably rich and meaty but surprisingly un-peppery for its name.
Vegetables are interesting but lack a sense of purpose when unaccompanied by a good cut of meat. ~Fran Lebowitz
Unfortunately the arrival of our Asparagus and Brocollini with Sweet Lemon Emulsion a few minutes after we has swept up the last few drops of sauce from our steaks meant that they probably weren’t enjoyed to their full potential. They were, however, delicious and the emulsion that dressed broccolini and asparagus certainly livened the dish up to create something of an accidental palate cleanser before dessert. The mistake was dealt with graciously by the staff, who were clearly lacking in numbers on a night where folks like us - ‘walk-ins’ to those in the industry - and a couple of people off sick had thrown the carefully considered tables/waiters proportion off balance. We were generously offered a dessert each on the house as well as the cost of the vegetables deducted from our bill.
I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert. ~ Jason Love
We finished our evening with a silky hazelnut truffle desert and a tangy lemon pudding whose beautiful sauce pooled onto the plate once the spoon penetrated the centre of the pudding. Once again the waiters recommendation was spot on, and to their credit they remained helpful and cheerful until we, as the last table, left the building, contended, full, and determined to return soon.
Number Ten - La Cucina e Bar review
This is a review for Number Ten, a resturant on O'Connell St, North Adelaide. It was formely Adelaide institution Cibo Ristorante and #10 La Cucina e Bar. Since this visit I have returned several times and updated reviews will be posted here and at the original site shortly.
Published May 2007 on www.webmenu.com.au
Bring your expectations from the old Cibo restaurant and you might be disappointed. Unfortunately it seems that this restaurant is still finding its feet and its own style after adopting a significant part of the old menu. I have visited this place twice in recent weeks in the hope to see such a transformation take place; whilst the pizzas maintain the authenticity of the old restaurant, and indeed compare well with those I have tasted in Rome, the meat dishes from the main menu seem to lack confidence and the robust flavors that you would expect from a good Italian restaurant.
The exception to this would be the soup that I ordered on my first visit. The special of the day, it was a delicious thick pumpkin and basil topped with honey mascarpone – absolutely divine, and full of flavor. Full marks here. I could barely eat my main course, but that proved not much of a problem as the The Galleto alla Diavola that followed, a whole chicken simply flavoured with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, sage & thyme. It was pretty underwhelming, lacking softness in the meat and any delicious juices to meld the flavours together. A disappointment considering the luxury and prospect of a succulent whole bird.
The Pancia di maiale con mella balsamica (crispy skin pork belly) was beautifully presented without a doubt, with a tiny, glazed apple on one side and the sweet potato puree in a little – perhaps too little - mound on the other. But the promised crispy skin was somewhat soggy by the time it reached me (disappointing, as it is the delicious element of the dish. The pork lacked the necessary salt to bring out the flavor of the meat, which was presented in two wedges arranged in the middle of the plate. Overall I’d expect a little more, and a little more attention to the basic requirements – salt and crispiness - for my $29.90.
As an aside, a lack of crispness was also the issue with a salt and pepper squid entrée, which, while tasty, once again focused on a beautiful presentation rather than the two essential elements of flavor and texture true to the nature of the dish. The aeoli presented with it had very little flavor at all. On the other hand, the little rocket salad that came with the dish was exquisite, perfectly dressed in olive oil and salt.
For what the restaurant currently lacks in gastronomic potency it could just about make up with their service. Clearly quality staff have been sought after (as a regular patron of the previous establishment I didn’t notice any wait staff that survived the transition) and our waiter was gracious, speedy and attentive. A charming, accented man, he immediately wished my mum ‘Happy Mothers Day’ on arrival, managed to communicate well with the kitchen about her egg allergy, and presented her with a single tulip at the end of the meal to the bemusement of my family.
No doubt the culinary memories of Adelaideans will continue, for a time, to draw bookings, but the hit and miss menu has disappointed this gastronome for now. I look forward to seeing the development of the restaurant into a true local identity of its own, as it has more than enough potential to become another must eat Adelaide restaurant.
Published May 2007 on www.webmenu.com.au
Bring your expectations from the old Cibo restaurant and you might be disappointed. Unfortunately it seems that this restaurant is still finding its feet and its own style after adopting a significant part of the old menu. I have visited this place twice in recent weeks in the hope to see such a transformation take place; whilst the pizzas maintain the authenticity of the old restaurant, and indeed compare well with those I have tasted in Rome, the meat dishes from the main menu seem to lack confidence and the robust flavors that you would expect from a good Italian restaurant.
The exception to this would be the soup that I ordered on my first visit. The special of the day, it was a delicious thick pumpkin and basil topped with honey mascarpone – absolutely divine, and full of flavor. Full marks here. I could barely eat my main course, but that proved not much of a problem as the The Galleto alla Diavola that followed, a whole chicken simply flavoured with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, sage & thyme. It was pretty underwhelming, lacking softness in the meat and any delicious juices to meld the flavours together. A disappointment considering the luxury and prospect of a succulent whole bird.
The Pancia di maiale con mella balsamica (crispy skin pork belly) was beautifully presented without a doubt, with a tiny, glazed apple on one side and the sweet potato puree in a little – perhaps too little - mound on the other. But the promised crispy skin was somewhat soggy by the time it reached me (disappointing, as it is the delicious element of the dish. The pork lacked the necessary salt to bring out the flavor of the meat, which was presented in two wedges arranged in the middle of the plate. Overall I’d expect a little more, and a little more attention to the basic requirements – salt and crispiness - for my $29.90.
As an aside, a lack of crispness was also the issue with a salt and pepper squid entrée, which, while tasty, once again focused on a beautiful presentation rather than the two essential elements of flavor and texture true to the nature of the dish. The aeoli presented with it had very little flavor at all. On the other hand, the little rocket salad that came with the dish was exquisite, perfectly dressed in olive oil and salt.
For what the restaurant currently lacks in gastronomic potency it could just about make up with their service. Clearly quality staff have been sought after (as a regular patron of the previous establishment I didn’t notice any wait staff that survived the transition) and our waiter was gracious, speedy and attentive. A charming, accented man, he immediately wished my mum ‘Happy Mothers Day’ on arrival, managed to communicate well with the kitchen about her egg allergy, and presented her with a single tulip at the end of the meal to the bemusement of my family.
No doubt the culinary memories of Adelaideans will continue, for a time, to draw bookings, but the hit and miss menu has disappointed this gastronome for now. I look forward to seeing the development of the restaurant into a true local identity of its own, as it has more than enough potential to become another must eat Adelaide restaurant.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Cuisine of the Barr Smith Lawns
Move over, sausage sizzles. With the weather hotting up it seems that every club on campus is out to boost their bank accounts (no doubt to fund their rather enjoyable end of year piss ups) by flogging cheap and delicious food to hungry students. But it isn’t just greasy sausages anymore – you can now pick anything from falafel, to noodles, to
Last week the Evangelical Union, the Malaysian Students and Godless (the atheist club) competed for punters, with the EU giving away noodles and Godless hosting endless BBQ’s – in fact, one would be forgiven for thinking they had set up shop, with this reporter spying them on the lawns all Election Week too.
The Malaysian Students Association also busted into the BBQ market on this particular day so we thought a BBQ round up would be in order. Both groups had a selling price of $1 per sausage so we had to look a bit further to make up our minds about Godless were our first visit and though the set up was a bit confusing, the organizers soon pointed us in the right direction and they scored major points when my veggie friend got a massive veggie pattie sandwich (that’s right, they didn’t skimp on the bread) for the bargain price of $1. The sausages weren’t particularly inspiring but we liked that you could get a sticker that said ‘no thanks, I’m an atheist’ free with your snag.
Venturing over to the Malaysian BBQ, we couldn’t really find any veggie options unless you wanted to eat bread with onion and sauce – quite a reasonable proposal given that the onion serving was so generous my entire hand was enveloped along with the sausage and bread. The sausages here were definitely better quality and these guys were super organized, strategically placing themselves opposite their stall. The girls who were running it were great PR people - they should run in student elections the way that I was accosted, leafleted and invited to an event in one smooth move.
However, pick of the month for Food of the Barr Smith Lawns goes to the Israeli club who gave away free falafel rolls during their event on Wednesday of Election Week. They were awesome guys – and if you’re reading this, send me your hummus recipe.
Last week the Evangelical Union, the Malaysian Students and Godless (the atheist club) competed for punters, with the EU giving away noodles and Godless hosting endless BBQ’s – in fact, one would be forgiven for thinking they had set up shop, with this reporter spying them on the lawns all Election Week too.
The Malaysian Students Association also busted into the BBQ market on this particular day so we thought a BBQ round up would be in order. Both groups had a selling price of $1 per sausage so we had to look a bit further to make up our minds about Godless were our first visit and though the set up was a bit confusing, the organizers soon pointed us in the right direction and they scored major points when my veggie friend got a massive veggie pattie sandwich (that’s right, they didn’t skimp on the bread) for the bargain price of $1. The sausages weren’t particularly inspiring but we liked that you could get a sticker that said ‘no thanks, I’m an atheist’ free with your snag.
Venturing over to the Malaysian BBQ, we couldn’t really find any veggie options unless you wanted to eat bread with onion and sauce – quite a reasonable proposal given that the onion serving was so generous my entire hand was enveloped along with the sausage and bread. The sausages here were definitely better quality and these guys were super organized, strategically placing themselves opposite their stall. The girls who were running it were great PR people - they should run in student elections the way that I was accosted, leafleted and invited to an event in one smooth move.
However, pick of the month for Food of the Barr Smith Lawns goes to the Israeli club who gave away free falafel rolls during their event on Wednesday of Election Week. They were awesome guys – and if you’re reading this, send me your hummus recipe.
Student Radio 2008
Congratulations to Johnathon Brown who has been elected as the 2008 Student Radio Director in this year's Adelaide University Union Elections.
John currently produces the Breakfast show for Radio Adelaide and has some exciting new plans in the works for Student Radio in 2008.
You can contact him at johnathon.brown@student.adelaide.edu.au
John currently produces the Breakfast show for Radio Adelaide and has some exciting new plans in the works for Student Radio in 2008.
You can contact him at johnathon.brown@student.adelaide.edu.au
Sunday, 19 August 2007
AUSR at Open Day 2007
AUSR will be hosting Open Day at the University of Adelaide on Sunday 26th August. Meet the Student Radio Directors, Franky and Sunshine from The Director's cut along with with all your favourite presenters including Geoff, Kye and Ben from Vincent and Gumpch, Andrew and Will from the Slightly Political Party and Kristian, Jimmy and Toby from The Dissident Conformists.
Resident DJ's Pete and Simtech will be bringing smooth tunes and chilled out vibes to your weekend. You can catch Student Radio from 11am to 3pm on Hughes Plaza. Don't miss it.
Resident DJ's Pete and Simtech will be bringing smooth tunes and chilled out vibes to your weekend. You can catch Student Radio from 11am to 3pm on Hughes Plaza. Don't miss it.
The Director's Cut
The Director's Cut is a fortnightly show on Radio Adelaide 101.5FM hosted by Hannah Frank and Tyson Shine. The show is open mic and there are different guests, ranging from revolutionary youth movements, to politicans, musicians and comedians.
Each week the Student Radio resident DJ's, Simtech and Pete bring your ears alive with a new musical theme. Past themes have included TV Shows, Songs That Have Been Ruined By Advertising and Songs You Didn't Know Were Covers.
Still to come this year on The Director's Cut is the Swing Music Special, Soundtracks and more. The show is broadcast on Radio Adelaide 101.5FM every Tuesday night at 10pm.
Each week the Student Radio resident DJ's, Simtech and Pete bring your ears alive with a new musical theme. Past themes have included TV Shows, Songs That Have Been Ruined By Advertising and Songs You Didn't Know Were Covers.
Still to come this year on The Director's Cut is the Swing Music Special, Soundtracks and more. The show is broadcast on Radio Adelaide 101.5FM every Tuesday night at 10pm.
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