<html aria-label="message body"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Christine and I went to a Multi-Faith Chanukkah Celebration earlier this week - partly because Christine has gone to this annual event for years, and partly because of the events on Bondi Beach. <br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div><br><blockquote type="cite"><div>On 19 Dec 2025, at 08:42, Richard and Maria Maguire via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div>
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<div><p>I imagine that you as well as the rest of the world have heard
about the horrible killings in Bondi.</p><p>This even brings out once again how terrible it must be for
people who have to be afraid of being attacked at any time by
violent people just because of who they are, here especially First
Nations, people from the Mideast, Jews and Africans. Even though
the number of people who would do such things is relatively small,
the threat is always there. We hope this might move the
politicians to do a lot more about guns, the laws here were very
good, but had many loopholes and have been whittled back over the
years through political horse trading. </p><p>We have been struggling with how to talk about Bondi without
being seen as defending the indefensible, yet bringing in the
larger context. It seems to us that there needs to be a lot more
conversation about why antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks have
ballooned in the past few years, since Israel's murderous
genocidal attacks on Palestinians. See for instance <a href="https://theconversation.com/bondi-attack-came-after-huge-increase-in-online-antisemitism-research-272045" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://theconversation.com/bondi-attack-came-after-huge-increase-in-online-antisemitism-research-272045</a>
and <a href="https://www.visionofhumanity.org/gaza-conflict-leads-to-rise-in-antisemitism-and-islamophobia/"> https://www.visionofhumanity.org/gaza-conflict-leads-to-rise-in-antisemitism-and-islamophobia/</a>This
dimension of current reality has not been reported much in the
media and governments have avoided doing much to deal with the
causes. We are also concerned that if the government puts into
law the Antisemitism statement proposed by their "envoy" it could
make things worse on all sides <a href="https://www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/commentary/antisemitism-plan-australia-contentious-definition" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/research/commentary/antisemitism-plan-australia-contentious-definition</a>.</p><p>We were grateful to find these two statement in our emails
yesterday from two Australian organisations, "The Movement" <a href="https://themovement4point0.au/news/condemn-Bondi-beach-massacre" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://themovement4point0.au/news/condemn-Bondi-beach-massacre</a>
and from The Australian Jewish Council <a href="https://www.jewishcouncil.com.au/" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://www.jewishcouncil.com.au/</a>
which do a great job of holding the tension. We notice how Gaza
news has been wiped off the news feeds this week, even though
twice as many innocent Palestinians have been killed <b>per day
over the last two years</b> as were the 15 innocent people
killed in Bondi. </p><p>We, and I believe ICAA, are not interested in making public
statements, but it would be great if we could converse about how
to respond to immediate disasters like this and bring out the
underlying contradictions behind them.</p><p>One "positive" arising from the Gaza war and behavior of
governments is that the interest in Human Rights has grown
considerably among the populations. I went to a lecture on
international Human Rights and government responsibility featuring
Chris Sidoti from the UN Commission on Human Rights, an
international Law professor from U of Sydney and Elizabeth Evatt
in a large hall that was filled with several hundred people. They
commented that if this event had happened five years ago, the hall
would have had few non specialists attending.</p><p>I grew up in a household with a father who was stridently racist
and antisemitic. I didn't like the things he was saying, neither
did my mother or my siblings, but we didn't have the means to
engage him productively so just stayed quiet. I have yet to
really understand what leads people to pick up these and similar
beliefs and actions other than what dawned on me when I read "You
are Accepted" in 1962 long before I met the ICA. That essay
changed my life and my life direction. When I learned how the EI
was using this piece, as well as its influence on our methods and
mission, I was really grateful and still am.</p><p>Warmly</p><p>Richard</p><p><br>
</p><p><br>
</p><p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 19/12/2025 1:02 pm, Karen Newkirk
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:307426D9-7C5B-4C25-BC95-A85511CB3223@gmail.com"> <span style="font-size: 14px;">Hi Richard, </span>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;">Merry Christmas to you and
Maria!</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;">I have sent the letters to the
ToP Network USA and the ICAI Board, however, as stated in the
letter, we should wait until the ICAI Board and/or ourselves
have received the hotel invoice before we process our
payment. </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;">Thank you</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: 14px;">Karen</span></div>
<div><br>
<div>
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<div style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Karen
Clover Newkirk<br>
52 Nelson Rd Queenscliff VIC 3225</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Grateful
to the Wathaurung /
WadawurungTraditional Owners.</div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:karennewkirk@gmail.com">karennewkirk@gmail.com</a><br>
0419 577 489<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div><br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>On 19 Dec 2025, at 9:42 am, <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:balmkevin@gmail.com">balmkevin@gmail.com</a>
wrote:</div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
<div>
<div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;">
<div style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Karen,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I’m good to go with the two
letters.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Regards</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Kevin</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div>
<div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(225, 225, 225) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 3pt 0cm 0cm;">
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Karen
Newkirk <<a href="mailto:karennewkirk@gmail.com" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">karennewkirk@gmail.com</a>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>
<b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Friday,
19 December 2025 8:37 AM<br>
<b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Kevin
Balm <<a href="mailto:balmkevin@gmail.com" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">balmkevin@gmail.com</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>David
Jago <<a href="mailto:david@smartmeetings.com.au" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">david@smartmeetings.com.au</a>>;
Richard&Maria Maguire <<a href="mailto:richardandmaria@unfoldingfutures.net" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">richardandmaria@unfoldingfutures.net</a>>;
Ms. Michelle Rush <<a href="mailto:michelle@facilitate.co.nz" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">michelle@facilitate.co.nz</a>>;
Robyn Hutchinson <<a href="mailto:rjhutchinson48@gmail.com" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">rjhutchinson48@gmail.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Re:
DRAFT Response to ToP Network USA re-$ for
conference</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> </div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Hi
Kevin (in particular), David, Richard and Michelle,</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">I
have a response from Robyn:</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">“Im
OK with these - in haste. thanks Robyn”.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Michelle
has spoken. David and Richard were happy with the
original. </div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Kevin,
you have been closest to the issue and had
significant feedback on the original draft. Could
you please let me know your opinion on these two
letters?</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Thank
you </div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Karen </div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> </div>
<div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Sent
from my iPhone</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote><p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<span id="cid:part1.6F4G2lyh.0oobjQbl@unfoldingfutures.net"><DarugSignature.jpg></span></div>
</div>
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