Pagan Community Notes: BLM Down Under, Donald H. Frew, Pagan Dawn and more!

MELBOURNE — The Black Lives Matter movement has reached Australia. So far, there have been rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane. The ABC, Australia’s state-owned and funded national public broadcaster, reported that 3,500 people attended the Melbourne rally on Sunday, July 17. The movement, which began in the U.S., has a struck a chord with Australia’s aboriginal people. Although aboriginal people make up only about 3% of the Australian population, they reportedly make up 26% of the prison population.

Pagan chaplaincy growing in Canada

CANADA — The presence of a chaplain is not an extraordinary thing on a Canadian university campus, in a prison, or at a hospital. In recent years, it has become more common across the country to see minority religions being represented. At the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Wiccan chaplain Samuel Wagar volunteers his time to serve the Pagan and Wiccan campus population. He also participates in any interfaith opportunities that arise to create understanding and spiritual growth opportunities for the greater Pagan community. In recent weeks, that work is keeping Wagar very busy.