The template email could, of course, be adapted and sent by anyone, and we urge you to do so! Details in the NUJ news post. Find more about James' campaign here, and sign the online petition here.
The National Union of Journalists is continuing its support of Sierra Leonean journalist and human rights activist - and RAPAR member - James Fallah-Williams by urging union members to write emails to immigration minister Damian Green. The latest NUJ news post about James, here, provides a template email highlighting the facts that James, resident of the UK for thirteen years, has now been 'trapped in an immigration limbo' for three years, and that the UKBA has gone as far as to lie to a sitting MP about James' case. The MP in question, Leigh's Andy Burnham, is supporting James' case and intends to meet Green this week.
The template email could, of course, be adapted and sent by anyone, and we urge you to do so! Details in the NUJ news post. Find more about James' campaign here, and sign the online petition here.
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Press Release - Campaigners for playwright Lydia Besong launch appeal fund for Judicial Review6/21/2011 Campaigners for playwright Lydia Besong and her husband Bernard Batey have launched an appeal to raise funds for a judicial review of their case. The couple's numerous supporters are also being urged to write immediately to the Home Secretary asking that Lydia and Bernard be given leave to remain in the UK.
A spokesperson for the Lydia and Bernard Must Stay Campaign said: “This is a clear human rights issue. Lydia and Bernard have been persecuted, imprisoned and tortured in Cameroon for their membership of the Southern Cameroon National Council, a peaceful political party. “Only last month, Amnesty International published a report saying that members of the SCNC still face arrest and imprisonment. Lydia is well known as both as a political activist and as a playwright. Their lives would be in grave danger if they were to be returned to Cameroon.” Click here for the full press release. News of two events from Ensemble theatre company, happening as part of Refugee Month, that will be of interest to many RAPAR members and supporters.
Painting Lifelines - Thu 23rd June, 9.30am - 4.30pm - Zion Arts Centre A one-day, participant-led creative workshop, offering source material from Ensemble’s upcoming show 'Souvenir d’Anne Frank'. The workshop will be led by visual artist Richard Aylwin and writer and performer Elizabeth Mansfield, both from Ensemble's creative team. The resulting work - that of the participants - will form part of the 'Souvenir d’Anne Frank' exhibition, which will be on show at Manchester's Zion Arts Centre in January and February 2012. See this flyer for details. The Uninvited - Songs and Stories of Exile - Thu 23rd June, 7pm - Zion Arts Centre See below for details - The Uninvited Songs and stories of exile Devised and performed by Elizabeth Mansfield Setting and costume by Richard Aylwin - Original lighting by Neil Fulcher Zion Arts Centre, 335 Stretford Road, Manchester M15 5ZA - Thursday 23rd June at 7pm Performance 7-8pm, interval 8-8.15pm, panel-led post-show discussion until 9pm. Seats are free - come on the door, or call 0161 232 6089 to reserve. www.zionarts.com THE UNINVITED is an unaccompanied performance piece telling the extraordinary stories of refugees and exiles, from all over the world, past and present. Poems, writings and testimonies are woven into songs – Spanish, Filipino, Farsi, Bosnian – sung both in original language and in English translation. The sung and spoken narrative is interwoven with Articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. THE UNINVITED was premiered in the USA, in 2002, and in the UK at the Greenwich Theatre, London. The show has since toured all over the UK, celebrating, through words and music, the humour and courage of those forced to flee their homes and make a new life in foreign lands. “MANSFIELD’S STELLAR ACTING AND SINGING IS MIND-BLOWING” What’s On In London Elizabeth Mansfield, Olivier Award nominee for ‘Best Actress in a Musical’, now brings this remarkable solo performance to the Zion Arts Centre, as part of Manchester’s city-wide REFUGEE MONTH activities. Elizabeth devised the show herself from the writings and poems of refugees and exiles, some of whom taught her the beautiful songs she sings during the performance. After the performance there will be an informal discussion with the audience, and contributions from people in organisations working locally with refugees and asylum seekers.
www.ensemble-online.com Ensemble is Registered Charity No: 1134292 Saturday (18th June) saw these two events turn out to be both rich sources of information about the countries and situations they dealt with, and inspiring calls to action.
In the daytime, the 'Bahrain and the Arab Spring' conference, believed to be the first conference in Europe on the subject of Bahrain's relationship with the 'Arab Spring', exposed the real stories and issues surrounding the current situation in Bahrain - including the UK's role - that conference-goers were unlikely to have come across in the mainstream media. A hotly topical day at Manchester Metropolitan University saw Dr Salah Al-Bander, former adviser to the King of Bahrain, draw out the enormity of the abuses in Bahrain by giving hypothetical projected statistics for equivalent atrocities in the UK. Dr Al-Bander argued that outside assistance from the UN and the Arab League is needed to help end the conflict. This recommendation was countered by Manchester University's Dr Dalia Said Mostafa, who advocated outright revolution. Barrister Pete Weatherby also gave an illuminating account of his experiences and insights gained while in Bahrain on behalf of the UK Bar Human Rights Committee. The speakers were followed by a series of workshops. See here for full press release. Many of those who attended the Bahrain conference also made it to Cheetham Hill Welcome Centre on Saturday evening, joining a large audience for the very well-attended Afghanistan In Reality event. The evening began with a fascinating talk from British Museum curator Constance Wyndham on some of the finds and history covered in the BM's 'Afghanistan: Crossroads of the Ancient World' exhibition. The audience, which comprised many members of Manchester's Hazara Afghan community, as well as lots of other local people, also heard from Longsight Councillor Dr Aftab Ahmed, who spoke about the destitution of Afghan men in Manchester, who are 'living in the twilight world', as he put it. Nahella Ashraf of Greater Manchester Stop The War Coalition spoke about British and US involvement in Afghanistan, and argued that western powers, if they truly wanted to help the Afghan people, would leave Afghanistan and allow international organisations to help the Afghan people rebuild their country. Political activist and student Rohullah Yakobi described the historical and ongoing persecution of the Hazara community from all sides - by the West, the Russian invasion, the Taliban - and spoke out against the current Afghan government, which he described as a corrupt 'puppet government'. The evening also featured some fabulous food, an Afghanistan-related book exhibition from Manchester Libraries and live music from some RAPAR members. RAPAR members from the Hazara community, and others who are engaged with it, intend the evening to form the launch pad for a new solidarity and togetherness for the Hazara community in Manchester, many of whom share similar concerns and challenges. Press release about the conference here.
Press release here about the 'Afghanistan In Reality' event taking place in Manchester on June 18th, featuring an excellent line-up of speakers, as well as some traditional Afghan music and food.
Hosted by Eagles Wing with support from the Lydia and Bernard Must Stay Campaign: Solidarity Social for Lydia and Bernard Friday 10 June, 6.30-9pm, Mosses Community Centre, Cecil Street, Bury BL9 0SB Entry: £5 suggested donation Featuring: Live Music from the WAST Choir and Bury AcaPeelers Choir International Food ‘How I Became an Asylum Seeker’ (Lydia's play) Film + Question and Answer Speeches Bar For more information, please see this leaflet and this RAPAR press release Please spread the word! Right: Lydia with actress Juliet Stevenson, who hosted a performance and discussion of Lydia's play How I Became An Asylum Seeker A nine-year-old Bahraini girl, Fatima Ali Khalil, has died from the heavy use of suffocation gas by riot police in the Sitra area, and a two-month-old baby is also in criticial condition, in the latest news of abuses by the Bahraini regime.
Look out for details - coming very soon - of the 'Bahrain & The Arab Spring' conference to be held on June 18th at Manchester Metropolitan University. Also today, former FIA president Max Moseley has added to the criticism of the decision to go ahead with the Bahrain Grand Prix in October. Report and video, by Real Radio, regarding the concerning conditions found recently in Happy Homes accommodation.
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