Equality
Saint Enoch
It seems to have become fashionable of late to canonise Enoch Powell drawing on the infamous "Rivers of Blood" speech. The BBC put out a "white season" to be trumped by Channel 4 who use Rageh Omaar to front their series. Not quite sure what message was intended when the programme was advertised with a park full of dogs peeing and defecating all over the place. Maybe it referred to Powell's reference to the white pensioner who had shit posted through her letter box allegedly. Whatever the immigrants were to blame.
The programmes were high on sensationalism but short, very short, on analysis. Plenty of people sounding off on prejudice, which certainly accords with Powell. Rageh Omar's incredulity was stretched when he found that not only whites, but black people had prejudices too. Nothing said about the manipulation of labour by those wanting the cheapest possible source and the consequent exploitation. Nothing said about government policy supporting this.
Recently it has been announced that settlers from the Asian Sub-continent may have rights curtailed or removed. The length of stay for visitors would be reduced from 6 to 3 months while £1,000 would be payable for each visitor. Lord Goldsmith has further recommended to Gordon Brown that these without British passports should lose the right to vote. No spouses under 21. Enter a new workforce from Eastern European countries with full voting rights and no such restriction.
So don't blame the victim. If the Tiber is going to foam with much blood it's idiot politicians who are causing the problem. Migrant labour is coming because people are doing jobs that no one else wants to and at very low rates of pay. In rural areas crops don't get picked anymore. Birmingham people used to take their holidays down in the Worcestershire countryside and help with the harvest. Farmers have had competing supplies of labour and have gone for those they are able to control and exploit the most.
Continue reading "Saint Enoch"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:33 AM April 15, 2008 | Comments (0)
Parliament's "dirty little secret"
It comes as no surprise to hear that black mps find Parliament "riddled" with racism and sexism. The real shock is that it remains so hidden in a culture of denial. It is a real problem for the British that it has been put about for so long that they are about tolerance and fair play that it becomes impossible to understand or believe that discrimination exists. That is unless you are a black MP and Dawn Butler, member for Brent South, has spoken out. Why others don't speak out is not so much of a mystery when you consider that patronage and privilege plays such a part in getting on. Many prefer to keep their heads down and play the system. Ms Butler makes the point that she has to "pick her fights" because discriminatory acts and behaviour are so common place.
Continue reading "Parliament's "dirty little secret""
Posted by John Tyrrell at 4:08 PM April 13, 2008 | Comments (0)
Media coverage of Israel and Palestine
Jewish Voice for Peace sent the following concerning the way that the media and political leaders have treated news about Palestine and Palestinians in a completely different way to Israel and Israelis.
David Cromwell works with a British organization called Media Lens.
What is Media Lens? - Here is part of their self description. http://www.medialens.org
"Media Lens is a response based on our conviction that mainstream newspapers and broadcasters provide a profoundly distorted picture of our world. We are convinced that the increasingly centralised, corporate nature of the media means that it acts as a de facto propaganda system for corporate and other establishment interests. The costs incurred as a result of this propaganda, in terms of human suffering and environmental degradation, are incalculable."
Media Lens "recommend(s) Herman and Chomsky's "propaganda model of media control" as a basis for understanding the manner in which truth is filtered from, rather than consciously obstructed by, the modern media system.
They quote historian Howard Zinn, who has written::
"Society has varying and conflicting interests; what is called objectivity is the disguise of one of these interests - that of neutrality. But neutrality is a fiction in an unneutral world. There are victims, there are executioners, and there are bystanders... and the 'objectivity' of the bystander calls for inaction while other heads fall."
In the essay below, Cromwell contrasts English media attitude towards Palestinian victims of Israeli violence, with its attitude towards Israeli victims of Palestinian violence. Just like in the US, Israelis fair much better, both in newspapers coverage, and in BBC broadcasts.
Racheli Gai
David Cromwell: Israeli Deaths Matter More
March 12, 2008
The horrific shooting of eight young people at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem last Thursday was followed by saturation media coverage. International statesmen lined up with condemnations of the attack and condolences for the victims and their families.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced: "This is clearly an attempt to strike a blow at the very heart of the peace process." (Jon Smith, Press Association, 'Brown: massacre "strikes at heart of peace"', March 7, 2008)
Foreign Secretary David Miliband described the slaughter as "an arrow aimed at the heart of the peace process so recently revived." (Donald Macintyre and Eric Silver, 'Massacre in the heart of Jerusalem', The Independent, March 7, 2008)
The Guardian's front page declared: "the descent into violence in the Middle East accelerated last night" in a "dramatic escalation". (Rory McCarthy, 'Eight dead as gunman hits Jerusalem religious school', The Guardian, March 7, 2008). A Daily Mirror headline read: 'Kids Murdered In The Library' (Allison Martin, March 7, 2008). The Telegraph asserted that the attack "is likely to be remembered as the moment the Middle East peace process died." (Tim Butcher, 'Hopes of peace in the Middle East are blown away in a hail of bullets', Daily Telegraph, March 7, 2008)
The contrast to reactions to the killing of over 120 Palestinians, including many women and children, in occupied Gaza the previous week could hardly be more striking. On one day alone, 60 people died in a hail of Israeli firepower using F-16 planes, Apache helicopter gunships, tanks, armoured bulldozers and ground troops.
No Western leader was heard condemning the Israeli assault on Gaza as "an attempt to strike a blow at the very heart of the peace process." To our knowledge, no reporter suggested that "the peace process" had now "died". No headlines screamed of Palestinian babies "murdered" in their beds. In short, news reports from the Gazan bloodbath typically lacked the anguished details and tone that suffused the reporting from Jerusalem less than a week later.
Nor was there the same heightened pitch and intensity of news coverage following Israel's deadly 'incursion' into Gaza in mid-January. 17 Palestinians were killed in one day, and around 50 injured, while President Bush was visiting the region. Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said:
"Al-Jazeera, 'Abbas: Israeli raid "a massacre" ', January 15, 2008; "Our people cannot keep silent over these massacres. These massacres cannot bring peace."
But for the Western media the massacres that really matter, the ones which "strike a blow at the very heart of the peace process", are those inflicted on Israelis.
Continue reading "Media coverage of Israel and Palestine"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:42 PM March 14, 2008 | Comments (0)
Sorry
It has happened in Australia. "We are sorry" for the sufferings inflicted on the Aboriginee population. Ken Livingstone apologised for for slavery of African peoples on behalf of Londoners. Liverpool has set up a museum on behalf of the nation. A video of the Prime Minister's address shows large numbers of people of all backgrounds inside and outside parliament looking deeply moved. (Source Guardian 14/2/2008).
Jesse Jackson visited Birmingham on his travels and very politely said it would be much appreciated from Birmingham, UK. Nothing happened so I issued an apology as a former councillor and cabinet member of Birmingham City Council. I challenged the present leaders to make a stand. The reaction? Adrian Goldberg raised it on "The Stirrer". Since then the line has gone dead.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:29 AM February 13, 2008 | Comments (0)
City Hospital and Human Rights
A claim is being made that the proposed plans for City Hospital in West Birmingham will put an ethically diverse area at a great disadvantage (the area is already high on many indices of deprivation).
I visited Handsworth Wood Ward Sub-Committee this week. Only two councillors were present while the turn out of residents was pitiful. There was a speaker from City Hospital speaking about the proposed new hospital in Grove Lane, Smethwick which is the next step in the merging of two hospitals, City and Sandwell. At present it seems that anyone from this part of Birmingham being taken by ambulance to hospital for emergency treatment will be ferried to Sandwell Hospital. This is highly inaccessible for Birmingham residents, greatly so if relatives and friends rely on public transport.
THe fact the the trust is called Sandwell and West Birmingham suggests which is the dominant partner, and as I pointed out before there have been no voices on the Trust from Birmingham Bill Thomas, Leader of Sandwell Council is a member. Bill and some of Sandwell' MPs have close links with the New Labour leadership. including Gordon Brown.
Continue reading "City Hospital and Human Rights"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 5:12 PM February 9, 2008 | Comments (0)
A 21 Drum Salute to Roi Kwabena
A large gathering at The Drum in Birmingham tonight (2/2/2008) paid tribute to Roi Kwabena who died from cancer earlier this year. There were academics and entertainers who provided eloquent testimony to the contributions Roi had made to equality and justice.
Roi had a habit of sprinkling water on the ground at the start of his talks and performances. The African tradition of paying respects to ancestors took place at the start of the evening. Roi's family were given a place of honour, including his mother and then a libation was made to remember Roi and others who paved the way for us benefiting or lives. A table was laid out as an alter and an elder performed the ceremony with the audience chanting "ashay" (be with us) after each name was said. The elder then took some of the water into his mouth and blew it into the air in every direction. Next he took white spirit "because it evaporates more quickly than water" invoking the spirits of those named. At this point all were asked to name someone they wished to be remembered. Family members and outstanding leaders were included. I mentioned Frantz Fanon. "Ashay" came the response.
A dancer then entered. Gracefully descending the steps she bowed before the alter and then acknowledged Roi's family with blessings. Her dancing accompanied by the 21 drummers was an affecting experience. the mood ranged from calm, fluid, movement to twisting and turning becoming increasingly intense. Finally she picked up the scarf she had dropped earlier as if picking up a young child, holding it aloft as in a naming ceremony when presenting to the deity
Continue reading "A 21 Drum Salute to Roi Kwabena"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:58 PM February 2, 2008 | Comments (0)
Single Status in Birmingham
Very wet blustery weather gave way to sunshine as demonstrators - Birmingham City Council's work force - gathered to protest about the huge cuts - many thousands of pounds that some are facing. Single Status, we thought, was to do with equality. Not so from the point of view of the Tory/Lib-Dem alliance that is now in charge. It's a golden opportunity to restructure, and if you don't like it you'll make yourself redundant. Your jobs will go to those nice folk at Capita.
Between speakers Dave Rogers and a colleague from Banner Theatre gave rousing support. If Councillor Alan Rudge was somewhere in the city shopping he might hear. I've always thought of him as "Cllr Drudge" when I had to sit through long interminable speeches delivered in a monotone which no one understood anyway. Well this is what his policies and imagination look like in reality. The City Council coming out on strike to preserve not only jobs but half-decent services. Here he became known as "Cllr Grudge", a Dickensian figure who while taking £45,000 himself without any assessment wanted to dock others and make them justify any future increment. Victoria Square and Council House had stood still in time, Victorian values intact.
Good to see the Labour opposition out in force in solidarity with Sir Albert Bore in the lead. He was the last speaker with a rallying cry to abandon the scheme. "There are so many anomalies that it can't be sorted. Need to start again." The assembled were pleased to hear this and hoped he would accompany them on the coach to London to persuade Gordon and New Labour to fund single status nation wide. (Birmingham, we are told, is being watched by other authorities. If they push through this travesty here then others will follow, cutting the costs of local government down and down).
Continue reading "Single Status in Birmingham"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 4:29 PM January 12, 2008 | Comments (0)
Dr Roi Kwabena
I was deeply shocked to read of Roi's death at 51 from cancer. He has been a friend for over 20 years. I first met Roi when I was chair of All Faiths For One Race (AFFOR) in Lozells in the mid eighties. Roi wanted help in publishing materials, one on African Caribbean history, which we did, and a more controversial one on recognising botanical species. I still have the document.
Although Roi had some recognition as Birmingham's Poet Laureate it didn't make him rich, and he found working for departments of the City Council hard work. Not an unfamiliar feeling.
Birmingham has a number of local celebrities - Vanley Burke, Pogus Caesar amongst them, who get grudging recognition here in Birmingham compared with elsewhere.
I think it was just last year that Roi gave an illustrated lecture at the Library Theatre. It did raise controversy with some material which I felt detracted from what he was about and knew from personal experience. He spent time in Nubia which in history was the precursor of Egypt (Kemet). When w elost track of him in Birmingham we found out hat he had been acting as a senator in Trinidad. One of the things Roi always did at the beginning of any sessions he led was to pour a libation (of water) onto the ground. He was deeply attached to his African roots and was able to get us to share that feeling.
Actually you did a lot for Birmingham and education in the City and it should be very grateful. Thank you Roi.
Continue reading " Dr Roi Kwabena"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 7:09 PM January 11, 2008 | Comments (0)
Al Sharpton's Year
The Washington Post (26.12.2007) outlines Rev Al Sharpton's year of battle over Civil Rights issues. I was present when Sharpton visited Birmingham's Afro-Caribbean Millenium Centre a couple of years back when he, like Jesse Jackson earlier this year, had a rallying call to the City's an nation's Black population.
Why necessary? Well see the article to see why in the U.S., but the Black population is at risk in the UK too. Mikey Powell's case is well-publicised since he died while in the hands of the police in Birmingham, yet with no one taking responsibility and no clear reason why he died. A few weeks back the Kuumba Centre in Sandwell were dealing with a case in Ilford, Essex, where a young man with mental health issues had been reportedly beaten up by police. His mother had been roughly pushed out of the room when she complained, knocking her mobile phone to the floor. I don't know if or where this incident has been reported. I don't know how many other cases there are. I do know since the David (Rocky) Bennett report precious little progress has been made on dealing appropriately with need in the African Caribbean community in particular,
which has been high profile. Other groups at risk, such as young Asian women, or refugee groups who have witnessed atrocities in genocidal wars across the globe, don't stand much chance getting health care. Prisons are full up, many it seems are from groups suffering poor mental health. A disproportion, as in the U.S. are from B.M.E. communities.
Continue reading "Al Sharpton's Year"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:04 AM December 26, 2007 | Comments (0)
Routine abuse of detainees
As a Briton I have been brought up in a climate of indignation and outrage at stories of abuse by "foreign" regimes. Such stories have been legion in the media and countless books. The persistent stories of abuse and worse by people supposedly "on your own side" in consequence gives an initial reaction of disbelief. Guantamo Bay, Iraq, an over-stuffed prison system and ejection of those already persecuted has dealt with that.
I call on my MP, Khalid Mahmood, to support an Early Day Motion to make significant changes to practices, procedures and approaches to people detained and open to abuse by all and sundry put in their charge. Many of these "guards" are part of the privatisation that New Labour indulges itself in.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:29 AM October 20, 2007 | Comments (0)
Airline refuses to co-operate with enforced removals
I find it heartening to find that an airline is refusing to play a part in enforcing removals of those who have probably endured endless catastrophe in their lives. Gordon Brown spent his time prior to his elevation going round the world proclaiming the need to help the poor. We had hoped for better following the abject record of his predecessor who is now now has a job of sorting out problems of the dispossessed in Palestine.
After Blackwater and Haliburton it is heartening to find a business which won't put people before its corporate interests. While no one expects businesses to do this governments are supposed to look after their peoples. Burma, Israel and others with depressing records on human rights? Have no expectation of the UK either. Tax payers' money goes into paying for privatisation, never cheap, and propping up now even the banks. But who came to the rescue of the savers who lost out when Farepak went to the wall?
Continue reading "Airline refuses to co-operate with enforced removals"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:16 AM October 8, 2007 | Comments (0)
Racism is felt at a high level
The Guardian (15.9.2007) reports on supermodels mounting a demonstration with the claim that racism has reached its highest point since the sixties.
There is a smugness in society that we have gone through a period of "multiculturism" (the acceptable term for the more radical antiracist movement) and have come out on top. If you've been on the receiving end of racism you may not see it that way.
Black people I've spoken to recently seem to have taken an air of resignation that discrimination is an inbuilt feature of existence. Just at a time we're looking at 200 years since abolition, the result has been the view that that was then. Don't blame the current generation for what happened a long time ago. If you consider the story about the supermodels it looks as if the consequences haven't gone away at all.
My apology and challenge on behalf of Birmingham has fallen on deaf ears. Only the Stirrer took notice, but the responses were dominated by a very racist contributor called "headless chicken" I think.
Continue reading "Racism is felt at a high level"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:29 AM September 15, 2007 | Comments (0)
The Birmingham Carnival
The sun shone and everyone was out to enjoy the Birmingham Carnival with its spectacular costumes, many designed by Professor Black who has worked on the event for many years now. We watched as the the floats and dancers passed by Chris Khamis and Brenda Addison's house on Church Lane. There a stall had been set out to give prominence to the Palestinian struggle for freedom of oppression which carnival too represents,
This year the procession started in Handsworth Park instead of Holyhead Road which made the rout rather shorter than usual. Handsworth Park used to be the venue but after objections from the police the event moved to Perry Park.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:09 PM August 7, 2007 | Comments (0)
Handsworth Conversations
3 Minute Wonder grabbed me this week. It featured the work of Vanley Burke, photographer, who has documented the social scene over 40 years. It is now featured in Tate Britain.
Earlier I portrayed Handsworth as an artistic incubator. I have known Vanley for many years and used some of his photographs in schools. They convey an insight into the community in an extraordinary way, and it is just and good that his work should feature nationally and internationally. Vanley remains a modest man attached to the community and alive to social division and exclusion. His work should be known since it offers an education and deep understanding of a dynamic and vibrant society.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:02 PM June 21, 2007 | Comments (0)
Inter-faith union
A young couple recently married with the blessing of one of the Gurdwaras in Birmingham. The unusual thing about the occasion is that the bridegroom was Muslim. One would have thought that this was an occasion to rejoice as an expression of moving on from a chapter of history of bitter division between religious faiths.
Unfortunately the hate brigade have entered the arena pointing out how it offends Sikhism. So Sikhism has its own home grown fundamentalists.. In this years Vaisakhi celebrations in Handsworth Park a group of the self-appointed turned up with unsheathed swords and committed serious acts of violence against people taking part in the celebrations. There were serious injuries. Another group damaged Birmingham Repertory Theatre when a play with views they did not like about aspects of their culture was staged. Its author received death threats. Again in the recent local elections members of three Gurdwaras were expected to show their allegiance to their faith by voting for a Sikh candidate irrespective of his track record and political views.
Continue reading "Inter-faith union"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:27 AM June 17, 2007 | Comments (0)
Why have we lost it with our children?
The Unicef Report on the state of the world's children is scathing on Britain. It has made us all catch our breath. The feeling I get working with children in care (recently subject to a fairly damning report) is that as collective parents a poor example is shown. The information about Britain is only a part of this report which emphasises that where gender equality is practised it is the child who benefits.
As far as the situation in Britain goes it is interesting to hear views expressed by our continental neighbours. When we say proudly that our 4 years are reading they respond with "why aren't they out playing?". The hot house of examinations, bad enough at 16+, is replicated at 7, 11 and 14 with SATs. Why? It clearly isn't helping our young, quite the reverse.
Regrettably the situation is a reflection of the society where a number of issues preoccupy us taking our eye off focussing what is important. Headlines are filled with alerts on crime, terrorism, gambling and other ideas which are doing great harm to us as a nation. Our responses to them have all received considerable criticism: prisons are stuffed full and are in inhuman; dealing with terrorism has lead to the stigmatisation of sections of the community and grave injustice and casinos are being promoted at every turn.
Continue reading "Why have we lost it with our children?"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 8:59 AM February 14, 2007 | Comments (0)
Civil Rights activists honoured in U.S.
In Washington political leaders and celebrities laid the foundation for a monument to Rev Martin Luther King. President George W Bush and Bill Clinton were there as were veterans of the 50's and 60's Civil Rights Movement. Rev Jesse Jackson and Andrew Young, former friends and allies of Luther King were among those at this moving occasion.
Posted by John Tyrrell at 6:44 PM November 14, 2006 | Comments (0)
Racial unrest in Lozells
Three Asian men have been charged with the murder of a young African Caribbean IT specialist who worked for Birmingham CIty Council. The incident took place in the Lozells area of Birmingham last October. Isaiah Young-Sam was with his brother and friends trying to escape the trouble which was going on in the area at the time. A car chased them and hooded men got out producing knives and weapons. Isaiah was stabbed in the heart. The tension and unrest was felt in other parts of the area, including the Rookery Road area of Handsworth where a gang of youths roamed the area causing injury and damage to property. Again there was an underlying racial dimension.
Part of the problem appears to be underlying beliefs that sections of the community benefit more than others from grants and benefits available from the local authorities. Certainly the SRB6 funding has benefitted a group who were allowed to infiltrate the board claimimg that they had hitherto been denied their rightful share of funding available. One group has taken power politically in the area showing little awareness or concern about what had been taking place locally in recent months. Regrettably this is more likely to fuel suspicion and feelings of injustice rather than address it.
Continue reading "Racial unrest in Lozells"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 1:47 PM May 22, 2006 | Comments (0)
Unite Against Fascism AdVan
Faith communities, trades unions, political parties and ethnic minority organizations unite to oppose the BNP.
The tour of the West Midlands by the Unite Against Fascism AdVan began in Birmingham on Wednesday April 26th with a reception for the van in Newtown, Birmingham.
The reception was attended by, amongst others, Tony Rabaiotti of UNISON, Roger McKenzie of the TUC, John Tyrrell on behalf of Birmingham Labour Group, Salma Yaqoob of Respect, Mohini Howard of Birmingham Race Action Partnership and the Rev John Breadon of the Church of England.
The van is touring England with the message that voters should use their vote positively and vote against the politics of hate and division promoted by the BNP. The BNP can only succeed if the majority of voters who are opposed to the politics of racial hatred stay at home on May 4th.
Ruth Jacobs, chair of the Representative Council Birmingham and West Midlands Jewry commented ‘The Birmingham Jewish Community supports the UAF campaign to stop the rise of the BNP both nationally and locally and has been pleased to have had the opportunity to be associated with the local UAF efforts.“
Continue reading "Unite Against Fascism AdVan"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 9:59 PM April 28, 2006 | Comments (0)
Being British
I was born in Enfield, Middlesex on 22nd November (St Cecilia's Day), 1941. I doubt whether I could answer questions being asked of would be British citizens in the now compulsory test that has to be taken. The government worries that people living in Britain are "not integrated". (The Government "Fact" booklet includes where Father Christmas is supposed to come from!)
What knowing answers to the arcane questions has to do with integration is hard to tell. Certainly in this version integration is a one-way traffic. The rest of the nation can continue quite happily without knowing why others are here. When this was put to those from Britain's former colonies a response was "we are here because you were there".
Continue reading "Being British"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:04 AM November 2, 2005 | Comments (2)
Birmingham links with Republic of Guinea
Birmingham UK, like its namesake in Alabama, is a diverse city which likes to believe that all is well in inter-community relations. A recently conducted report on attitudes and its findings on the way that the city is segregated in residential patterns is yet another instance why the City's leaders should stop being complacent.
Complacent? If you don't agree then look again at a report from 2001 about the enquiry commissioned by the City Council itself. I was a member of this enquiry for which Judge Ray Singh was invited to preside. Members of the enquiry interviewed a range of individuals and representatives of community groups. A group of employees working for the City Council were also persuaded to speak out. I knew of their concerns because a number of them spoke to me about "the glass ceiling" they felt existed. The then Chief Executive and secretary to the enquiry, Sir Michael Lyons, felt that by interviewing employees personal grievances would be put forward. However the hearing went ahead, with employees insisting there should be no senior officers present and that the session should not be recorded as had happened elsewhere during the enquiry. This seemed to me an eloquent statement in itself!
Continue reading "Birmingham links with Republic of Guinea"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 10:48 AM July 2, 2005 | Comments (0)
Handsworth: an artistic incubator
Handsworth like Harlem in the U.S., has a tradition of inspiring artists arising from the struggle for equality and justice. While a number of people have a considerable record of achievement, it is often understated if not recognised. Birmingham has a habit of ignoring some of its greatest assets.
Vanley Burke has photographed events and recorded social history in Handsworth and Birmingham, although he has also ventured further afield. He visited South Africa after Mandela's release and made a interesting study at a time of significant social change. Fortunately the City's Library has created an archive which contains not only Vanley's work, but also that of others with notable achievements such as Pogus Caesar and Pervaiz Khan
Posted by John Tyrrell at 12:47 PM March 6, 2005 | Comments (1)
Vital Link Educational Limited
Vital Link Educational Limited was set up in 1993 by five people: Gilroy Brown, Head Teacher of Foundry Primary School, Eileen Daley, Manager of a Community Enterprise, John Cockcroft, teacher and librarian at the Martineau Teachers' Centre in Birmingham, Sitinder Bahia, a teacher and myself who had run the Multicultural Resource Unit for nearly 15 years. Three of us had been involved in All Faiths For One Race (AFFOR) which had been based on the Lozells Road for many years, and was known for its hard-hitting publications, including "Talking Blues" and "Talking Chalk". These were about black peoples' experience with the police and education services respectively. AFFOR had been set up in 1971 to protest against a South African cricket tour. Clare Short was one its early directors.
Continue reading "Vital Link Educational Limited"
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:34 PM October 9, 2004 | Comments (2)
Rainbow over Derry
Jerry, son of my cousin Jack, and brother of Chris, died of cancer a few years ago. He was active in Derry, working with the Quaker Peace Initiative. I went to his funeral, which was extremely well attended by the Catholics and Protestants who valued Jerry and the Project.
The occasion was a truly Irish affair, with Jerry's huge frame on view in the front room of the family home. Jo, his wife, and children Sophie and Jack welcomed me, although I had not had contact with them for a long time. I had spoken to Jerry on the phone when I visited West Belfast a year or so earlier, before Jerry had known about his illness. He was then back in England with his father helping him to move from Isleworth to Aylesbury to be near to Chris and Margaret.
All the male relatives carried the coffin and Jerry was taken first to the College where a Quaker meeting remembered his life and work. I recounted the occasion when my friend and business partner in Vital Link, John Cockcroft, had phoned me to tell me that Jerry's airline ticket to Belfast had been found at the Euston Road Meeting House. Did I know where he could be found? A call to his Father, Jack found him. No, he had not realised his ticket was missing, and yes, he would be picking it up.
Jerry's book on Peer Group Mediation appeared posthumously. I left a copy with the Holy Land Trust in Bethlehem. This group organised a trip to Palestine/Israel this January (2004) when we found a deserted Bethlehem and a family in the Refugee Camp whose house had been demolished as a reprisal for a bombing incident in Jerusalem earlier the same day. More about that later.
The picture is a scene at Jerry's burial at the cemetery above Derry looking down into the valley. The rainbow appeared just as Chris had read "I am in the wind". It is a symbol of hope for Ireland and for Palestine/Israel.
The following links tell you more about The Quaker Peace Initiative and Jerry's work with information about availability of his book.
http://www.ccruni.gov.uk/research/csc/quaker.htm
http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/emu/visits.htmhttp://www.peacenews.info/issues/2455/2455381.html
Posted by John Tyrrell at 11:25 PM October 8, 2004 | Comments (1)
