0784 606 2331 sales@myownmedia.co.uk
FREE PRESS
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 I Tel. 020 7300 7320; 020 7300 7321; 07846062331 I Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
STAR, student organization fights for rights of refugees
Never think that anything is out of your reach
page 3
THE GUIDE
40% of youth in Are you a victim custody are of discrimination? Black and Here’s how to minority ethnic defend yourself page 6
Exclusive interview with Mayowa Anthea Adebiyi, plus-size model and Founder of Youth Social Enterprise Enpower
How Gangsline helps young people avoid gang culture
pages 10 - 11
page 5
page 13
Samba Mapangala releases new music video page 17
Raise awareness about child slavery in UK - Campaigner page 9
Get your latest immigration news on
Send money around the world and across the UK.
Your news, your guides, your concerns, your beauty, your recipes, your people.
This one is all about you !
www.foreignersinuk.co.uk
$JHQW ORFDWLRQ
ZHVWHUQXQLRQ FR XN
The WESTERN UNION name, logo and related trademarks and service marks, owned by Western Union Holdings, Inc., are registered and/or used in the U.S. and many foreign countries and are used with permission.
2
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
WHERE ACTION IS
Mosaic Event takes place in London It promotes African, African-Caribbean and African Diaspora businesses A special event titled Mosaic ucts and services within an iconic will be held in London on 5th and cultural setting in the heart of London, Mosaic promotes eco6th November 2011. Mosaic is an exciting new home and lifestyle event that showcases the best of established and emerging local and international businesses. Focusing on the way we eat, dress and adorn our homes and ourselves, Mosaic’s ultimate goal is to introduce dynamic African, African-Caribbean and African Diaspora businesses from various sectors including: homewares, health & beauty, food & drink, fashion, photography, art and much more. As a platform to showcase their prod-
MOSAIC 2011 EVENT 5th November 2011 10am -7pm 6th November 2011 11am-6pm The Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden WC2E 8IT. Tickets on sale at: www.mosaic2011.com
nomic development through increased exposure in the market place by providing a new way to develop working relationships between businesses and raising consumer awareness. Exhibitors are hand-picked to ensure a wide range of companies from different sectors, allowing visitors to experience and discover first-hand the originality and creativity with which these businesses enrich global culture. During this two day event, Mosaic will host three catwalks per day, showing the best African contemporary designers featuring some of the best models of colour in the UK. The Mosaic event brings under one roof outstanding creativity, diversity and entrepreneurship of African Diaspora businesses not often seen in the UK. Mosaic intends to become an annual
event celebrating all African Diaspora achievements, but especially calls atten-
Two special dates with music legend Nile Rodgers
Black History Month event
Patrick Vernon discusses African Diaspora Approach to Family History As part of the UN’s International Year of People of African Descent 2011, Patrick Vernon hosts a workshop titled “African Diaspora Approach to Family History” on 17th November 2011, from 6:00 to 7.30pm at Hackney Museum. Patrick, who is a publisher, film maker and specialist in African and Caribbean genealogy, re-traces his family history by looking at maps, documentary records, oral history and DNA testing. This workshop explores the
African Diaspora approach to family history and genealogy and provides useful ways of people reclaiming and defining their identity. There will be the opportunity to discuss issues around this type of research and the importance of DNA mapping. For more information on Every Generation, visit: www. everygeneration.co.uk. Booking essential, contact hmuseum@hackney. gov.uk or call 020 8356 2509.
Send AfroNews your stories and pictures Have you got a story to share with our readers? We'd love to hear about it, so please send it to us. You may also send photos together with your stories. Kindly include a contact phone number in case we have any questions or need more information. Please send your stories and pictures to: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
tion to those who strive to reach the mainstream radar.
Waterstone’s will host two special evenings with iconic musician, songwriter and producer Nile Rodgers. Nile will discuss his life and music and introduce his eagerly awaited autobiography. Nile will be in conversation with the Guardian’s head rock and pop critic, Alexis Petridis, on Monday 7th November and renowned Manchester DJ and music journalist Dave Haslam on Friday 11th November. He’ll also be meeting fans and signing copies of his hotly-anticipated memoir, “Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco and Destiny” (Sphere
£20). A founding member of with a cast of bohemians, dropthe band Chic, Nile is one of outs, disco divas and some of the the world’s most successful most famous musicians in the music producers. He wrote world, “Le Freak: An Upside “We are Family” for Sister Down Story of Family, Disco and Sledge and “I’m Coming Destiny” tells his astonishing Out” for Diana Ross, and story. produced two of the most Since these are very popular popular albums of all time - events, you are advised to book Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” early to avoid disappointment. and David Bowie’s “Let’s For further details please contact Dance”. Waterstone’s Piccadilly on 020 His life has been extraor- 7851 2419 or Waterstone’s dinary - his mother was just Deansgate on 0161 837 3000. 13 when he was born, and he was brought up surrounded by a ragged assortment of MEET NILE RODGERS artists, dropouts and addicts. At the age of 13 he was Waterstone’s Piccadilly already sniffing glue and had 7th November 2011, 7:00pm been turned on to acid by Tickets £5 available from Timothy Leary himself. Waterstone’s Piccadilly, Tel: A natural, instinctive and brilliant musician, in the 020 7851 2419 midst of all the madness he somehow managed to teach Zion Arts Centre, himself classical guitar. He 335 Stretford Road, Hulme also found time to become an M15 5ZA expert in martial arts and join 11th November 2011, 6:30pm the radical Black Panther Tickets £7, available from movement. Waterstone’s Deansgate, From the glamour of Tel: 0161 837 3000 or Studio 54 to the squalor of www.quaytickets.com New York’s Valhalla, and
AFRONEWS | My Own Media Ltd. The Old Fire Station, 140 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4SD, United Kingdom | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Stephen Ogongo Ongong'a | TEL: +44 (0)20 7300 7320 or +39 06 94354517 |Fax: 0207 253 23 06 | Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk | CONTRIBUTORS: Chinwe Ojielo, Amanda Hall-Davis, Joseph Spencer, Pauline Long & Frances Mensah Williams | ADVERTISING: TEL: 020 7300 7320; 07846062331 | Email: sales@myownmedia.co.uk | DISTRIBUTION: Citipost Direct Distribution Ltd, London | Email: info@myownmedia.co.uk | PRINTING PRESS: Newsfax Ltd, London. | Advertiser and advertising agency assume liability for all content (including text representation, illustrations, and photographs) of advertisements printed or posted, and also assume responsibility for any claims arising there from made against the publisher | Supplement of Africa News, Registered at the Tribunal of Rome. Registration No. 22/2003 - 21-01-2003
COMMUNITY
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
3
STAR, student organization fights for rights of refugees
STAR is the national network of student groups who work to improve the lives of refugees in the UK. Through campaigns, volunteering and promoting positive images of refugees, they help those who have come to the UK to claim asylum. Whether they are still in the process of claiming asylum, or they have been granted full refugee status, STAR concerns itself in making sure that the process of deciding who should be granted refugee status is thorough. Many volunteers lend their skills, from language students, to budding engineers, to future medical professionals. A quarter of all volunteers come from a refugee background. The organisation is pleased that the UK supports refugees, but takes issue with the way that support is accessed. Those seeking to claim refugee status find that they have to prove their case to the Home Office, a process that takes a very long time due to the amount of bureaucracy involved. “What we’re finding on the ground is that when people come and ask for that support, the actual systems which are being operated are really quite complicated
Get latest news
about and from the Black Community in the UK on
http://www.theafronews.eu/black-community/blog
and slow. That can be very stressful for people who have fled a war or persecution and arrived here with nothing,” says Emma Williams, STAR’s Chief Executive. “If you don’t claim asylum as soon as you come into the country, you can only go to one place in the UK; you have to go to Liverpool. You have to get yourself to Liverpool, explain what’s happened to you to a Home Office representative, and often that’s very, very difficult, because often what’s happened is very upsetting or traumatic. I mean we’re often talking about people who have been raped as part of the war experience, and to actually sit in a room and explain that to somebody in a short interview is very difficult, and then you have to wait to see whether they believed you or not.” To add to the difficulties, asylum seekers can be detained at any point during the process; some for many months as there is no set time period to hold detainees while their claim is considered. This is on top of the fact that they are not allowed to work during this process, meaning that they are forced to live on state hand-outs of £36 a week; the rate for a single adult. “If you don’t have anywhere to live which most people don’t, you’ll have to ask for accommodation, and accommodation is given in a place where the Home Office have cheap accommodation. So that’s somewhere
away from London and the South East where lots of the support services are, to places like Glasgow, Newcastle or Hull.” With 50% of decisions overturned on appeal, STAR does not have much faith in the decision making process. They have good evidence that there is a culture of disbelief within the officers making the decisions. “There’s been some whistle-blowing evidence from for example the Cardiff office. Last year there was a story about the officers pretending to lie down on the ground, pretending to be child soldiers, so just really humiliating the people that they’re talking about. That says to us that the people making these decisions are not doing it with a full open mind. What I understand from their systems is that they have a huge amount of work to do, and they have to go through it very, very quickly, and the presumption is guilty until proven innocent; guilty that you’re lying.” Emma believes that to make sure that the decision making process is done very well, those making the decisions need to be trained and supported. Those asking for asylum must also be supported through legal assistance. “This is so that the people that are requesting asylum can get legal
aid, because they can’t work to pay the lawyer even if they wanted to.” In her 16 years working with refugees, Emma has been struck by how she is able to relate to those seeking refugee status. “These are people who are just like me, going about their daily business in their own country, probably being a little bit politically active, or just interested. They then get caught up in this terrible situation not of their own making, where their country is turning against them and not protecting them. These are people just like us who are living in extraordinary circumstances and are getting through it.” Emma was surprised to realise that the people who come to the UK are the ones who make it, while many of those who remain in the home country are not able to make it. They either die or live in horrific circumstances. “The vast majority just stay, so the ones that you’ve got here are the fighters; they are the lucky ones.” At present the non-profit organisation is campaigning for refugees and asylum seekers to have equal access to higher education. To support STAR, please log on to www.star-network.org.uk. By Chinwe Ojielo
4
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
COMMUNITY
40% of youth in custody are Black and minority ethnic Black and minority ethnic young men account for almost 40% of the population of youth jails in England and Wales, a new report by the chief inspector of prisons has revealed. Their population rose to 39% from 33% in 2009-10. The report “Children and Young People in Custody 2010-11: An analysis of the experiences of 15 to 18-year-olds in prison” published jointly with the Youth Justice Board, also reveals that the number of foreign national young men increased to 6% (from 4% in 2009-10). The number of people identified as Muslim reached 16% (compared with 13% in 2009-10). Generally the number of children and young people in custody continued to fall during 2010-11 from 1,977 to 1,822. Over half of young men (53%, an increase from 39% in 2009-10) and 48% of young women said it was their first time in custody. This is the group more likely to report feeling unsafe. Almost a quarter of young women and 13% of young men had children of their own. A striking finding of the report is that a
fifth of young men and 38% of young women reported emotional or mental health problems. Compared with 2009-10, young men were less positive about their treatment in reception and the facilities offered on arrival, and fewer said that they felt safe on their first night.
“Girls and Gangs”
BME Women in Prison hosts workshop in London You are invited to a workshop hosted by the Women in Prison’s Black and Minority Ethnic women’s project. The workshop will try to identify best practice models for working with BME women in the criminal justice system, looking at how the women’s sector can strengthen Women in Prison’s response by working together. The workshop will focus on the issues of “Girls and gangs”, mental health and service users’ perspective of the criminal justice system from both a practical and policy perspective. The BME project continues to network and build on Women in Prison’s existing contact base to identify other London-based voluntary and statutory sector
agencies with specialisms in BME women and/or female offending, in order to promote joined-up, complimentary support services for BME women who are affected by the criminal justice system. The workshop will take place on 10th November 2011 at Women in Prison’s North London office: Unit 10, The Ivories, 6 Northampton Street, London N1 2HY. Time: 12:30 - 16:00. Refreshments will be provided. Please book by sending an email to: bmevolunteers@womeninprison.org.uk, shana@ womeninprison.org.uk or Bintu@womeninprison.org.uk. If you have any questions or would like to request any further information, please feel free to contact Bintu Tijani or Shana Campbell on 020 7359 6674.
Although the proportion of young men who said they had ever felt unsafe had fallen, fewer felt that they could tell someone if they were being victimised or believed a member of staff would take it seriously. While getting a job was cited by young men (and by 52% of young women) as most likely to stop them offending, fewer than half said they knew who to contact in the establishment for help with finding employment. When asked if they had done something during their time in custody that would make them less likely to offend in future, only half of all sentenced young people answered positively, despite 92% of young men and 93% of young women
indicating they would like to stop offending. However the amount of time spent out of cell had generally improved and more young men said they had daily association. “This report has highlighted some deterioration in children and young people’s experience of custody,” Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, said. “Despite the falling numbers, this population has well-defined vulnerability and increasing numbers within minority groups. The need, therefore, to provide these young people with support during their time in custody and in preparation for release is as greater as ever.” Frances Done, Chair of the Youth Justice Board, said: “We are very concerned that in some areas young people’s experience of custody has deteriorated although in some it has improved. We will be looking closely at the experiences reported by young people and working with all secure establishments to make sure that young people’s time in custody has positive results and that everyone working in youth justice is focused on rehabilitating young people to help them achieve a more purposeful life.”
Drug swallower jailed for seven years A Nigerian man who tried to smuggle cocaine worth approximately £140,000 through London City airport has been jailed for seven years. Ikechukwu Lambert Eze, 37, was stopped by UK Border Agency staff at the airport on 31st August 2011, following his arrival from Cameroon via Zurich. Following questioning and a baggage search, UK Border Agency officers became suspicious of his reasons for travel, and Eze became nervous when it was suggested that he had swallowed packages. He was arrested and taken to Newham General Hospital, where an x-ray revealed a number of packages inside him. Nature was allowed to take its course and Eze
eventually produced 73 packages of cocaine weighing 1kg, “The concealment technique which had a purity of used by this individual shows 91 per cent and an esti- the lengths to which some peomated street value of ple will go in attempt to avoid £140,000. detection by our officers” Eze was sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on 21st October, Peter Avery, after admitting charges UK Border Agency Assistant of drug smuggling at a Director for criminal and previous hearing on 5th financial investigations September. Peter Avery, UK Border Agency robust controls they have in place Assistant Director for criminal at UK’s ports and airports. and financial investigations, said: “The UK Border Agency is at “The concealment technique used the forefront of the fight to stop by this individual shows the drugs, weapons, other contraband lengths to which some people and illegal immigrants entering will go in attempt to avoid detec- the UK and our officers are on tion by our officers.” The seizure constant alert to keep them out of of the drugs, he said, shows the the country,” Avery said.
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
COMMUNITY
5
Interview with Sheldon Thomas
How Gangsline helps young people avoid gang culture Gangsline, a confidential phone line for those seeking information about gangs and gang culture is about to launch an online service. The AfroNews caught up with the founder Sheldon Thomas who has been running the service for three years for a quick chat.
figure, hence why the gang becomes their family. What makes Gangsline’s approach different to other organisations that work with gangs? We’re not like other organisations that claim to work with gangs but don’t do it.
Sheldon, how does Gangsline work? Gangsline is about giving mums the tools to deal with their children who are involved in gangs. It is also about giving the young men and women involved in gang culture the tools to leave the gang culture, or at least get advice that leads them away from actually carrying out weapons and selling drugs, or getting involved in armed robberies and things like that. Parents or gang members can phone and speak confidentially if they want to leave and we can give them exit strategies over the phone. We realised that the best people to deal with the gang members are ex-gang members. We are all ex-gang members so we find it easier to deal with them because we’ve got credibility. If you do it over the phone line, there is a good chance that you can get a result, because many of the gang members we approach when we go and do our outreach will not want to talk to us straight away in front of the other gang members, but they would do so over the phone or online.
What do you think are the main reasons for young people getting involved in gang culture? There are no role models, in other words no father figures, no sense of purpose and identity. Lots of the gangs that we are working with tell us that they don’t believe that their mums love them because they don’t cook food for them; they don’t get the normal things that normal families get. They feel that there’s no love in the home, there’s no father in the home, so they go looking elsewhere for a family
young people don’t understand who they are and what they mean to God. We’ve been called to train people in the church of all faiths. To train them to understand about gangs, how to be more firm with them as parents and to get them to understand what language these young people use. We’ve been called to train the people in church because many of the gang members’ parents go to church, so that’s why we’ve called it Trained Army of God. It is also called Target Against Gangs because
“Parents or gang members can phone and speak confidentially if they want to leave and we can give them exit strategies over the phone. We realised that the best people to deal with the gang members are exgang members. We are all ex-gang members so we find it easier for us to deal with them because we’ve got credibility. If you do it over the phone line, there is a good chance that you can get a result, because many of the gang members we approach when we go and do our outreach will not want to talk to us straight away in front of the other gang members, but they would do over the phone or online”
What have you found out through taking the calls? Most of the people involved in gangs in east London and parts of south London are of African descent, and their parents don’t speak brilliant English, and many of them don’t have fathers around. A lot of the guys are from the black British or West Indian communities and mixed race communities, they are all part of it; they don’t have father figures in the house, so they manipulate and bully their mums.
don’t wait for them to come to us. We find that it’s better to come to them on their terms; they respect you more, but the way the youth offending and youth service does it is wrong. They expect gang members to go to youth clubs and these guys are not interested because they carry weapons. They’re not going to go to a youth club because they know that they’re going to get searched. We build relationships with them where they
Mr. Sheldon Thomas, Founder of Gangsline
Most of the organisations in London and the UK don’t work with gangs. They work with young people who commit anti-social behaviour, that’s a big difference. We speak to everyone. If you’ve got a gun, we’ll speak to you; if you don’t have a gun we’ll speak to you. If you’re selling drugs, if you smoke crack, if you do armed robbery, we’ll speak to you. We speak to the most dangerous hardened gang members. So how do you approach the gang members? We look for them. We know where to find them; gang members hang out on their estates and darkened stairwells, we know where the gangs are so we go to them. We
can trust us and we can help them to change. You are going to find that there are gang members that don’t want to change and I’m not expecting everybody to change. What I am saying is that my programme TAG actually works. It’s proven to work so people need to pay attention to it. What does TAG stand for and how does it work? Our outreach programme TAG has two meanings: Trained Army of God and Target Against Gangs. It is based on evangelism and on our experiences of credible ex-gang members. So the way we talk to these gang members is put in a way that they can understand the gospel a little bit better. We believe for a young person to change, they need to know who they are and what they mean to God, and a lot of
we target only gangs and gang members. What successes have you had? We’ve already got one gang member off the road. He was a drug dealer and a gunman, now he’s going to be a stockbroker. He’s going to be working for a top insurance broker in the city. Our programme works because if you go through the TAG programme, you will be changed. Now a lot of people may say that’s just one person, but that person has totally changed, whereas when the youth offending team works, none of the kids change, they go back to re-offend all the time. To seek confidential advice on gang culture, call Gangsline: 0800 032 9538 / 07985 717 909 or visit: www.gangsline. co.uk. By Chinwe Ojielo
6
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
COMMUNITY
Lambeth Council transfers land to Black Prince Trust £2 million to be invested in sports and community facilities on the site Lambeth Council has transferred ownership of 2.4 acres of land to the community.
©Steve Punter
Part of the former Lilian Baylis School site in Kennington has been transferred to a new community organisation, the Black Prince Trust (BPT), which will invest over £2 million in improving and extending sports and community facilities on the site. The Trust has received grant and loan funding from the Communitybuilders Fund and will be working in partnership with social enterprise GLL (Greenwich Leisure), the Community Action Zone, and many others to provide a wide range of sports, health and community programmes. Council Leader Steve Reed said: “This is the co-operative council in action. The council saves money but more importantly young people gain football and athletics facilities and a wide range of programmes aimed at getting kids active and engaged. The community doesn’t need an underused building costing the council thousands of pounds each year but it does need youth sports and activities to engage local children and give them a place to go.” Brian Dickens, BPT chairman, said: “Ownership of the site will allow the Trust to invest in facilities, management, and a long-term sustainable business plan. It will allow us to do what the ‘third sector’ does best: to respond to local needs.” Kate Hoey MP, BPT trustee and co-
“From an abandoned school to the Black Prince Trust has been a remarkable journey. My thanks to all who persevered to make it happen despite huge obstacles. The facilities are not just for young people but for everyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of sport. Now that we control the site we can continue to deliver an even better programme than before” Kate Hoey MP, BPT trustee and co-chair of the Community Action Zone chair of the Community Action Zone, said: “From an abandoned school to the Black Prince Trust has been a remarkable journey. My thanks to all who persevered to make it happen despite huge obstacles. The facilities are not just for young people but for everyone who wants to enjoy the benefits of sport. Now that we control the site we can continue to deliver an even better programme than before.”
“We are excited to be able to provide over £2 million from the Communitybuilders Fund to support this significant asset transfer project,” said Caroline Forster, Communitybuilders Director at the Adventure Capital Fund. “We feel the Black Prince Trust will have a real positive impact in their community by providing a range of attractive services and facilities to
local people.” The Black Prince Trust is planning to add: a new running track; high jump and long jump facilities; new 5-a-side football pitches with improved floodlighting; new changing facilities, a first aid office, and wheelchair accessible toilets; a new community building incorporating shared workspace for the Trust’s community partners, meeting and training facilities, and a neighbourhood café; and a new gym and wellness facilities. The site has been used for community programmes since 2005 when Lambeth Council granted the Sport Action Zone (SAZ) a short-term licence while continuing to pay for building maintenance and security. Despite having no security of tenure, SAZ attracted significant funding from companies such as Nike and the Football Foundation. The council continued to work with SAZ to find a permanent arrangement that worked for both parties. The offer of intensive support and grant funding from the Communitybuilders Fund has allowed the development of a sustainable business plan and the founding of the Black Prince Trust. A ‘Community Service Agreement’ tied to the lease requires the Trust to provide a range of programmes that meet local community needs. The Trust will shortly be announcing the first of its ‘open days’ when locals can visit the site, learn about the new and improved facilities, and discuss what programmes they would like in the future. The Trust has appointed GLL to manage the facilities for an initial 3-year period.
Leading black church leaders condemn deaths in custody UK’s leading black church leaders have strongly condemned the disturbing spate of black deaths in custody. In interviews published in the latest edition of Black Mental Health UK’s “The Solution” Magazine, Archdeacon Daniel Kajumba, Bishop Llewellyn Grayham and Pastor Desmond Hall unite in their condemnation of deaths in custody and call for a radical overhaul in the way these cases are treated. “Church leaders by virtue of our positions must speak out otherwise the situation will get worse and not just black church leaders but also church leaders from the white community need to raise their voice and be heard. We acknowledge the need to transform structures but there has been so much rhetoric, we need more action,” Archdeacon Kajumba, chair of the Church of England’s Committee for
“Of all aspects of black British history, the story of those from the UK’s African Caribbean communities who have used and died within mental health services is undoubtedly the most challenging” Ms. Matilda MacAttram, Editor in Chief of “The Solution” Magazine Minority Ethnic Concerns (CMEAC) told “The Solution” Magazine. “There is deep concern of the legacy that deaths in custody have on the community: Ibrahim Sey, Mikey Powell and
Kingsley Burrell-Brown left behind very young families when they lost their lives in police custody,” Archdeacon Kajumba added. A similar call came from Bishop Grayham of Church of God of Prophesy,
who said: “Something is going on in the system and it is very suspicious that no one is ever brought to book for these cases. We are really calling on the government to intervene now.” Pastor Hall, chair of Christians Together appealed to the society to stop what he described as “the preventable deaths” and to “ensure that there is transparency and full accountability in every case where such tragedies have occurred.” Matilda MacAttram, Editor in Chief of “The Solution” Magazine observed that “of all aspects of black British history, the story of those from the UK’s African Caribbean communities who have used and died within mental health services is undoubtedly the most challenging.” To read “The Solution” Magazine online, please visit www.blackmentalhealth.org.uk homepage and access it from there.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
7
© Refugee Action
Survey reveals broad opposition to asylum seekers, unskilled workers
Most people in the UK (69%) to the UK, and low skilled workers who would like immigration reduced, come primarily from the EU. Strangely enough, it is most difficult but the group of migrants they’d for the government to reduce asylum seeklike reduced is the smallest. A new research by Oxford University’s Migration Observatory reveals that people’s preferences for reducing immigration are not focused on the largest groups which are students (37% of immigrants to the UK in 2009). To the contrary, they are keen on reducing the smallest groups – asylum seekers who in 2009 where only 4% of immigrants
ers and EU workers. International conventions and EU membership constrain the UK Government in reducing numbers from either group. ‘Thinking Behind the Numbers: Understanding public opinion on immigration in Britain’ is the first systematic analysis of who people in Britain really think of as ‘immigrants’, and of how people’s
views differ substantially toward different immigrant groups. It shows that there is comparatively little public interest in reducing numbers among the immigrant groups that the government can cut more easily (skilled workers from outside the EU and foreign students). Opposition to immigration is often focussed on ‘illegal’ immigrants. A majority of those who wanted to see immigration as a whole reduced felt that reductions should target “only” or “mostly” illegal immigration. Even among those who would like to see overall immigration kept the same or increased, a majority would like to see illegal immigration reduced, suggesting a very broad consensus. The research reveals more public support for reducing permanent migration (57% of respondents) than temporary migration (47% of respondents). There is broad opposition to unskilled migrant workers (64%) and low levels of opposition to skilled migrants (32%). The report’s lead author - public opinion specialist Dr. Scott Blinder, Senior Researcher at the Migration Observatory at Oxford University - said: “Blunt questions about whether the British public supports or opposes immigration in general do not capture the complexities of many people’s real views, and are not nearly finegrained enough to give policy-makers a real understanding of what a majority of the public wants.
“What this report shows very clearly is that the Government is stuck between a rock and a hard-place. A clear majority of people in Britain would like immigration reduced, but they want the cuts to come from specific groups of immigrants, and these are often groups over whom the Government has limited direct control, and sometimes groups that are comparatively small in number.”
“What this report shows very clearly is that the Government is stuck between a rock and a hardplace. A clear majority of people in Britain would like immigration reduced, but they want the cuts to come from specific groups of immigrants, and these are often groups over whom the Government has limited direct control, and sometimes groups that are comparatively small in number” Dr. Scott Blinder, Senior Researcher at the Migration Observatory at Oxford University
Most migrant sex workers not forced to sell sex Most migrants working in the migrants working in the London sex industry do not feel London sex industry. “The perception that the they are forced to sell sex, a new commercial sex industry is research has revealed. A study led by Dr. Nick Mai of London Metropolitan University shows that they decide to work in the sex industry to achieve a good standard of living for themselves and their families back home. They say working in the sex industry avoids employment in menial and poorly paid jobs. The study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), is based on in-depth interviews with 100 women, men and transgender
connected to international organised crime and irregular immigration has raised moral panic about trafficking in the UK. Neither the moral panic, nor legislation brought in to counter trafficking, reflects existing research evidence,” says Dr. Mai. “To avoid kneejerk reactions and to obtain a better understanding of the issues, it’s essential that the
“The perception that the commercial sex industry is connected to international organised crime and irregular immigration has raised moral panic about trafficking in the UK. Neither the moral panic, nor legislation brought in to counter trafficking, reflects existing research evidence” Dr. Nick Mai, London Metropolitan University
findings of recent and relevant research are made known to the government and the public at large.” Ava Caradonna (pseudonym), spokesperson for x:talk project says: “We’ve always suspected that attempts to address human trafficking have been co-opted by people with another agenda - eradication of the sex industry. What this report highlights is that rather than assisting and supporting trafficked people, anti-trafficking policies have been effective at putting the safety, health and even the lives of sex workers at risk. The policies have also helped make sex workers a soft target for the Border Agency.”
8
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
CURRENT AFFAIRS
UN: We are all migrants, change inflammatory talk on migration Don’t discriminate against migrants because of their “foreignness” UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau, has urged the international community to embrace a new, balanced discourse on migration based on equal rights, non-discrimination and dignity, as well as on reality.
Mr. Crépeau said in his first address to the UN General Assembly. “Migration is in the DNA of mankind, is how we cope with environmental threats, with political oppression, but also with our desire to create a meaningful future for ourselves and our children.” “We are all migrants and as such are contributing to the global economy “Sealing the borders is a fantasy; migra- and to global cultural diversity,” he tion happens and we have to live together,” noted. “How many of us live today in the city of birth of our four grandparents? Not many. We are all children, grandchildren “We are all migrants and as or great-grandchildren of such are contributing to the migrants. Rare are those who global economy and to global have settled in one and the place for numerous gencultural diversity. How many of same erations.” us live today in the city of birth The Special Rapporteur warned that a xenophobic disof our four grandparents? Not course on migration is increasmany. We are all children, ingly gaining ground in many grandchildren or great-grand- countries, and pointed to a of a “push-back” and of a children of migrants. Rare are lack “credible political counter-disthose who have settled in one course.” In his view, the difficulty of and the same place for numermigrants, especially those in an ous generations” irregular situation, to organize themselves and be able to convince relevant constituencies of Mr. François Crépeau, cause partly explains why UN Special Rapporteur on the their anti-immigrant rhetoric continues human rights of migrants to thrive. “Irregular migration is not a
crime. Crossing borders may be in violation of the law, but it is an abstract violation of it, since moving from one country to the other does not per se hurt or endanger anyone else,” Mr. Crépeau said. “Migration concerns us all and no State can escape from its obligations under international human rights law to protect and ensure respect for the human rights of migrants, irrespective of their migration status.” “We often apply to foreigners, legal standards that we would abhor if they were applied to our sons and daughters,” the
rights expert said expressing concern about administrative detention of migrants resulting in long detention periods without access to legal representation and review mechanisms. Recalling that “dignity has no nationality”, the Special Rapporteur reiterated the shared responsibility of all for ensuring respect for the human rights of migrants. The principle of equal rights for all means that migrants must never be discriminated against because of their “foreignness.”
Newham Council officers given limited police powers
Twenty three enforcement officers from Newham Council have been accredited with limited police powers under the Police Reform Act 2002. The Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS) is a national Home Office initiative that enables the Chief of Police for each force area to designate limited but targeted police powers to employees of non-police organisations who contribute towards community safety. Under CSAS, the MPS has agreed to designate the following police powers to Newham Council with effect from 25th October 2011: Request the name and address for Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN)
and offences that cause injury, alarm and distress to another person or damage or loss of another’s property; Request name and address of any person acting in an antisocial manner; Surrender of alcohol from any person in a designated public place; Surrender of alcohol from any person under the age of 18 years; Confiscate cigarettes and tobacco products from any person under the age of 16 years. Forces which have introduced CSAS within their communities have already indicated benefits of crime reduction, improved communication and cohesion and public reassurance. It has also been found that CSAS improves police effectiveness and efficiency by freeing up police
time and resources. Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales s a i d : “ Ta c k l i n g crime and anti-social behaviour is one of the key priorities in this borough and we take it very seriously. We will never apologise for cracking down hard on yobs that make residents’ lives miserable. “These new powers will make a big difference. Working closely with Newham’s Metropolitan Police Officers and council funded Police Officers, we will ensure that we maintain a high - profile, visible and effective total enforcement presence on our streets. These are additional and enhanced powers for our council officers. It will make it easier for us to tackle crime and ASB and that can only offer reassurance to our residents.” Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Letchford, Borough Commander for Newham said: “As can be seen, the commitment of both the MPS and London
Borough of Newham to making Newham a safer place is going from strength to strength and is a formidable partnership dedicated to dealing with the menace of anti social behaviour and crime in general. “By getting more people out on the streets dealing with the things that really matter to the people of Newham we will continue to cut crime and keep the criminals on the back foot, making Newham a hostile place for those who come here to commit crime.”
Check out
latest immigration and other news affecting the Black Community on:
http://www.theafronews.eu/news/blog
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
CURRENT AFFAIRS
9
Raise awareness about child slavery in UK - Campaigner If you think child slavery ended years ago, then you should have come to this Swansea University event. Jean-Robert Cadet, a former Haitian child slave and campaigner for the end of the country’s ‘Restavek’ system visited Swansea University on 24th October and talked about his own experiences and about his campaign to end the practice of child slavery in Haiti. The event was held as part of the Black History Month. Referring to a song in the video he screened, Mr. Cadet said: “The purpose of this song is to raise awareness and to bring the plight of children in domestic slavery to the open.” The song was written for his ‘Restavek’ Foundation by a Haitian poet. “We wanted a song to let people see what’s going on, to
open their minds,” he said. The Restavek system – from the French term ‘reste-avec’, meaning ‘to stay with’ – has continued since Haitian independence in 1804, despite Haiti’s own constitution, its ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and its 1984 Child Labour Law. Mr. Cadet described the ‘Restavek’ system as “children given by desperate parents to live with host families who exploit them for their labour in exchange for a place to sleep, some leftover food and a promise to go to school that’s rarely kept.” Although Mr. Cadet’s work focuses on child slavery in Haiti, he said that “The most important message is that child slavery has become epidemic, it exists throughout the world.” He added: “I think awareness should be
raised in the UK especially in the form of curriculum for elementary school children, so they become sensitised to the issue and then they’ll be able to discover if it’s going on and what to do about it.” Mr. Cadet stressed that everyone has the potential and the ability to do something if confronted with child slavery. “The things that are happening in the UK are not dissimilar to the things that are happening in Haiti,” said Prof. Heaven Crawley, Director of the Centre for Migration Policy Research (CMPR) at Swansea University. “It’s just that these children are hidden from public view. They’re not part of our everyday knowledge because we don’t see these kids; they’re not on the streets in the same way as Haiti. But nonetheless they are in the UK from different countries, from West Africa in particular. We need to find ways to raise awareness about that group of children as well as about children living in Haiti.” Prof. Crawley plans to do follow up research on child slavery in the UK. “We are going to explore the kinds of things that children who are trafficked to
“The most important message is that child slavery has become epidemic, it exists throughout the world. I think awareness should be raised in the UK especially in the form of curriculum for elementary school children, so they become sensitised to the issue and then they’ll be able to discover if it’s going on and what to do about it” Mr. Jean-Robert Cadet, A former Haitian child slave and campaigner for the end of the country’s ‘Restavek’ system the UK have experienced on their journey to the UK and during their time here,” he said.
Refugee Action celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Founded on 26th October 1981, this widely respected charity has been supporting refugees and asylum seekers rebuild their lives in the UK, raising awareness on their plight and making their voice heard. Refugee Action’s work in the reception, resettlement, development and integration of asylum seekers and refugees included support for the second wave of Vietnamese refugee arrivals in 1989, the Bosnian medical evacuee programme in 1995, the Kosovo reception centre and a medical evacuee programme in 1999. Since the ‘90s, Refugee Action has been giving special
attention to issues affecting refugee women. This is because refugee community organisations tended to be male-orientated and more often than not, led by male community figures. Hence the Women’s Project and the annual Women’s Conference, which brings together women from refugee community groups, NGOs, local government and other agencies to discuss women’s needs and how best to meet them. In the first decade of this century, Refugee Action stood up to the challenges of an especially hostile public opinion as asylum seekers were increasingly demonised in sections of the media, after the ‘War on Terror’ and the beginning of the global financial crisis. “Suddenly it seemed barely a day went by without yet another headline screaming about the
‘scroungers’, ‘bogus asylum seekers’ and ‘illegal refugees’ teeming over our borders, taking our jobs, houses and benefits,” says the Refugee Action blog. “Asylum seekers were now dispersed away from London and into communities across the country, who felt they had little information about who they were and why they were there. It didn’t make a difference that asylum seekers had no choice about where they lived; the fact was they were arriving in towns and cities, and some people did not know why.” The term ‘asylum seeker’ quickly became one of abuse. Refugee Action says that “One of the problems was that asylum seekers and refugees did not have a human face or a voice. They were lumped together under a legal term. We placed their
© Refugee Action
Refugee Action turns 30
voices at the centre of our media strategies and ensured we spoke out to present the facts.” In 2005, Refugee Action set up the Refugee Awareness Project (RAP) in Nottingham, Liverpool and Bristol, in which British and
refugee volunteers visited statutory and community groups to speak with them about refugee issues and the asylum system and to tell their own stories. Happy anniversary Refugee Action. Keep up the good work!
10
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
COVER
Never think that anything is out of your reach Exclusive interview with Mayowa Anthea Adebiyi, plus-size model and founder of Youth Social Enterprise Enpower Plus-size model Mayowa Anthea Adebiyi is determined to challenge the society’s perception of beauty, in particular, to fight the portrayal of zero-size model as the gold standard of beauty. Mayowa, who is the Founder and Managing Director of the Social Enterprise called Enpower, campaigns to promote youth empowerment in the Creative and Performing Arts industries, while at the same time encouraging a healthy self-esteem in young people. In this exclusive interview with The AfroNews, Mayowa shares with us her experience as a plus-size model and why it is important for young people to have high level of self-esteem regardless of their body size. Mayowa, you are a model but people hardly refer to you simply as a model. They talk of a plus-size model. Why do you think this happens? Don’t you find it discriminatory? Not particularly. I mean for someone to
ask that would insinuate that there is something negative about being a larger model. In fact I never refer to myself as a model; I call myself plus-size, fuller-figured or curvy. I’ve never been one to blend in with the crowd or live up to society’s ideologies and I’ve always liked a challenge. Right now there’s not a lot of appreciation towards people of different shapes and sizes so if being labelled ‘plus-size’ will fuel a movement that will rectify this, then I’m pretty content with that.
dieting in primary school. It just isn’t right and something should be done to change this. It all comes down to education.
We hardly see plus-size models in ads. In fact ads are full of zero-size models. Do you think this affects in any way the self-esteem of young people?
Because they have been portrayed as the gold standard of beauty in the media and people will do anything to look beautiful.
Definitely, at a young age I used to believe that I couldn’t enjoy fashion because I wasn’t skinny. Unrealistic representation of female bodies in the media does not help the way young women look at themselves. In stores I already hear young girls in secondary school saying “thighs are too big” and I myself started
Why do you think the society is so obsessed with zerosize models?
Why did you choose to become a model? I wanted to be a model so I could challenge this perception of beauty. Essentially I wanted to be a gold standard for voluptuous women. In addition I was getting sick of all the “if you were skinny you could be a model” comments. I think it is very important not to feel alienated at a young age especially when your body is developing. Seeing artists like Beyoncé at a young age helped me to acknowledge that having my physique wasn’t abnormal. Were you tempted to try and become a zero-size model? If yes, how did you resist it? After once going on an intense and unhealthy regime in college where I dropped three stone over the course of four-six weeks, I
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
COVER
“Never think anything is unrealistic regardless of your background. Be prepared for hard work and keep pushing and pushing. If you think success then you will reap success, if you think failure then you will reap failure. I think mentality has a big part to play in how far we go in life. It may still not be an equal playing field but it only means that we are that little bit stronger because we have to work that little bit harder”
know my own capabilities and I’m very efficient. I never rely on anybody for my success and I always keep things moving. The only one in control of my life is me. What’s your message to the black community members, especially to the young people who quite often don’t think they can make it in life?
I would say never settle for less or think that anything is out of your reach. You need to be looking at key successful individuals in our society regardless of race and tell yourselves “if he/she can do it then so can I”. Never think anything is unrealistic regardless of your background. Be prepared for hard work and keep pushing and pushing. If you think success then you will reap success, if you think failure then you will reap failure. I think mentality has a big part to play in how far we go in life. It may still not be an equal playing field but it only means that we are that little bit stronger because we have to work that little bit harder. I live my life according to this quote: “I think, therefore I am” - René Descartes. It hasn’t failed me so far.
Ms. Mayowa Anthea Adebiyi, Model and Founder of Youth Social Enterprise Enpower realised that my skeletal structure would not allow for a natural size 12. So I was very realistic about the type of model I could be and I felt inclined in no way to try and change that. For how long have you been modelling? I would say it has been three years now in between other commitments. How does it feel to be a plus-size model? It feels great and I haven’t gone as far as I can go yet. I have some important developments lined up so keep on the look out! What do you like most about yourself? I love my high level of self-esteem. As a result I’m confident, not easily swayed by others’ attempts to bring me down, I
Any advice to those aspiring to become models? Carry out some research on different types of models, common agency/photographer scams and any other potential risks you need to avoid as you start out. This is very important as there are many illegitimate companies preying on young people with dreams of being a model. It is also important to take yourself and the profession seriously. Remember you are marketing yourself as a product and potential cli-
11
ents will judge you on the way you conduct yourself. What are the qualities of your ideal man? I would say a man who is mentally strong and secure. Spiritual and has the same outlook on life as I do or at least appreciates mine. He would be a best friend and add something positive to my life. I would be myself around him and he would love me as I am. I would be his ‘one’ and nothing less. You are the Founder and Managing Director of the Youth Social Enterprise Enpower. Please share with us something about it and what you do. Enpower is derived from the notion of “empowering the young”. We work to improve employment opportunities for young people in the creative and performance sector. To assist with this we will be providing recruitment and event management services for businesses in the industry looking to employ talent. We also engage in youth affairs which aim to improve youth self-esteem. The next few months will be very busy for us as we get the company registered as a non-profit organisation. By Stephen Ogongo Ongong’a
BASIC INFORMATION Full Name: Mayowa Anthea Adebiyi Place of birth: London Height: 5.’8.5 Bust: 36 DD Waist: 35 Hips: 45 Dress Size: 14 Shoe Size: 8 Eyes: Brown Hair Colour: Dark brown Qualification: BSc, MSc Country of parents’ origin: Nigeria Contacts Email: info@anthearose.com www.anthearose.com www.enpowerservice.co.uk
13
Discrimination and English law (the Equality Act 2010)
Are you a victim of discrimination? Here’s how to defend yourself Equality of treatment for all is a core value of the English legislature with various legislation enacted towards the end of the 20th century banning most types of discrimination. Equal pay between men and women became a legal right in 1970 followed by the Sex Discrimination Act in 1975, the Race Relations Act in 1976, and then the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Add to this three further pieces of primary legislation in the last decade covering employment equality rights, and the issue of discrimination is a well covered one. Last year saw hundreds of thousands of discrimination claims settled by tribunals (and many more outside of the tribunal process) with compensation awards averaging £18,584 for racial discrimination and £19,499 for sex discrimination (including against pregnant women). The largest awards given were £374,922 and £442,366 respectively, underlining the seriousness with which discrimination is treated, if proven. Whilst offering significant protection to the public, the myriad of laws and regulations was becoming unmanageable and also in order to fall further in line with European law, they were all replaced by a single Equality Act 2010, which came into force on 1st October 2010. The act covers nine protected characteristics, which cannot be used as a reason to treat people unfairly. Every person has one or more of the protected characteristics, so the act protects everyone against unfair treatment.
‘Protected characteristics’ 1. Age 2. Disability 3. Marriage or civil partnership 4. Pregnancy and maternity 5. Race 6. Religion or belief 7. Sex 8. Sexual orientation 9. Gender identity and gender re-assignment. The Act sets out seven different types of discrimination, that is different ways in which it is unlawful to treat someone, which are prohibited for all those ‘protected characteristics’ (there are some exceptions, mainly around marriage/civil partnership and pregnancy/ maternity).
Type of discrimination 1. Direct discrimination 2. Discrimination by association 3. Perception discrimination 4. Indirect discrimination 5. Harassment 6. Third party harassment 7. Victimisation
The ‘protected characteristics’ alone are simple enough to understand. The seven ‘types of discrimination’ however are a relatively new categorisation and therefore less well understood, not just in the workplace relationship between employers and employees, but in many interactions between businesses and the public. The act prohibits unfair treatment in the workplace, when providing goods, facilities and services, when exercising public functions, in the disposal and management of premises, in education and by associations (such as private clubs). Each type is briefly explained below - more information including the full text of the legislation can be found at: http://homeoffice.gov.uk/equalities/ equality-act/
1. Direct discrimination This is the most obvious type of discrimination – for example, Adriana is passed over for promotion because her manager finds out she is pregnant. On a related note but outside of the work context, mothers have a legal right to breastfeed in public (on premises) - they cannot be asked to go to a more private place. Another common example given is that of dyslexics who now cannot be reprimanded for spelling mistakes.
5. Harassment Employees can claim they find something offensive even when it’s not directed at them – for example, Mariusz is constantly exposed to derogatory comments about foreigners coming to the UK. Although the comments are never made to him personally, he is the only non-English worker in the office and therefore has grounds for a claim of harassment.
6. Third party harassment Under this measure, employers are liable for harassment of their employees by third clients, including customers, suppliers and consultants (people not directly employed by them but being paid to provide a service). At first reading, this seems a draconian measure and indeed the Chancellor George Osborne announced in the 2011 Budget that the government would be consul-
2. Discrimination by association Direct discrimination against someone because they are associated with another person with a protected characteristic – for example a solicitor who cared for her disabled son brought a claim against her former employers, claiming that she was criticised for taking time off and accused of using her son’s disability to her own advantage, which created a hostile working environment and ultimately resulted in her being disciplined.
Direct discrimination against someone because others think they have a protected characteristic (even if they don’t) – for example, Piotr is teased by his manager for being gay, even though he isn’t. Piotr would be within his rights to bring about a claim for perception discrimination.
ting on whether to remove this from the Equality Act amidst claims that it was ‘unworkable’. For now though it remains in force but the detail of the provision is as important as its headline statement – the employer only becomes liable to a claim by the harassed employee if the employer knows that the employee has been harassed by a third party in the course of their employment on at least two previous occasions (not necessarily by the same person). If following the previous two occasions the employer has still not taken reasonable precautions to prevent a third incident, then the employee has grounds for a claim of third party harassment.
4. Indirect discrimination
7. Victimisation
This covers rules or policies that apply to everyone but in doing so disadvantage a person with a protected characteristic. It is worth noting that pregnancy & maternity and marriage are not protected against indirect discrimination.
Discrimination against someone because they made or supported a complaint under the Equality Act 2010 – for example Jakub made a complaint about being discriminated against for being Polish. Although that claim was settled by the company out of court, he is now
3. Perception discrimination
being singled out by his shift manager who is careful to do it in a non-racist fashion. Jakub could now bring a claim for victimisation.
What to do if you’ve suffered discrimination If you think you’ve suffered race discrimination there are a number of things you may be able to do: • You can talk to the person or organisation that discriminated against you • You can follow your employer’s a grievance procedure or make a claim to an employment tribunal if it is an employment problem • You can publicise your case through the media • You can take legal action through the courts • You can send details of the problem to the Equality and Human Rights Commission if you believe the problem is widespread. When deciding what action to take about race discrimination, you will need to think about what you are trying to achieve. For example, do you want financial compensation, justice or publicity? You will also need to think about how quickly you need to get a result. Any course of action is likely to be complicated and may involve court action. You should consult an experienced adviser, for example, at your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau. If you qualify for legal aid, you may get free legal advice and assistance from a solicitor. This comes under Legal Help (advice and assistance scheme in Scotland). You might also be able to get help with the cost of taking a case to court under Legal Representation. By HAMILTON BRADY LTD, www.hamiltonbrady.co.uk Tel: 0844 873 6081 E-mail: info@hamiltonbrady.co.uk Address: Springfield House Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5BG Disclaimer: The above article is meant to be relied upon as an informative article and in no way constitutes legal advice. Information is offered for general information purposes only, based on the current law when the information was published in this newspaper. You should always seek advice from an appropriately qualified solicitor on any specific legal enquiry. For legal advice regarding your case, please contact Hamilton Brady for a Consultation with a Solicitor on 0844 873 608.
SPECIAL UK LEGAL GUIDE
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
THE GUIDE
14
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
AFRICAN NEWS
Libya’s NTC finally accepts to investigate Gaddafi’s death Wilful killing of a person in custody is a war crime
Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the head of the National Transitional Council (NTC) admitted that the decision was in response to international pressure. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights led the call for an independent and impartial investigation into the deaths of the former leader Gaddafi and his son Muatassim Gaddafi. The NTC and other sources reported the deaths of both men in Sirte on 20th October 2011. It is unclear whether the men died from wounds received in combat or were killed in custody. However, information obtained by Human Rights Watch, as well as videos and photographs apparently taken that day showing both men alive in the custody of anti-Gaddafi forces; indicate that they might have been executed after being detained. “There is ample evidence to open a credible investigation into the deaths of Gaddafi and his son Muatassim,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Finding out how they died matters. It will set the tone for whether the new Libya will be ruled by law or by summary violence.” The wilful killing of a person in custody is a serious violation of the laws of war and is a war crime that could be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court, Human Rights Watch said. The laws of war also oblige parties to a conflict to provide medical care to captured combatants. A failure by the NTC to investigate these deaths promptly and impartially, along with the many alleged war crimes by Gaddafi forces, would send a dangerous message that Libyans can take justice into their own hands, Human Rights Watch said. The earliest known video of Gaddafi in detention, reportedly taken moments after his capture, shows him alive but bleeding from the left side of the face. Anti-Gaddafi fighters are seen leading him away upright from the place in Sirte where he was captured. On the soundtrack are heard shouts of, “Don’t kill him! Don’t kill him! We
©UN
Bowing to international pressure, Libya’s interim government has confirmed that they’ll carry out an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
The late Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi need him alive!” Amateur video apparently taken later shows fighters putting Gaddafi on the hood of a vehicle, where he wipes blood from his face. Another video shows him getting pulled from the vehicle into an angry mob that appears to beat him. Human Rights Watch briefly viewed Muammar Gaddafi’s body on 21st October in a refrigerated meat locker in Misrata, while hundreds of residents lined up outside to see the corpse of the former leader. Those guarding the body did not allow a Human Rights Watch researcher to turn the body over or to conduct a close inspection. A bullet entry was visible on Gaddafi’s left temple. No exit wound was visible on the other side. Two gashes, each about one inch long, were visible on his central torso. Human Rights Watch could not determine the cause of his death. Video footage and photographs of Muatassim Gaddafi, previously Libya’s national security chief and commander of Gaddafi’s forces in central and eastern Libya, strongly suggest he was killed after being detained, Human Rights Watch said. In one brief video posted on Facebook, he is seen in apparent custody in bloodsoaked clothes smoking a cigarette in a room. No wounds are visible on his neck
or face. A photograph viewed by Human Rights Watch also shows him in that room drinking a bottle of water. Another video shows him lying alive in the same room, perhaps with a wound on his neck. Later images of his body clearly show a deep wound on the front of his neck. Human Rights Watch briefly viewed the front of Muatassim Gaddafi’s body on 20th October in Misrata and saw the substantial wound on his throat. It was unclear whether that wound caused his death. A commander from the Sahel al-Sharki Brigade from Misrata, which was directly involved in the fighting that resulted in Gaddafi’s capture in Sirte, told Human Rights Watch that on 20th October, the brigade was involved in a fierce firefight beginning at about 8:30 a.m., when a convoy of about 50 vehicles tried to speed out of Sirte to the west. Around 9:30 a.m., NATO warplanes hit the convoy, he said. The fighting continued for about another hour. Around 11 a.m., fighters from other brigades swept the area, where they found Muammar Gaddafi in a drain pipe under a road. He was wounded, but apparently not seriously, the commander told Human Rights Watch. The commander said that at that point the situation “got out of control.” Fighters were pulling and punching
Gaddafi, and they tried to drive a car with him on the hood. Gaddafi fell off at one point, sustaining further injuries. Gaddafi did not have any bullet wounds to the head at that time, the commander said. Human Rights Watch visited the location where Gaddafi was captured. About 95 bodies lay amid the wreckage of dozens of cars. Most of the people seemed to have been killed in the NATO airstrike or in the fighting between Gaddafi loyalists and NTC forces. About 30 bodies were carbonized because vehicles’ fuel tanks had exploded. At the scene, Human Rights Watch saw the bodies of six to ten Gaddafi fighters, including some with bandages. These fighters appear to have been executed. Their bodies were lying on the ground with bullet wounds to their heads and impact marks from the bullets in the ground. Leaders of the NTC have given varying accounts of Muammar Gaddafi’s death, including that he was killed “in crossfire” between pro-Gaddafi and NTC forces. None of the witnesses in Sirte interviewed by Human Rights Watch mentioned a gun battle after Gaddafi’s capture, however. Human Rights Watch repeated its concern that all pro-Gaddafi fighters captured in Sirte should not be mistreated. The exact number of captured fighters and their location remains unknown. “Fighters taken into custody should be sent immediately to recognized places of detention and treated humanely,” Whitson said. “Those on all sides implicated in serious crimes should be fairly prosecuted.” Two senior Gaddafi officials wanted by the International Criminal Court remain unaccounted for: Gaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam Gaddafi and Libya’s former intelligence chief Abdullah Sanussi. Both men, when captured, should be transferred to the International Criminal Court, Human Rights Watch said. Amnesty International said that if Gaddafi was deliberately killed in captivity it would constitute a war crime and those responsible should be brought to justice. Claudio Cordone, Senior Director at Amnesty International said: “Investigating whether or not his death was a war crime might be unpopular. However, the NTC must apply the same standards to all, affording justice even to those who categorically denied it to others.” A post mortem examination confirmed that Gaddafi died from a head shot.
Jonathan pledges $60m for polio eradication Nigeria’s President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said that the Federal Government will commit $60 Million Dollars over the next two years to eradicate polio from Nigeria. Speaking at a Global Polio Eradication
Initiative event at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia, on 29th October, President Jonathan said that $30 Million Dollars will be committed annually by the Federal Government to the polio eradication effort over the next two years.
He said that early this month he will inaugurate a Special Task Force headed by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mohammed Pate to oversee and coordinate a national campaign to totally eradicate polio from Nigeria within 24 months as he pledged during a recent meeting with
Mr. Bill Gates. “As a leader, I don’t want to see polio in our children, especially knowing fully well that it is a disease that we can completely eradicate and prevent. We will work with the global community to ensure its eradication,” President Jonathan said.
Need to send money.
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
£4.90
*
FROM
Find out more at: www.westernunion.co.uk
Peace of mind. Send money around the world and across the UK.
$JHQW ORFDWLRQ
ZHVWHUQXQLRQ FR XN
IURP Â…
16
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
CARIBBEAN NEWS
Tackle alarming levels of police abuse, Dominican Republic urged Amnesty International: 10% of all murders recorded in 2010 were committed by police ©Amnesty International
Statistics from the Office of the Prosecutor General, show that 10 per cent of all the murders recorded in 2010 were committed by the police. Several police officers were also killed. The vast majority of the fatal shootings were described by the police as “exchanges of gunfire” with criminal suspects. However, in many cases, forensic tests support the allegations that police officers deliberately shot to kill. A m n e s t y International’s report warns that police killings of young people could be taking place as a deterrent. “Police killings should not become the way to solve the problem of repeat offenders and warn young people against crime,” said Zúñiga. Amnesty International also found that while in police custody, criminal suspects have been threatened with death, beaten and denied food, water and essential medicines. Some have had plastic bags put over their heads and were hung from bars or nails by their handcuffs. At least two people last seen in police custody are feared to have been the victims of enforced disappearance. Only a fraction of cases reach
Amnesty International has urged authorities in the Dominican Republic to urgently reform their police force to tackle alarming levels of killings and torture. In a new report titled Shut up if you don’t want to be killed: Human Rights violations by the police in the Dominican Republic, Amnesty International documents scores of cases of killings, torture and ill-treatment at the hands of police, gathered during three research missions in the country and the lack of effective investigations. “Authorities must ensure those responsible for the killings
and torture face justice and that steps are taken to change the policies and practices that allow these abuses to take place,” said Javier Zúñiga, Head of Amnesty International’s delegation in the Dominican Republic. “The official view continues to be that human rights violations are committed by a few corrupt or unprofessional officers who are swiftly dealt with and held accountable but the reality paints a very different picture.” Between January and July 2011, 154 people were killed by the police in the Dominican Republic, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General -- in comparison to 125 over the same period in 2010.
the courts or are even investigated. An array of obstacles, such as lack of independence and resources and the failure to properly collect and preserve forensic evidence prevents most responsible from facing justice. “The system for investigations of police abuse in the Dominican Republic is disorganised and lack proper procedures to handle complaints of human rights violations by the police. Whether a police officer faces justice for a killing or torture depends largely on whether the victim or their family lodges an official complaint, the level of publicity a case attracts and the political pressure exerted on prosecutors,” said Zúñiga. “We acknowledge that police officers usually face serious dangers while
doing their jobs. However, we believe that their conduct is actually exacerbating the violence and creating a climate in which human rights are completely ignored.” As one young man told Amnesty International in October: “If you rob somebody and this person files a complaint, if the police identify you as the robber, they look for you and without letting you speak they shoot at you… I was there when the police caught a friend of mine. He was a robber. The police were looking for him. One day the police went to his house. He was hiding somewhere else. The police told him: ‘Come out, we are not going to kill you, we just wanted to question you’. When he came out, they shot him twice in the head.”
“The system for investigations of police abuse in the Dominican Republic is disorganised and lack proper procedures to handle complaints of human rights violations by the police. Whether a police officer faces justice for a killing or torture depends largely on whether the victim or their family lodges an official complaint, the level of publicity a case attracts and the political pressure exerted on prosecutors” Javier Zúñiga, Head of Amnesty International’s delegation in the Dominican Republic
Jamaica launches Aid for Trade Strategy Jamaica has launched its National Aid for Trade Strategy which is designed to enhance the country’s export capacity and improve competitiveness. The strategy, developed by the Government in partnership with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), articulates the country’s trade-related priorities, and is designed to attract and ensure focused access to investment and aid resources. It is an initiative of the World Trade Organization (WTO), aimed at assisting developing countries, particularly the least developed and most vulnerable, to build their trade capacity. At the launch held at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on 27th October, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Baugh, said data
shows that the benefits from trade liberalization for the Caribbean region has been limited. As such, he said, when the IDB offered to partner with Jamaica to provide more substantive information on the country’s trade capacity needs “we responded positively”, resulting in the formulation of the National Aid for Trade Strategy. He noted that formulating the strategy was a collaborative effort involving the Jamaica Trade Adjustment Team (JTAT), the membership of which includes representatives from the private and public sectors, civil society, the development partners and Cabinet, through a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on International Relations and Trade. “Support for this project has been at the highest level of Government,” he stated. Dr. Baugh said that the private sector has been fully supportive of the undertaking, noting that the strategy entails development to enable the private sector to take advantage of market access opportuni-
ties. He also welcomed the support from the IDB and the DFID. “They introduced the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTFund) from which Jamaica is benefitting. We were able to introduce our National Aid for Trade Strategy at the WTO Third Global Review for Aid for Trade held in Geneva (Switzerland) from July 18-19 and bilateral meetings were also held with several of our development partners. The CARICOM Secretariat was also able to speak to work being done at the regional level,” he said. Noting that implementation of the strategy “is now our challenge,” given the prevailing economic climate, Dr. Baugh stressed the need for collaboration by stakeholders at all levels, to find creative ways of strengthening the country’s trade regime, and to bring institutions, processes, and procedures up to international standard, citing food safety as a critical area.
“Cabinet has recently approved the National Food Safety Policy. The United States Food Safety Modernization Act makes its implementation even more urgent,’ he stated. The Minister also highlighted ensuing revision of the National Trade Policy, which, among other things, aims to ensure that trade is recognised and acknowledged as a national development priority that is integrated into the country’s National Development Plan – Vision 2030 Jamaica. Dr. Baugh said the administration is anticipating implementation of the National Aid for Trade Strategy soon. “I hope that at the Fourth WTO Global review of Aid for Trade, Jamaica will be in a position to report that implementation of the strategy has had successful outcomes,” he added. By Douglas Mcintosh, JIS Reporter
ENTERTAINMENT
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
17
Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Youssou N’Dour back INTERPOL to fight fake medicines Two Africa’s leading musicians, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Youssou N’Dour have launched a new song “Proud To Be” supporting INTERPOL’s global efforts against counterfeit medicines. Yvonne Chaka Chaka performed the song for the first time in public at a special event in Nairobi as part of INTERPOL’s ongoing campaign to raise public awareness worldwide, and particularly in Africa, of the health risks posed by fake medicines. With Africa especially affected by the trade in counterfeit medicines, keynote
Check out
the latest entertainment news on:
http://www.theafronews.eu/entertainment/blog
speakers at the event underlined how thousands of innocent people on the continent and beyond unknowingly put their lives at risk every day by taking medication that is fake or has been traded illegally. Kenya’s Minister of Industrialization, Amazon Kingi, said: “Kenya is fully committed to fighting fake medicines. This crime is a global health challenge and, as a major risk to the public, it requires a multi-sector approach.” Tanzania’s Minister of Home Affairs, Shamsi Vuai Nadodha, described the gathering as “an important initiative by INTERPOL to explore all methods in the fight against counterfeit medical products by raising awareness of this serious threat to public health.” Yvonne Chaka Chaka performing “Proud To Be” as part of INTERPOL’s The “Proud To Be” initiative was global initiative to highlight the dangers of fake medicines only made possible through the voluntary support of Roll Back Malaria Products Counterfeiting and Pharmaceutical included the Fondation Chirac, the Global goodwill ambassadors Yvonne Chaka Crime (MPCPC) unit, Aline Plancon, said: Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Chaka and Youssou N’Dour, both known “INTERPOL is seeing an alarming number Malaria, the International Institute Against for their commitment to humanitarian and of international cases involving the manu- Counterfeit Medicines, the Princess of development causes. facture, trade and distribution of counter- Africa Foundation, Synergies Africaines, “We must fight fake medication if we feit and illicit medicines.” and the World Health Professions want to achieve the health Millennium “We are working with our 188 member Alliance. Development Goals. I want this song to countries, partner organizations and across Additional information on INTERPOL’s educate and entertain people so they the public-private sectors to disrupt the campaign against fake medicines is availbecome wise to the problem of fake medi- criminal networks which are making huge able on www.interpol.int, where extracts cation. If we all work together we can win profits with careless disregard for people’s of the song can be viewed as well as on this war,” said Yvonne Chaka Chaka. health,” added the INTERPOL official. YouTube. The head of INTERPOL’s Medical Key partner organizations at the event
Zanzibar
Samba Mapangala releases new music video
Rumba maestro Samba Mapangala has released the second video from his latest album “Maisha Ni Matamu” (Life Is Sweet). Filmed in Zanzibar and Nairobi, the clip presents scenes of the island’s many charms-the mysterious alleys and bustling markets of Stone Town, the gor-
geous beaches and quaint dhows of the Indian Ocean, colourful people and sensuous dancerswhile paying tribute to the venerable Zanzibari icon Bi Kidude and the annual Sauti za Busara music festival. Alongside Samba’s sweet soaring voice, “Zanzibar” features a guest vocal by Awillo Mike of Kenya’s Ja-mnazi Afrika
band, and a sinuous Congolese guitar solo by Zaiko Langa Langa’s Beniko Popolipo. T h e “Zanzibar” video is viewable on YouTube along with the first clip released earlier this year for “Maisha Ni Matamu,” the propulsive soukous track which has become known for its “reality TV” encounter with the New York Police Dept., as well as its sizzling choreography. “Maisha Ni Matamu” LP contains remixes and instrumental versions of some of Samba’s most popular recent compositions: “Tafuta Kazi” and “Adija,” remixed and enhanced with new guitar and sax solos by Syran
Mbenza and Jimmy Mvondo biodiversity. They also have huge respectively. The instrumental potential value for the national tracks are perfect for reflection. economy, he says. Samba includes in this new The other great musicians feaLP the original “Les Gorilles des tured in “Maisha Ni Matamu” LP Montagnes” written for the World are John Bashengezi, Komba Wildlife Fund and the first-time Bellow Mafwala, Alfredo Mojica, exclusive release of instrumental Jonal Buya di Lutete, Wuta Mayi, arrangements of “Gorilles,” Dodo Munoko, Huit Kilos, Dante “Tafuta Kazi” and “Zanzibar.” Pascuzzo, Kiko Cornejo, Papo In “Les Gorilles des Rodriguez, James King, Bopol Montagnes”, Samba uses his Mansiamina, Bass Fiston and sweet voice and rhythmic beats Deba Sungu. of Rumba to rally the support of The “Maisha Ni Matamu” the local authorities and interna- audio CD is available digitally tional community in the preserva- and physically from CDBaby. tion of the endangered mountain com and amazon.com, and downgorillas of Virunga National Park. loadable from all music sites. The concerned SAMBA MAPANGALA’S LINKS Samba is appealing to AND CONTACTS the world to recognise the Samba’s Facebook fan page importance of (www.facebook.com/SambaMapangala) preserving www.reverbnation.com/sambamapangala these animals because of www.cdbaby.com/cd/mapangala7 their great CC Smith, Virunga Management, importance to Email: virungamgmt@gmail.com
18
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
COMMENTARY-OP-ED
The Palaver Hut
Substantiated rants of a reformed Liberian war-rebel The Nobel Committee’s decision to award Noble Peace Prize to President This year the Nobel Committee Sirleaf can be seen not only as a celebradecided to award the Noble Peace tion of women’s growing empowerment Prize to three women, including globally, but also as a way of congratulatLiberian President Ellen Johnson ing her for promoting peace in Liberia. “Woooo hooo!” was the reaction of Sirleaf. South Africa’s Desmond Tutu upon hearIt’s usually good to keep your nose out ing President Sirleaf had won a Noble of things you don’t know. That should be Peace Prize. She “deserves it many times valid also to the international community. over. She’s brought stability to a place that To poke your nose into things is to open a was going to hell,” Archbishop Tutu can of worms and expose your ignorance. added. The only possible response to meddling is Archbishop Tutu didn’t put a foot one of great hostility. But like all victims wrong on that one. He was absolutely of violence, I can’t help getting involved. right. For those who don’t know who Ms. Like any other corrupt system of goverEllen Johnson Sirleaf is, she’s 72 years old, nance, Liberia rouses my interest because and made history when she became Africa’s that’s where I come from. first elected woman president in 2005, taking over SEND US YOUR LETTERS after 14 years of civil war that left 250,000 Liberians We welcome letters on topical issues, your experidead. ences, and or any article you have read in the She dedicated her AfroNews. Letters, not exceeding 600 words, must Nobel Peace Prize to all include your full name (not necessarily for publicaLiberian people includtion), address and telephone numbers for verificaing me, because she knew without us, she wouldn’t tion. Letters may be edited for publication. have got it. She made us start killing one another, E-mail: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
and we did. She made us stop, and we stopped. And now she has been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for keeping the peace going. It’s as simple as that! I agree with Winston Tubman, the former Liberian Presidential Candidate when he said and I quote: “Madam Sirleaf does not deserve a Nobel Peace Prize award because she committed violence in this country (Liberia). This award is unacceptable and undeserving…” And I also agree with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said the prize was a “wise decision…” We all know it was a “wise decision” because the powerful people in Liberia are well-known for breaking the law of the land with impunity. Once famous for holding the entire country to ransom for their unscrupulous power-struggles, they destroyed lives in the process but will never be held accountable for their actions. Ordinary Liberian people are easily intimidated and powerless against our orchestrated bureaucracy-in-disguise form of government in the country. That’s the way things work in that part of Africa. That’s the system. I know it and the International Community also knows it,
even though they try their best to keep out of it. But the angry faces of the victims of violence just keep staring at every one of them (perpetrators of violence) in the face. The UN Chief Ban Ki-moon hailed the decision to award President Sirleaf the Noble Peace Prize. “This is wonderful news,” he said, adding that “This is a testament to the power of women’s leadership ... (and) the vital role that women play in the advancement of peace and security, development, and human rights.” I agree with Mr. Ban for hailing President Sirleaf’s efforts to promote peace, but I disagree with the development bit because corruption is widespread in her government. There is also a question mark about her government’s human rights records. Come on Mr. Ban, you and I know this woman is proving immune to a War Crimes Court. To prosecute President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for her role in the Liberian war is to open a can of worms beneath the so-called Noble Peace Prize awarded to her.
RECIPE
Macaroni Béchamel
By Joseph Spencer
Macaroni Béchamel is a baked pasta dish including ground beef and Béchamel sauce in its bestknown form. It is typically made with penne pasta, a layer of cooked spiced meat with onions, and Béchamel or Mornay sauce.
Ingredients • 1 packet of macaroni (500 grams) cooked and drained
Filling • 1½ pounds of ground meat • one large onion, chopped • 2 cloves of garlic • 1 8-ounce can of tomato sauce (or tomato paste) • 3 tablespoons chopped parsley • 1 teaspoon dried oregano • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon • a pinch of cayenne pepper
Béchamel Sauce • 3 cups of prepared milk • 5 tablespoons butter • 5 tablespoons flour • 1 Chicken bouillon cube • black pepper, to taste
Directions 1. In a large skillet cook the meat, onion and garlic until the meat is brown and the onion is
tender. Drain fat. Stir in the tomato sauce, parsley, oregano, salt, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and 1/3 cup of water. Bring to boiling, then reduce heat. Simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside. 2. For Béchamel Sauce, in a medium saucepan melt the margarine. Stir in the Chicken bouillon cube, black pepper, and flour. Add the prepared milk all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir one minute more. 3. Set aside 1/3 of the sauce. Mix the rest of the sauce with the cooked macaroni. Spread half of the macaroni mixture into a 9” x 13” baking pan. Spread the meat mixture over it evenly. Spread the rest of the macaroni mixture over the meat. Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle with a little additional ground cinnamon. 4. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven. Let sit for five minutes. Then serve. By Recipe Safari, http://recipesafari.blogspot. com/
No. 24. 1st - 7th November 2011 www.theafronews.eu
LIFESTYLE & RELIGION
19
Pope: Welcome migrants, protect asylum seekers “The press and the other media have an important role in making known, correctly, objectively and honestly, the situation of those who have been forced to leave their homeland and their loved ones and want to start building a new life” Pope Benedict XVI tries with an ancient Christian tradition. It is necessary to find adequate ways for them to meet and to become acquainted with Jesus Christ and to experience the invaluable gift of salvation,” the Pope said. The Pope stressed the need to protect asylum seekers who are fleeing from per-
secution, violence, and situations that put their life at risk. Asylum seekers, the Pope said, need understanding and hospitality, calling for respect of their human dignity and rights. They should also be made aware of their duties, he said. The Pope urged States to adopt wel-
New policies to improve sperm and egg donation services approved The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has approved new policies aimed at improving sperm and egg donation services. This follows an extensive public consultation, “Donating sperm and eggs: have your say”, which ran from January to April 2011. The Authority has agreed to take a proactive approach to donor recruitment, retention and care by working with the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) sector, professional bodies and voluntary organisations to raise awareness, improve the care of donors and ensure that donation continues to take place within a safe and ethical environment. The Authority has agreed to change the compensation that
donors can receive. Moving away from the current system of out of pocket expenses and a loss of earnings allowance capped at £250, clinics will in the future be able to offer donors compensation which better reflects their expenses. The new scheme will include a fixed sum of £35 per visit including expenses for sperm
donors, and a fixed sum of £750 per cycle of donation including expenses. Professor Lisa Jardine, Chair of the HFEA, said: “In looking at donation we have focused on what it means to people - to those born of assisted reproduction, to donors, to patients wanting desperately to have a baby and to the public in general. We are convinced that it is “In looking at donation we right to look at have focused on what it means compensation not in terms of crude to people - to those born of sums but in terms assisted reproduction, to of the value of donors, to patients wanting donation.” Professor desperately to have a baby and Jardine said they to the public in general. We have set a level of are convinced that it is right to c o m p e n s a t i o n look at compensation not in which will not deter those interterms of crude sums but in ested in donation terms of the value of donabut will retain donors already in tion” the system, without attracting those who are Professor Lisa Jardine, merely financially Chair of the HFEA motivated.
coming policies, overcome fears and avoid forms of discrimination. He also asked them to make provisions for concrete solidarity through appropriate structures for hospitality and resettlement programmes. “All this entails mutual help between the suffering regions and those which, already for years, have accepted a large number of fleeing people, as well as a greater sharing of responsibilities among States,” the Pope said. He appealed to the media to “correctly, objectively and honestly” highlight the situation of those who have been forced to leave their homeland and their loved ones and want to start building a new life. Observing that international students often face problems of integration, bureaucratic difficulties, hardship in the search for housing and welcoming structures, the Pope urged Christian communities to be sensitive to their needs. He asked Christian Universities “to promote intercultural dialogue and enhance the contribution that international students can give.”
PHA: How to reduce flu in workplace The Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all employers to take simple steps to reduce flu in the workplace, leading to less sick days and a more productive workforce. Although flu can be mild for many, people who are in at-risk groups are particularly susceptible to the seriousness of flu. There are many actions employers can take to prevent flu viruses at work, the first of which is making adequate arrangements to allow employees who are in at-risk groups to get their flu vaccine early and give a reasonable amount of flexibility to accommodate employees getting out of work to visit their GP. Dr. Richard Smithson, Consultant in Health Protection, PHA, said: “Employers have a key role in protecting employees’ health. Encouraging at-risk employees to get their flu vaccine early is vital. Ensuring good hand hygiene and asking employees to stay at home when they are sick will help ensure that the workplace will remain healthy for everyone.”
By Stephen Ogongo Ongong’a
©PHA
In his message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2012, the Pope said that migration in search of better living conditions or to flee from the threat of persecution, war, violence, hunger or natural disasters, has led to an unprecedented mingling of peoples. The World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be celebrated on 15th January 2012. “The phenomenon of migration today is also a providential opportunity for the proclamation of the Gospel in the contemporary world. Men and women from various regions of the earth who have not yet encountered Jesus Christ or know Him only partially, ask to be received in coun-
©Broc
Pope Benedict XVI has asked Christians to offer migrant workers and their families special care “by accompanying them with prayer, solidarity and Christian charity.”
Readily spread when people are indoors, flu viruses are often passed along from person to person and surface to surface in the workplace. Employers can help reduce the spread of all viruses by encouraging good personal hygiene: washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from the hands to the face or to others; covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and using a tissue when possible; disposing of used tissues quickly and carefully and washing hands immediately; cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using your usual cleaning product. Dr. Smithson added: “Adequate supplies of liquid soap, hot and cold water, and paper towels (or, in the absence of paper towels, hot air dryers) should be available. Hand sanitisers may be useful in some circumstances (e.g. when staff travel away from base) but good hand washing facilities, with soap and water, are preferable where they can be provided.”
Need to send money.
WESTERN UNION MONEY TRANSFER
ÂŁ4.90
*
FROM
Find out more at: www.westernunion.co.uk
Peace of mind.
Send money around the world and across the UK.
Agent location
westernunion.co.uk
0800 833 833 (from ÂŁ6.90*)
* Western Union also makes money from currency exchange. Subject to terms and conditions of service. The WESTERN UNION name, logo and related trademarks and service marks, owned by Western Union Holdings, Inc., are registered and/or used in the U.S. and many foreign countries and are used with permission.