May 09 Racial Justice Update
A selective digest of news, events and other relevant information from Scotland.
Welcome to May Racial Justice Update
From this month’s Update
A farewell to Dr.Nelu Balaj and introduction to John Wylie
Information about Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance (Gara)
Churches and the BNP
Asylum News
A farewell to Nelu
In saying its farewell to Dr.Nelu Balaj, until recently the Racial Justice Officer supported by Scottish Churches and based within ACTS, the Scottish Churches Racial Justice Group is keenly aware of the immense contribution Nelu made to the work of analysing, reporting and informing on matters of Racial Justice in the Scottish context. Not least in this respect the work he put into preparing and distributing the monthly digest “Racial Justice Update”. The digest goes out to a considerable readership and for this reason the Churches Racial Justice Group was anxious that
in the time between Nelu’s departure and a new appointment, the Update should continue to be produced, if possible on its monthly basis. To this end John Wylie, the representative of the United Reformed Church, Synod of Scotland (URC), agreed to undertake this task.
At a meeting on 30th.April in Glasgow, the members of the Scottish Churches Racial Justice Group took the opportunity to say farewell to Nelu, thanking him for his sterling work and wishing him well for the future. Nelu promises to keep in touch.
Introduction to John Wylie
As indicated above, John represents the URC on the Scottish Churches Racial Justice Group. John is the Racial Justice Advocate for the URC’s Synod of Scotland. John retired from Christian Aid Scotland in 2005 after 25 years service with the charity.
Interim Editor’s comment
Nelu worked hard on the compilation and distribution of the “Racial Justice Update” and the April edition, for example, ran to some 40+ pages! It is not the intention under the present interim-editor to produce anything of this length. It is hoped that a shorter update will suffice until a new Racial Justice Officer is in post, later this year. The main thing is to keep in touch with the readership built up by Nelu over his years in the job.
Distribution of the update will be handled by Tom Moyes, one of the ACTS Network Officers. Any comments or contributions can be sent directly to Tom at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance
GARA aims to tackle racism in the city of Glasgow and works to ensure that BME people enjoy equal opportunities in getting access to jobs, education, health, housing and public services. This is done by bringing together a range of statutory and voluntary agencies as well as young black people to tackle the social exclusion of BME people caused by racism in the city of Glasgow. Visit www.gara.co.uk
The State of the Nation
This is to remind readers of the major report produced by Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance (GARA) at the end of 2008. The report summarises the various information that is available on issues relating to race and racism in Scotland. It is divided into a number of sections and is an attempt to point to major, overreaching trends, and highlight the difficulties and inequalities that Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people still face in various areas of life. Visit www.gara.co.uk
Can Media Interventions Reduce Racial Prejudice?
On Tuesday 23rd.June 2009 from 10am-4pm. at Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor, 1-9 Grosvenor Terrace, Glasgow, Stephen Mullen, the co-ordinator of the project for GARA, will be speaking about his findings on the study “Can Media Interventions Reduce racial Prejudice?”. Dr.Michael Sutton, who authored the report “Getting the message across”: using media to reduce racial prejudice and discrimination will also be speaking. www.gara.co.uk for further information.
Black History Month 2009
The planning for this is in hand. To participate in the planning for this year’s events, please contact the GARA office on 0141 418 6530
Equality Bill
The government has launched the Equality Bill which it is hoped will make Britain stronger, fairer and more equal. According to the Government Equalities Office Report “A Fairer Future” the Equalities Bill and other action aims to make equality a reality.
Included in the background information is the fact that people from an ethnic minority background are 13% less likely to find work. There is also information about the disparities in earnings on the basis of gender and the difficulties faced by disabled people.
The report indicates that if nothing is done “it will take up to 100 years for people from ethnic minorities to get the same job prospects as white people.
The Bill was launched back in April and is due to come into force in the autumn of 2010. http://www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_bill/introduction.aspx
Churches dismiss BNP’s Election Posters
Three British Churches have reminded people of the true Christian message of love for all people following the inclusion of Jesus in a BNP election campaign. The Baptist Union of Great Britain, The Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church support inclusive policies and promote diversity.
A spokesperson said, “It is ironic that the BNP is using the world’s most famous Jew to promote its racist message. Our traditions have a history of promoting racial Justice and inclusion and rejecting messages of hate and fear”.
www.jointpublicissues.org.uk
African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA) Suspends Operations
The ACEA has suspended its operations after 25 years of serving Britain’s black church community, due to a shortage of funds compounded by the recession.
ACEA was founded in 1984 to unite Britain’s black Christian community and serve as a bridge between the black and white Christian communities. Over the years it found itself representing the interests of Britain’s black churches both nationally and internationally. The worry now is that if things do not improve and ACEA cannot resume operating, what, if any , organisation will take its place?
This and the above item are reported in “Keeping the Faith – reaching the heart of the Black Community”. www.keepthefaith.co.uk
Scotland’s New Official Ethnicity Classification (One Scotland: No Place for Racism)
The new ethnicity classification is used for Scottish official statistics and recommended for Scotland’s 2011 Census.
In 2002 the then Communities Minister promised to review the way that Scottish surveys classify ethnicity, to ensure that they reflect modern circumstances, meet users’ information needs and have broad community support.
This followed recommendations by the Race Ethnicity Advisory Forum (REAF) in 2001 and some community concerns about the classification used in Scotland’s 20001 Census, in particular the different use of colour and geography across ethnic group categories. For more information an detail see: www.scotland.gov.uk/newethnicityclassification
Holyrood Magazine’s Second Annual Conference on Terrorism
Entitled “Community Cohesion and Contingency Planning” the conference takes place on Monday 8th.June at the Roxburghe Hotel. The organisers are keen to have a strong representation from faith groups. One of the four sessions is entitled “Engaging with communities” and will focus on the role of communities in reducing violent extremism and promoting cohesion across Scotland.
For booking go to: www.holyrood.com/extremism
Vulnerable Migrant Workers
The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR) have produced a new research report, “Vulnerable Migrant Workers: The Responsibility of Business”. It was published on May 28th. It provides an overview of issues affecting migrant workers employed in the UK and Ireland, along with comparative analysis of policy and practice relating to migrant workers of nine major food production, food manufacture and food retail companies.
www.eccr.org.uk
Asylum News
Asylum seekers are rarely out of the news but a couple of stories in recent days have aroused anger and disappointment in Scotland.
Four Year Old Latest Victim of Broken Vows.
Four year old Aruna Gaye “has the unpleasant distinction” to be the 21st. child this year to disgrace the Westminster Government by being taken into custody during a “dawn raid” and sent to Dungavel detention Centre. This despite promises by the Home Office to end the practice of incarcerating families and their children in Scotland. (Sunday Herald 17:05:09)
Asylum Girl Sent South
Widespread anger has followed after a girl seeking asylum was detained in Dungavel and then moved to Yarls Wood in England prior to deportation, thus avoiding a judicial review of her case in Scotland. As in the case above (4 year old child), this is a breach of the Westminster Government’s promise to end detention of children at Dungavel. It is also a failure to respect due legal process in Scotland. The girl at the centre of this case is Rima Andmariam who was due to be deported on 21:05:09. (The Herald 20:05:09)
Failed Asylum Families Offered Flats
On a better note the Herald reports that 20 or so failed asylum seekers with dependent children will be offered support which circumvents the possibility of detention in Dungavel. The scheme is due to begin in June 09. That being said there is no guarantee that the U.K. Border Agency will not continue its use of “enforced returns” including dawn raids. (The Herald 13:05:09)
