My blog today was initially going to be about the public figure I feel has been most influential 2008. As the new year is getting closer, I thought it would be an appropriate piece to write.
I was unable to avoid one of the world headlines on BBC News Online; the news that the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda had hacked to death 45 civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Boxing Day.
I feel that this is a much more important issue for me to blog about, although I am unable to do anything to change this horrendous situation.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is up there with a few other countries, who in 2008, have had to deal with the horrific situation of war and instability.
The BBC reports that the LRA entered a Catholic church in the Congo and cut women and children to pieces with machetes.
The Ugandan Army have accused the rebel group for this incident and the United Nations have confirmed that at least 189 people have been killed in the Congo during the last week.
Whilst we were celebrating Christmas, the people of Congo were hoping that the LRA would leave them in peace.
A witness told the AP news agency that he recognized the Lords Resistance Army as they had their hair dread locked, spoke in Ancholi language and that there were a large number of young boys involved.
The issue of child soldiers is yet another serious problem in Northern Uganda and is a weapon that the LRA are not afraid of using.
With 2009 only a few days away, I hope that the world will open it's eyes to the horrific situation of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
That governments will finally realise that an immediate response needs to take place and that by sitting and not offering any support, we are allowing what will become a genocide to take place.
If you want to donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee who are currently working tirelessly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then log on to http://www.dec.org.uk/
Monday, 29 December 2008
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Christmas in Uganda
Could an African Christmas be that different to a British Christmas?
This is what ran through my mind when I met a 23-year-old graduate from Kampala this weekend.
Becky is volunteering in Guildford for a year with Careforce, a charity that places Christian volunteers from across the world in parts of the UK.
My grandparents are involved with the church where she is based and so she came for a Christmas dinner and to meet the family.
Having only visited one African country in my lifetime and that being Uganda, it was exciting for me to have the opportunity to meet another lovely Ugandan.
I'm not sure why it is, but Ugandans are such relaxed and humorous people.
Eventually she was asked how she was finding Christmas here in comparison to back at home. It was interesting how in some ways it is so similar, yet in others so different.
As I had imagined, not all families in Uganda have a Christmas tree; the majority in fact don't have one.
Becky's' father is a professor at Makerere University and her family live on the campus, therefore they have a tree every year.
The shops in Kampala apparently are not half as manic as here during the Christmas period, with advertising for the festivity only starting a week or two in advance.
As this was her first Christmas away from home, she couldn't believe the amount of build up that could be seen in shopping centres across England.
Interestingly, Becky knew all the same carols that we sing each year in Britain. As Uganda has so many different languages, people in Kampala tend to sing carols in English so that everyone there can understand.
I hadn't imagined carol singing to be such a tradition in Uganda, although she said that children will walk across Kampala to sing carols for people at their homes.
British culture has become ridiculous in regards to giving presents at Christmas. It is no longer the thought that counts, it is the amount of money spent that counts.
Although in Uganda gifts are given, these are very small as many people cannot afford to spend this amount of money on unwanted gifts.
The one thing that does really have similarity between a Ugandan Christmas and a Welsh one is the importance of food.
Some families in Uganda can only afford to eat meat once a week, once a month or some not as often as that.
Becky stressed that Christmas in the one time of the year when families will save up and prepare to buy meat for the big day.
Like my own family, they have all the meat and vegetables that many people across the world eat on Christmas day as part of this tradition.
It's funny how two peoples lives can be so different yet in other ways, so similar.
My little sister asked Becky what movies they watch in Uganda. She said that she liked Love Actually, The Holiday and that she loved Crocodile Dundee.
To our surprise, it was on TV in five minutes and so we spent the rest of the evening laughing hysterically at Crocodile Dundee 3!
We might live on different continents, eat completely different foods and speak different languages, but our love for such a silly film like Crocodile Dundee proved that we might not be that different at all.
This is what ran through my mind when I met a 23-year-old graduate from Kampala this weekend.
Becky is volunteering in Guildford for a year with Careforce, a charity that places Christian volunteers from across the world in parts of the UK.
My grandparents are involved with the church where she is based and so she came for a Christmas dinner and to meet the family.
Having only visited one African country in my lifetime and that being Uganda, it was exciting for me to have the opportunity to meet another lovely Ugandan.
I'm not sure why it is, but Ugandans are such relaxed and humorous people.
Eventually she was asked how she was finding Christmas here in comparison to back at home. It was interesting how in some ways it is so similar, yet in others so different.
As I had imagined, not all families in Uganda have a Christmas tree; the majority in fact don't have one.
Becky's' father is a professor at Makerere University and her family live on the campus, therefore they have a tree every year.
The shops in Kampala apparently are not half as manic as here during the Christmas period, with advertising for the festivity only starting a week or two in advance.
As this was her first Christmas away from home, she couldn't believe the amount of build up that could be seen in shopping centres across England.
Interestingly, Becky knew all the same carols that we sing each year in Britain. As Uganda has so many different languages, people in Kampala tend to sing carols in English so that everyone there can understand.
I hadn't imagined carol singing to be such a tradition in Uganda, although she said that children will walk across Kampala to sing carols for people at their homes.
British culture has become ridiculous in regards to giving presents at Christmas. It is no longer the thought that counts, it is the amount of money spent that counts.
Although in Uganda gifts are given, these are very small as many people cannot afford to spend this amount of money on unwanted gifts.
The one thing that does really have similarity between a Ugandan Christmas and a Welsh one is the importance of food.
Some families in Uganda can only afford to eat meat once a week, once a month or some not as often as that.
Becky stressed that Christmas in the one time of the year when families will save up and prepare to buy meat for the big day.
Like my own family, they have all the meat and vegetables that many people across the world eat on Christmas day as part of this tradition.
It's funny how two peoples lives can be so different yet in other ways, so similar.
My little sister asked Becky what movies they watch in Uganda. She said that she liked Love Actually, The Holiday and that she loved Crocodile Dundee.
To our surprise, it was on TV in five minutes and so we spent the rest of the evening laughing hysterically at Crocodile Dundee 3!
We might live on different continents, eat completely different foods and speak different languages, but our love for such a silly film like Crocodile Dundee proved that we might not be that different at all.
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Obama announces Guantanamo closure
Barack Obama has announced that he plans to close Guantanamo bay within two years of his presidency, and put an end to the use of torture.
After becoming Time magazines Person Of The Year, he told them that he wants to come to a balance between the "US security needs and the Constitution."
His views on Guantanamo have caused some criticism, particularly from the Bush administration who feel that methods of torture are justifiable when necessary.
Vice-president Dick Chaney is in favour of using water-boarding as a technique, even though Amnesty International have brought up serious issues of concern over the prison.
If Bush and his team were to stay in office, they would keep Guantanamo open until the war on terror is over.
Barack Obama has seen that this prison is a serious breach of human rights and that it is unsuccessful in tackling terrorism.
He will offer new ways in which to deal with the issue.
Although Mr Obama has yet become President of the United States, I am already anxious for him to start his first term in office.
I remain convinced that he will bring the change to America that is so desperately needed at this moment.
After becoming Time magazines Person Of The Year, he told them that he wants to come to a balance between the "US security needs and the Constitution."
His views on Guantanamo have caused some criticism, particularly from the Bush administration who feel that methods of torture are justifiable when necessary.
Vice-president Dick Chaney is in favour of using water-boarding as a technique, even though Amnesty International have brought up serious issues of concern over the prison.
If Bush and his team were to stay in office, they would keep Guantanamo open until the war on terror is over.
Barack Obama has seen that this prison is a serious breach of human rights and that it is unsuccessful in tackling terrorism.
He will offer new ways in which to deal with the issue.
Although Mr Obama has yet become President of the United States, I am already anxious for him to start his first term in office.
I remain convinced that he will bring the change to America that is so desperately needed at this moment.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Time Magazine's Person of the Year
I have not blogged about Mr Obama for a few weeks now, mainly due to the fact that I felt that there wasn't much more to say until after the New Year when he will be become 44th president of the United States.
This will be a hugely exiting moment in history for the American people.
But today, Obama was voted by Time magazine as the Person of the Year.
The US magazine has praised Obama "for having the confidence to sketch an ambitious future in a gloomy hour".
Time has selected a Person of the Year since 1927. Although they choose from a man, woman or a group of people, they have said that Obama was inevitably going to be the favourite this year.
Obama's success has genuinely been visible in London. For me, he has given hope to black men that they can achieve anything that they want.
He will be by January 2009 one of the most powerful men in the world, proving to us all that anything is possible.
This will be a hugely exiting moment in history for the American people.
But today, Obama was voted by Time magazine as the Person of the Year.
The US magazine has praised Obama "for having the confidence to sketch an ambitious future in a gloomy hour".
Time has selected a Person of the Year since 1927. Although they choose from a man, woman or a group of people, they have said that Obama was inevitably going to be the favourite this year.
Obama's success has genuinely been visible in London. For me, he has given hope to black men that they can achieve anything that they want.
He will be by January 2009 one of the most powerful men in the world, proving to us all that anything is possible.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Fundraise for WaterAid
There are a number of ways in which you can support WaterAid.
Whether you are interested in taking part in a fundraising event, becoming a local volunteer speaker or creating your own WaterAid group, it's easy.
As I have been volunteering for WaterAid once a week for the last few months, I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the great work WaterAid does.
Working with communities across 17 countries, it stresses the importance of giving local people the skills and resources needed rather than sending people from here to do the job for them.
This means that in the long run, these projects are sustainable and the people can keep them going.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer speaker, then you can contact WaterAid via the website wateraid.org.uk.
WaterAid works with a variety of community groups who are extremely supportive. Groups range from youth groups, churches and rotary clubs.
There are a number of fun ways in which groups can get together and raise funds for WaterAid but at the same time, doing something they enjoy.
WaterAid also have many events throughout the year including Sing for Water. If you are part of a choir or singing group, you can join this campaign which takes place once a year at the Thames Festival in London.
So there are many easy and fun ways to raise money for WaterAid which you can do with friends, family or members of your community.
Take a look at wateraid.org.uk for plenty more information.
Image: WaterAid/ Papa Diouf
Whether you are interested in taking part in a fundraising event, becoming a local volunteer speaker or creating your own WaterAid group, it's easy.
As I have been volunteering for WaterAid once a week for the last few months, I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the great work WaterAid does.
Working with communities across 17 countries, it stresses the importance of giving local people the skills and resources needed rather than sending people from here to do the job for them.
This means that in the long run, these projects are sustainable and the people can keep them going.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer speaker, then you can contact WaterAid via the website wateraid.org.uk.
WaterAid works with a variety of community groups who are extremely supportive. Groups range from youth groups, churches and rotary clubs.
There are a number of fun ways in which groups can get together and raise funds for WaterAid but at the same time, doing something they enjoy.
WaterAid also have many events throughout the year including Sing for Water. If you are part of a choir or singing group, you can join this campaign which takes place once a year at the Thames Festival in London.
So there are many easy and fun ways to raise money for WaterAid which you can do with friends, family or members of your community.
Take a look at wateraid.org.uk for plenty more information.
Image: WaterAid/ Papa Diouf
Euan Denholm - Photojournalist
Euan Denholm, a freelance photojournalist who lives both in London and in Kampala, Uganda, is someone to really look out for.
Images: Euan Denholm
He has already been recognised by Reuters and the UN for his amazing work and has written articles about the return of the Bor Dinka, the Congo and fishing on Lake Victoria.
Having been on a safari on Lake Victoria, I can see why he loves to spend his time there.
The first image below was taken at Gulu General Hospital, where babies were being weighed.
The second is of a lady called Monica Atto, a former rebel in Gulu. It has been estimated that the Lords Resistance Army have abducted around 20,000 children to become child soldiers.
His photographs really tell a story, particularly those taken in Northern Uganda, where the people have been left to deal with the consequences of a horrific war by themselves.
If you are interested in taking a look at more of his work go to euandenholm.net.
Images: Euan Denholm
Monday, 15 December 2008
Anti-Fur Week, London
Image: Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade
Opera singer Katherine Jenkins is to open the Harrods Sale this Saturday.
She will be given a tour of Knightsbridge in a horse-drawn carriage and will then be responsible for cutting the ribbon, at 9am.
Every year Harrods chairman Mohamed Al Fayed asks a celebrity guest to open the sale and the likes of Victoria Beckham and Eva Longoria have been among those invited in the past.
The Harrods Sale received more media coverage than usual as singer Leona Lewis turned down the £1 million to open the sale as she opposes the stores selling of fur products.
The Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade are holding an Anti-Fur Week, with protests across London every day to draw attention to their cause.
I was personally surprised that the Welsh singer had agreed to open the Harrods Sale, although she has said that she does not support the fur trade.
I was contacted by the action group who suggest that those who disagree with Harrods selling fur products should contact Jenkins' agency.
I decided to do so to see what they have to say about Saturdays big event. Tara Joseph from her agency sent me this reply:-
Dear Ffion
Thank you for the email.
Katherine does not support the fur trade. She is simply opening a sale.
Best
Tara
Harrods is by now the only department store in the UK to sell fur.
Katherine Jenkins will be £1 million richer for being the face of the Harrods Sale 2008 but last year she was listed in the Western Mail as earning £6 million, so she is definitely not short of cash.
It is a shame that she did not turn down the offer by making a stand against a store that is refusing to end a trade that is ethically wrong.
Grazia have a great article surrounding fur in the fashion industry. You can have a look at it on the link below:-
http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/talkingpoints/archive/2008/12/16/is-it-ever-ok-to-wear-fur.htm
Sunday, 7 December 2008
Rape Epidemic in the Congo
The New York Times reported the rape epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 7th 2007, urging the world to listen to women who had been subject to rape and mutilation.
A year on and the same stories are surfacing. Why then is this not enough of a crisis for it to be news every day?
Occasionally a feature is written, interviewing women who have been victim. We read the story, feel sad for a few minutes and then we get on with our daily lives.
More than 250,000 people have been displaced by the fighting.
Surely the fact that the International Red Cross have declared this as a humanitarian catastrophe should be enough. If I were editor, appeals would be scattered over the paper so that people knew that they could do something to help, even if only with a small donation.
News is people
From the first day of our journalism course, we were taught that news is people. If that is the case, surely this should be news every day - Médecins Sans Frontières estimated that 75% of all the rape cases it deals with worldwide are in eastern Congo.
Congolese human rights groups have claimed that 7 out of 10 women in the large towns have been raped.
How not every woman in the world can feel disgusted by this situation is beyond me.
Some Congolese women have been sold into sexual slavery, others left HIV positive and pregnant.
Weapon for revenge
Rape has been used in the Congo for years as a weapon of war and as a means of ethnic cleansing. Doctors there are dealing with women each day who are victim of rape and torture.
The New York Times last year gave an account of gynecologist Denis Mukwege's daily life.
He said that each day, 10 new women and girls come to his hospital having been raped. Many of them have been butchered so badly by chunks of wood and bayonets, that "their reproductive and digestive systems are beyond repair."
The Guardian on Friday had a piece written by Chris McGreal, which was upsetting but made me realise the extent of this crisis.
"Gang rapes are commonplace and frequently accompanied by torture in which women are mutilated by having guns or stakes thrust into their vaginas, or their genitals slashed with knives. One in four who make it to hospitals in Goma and Rutshuru require major surgery. More than a third are teenagers."
For me, this is the most serious and desperate issue in the world at the moment. The international community needs to do everything it can to end this violence and to ensure that this catastrophe comes to an end.
A year on and the same stories are surfacing. Why then is this not enough of a crisis for it to be news every day?
Occasionally a feature is written, interviewing women who have been victim. We read the story, feel sad for a few minutes and then we get on with our daily lives.
More than 250,000 people have been displaced by the fighting.
Surely the fact that the International Red Cross have declared this as a humanitarian catastrophe should be enough. If I were editor, appeals would be scattered over the paper so that people knew that they could do something to help, even if only with a small donation.
News is people
From the first day of our journalism course, we were taught that news is people. If that is the case, surely this should be news every day - Médecins Sans Frontières estimated that 75% of all the rape cases it deals with worldwide are in eastern Congo.
Congolese human rights groups have claimed that 7 out of 10 women in the large towns have been raped.
How not every woman in the world can feel disgusted by this situation is beyond me.
Some Congolese women have been sold into sexual slavery, others left HIV positive and pregnant.
Weapon for revenge
Rape has been used in the Congo for years as a weapon of war and as a means of ethnic cleansing. Doctors there are dealing with women each day who are victim of rape and torture.
The New York Times last year gave an account of gynecologist Denis Mukwege's daily life.
He said that each day, 10 new women and girls come to his hospital having been raped. Many of them have been butchered so badly by chunks of wood and bayonets, that "their reproductive and digestive systems are beyond repair."
The Guardian on Friday had a piece written by Chris McGreal, which was upsetting but made me realise the extent of this crisis.
"Gang rapes are commonplace and frequently accompanied by torture in which women are mutilated by having guns or stakes thrust into their vaginas, or their genitals slashed with knives. One in four who make it to hospitals in Goma and Rutshuru require major surgery. More than a third are teenagers."
For me, this is the most serious and desperate issue in the world at the moment. The international community needs to do everything it can to end this violence and to ensure that this catastrophe comes to an end.
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
BNP - Last Hope for Britain?
My last blog regarding the British National Party, sparked some lengthy comments from the BNP Chairman of 'Ethnic Liaison Committee', Lawrence Rustem.
It is clear that my views have angered Rustem, the only member of the party from an ethnic minority.
I am curious as to why a half British and half Turkish Cypriot would have chosen to join the BNP over any other political party.
As he does not fit the Caucasian criteria, it seems a little strange that he would want to join a group to promote white power.
The BBC also reported that some members of the BNP were angered by Mr Rustems' position. I do not understand why someone would want to be a member of a party that resent you based on the colour of your skin.
Anyhow, I hope to revise some of my previous comments and answer some of the questions raised by Mr Rustem.
First of all my aim is to write blogs regarding topics of importance and hopefully provide some interesting reading for others. I am glad that such a high profile member of the BNP is enjoying my writing, I am flattered.
To confirm - in my comparison of the BNP to the Ku Klux Klan, I did not once suggest any lynchings or public burnings taking place. I merely suggest that the mindset of both groups are similar in that they promote white power and in preserving this race.
The BNP was brought to my attention a few years ago when I had heard about their policies. It did not take long for me to make my judgment.
In 2006, I remember hearing about journalist Ian Cobain working for the Guardian going undercover for seven months to reveal the truth about the BNP. He eventually became the party's central London organiser. In the Guardian he is quoted:-
"(they use) techniques of deception...in it's attempts to conceal it's activities and intentions from the public."
This raised some alarming questions regarding the party although it was when Cobain talked about the BNP Christmas event that I realised that there was definitely a racist agenda behind this all:-
"At the Christmas party two weeks ago, with around 100 people crammed into the room, one young member told me of the immense relief he felt after joining the party. Lawrence, an East-Ender in his 20s, confided that he had felt extremely isolated because so few people shared his dislike of black people. "I thought I was the only person who thought this way," he said. "I would sit in the pub getting drunk on my own, thinking I was going mad."
I have also visited the BNP website many times whether it has been for coursework, previous blogs or out of interest.
I am unable to agree with the party on the majority of issues. They hope to introduce capital punishment in the United Kingdom, compulsory national service and allow ordinary people to have rifles and ammunition in their homes.
I am afraid that this 'ideal country' that they have in mind sounds very similar to one that a Mr Obama will soon be sorting out. It is currently in a mess due to some of the reasons above and more.
In 1993 Richard Edmonds, former deputy leader of the party, told the Guardian that "we (the BNP) are 100% racist." According to Nation Master Encyclopedia, he was also convicted of smashing a statue of Nelson Mandela on London's South Bank.
For some reason it is difficult for me to be convinced that this party is not racist, when the former deputy leader has such previous convictions.
Mark Collett who was former Chairman of the Young BNP, told the Guardian that he was drawn to "a racially pure white society" and that homosexuals are 'Aids Monkeys' and 'bum bandits.'
And these people see themselves to be respectful when they can talk about other human beings in this way?
It is extremely ignorant of Lawrence Rustem to compare homosexuality with paedophilia, although it seems that the BNP are not very accepting of anyone in this world apart from the straight Caucasian British person.
At least the chance of them ever gaining real political power is highly unlikely.
Yes I might just be a 'little white girl' as Mr Rustem likes to refer to me, but I am now even more convinced of what this political party really stands for.
Here is a video from Sky News. It gives insight into the BNP and their former national press officer Dr Phil Edwards.
It is clear that my views have angered Rustem, the only member of the party from an ethnic minority.
I am curious as to why a half British and half Turkish Cypriot would have chosen to join the BNP over any other political party.
As he does not fit the Caucasian criteria, it seems a little strange that he would want to join a group to promote white power.
The BBC also reported that some members of the BNP were angered by Mr Rustems' position. I do not understand why someone would want to be a member of a party that resent you based on the colour of your skin.
Anyhow, I hope to revise some of my previous comments and answer some of the questions raised by Mr Rustem.
First of all my aim is to write blogs regarding topics of importance and hopefully provide some interesting reading for others. I am glad that such a high profile member of the BNP is enjoying my writing, I am flattered.
To confirm - in my comparison of the BNP to the Ku Klux Klan, I did not once suggest any lynchings or public burnings taking place. I merely suggest that the mindset of both groups are similar in that they promote white power and in preserving this race.
The BNP was brought to my attention a few years ago when I had heard about their policies. It did not take long for me to make my judgment.
In 2006, I remember hearing about journalist Ian Cobain working for the Guardian going undercover for seven months to reveal the truth about the BNP. He eventually became the party's central London organiser. In the Guardian he is quoted:-
"(they use) techniques of deception...in it's attempts to conceal it's activities and intentions from the public."
This raised some alarming questions regarding the party although it was when Cobain talked about the BNP Christmas event that I realised that there was definitely a racist agenda behind this all:-
"At the Christmas party two weeks ago, with around 100 people crammed into the room, one young member told me of the immense relief he felt after joining the party. Lawrence, an East-Ender in his 20s, confided that he had felt extremely isolated because so few people shared his dislike of black people. "I thought I was the only person who thought this way," he said. "I would sit in the pub getting drunk on my own, thinking I was going mad."
I have also visited the BNP website many times whether it has been for coursework, previous blogs or out of interest.
I am unable to agree with the party on the majority of issues. They hope to introduce capital punishment in the United Kingdom, compulsory national service and allow ordinary people to have rifles and ammunition in their homes.
I am afraid that this 'ideal country' that they have in mind sounds very similar to one that a Mr Obama will soon be sorting out. It is currently in a mess due to some of the reasons above and more.
In 1993 Richard Edmonds, former deputy leader of the party, told the Guardian that "we (the BNP) are 100% racist." According to Nation Master Encyclopedia, he was also convicted of smashing a statue of Nelson Mandela on London's South Bank.
For some reason it is difficult for me to be convinced that this party is not racist, when the former deputy leader has such previous convictions.
Mark Collett who was former Chairman of the Young BNP, told the Guardian that he was drawn to "a racially pure white society" and that homosexuals are 'Aids Monkeys' and 'bum bandits.'
And these people see themselves to be respectful when they can talk about other human beings in this way?
It is extremely ignorant of Lawrence Rustem to compare homosexuality with paedophilia, although it seems that the BNP are not very accepting of anyone in this world apart from the straight Caucasian British person.
At least the chance of them ever gaining real political power is highly unlikely.
Yes I might just be a 'little white girl' as Mr Rustem likes to refer to me, but I am now even more convinced of what this political party really stands for.
Here is a video from Sky News. It gives insight into the BNP and their former national press officer Dr Phil Edwards.
Monday, 1 December 2008
Threat of the British National Party
The recent British National Party leak of names is an interesting topic of discussion which I have had in class and at home with my family.
Views on this incident do vary although I have found it particularly interesting to discuss with my Black and Asian friends. The BNP I believe is the biggest threat to ethnic groups in Britain at the moment.
They have been tactical enough to be given the title of a political party yet their views are enough to scare myself, a white Welsh girl.
I really feel for my friends who have to listen to what the BNP have to say, especially during our visit a few weeks ago to the London Assembly.
No time for the BNP
Boris Johnson certainly won me over when I saw his reaction to BNP's Richard Barnbrook.
Boris subtly but obviously enough for us in the gallery to see, started flicking his pen and turning his head completely away from him.
A sign that he does not value the view of anyone ignorant enough to be a BNP leader.
In regards to the leak, I was secretly pleased that this took place.
I could think of nothing worse than if I were to send my children to a school where their teacher was a member of the BNP.
Yes it is a political party and each individual should have the right to privacy in regards to who they vote for. But for me, the BNP should not have the right to be a political party.
If these people were living in 1960's United States, they would be wearing the robes of the Ku Klux Klan. The British National Party is only a more sophisticated title than the KKK.
Free speech to what extent
From reading my past blogs, you will probably come to realise that human rights and civil liberties are what I believe each individual equally deserves.
When you become a member of the Green Party, you fight for social and environmental justice.
When you join the Labour Party, you fight for the rights of all social classes.
But when you join the British National Party, you fight for the right of white British people and against the rights of ethnic minorities.
There is a difference between being pro-British and being racist.
As my grandad wisely says, the Saxons only immigrated here in the 6th Century. Who are they to judge those who are now coming here for refuge.
Views on this incident do vary although I have found it particularly interesting to discuss with my Black and Asian friends. The BNP I believe is the biggest threat to ethnic groups in Britain at the moment.
They have been tactical enough to be given the title of a political party yet their views are enough to scare myself, a white Welsh girl.
I really feel for my friends who have to listen to what the BNP have to say, especially during our visit a few weeks ago to the London Assembly.
No time for the BNP
Boris Johnson certainly won me over when I saw his reaction to BNP's Richard Barnbrook.
Boris subtly but obviously enough for us in the gallery to see, started flicking his pen and turning his head completely away from him.
A sign that he does not value the view of anyone ignorant enough to be a BNP leader.
In regards to the leak, I was secretly pleased that this took place.
I could think of nothing worse than if I were to send my children to a school where their teacher was a member of the BNP.
Yes it is a political party and each individual should have the right to privacy in regards to who they vote for. But for me, the BNP should not have the right to be a political party.
If these people were living in 1960's United States, they would be wearing the robes of the Ku Klux Klan. The British National Party is only a more sophisticated title than the KKK.
Free speech to what extent
From reading my past blogs, you will probably come to realise that human rights and civil liberties are what I believe each individual equally deserves.
When you become a member of the Green Party, you fight for social and environmental justice.
When you join the Labour Party, you fight for the rights of all social classes.
But when you join the British National Party, you fight for the right of white British people and against the rights of ethnic minorities.
There is a difference between being pro-British and being racist.
As my grandad wisely says, the Saxons only immigrated here in the 6th Century. Who are they to judge those who are now coming here for refuge.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)