Norwich Theatre’s Post

"Stop the Boats." … But What If We Stopped the Hate Instead? On this World Refugee Day, we must confront the harsh realities and harmful narratives surrounding refugees and migrants. In her powerful blog, Azza Essakhi reminds us how history and empathy often get sidelined in the face of nationalism and prejudice. As someone with a mixed heritage, Azza eloquently delves into how easily any of us could have been born into a life where fleeing is the only option. She asks the pressing question: Why do we allow history to repeat its mistakes when it comes to supporting those in desperate need? ⏩ Dive into Azza's blog and reflect on how we can learn from the past to create a more inclusive and humane future. Read it below 👇🏻 #WithRefugees #WorldRefugeeDay #HumanRights

The Old Oak overview – compassionate refugee drama from Ken Loach | Ken Loach (Exportain.com) https://ift.tt/w5vhiQy Publican TJ Ballantyne (Dave Turner) makes use of a mop deal with to repair the title on the entrance of his pub, prodding a dangling letter Okay again into place. It holds for a number of seconds, then slips sideways once more – like a lot on this cash-strapped nook of the north-east of England, it’s a short lived repair on a basically damaged state of affairs. The newest movie from director Ken Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty is usually forthright in its imagery and plain-spoken in its messaging. At occasions the Loach strategy can really feel like a little bit of a blunt weapon. But that is film-making pushed by anger, empathy and unquenched idealism. It might lack polish – the efficiency high quality from the non-professional solid is uneven, to say the least – nevertheless it comprises moments of blistering energy. The setting is 2016 – yr zero for Brexit. There’s bleak desperation and a stewing sense of injustice within the village, a group mortally wounded by the coalmine closures again within the 80s, which has been struggling a sluggish and painful decline ever since. The arrival of a number of households of Syrian refugees is a flashpoint for xenophobic tensions. Much of that is vented in TJ’s dilapidated pub, the Old Oak, the place a handful of regulars drink bitter and spew bitterness. Meanwhile, TJ – disillusioned, first rate and, like everybody else, nearly clinging on – strikes up a friendship with Yara (Ebla Mari), a younger feminine refugee. Together with help employee Laura (Claire Rodgerson), they devise a plan to carry the 2 traumatised communities collectively. As with all Loach’s issue-led film-making – I, Daniel Blake’s condemnation of austerity; Sorry We Missed You’s assault on the gig financial system – there’s a clear, black-and-white ethical framework. But there’s additionally a plea for open-hearted compassion, even for bilious racists. The last message of hope is resolutely upbeat and desperately wanted. The post The Old Oak overview – compassionate refugee drama from Ken Loach | Ken Loach (Exportain.com) appeared first on USA Current Trend News. via USA Current Trend News https://usctnews.com September 30, 2023 at 08:11PM

Simple Acts Watch a Film Simple Acts are everyday actions we can all do to stand with refugees and make new connections in our communities. Whether you build your own event or activity around a Simple Act or simply take part during Refugee Week, you’ll be part of a movement of people everywhere taking small steps to create a big change. There’s nothing quite as powerful as a story, and films serve as potent storytelling mediums that can broaden our perspectives and deepen our compassion. By seeing the world through someone else’s eyes, we gain insight into their experiences and challenges, fostering compassion and inspiring positive action. Films have a remarkable ability to transport us to different worlds, to immerse us in the lives and experiences of others without ever leaving our seats. Through the lens of cinema, we can explore the human impact of forced migration and displacement, gaining insight into the challenges, resilience, and triumphs of refugees around the globe. So this Refugee Week, lets watch films that put the stories and voices of refugees in focus. #SimpleActs #RefugeeWeekGreece #RefugeeWeekGreece2024 Illustrations by Manjit Thapp

https://lnkd.in/ecKYATZQ I rarely even go on LikedIn and can't remember the last time I posted, but believe this is important to share. You may disagree, take issue with a specific point or points, or be offended by the tone. That is fine. That is you right. Nevertheless, the term "refugee" is thrown around way to easily and often these days and people need to understand that the definition and framework for "Palestinian refugees" is worlds apart from the definition and framework applicable to any non-Palestinian on earth. And this isn't just an academic exercise. Recognizing the differences, understanding their consequences and recognizing that this issue has become a major, major stumbling block to long term peace in the region is crucial. Bottom line: UNRWA must go. Now.

Not only have around 70% of the people that Israel has been killing been WOMEN (>10K) & CHILDREN (>14K), but they have also been killing & starving babies, disabled people, the elderly, & pregnant women. And most of the men they’ve been killing have been civilians – fathers & grandfathers — & they are now finding mass graves all over Gaza proving this. They’ve even killed over 400 doctors, nurses, & medics, over 220 U.N. aid workers, & over 140 journalists (because their pesky cameras produce too much evidence). And they’ve destroyed most of the homes, hospitals, schools, & infrastructure, making most of Gaza uninhabitable, as their leaders promised multiple times, & already have plans to move-in Jewish settlers. So if you still doubt that Israel is committing both genocide & ethnic cleansing with the weapons & funding that WE keep giving them. 🙏Please write & call your representatives to demand they stop helping Israel kill children & maintain its brutal, racist apartheid with our tax dollars. I condemn the harming of any civilians, but this horror show did NOT start on October 7th, & the proof is the nearly 2300 Palestinian kids killed by Israeli soldiers & settlers between 2000 & October 2023, including 43 kids during the 9 months just before 10/7 (all names & details on BTselem.org) Israel has also continued stealing more Palestinian homes & farms EVERY YEAR as part of its 57 year apartheid & has imposed a brutal blockade of Gaza since 2005. ALL illegal, immoral, & ongoing acts of war.

Educators, I urge you to empathize deeply with individuals like Zoya Miari, a Palestinian-Ukrainian refugee, who bravely shares her experiences of facing racist double standards. Let Zoya's testimony ignite our resolve to confront bias and racism head-on. By standing witness to her story, we confront injustices faced by refugees worldwide. Let her words inspire us to create classrooms rooted in empathy, understanding, and equality. Join us in our unwavering commitment to building a world where every student feels seen, heard, and cherished. The treatment of Ukrainian and Palestinian individuals should be equal and just, regardless of geopolitical circumstances! As educators, it's our duty to provide unwavering support and heartfelt empathy to Palestinian children amidst the horrors of conflict. In the ruins of bombed schools, universities, and homes, we must create healing sanctuaries where these resilient souls can find solace and courage. Though their journey may be challenging, I have unwavering faith in their indomitable spirit to overcome, emerging as beacons of hope and resilience.

Counterpoints Arts condemns in the strongest possible terms the UK government’s passage of the ‘Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration)’ deportation Bill. This legislation, which we consider unconscionable from a moral, humanitarian, and legal standpoint, threatens irreparable harm to some of the most vulnerable individuals and families in our communities—refugees and migrants fleeing horrific circumstances including starvation, trafficking, and war. In response, Counterpoints Arts remains dedicated to supporting communities of artists, creatives, organisers, and partners through our work and mission. We are actively exploring ways to hold space, come together, and continue fighting for the right to sanctuary and safety. Our programme for 2024, including this year’s Refugee Week festival themed ‘Our Home,’ will serve as a strong rebuttal to this bill, amplifying the valuable contributions of refugees and migrants and reinforcing our commitment to solidarity in creating a safe and welcoming space for all. In the face of this continued cruelty and hostility, we will keep uniting with our communities and networks to organise for a brighter future, where refugees and asylum seekers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Image: ‘Dark Water, Burning World’ by Issam Kourbaj ©Mourad Kourbaj https://lnkd.in/dUu_6uU2

Refugee Week is here! It's an annual celebration to promote greater awareness of refugees, the issues they face, and the contributions refugees are making to the Australian community. The aims of Refugee Week are: ▶️ to educate on who refugees are and why they have come ▶️ to help people understand the many challenges refugees face ▶️ to celebrate the contribution refugees make to our community ▶️ to focus on providing a safe, welcoming environment for refugees This Refugee Week, the theme is "Finding Freedom: Family." 👨👩👦 It highlights the profound journey of resilience, strength, and unity that defines the refugee experience. This Refugee Week, we aim to highlight the transformative power of familial bonds, both blood and chosen, in the face of adversity. We underscore the crucial role families play in providing solace, support, and a sense of belonging to those forced to flee their homelands. Imagine being uprooted from your home, leaving behind familiar faces and a support system built over years. This year’s theme invites us to explore the stories of refugees who, despite the challenges they encounter, discover a source of freedom within the embrace of their families. Whether it’s the unwavering support of parents, the protective love between siblings, or the communal strength found in extended and chosen families, neighbours, support systems upon arrival in Australia or the financial and emotional backbones that make the journey to safety possible, these connections become a beacon of hope in times of uncertainty. ❓How can we celebrate these connections and support refugees finding freedom? Visit https://loom.ly/ikjwjkE to find ways to get involved and be inspired by stories like Somayeh's: Somayeh, born into a conservative Muslim family in Tehran, was a dedicated science teacher for over 10 years. After converting to another religion with her husband, they faced severe harassment and threats, forcing them to flee Iran with their young children. Their perilous journey to Australia by fishing boat is a testament to their courage and resilience. This Refugee Week, let's shine a light on the stories of refugee families and their contribution in making Australia a richer country. 💫 #Refugees #RefugeeWeek #StandWithRefugees #Diversity

Refugee Week is here! It's an annual celebration to promote greater awareness of refugees, the issues they face, and the contributions refugees are making to the Australian community. The aims of Refugee Week are: ▶️ to educate on who refugees are and why they have come ▶️ to help people understand the many challenges refugees face ▶️ to celebrate the contribution refugees make to our community ▶️ to focus on providing a safe, welcoming environment for refugees This Refugee Week, the theme is "Finding Freedom: Family." 👨👩👦 It highlights the profound journey of resilience, strength, and unity that defines the refugee experience. This Refugee Week, we aim to highlight the transformative power of familial bonds, both blood and chosen, in the face of adversity. We underscore the crucial role families play in providing solace, support, and a sense of belonging to those forced to flee their homelands. Imagine being uprooted from your home, leaving behind familiar faces and a support system built over years. This year’s theme invites us to explore the stories of refugees who, despite the challenges they encounter, discover a source of freedom within the embrace of their families. Whether it’s the unwavering support of parents, the protective love between siblings, or the communal strength found in extended and chosen families, neighbours, support systems upon arrival in Australia or the financial and emotional backbones that make the journey to safety possible, these connections become a beacon of hope in times of uncertainty. ❓How can we celebrate these connections and support refugees finding freedom? Visit https://loom.ly/ikjwjkE to find ways to get involved and be inspired by stories like Somayeh's: Somayeh, born into a conservative Muslim family in Tehran, was a dedicated science teacher for over 10 years. After converting to another religion with her husband, they faced severe harassment and threats, forcing them to flee Iran with their young children. Their perilous journey to Australia by fishing boat is a testament to their courage and resilience. This Refugee Week, let's shine a light on the stories of refugee families and their contribution in making Australia a richer country. 💫 #Refugees #RefugeeWeek #StandWithRefugees #Diversity

I have written about my first hand experience of war and social conflicts. I hope someone will be able to read my first chapter in the book titled: Refugee performance, practical encounters Link: https://lnkd.in/ePdhBytS