EDITORIAL
Dear Readers,
Welcome back to the Black & Asian News! I am aware that many of you are getting ready for your Bank Holiday, but I hope you will find a way to read this newsletter during this long weekend, as I have found a lot of interesting news stories this week.
You will obviously find news on what the situation in Afghanistan means for Britain and wider Europe. There are also two new reports that I would like to highlight. The first one is “Minoritised Ethnic Communities and Social Enterprise” by Middlesex University and the Global Expression Report 2021 by Article 19 on freedom of expression around the world.
Also, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have unveiled their proposed strategy for 2022 to 2025 and are calling for people to take part in their consultation on it.
Hope you don’t mind if I remind you that Black Europe Resources currently operates on a totally voluntarily basis. I am in a development phase, but please feel free to contact me if you already wish to make a donation (by cheque, until I get a pay button) or wish to discuss potential sponsorship (organisations/people with verifiable business credentials and website preferably), thank you.
Keep Well & Stay Safe,
Thushari Perera
A digital resource on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Issues
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UK NEWS
CULTURE, MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT
Sharlene Whyte on Stephen and playing Doreen Lawrence: ‘It’s almost beyond anger; it’s a deep knowing’, The Independent, 26 August 2021
“As the Small Axe actor stars in a new drama about the 1993 murder, she talks about researching the role, resilience and why there’s still work for the Met to do…Stephen starts on ITV on 30 August at 9pm”
Fremantle inks first look with Afua Hirsch indie, Televisual, 25 August 2021
“Fremantle and De Maio Entertainment have signed a partnership with Afua Hirsch’s UK based production company Born In Me with an exclusive global first look deal… The first project in development is a TV drama series based on the true story of Kweku Adoboli, the former investment banker who was jailed in 2012 after unauthorised losses of $2 billion. The drama will interweave the pressures and emotional complexities of being a black man working in London, becoming criminalised, and battling deportation to a country that he left when he was only four years old.”
Spotify’s Notting Hill Carnival Microsite Returns With Original Writing, Playlists, and Podcasts, Spotify, 25 August 2021
“London’s annual Notting Hill Carnival is a 55-year-old celebration of the United Kingdom’s Caribbean community—one full of parades, food, and, of course, music. For the second year in a row, Spotify is supporting the festivities virtually with the Carnival Sounds 2021 Microsite in collaboration with Notting Hill Carnival.”
Survey says racism widespread for UK actors, Televisual, 24 August 2021
“The study, available to download here, is believed to be the largest survey of British actors on diversity and the auditioning process to date.” Key findings from the research include: 79% of respondents feel roles continue to stereotype their ethnicities; 64% of respondents have experienced racist stereotyping in an audition; 55% of respondents have experienced racist behaviour in the workplace…The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity (LHC) is a newly established research centre, bringing together the expertise of established media professionals and academics.”
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK criticised for ‘lack of diversity’ in latest cast of queens, Pink News, 19 August 2021
“Scone’s inclusion undoubtedly marks a milestone for the long-running franchise, but social media has since been flooded with critique of this season’s lack of racial diversity. Twelve queens were announced, yet only three are people of colour…”
Smithsonian Channel & Bassett Vance prep slave trade docuseries, TBI, 19 August 2021
“ViacomCBS-owned MTV Entertainment’s Smithsonian Channel is collaborating with Angela Bassett and Courtney B Vance’s Bassett Vance Productions on One Thousand Years of Slavery, a new docuseries exploring the legacy of the slave trade. Produced by Uplands Television for Smithsonian Channel in the US and Channel 5 in the UK.. The series follows British-Nigerian director David Olusoga as he explores diverse histories of survival and devastation that span across the globe – from Africa to the Caribbean, London to Washington DC, and more.”
‘We brought colour to this country’: the matriarchs of Notting Hill carnival, The Guardian, 18 August 2021
“Whether it’s online or on the streets, women have defined London’s huge celebration of Caribbean culture. We talk steel pans and skimpy costumes with the pioneers who set the tone”
CONSUMER ISSUES
WIN: Brands and worker unions agree new binding worker safety agreement, Labour Behind the Label, 26 August 2021
“On the 25th August 2021, apparel brands and labour unions announced agreement on a new International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, thereby preserving, extending, and expanding the model pioneered by the Bangladesh Accord for protecting worker safety. This new agreement comes after months of campaigning, and is a huge win for workers unions and garment workers. “
Regulating Global Supply Chains to Empower Workers, iversity, August 2021
“This FREE online course discusses key policy proposal for regulating global supply chains to empower workers and their organisations. The course offers a combination of lectures, reading materials and zoom workshops with top experts from academia and the labour sector. Course structure: The course has six content chapters. Starting from 1 September 2021, a new content chapter will be posted each week. After becoming fully accessible, the course will remain open for studying the course materials at your own pace.”
With no choice but to go on holiday in the UK, I’m still facing the same racism I’m used to seeing abroad, The Independent, 23 August 2021
“…I’ve been to various towns in Kent, Devon, and Wales. Navigating these regions as a woman of colour in an interracial relationship with a white partner has been eye-opening…”
TECH
Racism in football: Letter of solidarity, Conscious Advertising Network, 14 July 2021
“Conscious Advertising Network has coordinated an open letter to CEOs of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat addressing the lack of adequate action by social media companies to combat online discrimination.”
POC in Play highlights South Asian talent with SAHM 100 list, Gamesindustry.biz, 23 August 2021
“Organization celebrates South Asian Heritage Month to highlight devs “who are often hidden behind the scenes””
EMPLOYMENT & WORK
Social investment partners publish new research report with five key commitments to support minoritised ethnic communities, Social Investment Business, 23 August 2021
“Three social investment partners have today published a new research report containing five key commitments to support minoritised ethnic communities. The partners – Access – The Foundation for Social Investment (Access), Social Investment Business (SIB) and Power to Change – want to improve their understanding of how well they currently serve the needs of minoritised ethnic communities, specifically relating to the provision of enterprise development support for social and community enterprises and access to social investment.“
UK Worker Shortages Could Cancel Christmas. Brexit Isn’t Helping, wktv.com, 26 August 2021
“UK food producers and supermarkets are warning that empty shelves could persist through the year-end holiday season unless the government acts to ease a shortage of workers and truck drivers caused by Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic…The Road Haulage Association says the United Kingdom is short around 100,000 truck drivers, 20,000 of whom are EU nationals that left the country after Brexit.”
EDUCATION
Teachers in Scotland given guidance on decolonising the curriculum, The Guardian, 26 August 2021
“Package also includes advice on how to discuss race and normalise diversity within lesson subjects”
FOOD, HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Mother of 19-year-old sickle cell patient who died is calling on Black community to donate blood, Metro, 25 August 2021
“Every month, NHS Blood and Transplant need 1,300 new Black donors to provide essential treatment for 15,000 patients living with sickle cell – and to provide life-saving blood for use in emergencies, childbirth, surgery, treatment of cancer and other conditions. While people of Black heritage are 10X more likely to have the same rare blood subtype, the shortage of Black donors makes it harder to find the best ethnically matched blood for Black patients.”
GPs feel CQC checks are unfair and lack cultural understanding, survey reveals, GP Online, 20 August 2021
“BAPIO [British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin] warned that the inspection system doubly punishes GPs from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. The association said BAME GPs are more likely to work in areas of high deprivation and to struggle to absorb additional workload linked to preparing for inspection – and then to receive disproportionately lower ratings.”
Worcester doctor encourages BAME organ donors following pandemic shortfall, Worcester News, 20 August 2021
“NHS Blood and Transplant has reported that the number of living organ donors from BAME backgrounds dropped by 61 per cent during the coronavirus.”
HOUSING
The mainstream media’s depiction of van life is racist, classist and sexist, The Canary, 23 August 2021
“My gripe is with the hypocrisy of the media, glorifying van life because it is done by young, white people who look socially acceptable, (or are acceptably beautiful), and who are from a socially acceptable class background. Yet it is quick to vilify van life when it is done by the very Traveller Communities who were born into an alternative way of living.”
England: Planning system perpetuates racism, Scottish Housing News, 24 August 2021
“Priya Shah is founder of BAME in Property, an organisation for BAME and non-BAME professionals who are passionate about increasing ethnic diversity in the property and planning sectors…
“Through the work of BAME in Property, we are urgently calling for more diversity in property and planning to ensure the right people with different backgrounds and lived experiences are making the decisions for those most excluded from planning decisions. Focusing on the next generation of planners is key and this report’s recommendations to build diversity into the higher education curriculum should begin this academic year. We have delayed for too long and it’s essential that changes are made now.”
It’s time to tackle the lack of diversity, Property Week, 26 August 2021
“Research shows the property industry is failing to attract enough people from diverse backgrounds and keep them in the industry.”
GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITIES
Has The Pandemic Eroded The Right To Freedom of Expression?, Each Other, 26 August 2021
“A new report by ARTICLE 19 has revealed that two thirds of the world’s countries have imposed restrictions on the media during the pandemic. The UK also comes in for criticism in the report. The Global Expression Report 2021 is a comprehensive, data-based analysis tracking freedom of expression across the world.”
Afghanistan: Hundreds left behind as UK ending Kabul evacuation, BBC News, 27 August 2021
“But he [the defence secretary] told LBC Radio around 800 to 1,100 eligible Afghans would be left behind, as well as approximately 100 to 150 British nationals..”
Universal credit cut – impact by constituency, JRF, 26 August 2021
“Our latest analysis shows the number and proportion of families who will be impacted by the £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit in each UK parliamentary constituency.”
The Equality and Human Rights Commission Wants Your Insights, Each Other, 24 August 2021
“The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have unveiled their proposed strategy for 2022 to 2025 and are calling for people to take part in their consultation on it.”
Organisations Across Leeds United in Pledge to Root Out Racism, News.leeds.gov.uk, 23 August 2021
“Leeds has come together in overwhelming support of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health Care Partnership (WY&H HCP) anti-racism movement. With over 40 organisations across the City coming together in a pledge to Root Out Racism.”
Britain’s offer to Afghan refugees is not ‘generous’. It’s blindly inhumane, The Guardian, 22 August 2021
“Home Office policy is to regard asylum seekers with suspicion and find ways to reject them. There’s little sign of a sudden culture change”
POLICING & JUSTICE SYSTEM
Poorest Scots five times more likely to have been fined under Covid rules, The Scotsman, 25 August 2021
“The report, released by the Scottish Police Authority ahead of the authority’s meeting on Wednesday, also shows those from BAME backgrounds and non-UK individuals were also more likely to be fined by police during lockdown.”
Woman arrested for ‘racially aggravated’ comments following death of five-year-old Afghan refugee, The Independent, 22 August 2021
“The 42-year-old woman remains in police custody”
SPORT
Tokyo Paralympics: Kadeena Cox sets new world record to win gold, BBC News, 27 August 2021
“Britain’s Kadeena Cox retained her C4-5 500m time trial Paralympic title with a stunning world-record ride in Tokyo. The 30-year-old, who won cycling and athletics gold at the 2016 Rio Games, knew she had to beat the time of 35.830 seconds set by Canadian world champion Kate O’Brien to win Britain’s seventh gold of the Games.”
ENVIRONMENT
Animal Rebellion paints Buckingham Palace fountain red, The Guardian, 27 August 2021
“Group linked to Extinction Rebellion says Queen has ‘blood on her hands’ over hunting and animal agriculture”
OTHER NEWSLETTERS – Also FREE!
WIDER EUROPE NEWS
Which European borders are open to Afghan refugees?, The Independent, 26 August 2021
“…In Europe, Germany has offered to accept 10,000 asylum seekers but France has yet to put a round number on it and Russia, Austria and Switzerland have all flatly refused to get involved. Hungary’s Viktor Orban has reluctantly agreed to accept “a few dozen” families but otherwise says his position is: “Let’s send assistance there, not bring trouble here…””
The fall of the Afghan government and what it means for Europe, ecfr.eu, 25 August 2021
“ECFR’s policy experts examine what the Taliban takeover means for countries and regions around the world: Europe, the US, the Middle East, Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, and the Sahel”
Time for EU to be a real ally of Afghan women, EU Observer, 25 August 2021
“As many have said already, EU countries must fast-track asylum applications. The Qualification Directive gives us much to work with, especially when it comes to girls and women, as it recognises that gender-related violations can constitute persecution. The problem is that the most affected people are often the ones unable to flee. Afghanis in general, and girls and women in particular, wishing to seek refuge outside Afghanistan must be supported to do so.”
Is Your Name Ruining Your Life?, Wired, 22 August 2021
“The most recent work on this in Europe is the GEMM survey, a five-year, five-nation field study where researchers applied for thousands of real jobs using a mixture of different names (GEMM stands for Growth, Equal Opportunities, Migration, and Markets). The results are shocking. Ethnic minorities needed to send 60 per cent more applications to get as many callbacks as the white majority.”
BELARUS
European Court decides interim measures to protect migrants at Belarus-EU border, Brussels Times, 26 August 2021
“In an exceptional decision, the European Court of Human Rights decided on Wednesday that Polish and Latvian authorities will provide people stranded at their borders with Belarus with food, water, clothing, adequate medical care and, if possible, temporary shelter.”
CYPRUS
Cyprus: row erupts as passports of Turkish Cypriot officials rescinded, The Guardian, 27 August 2021
“Head of Turkish-controlled north, Ersin Tatar, calls move by Greek Cypriot government ‘racist’ and ‘anachronistic’”
FRANCE
Afghan evacuee gets 10-month suspended jail term for evading police control, RFI, 26 August 2021
“The possibility that there could be Taliban members among the hundreds of Afghans evacuated by France over the last fortnight has ignited a storm of controversy in France, with migration set to be a prime battleground in 2022 presidential elections. The political right has accused the government of President Emmanuel Macron of failing to carry out proper security checks. The president has also faced criticism from the left who accuse him of letting down ordinary Afghans by allowing limited numbers into France.”
Musical legend Josephine Baker to enter France’s Pantheon, 24Matins.uk, 22 August 2021
The remains of Josephine Baker, a famed French-American dancer, singer and actress who also fought in the French resistance during WWII, will be moved to the Pantheon mausoleum in November, an aide to President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday.
GERMANY
How worried is Germany about Afghan refugees?, Euractiv, 26 August 2021
“Integration of the Afghans who have landed on German soil is already on the political agenda, only weeks before Germany’s parliamentary election on 26 September.”
Germany Approves Citizenship Law for Descendants of Nazi Victims, Schengenvisainfo.com, August 23, 2021
“This means that under the new German law, which entered into force on August 20, the descendants of victims who were stripped of their citizenship on racial, political, or religious grounds can now have it restored as the loophole that led to many of them being denied citizenship will be fully closed.”
THE NETHERLANDS
‘I would like to take one month off and just chill in Maastricht’, Dutch News, 26 August 2021
“Evelyn A. Ankumah left her native Ghana for a cultural exchange programme in the Netherlands when she was a teenager. Now founding executive director of human rights group Africa Legal Aid (AFLA), she loves cheese and Maastricht and is working on a series of books based on her observations and experiences of discrimination, called Hague Girls.”
SPAIN
Why the shutters are coming down on many of Spain’s Chinese bazaars, El Pais, 24 August 2021
“A number of store owners have opted to return to China due to the coronavirus crisis, which has not only affected sales but also made them feel unsafe. Others have chosen to reinvent their businesses… Figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) indicate that the population of 232,807 Chinese in 2020 dropped to 228,564 on January 1, 2021 (including 170 deaths).”
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland divided on taking Afghan refugees, Swissinfo, 26 August 2021
“Since Afghanistan fell back into Taliban hands, Bern has suspended deportations to that country and will grant over 200 humanitarian visas to Afghans who worked on Swiss projects. But Switzerland does not plan to accept large numbers of Afghan refugees. This is despite calls from civil society and the political left for it to do more.”
The opening of a Syrian Kurdish ‘representation office’ in Geneva stirs tensions, Swissinfo, 25 August 2021
“The autonomous entity in north-eastern Syria, unrecognised by any state, is seeking to build relations with international players in Geneva – where Syrian peace talks, from which it is excluded, are taking place. Turkey is furious, while Switzerland is embarrassed.”
Image Credits: Pixabay
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