Climate forced migration – a high profile panel and me

Article first published Tue, 12/07/2010 in World Development Movement

Kate Blagojevic, press officer

I was invited to speak on a panel organised by our allies Equity and Justice Working Group in Bangladesh looking at the issue of forced migration as a result of climate change. I agreed, but hastened to add that I am not an expert in migration, but my knowledge comes from my spare time activity with asylum seekers in the UK rather than detailed knowledge of climate forced migration. Reza who was organising the panel promised it was no big deal. Imagine then, my alarm when Kumi Naidoo, the Chief Exec of Greenpeace International and the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh joined me on the panel.

As ever WDM had done some number crunching, which I could rely on! We estimated that the UK could be responsible for creating 10 million migrants over the next 40 years because of inaction on the climate change that the UK is causing and has caused historically. That is 250, 000 people each year, in the vast majority, these will be people from developing countries who will be forced from their homes through no fault of their own.

Paying our climate debt doesn’t just mean slashing emissions and compensating developing countries with climate finance, it also means that we have a responsibility to welcome people who want to come to Britain who have been forced from their homes because of climate change.

Despite what we read in our right wing press, we know that out of the people who are forced to migrate due to war, or human rights violations, the greater number move internally or to neighbouring countries. The same is true for people who are forced to migrate because of climate change.

In all communities affected by climate change, it is always the poorest and most marginalised people who tend to live in areas most susceptible to extreme flooding, or drought. But to migrate requires resources. Therefore poor communities often resort to migration as an option of last resort in response to ever worsening conditions.

But what awaits people who do choose to come to the UK? The situation currently for migrants is dire. The current government is introducing legislation to tighten border controls, working with European governments to militarise Fortress Europe, the number of student and work visas available has been limited. This is all making it harder and harder to get into the UK and people who help individuals across borders can be fined or even imprisoned.

When men, women and children arrive in the UK, they are often immediately imprisoned in high security immigration detention centres; deprived of their liberty for months, and sometimes years, for a ‘crime’ of seeking sanctuary in the UK. They are refused that sanctuary and then deported to countries like Iraq, Zimbabwe, Somalia and Iran. And it should be noted that the UK is one of the few countries in the world that forcibly deports people to Iraq, despite pleas from the UN not to do so. People are deported with great and increasing violence which just two months ago resulted in the death of a refugee who was being forcibly returned to Angola.

Although, the political status, international recognition and legal response by the international community to migrants forced to flee due to climate change and to those forced to flee in fear of persecution must be separate and targeted, the common bond that ties them, is that they must be treated with dignity and respect.

But dignity and respect is in short supply in the treatment of migrants to the UK currently, and with the responsibility that the UK must take towards climate forced migrants, it is clear that there needs, urgently, to be a sea-change in attitude, and legislation to make the UK a haven rather than hell for migrants of all backgrounds.

Bradford officially recognised as a City of Sanctuary

Bradford has been officially recognised as a City of Sanctuary – and is only the third city in the country to achieve the status.

A voting panel representing the national movement unanimously voted in the city’s favour, after two years of campaigning by Bradford’s City of Sanctuary group.

Will Sutcliffe, chairman of Bradford’s project, said: “It’s a good news story – the key thing is although the organising committee is small, it represents a huge amount happening across the city. The city really has got something to be proud of.

Read more

City of Sanctuary National Conference 2010

Monday 13th September, 10.30-4pm, Birmingham City Centre

Discover how communities across the UK are becoming Towns and Cities of Sanctuary

Share your experience of working to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary

This year’s national conference will feature inspiring stories from City of Sanctuary initiatives across the UK, including Swansea, which has recently become Wales’ first official City of Sanctuary.

Guest speakers, including Dr Ibrahim Shaw from the UWE ‘Refugee & Migrant Support Hub’, will explore ways of creating ‘Universities of Sanctuary’ – opening up access to higher education for people seeking sanctuary.

A lively afternoon session of ‘Open Space’ workshops will create spaces for sharing experience on a wide range of issues including:
- Involving refugees
- Legal advice
- Refugee speaker teams
- Creative resource raising
- Working with supporting organisations, ‘Regions of Sanctuary’
- Using the media
- Involving and keeping volunteers
- Starting a City of Sanctuary initiative
- Access to healthcare and more…

Participation in the conference is by donation to cover costs of catering.

To book your place please contact us as soon as possible at: mailto:cityofsanctuary@cityofsanctuary.org or visit: www.cityofsanctuary.org/conference

CITIZENS for Sanctuary:2010 General Election

Dear Supporter,

HELP US SAVE SANCTUARY AT THE 2010 GENERAL ELECTION

The General Election is about six months away.  There is a likely to be a change of government and the new Parliament will look very different due to the large numbers of MPs retiring.  This will also be the youngest and most inexperienced Parliament since Cromwell.  CITIZENS for Sanctuary sees this as a huge opportunity to rebuild public – and political – support for sanctuary.  That is why we have launched the Sanctuary Pledge.

Britain has a proud history of providing sanctuary to people fleeing from persecution and tyranny.  Our nation provided sanctuary to Huguenots fleeing religious persecution in 17th century France, Jews fleeing the Nazi regime in the 1930s, Ugandan Asians forced out by Idi Amin in the 1970s, Bosnians escaping ethnic cleansing in the 1990s and Zimbabweans seeking a safe haven today.  Our tradition of providing sanctuary is part of what makes Britain great.

That tradition is under threat.  In recent years the rise of extremist politics, media scare stories, and high profile failings by the Home Office have led to this issue becoming a political football.

Yet over two-thirds of the public still think it is important that the UK provides sanctuary to people fleeing persecution.  We agree. We believe that sanctuary should not just be part of the UK’s history.  It should be part of our future too.

The Sanctuary Pledge is our response.  The Pledge builds on the work of the Independent Asylum Commission and commits those who are asking for our vote to do five things:

1.       Campaign responsibly, positively and sensitively in the 2010 election
2.       Use ‘sanctuary’ instead of ‘asylum’ when communicating with the public
3.       Support policies that will end the detention of children and families for immigration reasons
4.       Promote tolerance and neighbourliness between local communities
5.       Safeguard the long-term future of sanctuary

The Sanctuary Pledge has already been backed by 10 organisations representing 7 million voters in the UK.  Now we need ordinary citizens – like you – to become ‘Sanctuary Champions’ and convince political representatives in 200 target constituencies to sign the Sanctuary Pledge at the 2010 General Election.

Our website, www.sanctuarypledge.org.uk, tells you all you need to know, including the 6 Steps for Citizens to Save Sanctuary.

Here are a few things you can do now:

·         Register to become a Sanctuary Champion and negotiate with Prospective Parliamentary Candidates in your local constituency – email champions@sanctuarypledge.org.uk;
·         Sign up your organisation to back the Sanctuary Pledge – email support@sanctuarypledge.org.uk with your logo and details of what your organisation will do to support the Pledge;
·         Find out where and when your nearest Sanctuary Pledge training is – see here:    www.sanctuarypledge.org.uk/#/when-where-to-train/4536920987.

The Sanctuary Pledge is already building momentum.  We have 10 powerful supporting partners, our first 20 Sanctuary Champions were trained and commissioned last Saturday, we have begun the dialogue with senior Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem politicians on how they will work with us to save sanctuary at the 2010 election, and Radio 4 have broadcast a report on the campaign.  Now we need your support – do what you can to support the Sanctuary Pledge today.

Many thanks for your continued support.

Jonathan.

Jonathan Cox
Lead Organiser
07919 484066
cid:image002.png@01C986F5.D28C4F50

www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk

New book: Becoming a City of Sanctuary

Described by Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, as a ‘once in a generation opportunity’, the City of Sanctuary movement aims to create a network of towns and cities that are proud to be places of safety for people escaping war and persecution.

This book tells the story of the movement so far, and explains how local groups can build a successful City of Sanctuary initiative in their own town or city. It also describes the experiences of groups which have found creative and inspiring ways of welcoming people seeking sanctuary in their local communities.

Order the book from the City of Sanctuary website

Churches mobilise to change attitudes around asylum

No bed of roses for asylum seekers

The garden has been created by Whitchurch, Rhiwbina and Birchgrove Churches Together, a group of 11 churches in the North of Cardiff, which includes Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Church in Wales, Presbyterian and United Reformed churches.

Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan was among those who went down on his knees to help build the garden earlier this week. He said: ”This fantastic symbolic garden should be kept as a living reminder to us all. As a civilised society we have to act with compassion and humanity to those who look to us for help. There is a tendency in Britain to see asylum seekers as pariahs and to resent them being here. But in reality these are people in desperate need and we have a moral obligation to help them and to give them sanctuary where we can.’

Landscaped by Paul Melvin from Cardiff and designed by Rob Hughes of Birmingham, the garden is also supported by Church Action on Poverty’s Living Ghosts campaign, represented by this bare ghostly tree in the garden. The campaign is dedicated to changing policy which condemns those whose claim for asylum has been rejected to destitution.

Last year the Independent Asylum Commission, a citizens’ enquiry into the UK asylum system, said: ‘There is grave misunderstanding in the public mind about the term “asylum” which if not addressed threatens to undermine support for the UK’s proud tradition of providing sanctuary to those fleeing persecution; and recommends that immediate action is taken to win hearts and minds and long term public support for sanctuary.’

Article about The Sanctuary by Bishop of Birmingham David Urquhart.

On first impressions Sanctuary Garden is a simple design, with a calming pool and beautiful planting. But this garden has hidden layers and attempts to both convey a message and challenge popular misconceptions. It encourages visitors to reflect on how asylum seekers are treated in the UK.

Scratch the surface and the real story unfolds. At its heart, a tree, stripped of its bark and painted white represents the thousands of ‘Living Ghosts’: people now living in the UK without any support from the state, unable to work, homeless and destitute. Many consider starving and sleeping on the streets to be preferable to returning to the dangers from which they have fled.

Meanwhile in the public mind asylum seekers have become synonymous with benefit cheats, scroungers and parasites.

I believe a garden is a fitting symbol with which to win hearts and minds. Since I was a small child a garden has been for me a place of wellbeing and peace. I enjoy the mixture of recreation and creativity that it offers me and when I can find a spare hour I often choose to spend it in the garden, pruning, sowing, weeding or planting.

The Sanctuary garden is well designed with features that reflect some of the struggles faced by asylum seekers as well as aspirations to live a productive and fulfulled life in security. Gardens are a recurring motif in the Bible as places of flourishing and harmony, representing a balance between rest and relaxation with work and productivity.

The Garden of Eden in Genesis is an archetype of this while several of the Old Testament prophets use the garden to represent the healing or restoration of an individual or a nation.

In Isaiah 51 the prophet says: “For the LORD will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. “

In a climate of misconception and prejudice can we dare to dream of offering a garden sanctuary to people who have reached these shores and asked for refuge? Can we begin to offer a welcome and hospitality that is generous and not grudging, magnanimous rather than meagre. Are we prepared to offer meaningful employment to those with skills, homes, shelter and food to those with no access to benefits or healing, therapy and comfort to those traumatised by violence?

For this is the kind of response sought by the Old Testament prophets and embodied in the life of Jesus Christ. We need to be prepared to tune out some of the scare-mongering and listen with open minds and hearts to the stories of asylum seekers and refugees living among us in the UK.

It is equally fitting that this garden is being displayed days before the launch of Refugee Week. This year the overall aim of Refugee Week is to create a better understanding between communities by promoting positive representations of refugees.

A new campaign, Simple Acts, has been launched which is about inspiring people to use small, everyday actions to change perceptions of refugees. These acts include reading an article about exile, watching a film about refugees, praying for an asylum seeker, or cooking a dish from another country.

I am promoting this campaign in the Diocese of Birmingham because I believe simple things done collectively can help shift our perceptions and ignite our compassion.

We have already seen much evidence of this in Birmingham where many dedicated people are working both to alleviate suffering and tell the stories of asylum seekers and refugees in this city. Sanctuary Garden, a collaboration between Robert Hughes and WRB Churches Together, Cardiff and sponsored by Church Action on Poverty is also a tribute to the valuable work being done by so many parishes, groups, projects and churches who feel the injustice is intolerable and compassion is the only possible response.

Perhaps you could join them by taking on a Simple Act or by calling for a change in the structures to end the abject poverty and destitution of refused asylum seekers through the Still Human Still Here campaign. Or you could support a local project, donate food, clothing, nappies and other basics; or offer a stranger a bed for the night. If you are inspired by the scriptures or excited by the example of Jesus Christ perhaps you can think again about the call to love the stranger, to speak up for those who have no voice, to free the oppressed and to comfort all who mourn and be part of a movement which can offer a garden sanctuary to those in the desert of exile.

+David, Bishop of Birmingham.

Ruth Gledhill would like to say ‘thank you’ to dear friend Lila Das Gupta reporting from Birmingham for Gardener’s World for the tip-off about this garden. Ruth is The Times Religious Correspondent.

Sanctuary Garden

BBC Gardener’s World this week is host to an unusual exhibit:  A garden with a mission to challenge the prejudices towards those seeking a place of safety in our country.

Beyond its superficial simplicity, Sanctuary Garden has hidden layers and conveys a powerful message. It seeks to raise awareness of the complicated issues that surround asylum seekers in the UK, and to dispel common misconceptions about asylum.

At its heart, a white tree, stripped of its bark and painted white represents the thousands of ‘Living Ghosts’: Asylum seekers whose cases have been rejected and are forced into destitution by UK Government policy. Many consider starving and sleeping on the streets to be preferable to returning to the dangers from which they have fled.

Mary came to the UK from Uganda, seeking asylum. She has been refused asylum but is unable to return home, and now lives in Manchester.

She is now forced to survive on weekly food parcels from Rainbow Haven, a church run project in East Manchester.  The centre is a place for asylum-seekers to meet up and get a hot meal, but it is also the frontline of an increasingly difficult battle against destitution.

“I have to make it last for a week. But it’s sometimes four days,” she says. “If I get some milk, cooking oil, sugar and spaghetti and tea bags, that’s when I’m happy.”

Mary does not qualify for any benefits and is not allowed to work. In 2005 she exhausted her legal avenues for her asylum claim, but she says her life would be in danger if she returned to Uganda.

“I want very, very much to go home, but if I go there, I don’t know what could happen to me… It’s not easy to stay because you can’t make friends here… They keep asylum-seekers in darkness – you are not allowed to work.”

Earlier this year, the Children’s Society report Living on the edge of despair told the story of the impact of destitution on asylum seeker and refugee families in Birmingham.  It found that children and young people were sleeping in hostels which were not designed for families, they were growing up in households without food, heating or toys, and pregnant women could not afford to eat or get to hospital to have their baby.

At the end of last year, the Red Cross estimated that at least 26,000 destitute asylum seekers are now living on Red Cross food parcels in the UK.  Others put the numbers much higher.

Sanctuary Garden, a collaboration between Robert Hughes and Whitchurch, Rhiwbina and Birchgrove Churches Together, Cardiff and sponsored by Church Action on Poverty is also a tribute to the valuable work being done by so many parishes, groups, projects and churches who feel the injustice is intolerable and compassion is the only possible response.

Restore is one such project, set up by Birmingham Churches Together, to help welcome asylum seekers to the region through a network of befrienders, holiday schemes, social events and advocacy while raising awareness of the issues.  But destitution projects are struggling to cope with the level of demand.  At root, the problem is not one of a lack of charity – but of harsh and unjust Government policies.

Nick Sagovsky, Canon theologian at Westminster Abbey presents the challenge in these terms: “In the present situation, where we have a political auction to buy the sympathies of voters by talking tough about asylum seekers, the churches have a key role to play – reminding politicians of all parties that asylum seekers are people too, and that there are many within the electorate who wish to welcome them hospitably.”

If you can’t make it down to Gardeners’ World Live this week, why not do your bit to remind politicians that asylum seekers are people too by signing up for Church Action on Poverty’s Living Ghosts campaign to end the abject poverty and destitution of refused asylum seekers at www.church-poverty.org.uk

Source:Independent Catholic News
The writer of this article Niall Cooper is National Coordinator of Church Action on Poverty

Unleashing the Power of Civil Society

By Kenneth Mawomo

Citizens for Sanctuary’s Jonathan Cox gave a telling presentation on the role that Civil Society can play in making a positive contribution to the well being of the underprivileged and marginalised in society.

Speaking at a meeting organised by Citizens for Sanctuary, and Leicester City of Sanctuary held at the Secular Hall, Humberstone Gate, Leicester on 13 May, Jonathan challenged those gathered to help unleash the power of civil society by forging alliances and partnerships that are guided by unity of purpose designed to bring about meaningful change and tangible results to communities.

The meeting which primarily focused on issues that directly affect asylum seekers and refugees was officially opened by the then Deputy Lord Mayor and Lord Mayor elect (now Lord Mayor) Cllr Roger Blackmore.  A diverse audience was in attendance including individuals in their personal capacities, asylum seekers, grassroots organisations and local institutions such as Leicester City Council, Leicester Libraries, LASS, Welcome Project, Citizens Eye and HAT News.

The presentation highlighted the principles of effective community organising that are embraced by Citizens for Sanctuary in their campaign for the right to be treated without prejudice for those seeking sanctuary in Britain.  Through discussions and contributions from the floor, it was noted that asylum seekers did not have freedom of choice due to unfair government policies.  For instance, their freedom to buy goods from cheaper budget charity shops and the popular Leicester Market is hamstrung by the voucher system which denies them access to cheaper alternatives since these would require cash.  NASS vouchers are only redeemable at ASDA and Sainbury’s supermarkets.  The voucher system limits the options available to seekers of sanctuary as it forces them to make only food purchases at the expense of other necessities such as clothes and footwear.

In order to deal with such unpopular government policies, citizens have to confront and challenge the powers that be through organised collective effort.  What is crucial for citizens is to realise that collectively, they possess immense power to influence change for the better.

Through networking, diverse grassroots organisations can pull resources together to form a broad based alliance that coalesces around a common agenda in pursuit of common good.  Such a strategic alliance would require results oriented mechanisms that guarantee effective implementation.  To this end, civil society can engage with authorities through negotiations (face to face dialogue in order to get concessions), public campaigns (organised demonstrations that put pressure on the powers that be to act), citizen action (deeds e.g. boycotts that are meant to subvert unpopular policies) and the use of testimony (relying on powerful moving stories of lived experiences), depending on prevailing circumstances.

It was emphasised that effective engagement require tact and critical negotiation skills.  In order to promote effective civil society action through negotiations, Citizens for Sanctuary provide free training, materials as well as logistical support to volunteering organisations and individuals.  The call by Citizens for Sanctuary for a robust and vibrant civil society could not have come at a better time.  The so-called ‘broken politics’ of Britain, typified by the House of Commons’ MPs expenses row is a case in point. The time is ripe for civil society to hold politicians to account.  In deed, it is only appropriate that power is restored to its rightful owners – the ordinary citizens.  A lot is at stake and the time to unleash the power of civil society through decisive and results oriented collective action is NOW.

*Kenneth Mawomo volunteers at HAT News as a Citizen Reporter.

Jonathan Cox, Lead Organiser for ‘Citizens for Sanctuary’ was interviewed by Elisha Shamba, Editor of HAT News. Jonathan was guest speaker at the event organised by Leicester, City of Sanctuary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rL_Hpwpdd0&feature=channel_page
http://www.cityofsanctuary.com/
http://www.citizensforsanctuary.org.uk/

Welsh designer wins silver award for his ‘asylum seekers’ garden

A YOUNG Welsh designer is seeking a permanent home for a garden he designed to reflect the plight of asylum seekers, after his creation was honoured with a silver award on the first day of Cardiff’s Royal Horticultural Society show.

“Sanctuary” is Robert Hughes’ first show garden and he has now been asked to take his display to the BBC Gardeners’ World Live event at the Birmingham NEC in June.

Read the full article here

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