Minutes of the Salisbury group are now available thanks to group member Lesley for compiling them. Active meeting. We discussed the death penalty report, social media statistics, forthcoming events including the talk by Daniel Trilling on 10th, the Christmas tree exhibition at St Thomas’s church, a letter published by the Journal and carol singing.
The monthly group meeting is this Thursday 8th of November in Attwood Road, not Victoria Road. All supporters and members are welcome. Starts at 7:30
The author and journalist Daniel Trilling is speaking at the Methodist Church in St Edmund’s Street Salisbury on 10 December on the subject of refugees. He has recently published a book Lights in the Distance which has had a number of favourable reviews (see below). The talk begins at 7:30 pm and is FREE with a parting collection to help with our costs. Copies of the book will be available for sale.
The refugee problem has caused immense problems particularly in Europe. It has crucially affected elections in Hungary and Poland and some think that it was one of the driving issues in the Brexit referendum in the UK. The American elections are currently taking place with president Trump making all kinds of claims about immigrants from Honduras now travelling across Mexico to the Texas border.
Lights in the Distance calmly portrays the reality of life for people trying to enter a Europe that largely doesn’t want them … If knowledge is the foundation of action, then [Trilling] has done us a great service by turning masses and numbers into people whom we like, who we can see are like us. (New Statesman)
Brilliantly researched and written Lights in the Distance is, above all, a book of witness … Trilling [brings] his reader as close as possible to the actual circumstances of those who have found their way to Calais, or to Catania in Sicily or to London or to Athens, only to find themselves condemned to occupy space, rather than live. (Observer)
A compelling account of the individual stories of refugees on the move … Its driving characters are nine migrants, and the book is almost entirely dedicated to their personal stories. In a terse and powerful introduction and afterword, the author’s mastery of the details of his subject shines through. (Financial Times)
Subtle but effective … This is what makes Lights in the Distance such a powerful book. In the midst of an escalating crisis, Trilling manages to keep his lens focused tightly on the people who are most intimately affected by the geopolitical catastrophe taking place around them. (Irish Times)
Humane and illuminating, Lights in the Distance is a vital examination of what the new era of border control and deportations really means, what it costs, and who pays the price. (Olivia Laing)
Combining forensic enquiry with moral passion, Daniel Trilling has emerged as one of our most intrepid and resourceful reporters. In Lights in the Distance, he illuminates the vast human tragedy behind newspaper headlines about refugees, forcing us to confront Europe’s legacy of imperialism and nationalism. (Pankaj Mishra)
A deeply moving and much needed reminder of the human tales which are so often obscured by political rhetoric on migration. (Fatima Manji, Channel 4 News)
We hope this talk will shine some informed light on this vexed area. There has been considerable interest in this subject recently especially in the light of Theresa May’s deliberately hostile immigration policy from when she was home secretary. This was under the spotlight when numbers of the Windrush generation were caught up in after having lived here for several decades.
This would be an opportunity to meet members of the local group if you are interested in joining us
@wilts4refugees
We have a fairly active programme of events and they are gathered here for convenience. If you live in the Salisbury or even South Wilts area you would be welcome to come to any one of them. If you are thinking of joining, then make yourself known to one of the group. You would be very welcome.
• Refugee Vigil – to be re-arranged. We did have a date but unfortunately it clashed with the fair in the Market Square so it has been postponed
• Citizenship Day – 26th October. Where go into schools in the area and discuss human rights issues with pupils. Despite several requests, the UTC has not responded
• Christmas Tree Festival – 3rd – 10th December. This is in St Thomas’s Church in the centre of Salisbury and we will be displaying a tree there. It will focus on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Human Rights Day Speaker – 10th December. We are delighted to welcome Daniel Trilling who is an author and journalist and who will be speaking at the Methodist Church at 7pm. This is a FREE event but we ask for a parting collection to help cover our costs
• Exhibition of Refugee Photographs – January 2019 – Some
I Welcome exhibition
details to be worked out but these are the photos we displayed in the Library (pictured) and we are pleased that the Methodist Church has agreed to host them during the month.
• Arts Centre Film – 8th March 2019. We host a film once and sometimes twice a year in the Arts Centre. Details nearer the time.
• Market Stall (pictured) – 8th June 2019. Fund raising stall we hold in the Market Square once a year
Carol singing. With the aid of the Farrant Singers, we travel around the Victoria Road, College Street areas singing carols. This will be in December and details to be announced.
We are also on Twitter and Facebook, salisburyai
Minutes for the October meeting are attached and thanks to group member Lesley for preparing them. We discussed the death penalty, North Korea, urgent actions, and future events.
September meeting minutes attached thanks to group member Lesley for compiling them. We discussed future plans including the Christmas tree, an event to mark the 70th anniversary of the UDHR, the death penalty and North Korea.
Minutes available shortly.
We shall be holding our monthly meeting this Thursday in Victoria Road at 7:30 as usual. Supporters welcome. We shall be reviewing the death penalty; follow up from the Tree of Life street action; forthcoming film,s and a possible event to mark the 70th anniversary of the UN Declaration in 1948. Also the Christmas tree in St Thomas’s.
The group held its annual barbeque on Saturday 18th and although overcast, it was warm and we were able to stay outside until the sun went down. Thanks to all who contributed. The next meeting takes place on Thursday 13th September in Victoria Road as usual.
Barbeque in full swing.
We have pleasure in attaching the minutes of the July meeting in which we discussed the Death Penalty, the barbeque, the Trump protest and urgent actions. Thanks to group member Lesley for compiling them.
Group meeting Thursday 12th at 7:30 as usual in Victoria Road. Supporters welcome.
