International Support Kurds in Syria Association – SKS

skslogo-1Daily news updates: Wednesday 27 Nov 2013 –Final death toll for Wednesday 27/11/2013: Approximately 190 people were killed. The SOHR documented the death of 5 doctors and 4 hospital staff members (nurses and paramedics) who were killed during the clashes between the Khadra battallion/ISIS and the regime forces in the Deir Attiya hospital, which took place on the 21-23rd of this month. The dead: 44 civilians (9 women, 6 children), 42 rebels, 7 rebels executed by ISIS, 7 unidentified rebels, 19 NDF, 36 regular soldiers, foreign fighters (2 Hizbullah*, 9 Abu al-Fadel, 14 ISIS).  – See more at: http://supportkurds.org/news/wednesday-27-november-2013

Left Unity is about to be launched

BannerLeft Unity is an exciting opportunity for us all to work together for change.

We will be holding our Founding Conference on 30th November 2013 at Royal National Hotel in Bedford Way, London WC1H 0DG. The venue is fully accessible. If you have child care requirements please contact us.

The conference will be tasked with deciding the policy and structure of the party/organisation, as well as making decisions regarding ongoing anti-austerity campaigns and electoral strategy.

Please note that in order to fully participate in the founding conference you must first join to become a Founding Member of Left Unity. http://leftunity.org/category/foundingconference/ Continue reading “Left Unity is about to be launched”

Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network – QARN

qarn logo sm  Destitution and indefinite detention of people in the asylum system – see reports and articles here: http://qarn.org.uk

Quaker statement on indefinite immigration detention

[The QARN statement (see below) has now been adapted by Quakers in Britain and may be used in correspondence with press and local MPs: http://www.quaker.org.uk/news/quaker-statement-immigration-detention] Continue reading “Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network – QARN”

Quaker Meeting this morning

quaker_home_theme1http://www.quaker.org.uk/bym War and peace,  turning weapons into ploughshares.  

I was mindful of the violence being carried out in Syria,  the 100 or so people who are still dying every day;  the West’s persistence on dividing and so weakening the Kurds which has finally succeeded; the West’s promotion of the Syrian National Coalition which calls for weapons … those who are credibly and adamantly promoting a non-violence resolution to regime change have little voice in the midst of this mess.

Haytham Manna should have everyone’s ear … http://supportkurds.org/reports/speech-of-haytham-manna-14-september-2013-in-paris

Some of the people at Quakers are amazing

Yesim music, poetry and story-telling circle

YesimThis was fun, but has now run it’s time.  Please do go to Yesim and taste their lovely food.  We met on Sunday evenings at Yesim in Narborough Road, Leicester with our songs and music, poems and stories, cultures and languages,  and instruments from different lands. Just from memory we’ve had people/language/instruments from England, Scotland, Ireland, (Wales – can someone remind me?), Kurdistan – Turkey and Syria, Turkey, China, France, Iran,  USA, Caribbean, Korea, Romania, Poland, Spain, Somalia, India.

Have a look at the Facebook page for information:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/yesimpatisserie

The Circle was started through the energies of Chris Starbuck  and continued after he left. It’s been a very special place for lots of us.

PYD statement

2013 May 7 PYD-leader-Salih-Muslim-MohammedFirat News: Statement on the declaration of the interim joint administration in Kurdish region in Syria

The Arab Spring has extended to Syria, triggering an uprising against the tyrannical regime that has perpetrated all kinds of the injustices against the Syrian people throughout last decades, obliterating security and civil peace in the country. Most of the components of Western Kurdistan actively participated and played an important part in the uprising. Since the withdrawal of Syrian regime forces from most of the regions of Western Kurdistan , which was due in part to the people’s great straggle to oust them, and also to the regime’s exhaustion in its war against the Free Syrian Army and extremist Islamic groups in the big cities like Homs, Aleppo and Damascus . Continue reading “PYD statement”

After18

After18After18 was founded in 2013 in response to the number of unaccompanied young people in Leicester who were asking for support. Children as young as 11 have been travelling to the UK alone (without their family) fleeing war and persecution in their home country.

As children can not be returned to an unsafe place they are allowed to remain in the UK while they are a child.

Once a young person turns 18 they face many challenges. Many are expected to return to unfamiliar cities in their country while those allowed to stay must learn how to adjust to living in the UK. After18 works to support young people to transition into adulthood and prepare for their future.

The image below was created by a young person to show their journey to the UK.

Who we arehttp://www.after18.org.uk