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Justice First

7/21/2015

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The news last week that the government is considering cutting asylum support for children by as much as £16.00 to as little as £36.95 has made me reflect again on how we treat asylum seekers in our society.   I am also able to reflect after taking part in a special football tournament last month.


On Saturday 13th June, I had the privilege of taking part in the annual justice First five-a-side football tournament at the Goal football complex in Middlesbrough.  This excellent and uplifting tournament has been taking place since 2010 and again the day saw  a wonderful mixture of people from many different backgrounds coming together to enjoy the beautiful game and forge new friendships.


Justice First are based in Stockton and do a great job of helping asylum seekers to get their cases together. This is a process often fraught with difficulties, as the asylum seekers have often had to flee at very short notice, without time to gather the relevant documents, whilst ever more stringent rules from the Home Office make it harder and harder for genuine asylum seekers to be given the chance of safety they so desperately need.  When you add to that the difficulties of living on a very low income, the frustration of being not allowed to use their often very considerable skills to help both our economy and society, whilst often having to learn a new language, then it is fair to say that, despite what some might think, the life of an asylum seeker in Northeast England today is not an easy one.


The great thing about the Justice First football tournament is that football is again able to prove that it can be such a positive feature of society. on the pitch all are equal and the result depends on the skill and energy of those in either team, not to any unfair advantages.


Perhaps the most important part of the tournament is that asylum seekers and locals can get together and interact as fellow humans and friends.    This is so important because it seems that so rare that asylum seekers are represented as simply human beings like the rest of us. More commonly they seem to be viewed as some sort of existential threat. In many cases in the media, we never learn their names, merely that we are being swamped or flooded by unnamed members of the human race.      


The Justice First tournament is a very timely reminder that asylum seekers are our fellow humans, who have often been through terribly traumatic experiences we wouldn't wish on our own worst enemies and who deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion.  


After all that is exactly what our great traditions of solidarity, fairness and tolerance have led so many of our predecessors in our great region to do, in so many different circumstances in the past, from opposing the slave trade, to supporting refugees from the Spanish Civil war, to the great work of organisation such as Justice First, the West End Refugee Service in Newcastle, the Star and Shadow Conversation Group in Newcastle and so many other great NGOs throughout the region today.


Long may the proud traditions of solidarity, fairness and tolerance in Northeast England continue!   
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Durham Miners Gala 2015

7/13/2015

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It was  a great honour to be again be a steward at the Durham Miners' Gala and still find time to march in with my union banner, in time to hear the speeches. 


The incredible turnout, estimated at 150 000 proved yet again just how important the heritage of solidarity and social justice is to the people of Northeast England.


Let's hope funding can continue to be found and the Friends of the Durham Miners Gala gain many more adherents.  Long may the Gala prosper! 
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Celebration of the Pitmen's Great Stand 1765

7/8/2015

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Last Friday, the Tyneside Irish Centre was packed out as about 120 people attended the celebration event commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Pitmen's Great Stand.   This pivotal moment in the development  of a Northeast English regional consciousness based on values of solidarity, fairness and social justice, was remembered through speeches and song.


Peter Sagar told the story of how the Northeast coalfield developed over the centuries and how the mine owners had developed into a cartel, who used the infamous bond system to tie miners down to one pit for a whole year as a way of ensuring that wages could be kept down. Peter then explained how it was this system that the miners were striking against and how, although they couldn't get rid of it in 1765, the strike did start the process whereby the bond system was removed in the 19th century. Peter also outlined the way that a radical identity developed in Northeast England over the 150 years after the Pitmen's Great Stand.      


Peter then performed the song We Are Strong, specially written for the occasion, which can be found at the page of music and writing on this website. 


David Hopper, secretary of the Durham Miners' Association then spoke forcefully of the challenges facing ordinary working people, especially young people today.  In a well-received speech David spoke of his fears and remembered miner's struggles of the last 35 years. 


The final speaker was Shane Enright, Trade Union Campaign Manager from Amnesty International UK. Shane skilfully linked the struggle of the miners in Northeast England 250 years ago with struggles of trade unionists across the world today, including a moving section about the teachers' union in Bahrain. 


The speeches were followed by food and a great performance by the Smokin' Spitfires, which got many people up and dancing. Their performance began with a short, poignant snatch of Gresford, the miners' hymn, written in the 1930's by Jarrow pitman Robert Saint.


Everybody seemed to have a great time and it was a great start to the weekend!
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    Peter Sagar

    Peter is a teacher and human rights activist. He is also an historian, specialising in the history of North-east England over the last 250 years.

    Peter has been a teacher of young people and adults in North-east England since 1987.

    Peter has been the Regional Rep for Amnesty International in the North-east and Yorkshire Region since 2000 and has also served as Trade Union Co-ordinator for Burma Campaign UK and in various other positions in human rights related organisations.

    Peter holds an M.Phil in the regional identity of North-east England, from the University of Northumbria in 2005.  His subsequent writing on human rights and about North-east England has been published in numerous publications.

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