Brighton Social Forum
Friday 25th September 2015
The Brighton Social Forum presents an evening of lively discussions and musical entertainment to raise awareness of the current humanitarian crisis unfolding before our eyes across Europe. Men, women and children fleeing war and unimaginable terror have had had no choice but to risk their lives and their families’ lives to try to get to safety – only to be greeted by armoured police in Macedonia throwing tear gas and stun grenades at them or to be locked in a stadium in Kos in the unbearable heat with no food or water . When 71 dead bodies (youngest of which being 1 year old) are found decomposing in the back of a lorry in one of the richest countries in Europe, then we all know we can no longer stand by and watch this happen. These people are not animals, they are ordinary citizens just like you and me. Each day that goes by this crisis is worsening and we all need to wake up and unite in solidarity with these people before more lives are so tragically lost.
Money raised on this evening will go to the Hummingbird project and Children of Calais – both Brighton based organisations raising money and collecting much needed donations to take to the “Jungle” camps in Calais.”
We are proposing a suggested donation of £5 on the door (compulsory £5 on the door after 9pm) and we will be acting as a drop off point for donations for the Hummingbird project and Children of Calais to take with them on their next visit to the camps. If you wish to actively make a difference then please come along bringing one of the items on the list below of needed supplies and donate on the door as generously as you can afford.
Programme for the evening:
7.00-8.30/9.00 – panel debate about current migration/humanitarian crisis with Q&A / Panel Discussion :
Ali Ceesay– spokesperson from Children of Calais
Liz Fekete– Executive Director of the Institute of Race Relations and head of its European research programme
Richard Williams – Sanctuary on Sea
Representatives of Brighton Migrant Solidarity
films from Jason Parkinson (freelance video journalist)
and more TBC
9pm onwards – Musical Entertainment including
Dave Pepper (poetically, political songwriting beat bard)
Tiago (Time for T)
DJ Eggs Legs
Let’s celebrate unity and solidarity in the face of such tragedy and raise awareness about the fact that every human is equal and every person has a right to live and be free. This is not a migrant crisis. It is a human one.