Local Booklet launches Anti-racism Week
Publish Date: Friday, 23 March 2007
A booklet challenging myths and answering frequently asked questions about migrant workers has been launched this week. 19th-25th March is 'Intercultural and Anti-Racism Week' across the island of Ireland and includes the UN designated international day against racism on Wednesday.
The booklet was prepared by the Animate migrant worker project, a partnership between Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council and the community based South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP).
The publication was launched by the Mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone, Councillor Jim Hamilton, who said: "The slogan for the week this year is Take a Stand Against Racism which is what we in Council and so many other groups have been doing. This booklet is a useful educational tool. It answers many frequently asked questions about migrant workers in terms of explaining terminology and economic benefits migration can have, as well as challenging some of the more frequently encountered myths used against migrant workers."
Bernadette McAliskey, Co-ordinator of S.T.E.P. continues, "We are pleased to see this research re-published for wider dissemination in the community. It is valuable training support material for community groups, youth groups, and those organizations with a statutory good relations duty, challenging racial stereotyping, and fiction masquerading as fact."
Daniel Holder, Animate project coordinator said: "The theme of Anti-Racism week this year is around public services which include education. During this week, we will be sending copies of this booklet to local schools. We hope it proves a useful resource for teachers and others."
The UN designated International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21st March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. The 25th March this year also marks the Bi-Centenary of the Abolition of Slavery within the British Empire.
Copies of the booklet are available online at www.animate-ccd.net or by calling Animate on (028) 8772 9439.
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Notes to the Editor:
1. The full title of the booklet is: Migrant Workers: Frequently Asked Questions Challenging Myths, Anti-Racism, Useful Terminology, Problematic Terminology; copies can be downloaded from www.animate-ccd.net
2. Intercultural and Anti Racism Week, 19-25 March 2007. This is a North/South initiative and includes the UN designated International Day for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, 21 March 2007. The week is coordinated by the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. Further information on the week can be obtained from: http://www.nccri.ie/ or www.equalityni.org
3. There are several thousand migrant workers in the borough mainly from other parts of the European Union which has been a major boost to the local economy and regeneration. Please avoid using the word "influx" within articles on migration as is a pejorative term that insinuates an uncontrollable flow of an inanimate object rather than the migration of human beings.
