Video: highlights of the Remembering Srebrenica memorial event

In Birmingham, World

14 hours ago

1 minute read

151 views

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A two-minute video featuring a few highlights of the Remembering Srebrenica memorial event, held at the in the Council House, Birmingham, on 11th July 2024.

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Today is Srebrenica Memorial Day

In West Midlands, World

5 days ago

1 minute read

64 views

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Today is Srebrenica Memorial Day: a day to pay tribute to the victims and survivors of the 1990s genocide in Bosnia, and a day to commit to challenging hate, both at home and overseas. The Remembering Srebrenica theme for Memorial Week 2024 is “I Am Because You Are”. In the West Midlands we have two Srebrenica memorial events taking place today with Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network, one on...

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Thursday 4th July is an important date. So is Thursday 11th.

In Birmingham, World

2 weeks ago

1 minute read

192 views

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While my own and many other people’s eyes are focussed on the UK General Election this Thursday, please take a moment the following Thursday (11th) to remember the 29th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, which took place in July 1995. Better still, if you can be in the centre of Birmingham at lunchtime on 11th, please join us at Remembering Srebrenica’s memorial event at Birmingham City...

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Laurence Turner: a new start for Birmingham Northfield

In Labour Party, Northfield area

1 month ago

3 minute read

3,120 views

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A new candidate will be standing for Labour in my home constituency of Birmingham Northfield on 4th July. His name is Laurence Turner and he has my support as someone who lives here and who represented the area in Parliament for 27 years. My backing for Laurence is, of course, tinged with sadness. My last blog post on here welcomed the prospect of my good friend, Alex Aitken, winning the seat for...

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Vote Alex Aitken for Birmingham Northfield on 4th July

In Birmingham, Northfield area

2 months ago

1 minute read

377 views

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Two years ago, I posted the statement below on social media, announcing that I did not intend to stand again for election as MP for Birmingham Northfield. At the same time I voiced my support for Alex Aitken to become the next Labour candidate for the constituency. With the General Election having finally been called, on 4th July I will have the opportunity to vote for Alex to become my home MP...

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Is Labour listening over Gaza?

In News

2 months ago

3 minute read

361 views

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Labour says it will listen to its supporters’ concerns over Gaza. Now it must show it understands what that means. (An extract from an article originally published by Labour List.)

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Remember Srebrenica

In Middle East

3 months ago

2 minute read

1,277 views

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Middle East Eye is reporting that Israel intends to set up checkpoints around Rafah to separate Palestinian men “of military age” from their families. It brings back haunting memories about what happened in Srebrenica in 1995.

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Remembering Tom Hurndall

In Middle East

3 months ago

1 minute read

627 views

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It is 21 years since British photojournalist Tom Hurndall was shot by an Israeli sniper while trying to save children from the line of fire in Rafah. His memory calls us all to redouble our efforts to demand an end to Gaza’s agony today.

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Gaza refugees: UK double standards and extortion at Rafah

In Middle East

4 months ago

5 minute read

1,544 views

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Refugees from Gaza with family in the UK face both Kafkaesque barriers from the UK government and extortion at the border between Rafah and Egypt. A family I know is experiencing both. Before going into that, though, let’s get one thing clear. The way to end the suffering in Gaza is an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access into the Strip, it is one hundred per cent unacceptable to...

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Statement on CQC review of leadership at UHB

In Birmingham, Health & social care

4 months ago

3 minute read

692 views

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This is a statement I made in my capacity as Healthwatch Birmingham & Healthwatch Solihull Chair, which was published on the Healthwatch Birmingham website: The latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) report into University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) shows just how far the new leadership team has to go in earning the trust and confidence of staff who have suffered under the...

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Abuse in Politics

In Middle East, Personal

5 months ago

1 minute read

719 views

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The boundaries between legitimate protest, abuse and intimidation are again in the spotlight. It is not the first time this has been an issue. I wrote about this subject in 2016 when I was an MP. Those of us who rightly call for the carnage in Gaza to stop – and stop now – must certainly reject intimidatory abuse in support of that cause. But nobody should pretend such abuse has ever only come...

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ICJ decision on Gaza

In Middle East, World

5 months ago

1 minute read

768 views

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The International Court of Justice has reminded Israel that it has already ordered it to “ensure the safety and security of the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip” – including in Rafah. The onslaught on Rafah that Netanyahu is threatening would be a clear breach of that order and illegal. How will history judge the international community if we just carry on making polite requests to Israel...

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