We desperately need your assistance in providing the following: Tinned foods/cutlery, Torches, Tinned Milk/crockery, Batteries, Tin openers, Matches, Bottled water, Candles, Dry food (Rice/Pasta/Porridge oats), Bed sheets, Clothes/footwear, Blankets, Tents, Airbeds, Ground sheets, Pillows, Tarpaulins, Soap, Hand tools, Bath towels, Shovels/forks, Toilet paper, Screwdrivers, Toiletries, Rope/nails, Sanitary towels, Medical supplies, Generators etc.

Family members who are concerned about family members abroad should contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on: (020) 7008 1500.

To make a donation contact:
The Grenada Disaster Aid UK on 0207 7631 4274 or
The Grenada Embassy on 0207 631 4277

For those who wish to contribute financially;

Account Name: Grenada Disaster Relief Fund
Bank: Lloyds TSB plc
Sort Code: 30 92 83
Account number: 0584503

or
Donations can be sent free of charge to any JN Money Transfer
Account: 10272794

or contact
The Jamaica National Hurricane Relief Ivan Appeal:
Tel: 0800 169 4819 (freephone)

The Claudia Jones Organisation of 103 Stoke Newington Road, N16 and the Hackney Black Peoples Association of 18 Stoke Newington Road, N16, are collection points for those who want to donate tinned foods, medicines, nappies, sanitary towels, and everything needed for life for Grenada and Jamaica which have been hit by Hurricane Ivan. They are also collecting clothing but they do not want any old clothes, either new or almost new. They are also collecting money as well. Everything they collect will be handed over to the High Commissions.

They plan a joint fundraising meeting on;

Date: Thursday 16 September
Location: Hackney Black Peoples Association., 18 Stoke Newington Road, London N16
Contact: CJO: cjouk@btclick.com Tel: 7241 1646 / HBPA: hbpa1981@yahoo.co.uk Tel: 7249 3764

There are collection points in the West London area, for clothes, food, etc at;

The Tabernacle, Powis Square, London W11
Open between 9am - 10pm

You can also get more information on ways to help from;
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency

For donations to Grenada
The shipping company GEEST LINE have provided a 40 ft container to load supplies to Grenada. on 17th September 2004.

The collection of goods is being co-ordinated by Caribjet Travel agent
Contact: Pat Bissessar (0208 581 2317)

It will be loaded by BREEZE ICE INTL Ltd at

SHURGARD SELF STORAGE, 750-758 Greenford Road, Middx UB6 8QQ

RECEIVING STATIONS:
CaribJet Travel - 141 North Hyde Road, Hayes, Middx
BB's CrabBack, 3 Chignell Place, West Ealing. Tel: 020 8840 8322
Tudor Rose Night Club - 68 The Green, Southall, Middx. Tel: 020 8843 2132
Spice Island Shipping, 26 Delamere Road, Hayes, Middx, 24 Hrs tel: 020 8573 6524
Melow Mix Studios - Unit 2, Foulden Road, London N16 7UR
A Paul Shipping - 79a Goldhawk Rd, London W12
Homerton Hospital - Homerton High Street, Hackney
Sheila/Brian McDowall - 14 Wiltshire Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey, CR7 7QN
St Andrews Catholic Church, Thornton Heath, Surrey
Poisonous Music, Shepherds Bush Market (Uxbridge Rd End)
Sweeter Touch - 309 Neasden Lane, NW2
Venita Roberts - Green Light Youth Club, Bow Road London E3
Master T, Jam & Wine Records - 58 Acton High Street, W3
Cleveland Mcketty - 7 Park Ave, Sundon Park, LUTON
Hill Top Community Centre - Crest Road, High Wycombe
Slique Hair & Beauty - 45 Norwood Road, Hern Hill
CHOICE FM North and South
Swift Travel Birmingham - Miss Lorayne
Fox Travel Birmingham - Eaton Gordon
Real Deals Travel Manchester - Carl Hamilton
Eldorardo Travel - Tooting SW - Roslyn Twin

CONTACT:
Roy Sawdust 07831 671 152 (Team Leader - Transportation/Shipping)
Patricia Bissessar 07949 275 116 / email patbissessar@hotmail.com
Alison Jones 07939 500 448
Sarah-Jane Beavis 07958 753333 (Air Travel Co-ordinator)
Dennis McIntosh 07956 990507
Susan Grant 07939 650910
Robert Grant 020 8840 6310
Evening collections in London from you - Cliffy Marshall 0794 730 7107

In March 2004, two key events took place, which brought together writers of African and Asian descent and the small publishers of their work. These were, Writing and Publishing Our Future: Black Women Publishers on 6 March in London, organised by the African Writers Abroad (PEN) Centre and the Black Writers Conference on 20 March in Manchester organised by Commonword/Cultureword.

One clear outcome from both conferences was that writers were looking for more support from publishers. In turn, publishers were looking for different and innovative ways to publicise their titles. Kadija George, publisher of Sable LitMag, has organised poetry and prose masterclasses for writers in partnership with The Arvon Foundation, with publishers offsetting the cost with bursaries. To date, five independent publishers have agreed to support the scheme; Brown Skin Books, Crocus Books, Peepal Tree Press, Tamarind Books and The X Press. Brown Skin Books have provided a bursary for a woman writer, Crocus Books for a new writer from the North West of England, Peepal Tree Books unrestricted bursary, will be offered to a writer selected from applicants on the course, Tamarind Books for a writer of books for young people and The X Press for a fiction writer.

The tutors on the course that takes place from April 18 – 23 2005, will be, Marita Golden, African American author of 11 titles in both fiction and non-fiction and founder of the Hurston/Wright Foundation whose Awards and summer school are supported by renowned writers and scholars including Toni Morrison and Henry Louis Gates Jnr. The poetry tutor will be Kamau Brathwaite, from Barbados, an icon for many poets of Caribbean descent in Britain. He has written several books of poetry, including the heralded trilogy, The Arrivants, plus several literary criticism texts and is known for being the proponent of Nation Language. David Dabydeen, Professor of Caribbean studies at Warwick University, and an award winning novelist and poet will be the guest reader at this phenomenal week of talent.

Peter Kalu, organiser of the National Black Writers Conference, whose publishing arm, Crocus have themselves donated a bursary says, “There are complex reasons why many Black writers fail to get publishing deals from mainstream and small presses. The Sable/Arvon Foundation link up is one solid means of addressing that failure.” The course, which opened for bookings at the beginning of June is already 50% full, and Sable LitMag are seeking out more publishers to support the scheme in this way.

“Ideally, we would like a bursary for every place or one generous donor of a minimum of £2000. We don’t want something for nothing – Sable is a growing litmag, which is about to go international with distribution across the UK and US via Ingram. We can offer promotional space in a quality publication and presence on our website in exchange for financial support for one or more writers to attend an excellent course. The experience is invaluable,” says Kadija George. She continues, “I’m really please that although they are small, these publishers, working on such tight budgets, are willing to support writers in this way. On the two previous Sable/Arvon partnership courses, we have attracted fiction writers, poets and playwrights from West Africa, the USA, the Middle East, and Europe as well from throughout England to attend the courses in this partnership scheme. They are always oversubscribed, which shows just how much they are needed and appreciated.”

“We want to give writers of African and Asian descent the opportunity to work with high calibre internationally renowned writers and teachers who they themselves have been influenced by through their work and activism. We have also arranged for two free places to be available through a competition which is open internationally.”

For more information on the scheme, photos, interviews, please contact Kadija:
info@sablelitmag.org
Mobile:07980 269 138

www.sablelitmag.org

"Literature is the most beautiful of countries" - Jose Marti

FAIRTRADE - Guarantees a better deal for Third World Producers.

FAIRTRADE - Guarantees a better deal for disadvantaged Nations.

African Enslavement Rememberance
National Slavery Memorial Day

Support for EDM 1010 is growing. Signatories have more than doubled from 47 on 6 May 2004, to 114 on 19 June 2004. Ligali acknowledges Dianne Abbott MP written support of the EDM and the work of David Lammy MP in researching the issue on our behalf. David Miliband, the Minister of State for School Standards suggest ample opportunity exists within the National Curriculum to study the enslavement of Africans. He also states 11-14 year old pupils look at the culture, beliefs, and achievements of African societies in the past.

Has your local MP signed the EDM? Click here to view responses so far.

Hearts to Africa

Hearts to africa is very much a 'hands on' charity. We are community funded and really do what we say we do on the tin. We advertise the need for clothes, educational equipment, medical equipment, toys, shoes, food, kitchen utensils and the like, and once we get word that 'you' the people have these items, we head down to where you're at with a big van, load up bound for the storage depot. once we get all of the 'gifts' to the storage, we arrange for a team to sort through the items, bag & barrel them accordingly. Then they are shipped.

The container cost are a staggering £2,000 and this is paid for out of the money raised that particular year. The deficit is paid for out of members pockets. We then pay for our own flight and accomodation and travel to The Gambia ready for a fun, hard working week [or two] of distribuation. Hands On!. All items that you kindly donate reach the people directly. And if you wish to see this to believe this, then the choice is yours and the opportunity is open to all to be a traveller along with the Hearts to Africa team. Or you could also very easily become a member which is even better. Check out the website www.heartstoafrica.org.uk to find out more about us and our history.

Hearts to Africa is a registered charity.

6 May 2004
Has your local MP signed EDM1010?

On 20 April 2004, Louise Ellman MP initiated Early Day Motion (EDM) 1010 calling on the Government to acknowledge the leading role Britain played in Transatlantic enslavement and to make the teaching of the ‘slave trade’ and plantation enslavement a mandatory part of the National Curriculum.

An Early Day Motion, or EDM, ‘is the term used to describe notices of motions given by Members that are not generally expected to be debated. Effectively, the tabling of an EDM is a device to draw attention to an issue, and to elicit support for it by the means of inviting other Members to add their signatures to the motion.’ (www.edm.ais.co.uk)

EDM 101 further calls upon the Government to initiate a National Memorial Slavery Day so that people throughout the country will remember and learn from the horrors of enslavement. We wrote to several MP’s and British monarchs asking for them to either sign or provide written support for the EDM. Diane Abbott, David Lammy, Baroness Valerie Amos, Adam Afriyie and Paul Boateng were amongst those that we wrote to. We are pleased to see that Diane Abbott has since signed the EDM although we remain disappointed with some of the responses we have received.

Click here to read their responses

‘My partner is a black man… slavery was bad, you need to forget about it, move on’.
(A caller to BBC London radio during a discussion about racism)

Ignorance and apathy now present the biggest challenge to global security. Colonialism and now neocolonialism maintain global inequality. Many chose to hide from the reality that we live in a society where obesity can be a serious problem when across the world famine kills thousands every day. This is part of the legacy of the morally abhorrent laws, individuals and British institution that legitimised slavery. This legacy continues to perpetuate social and economic hardship in African countries as richer nations continue to burden them with ‘debt’ and plunder their resources. It is also one of the root causes of poverty, war and migration. Current World history refuses to reflect the fact that the rich global minority refuses to tackle the inequality facing the poor global majority despite the fact that these nations remain primary instigators in the economic, moral and social deprivation that some of these countries continue to face. In fact Britain donates less than 0.5% of it GDP to global aid.

As of 28th May 2004, 1467 EDM’s and Amendments had been recorded by the House. The EDM with the most signatures (381) is EDM 757 which called for the House to congratulate the Royal Horticultural Society for its invaluable contribution to the UK gardening sector with 381 signatures. To date EDM 1010 has received only 59 signatures.

We ask that you contact your local MP and ask them to sign this important EDM1010.

The Disarm Trust was set up in April 2003 in response to increased levels of violent crime involving firearms. Last month’s parliamentary launch at the Houses of Parliament was attended by several celebrities with David Blunkett as the guest speaker. Due to the unfortunate lack of funding, the event was also a fund raiser for the charity. Disappointingly, there is no sustained government funding plan for Disarm despite all the cliché rhetoric given by the government representatives present. We also noted that, as usual there was little acknowledgement of the numerous fathers, sons and brothers who also suffer as a result of gun crime.

Gun crime represents just 0.4% of total crime in London and about 1.9% of all violent crime. National trends also indicate that criminal damage offences make up the majority of crimes where firearms are used (about 44%) with Robbery accounting for over half of all violent gun crime. Yet the fear media reporting creates about gun crime is considerable and disproportional. Nonetheless, irrespective of media mis-reporting it is a minute minority of our youth involved in gun crime and African British mothers and fathers are united in the struggle to eradicate it from our community.

You can read more about the Disarm Trust in our me2we section.

Related
BBC News Online

18 April 2004
Roger Sylvester Justice Campaign Public Meeting

On the night of Monday 11th January 1999, Roger Sylvester, a thirty year old black man, was restrained outside his home by eight police officers from Tottenham Police Station. Seven days later Roger was dead. His family waited almost five years to hear the verdict of an unlawful killing verdict at the inquest into his death last October. The police officers involved in Roger's death now seek to quash the verdict with public funds.

The Roger Sylvester Justice Campaign held a public meeting to discuss this issue at the West Indian Cultural Centre in Tottenham. The panel consisted of Mr and Mrs Sylvester, David Lammy MP, Deborah Coles (INQUEST), Raju Bhatt (Solicitor), Tipper Naphtali (Mikey Powell Family) and Peter Dyal (Andrew Jordan Family).

Deborah Coles from INQUEST made the point that there have been eight unlawful deaths recorded but still no successful prosecution against the police. She mentioned that when Head of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, Nick Hardwick, spoke on Newsnight earlier this week about learning lessons after the death of Christopher Alder, there was no mention about the need to learn lessons on police criminality to eradicate the ongoing message given that police officers operate above the law in these cases. There were also calls for an independent public inquiry into process of investigations of deaths in custody.

Tension rose amongst the audience at the event when MP David Lammy attempted to leave before the question and answer section. He was eventually convinced to return to answer one question. In response to a passionate brother who asked for advice on empowering our community with getting public inquiries, Lammy stated that he had supported the Sylvester family from day one and that he was not here as representative of government, but as an MP for Tottenham.

He also stated that he had spoken to Commission of Racial Equality chair, Trevor Philips about the lack of progress made on issues relating to deaths in police custody and that he would continue to campaign for public inquires in these issues. When other members of the audience expressed their disappointment by David’s failure to answer the core questions, David made the point that the community should campaign and march. The process of an inquiry is decision of Home secretary and Lord Chancellor.

For further information;

Call the RSJC Campaign Number: 07931 970 442

www.rsjc.org.uk

“By institutionalizing memory, resisting the onset of oblivion, recalling the memory of a tragedy that for long years remained hidden or unrecognized, and by assigning it its proper place in the human conscience, we respond to our duty to remember. To that end, we must promote the history of the slave trade and slavery, and make it known to the general public ; we must also devote ourselves to rigorous scientific research that highlights the whole historical truth about the tragedy in a constructive perspective. As a matter of urgency this major episode in the history of humanity, whose consequences are permanently imprinted in the world’s geography and economy, should take its full place in the school textbooks and curricula of every country in the world.”
Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO

31 March 2004
EPN Networking Meeting

The EPN hosted a meeting to address community concerns about the axing of presenters Geoff Schumann and Henry Bonsu. The event was particularly successful with a large turnout and constructive audience debate. The evening was only slightly marred by the fact that the BBC representatives who had agreed to attend, failed to turn up having pulled out by email at the last moment.

Click here to read the BBC apology

11th March 2004
Stereohype 4

The Mellow Campaign hosted its fourth Stereohype event at the Ocean in Hackney. After an introduction by organisers, Alison Evelyn and Sandra Griffiths, we were entertained, educated and spiritually enriched by the panel discussion, open mic session and a cool and funky session which was sealed with a classic rendition of ‘family’ by Noel McKoy. The themes of the night were ‘Love, Identity and Support’. Contributions touched on all areas, from mental health to the need for family and loving and knowing self. Involved were Steven Laudat, Patrick Vernon, Dominic Makwachuma Walker, Kush-I Shakur and Roy Hayde.

The controversial 100 Great Black Britons list has enraged many within the African community in Britain. The exclusion of many dedicated, selfless and community orientated African Britons in favour of the inclusion of those whose main claim to ‘greatness’ is being either famous, a public servant, a musician, an athlete or on the television is nothing short of insulting.

Our main fear is that every October during African History Month, teachers throughout the UK will be using the list as a ‘validated’ resource to teach our young people and thereby encouraging our young to equate success with singing, rapping, running, serving and dancing their way through life.

Click here to read discussion by Tony Sewell and Amina Taylor

Click here for Station FM debate on the failings of the list

Click here for the Galaxy FM debate with community views on Tony Sewell & Stereotypes

With the onset of African History month in both Africa and America, the topic of role models raged and several organisations held events celebrating the achievements of Malcolm X.

Click here for the Geoff Schuman debate on Aspirations Part 1 Click here for the Geoff Schuman debate on Aspirations Part 2 Click here for the Henry Bonsu debate on Malcolm X & Role Models Click here for the Galaxy FM debate on Malcolm X & Role Models Click here for the Henry Bonsu debate on History and Aspiration   Related: http://www.brothermalcolm.net

2 February 2004
New Inquiry into New Cross Fire

A second inquest into the New cross fire tragedy which took place 23 years ago opened this month as a result of decades of campaigning by the victims' families. Previous attempts to get a new inquest were rejected twice, until in 2002 the High Court finally caved in to demand.

The fire which occured in the early hours of 18 January 1981 claimed the lives of 13 young people who had been attending a birthday party. Despite claims that the fire may have been started as a result of a race motivated attack the original coroner recorded open verdicts.

We hope that the families and friends of those who passed in the tragic fire finally receive answers to the questions they have waited over two decades to hear.

Source:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1137490,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3449155.stm

Click here for more details

Related:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/child/story/0,73...1097897,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/1681560.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1383948.stm
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/archive...van_removal.php
http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/archive/displ...st_respects.php

21 January 2004
Politics of colour

Ligali had a meeting with the Commission for Racial Equality regarding the abolishment of the colour caste system used to classify Africans by the Office of National Statistics. Sadly the CRE decided to maintain the status quo following feedback from its own internal ethnic monitoring working group meeting.

Click here to listen to debate on race and identity
Click here to read Ligali’s classification recommendations
Click here to read CRE response

The Aspire Team led by Corinne Amoo held a superb forum giving support and advice on how to promote and pitch stories turning ideas into a career.

There was an introduction to Aspire by founder member Corinne Amoo followed by talks from aspire board member Alex Manda with an excellent section by Alex Pascall, NUJ executive council member on the NUJ and freelancing. Adeline Iziren, lecturer and freelancer at the Guardian spoke about how freelancing works and how to pitch, followed by Kuldeep Channa, producer on This Morning who discussed freelancing in television, Esther Armah producer and reporter on BBC Radio who discussed Freelancing in radio and finally Lawrence Lartey contributing editor, Touch Magazine who explained what editors look for in freelancers.

Following last month's controversy surrounding the dissed-invitation to Tony Martin by the Mayors 'Advisor' on Race Equality, Lee Jasper, it seems that this is one issue that is just too important to die. No doubt the AUAF's decision to bring Prof. Tony Martin to the UK at the end of the month will further stoke the fire.

One person who may well be abstaining from Mr Martin's conference, is... no, not Lee Jasper, but Clarence Lusane, a Lee Jasper supporter. In defence of Lee Jasper as a 'leader' of the 'black' community, Clarence says 'When grandmothers who have lost their grandsons to gun violence or racist murderers, or homeless refugees who are literally starving on the street needed help, it was not the name callers, posturers, and haters who provided it; more times than not, 24-7, it was Lee Jasper." This quote was taken from a recent article entitled " The enemies of the Black community can never be our friends" in which Clarence Lusane condemns those who opposed Lee Jasper's actions. His article led to a highly reasoned response from Brother Olatunji Heru from the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement who highlighted and corrected several inaccuracies in his article and clarified the wider implication of Lee Jasper's actions, 'It is not simply, about Lee Jasper, Dr. Tony Martin, Dr Clarence Lusane, Bro. Olatunji Heru etc and our good or bad intention. It is about socio-political forces that deem that we must be their perpetual slaves... Our intention may well be good, but: 'The road to hell is sometimes paved with good intentions'. Thus, it is vital that our analyses are correct and that our actions are conducive to attaining our people's total liberation'.

Click here to read Bro. Olatunji Heru's full response
Click here to read Clarence Lusane's original article

Click here to read Simon Woolley (Operation Black Vote) on Professor Tony Martin

Click here to listen to the debate with Geoff Schumann, Choice FM
Click here to listen to the debate with Henry Bonsu, BBC Radio London

Click here to read the event review by Tuggstar

Related Links
Prof. Tony Martin on Marcus Garvey
The Majority Press

27 November 2003
Benjamin Zephaniah rejects OBE

What more is there to say that hasn't been said already. Benjamin’s actions and subsequent article in the Guardian did the African British community proud.

When Trevor Phillips OBE launched his vicious attack on Benjamin in the Evening standard stating that “Empire happened. It wasn't all bad”, it aligned him with the likes of Richard Littlejohn and Tony Sewell who has proclaimed "Black children can have some pride in this. We should be teaching about empire, but only in its full glory" .

Neither speak for our community

Click here to listen to debate with Henry Bonsu on freedom of speech, and OBE’s.

Related links
www.benjaminzephaniah.com

The first of these events took place on 6th Nov and focused on the subject of identity. The subsequent debate raised some pertinent and thought-provoking issues about the African identity and the importance and relevance of ‘black’ people being aware of their African roots.

This event was followed on Thurs 13th by an educational and fitting tribute, led by Brother Rema from the AAPRP, to the African revolutionary Kwame Ture, who Passed On on November 15th, 1998. Continuing the theme of education and tribute, the Pan African Society’s final event this month saw the screening of the excellent film, Lumumba, about the first President of Independent Congo, Patrice Lumumba.

Although we were unable to attend the latter event, the educational, discussion-orientated and social element of these events could not go unmentioned. The quality of the debate and attendees means that we look forward to further events by the Pan African Society.

For more information about the Pan African Society, contact the society President, Susan on 07903 653 380 or email panafricansociety@yahoo.co.uk

25 October 2003
United Family and Friends Demonstration


On the last weekend of October every year, the United Families & friends Campaign (UFFC) hold a march from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street, demanding that politicians finally act to prevent the killings of people in the alleged 'care' of the state. The march is also to demand justice for those who have died in police custody, in prison and in secure psychiatric care.

The UFFC Demands

• All deaths in custody should be independently investigated.

• The Police Complaints Authority be replaced by a body genuinely independent of the police.

• Prison deaths should not be investigated by the Prison Service.

• Officers involved in custody deaths be suspended until investigations are completed.

• Prosecutions of officers should automatically follow 'unlawful killing' verdicts at inquests.

• Officers responsible for deaths should face criminal charges, even if retired.

• Police forces are made accountable to the communities that they serve.

• Legal Aid and full disclosure of information be made to the relatives of the victims.

Click here to view a short video clip of demonstration

You can find more detail on their website at www.uffc.org

Demonstrators opposite Downing Street

Ligali and Sankofa held an African History Month Debate with students at the Hackney Community College.

It concluded identifying the need for artists to:
• chase their artistic dreams first, money second
• Recognise that the music business is a business, creativity is merely a commodity to major labels
• Self determination, self distribution, is the way to create the buzz and set trends
• The Urban label marginalises African British Artists

Click here to read flyer.

Ligali held its first annual African History Month celebration.
Click here for photo gallery

Animations and Short Films were provided by Adrian Brown of AB films
Click here for Director/Writer profiles

Poetry organised by Afro-Pick
Click here for Poet Profiles

Main Film and Debate edited and hosted by Sankofa

The launch of the African History Month website is a great success. Despite being London based, we receive submissions from all over the country. Our intent is to now have it running all year round as we have been asked by several organisations to keep our history permanently on the agenda.

Click here to listen to radio interview with Kwabena on Birmingham’s New style radio.

Meanwhile the Advisors to the Mayor's office have finally conceded, under pressure from various African organisations including Ligali, that that 'black' history month should be renamed and intends to celebrate October 2004 as African Heritage Month. Strangely enough, this is despite the Mayor's website not including AfricanHistoryMonth.org to its links page. Funny that. Let’s wait and see who owns the africanheritagemonth.org domain.

Unfortunately, it has been a case of one step forward and 3 steps back where the Mayor's office are concerned. The highly renowned Marcus Garvey scholar and respected historian Tony Martin was dis-invited by Lee Jasper from the Mayor Of London’s 'First Voice' conference because his boss (Ken Livingston) apprently objected to Tony Martin's 'anti-semitic' views.

Click here to read the disinvitation
Click here to read the disinvitation and further responses

Click here to listen to Lee Jasper debate the issue on Choice FM
Click here to listen to debate on Great Britons and African History Month

21 June 2003
Black People Pushing Back the Boundaries II

A conference series exploring the issues affecting London's minority ethnic public sector workers.

Other than a consensus of delegates commenting that they needed a ‘black’ caterer, the conference went well. Ligali was in a workshop hosted by Simon Woolly of Operation Black Vote. He recommended the ‘black’ community using its vote strategically. He suggested a tactic where if political parties didn’t agree to positive agendas and mobilise on ‘black’ issues then we wouldn’t give them our vote. He stated ‘middle England’ were not loyal so parties have to chase them. Working with the community to engage with politics is the only way. He felt by using ‘smart’ politics, block votes & tactical voting and not aligning with any party we should hold them accountable for promises via organisations like Operation Black Vote.

Forum comments made by participants:

• Governments can exclude voters using new 'voter reform' tactics
• We need a question time for ‘black’ mps
• We should aim high in the political arena
• We as a community must make parties accountable for promises
• In the US the City of Watts mobilised youth to get votes, remove gang and motivate into a community voting block
• Current political parties represent a particular class
• We need to beware capitalist careerists

Many in the forum supported the idea of African Britons establishing their own political voice, Simon Woolly strongly opposed it. He felt because the numbers did not add up, failure could set back the community.

Forums suggestions for setting up an African British political party

• The political agenda must be to come together and serve the community
• Politics is a corrupt and nasty game but we can’t have corrupt and dirty politicians
• Create a political minister group to own distinct community issues
• Must hold main parties responsible for election promises to community
• Keep on a grass roots level, getting to first base by obtaining youth & adult political participation
• Act as a vehicle to challenge the mainstream party
• Maybe start as a lobby group

24 May 2003
African Liberation Day

Ligali attended ALD at the University of East London.

Organised by the The Pan-African Progress Society of the University of East London and The Pan-African Society of London Metropolitan University in association with the All-African People's Revolutionary Party

What is African Liberation Day?

African Liberation Day (ALD) was founded on 15 April 1958 (then called Africa Freedom Day and later changed to ALD on 25 May 1963) as a Pan-African institution, which emerged from the just struggle of African people to free ourselves from all forms of oppression and exploitation. Discrimination at work, underachievement of African youth, gun crime in the community, mass poverty and AIDS are all symptoms of the new forms of colonialism.

We should learn from our rich history of organised resistance that our People's liberation demands mass organisation. Daughters and Sons of Africa, live up to your responsibilities and join an organisation genuinely fighting for our liberation.

CONTACT
AAPRP, P.O. Box 3869, LONDON NW10 5BA
E-mail: panafrica@which.net

Tel: 020 8523 7381, 07771 650915, 07958 217 799, 0161 226 0802, 0114 255 5634
Fax: 020 8529 2573
Supported by Galaxy Radio 102.5FM (Friday eve - Sunday eve)

23 May 2003
100BMOL 2nd Anniversary

Ligali attended the 2nd Anniversary of the 100 Black men of London at City Hall.

The inspirational evening was aptly entitled 'Discovering The Diamonds Within Our Youth'. And we did. Highlight of the evening was the presentation by a young diamond on his second year through the 100 mentoring programme. The confidence he showed during his talk was one of the greatest accolades possible for the work of the 100 Black Men of London organisation. The evening maintained it's high standards throughout with the night ending in a great informal wind down event at Parcos'.

18 May 2003
The Set Up

On 18 May 2003, Ligali attended Citizens with concerns 'Set Up' conference in Nottingham.

Speakers included Doreen Lawrence, Paul Obinna, Bro Bini Brown, Leo Muhammad and Kwame Kwei-Armah amongst many. If we were to use just one word to describe the organisation, and effectiveness of the conference. That word would be excellence. Security was by Nation of Islam, the workshops were fantastic, speeches and artist performances superb. Audience participation and networking, on point. The only criticism is that one day was not enough time. Of course there was room for minor improvements, the only negative being the distribution of the infamous Willie Lynch speech to attempt to 'wake up' those suffering from apathy. But other than that, from the Morning drum call, to the hard food at lunch, from Paul Bini's innovative address to Leo Muhammad's superb closing delivery this event was a prime example of how all conferences held by independent African-British organisations should be run.

Conference Objectives
To bring together those within the Black community across the UK who are working to end the cycle of self-destruction which is afflicting our youth; To develop viable strategies for taking control of the future development of our youth, our fami lies and our community at both local and national levels. To commemorate the birthday of Malcolm X (19 May 1925) with the first of a series of events seeking to 'liberate our minds by any means necessary'

Citizens with Concern is a Nottingham-based African and Caribbean community group which came together during the year 2002 to identify, respond to and, ultimately end the violence within our community following a series of fatal shootings in which the victims were all young and Black.

Contact
Ra Hendricks
Citizens With Concern
C/o ACDA,
New Brook House 385 Alfreton Road
Nottingham NG7 5LR

email: acda_01@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 0115 875 8848 / 07960 458710

2 May 2003
Community Meetings!

2 May 2003
Ligali attendeed the UHURU Meeting at the Sojourner Truth Centre tackling issues related to racism in schools and dissatisfaction with Police policies.

17 May 2003
Ligali attended the Hands off Zim conference!

Agenda
Land to the Zimbabwean peasants and power to the Zimbabwean workers.
Africans of the world untie in defence of the people of Zimbbwe.

Speakers included Bro Ldr Mbandaka and Leo Muhammad

Contact
African People's Socialist Party
Tel: 020 8265 1731
email: unuruasi@aol.com