Christmas Party and Appeal for NI Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Melting Pot Christmas Party, and Gift Appeal for NICRAS.

Imagine being alone, destitute, see your children go without, and feel lost in a strange place, it’s a heartbreaking thought, and at Christmas things can be even tougher.

Asylum seekers and refugees are one of the most marginalised, impoverished, discriminated against and lied about groups. The vast majority are here because they were forced to flee injury and death in their own countries. The three countries that most of them come from are Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia - the most unsafe countries in the world. Many of them wait for years before their applications for asylum are decided. They are not allowed to work, and they are not allowed to claim benefits. If they can show that they are destitute then they are given 70% of the lowest rate of income support. If they are homeless then they are provided with accommodation - often a room in a shared house. They can be detained at any time by immigration officers. They are separated from their families and friends. Many do not speak the language and suffer desperate isolation and loneliness. They also suffer racist attacks often fuelled by the lies told about them. Many of them have children who suffer the same fate as their parents.

There comes a time of year in every faith when we are asked to stop and think about others, and since Christmas is the most recognised tradition for doing so locally, LMHR have launched an appeal for gifts for the NI Community for Refugees and Asylum Seekers to be distributed to the families they have been working with, and supporting over the last year.

Between now and the next Melting Pot gig which takes place on Thursday 17th December at The Menagerie, you can donate a Christmas gift by either bringing it along on the night or by dropping it into your nearest allocated drop in centre, which will be collected and donated to NICRAS on the 18th December. (details below).

The Christmas Melting Pot on the 17th will continue to celebrate the diversity of music and people, and for the month of December we will have an African vibe with performances from two of the North’s most popular Afrobeat bands, Talking Drum and The Afresh. There will also be a debut acoustic performance from Reggae artist Rassie Ai, plus some interactive drumming that will include you the audience (anyone with a drum bring it along), and as resident DJ Venus Rollergirl will be back in the driving seat she will be knocking out everything from dub to reggae and ska.

Barbara Muldoon who is a Spokesperson for the Anti Racism Network and an Asylum and Immigration Law Practitioner says “In 2009 LMHR was one of the foremost groups in Northern Ireland highlighting and challenging the deeply poisonous effects of racism and promoting and celebrating the strength and cultural enrichment of a multi-cultural and diverse society. This is a fitting event to end the year and a particularly fitting event to have at Christmas. It reminds us that the men, women and children who live in Northern Ireland as asylum seekers and refugees are the innocent victims of the violence and wars raging across the planet. They don’t deserve condemnation and racist abuse - they deserve our heartfelt human solidarity”.

You can bring your unwrapped gift along on the night or you can drop it in to one of the following allocated drop in centres.

NICRAS, One Vision Offices, 129 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 1SH

www.nicras.org.uk

Community Arts Forum, 15 Church Street, Belfast, BT1 1PG

www.caf.ie

The Beat Initiative/Belfast Carnival Office, 11-47 Boyd Street, Belfast, BT13 2GU

www.belfastcarnival.com

Oh Yeah Music Centre, 15-21 Gordon Street, Belfast, BT1 2LG

www.ohyeahbelfast.com

Feile An Phobail, 473 Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 6DD

www.feilebelfast.com

Windsor Womens Centre, 133 Broadway, Belfast, BT12 6HY

www.windsorwomanscentre.co.uk

Any business's that would like to donate any stock, please e-mail us at

love_music_hate_racism_ireland@yahoo.co.uk  - and we will arrange collection

Thank you everyone, and we hope you can help, and don't forget the Christmas gig on Thursday 17th at the Menagerie!

www.myspace.com/talkingdrumireland 

www.myspace.com/sekuruandtheafreshband 

www.myspace.com/rassieai2