Special 'News from Nowhere' talk on 8 June and other June events

The Challenges of Migration of Caribbean Women to Britain    

Speaker: Dr Elaine Arnold

"The mass migration to Britain occurred without adequate preparation of the migrants and of the indigenous people. Nothing was done to help the latter to examine their stereotypical views of black people and to be less hostile to their presence. The migrants could not have anticipated the devastating effects that their experiences of broken attachments, separation and loss of all that was familiar would have upon them. Neither did they envisage the level of hostility based on prejudice & racial discrimination from every level of the communities in which they tried to settle. These experiences deepened their sense of isolation and loss and very often led to irrational behaviour. The intergenerational patterns of avoidant or disorganised attachments seem to be factors contributing to some of the current anti-social behaviour problems of many of the young people of African Caribbean origin."

Dr Arnold has worked as a teacher, lecturer, counsellor and psychiatric social worker in Child Guidance; has taught Masters of Social Work students at Goldsmiths College and Sussex University and was a founder member and Director of Training at Nafsiyat (Intercultural Therapy Centre). She researched the adverse effects of separation, loss and sometimes traumatic reunions due to immigration from the West Indies to Britain among some families of African Caribbean origin. This led to the publication of Working with Families of African Caribbean Origin: Understanding Issues around Immigration and Attachment.  The mass migration to Britain occurred without adequate preparation of the migrants and of the indigenous people.  Nothing was done to help the latter to examine their stereotypical views of black people and to be less hostile to their presence.  The migrants could not have anticipated the devastating effects that their experiences of broken attachments, separation and loss of all that was familiar would have upon them. Neither did they envisage the level of hostility based on prejudice and racial discrimination from every level of the communities in which they tried to settle. These experiences deepened their sense of isolation and loss and very often led to irrational behaviour. The intergenerational patterns of avoidant or disorganised attachments seem to be factors contributing to some of the current anti-social behaviour problems of many of the young people of African Caribbean origin.  Currently Dr Arnold is Director of Supporting Relationships and Families. She also continues to lecture at various colleges and voluntary groups on the theory of attachment, separation and loss and its applicability to practice in the caring professions.

Buffet 7.30pm

Talk 8pm

Epicentre, West St E11 4LJ

Enquiries 0208 555 5248

----------------------------

Tangentially Related News from Medact - 

[1]

Save the date: 20th June Refugee Day

We will be hosting a joint event with Medact, MSF and others to mark and celebrate World Refugee Day on 20th June, from 6.30pm.

It will include speakers from each group, and possibly a short film, and a chance to meet others in the group in a cool co-operative space, Newspeak House. Full details to be announced separately, but for now here's the address and time. 

6.30pm
Newspeak House
133 Bethnal Green Rd,
London, E2 7DG

UPDATE:
Join us on 20th June for an evening of short films and discussion to celebrate World Refugee Day.

Thursday 20th June
6:30pm
Newspeak House, Bethanl Green, E2 7DG 

We will be showing a selection of shorts exploring the themes of identity and inclusion. We are delighted to be joined by the Directors Caroline, Laura, and Adeyemi who will introduce their films and join us in a discussion exploring people's experience of migration and the impact of the Hostile Environment on migrant communities.

There will also be an opportunity to hear about what Migrant Solidarity Group, Medact, the MSF Take Action Group and Docs not cops are doing and to meet other folk from the group.

The event is free to all, no one will be turned away. The venue is accessible.

-------------------

[2]

As part of Medact’s work on peace, security and health, we are beginning a new piece of research into the impacts and use of counter-terrorism policies in the NHS. In particular, we are interested in the Prevent duty – a strand of UK counter-terror strategy that asks public sector workers, such as NHS staff, teachers and social workers, to identify those deemed to be at risk of radicalisation.

Are you interested in taking part in a 1-hour small focus group on this issue where we will explore experiences, knowledge and opinions on the Prevent duty in the NHS? Could you help organise a focus group in your area? No prior knowledge is needed to participate in this and responses will be anonymised.

Wherever you are in the UK we would love to hear from you, and are particularly keen to connect with people in Birmingham, Leicester, Manchester, Bradford and Luton. 

Please e-mail me, reemabuhayyeh@medact.org for more information, and you can find read more about the Prevent Duty in this [Medact] blog.

Peace and Security Campaigner 

See also Migration & Health on Medact website. 

Other local groups at www.medact.org/groups

-----------------------

And just in from Liberty (3-6-19. 11.38 a.m.)

US President Donald Trump landed safely at Stansted Airport this morning for his three-day state visit – but his time here doesn’t have to be smooth sailing.

We’ll be at the Stop Trump protest tomorrow, not just to demonstrate against his anti-migrant rhetoric and rights-abusing policies, but to highlight how they are replicated here in the UK.

Our Government is the only one in Europe which sanctions locking up migrants – including survivors of torture, rape and human trafficking – without release dates. 

The ‘hostile environment’ has left people too afraid to seek medical care, report crimes to the police or send their children to school in case it results in detention and deportation.

And Northern Ireland has some of the strictest and most dangerous anti-abortion laws in the western world.

If you’re protesting in London tomorrow, come and say hi, or feel free to join us from 11am at Trafalgar Square. We’ll be in the Migrants’ Rights Zone by the entrance to the National Gallery.

Tomorrow thousands of people will stand up to power and send a clear message that human rights are universal and we won’t let anyone take them from us.

===============