Refugees in Cardiff
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gair rhydd | freeword Cardiff ’s student weekly Issue 1070 gair rhyddy Monday 1st February 2016 Also in this issue Comment: Should Banksy have to raise social issues? P13>> Politics: Spotlight on the Welsh Refugees in Cardiff : education system P20>> A home from home? t Gair Rhydd investigates what life is like as a refugee in Cardiff t Wristband scheme introduced by private fi rm to identify asylum seekers labelled “degrading” by commentators t Exclusive interviews with refugees and charity workers every day, from clothing and food to Natasha Chilambo, who confirmed EXCLUSIVE English lessons and help with tax re- that during the society’s work she Pictured: Toby Holloway turns. had also encountered instances of Scenes from Science: Why are bananas under Asked whether any of the asylum discrimination towards refugees: a ‘Solidarity ollowing a week where asylum seekers at Oasis had experienced “Locally [refugees] are victim to with Refugees’ threat? P24>> seekers in Cardiff made nation- prejudice because of the wristbands, abuse by some members of the pub- rally in London Fal news headlines, Gair Rhydd co-founder and manager of Oasis, lic; on more than one occasion we in September investigated what life is like for the Reynette Roberts, said: “Some peo- have been made to respond to peo- (Photographer: Welsh capital’s refugee population. ple feel they have, some people aren’t ple turning up to the drop-in who Ilias Bartolini via Last week, a private company in bothered about them at all. There have been verbally and physically Flickr) Cardiff was criticised for making have always been people shout- abusive”. refugees wear red wristbands in or- ing abuse as they drive by. There’s However, Chilambo did note that der to receive food. not much space outside and they’re attitudes have changed in recent The wristband scheme was heavily more visible so people will give them times: “There has been a big posi- criticised as some people labelled it abuse. It’s a difficult thing”. tive shift in the last few months and I ‘degrading’ to the refugees, alongside Speaking generally about the think this is attributable to a greater accusations that it stigmatized those wristbands, she added: “For people public awareness of the refugee cri- wearing them, making them targets who are coming here, anything that sis”. for abuse and discrimination. makes them stick out or makes them This was also emphasised by As a result of the news, we visited feel vulnerable - makes them feel tar- STAR committee member Anusheh Oasis Cardiff, a centre in Splott to geted - is an issue”. Javaid, who said: “I think that overall see what employees and refugees This idea has also been suggested the people of Cardiff are greatly hos- had to say about the matter. by other volunteers. We spoke to the pitable and understanding towards Taf-Od: Edrych ymlaen at yr The centre offers a range of activi- President of STAR (Student Action refugees and asylum seekers. They Continued on ties and services for up to 200 people for Refugees) at Cardiff University, go out of their way to help when they page 4 Eisteddfod Ryng-gol P32>> 2 EDITORIAL Gair Rhydd Coordinator Elaine Morgan Editor Joseph Atkinson Deputy Editors the free word Carwyn Williams Anna Lewis News Changing perceptions Anna Lewis Joanna Beck After the red wristband saga, this week’s front page looks at the Toby Holloway Advice work done to help refugees, and hopefully gives them a voice Gwen Williams Caragh Medlicott that was made following public outcry gle asylum seeker with the same brush surrounding areas, there is absolutely Joseph Atkinson at the measure to assign refugees with as a result is irresponsible and should no doubt in my mind that the world Comment ID cards in lieu of the wristbands, but be discouraged. should do its utmost to guarantee the Em Gates n the media, refugees are very rare- the saga has taken away from one of a Th is week saw Denmark pass a con- safety and continued survival of those Charley Griffiths ly portrayed as individuals; they are number of community eff orts that are troversial new law which has provoked in great need. David Williams Igrouped together and dealt as a col- genuinely meant to be helpful to peo- outcry from refugees and human rights I’ve very proud that we at Gair Rhy- lective, often taking away any aspect of ple in the direst of needs. activists alike. Th e legislation allows dd are able to bring to people’s atten- Columnist personality and humanity. Each and Th is week we’ve gone along to visit Danish police to search and strip those tion the problems that face others and Helena Hanson every one of the thousands of refugees a centre dedicated to looking after asy- wishing to seek asylum in the country direct them towards to channels in who have arrived in Britain have lives lum seekers. One of the most striking of their valuables and cash, and is be- which they can help. Being aware of a Politics as deep and complicated as you and I, things to come out of Toby’s visit to ing used as a deterrent from people problem sometimes isn’t enough when Carwyn Williams but that is often forgotten when politi- the Oasis Cardiff centre was how the migrating to Denmark en masse. Swit- it arrives on your door, and engaging Luke Brett cians discuss how to handle the infl ux staff felt the refugees who used the zerland has adopted similar messages, or educating yourself is vital in under- Sam Patterson of asylum seekers and the subsequent centre were not accurately portrayed supposedly in place to cover the costs standing and sympathising with those media coverage of what has been in the media. In fact the visit left Toby of housing, feeding and clothing refu- who come from a long way away. Th e Science branded the ‘migrant crisis’. so inspired by the work that the volun- gees, but there is a sinister undertone fear that some have over the eff ects of Maria Mellor Cardiff was very briefl y at the top of teers do that he’s volunteered himself to these actions far worse that the red large-scale migration into the country Lizzie Harrett the news agenda when it was reported to help out there once a week - a fan- wristband controversy which engulfed are valid, but turning your back to the that some refugees had been made to tastic gesture and something that may the Welsh capital earlier in the week. world simply isn’t an option, especially Societies wear red wristbands in order to be able not have happened otherwise. It is encouraging to see people vol- in 2016. Aletheia Nutt to access food provisions set aside by Th e attitude of the general public unteering their valuable time to help Lastly, I must add that one of our the Lynx House facility. Comparisons swings according to how the media people less fortunate than themselves, sport editors, Jason Roberts, has Taf-Od were made to the measures taken by reports the situation. Reporting on and if anyone reading our front page stepped down from his position to Rhian Floyd the Nazi regime, which forced Jewish negative consequences of immigra- piece feels inspired to do the same, focus on uni work and playing for the people to wear yellow badges show- tion, such as the Cologne attacks or even if their attitudes are changed Cardiff Cobras American Football Park Life ing the Star of David to mark them. I over Christmas, will inevitably lead to towards the human beings who have team. He’s worked hard and off ered Vacant found such comparisons far-fetched people fearing refugees and immigra- been put through incredible hard- some fantastic ideas to the sport sec- and unreasonable considering the tion. Th at is not to say that the me- ship, them we’ll have done a good tion that have added so much to Gair Sport purpose of the wristbands, which were dia shouldn’t report such events - of job. While there is a valid debate as Rhydd over the last few months, and I Jim Harris ultimately intended to help. course they should - as they bring up to the long-term futures of refugees know that everyone on the paper is sad James Lloyd I do however agree with the decision genuine concerns, but to tar every sin- coming over from war-torn Syria and to see him go - thanks Jason! Jamie Smith Social Media Editor Jack Boyce THIS WEEK IN HISTORY: GAIR RHYDD 832 Get involved Editorial conferences are 5/2/2007 each Monday at 5pm. Proofreading takes place Going back to the good old days of 2007, protest any top of fees rising from £3,000 to from 5pm on Thursdays in back when I was in my first year of secondary £6,000. That really worked well guys, thanks the media office during print school, undergraduates were still probably cel- for that. With a march that started at the weeks. ebrating the end of exam doom. Of course on Main Building and worked its way to Dr Da- top of that, Cardiff was obviously reeling from vid Grant’s office, the plan was to get the chair Write to the editor the lack of sperm donors available in Wales. In people of Russell Group universities to get in [email protected] fact, only eight men in the entirety of the coun- touch with the idea of the student body. The try were available at that time, speculated to be students voted against this bill, and had the Tweet us the result of legislation that removed anonym- backing of the Students’ Union and the NUS @gairrhydd ity in donations.