Meeting 26.01.12 “We are Saharawi”

-
Hi all!

So, our first meeting of term 2, in a brand new room (D/104) so now we all have lots of space!

We began with a documentary titled “We are Saharawi” exploring the lives of the Saharawi refugee community in Algeria. The older generation having to adapt to a completely new life after being forced out of their own homeland of Western Sahara after a conflict with Morocco in 1975 when they claimed sovereignty and when the Moroccans build a 2,700km long wall blocking off the land from more than half of the Saharawi people. Now the Saharawi refugees live in camps where there are no real jobs, and many skills are wasted, they educate their children for when they can return to their homeland, if that time comes. Children as young as 10 often have to leave the camps and go to Spain, Cuba, etc. if they wish to continue their education.

“We are Saharawi” Documentary link: http://www.documentary-film.net/search/watch.php?&ref=127.

After watching the documentary we discussed issues of why the conflict has gone on for so long, and the differences of peoples feeling toward the Saharawi refugees compared to refugees who come to the UK. We questioned why, when someone who is openly against refugees coming to the UK would they be sympathetic to the Saharawis. We also discussed why issues like this were not in the public eye. Is it because the conflict is simply territory based while other, more reported, conflicts are political? Is it because the conflict has gone on too long?

Furthermore here is a little invite to an Ice & Fire performance on Tuesday 21st February 19.00 – 20.30 in B/B002 (the biology block) Tickets are free and it will be an amazing peformance!

More info about the next meeting to come soon!

Best wishes!

Popular posts from this blog

Answer given by Vice-President Mogherini on behalf of the Commission

-
Image
 Answer given by Vice-President  Mogherini on behalf of the Commission The EU is closely following the situation of human rights in Morocco and Western Sahara, including through its contacts with civil society organisations, human rights defenders, the National Council of Human Rights (CNDH) and its regional offices. The EU has specifically enquired about the situation of Mohamed Daoudi. The EU has been informed that members of the regional office of Tan Tan-Guelmin payed him a visit on 8 October 2016. According to our information, on the same day Mohamed Daoudi was taken to the hospital where his health situation is being monitored. In the context of its political dialogue with the Moroccan authorities, the EU consistently expresses its concerns about alleged cases of ill-treatment and impunity. Political dialogue goes in parallel with the important support provided by the EU through its financial cooperation to public institutions and civil society to reform ...
Read more

South Sudan should not receive the Blood Money from the Moroccan King

-
Image
January 22, 2017 (SSB ) —- In recent time the King of Morocco has been giving away a lot of money as seen in the following instances— on October 20, 2016, WIKILEAKS leaks that the Moroccan King Promises $12 Million Dollars to meet with Hillary Clinton. The above WIKILEAKS followed the report on Oct 18, 2016 of the visit by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI to African countries, which was said to be the first of its kind since coronation in 1999. The visit followed a lengthy letter to African Union (AU) summit in Rwanda in which King Mohammed VI of Morocco declared his country’s intention to become a member of the union after the long time break with the body. After that letter, the Moroccan monarch planned and started touring some countries in Africa. These countries include: Nigeria, Zambia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and then now he is expected to visit South Sudan. The first country to be visited by the King of Morocco was Rwanda where he signed 19 agreement...
Read more

EL-MELHFA: A Symbol of Beauty and Resistance

-
Image
El-melhfa is a four-meter long by one-meter wide piece of fabric. It is not any ordinary piece of cloth; it is the symbol of the Saharawi heritage, beauty, and resistance. Many people may view it as a religious, specifically Muslim symbol. But El-melhfa, above all, is cultural and unique to the Saharawi people, used by every ethnic and religious groups within the Saharawi population. It comes in variety of colors, patterns and materials. It can be one color, three or ten. It may be simple or with artistic shapes and patterns or even with the flag of Western Sahara. El-melhfa has different names depending on the colors and the material it is made of. Sometimes, it gets its name from the age group of women. El-melhfa, when you think about, holds a very practical role in the life of people like the Saharawis. A country like Western Sahara is mostly desert with a weather that is dry, hot and characterized with sand-storms. And so, El-melhfa can serve as a means of protection fro...
Read more