Its the start of a new month and another chance to get together and explore what it means to "learn to do right [and] seek justice". We had an excellent first session of our new theme, with practical tips on reducing your water impact from Dave Farnworth and inspiring real-life stories from Wendy, who challenged us to consider what disturbs us and find out how to get involved in solving it. For her, that has meant stepping out in faith to work alongside clubbers, addicts, sex workers and trafficked women. In each case, it was about stepping out and being willing to embrace opportunities and connections. What would embracing an opportunity to step out mean for you?
Our pub gatherings this term will compliment the theme of the cafe sessions, looking at how we can develop Justice Matters sessions to be even better at equipping and encouraging its members to be effective, ordinary radicals. The first of these will be this Wednesday, so make sure you come along and add your ideas to the mix. More information about the session is available in the post below.
That's all for now - have a great week and see you at The Bohemia on Wednesday.
The wait is over - Justice Matters resumes this Wednesday evening at Coffee Republic from 7:30pm, when we'll kick off our new theme for the Autumn: The Rough Guide to being an Ordinary Radical.
In this first session, we'll hear from Wendy Adams, a member of Justice Matters, who has experience of engaging with clubbers in Tenerife, drug addicts in Hong Kong, and sex workers in the East End of London. Come along to hear some of her stories and find out what drives her to be an ordinary radical.
In addition, there will be a chance to pick up some practical tips on how to make a greater difference in your own day-to-day life through our new regular slot for this term: Tips for Ordinary Radicals. If you have any ideas that you think would be useful to share with others, drop me a note.
As ever, there's no cost to come along, but please do buy a coffee and a nibble to contribute towards the venue hire, as we are funding the full running costs of the network ourselves.
Barnet Council is currently consulting on whether it should embrace new powers to regulate lap dancing clubs. What do you think?
Following various JM sessions in which we have lifted the lid on the world of sex trafficking and other abuses of women by men with messed up perspectives, I felt compelled to encourage our local authority to take up powers to regulate and limit these kind of establishments in our neighbourhood. If you feel the same way, don't forget to tell them so.
I love this excellent and very practical campaign from ALOVE UK, the Salvation Army for a New Generation to stand against trafficking by refusing to accept adverts for the sex industry in their local papers.
Human trafficking to fuel the demands of the sex industry takes place on a daily basis and we need to Cut it Out. A letter from the SCD9 Human Exploitation and Organised Crime unit at New Scotland Yard dated 25th November 2010 states:
It is clear (from our investigations) that advertising in newspapers can play a key role in facilitating the exploitation of trafficked victims. The adverts in question often purport to be massage parlours, saunas or escort agencies, but are in reality a front for criminal networks to advertise trafficked victims for sexual services. Consequently it is vital that we tackle this area as part of our overarching strategy to reduce trafficking in London.
This is why we want to see an end to advertising in this way!
The campaign seeks to tackle these adverts by targeting the editors responsible for the newspapers running the adverts, suggesting that people cut out and send the adverts the editor with a letter stating:
As a newspaper editor you have a huge responsibility in terms of the adverts that you allow to be placed in your newspaper. Please help us see an end to modern day slavery by ‘cutting out’ these types of adverts. We ask that you don’t plead ignorance when it comes to something as important as this. Please do your bit to improve the lives of those trapped in human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Advertising these establishments fuels the sex industry which will result in people being trafficked to fill the places required by these establishments. I am writing to you to ask that you end advertising in this way in your newspaper.
What a great idea! Why not download a suggested letter template and send one off yourself?
Only, don't send one to the Finchley and Hendon Times (or any other Newsquest publications for that matter), because I already contacted the editor and had this very encouraging response.
In fact, they haven't since 2008 and you can read about it here. So that's one family of papers down - who's next?
Great to see so many of you at our Coffee Republic gathering last week - our second highest turnout (after our Blood in the Mobile film screening back in the Spring).
I hope you found it encouraging to learn more about the work of International Justice Mission to tackle trafficking and slavery around the world. I was particularly impressed by their commitment not just to rescuing slaves, but to restoring human beings and the stories of those whose lives had been turned around through the efforts of IJM teams. If you didn't already sign up for updates, you can keep up to date with International Justice Mission UK via their website. Carol also highlighted an event this Wednesday that people might be interested in attending - the launch of a new government advocacy campaign with a talk from the Field Office Director of IJM Kenya. Details are in the flyer (download here) if you are interested. If anyone goes, do let us know - maybe you could share an update at the next gathering?
Something else you could attend this week, also on the theme of trafficking, is a screening tomorrow night (Tuesday) of a new documentary film called Nefarious: Merchant of Souls: "From initial recruitment to victim liberation - and everything in between - the previously veiled underworld of sex slavery is uncovered in [this] ground breaking, tell-all [documentary]." Sara and I are planning on going. Tickets are £10 in advance and the screening starts at 6:30pm in Leicester Square. More details are available on the film's website.
If neither of those appeal, then this week is also an excellent opportunity to get together with each other in smaller gatherings. As you know, we are keen for members to think about forming 2to4 Groups - self-organised spaces for folk to spend time getting to know each other better. This might be as simple as grabbing a coffee with couple of others and sharing what's going on in your week, going for a meal together or something themed around a particular issue or campaign. There aren't any set rules (though St Barnabas Church has published some handy guidelines), the purpose is simply to establish deeper relationships and more meaningful community between our members.
Our next first Weds of the month session is on 4th July and so coincides with American Independence Day. For fun, we propose joining up with the young adult network from St Barnabas for their 4th July BBQ. This will take place at the bungalow next to St Barnabas Church (42 Holden Road) from 7:30pm. I know that some of our members might consider themselves beyond the 'young adult' bracket, but Ryan said that we are all welcome to join in regardless. There will be live music from the excellent Feltoes' Folk (featuring our own Mike Dore and Lizzie's husband, Andy). Bring something to throw on the barbecue and wear something 'American'...
Final thing (phew): our Coffee Republic session in July will be on the 18th and will be on the subject of older people (exact details to be confirmed). With a guest speaker from AgeUK, this will be our last official session before the summer, so please make it along and help us end the term with a bang. More details anon.
