[sheffield-noborders] [leedsnoborders] Forthcoming events - update, details, request for help

[stu h]

Hello

Leeds No Borders is a newly is a newly established group working in 
solidarity with refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and other action and 
campaign groups in Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow, London and 
across Europe and beyond. This network is rooted in the belief that all 
immigration controls are racist and divisive methods of authoritarian 
control, which should be opposed and ultimately abolished.

Please find below our forthcoming events and some requests for help! 
Please forward widely

1. Leeds No Borders events, April and May

We are organising 4 events over the next few weeks:

- WEDNESDAY 26 APRIL (6-9pm): NO BORDERS CINEMA NIGHT
 Films revealing the shocking reality of immigration detention across 
the world...and the growing resistence to it. Including the famous 
Woomera detention centre breakout in 2002 in Australia
 Venue: the Common Place social centre, 23-25 Wharf St, LS2 7EQ 
(http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=53.7956&lon=-1.5377&scale=5000&icon=x)
 More information: stuart at riseup.net, 07775886617

- WEDNESDAY 3 MAY (7-9pm): PUBLIC MEETING: CITY OF SHAME: THE TRUTH 
ABOUT ASYLUM & DETENTION IN LEEDS
 Speakers include: David Renton, NATFHE (teachers' union), Gill 
Gibbons, LASSN (Leeds Asylum Seekers Support Network), Emma Ginn, 
National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns   
 (NCADC), and Olongo, an asylum seeker from Africa. There will be 
campaign stalls, a short film, and action planning.
 Venue: Leeds Metropolitan Univeristy, B2 Lecture Theatre, B Building, 
Civic Quarter 
(http://www.leedsmet.ac.uk/visiting/travel/Print%20Full%20Maps30Sept05.pdf)
 More information: kathown2002 at yahoo.co.uk, 07792530977

 NB. Before this meeting there will be an activist training workshop on 
HOW TO RUN AN ANTI-DEPORTATION CAMPAIGN held by NCADC at 5-6.30pm at the 
Common Place social centre (venue tbc)

- SATURDAY 6 MAY (12pm midday): GUIDED TOUR OF LEEDS ASYLUM SHAME
 Come to Leeds to visit the places, companies and people That repress, 
exploit and benefit from asylum seekers in Leeds. A guided tour of the 
causes of refugee flows (War, Militarism, Capitalist
 Globalisation), the detention and control of asylum seekers (police, 
security firms), the destitution of migrants (job centres, social 
welfare, housing, health), the injustice of immigration laws (immigration
 office) and the deportation of failed asylum seekers (airlines).
 Venue: Meet 12 noon OUTSIDE LEEDS TOWN HALL, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 3AD
 More information: leedsnoborders at lists.riseup.net

- SATURDAY 6 MAY (7pm-late): NO BORDERS BENEFIT NIGHT
 Four to the Floor - Leed's classic DIY night, bring your 4 favourite 
tunes - on vinyl or cd and if your name is pulled you get to play those 
tracks!!! Guarenteed eclecticness!!! The Commonplace Cafe and  
 Bar will be open serving a variety of food and drinks. All money 
raised to help support destitute asylum seekers and those fighting 
deportation.
 Venue: the Common Place social centre, 23-25 Wharf St, LS2 7EQ 
(http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=53.7956&lon=-1.5377&scale=5000&icon=x)
 More information: tash_gordon at yahoo.co.uk

A DOUBLE-SIDED LEAFLET for all these events can be downloaded from 
http://www.autonomousgeographies.org/leedsnoborders1.pdf and 
http://www.autonomousgeographies.org/leedsnoborders2.pdf

PLEASE DOWNLOAD, PRINT OUT AND DISTRIBUTE

2. Request for volunteers

We really need volunteers for all of these events - to act as ushers, 
staff the doors, make food, collect donations, stewards, and tour 
guides. If you can volunteer, please state what you can do and contact 
the following people for the following events:

- Cinema night: stuart at riseup.net, 07775886617
- Public meeting: kathown2002 at yahoo.co.uk, 07792530977
- Tour of Leeds: leedsnoborders at lists.riseup.net
- Benefit night: tash_gordon at yahoo.co.uk

We also need volunteers to put up posters and hand out flyers for all 
these events. There are 1000 club-style flyers at the Common Place 
social centre - they need to be distributed to shops, clubs, community 
centres, friends, student unions. Before popping to the Common Place, 
please ring 0113-246-8640 to check it is open.

We want to tell as many people as possible about the events we are 
planning. Can people please send to me (stuart at riseup.net) any lists of 
press and group contacts you have.

Can you also forward the events listed above to all people you know.

3. Information and research needed about asylum in Leeds

We are currently putting together a PRESS RELEASE, a MAP OF THE LEEDS 
ASYLUM SYSTEM, and an INFORMATION PACK about the plight of asylum 
seekers in Leeds and the UK, including facts and stats on:

- numbers of those claiming asylum in Leeds and UK
- numbers of those destitute, homeless in Leeds and UK
- numbers in detention in Leeds and UK
- current govt policy on claiming asylum, benefits, work, housing, 
marriage, health care
- the experience of asylum seekers entering and living in the UK
- the experience of deportation, the institutions and companies involved
- the causes of refugee flows and links to UK policy

We URGENTLY need as much help as possible to compile all this 
information. Please send any information to stuart at riseup.net