PLYMOUTH'S 2,000-strong Kurdish community said it was gripped by fear again today after two more men were arrested and hauled off to an immigration detention centre.
The men, 31-year-old Ali Pahir, from Eggbuckland, and 25-year-old Baspun Abdullah, from Stonehouse, were arrested on Tuesday morning as they turned up to 'sign on', as asylum seekers are bound to do, at Charles Cross police station.
The move brings the number of Kurdish men arrested for being failed asylum seekers this year in Plymouth to six.
However, three of those men have since been released and are now back in Plymouth pending the outcome of judicial review hearings.
Today Mr Pahir and Mr Abdullah were being kept in an unnamed immigration detention centre, probably near one of the big airports, the UK Border Agency confirmed, after being taken from Plymouth.
Members of Plymouth's Kurdish Community Association said the men's arrest had spread fear through the population.
Chairman Rizgar Ali said:   "They were taken without any warning.   The Kurdish people feel very bad.
"The fear is coming back to the Kurdish community.
"We are getting a lot of telephone calls from people.   They say they can't stay in their houses, and they are not sure what is going to happen to them at the next minute."
Fear spread throughout the community earlier this year when there was an initial wave of arrests.

expensive at that stage.   "The current rules don't make clinical, economic or humanitarian sense, and I am glad that the court has recognised this. I hope the Department of Health will now make it clear to hospitals that they must treat patients who cannot pay and cannot return home for the time being - and not wait until they are at death's door."
The health secretary, Alan Johnson, who took the case to the appeal court, welcomed the decision.   e said that his department accepted the lack of clarity in the official guidance for hospitals.   "We will ensure that the guidance is amended."
But the decision disappointed refugee and health welfare groups. Donna Covey, of the Refugee Council, said she was concerned that the charging regime for failed asylum seekers was still in place.   he said those people who were unable to go home straight away often ended up destitute and homeless.   To refuse treatment to them simply because they cannot pay for it is appalling and inhumane," she said.
Deborah Jack, of the National Aids Trust, said anxiety over medical bills would deter many people from seeking the care they needed.   he said the government should use its review of healthcare charges to end its policy of ill-health for the most destitute.

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today announced details of a new multi million pound fund to support communities in managing local pressures from migration.
The long term benefit to the UK economy from migration is significant and will be vital to ensuring the UK's economic recovery.
Nonetheless the Government recognises that migration can place short term pressures on local public services including councils, schools, NHS and the police.
Today's announcement - £70m over the next two years - is about ensuring that those pressures are managed effectively for the benefit of the whole community.
Economic migrants and students coming to the UK from outside the EU will be charged a levy in addition to their normal visa application fee.   The revenue will form the Migrants Impact Fund.   The Fund will mean that migrants are being asked to pay an additional contribution to that which they already make through taxes, to support the communities in which they live.
All regions of England will receive a proportion of the funding.   The amount each receives will be weighted towards the areas where international migration has had the greatest short-term impact.
Funding will be allocated to local projects from Government Offices working closely with local partners.   It will be targeted at projects which have identified innovative solutions to migration related pressures - where possible involving and benefiting a number of local services.   It is not intended to replace mainstream service provision, which already has improved mechanisms for reflecting changes in population.
Projects considered for funding must be able to demonstrate that they bring benefits to the settled as well as the migrant community in an area.   For example additional English language provision for migrants will mean reducing the cost to public services from translation and interpretation.   Projects might also include taking action against rogue landlords, extra teachers in school with high migrant populations, measures to increase GP registration, or targeted support for policing.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1180107

To live in harmony within a multicultural society might be an uphill struggle for many.   However the implementation of policies which aim to integrate society into a coherent unit helps to overcome an obstacle in the global village which we inhabit.
Unfortunately, many Asylum Seekers & Refugees (ASR) are seldom able to find contentment in their life and this partly results from strict policies established by the government.   This results in a sense of alienation and loss which contributes to a deeper exclusion from the rest of society.  Furthermore socio-economical factors, such as regular employment, have an extreme impact on fruitful involvement into the community. Unfortunately such basic needs, like work are denied to many.
To counteract these negative issues, a Conference on Integration and Building a Life in the UK was held on 25^th March by the Refugee Council in London
(http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/eventsandtraining/conferences/
conference2009/conference_2009.htm).
It was here that both governmental and nongovernmental organisations (NGO) met to discuss strategies for the better integration of ASR into British society.   One individual, Phil Woolas, (Minister of State for Borders & Immigration) explicitly addressed his strategy by calling it ‘moving on together: Government’s recommitment to supporting refugees’.
The need for integration strategies was again highlighted by the Chief Executive of the council Donna Covey, who claimed that regardless of the time processing ASR claims take, such strategies should be put into practice as soon as possible.   She addressed the pivotal role in terms of access to language courses at the very beginning of settling in the UK, as well as having the opportunity to work after six months of living in the country regardless of the ASR application process.
It is a slow process to reintegrate ASR into society as a whole and subsequently remove tainted perceptions and negative stereotypes. However by working together and raising awareness on these issues the outlook seems to be that a more sustainable and thriving society can be built up, which will especially help those who come to seek a decent sanctuary.

INTEGRATION: BUILDING A LIFE IN THE UK

The economic recession is putting extra pressure on community relations.   Now more than ever, it’s vital that the UK gets the right policies – and carries them out – to ensure that communities flourish and refugees don’t find themselves scapegoated as unwanted migrants.
The Home Office retains responsibility for integration through 2011.   The government is reviewing its strategy this spring – and Phil Woolas, Minister for Borders and Immigration will be speaking for the first time about the government review at the conference.
UKBA have agreed to respond to the key points which will emerge from the conference – and has asked that we include how we as practitioners can be involved in the solutions.
This landmark conference brings together the top experts from leading organisations working with refugees in the key areas of housing, education and employment, volunteering and children and families. Conference delegates will work together during workshops and joint discussions to create recommendations to present to government.
A report focussing on the key recommendations developed during the conference will be produced and presented to the UKBA for their consideration.   The report will include an indication of how organisations could help to implement the recommendations that arise.
We will hear direct testimony from refugees giving their perspective on their personal experiences.
The conference is chaired by leading Guardian journalist Alison Benjamin.

During Refugee Week hundreds of events exploring refugee experiences take place ac the UK.  These range from small community and school activities to art exhibitions, political debates, film screenings, conferences, big music festivals, sports events etc.  Anyone can get involved in Refugee Week either by organising or visiting an event or by just spreading the word!

1.   Understand it’s for the best.
2.   Don’t stress about it.
3.   See it as a stepping-stone to success.
4.   Do it promptly.
5.   Be honest.
6.   Keep a level tone of voice.
7.   Hold eye contact.
8.   Don’t grovel.
9.   Put it behind you.
10.Don’t repeat the mistake.

What is it?

The Simple Acts campaign is about inspiring people to use small, everyday actions to change perceptions of refugees.   It consists of 20 actions that can be done by anyone and that encourage us to learn and do more with refugees. With every person who joins the campaign and does a small thing with and for refugees, we get a little closer to removing barriers between communities and to creating the kind of world we all want to live in.   We believe that by encouraging lots of people to do these simple, seemingly insignificant acts   –   read a book, tell a story or share a dish   –   we can begin to make lasting changes to the world around us.
It sounds simple   -   and it is!


What are the Actions?

1.Cook a dish from another country
2.Tell a child a story from another country
3.Watch a movie about refugees
4.Do a quiz on refugees
5.Say a little prayer for me
6.Read a book about exile
7.Sign off your email with a note about refugees
8.Learn five facts about refugees
9.Find out who you REALLY are
10.Visit a Refugee Week event
11.Smile
12.Learn to say a few things in a new language
13.Have tea with a refugee
14.Share a song

Only female lifeguards will be on duty during these sessions and any windows looking into the pool will be covered.  This will enable women to swim at ease, confident that no men will be admitted or will be able to see them in the pool area.  Children under five will be allowed to go and join in the fun – with a ratio of one adult to two children.  The sessions will cost £2.70 per adult and children under five can swim for free.

Please add these dates to your diary:
Thursday,   11^th   June
Thursday,   9^th   July
August   –   No session due to School Holidays.

All the dates are shown using the Gregorian (Western) calendar. The calendar is accurate, but some dates may vary regionally because they are determined by the lunar calendar.  Jewish festivals usually begin at sundown on the previous day.

If you have access to the internet, just click on the faith links for further information.   These are underlined.  Ed.