November 2008 Newsletter
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FOREWORD BY THE CHAIR OF THE DCRSC BOARD OF TRUSTEES Dear Friends and Supporters, I am sure you will have already heard of the wonderful response to our Harvest Festival Appeal which we made in August. To everyone who was involved with those gifts of food, the Board of Trustees are immensely grateful. Our Food Programme Co-ordinator, Geoff Read, and his volunteers, are now finding it easier to make up the parcels of much needed food for our clients without having to spend too much of our funds. The annual RESPECT FESTIVAL was held over the weekend of the 25th and 26th of October in Plymouth, and for the first time DCRSC had one of the many stalls in the main Guildhall. The Trustees had agreed that it would be good to have representation there, so that we would have an opportunity of raising our profile. The Festival was attended by many hundreds of people, as those of you who were there, witnessed. It was my first visit, and I was very impressed with the organisation, and the involvement of so many people. If I had one criticism, it would be the level of music, which made it very difficult to hear anything that was said, either on the stage or between visitors. But maybe that is the generation that I belong to! |
However, our stall was very professionally put together and looked after by a number of our volunteers, and I would like them to know of our appreciation of the time they had given up over that weekend, to make sure that DCRSC was involved. During the Sunday afternoon, a very special event took place. Trish Baxter, one of our caseworkers, and a very long standing one, was awarded the Sam Kallon Memorial Award for her work with asylum seekers and refugees through DCRSC. This was presented to her by Sam’s widow Isatta (Sarah) Kallon on the Guildhall stage in front of many hundreds of people. As many of you will know, Sam & Sarah with their personal knowledge of the traumas of ASRs and their feeling of loneliness and confusion in a strange country, had a vision ten years ago, through DCRSC, to support and guide as many as possible. Trish has been able to do this. We congratulate her! The Trustees are still negotiating with Plymouth City Council, through the Social Inclusion Unit, for some funding and we are hoping that by the end of November this will have been done. Best wishes Lorna M. Sewell Chair, DCRSC Board of Trustees  |
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EDITORIAL COMMENT CONTRIBUTIONS. We welcome all contributions from anyone to our monthly Newsletters. Do you have something to include? Please pass your article or comment to the Editor whose contact details are at the foot of each page. News, gossip, information, notices, advertisements, photographs… anything will be considered for inclusion. 
DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION. We would like to publicise our monthly Newsletters far and wide. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints and to avoid postal charges, we can only send copies to those on email. A few spare copies will be available at the Reception Desk at DCRSC. The layout is designed so that it can be printed back-to-back, so do please print off a copy and pass it to your friends. If you are reading this and not already receiving a copy then please get in touch with the Editor.
GREETINGS & BEST WISHES! M ANY HAPPY RETURNS to Sue TURNER for her birthday on Monday, 3rd December. Sue was formerly a volunteer with us and is still a keen supporter. Enjoy your day Sue! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sarah BESONG BESONG for her birthday on Tuesday, 4th November. Sarah is a relatively new volunteer with us, working on the Reception Desk. Have a lovely birthday Sarah! CONGRATULATIONS to Heather SABLE and Ali GHORBANNIA on the occasion of their first wedding anniversary on Sunday, 16th November! Heather was formerly the Manager of DCRSC and is still a keen supporter. My, how time flies... one year already?BEST WISHES to Alicia SMITH for her birthday on Monday, 17th November. Alicia is a volunteer on our Reception Desk and also an active supporter of our Women’s Development Group. Happpy Birthday Alicia!
Have we missed any? Do please let me know! Ed.
| DCRSC GENERAL MATTERS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF DCRSC. DCRSC will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary during 2009. Watch this space for announcements regarding the events to be held! BOARD OF TRUSTEES. The Board held a meeting on Wednesday, 1st October and Miss Charlotte Taylor was accepted a Co-opted Member to the Board. If there is something of concern that you would like the Board to discuss then please mention it to the Editor who will pass it on to the Board. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, 14th November. REORGANISATION OF DCRSC PREMISES. Working space is extremely limited within our premises and the situation has been exacerbated now that we have Auxiliary Caseworkers and space for training is needed. The Staff and a few volunteers met up on Friday, 3rd October to reorganise the offices. Well done to you all and thank you for your efforts. The premises are looking more ‘professional’ already! STAFF TEAM MEETINGS. Staff Team Meetings are usually held on a Wednesday every other week. The Staff Team had a meeting on Wednesday, 8th October and Arnold M. has emailed copies of the minutes to the Staff Team. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 24th November at 3 p.m. STATISTICS. Geoff R. has produced the monthly statistics for DCRSC for September 2008 and is currently working on those for October. If anyone wishes to have sight of any statistical information then do please contact the Editor directly in the first instance. The 2007 statistics are included in the 2007 Annual Report which is also now available on our website: http://dcrsc.cfsites.org/. TALKS & PRESENTATIONS. Two of our volunteers, Christine R. and Geoff R., gave a talk and PowerPoint Slide Show at the Pilgrim Church in Plymouth in October. This presentation was very well received. A further talk is planned in Bovey Tracey on Wednesday, 12th November during the evening at Bovey Tracey.
Are you a School, Group or Organisation that would welcome a Talk about the work of DCRSC? Please get in touch with the Editor in the first instance. |
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VOLUNTEER'S MEETINGS October 2008 Meeting. This was held on Thursday, 30th October. The minutes are being processed.
Please contact Blerina K. or Liz H. at the Centre for further information. Thursday, 20th November Thursday, 4th December WEBSITE. Our new website is now up-and-running and it is beginning to take shape. We would welcome any suggestions, criticisms and/or comments that you have regarding this site so please forward them to the Editor. This new website was built for us by one of Volunteers who wishes to remain anonymous but we should like to give him/her our very sincerest thanks! Simply click on this link or cut-and-paste it into your address box. Please also make a note of this link in your diaries, etc. http://dcrsc.cfsites.org/
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THE DCRSC CLOTHING STORE DONATIONS.
The Clothing Store would welcome any donations of clothing, etc., but are currently in need of:  Please note that no Ladies or Children’s Clothing are required at the moment. It would be most helpful if all donations were clean and of reasonable quality. All contributions will be gratefully received and put to good use. THE DCRSC FOOD PROGRAMME BANANAS... Never, put your banana in the refrigerator! This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again. 
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with
the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and
conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet. Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. PMS: Forget the pills-eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood. Anaemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia. |
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Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US
Food & Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke. Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert. Constipation: High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives. Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system. Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief. Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. Mosquito Bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation. Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady. Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach. Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example , pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan. Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal. Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack. Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, 'eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%! |
Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out.
Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!" PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here: want a quick shine on our shoes? Take the inside of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe... polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit! F OOD ITEMS REQUIRED. We are constantly asking for donations of food. A list of our requirements is shown on our website: http://dcrsc.cfsites.org/. However, please note that we are NOT in need of any more tinned soup just at the moment!
THANK YOU! The volunteer Food Programme Coordinator would like to express his especial thanks to all those who gave their time and / or
who made donations during recent months... especially over the Harvest Festival. Many thanks to you all! LETTERS TO THE EDITOR  Richard is a former employee of DCRSC and now employed by the Racial Equality Council in Plymouth. Always good to hear encouragement from our Supporters. Ed.
 Hadi is currently a volunteer with us doing splendid work in our Clothing Store. Thanks Hadi! You will automatically receive one each month. Ed. |
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 Of course Arnold! A copy was immediately despatched! Jon is a long-standing supporter of DCRSC. Ed. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? Do please write and tell us. Ed. NEWS, GOSSIP & ADVERTISEMENTS  The Indian race, in general, has offered resistance to the American ‘melting pot,’ but Indian metal, after proper contact with civilised customs and industries, has gone into the making of many examples of splendid citizenship. Editor’s Note: I came across a batch of these photographs and accompanying quotations. The above item is the sixth of the collection.
I intend to publish each of the remainder every month. Ed. THIS SPACE COULD HAVE BEEN USED
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These are offered to dance practitioners working within the forms of the African Diaspora. This funding is provided to contribute to costs for classes, training, professional development, equipment and research. Successful applicants will have a mentor assigned to them who will provide a programme of skills training. To be eligible, applicants should be working within the forms of the African Diaspora or with significant influences drawn from African, Caribbean or African-American, including Jazz and Street Dance. Applicants should be resident/based in the UK and a member of a professional association such as Dance UK, ADAD, Foundation for Community Dance, The Place Artists Development and have some professional experience as a dancer, choreographer or artistic director. Further information is available from: www.adad.org.uk CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS. Keep up to date with all City Centre events on www.plymouthcitycentre.co.uk
C OLOURED FOLKS! When I was born, I was BLACK, When I grew up, I was BLACK, When I went in the sun, I stayed BLACK, When I got cold, I was BLACK, When I was scared, I was BLACK, When I was sick, I was BLACK, And when I die, I'll still be BLACK. Now, you white folks... When you're born, you're PINK, When you grow-up, you're WHITE, When you go in the sun, you get RED, When you're cold, you turn BLUE, When you're scared, you're YELLOW , When you get sick, you're GREEN, When you bruise, you turn PURPLE, And when you die, you look GREY. So who y'all callin' C O L O U R E D folks?
DIWALI-EID CELEBRATIONS Everyone Welcome! Tickets On Sale Now but please hurry to avoid disappointment: £10 Adults £5 Children (5-16) |
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Delicious Indian Food From Baba Indian Restaurant Professional Music & Dance Fashion Show Children’s Performances Games & Prizes For tickets and more information please contact either Sanjay Sharma (07920484482) sanjay.sharma@plymouth.ac.uk or Dr. Bharat Shrestha (07821800373) chairperson@southasiansociety.co.uk EUROPEAN CULTURE AT THE CLICK OF A MOUSE. The European Commission is pumping up to €120 million into setting up a continent-wide online library, opening up community access to Europe’s cultural heritage.
Scheduled for a November launch, the European Digital Library – to be known as Europeana – is aiming to provide a one-stop-shop enabling citizens to access books,
music, paintings, photographs and films. It will give direct access to at least 2 million digitised objects, including books, photos, maps, sounds, films and archival records from Europe's
libraries, archives, museums and audio-visual collections. This incredible resource will create new, accessible and affordable opportunities for intercultural learning across the EU.
It has the potential to contribute to awareness of our shared European cultural identity. On other continents this is much more accepted.
Many people self-identify as African without being concerned that it detracts from their national identity. Rather, it recognises that there are things they share with other Africans that
they do not share with the rest of the world. We in Europe can learn from this and making our shared culture accessible in this way is an important step forward. FARMERS' MARKETS. Take a look at the best of West country fayre at the city centre Farmers’ Markets held monthly every second and fourth Saturday. Enjoy!
FOSTER CARERS. Could you be a foster carer? A foster carer looks after children and young people who cannot live with their own family. Fostering is becoming an increasingly popular way of supporting children and
families within the local community. As the population of Devon and Cornwall becomes more multicultural, foster carers are needed for children and 
young people of all backgrounds, races, cultures and religions. Some children need fostering for a few days or months, whereas others need a home for several years or until they reach adulthood.
Plymouth City Council particularly needs foster carers who can look after children aged 8 to 18. |
There are also asylum-seeking young people who do not speak English. Almost anyone can be a foster carer whatever their age,
background, marital status, sexuality, race or religion. You don’t have to be working, as foster carers receive a weekly allowance to cover the cost of caring for each child.
You don’t need any formal qualifications, as training will be provided. You don’t have to be a British citizen, so long as you have the right to remain in the UK.
All you need is to be a non-smoker, have a spare bedroom and be committed to helping children and their families. Anyone interested in fostering can call Plymouth City Council’s fostering service on 0800 085 8034 or visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/fostering for a free information pack and DVD. FOR GREENER PASTURES. By Aung Thet Wine, October 2008.
With few opportunities at home, many young Burmese look overseas for work. But before migrants can earn a dollar or Pound abroad they have to face queues, fees,
bribes and sometimes danger.
H OW TO GET YOU AND YOUR CREATIVE WORK NOTICED. Plymouth, Wednesday, 26th November, 9.30 – 4.30 p.m.
This practical and interactive one-day marketing workshop will address how to market your creative work more effectively and get it to the right people.
There are only 12 places available, which cost £35 and you need to book by 12th November. Further info/booking contact: Tel: 0117 9150190 / info@artsmatrix.org.uk LINk - LOCAL INVOLVEMENT NETWORK and Plymouth’s Advisory Partnership for Older People (PAPOP) is up and running! Big LINk Launch. Over the next few weeks LINk will be across the city making its Big Launch! They are hosting a big City Centre event on:
Saturday, 1st November, 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Place de Brest (in Armada Way, by Barclays Bank). There will be lots of entertainment, fun, food and information about the
LINk. On this day they aim to: • Let people know about the LINk, what it does and the different ways people can get involved. • Present the proposed structure for the LINk and get public feedback on this. • Offer people the opportunity to get involved in the Stewardship group that will guide the LINk. • Get public views on health and social care services and local priorities for improving services. If you would like to go to see them and find out more about what the LINk will do and how the LINk can work with you, they would love to see you. LINk Information on the Internet. Until the LINk’s website is developed, information about the LINk, minutes of the LINk Transition Group and the role of the Host are available to see on the news page of the Colebrook Housing Society site. Type in www.plymouth-link.co.uk and it will take you straight there. If you would like to talk to the Support Team about the Link, involvement and working with your organisation, please contact the, at: |
Plymouth City Council is appealing for more people to consider becoming foster carers. 6
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Plymouth LINk Support Team, Unit 15/20, HQ Building, 237 Union Street , Plymouth PL1 3HQ. Tel: (01752) 202407 Email: info@plymouth-link.co.uk
If you have any information you would like us to include, please send it to: avid@plymouthartscentre.org by the last Thursday of the month. Alternatively, you can call us on 01752 276990 or send information to: ONEVOICEMAIL, AviD, Plymouth Arts Centre, 38 Looe St.., Plymouth PL4 0EB. The Editor of this Newsletter would like to thank AviD
for contributing articles for us! Ed. P LYMOUTH MULTILINGUAL FAMILIES. Do your children speak a language other than English? Come and meet other parents who are bringing up their children with more than one language, at our Coffee Mornings / Play Sessions for parents and children.Meetings are held on the second Saturday of each month from 10:30 to 12 noon at Plymstock Children’s Centre, Dunstone Primary School,
Southernway, Plymstock.
HOME OFFICE ANNUAL ASYLUM STATISTICS 2007.
For further information please email: multilingual-group@blueyonder.co.uk or telephone (01752) 403501.  We have received the Home Office figures for 2007 and also the statistics for the figures so far this year. Some of the Key points include: Applications • The number of asylum applications received in 2007 (excluding dependants) was 23,430, 1% less than in the previous year. • Including dependants, the number of asylum applications was 28,300 in 2007, similar to 2007, when 28,320 applications were received. • Asylum applicants in 2007 brought with them 4,870 dependants. This equates to an average of one dependant for every five principal applicants. However this average varies greatly between different nationalities. Most dependents (80%) in 2007 were under 18 and over half (56%) were female. • 85% of principal applicants in 2007 applied in-country. |
Age and gender The majority of principal applicants in 2007 were under 35 years old (80%). 16% were aged between 35 and 49 and 4% were 50 or older. 70% of principal applicants were male (the same as 2006). More than three quarters of both male and female applicants in 2007 were less than 35 years old. Nationalities The top applicant nationalities in 2007 were: 1. Afghan (2,500 – 4% rise from last year) 2. Iranian (2,210 – decrease of 7%) 3. Chinese (2,100 – rise of 8%) 4. Iraqi (1,825 – 93% rise from last year) 5. Eritrean (1,810 – 30% decrease on last year) 6. Zimbabwean (1,800) 7. Somali (1,615) 8. Pakistani (1,030) 9. Sri Lankan (990) 10. Nigerian (780) These figures relate to principal applicants only. Please contact the Editor should you require more detailed figures. PLYMOUTH TRADES COUNCIL MAY DAY FESTIVAL 2009. This is expected to take place in the Plymouth Guildhall on Monday, 4thMay 2009. Featured events will include: robin.beale@plymouth.gov.uk  A Refugee Council report revealed voucher support leaves many
hungry and desperate, a cabinet reshuffle saw Phil Woolas become immigration minister and the Home Secretary announced an independent inquiry into claims of abuse of people seeking
asylum by British guards For further information on this report and others, please visit: http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/news/ |
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| THAKSIN SHINAWATRA SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM IN BRITAIN.
Former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is seeking political asylum in Britain. The Home Office has confirmed the ex-Thailand Prime Minister, 59, and his wife Pojaman have both applied to stay.
They returned here in August after skipping a Bangkok court hearing, prompting Thai officials to issue arrest warrants. Dr Shinawatra, who last month sold the Premier League to an Abu Dhabi group for £210million,
was ousted from power in a military coup in 2006. He faces probes over alleged corruption and abuse of power. In July his wife was sentenced to three years for evading taxes. Dr Shinawatra, who denies any wrongdoing, has said he feels he cannot get a fair trial in Thailand and fears for his life. For further information please visit:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/10/05/thaksin-shinawatra-seeking-political-asylum-in-britain-115875-20775717/
SANTA& HIS REINDEER. DIARY DATES 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.  Saturday, 1st NovemberChristian All Saints' Day (Hallowmas, All Hallows') All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is when Anglicans and Roman Catholics honour all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Orthodox churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Diwali-Eid Celebrations from 2 – 8 p.m. at the Plymouth Guildhall. (see separate article) Big LINk Launch 1 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Place de Brest (in Armada Way , by Barclays Bank) (see separate article)  | Sunday, 2nd NovemberChristian All Souls' Day All Souls' Day is an opportunity for Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic churches to commemorate the faithful departed. They remember and pray for the souls of people who are in Purgatory. All Souls' Day is celebrated on 3 November if the 2nd is a Sunday. Rastafari Coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I Haile Selassie was the Emperor of Ethiopia. Rastas believe Haile Selassie is God, and that he will return to Africa members of the black community who are living in exile. Christian All Saints' Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales) The Catholic Church in England and Wales moves this festival to the nearest Sunday if it falls on a Saturday or Monday. Thursday, 6th NovemberWomen's Development Group Meeting (see separate article) Sunday, 9th NovemberMultifaith Remembrance Sunday The second Sunday of November is marked by ceremonies at war memorials and cenotaphs to remember those who gave their lives in conflicts. Tuesday, 11th NovemberMultifaith Armistice Day Marks the end of the First World War on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. At 1100 on this day people in the UK pause for two minutes of silence to remember those who gave their lives in past conflicts. Wednesday, 12th NovemberBahai Birth of Baha'u'llah Celebrates the birth in 1817 of the founder of the Baha'i faith. Thursday, 13th NovemberSikh Birthday of Guru Nanak (Lunar Calendar) This festival may be celebrated by some on the date fixed by the Nanakshahi calendar: April 14 Friday, 14th NovemberDCRSC Board of Trustees' Meeting (see separate article) |
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Saturday, 15th NovemberShinto Shichigosan (7-5-3 festival) A festival to give thanks for children. Often celebrated on the nearest Sunday to the 15th to allow working parents to take part. Sunday, 16th NovemberChristmas Lights Switch On (see separate article) Thursday, 20th NovemberWomen's Development Group Meeting (see separate article) Thursday, 20th November – Monday, 22nd DecemberChristmas Markets (see separate article) Sunday, 23rd NovemberShinto Niinamesei Labour Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday in Japan and originally a harvest festival. Monday, 24th NovemberDCRSC Staff Team Meeting (see separate article) Sikh Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar) Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru and is honoured as a champion of religious freedom. He was executed in 1675 for refusing to convert to Islam. Wednesday, 26th NovemberBahai Day of the Covenant This minor festival celebrates the covenant of Baha'u'llah. Baha'is also mark the life of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on this day. Thursday, 27th NovemberDCRSC Volunteers' Meeting (see separate article) Friday, 28th NovemberBahai Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha Marks the death of the son of Baha'u'lláh. This is a minor holy day and work is not suspended. |
Sunday, 30th NovemberChristian St Andrew's Day Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia. The flag of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew. St Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was originally a fisherman and became the first Apostle. Christian Advent Sunday The beginning of the ecclesiastical year on the Sunday closest to November 30. Advent is the season before Christmas - In Western Christendom, four Sundays are included. In Eastern Christendom, the season is longer and begins in the middle of November. Thursday, 4th DecemberWomen's Development Group Meeting (see separate article) Monday, 8th DecemberMuslim Hajj (start) The annual pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims should complete at least once in their lifetime. Christian Feast of the Immaculate Conception Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being without sin, therefore, immaculate. Buddhist Bodhi Day On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India. Wednesday, 10th DecemberHuman Rights Day This day is celebrated annually across the world. A separate article will be inserted into the December edition of our Newsletter. Thursday, 11th DecemberMuslim Eid-Ul-Adha Festival of Sacrifice marking the day after Arafat. The Day of Arafat is the most important day in the Hajj ritual. This is a four day holiday. Saturday, 13th DecemberChristian St Lucy's Day Saint Lucy's feast day is marked by Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox. Lucy is the patron saint of the blind. She was a virgin martyr who lived in Sicily during the third century. Wednesday, 17th DecemberSanta & His Reindeer (see separate article) |
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Sunday, 21st DecemberPagan Winter Solstice - Yule Yule is the time of the winter solstice, when the sun child is reborn, an image of the return of all new life born through the love of the Gods. Within the Northern Tradition, Yule is regarded as the New Year. Monday, 22nd DecemberJewish Hanukkah Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights and marks the restoration of the temple by the Maccabees in 164 BCE. Hanukkah is celebrated at roughly the same time as Christmas, but there is no connection at all between the festivals. Wednesday, 24th DecemberChristian Christmas Eve The day before Christmas Day. Thursday, 25th DecemberChristianChristmas Day The day when Western stians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Friday, 26th DecemberSecular Boxing Day The day after Christmas Day. A secular festival. Christian St. Stephen's Day St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is celebrated on this day by Roman Catholics. The day is also called the Feast of Stephen. Monday, 29th DecemberMuslim Al-Hijira Islamic New Year. Marks the migration of the Prophet Mohammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina |
2009 All YearDCRSC will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary!(see separate article) Monday, 4th May 2009Plymouth Trades Council May Day Festival(see separate article)
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