MINELRES: UNITED: Media Release - European Action Week Against Racism

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Original sender: UNITED <noreply@unitedagainstracism.org>


UNITED E-NEWS 6-3-2009: Media Release - European Action Week Against
Racism

14 - 22 March 2009

European-wide Action Week Against Racism
'Look Deeper - Value Diversity'

** VALUE DIVERSITY **

Look deeper, don't judge by what you see - Value diversity!

Population in Europe is becoming more and more diverse. Internal and
external migration processes are making it a place where people of many
different ethnic, geographic and cultural backgrounds share their
existence.
Nowadays diversity seems to be considered worrisome rather than a
potential growth - especially concerning people perception of 'limited
resources in a period of economical crisis' protectionism, exclusion and
growing nationalism are reactive phenomenon of today's society.

'Diversity is beautiful' - that's true and much more than that it adds
value to society, cohesion and development in any aspect. What we need
to understand is how to manage diversity and not to be afraid of it. The
magic formula is to LOOK DEEPER and VALUE DIVERSITY to recognize what is
beyond the unknown and find out that there is a lot to explore, to
understand and to learn from each other.

**Europe Against Racism**

Every year on the occasion of the European-wide Action Week Against
Racism around 21 March, people all around Europe get together promoting
diversity, solidarity, equality and tolerance. In 2008, the Action Week
celebrated its 16th birthday with activities in 47 countries, involving
tens of thousands of people all around Europe in the fight against
racism, discrimination, intolerance and exclusion. All over Europe, from
Iceland to Greece and from Portugal to Russia, activities were
organised, involving a whole country in one common action. Again this
year, from 14 to 22 March, various non-governmental-organisations in
almost all European countries will raise together their voice against
one common threat: racism.

**Historical Meaning of the Date - The Massacre in Sharpeville**

21 March was declared 'International Day for the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination' by the General Assembly of the United
Nations. This was a reaction to the brutal murder of 69 peaceful
anti-Apartheid demonstrators in Sharpeville, South Africa, on 21 March
1960. This day, police opened fire on a non-violent manifestation
consisting of thousands of people chanting freedom songs. Most of the
victims were shot in the back while fleeing to save their lives. No
member of police was ever charged for the massacre.

**Various Activities all over Europe**

To fight against racism and discrimination, people and organisations all
around Europe join the European-wide Action Week Against Racism 2009 and
get active by organising a lot of different events such as conferences,
demonstrations, festivals, workshops and much more.

Not only big events like the 'Open Your Eyes' - an international
festival against xenophobia and racism organised by Social Democratic
Union of Youth from Russia in cooperation with partner organizations -
which will take place in Mainz (Germany), Kaunas (Lithuania),
St.Petersburg and Vologda (Russia) and in Helsingborg (Sweden).

Or another huge nation-wide campaign including more than 500 events for
schools, sport clubs, sport associations, foundations, local initiative,
companies and trade unions in Germany is organised by the
Interkultureller Rat in cooperation with Gesicht Zeigen!, Aktion
Weltoffenes Deutschland and more than 40 partner organisations. But also
smaller events such as an educational action-week against racism under
the slogan 'Our Hearts Have the Same Color' in a polish primary school
will be proceeded.

These are some examples of a variety of activities and organisations in
different European countries that already joined in this year's
European-wide Action Week. The full 'List of Activities' is available on
the UNITED website. 

**Additional Information**

UNITED for Intercultural Action is a network of more than 560 supporter
organisations from all over Europe working against nationalism, racism,
fascism and in support of migrants and refugees. Every year, the
international UNITED secretariat coordinates three big European-wide
campaigns, 'European-wide Action Week Against Racism', 'Refugee Day' and
'International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism'. Different
organisations in all European countries carry out activities at the
local level in the international framework of these campaigns. The
UNITED office supports them in various ways, e.g. by providing them with
free campaign material or contact dates of other organisations in the
same country or working field.

In case of any questions please contact the UNITED office. We will be
happy to provide you with any further information about the current
campaign and contact dates of involved organisations.

***********************************************************
We depend on YOUR help in 2009!

UNITED is not rich and has no stable income!
Though far most of the work at the UNITED secretariat is done voluntary
- still money is needed to keep the network functioning in 2009 and to
secure the cooperation and information flow throughout Europe.

Your donation is most welcome:
- in cash to UNITED Postbus 413 NL-1000 AK Amsterdam
- by bank (preferable) to:
UNITED, Postbus 413 NL-1000 AK Amsterdam
Account
IBAN: NL28 INGB 0002343715, BIC: INGBNL2A - Bank: ING Bank Amsterdam,
Postbus 1800, NL-1000 BV Amsterdam
(From NL: ING Bank 2343715)

***********************************************************

UNITED is the pan-European network against nationalism, racism, fascism
and in support of migrants and refugees, supported by over 560
organisations in 46 European countries.
How to join the network: see www.unitedagainstracism.org 'joining the
network'

UNITED E-NEWS is an irregular email service to over 9000 organisations
and contact persons active in the working fields: anti-racism, refugee
support, anti-fascism, against antisemitism, migration, minority issues,
intercultural youth work, against nationalism etc.

Regular postal mailings, containing publications such as Addressbook
Against Racism, Calendar of Internationalism, Campaign reports, Posters
etc. are sent to over 2400 European organisations. If you also would
like to receive this mailing: see www.unitedagainstracism.org 'joining
the network'

----

UNITED for Intercultural Action
European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of
migrants and refugees
Postbus 413 - NL 1000 AK Amsterdam - phone +31-20-6834778 - fax
+31-20-6834582 - info@unitedagainstracism.org -
www.unitedagainstracism.org

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