Thinking of cutting down on meat and dairy for personal and planetary health? Tune into Chalkhill Radio and join the conversation tomorrow 10am

 

From Brent Friends of the Earth

We hope to have a regular slot on the local Community Radio station, Chalkhill Community Radio. I'll be kicking off tomorrow, talking about how we can cut down on meat and dairy consumption.

You can tune in by going to www.chalkhillcommunityradio.com and clicking on 'listen live'. Recording available later.

Studio number for texts and calls 07956 548 781

Amazing line-up for 'Stand Up for Gaza' comedy evening March 20th

From Brent Friends of Palestine

We have about 80 tickets to sell for the comedy night we are organising on Friday March 20th at 7.30 pm at the Yaa Centre, W9 2AN. It will be a good evening out so PLEASE come and  buy your tickets as soon as you can. 

 

Tickets are £18 for adults and £12.50p for students. 

Tickets are not available on the door but can be purchased from https://www.wegottickets.com/brentpal

Comedians taking part , who are all giving of their time and comedian skills free are:-

 

Nish Kumar from BBC's The Mash Report and Radio 4 News Quiz:

Angela Barnes from BBC's Mock the Week and Radio 4 News Quiz:

Daphne Baram from Laughing for Palestine:

Michelle de Swarte who has a range of TV credits as a comedian on a number of different channels

MC: Ian Saville ; socialist magician, ventriloquist and comedian

PLEASE come if you can .. and bring a friend..Buy tickets in advance from the above website

 

Its probably suitable for children over 14 as some comedians do seem to swear at times from our experience !

Unmissable 'Stand Up for Gaza!' May 18th

Brent Friends of Palestine have done amazingly well to secure such a top group of comedians for this event for a really worthwhile cause. Do please buy a ticket.

STAND  UP  FOR  GAZA

4 comedians, Alexie Sayle, Francesca Martinez, Jeremy Hardy and Sarah Pascoe, will be providing the entertainment for this fundraising event.

When:  Friday May 18th; doors open 7.15 and comedy starts at 7.45.

Compere: Ian Saville, the socialist magician. 

Venue: YAA Centre, 1, Chippenham Mews, Marylands Rd, London W9 2AN ( Nearest tube; Westbourne Pk or Warwick Avenue 10 mins walk: Buses; 18,36, 6 187 all stop nearby; Street parking after 6.30. step free access )

Tickets: £17.50; £14 concessions; Available from https://www.wegottickets.com/event/435208  NOT available on the door

Wine/ Beer/ Soft drinks and Light snacks will be available from 7.15 pm

ALL PROFITS will go to the Palestine Trauma Centre's Fridays of Joy Project in Gaza: See info@ptcuk.org

Palestine Trauma Centre fundraiser: Music to ‘Create Joy Amongst the Debris’ October 1st

Tickets should be booked in advance by e-mailing brentfop@gmail.com

Brent Friends of Palestine continue to raise funds for an imaginative play project run by the Palestine Trauma Centre.  The opportunity to do something positive for children in Gaza has captured our imagination.

Children's story teller.  The banner shows Brent Friends of Palestine amongst the sponsors

 Life in Gaza continues to be extremely grim for the population.  Rebuilding of houses, schools and work places destroyed in the attacks on Gaza in 2008, 2012 and 2014, has not occurred. Promised aid has not been delivered.  Israel controls all the crossing points and prohibits imports of key building materials and equipment.  Electricity and water infrastructure has been badly damaged and supplies are increasingly scarce.  There is no movement of people between the Palestinian West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  Food production is very limited.

The UN Secretary-General has found that the blockade and related restrictions contravene international humanitarian law as they target and impose hardship on the civilian population, effectively penalizing them for acts they have not committed. All this has considerable impact on the long term physical and mental well- being of children in Gaza and the West Bank.

Two major international events this summer have highlighted obstacles faced by Palestinians wanting to travel outside Gaza. This year a team of 6 athletes went to the Rio Olympics despite the enormous difficulties of training in Palestine. For example, Mary Al-Atrash, a swimmer has had to train in a half sized pool despite there being several Olympic sized pools in Israel. The head of the Palestinian team, Issam Qishta, was not given a permit to leave Gaza and so the team had to leave without their leader. Also those who went had to buy their kit once they reached Brazil.

In July the 80 strong Palestinian Youth Orchestra toured Britain giving concerts in several British cities including London.  Again, two members of the orchestra living in Gaza were not allowed to leave.

The Palestine Trauma Centre provides therapeutic support to families and children whose lives have been devastated by the bombings and the harshness of life in Gaza.  It was founded by a clinical psychologist from Gaza.

The Centre aims to do both reparative and preventative work with children and families. One aspect of this work is the Fridays of Joy sessions when teams of play workers, story tellers, clowns and play therapists visit villages and refugee camps in Gaza and run imaginative sessions which involve hundreds of children, giving them some fun, which is, in itself, therapeutic, and on a regular basis can have a long term benefits for the children. One of their slogans is ‘Create Joy Amongst the Debris.

Brent Friends of Palestine are holding a fund raising concert in Central London on Saturday October 1^st with singer-songwriters Frankie Armstrong, Janet Russell, Leon Rosselson, Palestinian oud player and singer Nizza al-Issa and professional violinist Simon Hewitt Jones. Simon travels to Palestine to work with young violinists in Ramallah. The MC will be Ian Saville, socialist conjuror, just returned from the Edinburgh Festival.


More information can be found at Brent Friends of Palestine on Facebook

Magic, music and marvellous food at Willesden Green fundraising garden party

From Brent Stop the War and Brent and Harrow Palestine Solidarity Campaign

FUNDRAISING GARDEN PARTY SUNDAY 10TH JULY

From 4pm to 9.30pm

https://www.facebook.com/BrentStoptheWar  http://brentpsc.blogspot.co.uk/

Supporters are invited to our fundraising party in a beautiful Willesden Garden. Ticket price includes all entertainment and a deliciously varied buffet with plenty of vegetarian options as well as meat, fish, salads and desserts.

Performers include:

MC and Socialist Magician Ian Saville www.redmagic.co.uk

From the Lyrical to the Satirical with singer-songwriter Leon Rosselson www.leonrosselson.co.uk

Soula Ensemble performing Arabic music of many kinds:

Muwashah from the Arabic-Andalusian tradition, modern songs (Fairouz, Marcel Khalife) and Palestinian songs https://m.facebook.com/SoulaEnsemble/

Drinks, raffle and stall with Palestinian goods extra

TICKETS

From:

Brent Stop the War email brentstopthewar@gmail.com or ring Sarah on 07951 084 101

Brent and Harrow Palestine Solidarity Campaign email brent2harrowpsc@outlook.com or ring Martin on 0208 908 3913

OR BUY TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE HERE


Where?

A beautiful garden in Willesden Green - Address will be disclosed on payment, London, NW2
Contact Martin on mafran@globalnet.co.uk if you would like to help organise the event, provide some home cooked food or help on the day.

More from Brent and Harrow PSC  www.brentpsc.blogspot.co.uk

Brent debates anti-semitism

Three meetings are scheduled over the next 10 days addressing in various ways the issue of anti-semitism in the Labour Party and in the wider context.

At a Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Party meeting last week last Thursday a motion from the Jewish Labour Movement proposing a rule change on anti-semitism was deferred pending the outcome of the Chakrabati inquiry into anti-semitism in the Labour Party.

That was followed up by an angry blog by Philip Rosenberg entitled  'The great betrayal: Labour members refused to discuss anti-semitism.'  LINK

Rosenberg's account of the meeting was disputed by local activist Ian Saville:

The writer here is being disingenuous to say the least. An inconvenient truth, not mentioned in his article, is that a number of Jewish members supported the proposal to postpone the motion, or any motion on this subject, until after the Chakrabarti Inquiry has reported. This is due by the end of June, so we are not talking of the sort of delay one could expect from a Chilcot type of inquiry. Since an expert inquiry has been set up, with well respected chairs, it would be silly to attempt to preempt its deliberations by bringing in a rule change that proposes disciplinary and other measures which will be covered by the inquiry. The writer needs to calm down and learn some patience. There will be many opportunities to discuss these matters in coming months.

I understand that Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Party are now holding a special meeting of the General Committee on Tuesday 7th June at the Kingsgate Centre, 107 Kingsgate Road, NW6 2JH at which a motion 'unhesitatingly' condemning anti-semitism will be tabled. The Jewish Labour Movemement are expected to address the meeting and there will also be a discussion about a leaflet given out at last Thursday's meeting which was critical of the JLM.

On Monday June 6th the Brent Momentum AGM will be addressed by Jackie Walker, National Vice Chair of Momentum, who was recently reinstated after being suspended over claims of anti-semitism.

The agenda includes:

Where is Momentum Going?
Does Labour have a problem with antisemitism?
How do we get a Corbyn-led Labour government?

The meeting is at 7.30pm Brent Trades Hall/Apollo Club, Willesden High Road, NW10 2JR

Lastly Brent Stop the War (not affiliated to any political party) has invited Julia Bard  of the Jewish Socialist' Group and Jews for Jeremy to speak at their June 13th meeting on 'Is criticism of Israel anti-semitic?'

The meeting is at 7.30pm at the Brent Trades Hall/Apollo Club, Willesden High Road, NW10 2JR

I think these meetings are a sign of a healthy democratic climate in the borough (and neighbouring Camden) where controversial issues are not shied away from but the subject of open debate.

Standing room only to send a fond farewell to Shelia Robin

So many people attended the celebration of Sheila Robin's life at Golders Green Crematorium that many had to stand at the back and in the aisles. The ceremony 'chaired' by Sheila's friend Ian Saville reflected Sheila's many interests from book club to yachting, from comedy nights to folk clubs, from campaigning for justice for Palestinians to attending pop festivals.

The crowd wore many colours in accordance with Sheila's wishes and as people arrived they had no difficulty at all in locating Sheila's friends and comrades.

A rendition of  Billy Bragg's version of the Internationale was led by Leon Rosselson on guitar. Ian urged everyone to join in, even if they had a problem fitting Bragg's words in with the music. After a spirited, if sometimes slightly out of sync rendition, Ian remarked that it was rather like the state of the left - not quite united but then drew laugher when he said that if Jeremy Corbyn had been leading the singing then everyone would have been singing together.

Ian Saville's eulogy and contributions from family and Sarah Cox of Brent Stop the War painted a picture of someone with a strong commitment to living life to the full as well as a commitment to fighting for social justice.

That will continue to inspire those who loved and respected Sheila.

Even more people joined the celebration at the Windmill in Cricklewood after the cremation and the Brent Stop the Wat banner had pride of place.

Kate Mclean, who was unable to make the funeral, contributed this tribute on the Brent Stop the War Facebook page: 

I first met Sheila on the Grunwick picket line nearly 40 years ago. Since then we have both joined very many campaigns in and around Brent. We worked together in the campaign against the bombing of Yugoslavia at the end of the 1990s. We leafleted and had street stalls in Kilburn High Rd, we arranged public meetings and organised a large benefit in the Library, with a great line-up of entertainers. When the ‘War on Terror’ was announced in 2001 there was a core of very experienced local activists from different groups who had worked together over a long period. Earlier campaigns from the days of the Miner’s Strike onwards had been marked by fierce divisions and bitter argument. Many of us, and Sheila in particular, saw that this was no way forward. Brent Stop the War set out to do things differently. We concentrated on what we had in common. I believe that this is why it has been so successful and has held together so long.

After 9/11, Sheila was instrumental in organising the first Brent Stop the War meeting. She contacted everyone she could. We were united by abhorrence to the response of Bush to the attack on the twin towers, and were watching in horror that Blair could so enthusiastically follow. I think ours may have been the first organised local Stop the War group in the whole country. The first meeting I went to was so full that we were only just able to get in. Right from the beginning Sheila struggled to make the group as inclusive as possible. She battled against any attempts of what she thought were moves by different factions to take over, and as a strong feminist she would get particularly angry if any of the men were over dominating. Very soon we had elected a committee and a strong team and Sheila and I took on much of the day-to-day organisation, assisted by so many others and later substantially by Sarah.

We organised regular monthly meetings (going continuously since 2001 to the present day) produced leaflets and newsletters, leafleted for national demonstrations and events, petitioned and held street stalls. From the start it was clear that we needed money. It was Sheila who got some badges made – these well before the national organisation were selling them. I don’t know who designed them, but they were lovely and went like hot cakes. She then got me to make a banner, the one here today. (Roughly made, we never thought we would still be using it 13 years later!) With her eye for detail she had discovered that if the poles were over a certain length they could stop you taking them on the tube. She warned me to make them short enough and she suggested it be light enough for people like her to carry - not be like those mighty trade union banners. 

Whoever was to take it back was sure to receive a warning from Sheila of dire consequences of failing to do so. She also took such delight when this and also our large puppets of Bush and Blair were photographed in the press.

Over the years there were very many different people and groups who we worked with including local union branches and Brent Trades Council who gave us considerable support. Others undoubtedly were given confidence to take action themselves because of the strength of our local group. Sheila was particularly keen that younger people would become involved, while recognising that they might want to do their own thing; she was really delighted when a group of 6th formers at Hampstead, friends of her niece Kara organised for hundreds of hand prints to be stuck in Parliament Square, and by the walk-outs of students from Hampstead and Wembley High when the bombing of Iraq started. She also stretched out to involve those from different ethnic groups, linking up with Jews for Justice of which she was a part, Palestine Solidarity, Greek Cypriots, with the Guantanamo Campaign who were particularly active locally, with the Pakistan Workers Association whose hall we often used for public meetings, with an Afghani women’s organisation and in later years with a Muslim group who ran Rumi’s cave where we held our meetings in recent years. This last change of venue suggested by Sheila meant that our meetings attracted many new people. 

Keen not to provoke disagreement within the group and, at the same time, wanting open discussions Sheila had an active part in deciding the content of the meetings and finding appropriate and invariably interesting speakers – speakers chosen were either campaigners, academics, journalists or those speaking from their own experiences – from reports from different countries in the Middle East to more analytical speakers, invariably telling of under-reported important events. The many large public meetings included speakers like Tony Benn, Mark Steel, George Galloway………..and the hustings meetings were very lively at election time.

We will all remember Sheila as an exceptional organiser. She would not rest until every detail was covered. Working with her was not only energising (even though she would wear herself out, and sometimes us as well!) hers was such a creative energy. She was rightly proud of what we achieved and generous in her praise for the efforts of others. Between us we organised so many different things. We mobilised many, many thousands of people to take part in national demonstrations and protests and lobbies. Sheila enjoyed it when we organised large numbers to get on the same trains often waiting with the banner unfurled on the platform at Kilburn tube. The street collections, collections at public meetings, benefits and garden parties at our house when added together raised tens of thousands of pounds. In the bi-election in Brent East in 2003 we had a double decker bus plastered with posters and loud speakers touring the constituency, and if candidates previously hadn’t thought their position on Iraq mattered they certainly discovered then that it did.

Sheila was also sure that it was in response to pressure from us that Sarah Teather, then M.P for Brent East went on a delegation to Gaza and the West Bank, and returned to campaign so strongly for the rights of Palestinians. Working with Sheila was always filled with new ideas – creative but intensely practical ones with impressive results.

When due to a previous serious illness Sheila stepped down from activity of course we understood. Although she told me she really needed to cut down, it wasn’t long before she was taking things on again, leafleting, street stalls, public meetings, sorting out the email lists whenever her RSI did not prevent her using the computer, contacting speakers and helping to decide the content of future meetings. Then when I left for Wales she was back as secretary. By this time most of the other local groups were inactive, but she and particularly Sarah ensured that our group, though now smaller, kept going. Parliament voting against bombing Syria was a great moment. We reckoned that though we had not stopped the war on Iraq, our years of activity had been crucial to this vote. However, Sheila knew as much as anyone that the threat of war had not gone.

Even though she was beginning to complain of feeling physically very tired she was still able to help organise a well-attended hustings meeting back in May this year. The Tory candidate did not appear, but ALL the other candidates stressed their opposition to the War on Terror, so again Sheila felt it was something Brent Stop the War could take credit for. 

At first Sheila felt she wasn’t up to organising yet another garden party this year because it had always been so much work and worry, but in fact in spite of her illness she was instrumental in organising the most successful garden party ever in June, with Julie Felix, her dear friend Socialist Magician Ian Saville, and Finisterre.

I mentioned that she would always go to great lengths to get our banner to appropriate demonstrations. In July, when she was already seriously ill and could hardly walk upstairs, she brought the banner down to the anti-austerity march, meeting us in the thick, jostling, crowd outside the tube, knowing that she was far too unwell to come on the march itself.

Sheila we join your family in missing you terribly. As a friend, as someone to bounce ideas off, as someone to laugh with, as someone so totally committed to building a better world, as someone so inspirational to work with. Our loss is not just a personal loss, it is a terrible loss to Brent Stop the War and to National Stop the War, and a loss to the movement as a whole.

Sheila Robin: fellow activist and friend

Sheila Robin

A wave of disbelief swept through friends and fellow activists of Sheila Robin on Wednesday when  we heard of her death after a short illness.

Sheila combined energy, commitment, thoughtfulness, courage and a love of life in a unique way that makes her loss particularly painful.  Fiercely politically independent, she not only supported many campaigns but did much of the detailed  hard work that made them successful.  

Characteristically my last email from her was about the Brent Stop the War meeting that is being held on Monday. She was concerned that the title  of the talk 'Don't bomb Syria' was rather boring and uninspiring and urged people to come up with something 'brilliant'.

That nagging at the detail to get the most out of a political action was very much a Sheila trait and the annual Stop the War-Brent PSC Fundraising Garden Party was an event that brought her organising skills to the fore. She managed to persuade Julie Felix to perform this year which made it our most successful fundraiser to date.

Sheila never shrank from difficult issues, thinking exhaustively through all the principles involved, before reaching a position. I saw this close up when we were involved in the controversy over the Tricycle Theatre's decision not to accept Israeli government funding of the Jewish Film Festival.

It wasn't all hard work though, Sheila enjoyed having fun whether at the theatre, cinema, comedy club, choir or sailing!

Below are tributes from those who both worked with Sheila politically and enjoyed socialising with her:

Sheila with Brent Stop the War Banner

From Brent Stop the War Facebook: I am sorry to have to pass on the very sad news that Sheila Robin, the immensely hard working secretary of Brent Stop The War, active in the Red/Green socialist choir and many more labour movement and international campaigns died suddenly on Tuesday. 

Sheila has been absolutely central to Brent Stop the War, making it the priority of her political activity for the last few years. We will miss her immensely.

We felt that Sheila would have wanted us to proceed with Monday’s meeting and to do all we can to keep the group going, although she will be impossible to replace.

Sheila had been unwell for several months and was awaiting an operation, but we all expected her to recover in the near future, so this has come as a huge shock to us all. Our thoughts are with her daughter, Anna, and all the family at this very difficult time.

Sarah Cox (Brent Stop the War)

 
Sheila contributed so much to so many - individuals and causes.... Here is a photo of her, taken a few years ago, with her friend (and my partner) Ian Saville.  Sheila was always a person to go to for good advice. She absolutely committed to thinking and thinking and thinking again about the best way to go about things - whether it was buying a new hoover or organising a campaign or supporting family and friends with some difficulties to sort out.

Pam Laurance
  

Sheila was a dedicated and hard-working member of Brent Stop the War from its inception, taking on the role of Secretary in recent years. She worked tirelessly on fund-raising intitatives and to make our monthly meetings a success. In recent months, she was especially inspired by Jeremy Corbyn’s bid to become Labour leader, contacting repeatedly her local MP to get her to nominate him. Her persistence succeeded and Jeremy got the requisite number of nominations, allowing him to achieve today’s stunning success. It is highly poignant that Sheila is not here to share in the celebrations today. More than that, she will be greatly missed by activists in Brent who will remember her anti-war and anti-cuts campaigning and her unshakeable belief that a better world was possible. 

Mike Phipps, Chair, Brent Stop the War.

Sheila was inspiring to work with, a human Dynamo as described by Diane. 

I was inspired by Sheila to implement strategies /ideas/suggestions that were originally thought impossible or impractical. She did not follow 'a party line' and was always questioning.

She initiated contacts with a variety of community and political groups as well as individuals such as Joan Baez.

Sheila had a wide range of friends and interest.  I always enjoyed going with Sheila to mainly non mainstream theatre, comedy, concerts and cinema, although I never sailed with her  or accompanied her to distant places!

Sheila would proclaim each year she would withdraw from organising meetings and fund raising but each year she would be involved as enthusiastically as before. She was always direct and honest. 

Despite her medical problems and the associated pain and exhaustion Sheila would persevere.

We will miss her.

Liz Lindsay (Brent and Harrow Palestine Solidarity Campaign) 

There was a sense of unbearable shock to hear the news of Sheila Robin’s death. She had not been struggling with a long term illness but had died after a short period of ill health.  It was not as if she was a close friend, but it was as an activist in Jews for Justice for Palestinians that I came to know her.  She was someone who could be relied on to be open and forthright, to address issues with a passion and with commitment.  

Sheila was someone who could be relied on to make a contribution to debate and to take on the humdrum tasks that any organisation needs.  We kept bumping into one another at meetings, at events and at protests.  This is how many of us came to know and appreciate Sheila, a sound helper and comrade active in the grassroots of the movement for Palestinian self determination.   Her courage and good humour were always in evidence and it is almost impossible to absorb the fact that her vibrant personality is no longer with us.  It was a privilege to know her

Diana Neslen (Jews for Justice for Palestinians)


 I was very shocked and saddened to hear about about Sheila. She was always one of the people I could guarantee to bump into on any protest and campaign, and we waved hello to each other at the crowded Jeremy Corbyn meeting in the Camden Centre just a few weeks ago. I also used to see her occasionally in her work capacity in Islington. Wishing long life to her family and close friends.

David Rosenberg (Jewish Socialist Group)


Sheila was both a friend and a fellow activist. She was always a pleasure to work with for her enthusiasm, great ideas and energy. She was completely dedicated and an important part of a number of local, national and international campaigns and will be missed by all. I particularly appreciated her support and advice.

Aisha Maniar

Please feel free to add futher tributes as comments or by email.

Still time to book for Sunday's Fundraising Garden Party in Willesden Green

Book at EVENTBRITE

Eco Hustings Public Meeting – Who is the “Greenest” Candidate in Brent Central?

Parliamentary candidates for Brent Central will be answering questions on local and national environmental issues at an Eco Hustings on Thursday 26^th March at Learie Constantine West Indian Association in Willesden.

The public meeting, organised by Brent Friends of the Earth, will put Labour’s Dawn Butler together with Green candidate Shahrar Ali, Conservative Alan Mendoza, UKIP's Stephen Priestley and John Boyle of TUSC, in the spotlight to see just whose policies are really the greenest. The Liberal Democrats have also been invited.

Ian Saville, Spokesperson for Brent Friends of the Earth says, “This election is crucial for our future. We need firm resolve in our elected representatives to tackle climate change by boosting our economy with green jobs and investing in renewable energy instead of dangerous fossil fuels.”

“This meeting will be a chance for voters to see what candidates have to say on local issues, such as proposals for fracking in Park Royal and the expansion of Heathrow airport, and national ones, such as climate change and energy policy. We invite local residents to come along and ask questions on these and other environmental issues. After all what is the point of politics if we haven’t got a habitable planet?”

The free event takes place on Thursday 26^th March at Learie Constantine West Indian Association, 43-47 Dudden Hill Lane in Willesden, NW10 2ET, starting at 7.30pm. The venue is 2 minutes from Dollis Hill tube station, Chapter Road exit. All are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be available.

Update: Dawn Butler  (Labour) has now confirmed attendance in addition to Shahrar Ali (Green), Alan Mendoza (Conservative)  and  Stephen Priestly (UKIP)