The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire
In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire
UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović
US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire
Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović Anti-Empire >>
A bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog. We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader 2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony Public Inquiry >>
Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Julian Assange is finally free ! Tue Jun 25, 2024 21:11 | indy
Stand With Palestine: Workplace Day of Action on Naksa Day Thu May 30, 2024 21:55 | indy
It is Chemtrails Month and Time to Visit this Topic Thu May 30, 2024 00:01 | indy
Hamburg 14.05. "Rote" Flora Reoccupied By Internationalists Wed May 15, 2024 15:49 | Internationalist left
Eddie Hobbs Breaks the Silence Exposing the Hidden Agenda Behind the WHO Treaty Sat May 11, 2024 22:41 | indy Human Rights in Ireland >>
|
Political activism and the Irish African Community.
A new report commissioned by the Africa Centre, examines the level of participation in civil society of the Irish African community and explores the reasons for varying degrees of activism and suggests some recommendations.
![Click on image to see full-sized version Ms. Neltah Chadamoyo, Chairperson of the Africa Centre](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/jul2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_indyupdate0050.jpg) Ms. Neltah Chadamoyo, Chairperson of the Africa Centre Inclusive Citizenship in 21st century Ireland: What Prospects fort the African migrant community.
A research initiative commissioned by the Africa Centre on the Civic Participation of the African community in Ireland.
A new report commissioned by the Africa Centre, examines the level of participation in civil society of the Irish African community and explores the reasons for varying degrees of activism and suggests some recommendations.
More people than anticipated attended the launch of the research document on inclusive citizenship at the Africa Centre, Abbey St., Tuesday 18th July. The report examines the how’s, why’s, wherefores and important ‘why not’s’ on the participation of the wider African community in Irish Civic Society. This makes a valuable contribution to the debate on the role of migrants and ethnic minorities within Irish society, according to Ms. Neltah Chadamoyo, Chairperson of the Africa Centre. This is also set in the wider context of a declining active citizenship in the EU.
Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland and the chair of the Task Force on Active Citizenship, launched the report. Ms Davis very much welcomed the report and said it had very practical and easy to implement suggestions and that she would submit it to the task force, but, also recommended that a wider constituency of people submit it also.
In his talk, Theophilus Ejorh, the author of the report, commended the setting up of the task force but noted that “the non-inclusion of any individual from the immigrant/minority ethnic communities on it is rather disturbing.” He explained further that, “this particular gesture by our Leaders looks to me like a tacit denial of the relevance of immigrants/ethnic minorities in Irish society. It also negates the multicultural sensibilities of a 21st century Ireland.” He asked if this meant the new communities had “no role to play in the civic development of Ireland?”
The research wished “to demonstrate that Ireland’s evolving communities can participate actively if the have better opportunities, acquire a voice and generate spaces for greater engagement with society.” The main inhibitory factors found in this survey, which block active citizenship, include work commitments, racism, and lack of information, family commitments and language barriers. The study found that there was a higher involvement with community sector and voluntary organisations of 63% and 68% respectively. The voluntary sector had a higher rate of participation as respondents explained that they chose “to partake or support the works of NGO’s chiefly because they see these organisations as potential channels through which they could address their problems or speak to Irish authorities about their situation.”
This level of participation is in stark contrast with political activism, which was a key issue for the research. Only 12% of respondents said they were involved in some form of political activism. Some of the reasons the other 88% gave for political in-activism included lack of time, information and interest! What is of interest to political organisations and groups is that only 2% said they belong to a political association. This lack of activism or alienation from all manner of political systems is further highlighted in the local elections. In the 2004 elections only 27% of interviewees voted, leaving a massive 73% disenfranchised. Reasons for this are important. Only 17% expressed no interest in the elections, while 7% were asylum seekers and were not entitled to vote. The lack of regularized residency status accounted for 40% while 30% said that they had not registered also.
Recommendations came from the suggestions and needs of interviewees. These range from developing more language courses, to political parties creating opportunities for minorities to become members and candidates in elections. Nationally the focus is on the government to promote active citizenship and the setting up of a National Consultative Forum for the immigrant/minority community.
The final word rests with Theophilus,
“So, what conclusions can we draw from all these?... First we can rightly affirm that African migrants are hungry to participate actively in Irish society and contribute quota to its continued development. Second there are certain barriers that hamper immigrant/ethnic minority participation. Third, if these barriers were removed through proper inclusive policy mechanisms, the African and other immigrant/minority ethnic groups would be actively involved in Irish civic life.”
![Click on image to see full-sized version Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland and the chair of the Task Force on Active citizenship](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/jul2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_indyupdate0049.jpg) Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland and the chair of the Task Force on Active citizenship
![Click on image to see full-sized version Dier Tong, Co-ordinator of the Africa Centre](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/jul2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_indyupdate0047.jpg) Dier Tong, Co-ordinator of the Africa Centre
![Click on image to see full-sized version Theophilus Ejorh](../cache/imagecache/local/attachments/jul2006/460_0___30_0_0_0_0_0_indyupdate0046.jpg) Theophilus Ejorh
|
View Full Comment Text
save preference
Comments (8 of 8)