- Written by: Kamran Mofid
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‘A reckoning with our past must shape our future.
‘This has profound contemporary relevance in terms of our international obligations; not just of specific instances of restorative justice, but in recognition that Britain’s prosperity is built off the backs of communities with far slimmer economic means. Our international aid programmes and refugee commitments are not a matter of benevolent charity to be dispensed with when politicians are feeling miserly: they are what we owe the rest of the world.’- Observer editorial, 2 April 2023
‘When colonial slavery was abolished in 1833 the British government paid £20 million to slave-owners as compensation for the loss of their "property". In today's terms that figure equates to around £16.5 billion. The enslaved received nothing.’
A print shows African captives being taken on board a slave ship. Photo: Print Collector/Getty/ The Guardian
'Slavery is a central and indisputable fact of the nation’s past. But our failure to remember what really happened is more than mere forgetfulness.'
‘Nearly two centuries after slavery was abolished, this country has still not fully acknowledged the shameful part it played. We must delay no longer.’
‘Today’s generation is not responsible for what happened two centuries ago – but it can be guilty of refusing to learn from it.’
- Written by: Kamran Mofid
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‘Light makes us flourish – in this respect we humans are just like a rose or an azalea.’
Photo:best-wallpaper.net
Today, Sunday March 26, here in the UK, the clocks were put forward by one hour, heralding the start of British Summer Time (BST), where the days get longer and brighter. For many this is the path to healing, joy and happiness, when we and mother nature begin to wake up from the cold and dark winter months.
- Written by: Kamran Mofid
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(Updated on 21 March 2023)
Photo:UNESCO
Celebrating the linguistic expression of our common humanity
‘...Held every year on 21 March, World Poetry Day celebrates one of humanity’s most treasured forms of cultural and linguistic expression and identity. Practiced throughout history – in every culture and on every continent – poetry speaks to our common humanity and our shared values, transforming the simplest of poems into a powerful catalyst for dialogue and peace.
UNESCO first adopted 21 March as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999, with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.
World Poetry Day is an occasion to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance, music and painting, and raise the visibility of poetry in the media. As poetry continues to bring people together across continents, all are invited to join in.’- United Nations, World Poetry Day 21 March
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