THURSDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2003 - MEETING - HOW UK FOREIGN INVESTMENT CREATES
ASYLUM SEEKERS
Dear all,
The Ilisu Dam Campaign and other organisations are working to create new
space in the public debate around asylum seekers by emphasising the role
that UK foreign investment has to play in forcing people to flee their
countries. We should like to invite you to a meeting on 6 February 2003 to
discuss further ideas and possible future actions for the project.
Asylum seekers are increasingly demonised as "economic migrants" in search
of easy welfare. But the vast majority are fleeing social or economic
oppression.
Corporate-led trade liberalisation ensures that labour costs are kept
punishingly low throughout the developing world, subjecting millions to
destitution. Similarly, the IMF's structural adjustment programmes imposed
on weaker economies benefits Northern consumers and local elites at the
expense of the lives of the poor in the South. Meanwhile, life is being made
increasingly intolerable for those forced to migrate by such policies, often
demonised by the 'War on Terrorism'.
In December 2002, a seminar was held at which refugees from the Colombian,
Kurdish, Afghani, Ugandan and Tamil communities gave testimonies of their
experiences; and human rights, environmental and refugee organisations gave
their perspectives about the role of western investment.
Participants in the meeting will include Dele Igbinedion (Nigerian lawyer),
Hannah Griffiths (Friends of the Earth) and Nicholas Hildyard (The Corner
House)
VENUE: Ar-Rum, 44-48 Clerkenwell Road, London, EC1M 5PS
TUBE: Barbican
MAP: http://makeashorterlink.com/?C5F525613
TIME: 6.30pm - 9.00pm
We shall circulate an agenda within the next week. Please contact us with
suggestions or points you would like to be included.
To confirm you will be able to attend, please email Rochelle at
[log in to unmask] or call on (0787) 677-1576, or Estella on
[log in to unmask] or (020) 7586-5892.
If you are unable to attend but would like to be kept informed or to
participate in the project in future, please contact us with details of your
name, email, address, organisation or focus area. Please also indicate
whether you would like to receive a report of the proceedings of the seminar
on 8 December.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Rochelle Harris
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