Ndo does it- Players Player of the Year

It was a good night on Sunday for Joseph Ndo at the 27th PFAI Awards in association with the Irish Daily Mirror, in a packed Burlington Hotel. The Shelbourne and former Cameroon International became the first foreign player to win the coveted Players Player Award. In front of more than three hundred players and officials including guest of honour Denis Irwin and Irish International manager Steve Staunton, Ndo thanked his team mates and paid tribute to his manager Pat Fenlon.

Other winners were Kevin Deery, Derry City who scooped the young player award, Dundalk’s Philip Hughes won the First Division player and the PFAI merit award went to League of Ireland legend Dermot Keely.

Ndo has established himself in the first team with Shelbourne in 2005 following his sign up has dazzled fans time and again with his fancy footwork and has risen above racist taunts at Steau Bucharest and in the course of the Setanta Cup to become PFAI Player of the Year.

http://www.theredcard.ie/news/2006/03/on-pitch-action-against-racism.html

http://www.theredcard.ie/news/2006/04/steau-fail-in-appeal-over-racist-abuse.html

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Show Racism the Red Card wins political support

Show Racism the Red Card recently applied to the government for funding its work to deliver coordination of its work on a national level and produce education resources and deliver a number of integration programmes. We recently made a presentation to the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport and Tourism.

In making the presentation we spelled out clearly our aims and objectives identifying the needs of the project while also advising on our record of activity. Our panel of presenters included Garrett Mulla, Fran Gavin (PFAI), Dessie Farrell (GPA) and Des Tomlinson (FAI Intercultural Officer). We presented at the invitation of Deputy Jimmy Deenihan TD (Fine Gael Spokesman on Arts, Sport and Tourism).

We explained some of our work including the partnerships we have developed at Drogheda United, Shamrock Rovers and Galway United. We also had the opportunity to refer to how we have worked against racism in sport while emphasising the ours is a project of education through sport.

Prevention is better

Deputy Deenihan Fine Gael said: 'The delegation is taking account of the future by pre-empting events that may occur. It is better to put these principles in place now to ensure this does not occur in Ireland in five years time'.

Not chasing the issue

While Deputy Jack Wall Labour said: 'The advantage of this is that we are not chasing the issue of integration of ethnic groups in various parts of the country. Small villages now have ethnic groups for the first time. As elected representatives, we must use every avenue available to remind ourselves that racism could commence, something that we do not want.

On behalf of the Labour Party I support the actions of the delegation. These policies are part of a Labour Party sports document. I am unsure of the financial background of Mr. Mullan’s group but if there is a need for documentary assistance we will offer support to ensure that these aims are not hindered by financial considerations'.

On a par with the five rings of the Olympics
Deputy Jim Glennon Fianna Fail added:'The red card is a marvellous logo with a strong impact. How can it be put across throughout the sporting world? Has the delegation taken any steps to have it included as a matter of course in the programmes for major sports events? It could also be included on the notepaper of national sporting bodies, which is generally festooned with logos such as that of the sponsors. The red card should be on a par with the five Olympic rings and the logos of the FAI, IRFU and GAA. It is an essential element of sport'.

A full transcript of the meeting is on http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=TOJ20061025.xml&Node=H2#H2

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UNITED against Racism Conference Articles and Reports

Show Racism the Red Card Ireland was the sole Irish organisation represented at the United Conference against Racism in Neuchatel, Switzerland 14-19th November 2006. The conference was attended by 80 delegates from governmental and non-governmental
organisations within the Council of Europe 45 nations.



There were also visiting delegates from projects in Kazakhstan, Kyrghystan and Uzbekistan. The range of people attending the conference reflected the nature of the problems that organisations tackle in different countries.

The were representatives of NGOs talking the issue of Human trafficking from Bulgaria and Ukraine, while among the Russian delegation were representatives of organisations combatting skinhead violence and others involved in migration law.

Among the organisations from central Europe were delegates involved in youth work and targetting their activity among young people organising exchanges and delivery of information. There were also organisations from Holland and Germany who are involved in attempting to stem the rise of anti-semitism.

The format of the conference was plenary presentations alongside working group activity and followed by plenary reports. There were presentations from the Council of Europe's All Different All Equal Campaign, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) detailing their work to monitor levels of racism and xenophobia.

The conference also had opportunity to plan international activity for the March 21st International Day against Racism, UN Refugee Day June 20th and the November 9th Kristallnacht commemoration for 2007.

The best aspect of the conference was the opportunity to network with a view to future cooperation. The United Network is the most extensive of any among NGOs concerned with racism. It links 560 affiliates and delivers information to 6000 other organisations throughout Europe.

This website will carry some feature articles over the next weeks on Ultra's in Europe based on an interview with the French writer and activist Sebastian Louis who has researched this area of work. We will also be interviewing the dynamic Director of Face to Face Bulgaria, Antoaneta Georgieva who are working in response and also in prevention of human trafficking from Bulgaria. This article will be supplemented by an additional interview with Olga Antonyuk a translator at teh Women Informative Consulting Centre in relation to human trafficking.

The Red Card website has now three features on specific groups immigrants in Ireland; Russian, Polish and Romanian. This is a series we are continuing with but as a result of the conference experience we hope to share the Latvian experience not of migrating to Ireland but of staying in Latvia. We will also feature an article on the struggle for gay rights in Croatia and Serbia featuring interviews with local activists who are fighting a brave campaign.

www.unitedagainstracism.org

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Spotlight on a nation- Romanians in Ireland

In this latest of our occasional series of articles profiling the new communities in Ireland, we put the spotlight on the Romanians in Ireland. Ovidiu Matiut is the Integration officer with Spirasi, working to assist immigrants to find employment. He is also the secretary of the Romanian Community in Ireland.


The programme he coordinates runs for six weeks and is made up of an intense three week English for employment course, two weeks of life skills modules focusing on areas such as employment rights and entitlements, social welfare to work, Irish adult education sistem, money advice and budgeting and stress management. The sixth week is filled with work preparation skills such as writing C.V.s , cover letters and mock interviews.

He is one of the estimated 20-30,000 Romanians living in Ireland and Ovidiu came in 2000. As secretary of the Romanian Community group he has seen a lot of changes in Ireland and the status of Romanians in Ireland. The positive aspect for Romanians is that it is possible to have a deceent life in Ireland even though the cost is high.

The negative aspect is that there are stereotypes that people have about us believing that we are gypsies and also our qualifications are not recognised here so we are not doing work accoring to our qualifications.

Romanians began to move to Ireland initially in small numbers following the collapse of the Ceaucescu regime and as the Irish economy grew so too did the numbers of Romanians moving here.

The majority are in Dublin and probably male aged 20-45 years old. They work in IT, constructin, hotel and catering and others jobs. When asked do the majority want to stay in Ireland, Ovidiu supposes that Romanians who have had family in Ireland are likely to stay but many others see their future in Romania.

We are only months away from Romania joining the EU and Ovidiu reckons it should be a chance for a better life but after Ireland refused the right to work it looks like Romanians will be second class citizens. Unlike Poland and others in the first round of accession, there is massive support for joining the EU.

While other eastern European countries have seen strong economic growth, there are increasing numbers of Irish people buying property in both Bulgaria and Romania. Asked whether he views this as helping or hindering locals in their search for property Ovidiu reckons that the Irish are helping themselves but as a result maybe that will be good for business in Romania.

Romanians are allowed in Ireland only as visa holders and that is not easy to get. It is a long and very frustrated process and I think less that 50% of applicants will get a visa. There are lots of bad stereotypes about Romanians.

On leisure and sport activities Ovidiu tells us that the Romanians like their satellite TV with Romanian channels. On a local level there are three Romanian football teams, one of which plays in the SARI Brian Kerr League. On the Romanian attitude to GAA, Oviduiu believes that it is an unusual sport and hence not many Romanians play though he says that "I know a young girl who is the captain of her school team and is very good".

I asked him to comment about the recent Irish government suvey which indicates that racism has declined in Ireland by 20%: "I do not agree what I can say is that the institutionalized racism is very big and as well the immigrants fear of reporting it. As well we can not neglect the ability of same people to diversify methods of being racist".

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ESRI Survey on racism in Ireland

One in three immigrants face racism in Ireland on the street, on public transport and in other public areas.

New research has shown that most cases of harassment of immigrants happen on the streets or on public transport.

The survey of racism and discrimination by the Economic and Social Research Institute showed 35% had experienced harassment in public places and on public transport.

It is the first large scale study of immigrants' experience of racism and discrimination in Ireland.

Almost one in three work permit holders and asylum seekers said they had been insulted or discriminated against in the workplace.

There was also evidence of discrimination in State services, in particular immigration, where 17% said they were badly treated.

Other areas of concern were access to housing, healthcare and social services.

In all areas, asylum seekers are treated worse than work permit holders, as are those from south and central Africa.

While levels of reported racism in Ireland are lower than other countries, the ESRI says immigration is relatively new to Ireland and comes at a time of rapid economic growth.

The institute says it is still not known if racism will increase or decrease as migrant communities become more established.

www.esri.ie/advsearch.cfm?t=Find%20Publications&mId=2&detail=1&id=2413

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Sari Brian Kerr Intercontinental League 03/12/06

Fixtures below for week 8 on this Sunday 26th November


Sunday 12:30 Hong Kong V Polonia Saint Anne’s Park

Sunday 12:30 D.R. Congo V South Africa Saint Anne’s Park

Sunday 14:00 Zimbabwe V Italy Saint Anne’s Park

Sunday 14:00 Mosney Utd V Libya Saint Anne’s Park

Sunday 14:00 Poland V Somalia Saint Anne’s Park

Sunday 14:00 Brazil V SADC Utd Saint Anne’s Park

Sunday 14:30 Poland Naas V Ireland Saint Anne’s Park


Sunday 12:30 Polska V Algeria Oscar Trainer Road


Sunday 14:00 Angola V Romania Oscar Trainer Road

Sunday 14:00 Slovakia V P. Eagles Oscar Trainer Road

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Racism drops as integration increases in Ireland- survey suggests

A survey commissioned by the Irish government's National Action Plan against Racism has indicated towards a significant drop in the level of racism in Ireland. A representative sample of the population as a whole participated in the survey carried out by IMS Consultants. The results contrasts sharply with the recent results pointing to an increase of 15% in Northern Ireland.



The findings show that the main trends across key measurable statistics have moved in a positive direction over the past three years. Experiences of racism in Ireland have fallen and there has been a shift in understanding and awareness of non-Irish nationals and their contribution to society since 2003.

One of the most dramatic findings of the research is the fact that there has been a significant increase in the numbers of people who have had experiences of new communities – this has increased from 36% to 67% in the past three years.

- 13% of people witnessed racism in Ireland compared to 18% three years ago.
• There has been a significant drop – nearly 20% - in those who view Ireland as racist (from a mean of 5.88 out of ten in 2003 to 4.69 out of ten in 2006);
• Today 65% of those interviewed believe most immigrants come from Eastern Europe, with 37% believing they come from African countries. This is an inversion of 2003 findings, when 53% of people interviewed had the perception that most immigrants to Ireland came from African countries, and only 30% believed they came from Eastern Europe;
• 80% of interviewees anticipate the number of non-Irish citizens in Ireland will continue to rise;
• 44% of those interviewed were concerned that non-Irish workers were replacing Irish workers;
• 41% of those interviewed believed there was a need and a place for a Government position on racism in the form of the National Action Plan Against Racism

www.diversityireland.ie

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