Round Table Discussion Images (11.03.06)

Peggy (Germany- far left) and Chen (China)

Thomas, Michael Cougan (France) and presenter Ger

Jacob (Nigeria) and Agnes (Poland)

In the Canteen before the recording sessions

Nicole Valentin (from Germany)

Program Producer Thomas "TJ" Janak

Round Table Discussion (prerecorded 11.3.06)

A round table discussion with two groups of foreign nationals, hosted by Near FM presenter Ger Dogan, has taken place on Saturday 11th March 06.

We would like to thank all the participants for their open and honest answers and suggestions.

The two pieces (28minutes each) are definitely to be aired on 21st March 2006.

Dolphin House - a conversation with Community Development Worker Tommy Coombes

I had a 19-minute conversation with my ex-colleague and good friend Tommy Coombes, Community Development Worker in Dolphin House about the stigma that seems to be still attached to the people from Dolphin House.Tommy gave an account about the various forms of discrimination he and others had to endure as well as telling us what is in store for the soon to be biggest social housing estate of the state ...

After the election of Hamas: What next

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) called for a public meeting on the question: "After the election of Hamas: What next" on March 7th at 36 Parnell Square.They brought three speakers along (from left to write): Hamdi Shaqqura from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Dr. Vincent Durac, Lecturer Middle East Studies @ UCD and Sarit Michaeli from an organisation called B´TSELEM, The Israeli Centre for Human Rights. The whole feature has a length of 98 minutes and is a real eye opener to the issues on the West Band and the Gaza Strip.

Lunchtime Talks: "Tolerance and Reason" @ Unitarian Church

The Unitarian Church on Stephens Green revived their habit to run lunchtime taks on every first tuesday of the months at 1.10p.m. (www.unitarianchurchdublin.org) and the first on this season took place on March 7th 2006 and it was about "Tolerance in Ireland" especially regarding the current rift between some muslims and the non-muslim world. Apart from having Reverend Bill Darlison as a speaker the Unitarian Church also invited Mustafidh along, who was born and bread in the UK but now works as a youth coordinator at the Dublin Mosque in Clonskeagh. The event turned out to be very interesting and uplifting. The piece wil be aired during NEAR FMs special broadcast on March 21st (www.nearfm-antiracismday.blogspot.com)
Total length: 48minutes

Part of the solution: Intercultural Center

The Canal Communities Partnership is about to open an intercultural center with the aim to bring about understanding and to embrace diversity. In order to make this centre sustainable the organisation recently held a volunteer day. The 7.42 minute piece which provides useful information on how to get involved will be aired on the anti-racism day as well.

From dream to reality

People often wonder why people end up in countries like Ireland or other European countries.

NGO Trocaire brought visitors from Nicaragua over who gave an account how difficult life is in the Americas where childlabour and poverty is a massive issue.

The program is divided in 4 parts (played as one piece though):

1) Interview with Lara Kelly, Trocaire

2 and 3) Interview with Karina Tellez Lazo and Eleazat Alonso Martinez, Funarte/Nicaragua and 4) "From Dream To Reality" presentation at Trinity College, recorded March 1st 2006

What is racism?

We asked numerous students at Trinity College Dublin to try and answer that very question! A very interesting piece. 9.24minutes

Fahad - an Irish born muslim with pakistani roots ...

... who moved to the UK just over a year ago compares his life in Ireland to his life in the UK. This is one not to be missed. 9.57minutes