Does Direct Provision meet basic human rights?

Immigration continues to be a very topical and complex issue globally. This year Donald Trump’s US border detention centres, the migrant caravan on the US-Mexico border and the mass influx of refugees arriving daily across Europe have dominated headlines. A major contributing factor that led to the Brexit vote was the promise of Britain ‘taking back control of its borders’ and the tightening of immigration policy.

Having spent this year paying attention to provision for migrants on a more international level, I had overlooked the situation in my own home country. Having just finished watching RTE’s drama ‘Taken Down’ which tackles the issue of direct provision in Ireland, I wanted to research more about this issue hence writing this article.

The direct provision system was established in 2000 to house asylum seekers entering the Irish State in search of international protection. It was initially only intended to provide accommodation for a six-month period while people waited an outcome on their application. However in a report issued in December 2017, it stated that residents were spending an average of 23 months in direct provision, while 432 people had been in the system for five years or more. At present it takes an average of 19 months just to be interviewed about refugee status.

In some of these facilities residents can cook their own food while others are provided with free canteen meals and receive an allowance of 21.60 euros per week, adults and children included. School-goers are entitled to free state-school education, but not free third level education yet.

The majority of asylum seekers living in these centres come from Pakistan, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Albania, Malawi, South Africa, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Syria. Figures from December 2017 show there were 5,096 people living in direct provision last year.

Asylum seekers up till recently have not been allowed to work in Ireland. However there have been a few proposals made by the government this year to try to change that. This February there were changes in rules in keeping with The Employment Permits Act which stated that asylum seekers could work but had to secure a job that pays a starting salary of €30,000 per annum and they also had to pay between €500 to €1,000 for a six to 12 month employment permit, which made life extremely difficult for those in the protection system to find work. However in July Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan proposed to abolish the employment permit fees as well as restrictions on professions in which asylum seekers were entitled to seek work.

Currently applicants must be in the State for nine months or more to be entitled to work and to have not had a first decision made on their refugee status.

For the majority of these temporary residents, having fled from unimaginable circumstances in their home countries we must ask are these direct provision measures meeting their basic human needs? To spend up to five years living in crowded, temporary accommodation and with so little money to live on and such a lack of independence it seems impossible to live a peaceful or dignified life.

Like the majority of developed countries across the world, governments are struggling to cope with the influx of refugees and asylum seekers but playing a blame game is not going to solve this issue. While there is this very basic and flawed accommodation system in place in Ireland for those seeking asylum, the service could be made a lot more humane and residents who find themselves in this vulnerable position deserve to be treated in a more dignified manner.

That is why programmes like Taken Down are so important as they reflect issues in our society and give a voice to those who are currently being forgotten.

How to spot an Internet Troll in public

Is there a certain celebrity or public figure who you think seems ‘too happy’ or needs taking down a peg or two? Do you have an unpopular opinion you would never dare share with anyone but would feel validated and understood if someone else did? Never fear, the keyboard warriors are here at a computer near you.

In a private place, shielded by their beloved internet, these trolls or warriors (?!), you decide the appropriate term for them, are on call, waiting for their next victim to launch their verbal attack on. Out in the open most of these verbal offenders are probably relatively polite and reasonable people who would never dare cause offence in public. In private, though they are just waiting to get on Facebook, Twitter, Trip Advisor or the nearest online outlet to unleash their rage.

I often wonder in daily life where can we find these online soldiers? Where do they hang out? Without knowing it they are possibly one of your work colleagues, a classmate at college, someone at your gym class or that pleasant girl who served your coffee this morning. They are a bit like the witches in Roald Dahl’s children’s novel; in public appear perfectly pleasant and well-presented but as soon as it’s safe; they remove their masks to unleash their racist, homophobic or slanderous views. But if they only dare cause offence in private how can we find them and call them out?

After some careful consideration I have compiled a list of possible tell-tale signs of a troll and I present to you, A Guide to Spotting Internet Trolls. These are some things to look out for when seeking one out..

1.They are constantly checking their twitter and social media accounts with a controlled yet slightly aggravated expression.

   2. They go slightly red and remain silent when someone expresses outrage at a racist or sexist comment.

   3.There have a forced political correctness about them at all times and don’t reveal their opinion too often in public.

   4.They are often seen staring into the distance with a secret smile; possibly marvelling at their latest rhetorical masterpiece.

   5.They use a lot of Cap Locks in their correspondence with you.

On a more serious note though online abuse can have severe consequences and can drastically affect the receiver’s mental health; an example of this being the tragic suicide of former Love Island star Sophie Gradon, this summer. In her last interview before her death she spoke about how online trolls had made her life hell. At a cyber-bullying conference in Leeds last March she confessed how vicious online abuse had caused her to descend into a dark place and said: ‘’trolls leave you feeling vulnerable, unsafe and upset.’’

Trolls are no longer the ugly cave-dwelling creatures we read about in fairy tales, they now exist on the internet and aim to cause harm by spreading libellous rumours and messages online. With the widespread popularity of social media, it has become almost impossible to sensor or to prevent them.

Another recent victim of online abuse is former Pussycat Dolls member and current Strictly Come Dancing finalist Ashley Roberts. British viewers seemingly have had enough of her being ‘too good’ of a dancer and have decided she needs to be brought down a peg or two. Forget all of her hard work and dedication to perfect her routines, @XFlaminBeckyX on Twitter is not having any of it. In a tweet on Saturday this user wrote: ‘’Craig did not just accuse Stacey and Kevin for cheating in that dance (lots of angry emojis). If anyone is cheating its Ashley by just purely being in this show #strictly’’.  While user @jasmin_x_x_x wrote: ‘’On behalf of the nation if the judges keep Ashley in for another week I’m marching to that studio and giving them a piece of my mind.’’

I don’t understand how a Saturday night family entertainment can evoke so much anger. Before twitter and social media what did these people do- open their front doors and shout their abuse down the street, punch a wall, write a letter to the television studio?

In darker areas of the internet abusive islamophobic and racist messages are prevalent and it is easy to see how people can become radicalised online. American comedian Bill Maher said in a tweet: ‘’the internet does not just radicalise would-be terrorists, it radicalises everyone.’ With the majority of the population attached to their smart phone for several hours every day, it is hard to not worry about how much people are influenced by what they read online.

With these trolls on the loose it is up to the rest of us to remain vigilant and to not be fooled. Just watch out for your next email with excessive cap locks or that shifty colleague, they might just be leading a secret online existence.

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake Review

Being a massive fan of Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet Swan Lake and the legend himself, Matthew Bourne I had a feeling I was going to enjoy this show but what I was unaware of was the extent to which I would be moved and changed forever by this performance.

Although the idea of a full cast of male swans sounds ground breaking and very 2018, this piece was in fact first performed over 20 years ago back in 1995 at Sadler’s Wells.  

Like Matthew Bourne’s other ballets, this is a very stylised modern take on Swan Lake and is partnered up with Lez Brotherson’s stunning and innovative designs. The prince played beautifully by Dominic North is reimagined as a rather delicate and fragile character who yearns desperately for his icy mother’s affection and approval (Nicole Kabera). The swans once played by pristine slender girls in tutus are now fierce and muscular men clad in white britches and serve as a reminder that although swans are graceful creatures they have the capacity to peck a man to death.

In Act One we are given the full Royal Family treatment, with the traditional court scenes mirroring an audience with the Windsors, with the royal wave and all the trimmings. There are many humorous moments throughout this act including the various social ‘blunders’ made by The Girlfriend (Katrina Lyndon).

The mood changes when the swans appear in the iconic Entrance of the Swans scene. Bourne has reinvented the choreography to suit the male dancers and the swans hiss and stamp their feet. We are treated to an incredibly romantic and tender pas de deux between The Prince and The Swan (Will Bozier). The audience witness a sexual awakening in The Prince and it is so satisfying to see him finally gain the affection and understanding he has craved for so long.

In Act Two Will Bozier reappears again as The Stranger (Black Swan) at a Palace party sporting leather trousers and a sexy swagger. The feminist in me hates how charmed I am by his bad boy magnetism as usually it is much easier to dislike the standard female Black Swan.

In true Bourne style we somehow end up in an asylum (?! ) with eerie identical drag nurses that somehow remind me of Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight when he disguises himself in the nurse costume.

The swans raise their cruel heads and The Prince and The Swan meet their fate in a tragic love conquers all finale.

This is a tender, emotional and powerful piece that challenges our views on masculinity and the beauty of the dancing paired with Tchaikovsky’s score is enough to draw a tear from the driest of eyes.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfzP8OiJZWo

The Secret Diary of a Supply Teacher

Monday-08:00

Right okay have arrived at my school I am (hopefully) teaching at today. Yes, the secretary has just confirmed that I am pencilled in but there is no sight of any teaching staff or the head teacher. Hmm. 

Decided to take a ‘pro-active’ approach and have a little wander around the school for myself to see if I can find anyone. Right they are all in a meeting. Decided to knock on the door! Deep breath!

Me: ‘Apologies to interrupt but am I supposed to be here today?’

Entire Staff: Cold Stare

Head Teacher: Emm yes, I think so just wait downstairs please

Me: About to implode with cringe and panic but do as I am told.

08:30

Head Teacher finally appears.

‘Right, we didn’t actually need anyone till Thursday but we can slot you into our P6 class to give the teacher some cover’

*Excellent, as if I wasn’t feeling random enough but yay brilliant.*

08.40

Class Teacher: ‘Here is the plan, the kids are coming in, in 10 minutes, they are absolutely fine, nothing to worry about, apart from 2 boys that might shout out!

I can do this! *Walks confidently down to collect class*

08.50

Opens door to a sea of children, hang on which class is it I need to get??  Finally, have located class when a child shouts out- ‘Are you teaching us today, Eh?’  Yes, that would be me.

09.00

The class settle down to do some morning maths activities all is under control, well apart from a boy who keeps trying to escape and another who is shouting obscenities.

09.50

We are following the Joe Wicks Youtube fitness channel this week so we pushed back some tables to get started. So far so good; until a child gets his finger stuck between two tables.

All is still well. I decided to ‘get down with the kids’ and take part in the exercises to the disgust and embarrassment of a few girls in the class. What’s a little gentle humiliation to get through the day?Yes I am being mocked by 10 year olds.

10.45- Breaktime. Thank God

11.00

I decided to go for a punchy advertising lesson after break to try to really engage this age group.

Oh my actual word it is working, they are all listening even the boy who was desperately attempting to escape the class earlier. I am on fire!

Split the class into groups to come up with their own radio adverts. A few suggestions…

‘Miss, can we do Gucci.’  Yes, okay.

‘Miss, can I do Fortnite’. I don’t approve of this violent game but if it means you will actually sit down and get on with it, fine.

12.15- Class starting to bubble, come on I can make it till lunch.

Me: ‘If you’re finished go and get a book’

Class: There is no library

Me: ‘Okay, well go and get some paper and draw’

Class: We don’t have any paper.

Me: Come on lunchtime!!

12:30 Lunchtime- Thank God, just an afternoon left! Right, now to face the staffroom. Is it really sad if I just eat my lunch in the classroom? No, I’m going to enter

The Staffroom

Right, okay everyone is sitting in a nice circle…where to sit? Have found a nice, safe seat in the corner, suitable for someone of my lower station.

I must not overstep any pecking order.

Everyone is actually lovely and very welcoming towards me.

I begin to even feel comfortable and start to chime in on a conversation about transgender children. A few surprised glances. Okay, rein it back in Lynn and just eat your lunch!

13:30

Right, the final slot I can do this! A few children come back in after lunch a bit upset.

‘Miss, he called me a b**%h’

‘Well, she called me a c&** and is going to get her cousin to batter me’

Right, okay guys time to calm down and I will get the head teacher to come and speak to you later

We start to read Wonder. All I can say is thank the Lord for this wonderful novel. It evoked so much empathy from the entire class and I have to say I did feel all warm inside to see everyone lying down and really engaging with the novel.

13:50

Back to our desks to do some spelling work. The magic of Wonder had worn off and the two children who had been at each other’s throats earlier were at it again, this time with even more creative insults. Okay, breathe you just need to keep things under control till 15.10! You can do this!

14:30

‘Miss, this is boring, when can we start our Diamond Time?’

Me: In fifteen minutes, just keep going, you’re nearly finished. *Seriously, when can they start their Diamond Time and what is Diamond Time?*

Ask a sensible boy in the corner what Diamond Time is, all is well again.

14.45

Diamond Time starts (A period where the class can choose what they would like to do)

‘Miss, she is still saying that she is going to get her cousin to batter me?’

Right, starts to panic a little, I’m not sure what the protocol is when someone threatens someone with a battering but I’m going to send the two of you down to the head teacher to see if you guys can figure this out. 

15.10

On my knees but it is home time. A girl comes up and throws her arms around me. 'Miss, are you taking us again tomorrow?’ ....

Pussy Riot: Riot Days

In an era of Trump, Brexit and a growing right wing movement the world has become more politically charged than ever. With the continuing spread of globalisation the faces of Putin and Kim Jong-Un are plastered over our newspapers every day and while we attempt to understand and follow their politics, we are quite removed from them in our society.

That is why tonight after witnessing Pussy Riot’s Edinburgh Fringe show I felt an overwhelming urge to run home and write this article. Pussy Riot is a notorious feminist punk group from Russia, famous for their fight for LGBT rights, feminism and their opposing views against Vladimir Putin. The group gained global notoriety when five members of the group staged a performance inside Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior on February 21, 2012. The women said their protest was directed at the Orthodox Church leaders' support for Putin during his election campaign. Three of the members including Maria Alyokhina who performed tonight were imprisoned for 2 years as their actions were considered sacrilegious.

Tonight audience members were treated to a musical performance by 4 members of the group accompanied by multimedia images in the background which acted as a narrative to ‘Riot Days’ a play written by Maria Alyokhina which tracks her political journey from before her arrest till after she was set free. The group performed in Russian with English subtitles projected onto the screen behind them. I think for everyone tonight it was an exhilarating experience to be up close and personal with real revolutionaries who could provide us with a link to a culture so alien to our own. With the Edinburgh Fringe being the largest arts festival in the world I felt there was no place more appropriate for the group to share their vision than on a stage that helped the audience enter into and explore the unknown.

Nastya Awott rocked a Marla from Fight Club look with her spiked hair and sunglasses, wowing us with her saxophone skills while Kiryl Masheka got the crowd going with his stellar dance moves and rapping skills. For me it was Maria Alyokhina who stole the show. After breaking a travel ban placed on her and smuggling herself out of Russia to come and perform at the Fringe and also to speak about her book at the Book Festival, she commanded the stage with such vigour, showing the world just how powerful a woman can be.

Tonight I will always remember as a once in a lifetime opportunity where I had the privilege to connect with the unknown and feel part of a real revolution. I left the show feeling proud to be a woman and an increasing urge to better myself and educate myself further about the world around me.

Five Reasons to take up a Dance Class

Two years ago I started my first adult ballet lesson. I signed up for the term on a whim thinking it would be fun to try something new. Two years later, I now take three dance classes a week including a jazz class. I’m not sure what makes dancing so appealing to me; whether it’s the release of happy endorphins or if it gives me an outlet to express myself or if it’s a skill that you can build upon but I can certainly say I’m addicted and I’m not the only one. Some of my fellow dance friends do up to 7 classes a week!  I do believe though that dancing has helped give me the confidence to make the decision to follow my passion and apply for my Masters in Journalism.

I thought I would write this article to help spread the joy. Here are my top five reasons to take up an adult dance class.

1.       Mindfulness

No matter how much is going on in your head whether its work stress or financial worries, when you are in the class all of these thoughts immediately diminish as your mind is now focused on remembering new choreography and there is no time to think about anything else. It is both a mental and physical workout and it enables you to be in that moment for the duration of the class. It definitely has improved my mental, as well as my physical health since starting.

2.       A New Skill

Unlike going to the gym or taking an exercise class you are learning a new skill that you can build upon and improve. Over the last two years my co-ordination has improved immensely and my muscle memory is so much stronger. It’s a very satisfying form of exercise.

3.     New Friends

It’s a great way to meet like-minded people. I have made many good friends through dancing and have met so many interesting people with different careers and interests and I have learnt a lot from them. 

4.       Cultural Enrichment

It is one of the most educational forms of exercise as you are constantly learning new repertoires and gaining an understanding of different ballets and styles of dance. My taste in theatre and performance has changed since I started dancing as I have experienced new genres.

5.     Confidence

It is a great way to develop self-confidence. All adult dance classes follow the same ethos-enjoyment over perfection. You are not expected to be the next Darcey Bussell and no one is judging you for making mistakes. It is very empowering to be in a supportive environment that helps you to build up your skills at your own pace.

So if you are on the fence about starting a dance class or even just trying something new I hope this helps inspire you like it has inspired me.

The Shape of Water Review

This is definitely a film you need to see for yourself to understand its power and spellbinding beauty. From the tag line it sounds more like some strange sci fi porn-mute woman falls in love with an amphibian man. This in fact does happen but Guillermo del Toro manages to craft this story into a magical, unconventional, timeless fable.

Set in the early 1960’s during the time of the Cold War and the Space Race, a top secret scientific lab in Baltimore is delivered with a mysterious sea creature from the Amazon to be used for experimentation. The experiments are overseen by a cruel government official Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon) who believes the creature should be picked apart to discover its secrets in order to have one over on the Russians.

Elisa Esposito (Sally Hawkins) a mute cleaning lady in charge of cleaning the lab in which the creature is being held is horrified to witness the brutality and violence Strickland is using towards it. Curious about the creature Elisa begins to form a connection with it/him by giving him hard boiled eggs and playing music-some welcome respite from the daily torture that he/it must endure. Their connection grows from sympathy to romance as Elisa discovers they have more in common than she had imagined, as she beautifully puts it ‘He does not know that I am incomplete’.

Elisa’s gentle nature extends beyond the lab as she is a trusted friend to her lonely closeted gay neighbour Giles (Richard Jenkins) and her fellow African American co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer)-a listening ear to two members from marginalised groups at the time.

‘The Other’ is a major theme in this film and Del Toro draws parallels between the 60’s and the political climate in the States today. Strickland makes a powerful speech stating the sea creature was not born in the form of Jesus and therefore does not deserve to exist the way everyone else does. Del Toro also highlights how ignorance breeds fear and characters are divided between those who sympathise with the creature and those who want to destroy it.

This thought provoking film is a sci-fi take on Beauty and the Beast. It is magical but brutal, tender but violent and it challenges its audience to see beyond convention.  In the final mesmerising narrated scene of Elisa and her amphibian lover dancing in the water I was left measuring the shape of my own tears.