don't let Cameron divide us

We believe David Cameron’s statement that multiculturalism has failed was a dangerous declaration of intent. David Cameron's speech was reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher’s infamous 1978 statement that Britain was “being swamped by alien cultures”. He has branded Britain’s Muslims as the new “enemy within” in the same way as Thatcher attacked the miners and trade unions.

David Cameron is attempting to drive a wedge between different communities by linking Britain’s multicultural society with terrorism and national security. David Cameron’s speech was made on the same day as the English Defence League brought its bigotry and violence to the streets of Luton. Mr Cameron’s aim is simple as it is crude - to deflect the anger against his government’s cuts from the bankers and onto the Muslim community. The prime minister is aping attacks by other European leaders like France's Nicolas Sarkozy, who passed legislation banning the veil, and Angela Merkel, who has also made statements denouncing multiculturalism in Germany. 

We the undersigned believe that our multicultural society and the respect and solidarity it is built on is a cause for pride, and reject any moves by this government to undermine and destroy it.

We must not allow this coalition government to turn the tide back to the days when it was acceptable, through ignorance and fear, for people with a different religion, culture or skin colour to be scapegoated and treated as inferior or outsiders.

SIGN THE PETITION

The 4th Connecting Civil Societies (CCS) Conference “Changing Challenges, New Ideas” took place in Brussels on 1-3 October 2010. An official side event of the 8^th Summit of Leaders of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM8), CCS4 was a platform for civil society to convey recommendations to the leaders of 46 Asian and European countries plus the European Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat, who met in Brussels on 4 and 5 October.

Concluding with eight points of action for ASEM leaders to enhance Asia-Europe cooperation, CCS participants welcomed the continuing political dialogue between ASEM leaders at the highest level, and called for greater civil society engagement and partnership at all levels and initiatives of the ASEM process.

(UNESCO) The year 2010 will be celebrated as the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures (see resolutions below). The goal of the International Year consists in making the rapprochement of cultures the hallmark of all policy-making at local, national, regional and international levels, involving the greatest number of relevant stakeholders.

The Mediterranean’s largest civil gathering for dialogue

With the announcement that 2012 will see the next Anna Lindh Forum, over 1000 civil society organizations commit to common road map for restoring trust in shared values

Barcelona, 7 March 2010: The Anna Lindh Forum for Intercultural Dialogue concluded today after three days of active debate and common activities, having successfully brought together for the very first time the largest number of civil society member organisations from all 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean.

Eventhough large parts of the proposal have been implemented by the Anna Lindh Foundation, such as the  holding of the first Anna Lindh Forum, which was held in Barcelona in March 2010, other parts of the proposal still deserve some attention. This is due to the fact that the Anna Lindh Forum in its current shape and form is far from perfect, in particular, in the area of NGO members participation in the steering of the Forum. Most importantly, there needs to be a way in which member organizations take more active part in preparation of the Forum, and which enhances their ability to act collectively through a democratically elected body.

These aspects and more are all covered in the poposal below. We would appreciate your constructive comments and suggestions.