Blog: May 2007

Warwick University has begun a three-year project looking at young people (from 8 onwards) whose parents come from different faith backgrounds, how they come to identify themselves in relation to their parents’ religions, and the factors that influence their own religious beliefs. The study will focus on Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism. It is UK-wide and data will be collected by email as well as through interviews (by phone or in person).

• Are you part of a family where different faith backgrounds are present and if so, might you be interested in taking part in the project? You can get in touch with the team for more information without commitment
• Do you know of any families who might be interested in participating?
• Do you know of any publications on this topic?
• Have you done, or do you know of, any related research?

For more information, email Dr Elisabeth Arweck on elisabeth.arweck@warwick.ac.uk or call on 02476 528 434.

Entries are being sought for the European photo competition for diversity from school and university students around the continent.

Students are asked to create a photo or photo collage that breaks stereotypes, promotes diversity and appeals to a young audience.

First prize is € 3,000 for the winner and € 3,000 for the winner’s university or school. The runner-up will receive € 2,000 and the third-placed entry € 1,000. The best entries will be featured in a travelling exhibition across Europe.

Zia Haider Rahman argues on Comment is free that a debate about multiculturalism and separateness involving Kenan Malik and Trevor Philips didn’t work because it failed to define what multiculturalism actually meant.

Europe’s largest Asian open-air festival takes place this weekend. More than 200,000 visitors from all over the country are expected to descend upon London’s East End on Sunday 13 May 2007 for a mix of music, food and theatre to celebrate Bengali New Year.

Over 350 performers will perform live from three stages, from midday to 7.30pm.

www.baishakhimela.com

Channel 4 have launched a new website, the race debate, which offers an open platform for debate around race and what it is to experience racism. The site combines clips from Channel 4 programmes with video interviews and articles.

Currently on the site there is an article by Safraz Manzoor on whether multiculturalism has worked in Britain and an interview with Commission for Racial Equality chair Kay Hampton on how deeply entrenched racism is within society.

The new site sits alongside Channel 4’s Origination site, which looks at the contributions of immigrant cultures to contemporary Britain.

Words without borders celebrates the World Voices Festival by publishing online translations of several interesting African writers.

Congo’s Alain Mabanckou’s “Blue White Red” flags the lasting influence of France on its former subjects, while Abdulrazak Gurnah’s Desertion maps British power in Zanzibar.

‘Two new books exemplify the polarised debate: one claims the British Empire was comparable to slavery and fascism; while for the other, the Victorian administrators of the Indian Civil Service, far from being oppressive exploiters, in fact “represented the British Empire at its best and most altruistic”.’

William Dalrymple contributes to the ongoing debate about the British Empire in India.

French writer Abdelwahab Meddeb is perplexed by the Pope but makes clear that more shows of violence simply reinforce what he said.

‘The most stunning figure I have come across lately is this: translations of books from English into German have decreased by roughly half in one decade.’ As the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions comes into force, Rüdiger Wischenbart looks at the realities behind globalisation, cultural diversity and translation.