UNIVERSITY SET TO PAY TRIBUTE TO REV JESSE JACKSON

From today's Leicester Mercury:

University set to pay tribute to Rev Jesse Jackson 

Civil rights campaigner the Rev Jesse Jackson will receive an honorary degree from De Montfort University next week. 

Rev Jackson, who twice ran for president in America in the 1980s, will be the keynote speaker when the university hosts a major conference on preventing terrorism on Tuesday. 

The conference has been organised by Parliament's powerful Home Affairs Select Committee, chaired by city MP Keith Vaz, which is looking at the causes of terrorism and radicalisation in the UK.

The university's vice-chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard said: "We share Rev Jackson's values throughout our university community.

"We are very pleased to welcome him to DMU and honour his numerous achievements as an inspirational advocate and campaigner for civil rights in the USA and around the world." 

Mr Vaz, who represents Leicester East, said: "This conference is set to contribute significantly to the conversation on radicalisation and I am looking forward to hearing from Rev Jackson when he delivers his keynote speech next Tuesday. 

"The roots of violent radicalisation remains a subject of great national interest and this prestigious institution, with its reputation for hosting and furthering national debates, is the perfect location." 

The conference's findings will be passed to the Government as it creates its Prevent Strategy, which is designed to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. 

Rev Jackson's keynote speech will look into the lessons to be learned from the US experience of tackling radicalisation.

After the conference, he will receive his honorary degree at a ceremony at the St Mary De Castro Church, adjacent to the university campus, in front of hundreds of invited guests. 

Other speakers at the conference include Ian Paisley Junior MP, who will discuss his experiences in Northern Ireland, as well as Home Office security minister James Brokenshire and Dr Dipu Moni, the Foreign Minister for Bangladesh. 

The threat from the far right as well as religious fanaticism will also be considered. 

Heightened security is expected to be in place across the campus due to the number of high-profile political figures at the event.
Rev Jackson last visited the city in 2008.

INTER FAITH WEEK 2011, DAY 2: HIGHCROSS EXHIBITION

Second day of our week-long exhibition in Highcross to celebrate Inter Faith Week, showcasing the eight communities represented on Leicester Council of Faiths.

The dynamic of the exhibition is beginning to become clear. The new location and layout mean that we're shifting more of free literature than in previous years. While it might seem that, on the other hand, fewer people are stopping to talk this time round, I don't think that's so. In terms of people approaching the stall, the arrangement of the banners is definitely more appealing and effective than before (and we're able to rotate them every so often, to keep it fresh). Putting the free literature on the trestle tables at the sides of the display space allows people to approach and take what they want in relative safety from the volunteers inside the display. You never know how it's going to work out until you see it in action. The dark semi-circle on the floor that marks the outer edge of the display space marks a safe boundary for the public. If you're brave enough to cross that line, then you're fair game!

There's some discussion with members of the public today about the content of the University of Leicester Faiths Trail, the banner and booklet for which are included in our exhibition here. A woman queries (strongly and at length) why the Cathedral was passed over in favour of St Mary de Castro, while a man objects to the omission of Neve Shalom, the Leicester Progressive Synagogue on Avenue Road. The simple answer to the former is that St Mary de Castro is older and has a more interesting history as a building, especially its relation with the Castle (and, after all, the team who compiled the information and created the trail are second year undergraduate students in the University's School of Archaeology and Ancient History). The answer to the latter is that Neve Shalom wouldn't fit into the schedule of a walking tour - although it may well have to in future, given that the Orthdox Synagogue on Highfield Street is up for sale.

I have gentler chats with Marlene from the Salvation Army and David from the local Eckankar group (whom I first met at the launch event for Leicester Speaks last month in Humberstone Gate).

Here are some comments entered in the reflective log by volunteers on the exhibition today:

“I found it particularly difficult to convince the cynics that true interfaith co-operation can be achieved regardless of the political situation. Also a lot of people had issues with the Faith Trail especially the synagogue which is for sale and Orthodox Jewish community in reduction and also the fact that the Mandir has moved. Otherwise a pleasant experience as I enjoy being a social butterfly!” 

“Even though it was early and Monday morning, several people came and took leaflets and brochures; some of them were very keen to get involved and discuss their personal experiences regarding both individual faiths and the wider religious community, Some very useful comments and suggestions were received from the members of the Jewish and Christian communities.” 

“Several people paused and glanced at the display. A couple or three stopped and chatted. There seemed to be a general acceptance of the display.” 

“Many people have passed by. Some have taken an interest. Leaflets have been taken. Wanting to know about neighbour’s religion. Interesting talking amongst ourselves on the subject of spirituality.” 

“I have rather enjoyed talking with the other volunteers. I get a sense of other space within the little enclave that is made from the tables with flyers and the tall boards showing each faith. A smallish sense of discontent from the retail world around us. And that sense disappears as I go and get coffee. I like that just by my presence I help to show others that there are joyful relations between the faiths.” 

“Some very interesting discussions with three separate individuals, related to faith communities generally and in once case personal experience of the journey to having a full time spiritual life. The siting of the display seemed much better this year in terms of the ease it provides for engaging with passers-by – a sense of it being less intrusive and offering a range of different encounters.”

ST GEORGE'S DAY FESTIVAL IN LEICESTER 2010

A weekend of celebrations to mark St George's Day in Leicester kicks off today - one of the biggest celebrations of England's patron saint Leicester has seen, with live music, dance and poetry performances planned on a stage in Orton Square. There are also city tours, food and drink plus family activities.

The fun begins at 1100 today, when Leicester Market hosts a battle between St George and the dragon, with a second performance at noon. In the evening, there's a festival of English beers at the Criterion pub, in Millstone Lane, and, at 7.30pm, a St George's Day service at St Mary de Castro Church.

The Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Roger Blackmore, said: "It's one of Leicester's great strengths that we celebrate all kinds of festivals in all kinds of communities. I think it's right and appropriate that St George is prominent among them".

Couldn't agree more with the words of the Lord Mayor. Just a few weeks ago, while being interviewed live at the crack of dawn on BBC World Service, I was asked to respond to a recorded insert of three young white women recorded at a bingo session, saying that there's nothing for the white community in Leicester, that they're forgotten and neglected in favour of more recent arrivals and incomers. A weekend such as this shows up such a comment as being quite untrue.

As well as the Cultural Quarter family events and entertainment throughout Saturday, Jewry Wall Museum will have activities from 11am to 4pm.

On Sunday, at 2.55pm, more than 1,000 Cubs and Scouts will parade through the city centre to Leicester Cathedral. On the same day, a festival of arts and crafts takes place at Leicester Market.

Byron Chatburn, head of Leicestershire Scouts, said: "It's fantastic that we have 1,000 young people out and about over the St George's Day weekend celebrating what it means to them to be a Scout. "It's very important at this time of year to reflect on the past twelve months and look forward to the next twelve."

I hope I'm not being particularly perverse here, but the photo of St George slaying the dragon at the top of this post is not from Leicester. It's a statue that stands outside the Italian Chapel on the little island of Lamb Holm in the Okrney Islands, a spot I've visited twice in the past 25 years. As you might imagine, faithful reader, I take a special interest in iconic Georges and this is my favourite representation of St George and his scaly nemesis.