ABCNYHETER

A meeting this morning with Ida Hilde Mathisen (photo above), a journalist for the Norwegian online news service abcnyheter (ABC News). She's in Leicester to write some articles about integration of different cultures and media reporting on Muslim communities here. I go to the Premier Inn, where she's staying, and chat with her for an hour or so in the hotel lounge. Ida is the fifth major media contact I've dealt with in as many weeks. She's set up some interviews over a three-day period here, which should allow her to gain a decent impression of life in Leicester.

City of Sanctuary

Full meeting of the Council of Faiths this evening in the Welcome Centre. Guest speaker is Gill Buttery, Development Worker with Leicester City of Sanctuary. City of Sanctuary is a movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK. Its goal is to create a network of towns and cities throughout the country which are proud to be places of safety, and which include people seeking sanctuary fully in the life of their communities.

A City of Sanctuary is a place of safety and welcome for people whose lives are in danger in their own countries. It is a place where:

• the skills and cultures of people seeking sanctuary are valued, where they are included in local communities and able to contribute to the life of the city.
• community groups, local government, media, business, schools and colleges have a shared commitment to offering sanctuary, so that it is seen as part of the city’s identity by local people.
• people seeking sanctuary can easily build relationships with local people as neighbours, friends and colleagues. Through these relationships, local people come to understand the injustices refugees face, and become motivated to support and defend them.

The City of Sanctuary movement began in October 2005 in Sheffield. In September 2007, with the support of the City Council and over 70 local community organisations, Sheffield became the UK’s first official "City of Sanctuary", a city that takes pride in the welcome it offers to people in need of safety.

A national network of Cities of Sanctuary will demonstrate the desire of people of goodwill throughout the country for a more just and humane approach to people seeking sanctuary in this country.

This is a different kind of meeting from those which the Council of Faiths has held recently; indeed, quite different from any meeting which I've attended in my three years here. Members are invited to take a few minutes to spek on the subject of asylum seekers and refugees from the perspective of their particular faith. Minou Cortazzi (Bahá'í) starts off, then Resham Singh Sandhu (Sikh), John Lally (Christian), Ramesh Majithia (Hindu), Alex Keller (Jewish), Fayyaz Suleman (Muslim), Janette Macdonald (Bahá'í) and our visitor Vinod Chudasama (from Leicester College - and a Hindu). Each one has the opportunity to speak at length and uninterrupted, about what their faith says to them (and through them) on this vital and moving topic. I've tried to quote below a few of the things each one said, but not linked them to any individual or faith. You may like to try and do that, faithful reader, but it's not a competition and there are no prizes on offer for this.

"Founders and central figures of each religion experienced banishment and exile for their principles and teachings."

"They have stood up against oppression and sacrificed themselves for those who could not protect themselves."

"When we come close to people - to 'The Other' - we come closer to feeling what they feel."

"Having a guest in your home is like having a visit from God there.

"Our God-given duty is to serve, heal and educate those from outside our communities, just as we would our own."

"As we become more God-conscious, we have to change our attitude and behaviour toward the poor, the needy and the oppressed."

"Justice is the most important thing in the world and it needs to be brought to the world on a world scale if we want to bring an end to oppression."

Leicester City of Sanctuary has obtained funding from Faiths Action to help strengthen relations with faith communities on issues to do with asylum seekers and refugees.

Find out more about Leicester City of Sanctuary:

http://www.cityofsanctuary.com/leicester

National Inter Faith Week lives on

Just had a phone call from the Inter Faith Network UK. They're putting together the final report on National Inter Faith Week 2009 and want to use pictures and text from this blog in their report. You never know when someone will look at older entries in the blog and want to make use of something that might otherwise appear dead and buried. The text and images can have an interesting afterlife. A bit self-referential to mention this here in the very blog itself, but I do like that sort of thing. Very Post-Modernist, innit!

St Thomas' Choir

My son Harry (9) has passed auditions for The Guild Choir of St Thomas the Apostle (Glen Parva with South Wigston) - more commonly known as St Thomas' Choir. The choir was formed in 1890 and generations of congregations have enjoyed their music ever since. Currently, the Choir has 24 boys and 16 men who go to make up one of the finest church choirs in the country. The Choir often receives invitations to sing all over the country, in venues such as York Minster, Westminster Abbey and Canterbury Cathedral. That's a photo of the boys (above) dressed to perform on one such occasion. Auditions are held at local primary schools to recruit new members. New boys are usually between 7 to 10 years of age and are called probationers. Harry has been taken on as one of them. I'm so proud of him for this.

Find out more about St Thomas' Choir:
http://www.st-thomaschoir.btik.com/

Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief

To Phoenix Square Digital Film and Media Centre this afternoon with Harry and Grace, to see "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief". It's a milestone for Harry; first time he'll have seen a movie based on a novel he's read (he's already up to the third book in the Percy Jackson series).

I remember the thrill of hearing and reading the Greek myths when I was a kid and of seeing dramatisations of the stories of Perseus, Hercules and their like. I remember with affection movies like Jason and the Argonauts (1963), featuring the stop-motion animation of Ray Harryhausen. By the time of Clash of the Titans (1981) - the final film to which Harryhausen contributed his trademark animation - I'd rather outgrown this kind of thing (and I have no desire whatsoever to see the 2010 3D remake of Clash of the Titans, which features one of the worst straplines ever put on a movie poster: "Titans will clash!" Oh really? You don't say!)

It seems to me, however, that children discover and consume these stories in a different way now. Whereas in earlier years, children got these stories as something that had happened in a dim and almost-forgotten past, or in an alternate, mythologised world, today's children access them as part of an alternate reality that exists today. They see these gods and monsters of ancient Greece persist in our contemporary world - as if they've never been away, but have simply been biding their time before returning to assert their authority to rule - or wreck - our world.

In "Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief" we see Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Athena, not only in their divine or demonic forms, but also in hoodies, leather jackets and trainers. We identify with their children, demigods born though their matings with mere mortals. There are also significant appearances by minor figures such as Medusa, Persephone, the Minotoaur, the Hydra and assorted centaurs, satyrs and furies. We visit the Underworld, Mount Olympus and the land of the lotus eaters, all of which have their modern counterparts, bringing a nicely ironic touch to the story (the entrance to the Underworld is below the Hollywood sign, Mount Olympus is accessed through an elevator in the Empire State Building and the lotus eaters lure and hold heir victims in a hotel and casino in Las Vegas). There's no recognition (no mention even) of innovations in religion since those times, no engagement with Judaism, Christianity or Islam. Other religions may as well not exist in Percy Jackson's fictional world.

Now, it could be said that it's not a new phenomenon; that such outlets as Marvel and DC comics retooled the ancient gods, heroes, villains and monsters from the 1960s onwards (for instance, with a particular favourite of mine, "The Mighty Thor", which depended on the old Norse myths and legends). But the marketing is more intense, penetrates deeper and into more layers of young lives, the CGI animation leaves less to the imagination.

Mind you, this production and consumption of ancient archetypes isn't just for children. Adults are willing participants too. For example, Neil Gaiman's Hugo and Nebula-Award winning novel, American Gods (2001) and Steven Sherrill's debut novel, The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break (2003). Even Doctor Who's Weeping Angels (recently voted the scariest monsters in the show's 46-year history - based on only one appearance at the time the poll was taken, Stephen Moffat's "Blink", which also won a Hugo) draw heavily on the archetype of Medusa and the Gorgons.

Find out more about the Percy Jackson books (by Rick Riordan):
http://www.percyjackson.co.uk/site/pj_main.php

Find out more about Neil Gaiman:
http://www.neilgaiman.com/

Philosophy in the Pub

To the Swan & Rushes, Infirmary Square, this evening,  for the regular monthly meeting of Philosophy in the Pub (PIPS). Lezley is facilitating and has chosen the stimulus - an article from today's Guardian entitled "This town has been sold to Tesco". Stalwarts Alan, Mike and Harry (all from Secular Society) are here and we're joined by Don, a visitor from Tennessee who's doing some ICT-related work at nearby De Montfort University. Alastair (my firstborn) and I make up the numbers.

Find out more about Philosophy in Pubs all over the country:
http://www.philosophyinpubs.org.uk/INDEX/index.asp

Find out more about the Swan and Rushes:
http://www.swanandrushes.co.uk/

AMPLIFIED LEICESTER: TECH SURGERY

Amplified individuals use social media and the web to enhance their abilities to sense their world, create shared resources and act collaboratively. We meet fortnightly at Phoenix Square Digital Film and Media Centre. This morning, Ash Brown hosts an informal "Tech Surgery" bringing together those who need help with social media and those who can advise them. Folk bring along their laptops, iPhones, Blackberries etc. Tables are devoted to twitter, Facebook, MySpace, You Tube and my favourite (of course) blogging. I get the chance to talk with Ash for a good bit late in the session, when we discuss the affordances, constraints and effectivities (they're E301 words - look 'em up if you're that bothered, faithful reader) associated with different forms of blogging available (principally Wordpress v Blogger).


Content is the most important thing for me. I'm not all that competent with design elements (in fact, I feel pretty backward at all that). I like Blogger and use this format because it allows me to forget about design and just get on with the writing.


Today I've persuaded Alastair (my firstborn) to attend. I've been encouraging him to come to events like this for a while, so he can make some good contacts for more effective deployment of his artistic skills. He's an excellent musician (with a degree in guitarcraft from the Academy of Contemporary Music), a witty writer and MC. I know all parents think their children are the bee's knees, but I'm happy to say that I'm right on the money about him.

I have a chat with Dipika Hindocha, who is volunteering with the Get Inspired 2010 project. She's looking at ways of using the Amplified network to publicise the forthcoming event. Sounds to me like she's got plenty to give back here too.

how amplified are you?

Today I've been sorting out some papers that have been piling up over the past few weeks and months (well, it is Bank Holiday Monday) and came across an interesting questionnaire that I picked up at the Amplified Leicester Showcase (see blog entry, 15 Apr). It's a lighthearted test, developed from one used at The Future of Work Perspectives, presented by the Institute for the Future. If you find the jargon off putting, consider it as being somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I've done it; would you like to test yourself, faithful reader? For each topic, grade yourself from 1 (not at all confident) to 3 (highly confident).

MOBBABILITY
The ability to work in large groups, and to organise and collaborate with may people simultaneously.


INFLUENCY
Knowing how to be persuasive in multiple social contexts and media spaces, and demonstrating awareness that each context and space requires a different persuasive strategy and technique.


HIGH PING QUOTIENT
Responsiveness to other people's requests for engagement, propensity to reach out to others in a network.


PROTOVATION
Fearless innovation in rapid, iterative cycles.


OPEN AUTHORSHIP
Ease with creating content for immediate public consumption and modification.


EMERGENSIGHT
The ability to prepare for and handle surprising results and complexity.


MULTI-CAPITALISM
Fluency in working with different capitals (e.g. natural, intellectual, social, financial, virtual).


LONGBROADING
Thinking in terms of higher-level systems, massively multiple cycles, and the very big picture.


SIGNAL/NOISE MANAGEMENT
Filtering meaningful information, patterns and commonalities from the massively multiple streams of data and advice.


COOPERATION RADAR
The ability to sense, almost intuitively, who would make the best collaborators on a particular task.

What's your score?
21-30 Congratulations, workplace superhero! Your colleagues don't always understand what you're talking about, but never mind. William Shakespeare was right when he wrote, "We are advertis'd by our loving friends." Keep on amplifying. If you're not in demand in the job market yet, you soon will be.


11-20 You're a workplace semi-hero! What's stopping you from reaching the pinnacle? As Clay Shirky said, "When we change the way we communicate, we change society." You're not afraid to experiment but some of the above qualities make you uncomfortable. Identify those weak spots and take more risks.


0-10 How to improve your score: 1. Hang out with amplified people to watch, learn and ask questions; 2. Experiment and don't be afraid to fail; 3. Spend time messing about online; 4. Don't be Thomas Watson, IBM Chairman, who said in 1943, "I think that there is a world market for maybe five computers."


Find out more about Amplified Leicester:
http://ampleic.ning.com/


Find out more about the Institute for the Future:
http://www.iftf.org/about

BAHÁ'Í NATIONAL CONVENTION

To East Midlands Conference Centre (photo above) at Nottingham University this afternoon, to drop in for a few hours at Bahá'í National Convention. Today is the Twelfth Day of Ridván, marking the end of the holiest festival period in the Bahá'í calendar. National Convention is always held during this period, not just for the Bahá'ís in the UK but for every national Bahá'í community all over the world.

When I worked for the Bahá'í Publishing Trust in Oakham (between 1987 and 2003), I attended this event every year, often as a delegate for the regional community: Rutland (as I lived in Oakham virtually all that time) combined variously with parts of Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. I remember conventions in Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Harrogate, Llandudno and Southport, among other places. I'd attended National Convention for several years before that, again, often as a delegate for Glasgow and its environs. I would also have attended other national Bahá'í events around the country, representing the Publishing Trust - maybe another two or three per year. After leaving the Bahá'í Publishing Trust in the spring of 2003, I thought I'd take some time away from these events, after fifteen years in suit and tie working in the bookshop. Amazing how time flies; this is the first national Bahá'í event I've done since 2002 (apart from a flying visit to a speak to a special interest group at a national Bahá'í conference held in Warwick University, January 2008).

The East Midlands Conference Centre is an excellent, modern, stylish facility, with the main meeting hall, food, space for exhibitions, displays and the ever-popular bookshop, rooms for children's activities and breakout meetings all under one roof, parking and overnight accommodation on site. I've visited here once before: 19 January, for the first in the series of Involvement Events with the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership (REDP). I didn't get to see much of the centre that day, though I remember it being very cold inside - not something you could say about it today.

These events always provide evidence of the Bahá'í welcoming - and enjoyment - of diversity. This time, activities for those who aren't delegates include the opportunity to have a go at playing in a gamelan orchestra of Indonesian drums and gongs!

I'm here with Clare, on her first visit to a Bahá'í event. There are around 700 Bahá'ís here in all. We're hardly through the door and have already met half a dozen or more old friends of mine, who greet us warmly: Dickie Fuscoe, Laili Cleasby, Wendi Momen, Shahram and Karin Firoozmand, Marlyn Thoburn, Shiva Nolan, Mahzad Mazloomian, Jackie Mehrabi. They and others offer hugs, kisses and exceptionally kind words of welcome. I get to talk to all of them about my work for the Council of Faiths, leave them with my card and samples of our leaflet on Leicester's Bahá'í community. Some of them ask if I could come out to their communities to give them advice on local inter-faith work.

Half an hour or so is spent in the main hall, before the session breaks up for dinner. Not having seen this for so many years, I'm impressed all over again by how courteous, reflective, good-humoured, positive, collaborative, considered - even stately - the process of Bahá'í consultation can be. I can't help but wish more of my friends and colleagues could see this for themselves, as it's such a distinctive model of discussion and decision-making. As well as consulting together on the main issues that affect the current condition and future progress of the UK Bahá'í community, the 95 delegates have the responsibility to elect the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the UK. Our local delegate is Minou Cortazzi, former Chair of Leicester Council of Faiths.

We don't stay very long (hardly more than three hours) and go back to Leicester before dinner. But it's enough to leave me with the sure and certain feeling that it's been good to reconnect after all this time.

X MARKS THE SPOT

A few days ago, these images began appearing all over Leicester city centre, as reported on Citizens' Eye. No one claimed responsibility for them and there was no explanation of their meaning. Today the mystery was cleared up. After much speculation, it turns out that they're part of a campaign to get out the youth vote for the General Election. John Coster and Citizens' Eye were in on it all along - well, you've got to create a bit of a buzz for some things! Among the team doing this today is a friend from way back, Bez Kileen (or "The Lovely Bez" as I used to call her). Bez and I worked side-by-side (literally) at the Watershed Youth Centre when I was employed by ReMit (Leicester City Council's education provision for adults with long-term mental health issues). She's a Youth Development Worker in the City Council's Children and Young People's Services. We spent a lot of time disagreeing on each other's musical tastes (for such a right-on, kick-ass, politically engaged and activist woman, she seemed to like an awful lot of middle-of-the-road fluff) but we were united in our adoration of The West Wing. Good to see her again today - though I had to get out of her way and let her get on with her job when a reporter needed to interview her about this youth campaign - and good to see that she's still fighting the good fight! And here she is, caught holding the proverbial smoking gun ...