Refugee Radio
Asylum seeker still seems to be a very dirty word, despite the existence of organisations like Stop The Traffik, and nationwide events like Refugee Week doing their best to change blinkered attitudes.
It’s almost impossible for your average asylum seeker to avoid being accused of “coming over ‘ere, taking your job and stealing your woman”. In fact this is very far from the truth given that:
- Out of the estimated 16 million refugees worldwide, we, the UK, support less than 2%
- The majority of asylum seekers cannot work and are forced to rely on state support until they receive a decision, this is currently 70% of the income support rate (£64.30 for a single person aged over 25)
- Immigration law changed in 2005, and refugees only have permission to stay in the UK for 5 years once their status is awarded.
Yet what they can do is start you off on a virtual gap year tour of world music, courtesy of Refugee Radio, which broadcasts every Sunday at 8pm on Brighton’s RadioReverb 97.2 FM.
If your CD collection is begging you for a change, then here’s an opportunity to investigate Congolese swede swede, steampunk and tuvan throat singing music from Mongolia.
The project also holds regular fundraisers with the likes of Sweet Sweet Lies and Baba Slips headlining their most recent event. Jo Whiley eat your heart out (and then go sick it back up in the street).
www.refugeeradio.org.uk
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