“Any positive contact people have with ethnic groups will help…”
Subash Punn, a community worker currently shadowing Mark Lazarowicz MP, was featured in a positive report in the Evening News about the Opening Doors shadow scheme. “Ethnic Minorities stepping out of the shadows in political link up� 19 October.
Mark Lazarowicz MP with his two ’shadows’ Subash Punn and Kasia Raszewska
at the launch of Opening Doors on 5 October
Subash, who comes from an Indian background, told the Evening News that he was taking part in the shadowing scheme to learn more about the political process. He said he hopes the project will help to increase understanding between communities because he is disturbed by an increase in racist incidents since the July bombings in London last year.
“Any positive contact people have with ethnic groups will help,” he said. “We were making progress along the right lines, but it just takes something like the Twin Towers or the London bombings and that progress is wiped out.”
His call for greater understanding was reinforced by Mark Lazarowicz who told the Evening News, “All sorts of events can lead to increased tensions. The whole point of this exercise is to build up strong relations which mean that events that threaten these relationships don’t end up tearing communities apart.�
Subash is now looking forward to learning what the political process means for Mark as an MP at Westminster. Meanwhile, Doris Koyobe and Celina Mbwiria have been getting an insight into the workings of the City of Edinburgh Council. Shadowing Phil Attridge and Dougie Kerr, Celina and Doris were invited to view the October meeting of the full council.
All the ’shadows’ are getting a chance to sit in on surgery sessions and community events such as attending the Greener Leith meeting to learn about progress of plans for a community garden in Leith.
Keep watching this space!
October 26th, 2006
Welcome to a pioneering project which begins here in Leith but – with luck – will spread much further.
Leith Open Space Group is launching this new community website with news of the Opening Doors shadow scheme. Our aim is to encourage greater ethnic minority representation in both local and national government. But at the same time the scheme will also enable our politicians to gain new insight into the communities they represent.
Welcoming pioneers at New Kirkgate Centre on 5 October
Malcolm Chisholm, Minister for Communities, welcomed the chance for two-way communication when he met the six shadows who are helping to launch what we think is the first scheme of its kind in Scotland. “I feel I have learned a lot already just by meeting you this afternoon. I am doubly lucky as I will benefit both as MSP and in my role as Minister for Communities,” said Malcolm as we sat round the table in the New Kirkgate Centre on Thursday, 5 October.The shadow scheme is a direct response to our two multicultural Open Space events in Leith in November 2005 and May 2006. At both events people asked how we can overcome obstacles that prevent ethnic minority communities taking a more active part in politics.
We’ve got a lot to learn. Although 2% of Scotland’s population are from minority ethnic groups there is no such representation in the Scottish Parliament. Opening Doors is based on schemes run by Operation Black Vote in Bristol and Westminster which has been successful in encouraging ethnic minority candidates to stand for election.
Subash Punn, Mark Lazarowicz MP and Kasia Raszewska
Our four-month project – running from October to January – will provide a glimpse of the political process in debates and day to day issues in the constituency. For at least two shadows, that will mean a trip to London to see our MP Mark Lazarowicz in action at the House of Commons as well as sitting in on surgery sessions and attending public meetings. For others there will be a chance to see behind the scenes at City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Parliament – as well as observing the real grass roots democracy of community councils.
So warm thanks to Asha, Celina, Doris, Kasia, Shaheena and Subash for opening the door and to the politicians they will shadow. Joining Mark Lazarowicz and Malcolm Chisholm in the scheme are local Councillors Phil Attridge, Trevor Davies, Dougie Kerr and Gordon Munro.
Following the example set by Operation Black Vote, both politicians and their ’shadows’ will be invited to keep a diary recording what they learn from the experience (click here to read the OBV journal of the week). Extracts can be posted on this website so you can follow their progress and, if you like, take part in discussion about topics raised during the project.
October 26th, 2006
