I have had a choice to go out of my way to participate in a broken, difficult and vulnerable world or to complain from the side lines.
Moments of activism include:
Attending the People's Vote march on the 20th October.
Speaking in the Christian/ Atheist debate on campus.
Praying for an end to indefinite detention in the UK.
Sending in comments for OBC 'harmony in diversity' discussions.
These are all quite different, but have each taught me more about the depths of empowerment.
The prompt for this post came from Beth, who spoke to me at the Bath Just Love launch a few weeks ago, after time in prayer and pre worship Beth uttered these words 'don't be quiet Amy, for you are very great'. Obviously this went straight into a notebook and I left it to be pondered on. Less than 24 hours later I became the second speaker for the Christian/ Atheist debate. The significance of this will be unpacked later on!
As I pondered on it this song came to mind... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLvIw8J8sWE (I can't keep quiet, MILCK)
I hope by sharing my experiences in this post I encourage you to stand up and be counted for the issues close to your heart.
In chronological order my moments unfolded like this...
17th October - Prayer Meeting
20th October - March
24th October - Harmony in Diversity discussion evening
31st October - Rationality of Faith Debate
If you would like a musical accompaniment to part one, I suggest this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfXwzMi1FxA (Weep With Me, Rend Collective)
So let's start with indefinite detention, this is an issue I have raised on my blog before -https://myonlinenotebookacf.blogspot.com/2018/07/striving-for-consistency.html
I can't remember the first time I was told that the UK are the only country in Europe to not have a time limit on detention. Every other country in the EU has a 28 day limit, this is still absolutely horrific, but it does mean there is an element of legal protection for the citizens of nowhere that end up in detention.
To spell it out the UK has the ability to hold people on no evidence if the government thinks they are a threat to national security when they come through border control. Here is an extract from Liberty's website:
https://www.libertyhumanrights.org.uk/campaigning/end-indefinite-detention
Every year the Home Office locks up nearly 30,000 people, including asylum seekers, children, elderly people, pregnant women and survivors of torture, trafficking and rape.
They have no idea when they will be freed. No judge authorises their incarceration. The Home Office alone makes the call.
Some people are held for years in chaotic detention centres where neglect and abuse are rife.
Indefinite detention separates families and devastates people’s mental health. Self-harm and suicide attempts are common.
Immigration detention should be used only as an absolute last resort. But in the UK it’s the brutal everyday reality for thousands and thousands of people.
This is happening in our name – and we can stop it.
There’s a growing chorus of voices from every walk of life and all political beliefs calling for a 28-day time limit on immigration detention.
And in 2018 we can make it happen.
The Government will soon publish a draft law establishing our post-Brexit immigration system.
This is our chance to put a time limit into UK law – a crucial first step towards ending the suffering and uncertainty.
Two women detained at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedfordshire
What is immigration detention?
"My experience in detention broke the trust I had in the Government, and the country I have lived in for the last twenty years."
Kasonga, held in Harmondsworth and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centres
The UK’s regime of routine immigration detention is one of the largest in Europe – and, because there’s no time limit, it’s the most draconian.
Detention centres fail to meet even basic standards of safety and respect, with instances of fatal use of restraint, denial of medical treatment, filthy and overcrowded conditions and allegations of sexual abuse.
Reports suggest 10 people died in detention in 2017 alone. Most took their own lives.
Research by the British Medical Association, Amnesty International, Women for Refugee Women and many others has laid bare the serious mental and physical harm indefinite detention causes – not just to people in detention, but to their children and loved ones.
The human cost of immigration detention is huge – but it also fails to deliver the gains politicians want. Every year, the Government wastes around £76 million of taxpayers’ money on the long-term detention of people who it ultimately releases.
Other countries use a range of effective alternatives to detention which have led to low rates of detention and high rates of voluntary return.
Detention centres fail to meet even basic standards of safety and respect, with instances of fatal use of restraint, denial of medical treatment, filthy and overcrowded conditions and allegations of sexual abuse.
Reports suggest 10 people died in detention in 2017 alone. Most took their own lives.
Research by the British Medical Association, Amnesty International, Women for Refugee Women and many others has laid bare the serious mental and physical harm indefinite detention causes – not just to people in detention, but to their children and loved ones.
The human cost of immigration detention is huge – but it also fails to deliver the gains politicians want. Every year, the Government wastes around £76 million of taxpayers’ money on the long-term detention of people who it ultimately releases.
Other countries use a range of effective alternatives to detention which have led to low rates of detention and high rates of voluntary return.
As the article suggests we have a window this year to end indefinite detention with a new immigration bill. It is 70 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created, mark this occasion by standing up for the vulnerable and oppressed.
This is an issue that I am passionate about, I am eager to spread awareness in anyway I can. It shocks me that so many people are unaware that this practice goes on in our 'civilised' country. I shared a snapshot of this at a prayer meeting and led prayer on this issue. I encourage you to do lift up this issue in prayer and contact your MP.
I will not stay quiet on this issue.
If you would like a musical accompaniment to part two, I recommend this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDwKPUumIHo (No Outsiders, Rend Collective)
The second way I have raised my voice was by joining 700,000 people in protesting Brexit. This was an awesome experience! Students led the protest in central London with FFS the university branch of the People's Vote campaign. I went on a coach with other students at Bath and spent the day chanting, meeting fellow activists and taking amusing photos.
If you aren't sure what the People's Vote is about then take a minute to read this article:https://www.peoples-vote.uk/we_need_a_vote
There is more to this cause than the stereo-type of elitist sore losers.
No one voted for the Irish troubles to be restarted.
No one voted to be poorer as food prices go up.
No one voted for a rise in hate crime against people who are different to 'us'.
No one voted knowing that Vote Leave had broken electoral law.
No one voted for medicine to be stockpiled.
If I could turn back the clock then I would implore David Cameron to never call a referendum, I would ask him to stand up for what he knows is right and not give in to the leavers in his party. If still a referendum was called I would demand a super majority of 75% to ensure we didn't recklessly embark on huge constitutional change without a strong mandate. If still Brexit went though I would ask Theresa May to not trigger Article 50 until the government had an actual plan. I would then ask that in negotiations we treat people with respect at all times and remember that stereo-types only cause pain. But turning back the clock isn't in my power.
So the next best thing is to ask that the government go back to the people now we know SO much more about what leaving the EU would look like. If still a majority vote for the PM's deal or a no deal Brexit, fine. But until we go back to the electorate we are taking a huge risk with young peoples future, and I believe this is unacceptable.
I will not stay quiet on this issue.
There is more to this cause than the stereo-type of elitist sore losers.
No one voted for the Irish troubles to be restarted.
No one voted to be poorer as food prices go up.
No one voted for a rise in hate crime against people who are different to 'us'.
No one voted knowing that Vote Leave had broken electoral law.
No one voted for medicine to be stockpiled.
If I could turn back the clock then I would implore David Cameron to never call a referendum, I would ask him to stand up for what he knows is right and not give in to the leavers in his party. If still a referendum was called I would demand a super majority of 75% to ensure we didn't recklessly embark on huge constitutional change without a strong mandate. If still Brexit went though I would ask Theresa May to not trigger Article 50 until the government had an actual plan. I would then ask that in negotiations we treat people with respect at all times and remember that stereo-types only cause pain. But turning back the clock isn't in my power.
So the next best thing is to ask that the government go back to the people now we know SO much more about what leaving the EU would look like. If still a majority vote for the PM's deal or a no deal Brexit, fine. But until we go back to the electorate we are taking a huge risk with young peoples future, and I believe this is unacceptable.
I will not stay quiet on this issue.
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| Ended up on the front page of the daily mail with this crazy photo! Was stood at the front of the march for one hour whilst we were waiting for other groups to get organised. One hour of press taking photos, I smiled and smiled, but the only photo is of me looking tired and a bit smug... oh dear. |
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| Shout out to Meg who had blue and gold lipstick! |
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| Chilling with the Mayor of London. |
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| This is the entrance to the cabinet office... |
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| Getting the Lib Dem's some much needed publicity! |
Now onto the 'Harmony in Diversity' talks at OBC.
My home church set aside the month of October to unpack perspectives on homosexuality in the church. This has been two years in the coming, with the conversation opening up as a result of a sermon series on scorning shame.
Week One saw a laying of the ground rules, moments of reflection on why we hold the views we currently do on gay relationships and prayers for the upcoming speakers.
Week Two involved a gay minister sharing why he believes celibacy is what gay Christians are called to.
Week Three saw a straight minister sharing why he believes the church should embrace gay Christians and celebrate gay relationships as equal to straight ones.
Week Four saw a time of discussion, a chance for the members to share their thoughts and journeys.
I participated in this from afar by listening to the talks, reading the q&a and sending in my thoughts to be read out in week four.
My journey on this topic has been interesting - I have always felt the need to stand up for those society calls 'other', therefore I have always been pro gay relationships and same sex marriage. I am really proud that as Liberal Democrats we made this law in 2014. https://www.libdems.org.uk/committing-to-promoting-lgbt-rights-and-same-sex-marriage-across-the-globe
Highly recommend this book about the passing of the Same Sex Marriage Act: https://www.waterstones.com/book/equal-ever-after/lynne-featherstone/9781849549745
As I became more serious about my faith from 2014 onwards I began to worry that I was putting my moral beliefs about equality above the biblical call to honour marriage. This was an uneasy experience for me. At the time I had never experienced leaders/ teachers/ family members either speak for or against same sex relationships, so didn't know where to stand.
Then I heard Tim's sermon on scorning shame in 2016 and felt a weight lifted.
Finally I was being given biblical grounding that spoke to my desire for marriage equality. Since this moment onwards I have spoken a fair amount about the way my faith informs my belief that healthy relationships between consenting individuals deserve absolute celebration and support -no matter what. This has led to a lot of disagreeing well with people around me. This has at times been quite painful and involved a lot of deep breaths, but I know that my experience is nothing compared to individuals who live in fear of rejection as they decide whether to come out to their church.
Reading Vicky Beeching's book this summer has consolidated my desire for the church to change - https://www.waterstones.com/book/undivided/vicky-beeching/9780008182144
I am conscious that this blog post is getting quite long, so won't go into more detail about my views here. But if you would like to chat about this topic more, then please get in touch! Am always happy to have a talk about any of these issues over coffee and cake!
I will not be quiet on this issue.
Next, the debate! A musical accompaniment for this part I like is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ELgpKldCgY (Here I am Send Me, Darlene Zschech)
This debate has been in some ways a long time coming and in others a very quick turn around.
Through being an active member of the debating society I have had many conversations about a ridiculously wide range of topics, faith included. This has meant that a official debate on the Christian Worldview has been the desire of several of my crazy debating friends (Tom and Sophie, looking at you). So when the CU asked if I would be interested in hosting one with Michael Ots the speaker for November events week, I thought it was too good an opportunity to turn down. This did however mean arranging four speakers and a motion, filling in lots of paperwork and a fair amount of stress over 4 weeks. Other public debates we have spent a few months preparing for, so the fact that this one was set into motion at the end of September and has taken place this week is impressive/ insane.
The theme for events week is perspective.
So the motion became - This House Believes the Christian Worldview is the most rational perspective to hold.
I was happy to do a debate this challenging, because I was confident I wouldn't be speaking... you can imagine how this unfolds!
Being the feminist I am, I made a rule at the start of the year that we would never run a public debate without female speakers. Never did I imagine this would be as challenging as its proved to be.
Long story short, we had two female speakers organised, and they both cancelled after the deadline to get an external speaker passed. This meant the only option was to have a female student speak. My committee enjoyed saying 'if only we knew a female Christian student who was a keen public speaker...' and eventually I gave in and became the second speaker for the government.
It then turned out that I had made the mistake of praying for something like this to happen at New Wine, Toby's line in West Wing comes to mind 'when the God's wish to punish us, they answer our prayers'. Knowing that being chair of the debating society was a big opportunity I prayed these words 'you have blessed me with opportunities to speak and be heard- I lift my role in debating up to you, here I am send me. Use my voice to raise the level of debate on campus.'
As I came across this in my prep I smiled a knowing smile.
The debate is now done, and I am thrilled with how it went.
Was a part of a very long day and a very worthwhile one.
We had about 70 people come in and out, 40 Christians and 16 Atheists at the start. And then 44/ 18 at the end, as well as a few people who didn't vote.
I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of fun I was able to have whilst discussing such serious issues. I felt that from the start of the debate the room was open minded and respectful to both sides which was brilliant. We talked about creation, suffering and what is means to be human. Have attached most of my opening speech, unfortunately it cuts off before I go into my final point, if you would like a transcript of the whole thing then let me know and I can email it to you!
The feedback I have had post debate has been lovely, from strangers to CU members to debating friends it has been so interesting to hear their views. There has definitely been a ripple effect as people have been having deep conversations all across campus this week.
As I write this I have this morning been asked to take part in a panel discussion on Faith and Feminism on the 26th November, which I am thrilled about. Is wonderful to see one thing lead to another.
I will not be quiet on this issue.
Prayer Requests:
- For an end to indefinite detention in the UK. For everyone who is detained now and for the people in positions of power who could bring this practice to an end.
- For great conversations to keep on happening as students engage with the end of events week and mull over all the questions that have been explored.
- For the CIP Influence Tour which picks up again this weekend, you can find out more here-
http://www.christiansinpolitics.org.uk/latest/events/
- For Brexit negotiations and everyone involved in them to remember the vulnerable as they make decisions on such a big scale.
- For me as I continue to grow in my role as Chair of the Debating Society, especially with the schools competition coming up on the 1st December.
- For family and friends who are making big decisions around their future at the moment.
Thank you for making it to the end of my 26th blog post, I hope you have a week full of activism!
