Monday, November 15, 2010

International Migrants Day plans - December 18th 2010

Please see this interesting note from Paul Amann re the forthcoming International Migrants Day, further details for which are at http://www.un.org/en/events/migrantsday/.

We would like to mark this day in Liverpool under the Monty Python theme of “What have the Migrants Done for Liverpool?” with a chronological journey of migration to, from and through Liverpool. This would detail the contributions that each new community has made to the city of Liverpool today.

I would very much welcome your thoughts as to what this day should include in Liverpool. We are currently proposing a city centre event with community members from different migrant communities showcasing some timetabled artistic, culinary and sporting contributions across the day for people to drop in on. The day may be an antidote to the hustle and bustle of what will undoubtedly be a frenetic time in the city on the last Saturday before Christmas.

Please respond detailing what your community might wish to contribute and indeed, what contributions you feel your community might have made to the city of Liverpool today, examples already submitted include:

* A German migrant, Carl Bernard Bartels created the most iconic representation of the symbol of the city the Royal Liver Building Birds
* Scandinavian migrants brought the city its dish, Lobscouse
* Malian Djimi Traore, Scot Kenny Daglish, Jamaican John Barnes, Welsh Craig Bellamy, Brazilian Fabio Aurelio, Dutch Ryan Babel, Czech Vladimir Smicer, Israeli Yossi Benayoun, Irish Steve Staunton, Dane Jan Molby, Welsh Ian Rush and Pole Jerzy Dudek are just a sample of the many migrants who have contributed to the success of Liverpool FC
* Irish migrant Edward Chambre Hardman whose legacy for photography is still preserved at his studio 59 Rodney Street which is now owned by the national Trust
* Swiss migrant Carl Jung’s Liverpool Dream
* John, Paul and George were descendants of Irish migrants
* Russian migrant Vasily Petrenko is principal conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
* Nigerian Victor Anichebe, Australian Tim Cahil, Polish descended Phil Jagielka, Russian Andrei Kanchelskis, Welsh Gary Speed, Scot Gary Naysmith, Canadian Tomasz Radzinski, Spanish Mikel Arteta and American Tim Howard are some of the many migrants who have contributed to Everton FC’s successes
* Yemeni migrant, Tahir Qassim MBE is one of the founders and chairperson of the Liverpool Arabic Centre. He is also Chair of the Liverpool Black and other Racial Minorities (BRM) Network, Liverpool BRM Education sub-group, Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival (LAAF) and a Board member of the Bluecoat Arts Centre.
* Descendents of Jewish migrants from Europe: Samuel, Yates, Montagu, Mozley and Joseph participated in the administration of Liverpool, helping in 1798 to found Liverpool's leading cultural organisation, the Athenaeum
* In 1863 Charles Mozley, then president of the Hebrew Educational Institution, became Liverpool's first Jewish Mayor
* Jewish migrant descended David Lewis, founded the iconic Liverpool store
* John Archer was one of Britain’s first black mayors (Battersea)was born in Liverpool, John’s father, was a Barbadian ship’s steward whilst his mother, Mary Theresa Burns, was Irish born
* Chinese migrant Mr K H Li, founder of the Chinese Youth Orchestra and contributor to the soundtrack of the Last Emperor
* Singaporean born Michael Chew Koon Chan, Lord Chan of Oxton was House of Lord’s only peer of Chinese origin and a consultant and lecturer at Liverpool’s School of Tropical Medicine
* Chinese descended Liverpool born Hong Y ‘Frank’ Soo was the first non-white man to play football for England
* Craig Charles, Cathy Tyson, Paul Barber are all renowned Liverpool born actors of African-Caribbean descent
* Liverpool born, African descended, Walter ‘Wally’ Brown CBE was principal of Liverpool Community College
* And many, many more have clearly contributed!

Please send your thoughts to me or to Paul using the format firstname dot surname at liverpool dot gov dot uk

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