Quickmail Editor’s Comments Archive

Editorial Comment – 12th June 2007
Halò, A bheil Gàidhlig agat? Gabh mo leisgeul! I have a confession to make. My Scottish Gaelic is really bad and last week I sat a mock, online ‘Britishness Test’ and failed it! Having said that, I do have a passport in my pocket, but fear that Ruth Kelly or Liam Byrne may turn up to take it off me. Maybe we could make a ‘Glasgowness test’ to see if I could pass that… I feel the urge to at least belong somewhere.

This one time (at band camp), I think I was 14 or something and met a boy who had just arrived from Turkey. He could only say hello in English and I felt kind of bad that no one was speaking to him, so I started to learn some words in Turkish. It was only simple things like, how are you? How is the weather and stuff, but it gave him someone to talk to and I was learning too. Eventually, his English became really good and last year he passed his Higher English Exam. The Point I am trying to make is that if you put a little effort in and make someone feel good about learning English, they will learn well. So I cannot think of any reason why the government would cut back on ESOL classes or translation services that encourage people to go out into their community in the first place. What to do you think?

Moving on, we are still on the go with the planning of our sleep out in George’s Square on the 21st June. If you have any experience about organising things like this, or want to help us in anyway, then email home@paih.org. We have also created sponsorship forms that people can use to help us generate some money for our destitution fund. Until next time folks… Jamie. (Càite bheil an taigh beag?)

Editorial Comment – 5th June 2007
Good Afternoon, Refugee week is coming up, so if you have anything you want everyone, and I mean everyone, to know about, email 100 words or less to me and I might decide to send it out.

You may, or not, have received an email from the boss inviting you to attend a ’sleep out’ on Thursday 21 June 2007 from 8pm. If you are interested in raising awareness of the issues many destitute asylum seekers face, then contact us. We have already had a lot of interest from people from all walks of life willing to take part and I am really looking forward to it.

Whilst we are on the subject of Bosses and Invites, the boss got a letter from Buckingham Palace, inviting her to attend the Queen’s Garden Party (She told me not to tell anyone). I think she should go, but “I wouldn’t be seen dead at that Garden Party” was her reply. Just to add, I have it on good authority that HRH is one of our subscribers. Keep it real people… Jamie

Editorial Comment – 29th May 2007
Look it’s nearly June! That’s all I was going to say this week, but think you deserve a little bit more than that.

I went to see ‘The Magicians’ on Friday, then that Pirate Movie on Saturday, then went to an advance screening of ‘The Hitcher’ yesterday. If you have the unlimited Movie card, then go see them all, but if you don’t and you are heading to the cinema, I would only go see the Pirate one if I were you. I ain’t a qualified movie critic or anything; just don’t want you throwing your money away.

There’s lots in Quickmail again, so if you are looking for a new job, find one here, if you are bored and don’t fancy the cinema, check out the events and if you are super-cool, visit http://www.paihnews.wordpress.com and comment on our latest news stories.

Send your NEWS, JOBS ‘N’ EVENTS to quickmail@paih.org and have a nice day! Jamie

Editorial Comment – 17th May 2007
Hey folks, I went to the Scotland United GIG last week. There was a really good turnout and the organisers raised £600 in donations for our Destitution fund (Thanks!). There were a few awesome performers too; Mickey (Fugees United), Big Taj and Tigerstyle were a few of my favourites.

Every donation we get helps as we have been extremely tight over the past few months in terms of giving people, who have been made destitute, small amounts of money for food and shelter. We are currently giving up to £1000 per month from our hardship/destitution fund. Our volunteers have also helped by taking people into their homes for a few nights, this means the money can be spent on food, rather than shelter. If you can help in anyway, drop us an email – home@paih.org .

I won’t do this all the time and I ain’t sponsored by youtube or anything, but this is my favourite video this week – click here to see it. Send me links to your best. Okay, my bus is down stairs, enjoy quickmail, Jamie

Translations do not help integration, warns Kelly

Translations do not help integration, warns Kelly
The Independent
By Andrew Grice
Published: 11 June 2007

The Government has called on local authorities to encourage immigrants to learn English instead of routinely translating documents into foreign languages. Ruth Kelly, the Communities Secretary, said translation had been used “too frequently” and could become a “crutch” which discouraged integration. The practice enabled new immigrants to avoid learning English when they first arrived – meaning they never did, she said. A report this week from the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, set up after the 7/7 bombings in London, is expected to address translation services. They are estimated to cost taxpayers more than £100m each year, with National Health Service trusts spending £55m, the courts £31m and councils £25m. Ms Kelly told BBC1’s The Politics Show yesterday that the commission would issue guidance to local authorities leading them away from “routine” translation. It would then only be used in appropriate situations, such as emergency services. She said: “I do think translation has been used too frequently and sometimes without thought to the consequences. So, for example, it’s quite possible for someone to come here from Pakistan or elsewhere in the world and find that materials are routinely translated into their mother tongue, and therefore not have the incentive to learn the language.” Ms Kelly added: “I think speaking the language is absolutely key. Something the commission looked at specifically is whether we should be translating from English into different languages as a matter of routine.” David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, said: “This is an attempt, albeit overdue, to deal with a very real problem.” But Andrew Stunell, the Liberal Democrats’ communities spokesman, said: “This is another wild swing in the dark by Ruth Kelly. Her government has cut access to language classes but now wants to leave vulnerable members of ethnic minority communities – many of whom are women – cut off from mainstream society and public services.”