From British daily The Independent:
African unions call for Olympics to ban ‘racist’ security firmBy Kim Sengupta
Published: 31 May 2007
A British security company which is also the largest multinational employer in Africa has been accused of paying staff in the continent “poverty” wages and subjecting them to racism.
Union leaders from several African countries are to meet London mayor, Ken Livingstone, this week to complain about the actions of Group 4 Securicor (G4S) which is said to be considering bidding for the contract to provide security for 2012 Olympics.
A new report, prepared by the charity War on Want, claims that some of the company’s black employees in South Africa have been forced to use different toilets to their white employees and that white supervisors have referred to them as “kaffirs” and “monkeys”.
The dossier goes on to claim that G4S pay so little to workers in Malawi - about £13 a month - that their daily meal consists of just bread and they live at homes without power or running water.
G4S guards in Mozambique receive £31 a month.
But this is said to represent “just half a living wage” in their country.
KALABASH MOVEMENT teams up with AFROGROOV & LAKE OF STARS FESTIVAL for
KALABASH MALAWI
Awareness through documentary films and music
Thursday 16th August
7pm - 2am
@ The Salmon and Compass
58 Penton Street , Angel,
London N1 9PZ
FREE ENTRY
7.15pm FILM: Lake of Stars 2004
Lake of Stars 2004 is the story of the first ever Lake of Stars
Festival . It follows the UK group that flew over for the event and
traces the story of the festival from Liverpool club ‘Chibuku Shake
Shake’ right through to the palm fringed shores of Lake Malawi . It
includes interviews with Malawian artists like Wambali Mkandawire and
performances from Tikhu Vibrations and the Black Missionaries. It
also focuses on Lake of Stars organisers Will Jameson and Damo Jones
as they struggle with food poisoning and a very delayed Andy Cato…
www.lakeofstars.co.uk
8.30pm: A Selection of short films including ‘Malawi Farmers Criticise
Trade’ (Dir. Santorri Chamley):
Exposing an international tobacco cartel that cheats smallholder
farmers in Malawi, this film is reported by Tim Samuels and was first
shown on BBC Newsnight on 13 June 2006. Santorri is a London-based
journalist and documentary film director/producer, and has worked on
films for the BBC, Channel 4 and CNN.
9.15pm: Q&A session with Dir. Santorri Chamley and House of Good
Health (www.houseofgoodhealth.org.uk) & Will Jameson (Organiser of
Lake of Stars festival)
10pm LIVE MUSIC: Ron Nkomba
Ron Nkomba is an acoustic folk artist who writes in both English and
Chichewa, the national language of Malawi . As well as his own
interpretation of traditional African folk songs, his music draws upon
his
experiences and influences from both the UK and Malawi which reflect
his upbringing. Nkomba is am impassioned performer whose music
provides insightful political commentary, from the devastating
torrential floods of the 1940s in Malawi to present day UK politics.
www.myspace.com/nkomba
THEN ‘TIL 2AM: Afro-beats and grooves hosted by SUPA SCION (Heads
High, Kalabash Movement) with guest DJ ERIC SOUL (Afrogroov)
Born in Rwanda , grew up in Belgium , living in London , Eric Soul has
built a global reputation over the years as a true musical activist.
With a unique mix of hip hop, soul and global urban sounds, Eric Soul
established himself as one of the most original DJs on the
Belgian/UK/Worldwide circuit. www.myspace.com/ericsoulafrogro ov
****************************** ***
Watch out for Kalabash Movement 3rd Thursday of every month:
20th September - Kalabash Kenya in collaboration with African
Liberation Support Campaign Network (ALISC Network)
18th October Kalabash Nigeria
15th November Kalabash South Africa
Kalabash World is an organisation that seeks to promote awareness
through film and music. Each event is designed to encourage
recognition of the rich diversity between African Nations, to
celebrate cultural heritage and explore socio-political situations.
We aim to give a platform to Musicians and Independent film makers and
encourage a wider audience to appreciate their works
www.kalabashmovement.com www.myspace.com/kalabashworld
Any press enquiries to: Lauren Roth de Wolf Email:
lauren@kalabashworld.com www.kalabashmovement.com 020 7482 4835 /
07968 199 292
Comment by Administrator — August 13, 2007 @ 9:59 am