Forced Migration Online: Blog

FMO has launched the first of a series of podcasts recorded at the bi-annual conference of the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM), held in Nicosia, Cyprus between 28 June and 2 July 2009. The 12th IASFM conference was hosted by the University of Nicosia, Cyprus. The FMO team made audio recordings of the conference’s plenary sessions. The further details about the conference can be accessed on the FMO event page.

• Podcast
• Subscribe via iTunes

Talk Together 2009, an ambitious conflict resolution project taking place in Oxford August 5-19, will examine the situation facing an estimated 170,000 people living in refugee camps in Algeria and separated from their families in the disputed territory of Western Sahara. Participants include young people from across the conflict zone, some of whom have grown up in refugee camps, as well as students from ‘neutral’ countries. The project is supported by partners including the European Commission, British Council and United World College. The project course will be filmed and there are also plans to develop a school’s version of the film to aid the learning of conflict resolution skills in schools. Talk Together invite you to demonstrate your support by joining their Facebook group or following them on Twitter.

• Amnesty International Public Statement
• TalkTogether website
• Talk Together Blog
• Talk Together on Twitter
• Talk Together on Facebook
• Donate to Talk Together
• United World Colleges website
• Western Sahara Research Guide
• Western Sahara Research Summary

The newly released DVD title On a Tightrope is an additional resource for understanding the culture and situation of China’s Muslim Uighur minority in the wake of the current crisis.

It is a portrayal of four children at a government orphanage in Xinjiang who despite religious persecution maintain their cultural heritage through learning the ancient Uighur tradition of tightrope walking.

The film has won several awards, including a nomination at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

• On a Tightrope Trailer (YouTube)
• On a Tightrope Website

The Refugee Studies Centre Library, University of Oxford, will close in its present location of 3 Worcester Street at 5.00 pm on Friday 24 July 2009. The collections and staff will then move to the Social Science Library, Manor Road, Oxford OX1 3UQ, website http://www.ssl.ox.ac.uk and will be available to readers from Monday 10 August 2009.

If you have any urgent enquiries during the interim period, Library staff can be contacted by emailing rsclib@qeh.ox.ac.uk or phoning +44 (0)1865 270298 until Monday 3 August. After this date please contact the Social Science Library enquiries desk on +44 (0)1865 271093 and leave a message.

• Social Science Library
• Social Science Library: Refugee Studies Centre Move

In 2007 Forced Migration Online first highlighted the situation faced by Uyghurs in Xinjiang province, China. The film ‘Lost Nation: Stories from the Uyghur Diaspora’ included an interview with Rabiya Kadeer, the most prominent Uyghur in the world today. Channel 4 news also interviewed Rabiya Kadeer yesterday as the situation has suddenly worsened in Urumqi.

Today Lindsey Hilsum interviewed Rebiya Kadeer, the President of the World Uighur Congress, the most significant Uighur leader, either in China or abroad, and a hate figure for the Chinese government.

Ms Kadeer used to be a businesswoman in Xinjiang, China’s most westerly province, until she was imprisoned for separatist activities.

On her release she fled to the USA where she is now based.

The Chinese government has accused her of orchestrating the violence which erupted in Urumqi yesterday.

• Lost Nation: Stories from the Uyghur diaspora
• Interview with Rabiya Kadeer
• Channel 4 News: Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer
• Subscribe via iTunes