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Viewpoints The Foot and Mouth Controversy: Stewards demo comments 7
Viewpoints The Foot and Mouth Controversy: Stewards demo comments 7 | The Foot and Mouth Controversy: Stewards demo comments 7 |
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Foot & Mouth Demonstration on 8.4.01 and CCRAG I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to the committee of Chinese Civil Rights Action Group (CCRAG) for having organised (within a few days only) and mounted a successful national demonstration on Sunday April 8, to protest the British media unwarranted smear on Chinese. It was a great day for all to remember! Before I get carried away, I would like to offer my observations as follows.On the positive side: 1. I was pleasantly surprised and very happy to see so many younger members of our community taking such an active part as stewards helping to make the demonstration a success. 2. I was humbled to see so many of our senior citizens (some are over 80 years old) travelling from afar to participate. 3. It was gratified to see that the national demonstration has yielded the desired result of demolishing the lies and smears heaped upon our community by the British media, thus reinstating our dignity and pride by Nick Brown's assertion that "I absolutely deplore the racist overtones of some of the reporting. I strongly condemn the unfounded allegations in the media. It is not fair to scapegoat the Chinese community". 4. It was a total victory for the Chinese in many ways apart from having extracted the above assertion from the Secretary of State of MAFF. The demonstration was well organised, peaceful, orderly and dignify. Even the weather has smiled on us! On the negative side: 1. It was not as well attended as I had hope for. I was surprised to see so many restaurants remain open. On enquiring, some of the waiters told me that they did not agree with the demonstration, all we need was to send a deputation to Downing Street! 2. A lot of bystanders (Chinese) had refused to join in despite invitations, some were prominent business larders! 3. Many business and community leaders were conspicuously absent. Many professional people whom I know vaguely were totally disinterested because they did not think it concerns them in any way. Wither CCRAG? Where does CCRAG go from here having just achieved it's first goal? CCRAG has reached a cross road and must regroup to examine the activities of the past few days. My personal feeling is that CCRAG must take stock and see if it could have done better and more importantly, if it still has a future. 1. CCRAG certainly needs to raise more fund to pursue the Daily Mirror for having spread the untrue story and slandered on our community. 2. CCRAG needs to gather more information and build up a data base of all businesses and community organisations in order to communicate/transmit information and mobilise future support more easily. 3. CCRAG needs to have a National Forum where we can exchange views, educate those who are still apathetic towards issues that affect our community. We have a saying "teeth will get cold without lips". We must make every effort to embrace all Chinese of different political persuasions to fight for a more just and fair society, be it in Britain, Europe, or other parts of the world. If history has taught us anything, we must show solidarity and unite together in the face of outside threat! 4. We have so much talent, energy and wisdom amongst our people spanning several generations and we must harness these talent, energy and wisdom for the betterment of our communities worldwide. 5. It was very heart warming to see so many younger generations taking a very active part, setting such a good example and I hope those who have not taken part will now reflect on the success on Sunday's demonstration and offer their support in future. Yours sincerely, Abe Tse |
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