Calabash Commentaries
Calabash Commentaries

Reclaiming our Humanity from the Necropolitics of Coloniality 

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 11:06:00 BST

In this short blog for World Refugee Day (20 June), Dr Hyab Yohannes writes that we must be prepared for unconditional hospitality and non-exclusive humanity.

peace dove
peace dove

VIGIL FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE

Fri, 20 May 2022 10:08:39 BST

Alison Phipps' address from the vigil for peace in Ukraine at the University of Glasgow on 9 May 2022.

Summary Image
Summary Image

Rwanda scheme: No one should have to ask if their child will be sent away

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 15:54:00 BST

Dr Dan Fisher and John Smith Emerging Leader, Savan Qadir, critique the proposed removal of people seeking asylum to Rwanda.

Seeds of Antiracist Education

Poem by Tawona Sithole for the Building Racial Literacy Programme for Education Scotland (March 2022)

Summary Image
Summary Image

Hosting and welcome - some tips

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 12:07:00 BST

Some information and advice about getting involved in your community and for those considering hosting.

UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts Logo - English
UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts Logo - English

Deafening Silence: The Lack of Evidence Regarding “Pull Factors”

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 07:38:00 GMT

Savan Qadir explores how The Nationality and Borders bill will likely have unintended negative consequences and force people to take more risks.

Calabash Commentaries
Calabash Commentaries

What if we were to open up the university to “decolonial praxis”?

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 15:52:00 GMT

Dr Hyab Yohannes (CUSP N+ Academic Coordinator and UNESCO RILA Scholar) and his colleague Tesfalem H. Yemane discussed the notion of "de-colonising university".

RSE logo

Down the waters of Loch Tay

The Scottish Crannog Centre is a living Iron Age history museum on Loch Tay in Perthshire. In this article first published in ReSourcE magazine Winter 2021, Professor Alison Phipps describes how it inspires visitors to share stories and ponder the potential of restorative integration.

UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts Logo - English
UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts Logo - English

The Nationality and Borders Bill: Benefitting people smugglers at the expense of refugees

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 07:38:00 GMT

The Nationality and Borders bill also aims to introduce tougher sentences for people smugglers with the aim of discouraging people-smugglers from engaging in the activity. In this blog Savan Qadir explores how this change will likely have unintended negative consequences and force people to take more risks.

RSE YAS Cropped

YAS blog: The humans whose humanity is forfeited

Dr Hyab Yohannes reflects for Human Rights day on the realities of state asylum systems (external link)

Calabash Commentaries
Calabash Commentaries

Towards a vision of restorative integration fit for times of conflict and refuge

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 15:39:00 BST

Restorative integration is a decolonial process of re-building the unfinished project of humanity that was interrupted by colonisation and coloniality

Crannog Pottery

A trip to Crannog

Hyab Yohannes, the first UNESCO RILA Studentship holder, reflects on his visit to the Scottish Crannog Centre on 4th October 2021

Colour powder event

Reducing Inequalities and Decolonising Heritage Practices: People-Centred Approaches

Link to report

UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts Logo - English
UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts Logo - English

Briefing note - Scottish Parliament debate supporting the people of Afghanistan

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 21:16:00 BST

Key messages provided to Kaukab Stewart MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Kelvin, in advance Scottish Parliament debate on the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan (2 September 2021)

Calabash Commentaries
Calabash Commentaries

We are all refugees

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 12:58:00 BST

Hyab Yohannes writes on the 70th Anniversary of the Refugee Convention and what it means for today

Calabash Commentaries
Calabash Commentaries

our squinty house

Thu, 27 May 2021 17:12:00 BST

In this poetic intervention, writer and poet Tawona Sitholé reflects on the February 2021 MIDEQ Symposium.

Calabash Commentaries
Calabash Commentaries

forest songs

Thu, 27 May 2021 17:00:00 BST

This poem is based on traditional folklore of the little bird (tsenzi) which ancient travellers relied on to escape deep forests when they were lost.

RSE logo

RSE responds to UK Government asylum system proposed reforms

Advice paper on UK Asylum System Proposed Reforms
Chair: Prof Alison Phipps
Advice paper AD21-04 

Calabash Commentaries
Calabash Commentaries

Communities of Humanitarian Thought

Mon, 17 May 2021 12:20:00 BST

On 5 May The British Red Cross and Demos held the launch of an essay collection “Communities of Humanitarian Thought: The Case for Change in a Time of Crisis”. In this commentary, Professor Alison Phipps reflects on her essay “Welcoming New Scots into society from the day they arrive”.

Calabash Commentaries
Calabash Commentaries

Palestine - Scotland: Creating Cultures of Sustainable and Inclusive Peace

Mon, 17 May 2021 14:55:00 BST

Nazmi Al-Masri and Alison Phipps write about the current situation in Gaza, and the work of intercultural dialogue, building peace, day by day.

CUSP Primary logo JPEG
CUSP Primary logo JPEG

International Women's Day - 8 March 2021

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 13:38:00 GMT

On IWD 2021 we celebrated the launch of our Cultures for Sustainable and Inclusive Peace Network Plus (CUSP N+) and Prof Alison Phipps contributed to a reading of the poem "Brilliance" for the women across our institution.

Bhasha Mother Language Day 21 Feb 2021
Bhasha Mother Language Day 21 Feb 2021

Bhasha Glasgow Language Festival 2021

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 12:53:00 GMT

Read the address given by Prof Alison Phipps at the Opening Ceremony on Sunday 21 February, International Mother Language Day.

Burns Dunedin cropped
Burns Dunedin cropped

“My native land sae far awa”

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 09:22:00 GMT

Alison Phipps addresses distinguished guests at the Glasgow Afghan United Annual Burns & Rumi Night on 19 January 2021.

Hyab Johannes
Hyab Johannes

‘We are still burning’

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 11:05:00 GMT

In this important, heart-breaking and yet hopeful piece, Hyab Yohannes PhD candidate with UNESCO RILA, writes of the survivors of Beskdira and Ona massacre in Blina Shama UK.

MIDEQ Full colour
MIDEQ Full colour

MIDEQ blog posts summer 2020

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 15:20:00 BST

Our team collaborate on the Migration for Development and Equality hub (MIDEQ) - and have published a number of posts about the first months of the project...

Spring School 2019 Catrin Evans Keynote
Spring School 2019 Catrin Evans Keynote

Spring School Keynote Listener Report (May 2019)

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 13:54:00 BST

Catrin Evans gives a poetic response as Keynote Listener at the 2019 UNESCO RILA Spring School

RILA TEAM UNESCO Official Portrait 2017
RILA TEAM UNESCO Official Portrait 2017

UNESCO RILA Series on GRAMNet blog (2017-2020)

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 14:59:00 BST

Details of our blog series hosted by Glasgow Refugee Asylum and Migration Network