News
Friday, January 15, 2010
I was delighted to attend the Luton in Harmony campaign launch at Luton Town Hall this afternoon. It was a pleasure meeting many of the other candidates for the upcoming general election in such a positive and united environment; and interacting with members of the diverse Luton community including representatives from public service, business, charity and religious entities.
As many readers of my website know, I am not always a huge supporter of the Council’s activities! But on this matter, they have got it right.
Luton has faced much criticism over the last year relating to a series of high profile race and/ or religion related flash-points. While only involving a small handful of unrepresentative individuals, these events have nevertheless tarnished the reputation of Luton. It is right that the Council and other local institutions should play their part in rectifying the damage caused by a few irresponsible individuals, and promoting Luton in a more positive manner to the outside world and indeed – within our town.
I and my party are similarly committed to refocusing media attention on the positive aspects of Luton life (it will be a core part of my election campaign) - and in highlighting the fact that the vast majority of the diverse citizenry of Luton live in harmony. That is the point of Luton in Harmony. I support it’s aims and goals and am pleased that on this matter there appears to be cross party unity.
I was particularly impressed at the launch by the composure and confidence of 6 young men and women from Luton schools and youth communities who stood up in front of TV cameras and photo lenses and articulated their support for the campaign and their enthusiasm for the town.
To learn more about Luton in Harmony, see below and or click here.
To sign the pledge card and pick up a badge, visit our local community centre of find out more information here.
What is Luton in Harmony?
Luton In Harmony is a campaign supported by the Luton Forum aimed at drawing our communities together. We wish to strengthen the message that we will challenge violent extremist ideology, wherever it comes from, and unite the town in supporting, giving voice to, and celebrating our diversity.
We currently face many challenges to cohesion in Luton - but the town’s diversity has long been one of its greatest strengths and that remains the case today.
Luton has been the focus of many negative media stories during 2009. Luton in Harmony will draw more attention to the many positive aspects of the town and its people.
We faced considerable challenges to cohesion in 2009, in terms of local protests and associated tensions. Although these involved relatively small numbers of people, the impact was felt, and the image and reputation of Luton as a cohesive town was undermined.
Many people across the town have been motivated to speak out against division and negativity, and some wonderfully positive events have taken place such as the Luton Council of Faiths’ Faith Walk and the Love Music Hate Racism event in St George’s Square.
These events, and others like them, are generally less widely acknowledged than the divisive actions of minorities mentioned above.
Our ambitions are to improve community cohesion further – building on work that goes back a number of years.
It is clear that we require a united front to enhance our efforts to marginalise violent extremist influences from all angles. We will acknowledge all of our communities, and challenge the image that the town is fractured or ill at ease with itself.
Luton in Harmony will kindle local civic pride and confidence, and has the potential to improve the economic, environmental and social well-being of borough residents.
We want to demonstrate our vibrant and colourful past, present and future.
Sign the pledge card, wear the badge
Eight out of ten Luton residents think that people from different backgrounds get on well together.* Luton in Harmony is a campaign to celebrate this and all that is positive about our town. To join us we are asking Luton residents to visit their local community centre, sign the pledge card and wear the Luton in Harmony badge with pride.
The Luton in Harmony pledge
Luton in Harmony is about promoting understanding within our communities. We want to celebrate our diversity and secure Luton a positive reputation on the national and international stage.
I pledge to play my part in making Luton a town to be proud of.
Because prejudice and hatred harm us all:
- I will wear the Luton in Harmony badge with pride and tell people I meet what it means
- I will make friends with people from different backgrounds and life experiences and learn about their values
- I will promote my beliefs in a spirit of peace and harmony and encourage everyone I know to do the same
A year of harmony for Luton
A message from Cllr Hazel Simmons, leader of Luton Borough Council:
When I wrote my final Lutonline column for 2009, I could not help but reflect on some of the community challenges that we have faced in Luton over the last few months.
In April I spoke out against the small minority of anti-war protestors who tried to disrupt the Homecoming Parade through Luton by soldiers attached to the Royal Anglian Regiment 2nd Battalion, ‘The Poachers’.
In May we had to contend with disruption on our streets from divisive individuals, and this led to the Council and police working together to seek a banning order preventing unauthorised marches through the town, which was approved by the Home Office.
In October it was with dismay that I received the news that members of our young community had attacked police.
All of these events were unacceptable, and not a true reflection of our town, our diversity and the many good relations that exist here within our communities. The vast majority of residents here value, and are proud of, our town’s diversity. We know this for a fact because they have told us so. Indeed, in June, an overwhelming 82 per cent of people who took part in the Community Safety Survey told us they believe Luton is a place where people from different backgrounds get on well together.
The majority of people in Luton are unhappy when extremist groups of any hue blight our town and its reputation. The majority of people in Luton are unhappy when others hijack the name of our town for their own ends.
This is why January 2010 will see the launch of Luton in Harmony, a campaign supported by our partners in the Luton Forum. This initiative will seek to redress the balance and restore the reputation of our town on the national and international stage. It has a straightforward aim – to encourage the town’s residents to wear a Luton in Harmony badge, and sign its pledge.
The pledge says that you, like me, will make friends with people from different backgrounds and life experiences – and learn about their values.
The pledge says that you, like me, will promote your beliefs in a spirit of peace and harmony – and encourage everyone you know to do the same.
The pledge says that we will wear the Luton in Harmony badge with pride – and tell others what it means.
As we go into a new year, I encourage you to make the best possible resolution, and sign the Luton in Harmony pledge. Putting your name to this campaign could be one of the simplest but most important things you do all year.
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