#LittleAmal came to Glasgow and #COP26 today for a walk.

I’ve lived the stories of preparations with school children to welcome her for months now. The ups & downs, of rehearsals held ably by @Evs_C with NTS including acres of time from @Tawona_Sithole from @UofGUnescoRILA Image
But nothing had prepared me for how moving I would find the puppetry, dramaturgy and unscripted spontaneous reactions of the children as and after they performed. Little Amal greets young pe...
There is something so touching about #LittleAmal’s poise; the sad, slightly harrowed expression of curiosity in each encounter; the tenderness. And I found myself weeping all day between my own encounters with her and the people gathered. LittleAmal meets Storm
In each child’s hand reaching out in friendship; each song sung in welcome; each chant of “We are brave” I was torn in two remembering hands of welcome & care around my own refugee family and hands of hostility insisting on fingerprinting; detaining; humiliating; shackling Image
“She’s dancing’” shouts a child in such glee and delight that #LittleAmal has joined in and responded wholeheartedly to their soulful welcome signing and songs. And the dances we cannot share as separated family flooded in with the longing.
As I process through the #GovanFteeState and hear @IAMKP break me apart again with #EnoughIsEnough sung to mark the meeting of #Storm and #LittleAmal the refugee I feel both lost and found; visible and invisible. Storm meets Amal Govan Cross
It’s my job to think these emotional highways and byways in art and music, theatre and texture and I am used to the terrain and being in amongst the daily, exhausting despair that is standing firm against the hostile actions of States. Image
But not every emotion or memory can be thought. A researcher interrupted my thoughts as I followed Little Amal: “I am a researcher. Can you tell me what you think of this?”

“Will it make a difference?”

And I was at a loss.
Maybe better questions will come but #EnoughIsEnough - #LittleAmal met #Storm in Glasgow for #Cop26 and young and old lined the streets.

Meanwhile the expulsions of many #LittleAmals gather pace & in violent power

And today, the dam of my tears broke. Thanks #LittleAmal Image

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More from @alison_phipps

Jan 28
Full article: Cuts destroy, hurt, kill: a critical metaphor analysis of the response of UK academics to the UK overseas aid budget funding cuts

And it’s OUT our open access article on #ODA #UKRI #GCRF cuts and their effects - lead Maria Grazia Imperiale tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…
“We identified the following metaphors: CUTS ARE AN ENTITY; CUTS ARE A THREAT, CUTS ARE ILLNESS, CUTS ARE VIOLENCE; plus, on the other hand, RESEARCH IS HEALTH, RESEARCH IS A JOURNEY, RESEARCH IS CONNECTION.” @kentbuse @VolcanoJenni @claire_horwell @CUSP_Network @MIDEQHub 2/
“First, we suggest that the metaphors used have a persuasive and evaluative aim and function. Second, we open up a space for an interdisciplinarity between CMA and ‘idioms of distress’.” 3/
Read 7 tweets
Nov 11, 2021
The weight of the suffering world. #LittleAmal falls for a second time, caught by a lamppost as she rests and gathers herself before dragging the dead tree of MotherEarth towards those with power in their hands tonight.
Accompanied by those trying to turn away from the deeply wrong ways of living which are bringing death and profound loss to so many #LittleAmal struggles on; bewildered; disoriented and clearly reluctant to go back again into the #Cop26 Blue Zone and beg for mercy Image
Her journey from Syria in search of her mother has brought no resolution, just mourning, and now she weeps over the loss of a second Mother; Mother Earth and in despair; and with the anger of grief she walks on Image
Read 7 tweets
Aug 18, 2021
UK Government Resettlement Scheme published (h/t @ZoeJardiniere)
Starts out looking promising i.e. resettlement according to criteria in Refugee Convention & by UNHCR but then brings in whole set of new criteria on top of 'well founded fear' assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
2/
• Legal and/or Physical Protection Needs;
• Survivors of Violence and/or Torture;
• Medical Needs;
• Women and Girls at Risk;
• Family Reunification;
• Children and Adolescents at Risk;
• Lack of Foreseeable Alternative Durable Solutions.
3/ This lesson from Syrian Resettlement scheme has NOT been learned. Adding new criteria to existing UNHCR work and Convention adds delays, makes work harder on ground, and is playing fast and loose with the Convention. @CMonaghanSNP
Read 17 tweets
Aug 17, 2021
“If we spend too much time looking at who to blame we put people at risk.” “War, conflict, bombs don’t discriminate. We need a sizeable resettlement programme and family reunion” Clear thinking & analysis from @sabir_zazai on @BBCRadioScot with @foreigncorr1 @scotrefcouncil
“The only expectation people have is to stay alive. The international community has a responsibility. This is a dreadful humanitarian situation and it will be worse in the winter.” @sabir_zazai
“There are no safe, legal routes for people to seek protection. The human reality of feeling a conflict is beyond any asylum system or refugee bill.” @sabir_zazai @scotrefcouncil
Read 4 tweets
May 14, 2021
Behind scenes across #Glasgow there were acts of kindness yesterday & just sheer practical care - folk ensuring food & water supplied, phone calls, peace talks & messages zigzagging every network. People sitting with those dawn-raided or detained in past & shaken to core 💚🙏🏾💚
This doesn’t happen by accident. This is built up over years of many strong small organisations that mean everyone’s who fae somewhere can know someone. The kinds of community trust #KenmureStreet demonstrates was also policy in Scotland over 10 years #NewScots
The policy is built from the ground up, through many, many grassroots organisations, NGOs, public service & endless practical & caring and sometimes fraught conversations & debates. Social bonds are actively foster BECAUSE it keeps people safe. And our neighbours. #NewScots
Read 11 tweets
May 13, 2021
The indefatigable ⁦⁦@willrworley⁩ has put together a tracker will details of programmes affected by #ODA cut. It includes initial list from March 11 #UKRIcuts . If your project has been cut please let him know #gcrfcuts devex.com/news/tracking-…
This list @UKRI_News #GCRF cuts on @willrworley tracker picked up to date

Programs affected:
• Research and development into technology to purify dirty water (The Guardian)
• Mapping natural disaster risk in lower income communities (The Guardian)
• Research and development for infectious disease diagnostics (Independent)
• A refugee integration project run by Professor Alison Phipps. (Devex interview)
• Reducing homicide in Latin America (The Guardian)
• Migration for Development and Equality
Read 5 tweets

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