Human Rights in Castlereagh

Our morning correspondent is Sami Rose:

Book club met this morning to conclude our discussion of Seamus Deane’s Reading in the Dark. We shared our thoughts about the ending and related Deane’s work to what we have learned and seen here in Northern Ireland. All of us agreed that after seeing the city that inspired the book, Derry/Londonderry, the novel took on a new meaning. To be walking the same streets as the narrator and breathing the same air that the author breathed in and out each day was so moving it gave me chills.

After book club we welcomed Raymond into our tiny kitchen and received our debrief for the day. We were preparing to head into the Lower Castlereagh community to spend time getting to know the people who live there. The community is mostly loyalist (real unionist, real Protestant), and it is one of the poorest communities in Northern Ireland. The people are deprived of quality education, job opportunities, and social connection. We were shocked to hear that some of those people had never seen city centre even though it is only about a ten-minute drive away. Many in that population have low-self esteem due to the conditions in which they live. Mr. Bizga informed us that they do not know much about the intensity of our program, so we will just be “the cool kids from America.”

Feeling prepared for the day’s festivities, we headed into city centre in cabs for one detour before our immersion into Castlereagh. We enjoyed live music and saw many E-M-Os before heading to the lawn in front of City Hall. There, a rope lay among a marked area defining two sides. Tug-of-war. We confidently walked over to the challenge, ready to take on any competitors. Our first team gripped the rope and glared down the line at the opponents. The countdown began 3-2-1 – Pull! We were doing so well at first glance that we all assumed the Americans would win this round. Then another second passed. We lost our feet in the wet greenery and down we fell like dominoes. The Northern Irish pulled us Americans across the lawn and over the line with ease. America – 0, Northern Ireland – 1.

After America’s finest failed to represent us with pride, an all girls team stepped in to show them how a real game is played. We gripped the rope, heard the countdown, then pulled. The fight was evenly matched, but eventually the U.S. ladies prevailed. After a few more match-ups of America vs. Northern Ireland, boys vs. girls, and teachers vs. teachers, we bowed out of the competition and taxied over to Avoniel Leisure Center in Lower Castlereagh. Here we were met by Tricia who led the group in a human rights workshop. We viewed a video about the problems children in their communities face and their rights and responsibilities to change the wrongs. Broken glass, faulty electrical fixtures, and speeding traffic are all dangers preventing the children of many neighborhoods from playing as they should be able to do.

Circling up among the other attendees, we discussed human rights. We were given a name tag and were told to put a number on it for all to see. Each letter of the alphabet was then laid out on the floor for the first exercise. A series of questions was asked, and we migrated towards the letter that our response began with. Favorite food, favorite place in the world, most inspiring person you know, and “what is the best thing to do where you are from?” were all questions. (The best thing to do in Ohio is to travel, and the most popular thing in Northern Ireland is to party.) After learning each other’s favorites and not so favorites, we took a seat. Tricia asked us what was missing from that exercise. Katie Brennan responded, “Our names.” The use of a number instead of a name made us all feel as if a part of our identity had been taken away. This was to show us how people can often feel if they have been deprived of their rights.

After a proper introduction using the alphabet instead of numeric quantities, we made a list of the rights we have. The right to life, safe housing, education, nutritious food, family, and freedom all came up as basic human rights that we all are entitled to. Something that shocked all of us occurred when a young man who had a daughter spoke out saying how he has no rights. It was sad to hear someone who feels so defeated by his way of life that he feels as if he deserves nothing to fight for.

Our list was made, so we were challenged to pick the three rights that are the most important. The challenge was near impossible because all of the rights work off of one another to be completely fulfilled. Everyone placed their post-it notes on the poster sized paper. (Ironically, there were both green and orange post-its. All of the green ones wound up on one side, and the orange ones on the other. Even office supplies are subjected to chance sectarianism.) The activity showed us how everyone values different rights and no one right is greater than another.

Counting off into six groups, we made another list of the three rights which we feel need the most improving in the community. The people who lived in Lower Castlereagh made the decisions in our group because they know the area best. I was surprised at the teenagers in our group, especially Vance. He was joking around with his friends and talking during the presentations like he didn’t care much about it, but when he participated in the group he was one of the most intelligent and well-spoken people in the group. Because of the society which he lives in, he feels as if there is nothing for him in life; he could do great things if he chooses to set his mind to it, though.

Many people agreed on similar issues, such as education and freedom of religion. However, just like in the other activity, everyone had different points of view. Another interesting point about the exercise was that the things which the community feels need improving are all simple local level changes like housing or education. The politicians that we met with preached different views on what needed to be changed in Northern Ireland. The citizens are not being properly represented in government, so they feel as if their rights are being ignored. This is where Tricia brought up the point of marching and protesting and fighting for rights, because the people speaking for a community need to be informed of what it is the population wants and deserves.

After the group discussion, we went into the gymnasium for international foods and dance demonstrations.