Join us at our free talk on human rights

Come and join us for a free talk on Thursday 21st March at the Manx Museum as we explore the role of human rights in today’s complex world. Do they still hold out the promise of a better future? And how are they being used to defend our liberty, equality and justice?

Starting at 7pm, the talk is part of our work marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and will feature three short presentations followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Speakers include Ken Corlett who will talk about his experience of human rights investigations in conflict zones, Dawn Kinnish MLC who will talk about the interaction between human rights and equality, and Andrew Langan-Newton who will consider how human rights law could shape action on climate change.

Suitable for anyone with an interest in current affairs, social justice or global issues. Students are very welcome.

Although the talk is free to attend, tickets should be booked either through Eventbrite at https://hr75.eventbrite.co.uk or by calling us on 310191.

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One Day I Will – stunning photographic exhibition to mark 75 years of UDHR

We’re absolutely thrilled to be hosting this amazing photographic exhibition by French photographer Vincent Tremeau at the Isle of Man Airport as part of our work in marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Vincent’s fantastic portraits feature children from conflict zones and other troubled areas as they imagine what they want to be when they grew up. Using items they had to hand as props, many chose the jobs they were most familiar with – soldiers, teachers, nurses and doctors – but some had great aspirations to work in roles they had never seen in action such as sailors, pilots and even President!

For Vincent, the photos are “a dialogue with the future, an invitation to all of us to consider the role we play in shaping a world where every child can achieve their dreams, irrespective of their current circumstances.”

Exhibiting this project in the Isle of Man, he says, “presents a unique opportunity to bridge continents and cultures, sparking conversations about the resilience of the human spirit, the importance of education, and the enduring power of hope.”

The photo exhibition is on the first floor of the airport and will be on show until the end of April. It is one of a number of activities to mark Human Rights 75 and is upported by the Isle of Man Government’s International Development Education and Awareness Raising grant.

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Sustainable Fashion competition launched

We all know the fashion industry has a heavy environmental impact: according to the UN Environment Programme, the industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is thought to be responsible for up to 8% of global human-related carbon emissions, more than international flights and maritime shipping combined.

Fast fashion – the creation of cheap clothes turned out very quickly – also has significant social impacts including poor working conditions for many garment workers and the fuelling of a throw-away culture. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has estimated that of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfill or incinerators – that’s the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of clothes every second. Meanwhile, people are on average buying 60 per cent more clothes than 15 years ago but wearing them for only half as long.

Our Sustainable Fashion competition – open to all those under the age of 25 on the Isle of Man – challenges young people to explore how we can do better by designing and creating a wearable item using sustainable principles. This may be by using recycled or natural materials, adopting a zero-waste approach or by showing how fashion can become part of a circular economy. There is £100 for grabs for first prize and runners up prizes including a £50 voucher kindly donated by the OMA Sustainable Living store in Ramsey.

Please flag this competition up to any young people you know. The closing date is 19 July 2024 and more details, the T&Cs and entry form are here

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The importance of global learning

As part of Global Learning Fortnight towards the end of last year, we asked other groups, organisations and individuals about the relevance and value of global learning on the Isle of Man. Their answers were illuminating – and you can read them all below!

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75th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights

This Sunday 10th December marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

This landmark document, agreed in 1948 in the aftermath of the Second World War, recognised that all humans, regardless of nationality, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status, have universal rights. These range from the most fundamental – the right to life – to those that make life worth living, such as the rights to food, education, work, health, and liberty.

Our tree at the Strand Shopping Centre

At a time when conflict and increasingly authoritarian regimes are eroding these rights for millions of people around the world, it is important that we take time we remember these rights were agreed by 192 nations to give freedom, equality and justice for all. It is up to us as citizens to demand that they are defended everywhere and for everyone.

We will be organising a talk around human rights in the New Year but to mark the anniversary date we have created two Christmas trees illustrating all 30 articles of the Declaration. One of these is in the Strand Shopping Centre (9th and 10th December) and one is in the Festival of Trees at the Isle of Man airport (until early January).

We have also asked both the Manx Bard Boakesey Closs and the Manx Youth Bard Hadassah Smith to compose a poem to mark the occasion. You can read their poems on the links below.

Villanelle for Human Rights – Manx Bard. You can also listen to a recording here

The Battle of – Manx Youth Bard

Winds of the Earth – Manx Youth Bard

For more information about the UDHR and the 75th anniversary please go to https://www.ohchr.org/en/get-involved/campaign/udhr-75

#humanrights75 #Act4RightsNow

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Global Learning Fortnight

Along with our fellow development education centres in England, we are marking Global Learning Fortnight (27th November to 10th December), a new initiative to raise awareness of the importance of learning about global issues. Each global learning centre will highlight activities in its area and also share resources online for others to use.

Here in the Isle of Man we are marking the fortnight with:

  • our free film screening of Fashion Reimagined (see post below for details on how to get tickets)
  • the launch of our Sustainable Fashion Competition which challenges young people on the Isle of Man to design and create an item of wearable fashion using sustainable practices. Open to everyone under the age of 25, the competition is an opportunity to consider how we can better look after the earth’s resources and improve the conditions of many of the people around the world who make our clothes
  • an online campaign about global learning which will feature a number of local people and organisations highlighting the importance of global education and global citizenship (check out our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn pages)

There will also be displays of globally-themed books in some local libraries and there will be activities to mark the 75th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights which takes place at the end of the fortnight on 10th December.

In addition, ideas for tried and tested global learning activities have been shared with schools and the One World Centre is offering the use of some of its resources including unusual maps, books and artefacts.

It’s important to remember that learning doesn’t just take place at school – what can you do this #GlobalLearningFortnight to raise your own awareness of global issues and the wider world?!

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Join us for a free screening of Fashion Reimagined

Join us at Kensington Arts Centre in Douglas on Friday 1st December for a screening of Fashion Reimagined which shines a light on fashion’s environmental impact and the designer who is doing something about it.

Trailblazing designer Amy Powney is on a mission to create a sustainable collection from field to finished garment. The film starts at 7.30pm and admission is free but please book tickets through this link.

We will also be launching our Sustainable Fashion Competition for under 25s on the Isle of Man at the same time!

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‘Food for All’ competition winners recognised at pop-up art display

Gill Nicholls, Overall Winner 18 & Over

Meet the winners from our 2023 SDG Art Competition, based on the theme ‘Food for All’ in support of SDG 2 Zero Hunger.

We were delighted to have DEFA Minister Clare Barber on hand to present them with their prizes at a special pop-up art display at the Villa Marina last weekend, timed to coincide with the Isle of Man Festival of Food & Drink.

Gill Nicholls was the overall winner in the adult category with Hadyn Johnson taking the top prize in the Under 18 section.

Over 250 entries were received in total and the high number of entries triggered a £200 donation to the Isle of Man Foodbank by Shoprite who also supported the competition by providing the first prize of £100 in vouchers to the overall adult winner. The other prizes were a selection of sustainably produced art materials (including sketch books made out of recycled coffee cups) and fairly-traded chocolate.

The competition encouraged artists to think about hunger, food waste and food security, reflecting that there are still around 800 million people in the world who go to bed hungry every night and malnutrition is still a leading cause of death among children under the age of five. At the same time, around one third of the food produced around the world is wasted.

We hope to put on another exhibition of the entries later in the year.

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Notice of AGM

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Come and see us at Douglas Fun Day

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at Douglas Fun Day tomorrow Saturday 5th August (now postponed to Sunday 6th August) – weather permitting! We will have a fiendish food quiz for you that will also test your geography skills. Do come and say hello!

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