News last updated 12th May 2008

The world is changing, how do you feel about it? The Guerrilla Peacefair is a conscious community event. You are invited to engage with cutting edge musical and visual artists, controversial film, community strengthening organisations and mindful discussion.

Music includes I am error, conscious alternative rock band, the imaginative True Adventures, and local hip-hop Deftex MC The Anthropologist.

Film clips include excerpts from Zeitgeist, What The Bleep Do We Know, Human Givens and End Game.

Speakers include a representative of NEAD (to which all proceeds will go), democratic education promoter Michael Newman, Neil Kramer, a speaker on human consciousness and the nature of reality, amongst other things.

There will also be communal activities, a live painting experience and stands from local organisations and charities, and the chance for people to air their views with freedom and honesty in the discussion area.

You are all invited to come and engage.

For more information please visit the Guerrilla Peacefair on MySpace.

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual national campaign supported by the Fairtrade Foundation that aims to draw attention to issue of ethical trade, and raise awareness about Fairtrade products and the FAIRTRADE Mark.

Each year community groups, churches, schools, and others throughout Norfolk join thousands all over the country in the two-week campaign.

Fair Trade in Norfolk (FTiN) is calling on you to help celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight 2008, taking place this year between Monday 25th February and Sunday 9th March 2008. For comprehensive up-to-date listings of events planned in Norfolk, visit the Fair Trade in Norfolk event listings page.

There are plenty of opportunities for volunteers in Norfolk to get involved with the FTiN network, and not just during Fairtrade Fortnight! Please check our website for current volunteering opportunities.

The Big Sky Choir will be performing on Saturday 8 March 2008, in aid of NEAD. The concert, also featuring Lizzy Smith & Piers Gurney Ratcliff, takes place at The Citadel, St Giles Street, Norwich, starting at 8:00 PM.

Tickets are available from Prelude Records, 25B St Giles Street, Norwich (telephone 01603 628319).

You are invited to our Customer Evening, on Thursday 13th December, 6.00 PM to 8.00 PM. We will offer a glass of wine, and 10% off all marked prices to tempt people in to help us clear the shop! Everyone is welcome.

Although we are sad to see the end of The World Shop, we feel it has played a valuable role over the last 15 years in publicising fair trade, and now it is time for us to hand over the reins to other outlets.

Come and join us to celebrate the achievements of The World Shop, do some Christmas shopping, and at the same time help NEAD to recoup costs, ready for future projects!

Speaking in Norwich at our AGM on Thursday 4 October 2007 will be Benny Wenda from the Koteka Tribal Assembly & the Free West Papua Campaign.

Benny Wenda is currently in exile in the UK having been arrested and tortured for his peaceful campaigning for the freedom of his people.

The event is part of Norfolk Black History Month 2007.

Come and hear about NEAD’s year and how you can get involved in our upcoming development education work.

Welcome to the 5th Black History Month celebrations in Norfolk.

October is Black History Month and once again there are a host of exciting events and activities happening across Norfolk.

Highlights this year include MOBO and Mercury Award-winning musician Soweto Kinch, critically acclaimed poet Lemn Sissay, the legendary Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the UK’s finest Black comedian Curtis Walker.

2007 marks the bicentenary of the 1807 Parliamentary Act, which aimed to abolish the transatlantic Slave Trade. In recognition of this there are opportunities to explore some of the issues surrounding this important anniversary.

This year, NEAD has been busy producing the eye-catching programme and organising several events, including a dynamic dance show by expressive African Caribbean dance company, Performance 2.

See the programme for full details of all the events at the Norfolk Black History Month website.

Nationally-acclaimed actors bring some personal accounts of the UK’s asylum system to Norfolk.

Hosted by Norwich Puppet Theatre, this event is part of Refugee Week 2007.

Fair Trade in Norfolk’s AGM is followed by two short presentations by Jill Roberson of The Living Rooms, and Andy Dyble of Trade 4 Aid, each giving two different approaches to fair trading in today’s markets.

Fairly traded refreshments will be available on the night.

NB: Please respond to Hilary Cornish (telephone 01603 623774) as to whether you can or can't make it so that plans can be made accordingly.

No-one chooses to be a refugee in a strange land, but sometimes people are forced to flee their homes because of war or the risk of persecution. Many face torture, imprisonment and even death. Most refugees are unable to choose their destination country. They hope to return to their home country in the future.

Refugee Week celebrates the enormous contribution that Refugees and Asylum Seekers make to the UK. This year’s activities for Refugee Week in Norfolk are being coordinated by John Thompson on behalf of the Norwich Asylum Seeker and Refugee Forum (NASREF) along with a range of partners. Be sure to check out the programme of events and activities.

The Big Sky Choir will be performing on Saturday 21 April 2007, with proceeds going to NEAD. The concert, also featuring Lizzy Smith & Piers Gurney Ratcliff, will take place at the Corn Hall, Diss, Norfolk, at 8:00 PM.

Tickets cost £7.00 (under 16s half price) and are available from:

• The World Shop in Norwich
• Diss Town Council
• Angel Café & Natural Foodstore, Diss.

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual campaign which aims to draw attention to the issue of ethical trade and to raise awareness about Fairtrade products and the FAIRTRADE Mark.

Each year community groups, churches, schools, and others throughout Norfolk join thousands all over the country in the two-week campaign.

Fair Trade in Norfolk is calling on you to help celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight 2007, taking place this year between Monday 26 February and Sunday 11 March 2007. For comprehensive up-to-date listings of events planned in Norfolk, visit the Fair Trade in Norfolk event listings page.

This year’s event will provide an opportunity to meet NEAD staff, trustees and volunteers and find out first hand about the work we do across Norfolk and the Eastern region. Learn about the projects and services we have delivered over the past twelve months and hear of our plans for the coming year.

Entry is free, and refreshments will be provided from 6:30 PM onwards.

Black History Month (BHM) is held every October in Britain to promote knowledge of Black history and experience. Although this is only the fourth year that BHM has been celebrated in Norfolk there are more than 50 events planned.

BHM provides an opportunity to share knowledge of our common human ancestry in Africa and of the continuous presence of Black people in Britain for at least 500 years. We should be aware of people such as Mary Seacole, a Black nurse in the Crimea at the same time as Florence Nightingale and, in her time, also famous and fêted. Locally, it should be well known that the first Black British circus owner, Pablo Fanque, was born in Norwich in 1798 and that Britain’s first Black Mayor, Allen Minns, was elected in Thetford in 1904.

Look out for a full programme of theatre, dance, film, visual arts, seminars, poetry and music being promoted by Norfolk Education and Action for Development (NEAD) and Norwich and Norfolk Racial Equality Council (NNREC). Visit the website for full details and up-to-date listings: http://www.norfolkblackhistorymonth.org.uk.

If you would like to get involved in helping with BHM contact Finbarr at NEAD on 01603 610993.

Nick Saltmarsh, East Anglian Food Link, will explore the links between Fairtrade and supporting local farmers; fair trading and working conditions are important for producers and food industry workers in the developed as well as the developing world. Our buying choices have a real impact yet the labelling of food provides little guidance on socially responsible purchasing when it comes to products from the UK and the rest of the developed world. How can we help create fairer conditions for all food workers?

Nigel Dowdney from the Localise IT campaign will be talking from the point of view of an independent retailer at the receiving end of Tesco's aggressive expansion; who as a result has started a campaign in partnership with several other organisations in order to try and further the important message of Local Business, Local Profit, Local Economy, Local Well-being; or how well do you utilise your pound coin for your own benefit?

Fairly traded refreshments will be available on the night.

NB: Please respond to Finbarr Carter (on 01603 610993) as to whether you can or can't make it so they can plan accordingly.

Refugee Week is an attempt to create space for encounters between different communities that live side by side within Norfolk but often have little constructive contact.

The main purpose of Refugee Week is to deliver positive messages that celebrate the contributions that Refugees make to Norfolk and challenge the fear, ignorance and negative stereotypes of Refugees and Asylum Seekers through arts, cultural and educational events.

For further information about events and online resources for Refugee Week please go to the Refugee Week in Norfolk 2006 website.

Zimbabwean Anna Mudeka set up Tambai Promotions in 2001 to promote music from other cultures through the Arts. The name tambai derives from the Shona word meaning to dance.

This year Tambai Promotions has brought together a unique and truly eclectic troupe of musicians and performers, who tour educational establishments around the East of England. Each artist is dedicated to perpetuating access to rich cultures and traditions, through fun and educational workshops and performances.

More information is available about the new workshops and performances being promoted by Tambai Promotions for a Black History Season, from 18th September to 12th November 2006 (PDF file).

For more information about Black History Month which takes place in October, see Norfolk Black History Month website.

Live music

• Rebel Lion – Roots Reggae Ambassadors
• Klunk – Klezmer & Eastern European Acoustic Folk Music
• Zumba – Cuban and Brazillian folk
• Def Tex ̵ Homegrown Hip Hop
• Lark – Eclectic Rock
• José Ferrera Mulen – Cuban percussion

Live music upstairs (compered by Theatre of Adventure)

• First I-ites – Roots Reggae Ambassadors
• Desencadenados – Cuban jazz and Arabian Groove
• Twizzle – Modern Folk duo

Middle floor entertainment

• Fairtrade Fairies
• Human Fairtrade Vending Machine

DJs downstairs

• Mike Some Noise (Global Emissions) – world & Nu-jazz breaks
• Spanish Flea (Fuschia Sounds) – Latin Drum & Bass
• Spenny (Soundclash) – African, Latin and Ska
• Yazzie B (Fuschia Sounds) – Asian Overground

Live music upstairs

• Mr Das – Soloist Tabla player
• Toubab – All woman band playing West African rhythms
• Klunk – Klezmer & Eastern European Acoustic Folk Music
• José Ferrera Mulen & Micaela Reyes-Ramirez – Klezmer & Cuban percussion and dance

DJs downstairs

• Mike Some Noise (Global Emissions) – world & Nu-jazz breaks
• Spanish Flea (Fuschia Sounds) – Latin Drum & Bass
• Yazzie B (Fuschia Sounds) – Asian Overground