Grenfell Tower charity evening lambasted for all-white comedy line-up
A comedy night arranged in aid of people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire has been lambasted for not having a single person of colour on its 12-header bill. The Kerb Productions event running at the Eventim Apollo features a star-studded line up including Michael Mcintyre, Jo Brand, Micky Flanagan and Josh Widdicombe, but fails to feature any non-white comedians. The lack of diversity has caused a stir on social media after writer and television host Nikesh Shukla highlighted the noticeable...
On the streets of North Kensington – where community spirit is strong but anger is palpable
Arriving at Latimer Road tube station in Kensington at first glance you feel you have arrived amidst the Notting Hill Carnival which is held in the area every August bank holiday. The streets are busy and full of people that reflect London diversity. Every street corner is dotted with police minibuses whilst offices in neatly pressed short sleeved shirts smile as they pass in you in pairs. Food stalls dish out food from across the world with a smile and a...
Emma Thompson appeals for help for survivors of torture and trafficking
Refugee Week 2017 kicks off on Monday 19 June, with local events all around the world tackling hostility to asylum seekers in the press; showcasing refugees’ stories and talents; and raising awareness of the reality of the experiences of those who have fled their homes for sanctuary elsewhere. And on Sunday 18 June, actress, writer and president of The Helen Bamber Foundation, Emma Thompson will be launching an appeal for a charity that has helped thousands of asylum seekers and...
Vegetarian beef farmer donates all cows to sanctuary and starts a vegan farm
A vegetarian beef farmer has made the incredible gesture of donating a herd of 59 cows to a vegan sanctuary and is working to convert his farm to a vegan one. Jay Wilde has been farming cows all his life but could no longer accept making money from them and decided to donate the herd to Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk last Monday. The Ashbourne-based 59-year-old is also in the process of turning his farm vegan with the help of...
The Trump administration should learn from the Cuban government, not punish it
By Daniel Khalili-Tari One of the US’s greatest exports is arms. Cuba’s is doctors. In the US citizens can die if they can’t afford healthcare. But in Cuba, universal healthcare is free. The US’s adult literacy rate is not known. Cuba’s however, is 100 per cent. Why is the Trump administration so valiant in maintaining an unjust embargo on the Caribbean island, located only 103 miles from the US? Why punish a country which wants to govern itself, in an...
Look Back in Anger: A poem for Grenfell
For all the negative press football and football supporters get, one couldn't help but feel a little choked up on Tuesday night when the French and English national teams and their fans came together to sing Manchester's anthem Don't Look Back in Anger in an effort to remind the global community of football's unifying spirit in times of adversity. The message of solidarity echoed the repeat fixture two years ago when both sets of fans sang La Marseillaise at Wembley in the wake of the Paris...
Mayweather Vs. McGregor: when entertainment supersedes sport
Some things make you question the meaning of sport, they just seem so inevitable. Ronaldo and Messi breaking goal scoring records, Usain Bolt running a 100 metre final, Lance Armstrong and Hansie Cronje. Some people just make it look so inevitable and so simple that it appears almost futile; they’re operating on a level way beyond everyone around them, let alone you sat at home. Some people are so up to their necks in filth that they obfuscate the very...
Sara Pascoe and Belfast Book Festival Wrap-Up
If I might go out on a limb, there is a bit of wisdom learned through observation that I think the comedian and author Sara Pascoe and I hold in common as both truth and strategy. It is, if you want an audience to take you seriously make them laugh first. A decent framework of comedy is not to be confused with the forced smiles and gargled cough-laughs that greet your company's CEO at the Region Meeting when he hauls...
KCTMO warn residents in flats opposite Grenfell about “anti-social behaviour”
Tenant management organisation KCTMO has sent letters to residents in the flats opposite Grenfell Towers warning them about anti-social behaviour. The letter threatens legal action over misdemeanours such as ball games just days after the neighbouring tower, which they also manage, burnt down. Residents living in Grenfell had previously accused their landlords of been “evil, unprincipled” and like a “mini-mafia”. Incredibly, people in flats opposite #Grenfell today received letter warning them about anti-social behaviour, threatening legal action. pic.twitter.com/w8SQepjpOB — Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV)...