Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru | Wales Millennium Centre’s Post

Whether you welcome immigrants or oppose them, I invite you to commit to pacifism. Yoko Ono’s recent exhibition at the Tate Modern highlighted the artist’s peace activism, originating in her childhood experience of the Second World War. Ono relied on her imagination to escape. If you want to see net migration numbers go down, you should be a pacifist. Violent conflict is a major driver of immigration. Fewer people will choose to leave their home countries if they are able to live in peace. If you respect and welcome immigrants, you should be a pacifist. There is no stopping humans entirely from moving and mixing as we always have done. Peace allows people to move out of choice and with dignity. Here is a little video of my kid experiencing Ono’s ‘Bag Piece’ at the exhibition. The idea is that, whilst you are inside the bag, your identity has nothing to do with race, sex, age etc . . . . You exist in your spiritual form only. I thought the piece was effective. My child seemed to transform. If we each got inside a bag, would people’s reasons for violence dissipate? #peaceonearth #immigration #immigrationlawyer #changesimmigration

After a pretty wild January, and while the world is experiencing a whole series of tectonic shifts, this might be a good moment to check in about our biases. Because if we are not aware of them, they might easily be used to manipulate us - and heho, how creative some people can be about this! Here are some first hints on where to begin (please add to them in the comment): - many are posting stuff about how they 'challenge' DeepSeek about answers on Chinese politics and culture - but do you do the exact same thing for U.S. rooted services? Like: Really? Do we overall apply the same cultural / censorship scrutiny for all players in the game? Shouldn't we to a) play a fair game? b) get better insight simply (nothing is worse than starting from the wrong assumptions) - about those 'migrants' - for some reason, there seem to be 'good' migrants vs. bad ones. One asks them for example "to learn German if they come here" - but somehow that does not account for Anglosaxons in Berlin and Munich? ;) Do we apply the same expectations for everyone? Or if not: why not? Is someone who's joining our culture without need vs. someone from a different culture with a good job worse vs. better - just because of the initial wealth status? Where do we derive our different levels of judgement here? - so many people seem to be worried about "those migrants" - but how often do they even meet them - or actually have problems caused by them? (contrast that by how often you encounter problems via people you consider 'your own folks'). I'd also challenge how often people really recognize so. to be a migrant or from a family of migrants - how long do you get to keep that label? Is it 'removed' at some point and why? Or are blond people always 'not migrants'? - about the story of #tradwives being a new thing... can we do a reality check there, too? How accepted have women been in the workplace in Germany - and how many have chosen to stay at home anyway - just not TikTok-ing about it... - even simple words can't be trusted anymore - the poor 'Free Speech' concept is already just a ghost vs. its original form... But it's not the only case where words are used to reshape facts seemingly. Let this not happen; stay or rather become aware if not alert if a certain term is overused. Ask: "What does this concretely mean for you in terms of actions and behaviour?" Do not let it stay on the surface where the fog can cloud our brains. What I want to say is: It's a really good time to challenge our brains to look at things how they are and how their consequences in reality play out. Like in Lessing's ring parable: The 'true' ring will reveal itself by its results, not by its appearance. Which areas of bias and thinking failures are you watching out for these days? Let's collect them so we become aware of our own dark spots before they can be used against us. Thanks. Thanks for being a human that at least tries and tries to learn. #fridaythoughts

Have you read Solito by Javier Zamora? As we skim through headlines about mass deportations from the U.S., it’s easy to become desensitized or lost in statistics. In Solito, Zamora shares his gripping personal account of migrating from El Salvador to the U.S. as a nine-year-old boy, determined to reunite with his parents. His journey is one of resilience, courage, and survival—a powerful reminder that migration is not just a political issue, but a deeply human one. The economically vulnerable women in Namaste's program in Guatemala work tirelessly to give their children better lives and break the cycle of poverty. Many of our clients have family members who have migrated—or attempted to—because they felt it was their only chance to escape violence, extortion, or create opportunities for their families. Each of them carries a story that deserves to be heard. If you’ve read Solito, we’d love to hear your thoughts. How did it shift your perspective? Let’s keep the conversation going. #Solito #JavierZamora #MigrationStories #HumanDignity #BooksThatMatter #RootCausesOfMigration

A picture of this striking artwork was taken by yours truly from the Slave History museum in Calabar, Nigeria. The message stirs my soul. It is Juneteenth. A holiday that feels new for many of us who are unencumbered by the generations of cultural struggles black people have overcome, and this day is still unobserved or not understood by a broad swath of society...the majority of which share my skin tone. Allow me to elucidate you! For 400 years, the transatlantic slave trade dehumanized West Africans, who had no knowledge of the brutality of chattel slavery and the depravity their cousins would endure at the hands of Western civilization. More than 200,000 slaves were sold from my wife's motherland of Calabar alone. June 19th, 1865 marks when the last of the slaves were notified of their freedom in the USA. All of Africa owes African-Americans a great debt. It is their struggle that made the USA the wonderful destination for immigrants that it is today. And the civil rights movement here in our great nation has done more for the welfare of melanated peoples than any other movement in the history of the world. Slavery in the form of human trafficking is still rampant today, and slavery was legal in Mauritania until 2007. Colorism and racism are still prevalent, but they no longer prevent the realization of the American dream. My wife and two of my children are Nigerian-American, and I celebrate this joyous day that paved the way for our beautiful lives full of liberty in the United States of America here in 2024. Having 5 ancestors who signed the Mayflower compact, these issues remain the ones about which I am the most passionate. There is only one race...human. Observe and respect this holiday. #juneteenth #racism #colorism #civilrights #americandream #equality #diversity #immigration

🤔Did Indigenous people have a name for Australia before the arrival of Europeans? Sounds like a question for Ask Aunty! Aunty Munya is an Aboriginal Elder from the Kimberley region on Western Australia. Her life's purpose is to share her cultural knowledge and leave a legacy of Dreamtime wisdom for generations to come. In Evolve's cultural awareness workshops participants are encouraged to ask any question without fear of ridicule, shame or blame - and now you can ask those questions too! And remember, there's no such thing as a silly question! #askaunty #culturalawarenesstraining #acknowledgecountry #practicalreconciliation

Did you know? New York City is home to the Statue of Liberty, an iconic symbol of freedom gifted by France, welcoming millions of immigrants arriving by sea. 🗽🌍✨ #DidYouKnow #StatueOfLiberty #NYCHistory #SymbolOfFreedom #GiftFromFrance #ImmigrantWelcome #LibertyIsland #IconicLandmark #TheNewYorkLeadersMagazine #TheNewYorkLeaders #Magazine

Aboriginal community organisations and groups across NSW are now invited to apply for grants to support events and activities that celebrate and promote Aboriginal cultures. The NSW Government is offering grants from $500 to $20,000 to support, strengthen, protect and maintain traditional and contemporary expressions of Aboriginal culture. The Cultural Grants Program 2024-2025 will be an open, rolling program where Aboriginal organisations can apply until the $800,000 in funding is exhausted or the round closes on 21 March 2025–whichever comes first. Last year’s Cultural Grants Program supported 66 projects across NSW. Past grant projects have included dance, song and language workshops on Worimi land in Newcastle, a culture camp for Aboriginal children in north-west Sydney and art workshops hosted by Gomeroi artists in Tamworth. To apply visit the link - https://lnkd.in/gaf2H9sG

Aidez Nous à Aider, believes that art can play a vital role in addressing and potentially resolving the migration crisis by serving as a powerful medium for communication, empathy, and action. Art, especially in public spaces, captures attention and sparks conversation. Murals and other artistic endeavors draw focus to the migration crisis, making it visible to those who might otherwise overlook it. By repeatedly displaying the same mural worldwide, we create a consistent and impactful reminder that resonates across different cultures and communities. Art has the unique ability to evoke emotions and connect people on a deeper level. By showcasing the experiences of migrants through visual storytelling, it can help foster empathy in viewers. This emotional connection is crucial in shifting perspectives, breaking down stereotypes, and encouraging more compassionate attitudes toward migrants. Our organization actively involves local artists and communities in the creation of murals and other art projects. This collaboration ensures that the artwork reflects the specific realities and concerns of the communities it’s placed in, making the art more relatable and impactful. This engagement empowers communities to take ownership of the issue, encouraging them to become advocates for migrant rights. Art can also be a call to action, inspiring concrete steps toward change. By seeing the art, people are prompted to think, discuss, and ultimately take action—whether through supporting policy changes, offering help to migrants, or advocating for more humane treatment of those affected by the crisis. Through the repetition of our mural in multiple countries, Aidez Nous à Aider fosters a global dialogue about migration, encouraging people from diverse backgrounds to recognize their shared responsibility in addressing the crisis. #ArtForChange #MigrationMatters #EmpathyThroughArt #GlobalSolidarity #PublicArtForGood #Artivism #MigrantRights #CreativeActivism #ArtistsUnite #ActionThroughArt #ArtForChange #Artivism #SocialJusticeArt #MigrantRights #PublicArt #GlobalArt #EmpathyThroughArt #ArtActivism #CreativeResistance #Artivist

Navigating the Struggles of Bicultural Identity and Belonging Explore the profound complexities of bicultural identity as our speakers delve into their Armenian and American experiences. Witness their personal reflections on cultural integration, heritage, and the challenges of navigating dual identities in this insightful discussion. #BiculturalIdentity #CulturalIntegration #ArmenianHeritage #PersonalReflections #DualIdentity #CulturalComplexity #EthnicIdentity #SpeakerDiscussion #SelfDiscovery #UnderstandingCulture

Together, we are stronger. 🌍✨ On International Human Solidarity Day, let’s celebrate the power of unity, kindness, and collective action to build a better world. 🤝 Let’s stand in solidarity for equality, peace, and progress❤️ . . #TheAaryansJoya #TheAaryans #ChariotOfKnowledge #CBSEbased #EnglishMedium #AdmissionOpen #LittleAaryanites #HumanSolidarityDay #TogetherWeCan #UnityInDiversity #InternationalSolidarityDay #StrongerTogether #HumanityFirst