On
13 October around 900 people organised by Citizens UK braved
the cold weather and gathered at Old Palace Yard to ask David Cameron to
resettle 1000 Syrian refugees before Christmas. All those gathered made it
clear that the people are ready to welcome refugees. It now looks the
government is ready too!
Today David Cameron announced that 1000
Syrian refugees will be resettled before Christmas. The announcement is indeed
a big win for civil society and an encouragement to work harder. Of course we
will have to wait and see whilst continuing our organised effort to welcome
refugees
We
still have lots to do to make sure the words are put in practice and that civil
society has roles in the resettlement and consequently integration of those who
are resettled.
What
makes organising distinct is the fact that we don't only campaign for the
sake of campaigning. Rather we want to win and consequently put in place proper
strategy to win the win. We thus come up with alternative solutions
and campaign in a consistent way. This reminds me one of the maxims of
community Organising in Saul Alinsky’s book Rules For Radicals, “Keep the pressure on. Never let up”
When
Organised People Speak, The Government will be made to listen.
