I started off by flagging up the scale of the humanitarian crisis (6.5m internal refugees, 2.5m refugees who have fled the country, c.100k civilians killed) and then I stated that a continuing conflict will just make matters much, much worse and that a diplomatic solution (through Geneva II?) must be found.  I then stated that the UK has  global influence and that it's essential that the UK uses this influence to bring the two sides together to find a settled solution.  I didn't mention that it would be in the UK's strategic interests to avoid Syria becoming another failed state like Somalia or Yemen but depending upon who the elected official is, this could be a more persuasive argument for them to act.

An MP is a Member of Parliament, I believe the US equivalent is a Congressman/women.  Go on; go and bother your elected representatives

EDIT: Sorry, Coach is obviously a faster typer than me

Initially asked what local MP and UK Gov. were and are doing to help the Sryrian refugee issue. Then 2nd time same things but also thanked secretary for sending me links from national newspapers which i had already read. Then again and said 'Yes' to secretary when he asked would i like my questions to be forwarded to the MP rather than answered by secretary. Then again but less said about that the better.

A few weeks ago i made a trek to Essex University to see the cartoons of Ali Ferzat, who was beaten and left for dead with his hands broken so that he could never draw again, for his portrayal of the Regime in his cartoons. Here is a nice little interview i found online from last year from the Without Words exhibition.

www.reorientmag.com/2013/09/ali-ferzat/

From The Syria Campaign.
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Five Syrian asylum seekers are being held at a detention centre in Australia. They’re being treated really badly. Officials are pressuring them to go back to the war zone, after revealing their names to the Syrian regime. [1] They could be tortured and even killed.

I’m convinced that there’s something we can do.

If we direct global attention at the Ministry of Immigration, we could help make sure that the five Syrians don’t get sent back and that their applications for refugee protection are processed:

thesyriacampaign.org/en/actions/australia-protect-syrian-asylum-seekers

Australia fought hard to get a seat on the UN Security Council and now that they’re in the international spotlight they won’t like being shamed over their treatment of Syrians fleeing war.

The situation seems terrible -- the Guardian’s saying two of the Syrians are suffering mental health issues and one asylum seeker was actually killed last month in murky circumstances. Right now guards are keeping the five apart, no doubt making the suffering all that much worse. [2] Let's tell Australian Immigration to protect Syrians, not send them to a war zone:

thesyriacampaign.org/en/actions/australia-protect-syrian-asylum-seekers

My slap ups of the #withsyria / Banksy image are en route so I will be raising awareness in some places with those!.

Also, just in.............. Just takes a signature thats all.
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There are thousands of kids in Syria whose lives are at risk. Help 6-year-old Muadh right now -- thesyriacampaign.org/en/actions/bring-muadh-home. Read more below.


My six-year-old son Muadh Zain is in a war zone and can’t get home to Birmingham.

He’s stuck in Syria with his British passport, only minutes away from safety. If UK foreign minister William Hague speaks out in support, the Jordanian government will open the border for Muadh to come home. The UK government has a huge amount of influence over the Jordanian authorities due to the deep ties between the two countries.

So far, Hague has stayed silent, but if enough of us pressure him, we could get him to act:

thesyriacampaign.org/en/actions/bring-muadh-home

Muadh was with his favourite uncle when a barrel bomb exploded close to them. My son survived, but witnessed the death of his uncle. In another attack, Muadh survived again but witnessed a relative sustain a severe head injury. Next time he might not be so lucky.

After suffering through a period of intense bombing, my son has now developed a permanent convergent squint to his right eye, an eye condition that requires immediate medical attention. I have shown a photo of him to his GP in Birmingham, who has advised me that Muadh must undergo an immediate operation.

Some British embassy officials have tried to support but it is not enough. With your help, I want to take this to the highest level of government and end Muadh's suffering for good. Please call on William Hague to do everything in his power to bring my son home:

thesyriacampaign.org/en/actions/bring-muadh-home

My son has seen more horror in his six years than most adults see in a lifetime. Muadh has become traumatised as a result of the first-hand violence he has witnessed. He has stopped speaking, and is suffering physically and emotionally on a day-to-day basis.

Sign my petition to William Hague and call on him to help now:

thesyriacampaign.org/en/actions/bring-muadh-home

Thank you,
Wael Zain

Fantastic. Nice one Wiz. I hope to do the same myself.

#exciting #StickThemEverywhere #WhichCompanyDidYouUse?

All slap ups now spoken for chaps, ive been enveloping up this afternoon so could get in post.

Its been #sticky lol.

Have fun.

All posted out now, USA will obviously take a day or two longer than UK and Europe ones to arrive.

Cheers Wiz, you're a star!

Also many thanks again wiz. Mine arrived quick quick today. Look awesome. As you may have seen on instagram #withsyria I got found one up outside our local mps office on a CCTV post. People usual leave him, erm, messages lol on that pole

Mega thanks for today's consignment wiz you're a top man. Old, but top!

Syria Speaks Tour

"Since the uprising began in March 2011, Syrian writers and artists have been creating work like never before, becoming their own publishers on the internet and forming anonymous artists’ collectives. Culture has become a critical line of defence against tyranny. Syria Speaks is a celebration of a people determined to reclaim their dignity, freedom and self-expression. Join Syrian artists and writers at events across England for readings and discussions on cultural resistance in the country. The line-up will include award-winning Damascus-based novelist Khaled Khalifa, cinematographer and video artist Khalil Younes, writer and filmmaker Zaher Omareen, and authors Malu Halasa and Robin Yassin-Kassab.

These events will mark the publication of Syria Speaks, a unique anthology of uprising literature, art and culture, showcasing the work of over fifty artists and writers who are challenging the culture of violence in Syria. Their literature, poems and songs, cartoons, political posters and photographs document and interpret the momentous changes that have shifted the frame of reality so drastically in Syria. Moving and inspiring, Syria Speaks is testament to the courage, creativity and imagination of the Syrian people. These events will be a window onto these creative endeavours during this time of turmoil."

www.reelfestivals.org/syria-speaks-uk-tour/

One down...or should that be up? Thanks #Wiz