Media
Prime Time and messages of support
May 21, 2009 | Posted by admin | EditI’ve been very heartened by feedback following the broadcast of Prime Time on RTÉ (see below) with it’s segment on racism during the election. The number of well-wishers has always far outweighed any hostility I’ve encountered on this campaign.
If you missed the programme you can watch it online. It particularly addresses the very important issue of government plans to tighten work permit rules that, if passed, could force people out of Ireland who’ve made their lives here and contributed enormously to our economy.
A SAMPLE OF THE FEEDBACK RECEIVED FROM WELL WISHERS…
Wishing you every success
Having watched on Prime Time the level of ignorant abuse you have to tolerate on the doorsteps of Dublin I felt compelled to contact you and wish you every success in the upcoming elections and beyond.
Carol
Best of luck
I saw you on Prime Time recently and then saw your posters on the quays for your election campaign. I wanted to wish you the best of luck in your campaign and I hope you get elected. We need more and not less difference in this city of ours.
Never mind those bigots who equate your candidacy with the economic downturn this government had led us to.
Beir bua
Eoin
All the best
As an Irishman living in London, I was appalled to watch the recent RTE ‘Prime Time’ report documenting the racism you have experienced on the streets of Dublin. Despite its reputation for being a welcoming society, Ireland has always had a problem with racism, which is ironic given the numbers of Irish people who have settled in countries all around the world, always expecting to be welcomed. If I lived in Dublin, you would have my vote and I wish you the best of luck in the forthcoming elections. Do not let the ignorance of some get you down – the man who talked off camera of you “making him sick” on the Prime Time programme was a disgrace to all Irishmen – he would be considered a racist idiot in any country.
Fergal
Prime Time
I just wanted to say that I thought you handled the abuse you got from the incredibly ignorant and rude guy featured on Prime Time with dignity and composure.
I think that you are a brave man for getting out there and putting yourself forward for election in these difficult times when unfortunatley people become unreasonable and paranoid in relation to immigrants.
I wish you the best of luck in your campaigning sir and keep up the good work. We need honest people in politics in this country.
Alan
Racism and local organising against it
Paddy, great to see you standing up for yourself and others in the inner city. I used live there and am aware of growing violence against friends. I passed on your info to others organising in and outside inner city Dublin against racism
Good luck.
Dunk, a Dub now in Barcelona
The Late Late Show
2008 – Patrick speaks out against racism on the Late Late Show
Multiculturalism – The Morning Show on TV3
10/7/09 – Patrick joins the panel for a discussion multiculturalism and the experiences of foreign nationals living in Ireland.
Patrick Maphoso – a man with a mission
25/11/09 – “It’s about time that South Africans abroad do something and stop moaning about things back home.”
Patrick Maphoso has been living in Ireland since 2001, and is passionate about making a difference back home in South Africa.
Maphoso grew up in Pampierstad, a small town in the North West Province. Growing up in a small town “was good” says Maphoso, “we are a very close community, and everyone knows each other.”
While working as the security manager at Fourways Mall in Johannesburg in 2001, he was recruited by an Irish company who came to South Africa looking for security officers. “The money I was getting compared to the money I was going to get over here was one of the main reasons for moving” explains Maphoso.
» Read more of this story at The South African website
Racism in Ireland – The Morning Show on TV3
8/4/10 – A segment on racism in Ireland sees Patrick in the studio with Mulhuddart Socialist Party Councillor Ruth Coppinger to discuss the situation in the light of the horrific knife murder of Toyosi Shitta-bey. [Forward the video to 15.34].
» Watch the segment from TV3’s The Morning Show
Yes, we do love this country but racism is getting worse…
11/4/10 – Patrick Maphoso mulls over the question. “About once a week,” he says at last. “Yeah, I’d say I experience racism of some sort here every single week.”
The South African has lived in Dublin since 2001 and stood as an independent in last year’s local election. He failed to win a seat in Dublin City Council but he achieved nationwide coverage when he spoke of the racism he experienced on the campaign trail.
Racism out of control – Anti-hate campaigner warns attacks will rise
18/4/10 – RACISM is at an all-time high in Ireland, a leading anti-hate campaigner has warned.
Former ANC activist Patrick Maphoso, 41, says ethnic families here are living in fear.
And he warned the suspected race-hate killing of Toyosi Shitta-bey, 15, in Tyrellstown on April 2, won’t be the last.
Television -
RTÉ One(Ireland)
2009 – Featured on Prime Time over racist incident during my election campaign
2008 – Guest on Prime Time
2007 – Guest on The Big Bite
2006 – Guest on the Late Late Show; participated in the live programme regarding my personal experience and racist attacks on immigrants
TV3(IRELAND)
2010 – Guest on Ireland AM.
2009 – Guest on the Midweek Programme and Ireland AM.
2007 – Guest on Ireland AM (two appearances)
DCTV(Dublin City Tv)
2009 – Ethnic Minority Forum (appearances in Jul. 2009 and Oct. 2009).
Radio
Ireland
Regular contributor to the following radio stations on issues affecting minorities and immigrants in Ireland:
Newstalk 106 – The Village, Right Hook
FM104 – The Adrian Kennedy Phone Show
Today FM
4 FM
South Africa
Contributions to the following South African radio stations:
Radio 702
Motsweding FM
- Press -
Ireland
Extensive contributions on issues affecting minorities and immigrants, including the following newspapers:
The Irish Independent
The Evening Herald
The Irish Times
The Irish Examiner
The Daily Mirror
South Side People
Irish Daily Mail
Metro Eireann
The African Voice
South Africa
Numerous contributions to the following South African newspapers:
The Daily Mail
The Saturday Star
The Sunday Times
The Star
The South African
New Age
MEDIA GENERAL
Irish Social Forum (Co-Operation and Solidarity Summit Group)
Minutes of a Meeting held on Thursday September 4 2003 @ 7.30pm in the Teachers’ Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
Attendance :
John Meehan, Willy Cumming, Jean Somers, Caoimhe deBarra, Joe Kelly, Paul Dillon, Niav Keating, Orla Walsh, Segun Nelson, Rory Hearne, Paul Cummins, Paul Kinsella, Niall Smyth, Brian Cuddy, Patrick Maphoso, William Morake, Mark Grehan, Joe Campbell.
Apologies :
Pat Clafferty, Barry Finnegan, Brendan Young, Marnie Holborrow, Ian McDonald, Mary Kinane, Pól Ó Gráda
Nomination of Chair and Minute-Taker :
Chair : Niav Keating Minutes : John Meehan
Buildings and Finance Group Report :
Patrick Maphoso and Mark Grehan reported back from the meeting of this group with the following fund-raising proposals :
Table Quiz, Tuesday September 30, 8.00pm, in the Teachers Club, 36 Parnell Square
Sponsored Walk – from the General Post Office, O’Connell Street, to Dún Laoghaire, Sunday October 12, 2.00pm to 5.00pm approximately.
Brochure/booklet to be produced for the weekend and available for purchase by people who attend.
Music/Disco to be held in University College Dublin on the Saturday evening of the Summit, October 18.
Queries were raised regarding charging for admission to the summit – it was agreed to refer again to the draft budget/business plan, drawn up by Pat Clafferty for the Buildings and Finance Group, and circulated a few weeks ago. Agreed to re-circulate this document.
Agreed that proposed expenditure has to be met by realistic plans for fund-raising – we are not going to spend first, and second use up months afterwards raising money from diminishing numbers of volunteers and sympathisers.
Report from Carnival/March Group :
Orla Walsh reported that a Smithfield “Event Management Plan” is needed. Meeting to be held with Smithfield residents next week. Progress so far is good. Contact ongoing with Oxfam, which may be able to act as a sponsor. Once community support is in place, we should be able to use the venue without cost.
European Social Forum :
Rory Hearne reported on invitations to the European Social Forum.
Outreach
Paul Cummins reported. Numerous leaflets and letters were circulated and discussed. It was agreed to issue the comprehensive letter of invitation drawn up by Mark Kinane, with a small amendment regarding the likely venue for the carnival/march.
Irish Social Forum literature will be needed for numerous upcoming events : September 17 Rally against deportations in Liberty Hall; September 27 anti- war demonstrations; etc etc
The workshop invitation form will posted on various websites.
Agreed to also advertise the European Social Forum November event in Paris.
Agreed that leaflets/invitations should be co-ordinated by the outreach group.
Timetable for Plenaries and Workshops :
Racist” attack in Blanchardstown -31/07/2004 – Metro-Eirean
By Kabo Falco Gaamangwe
SANI MASHIYA was ambushed on his arrival at the home of two South African women living in Blanchardstown on Sunday morning of June 6. According to an eye witness, 26 year old Sani was immediately rushed to James Connolly Hospital and later admitted at St James’s Hospital where he was treated for a deep cut and for loss of blood from the forehead.
It is alleged that one of his assailants hit him on the head with a steel gate. The mob also broke his vehicle’s rear windscreen and a passenger-side window with the gate. Another vehicle belonging to a South African woman was similarly damaged at the scene.
When Metro eireann called Catherine Barry (42), a guardian to the two South African women, sat on a sofa and sobbed as she talked. She said that she was now considering selling the house and moving out since she cannot have peace of mind in the neighbourhood. The house “had been broken into before, by white extremists,” she said.
The two South African women were already packing their clothes heading for safety. “They don’t want to see black girls in this neighbourhood,” Barry said.
Patrick Maphoso, a spokesperson for Residents Against Racism, says his organisation intends to take Sani Mashiya’s case to court following the attempt on his life by a mob of white extremists in Blanchardstown during the bank holiday weekend.
In an interview with metro eireann, Maphoso said: “It is unfortunate that where a black person is a victim justice does not take its course and most cases end up being abandoned.”
“Sani’s case is a clear murder attempt and it can not be treated lightly otherwise the lives of black people in Ireland will be in danger.”
Gardia press office confirmed the incident. According to a spokesperson the victim was admitted at St James Colony Hospital for an injury he sustained on the forehead. He also added that investigations are still continuing.
5 May, 2005
May Day march for migrant worker rights
‘Rights and entitlements for migrant workers’ was the theme of the May Day march in Dublin last Saturday, where about 300 of the Turkish
workers currently leading the war against the bonded labour conditions of migrant workers in Ireland, led a demonstration of some 400 people to celebrate May Day.
SIPTU official Eric Fleming co-ordinated the demonstration. Speakers included Sam Nolan, Joe Higgins, Tom Ryan from the Dublin Council of Trade Unions, and Patrick Maphoso, a young migrant worker from South Africa who is a member of Residents Against Racism.
All spoke of the urgent need for the Trade Union Movement as a whole to defend the rights of migrant workers, which are denied across the board in Ireland by a government which still has not introduced legislation to protect migrant workers against unscrupulous employers.
The Ballymun Munch Samba Band led the march and the dance which followed the speeches outside Liberty Hall, beside the small memorial to James Connolly which proclaims so appropriately under the circumstances: “The cause of Labour is the cause of Ireland, the cause of Ireland is the cause of Labour.”
Racist Ireland? 1/28/2006
Balroc Newspaper- An Irish Republican Perspective
Ireland has been branded an apartheid society by former ANC activist Patrick Maphoso. Mr. Maphoso believes that the recent threat to re-deport Nigerian student Olukunle Eluhanla shows an inherient racism in Irish political circles when it is compared with the proposals to foreign students and skilled workers from India permission for them and their families to live in Ireland.
He has been backed up in his comments by Rosanna Flynn from Residents against Racism who points out that;
It’s a question of money and class. The system is always weighted against working-class people but, if you are black and live in poverty, it is worse.While I welcome people coming into the country, the system is very unfair. It’s a case of one rule for the rich and a different rule if you are not rich
To me, this is typical of what is happening in modern day Ireland. Government and society seem only to care about the rich, while those less well-off are almost forgotten about. A society should be judged by how it treats its most vunerable and people should not be judged merely by the colour of their skin or the amount of euro in their pockets. Mr. Maphoso rightly draws a comparasion between the new migrant workers coming into Ireland and the Irish people who for many decades left this island in search of work;
These new policies will only benefit the rich in society, not the poor. A lot of Irish people have very short memories. A lot of them went all over the world and made a lot of money but they forget that now
Personally, I love my country and, while I would like to travel, I have no intention of ever emigrating permanently. However I realise that my generation has been lucky and that the generations before us did not always have that choice. The Irish economy is now thriving but that was not always the case, many young Irish men and women like myself once had no choice but to leave their homes and families to move to Britian or America in search of work. Too many young Irish people these days forget this. We should be grateful for the good fortune and good times Ireland is currently enjoying and we should not begrudge others from harder backgrounds the chance to share in that good fortune when they are willing to work and make a positive contribution to society. As the Bible says “Do unto others as you would have done unto you”.
Migrant workers protest threat from new redundancy rule
dublin | migration | news report Dé Céadaoin Mí na Bealtaine 27, 2009 19:30 by Sparky sparky_dublin at yahoo dot ie Get out or go underground is no choice say protestors
New regulations that could force long-established migrant workers out of Ireland or into the underground economy faced strong opposition from a rally held today. In a spirited protest, over a hundred workers from dozens of countries gathered outside the Tanaiste’s office to call on her to reverse the plan, due to come into effect next Monday.
Under the new rules, migrant workers on work permits who are made redundant will be prohibited from taking up a new job unless it has been publicly advertised for two months, creating an enormous barrier for people to get another job.
Yaiz, a migrant worker from Malaysia told Migrant Rights Centre Ireland: “I have been living here for the past nine years with my wife and two children. I recently lost my job and I am worried what will happen to my family… I want the government to consider people like me who have committed themselves to Ireland, to at least give us a fair chance.”
MCRI chairperson Fr Bobby Gilmore cricitised the move as illogical: “Forcing people into the informal economy will not create jobs for Irish workers. It will encourage exploitation and it will be a loss to revenue. Have we not learned our lesson from the Irish experience in the Unites States and elsewhere?”
The lunchtime demonstration was organised by MRCI with strong backing from SIPTU. Patrick Maphoso, Independent local election candidate for Dublin North Inner city attended the rally and Labour TD Michael D Higgins also joined the protest for a time.
MCRI is urging calls and letters to Tanaiste Mary Coughlan
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
23 Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Tel: 01 631 2172
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