[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] well I yeah thank you very much I I wish
well I yeah thank you very much I I wish
well I yeah thank you very much I I wish people did that every time I walked into
people did that every time I walked into
people did that every time I walked into a room okay I logged into it so look I
a room okay I logged into it so look I
a room okay I logged into it so look I think it’s um it’s widely assumed if not
think it’s um it’s widely assumed if not
think it’s um it’s widely assumed if not widely articulated that states have some
widely articulated that states have some
widely articulated that states have some sort of natural right to determine who
sort of natural right to determine who
sort of natural right to determine who comes into their into their territories
comes into their into their territories
comes into their into their territories what I want to do today is try and
what I want to do today is try and
what I want to do today is try and persuade you that that is not only false
persuade you that that is not only false
persuade you that that is not only false but leads to some deep immorality and
but leads to some deep immorality and
but leads to some deep immorality and and then because this is TEDx Brighton
and then because this is TEDx Brighton
and then because this is TEDx Brighton leave you with some happy thoughts as to
leave you with some happy thoughts as to
leave you with some happy thoughts as to how we can how we can resist that okay
how we can how we can resist that okay
how we can how we can resist that okay so before we launch into into the border
so before we launch into into the border
so before we launch into into the border and why we need to think a little bit
and why we need to think a little bit
and why we need to think a little bit about law and here by law I don’t just
about law and here by law I don’t just
about law and here by law I don’t just mean formal legal systems I do mean any
mean formal legal systems I do mean any
mean formal legal systems I do mean any kind of set of norms that govern
kind of set of norms that govern
kind of set of norms that govern communities but because we’re focusing
communities but because we’re focusing
communities but because we’re focusing on nation-states today I’m going to we
on nation-states today I’m going to we
on nation-states today I’m going to we can just restrict it to conduct to the
can just restrict it to conduct to the
can just restrict it to conduct to the formal legal systems now I think any any
formal legal systems now I think any any
formal legal systems now I think any any legal system that’s going to be
legal system that’s going to be
legal system that’s going to be legitimate needs to be underpinned by a
legitimate needs to be underpinned by a
legitimate needs to be underpinned by a principle and here’s the principle so
principle and here’s the principle so
principle and here’s the principle so resisting with laws to be legitimate
resisting with laws to be legitimate
resisting with laws to be legitimate those who are subject to the force of
those who are subject to the force of
those who are subject to the force of the law must also be offered its
the law must also be offered its
the law must also be offered its protection that’s what I think now what
protection that’s what I think now what
protection that’s what I think now what does that mean
does that mean
does that mean let’s on pick it a bit if your subjects
let’s on pick it a bit if your subjects
let’s on pick it a bit if your subjects the force of the law then the law is
the force of the law then the law is
the force of the law then the law is claiming power over you exclaiming power
claiming power over you exclaiming power
claiming power over you exclaiming power to regulate your life regulate your
to regulate your life regulate your
to regulate your life regulate your relationships determine you know what’s
relationships determine you know what’s
relationships determine you know what’s acceptable behavior and so on and that’s
acceptable behavior and so on and that’s
acceptable behavior and so on and that’s all backed up with the threat of
all backed up with the threat of
all backed up with the threat of punishment incarceration or fines in our
punishment incarceration or fines in our
punishment incarceration or fines in our case what is it to be offered the Lord’s
case what is it to be offered the Lord’s
case what is it to be offered the Lord’s protection well I think the law has to
protection well I think the law has to
protection well I think the law has to be taking your interests your values and
be taking your interests your values and
be taking your interests your values and your needs into account in some sense
your needs into account in some sense
your needs into account in some sense the law has to be for you now it’s easy
the law has to be for you now it’s easy
the law has to be for you now it’s easy to motivate that principle I think if
to motivate that principle I think if
to motivate that principle I think if you’re a Democrat democracy is a system
you’re a Democrat democracy is a system
you’re a Democrat democracy is a system of government I think in which what
of government I think in which what
of government I think in which what happens happens with the consent of the
happens happens with the consent of the
happens happens with the consent of the governed no that that’s not necessarily
governed no that that’s not necessarily
governed no that that’s not necessarily involves voting but you can see why we
involves voting but you can see why we
involves voting but you can see why we stumbled upon voting I think as the as a
stumbled upon voting I think as the as a
stumbled upon voting I think as the as a solution to the central problem of
solution to the central problem of
solution to the central problem of democracy namely how do we deal with
democracy namely how do we deal with
democracy namely how do we deal with irreconcilable disagreement in any large
irreconcilable disagreement in any large
irreconcilable disagreement in any large enough community we’re never
enough community we’re never
enough community we’re never I’m going to agree on what should happen
I’m going to agree on what should happen
I’m going to agree on what should happen and if I if I disagree with something
and if I if I disagree with something
and if I if I disagree with something how can I consent to it and I think the
how can I consent to it and I think the
how can I consent to it and I think the answer is well what we need is a fair
answer is well what we need is a fair
answer is well what we need is a fair process of making decisions and a
process of making decisions and a
process of making decisions and a process in which I can take part and
process in which I can take part and
process in which I can take part and that’s why I think we have a system of a
that’s why I think we have a system of a
that’s why I think we have a system of a rating that’s meant to be a fair process
rating that’s meant to be a fair process
rating that’s meant to be a fair process how well our first past the post system
how well our first past the post system
how well our first past the post system does I couldn’t possibly comment
does I couldn’t possibly comment
does I couldn’t possibly comment I digress
I digress
I digress I don’t think though it’s just Democrat
I don’t think though it’s just Democrat
I don’t think though it’s just Democrat Democratic systems that need to be
Democratic systems that need to be
Democratic systems that need to be underpinned by this principle I think
underpinned by this principle I think
underpinned by this principle I think indeed any any system of government does
indeed any any system of government does
indeed any any system of government does because if not what what happens is the
because if not what what happens is the
because if not what what happens is the lawyers can claiming complete power over
lawyers can claiming complete power over
lawyers can claiming complete power over you the only thing that’s constraining
you the only thing that’s constraining
you the only thing that’s constraining the law is is the will of the rulers and
the law is is the will of the rulers and
the law is is the will of the rulers and that I think is totalitarianism and the
that I think is totalitarianism and the
that I think is totalitarianism and the heart of totalitarianism is this idea
heart of totalitarianism is this idea
heart of totalitarianism is this idea that the state has absolute power over
that the state has absolute power over
that the state has absolute power over you and has and the only thing that’s
you and has and the only thing that’s
you and has and the only thing that’s going to constrain that is is what the
going to constrain that is is what the
going to constrain that is is what the rule is fine to be expedient so there’s
rule is fine to be expedient so there’s
rule is fine to be expedient so there’s an awful lot at stake here okay so I’m
an awful lot at stake here okay so I’m
an awful lot at stake here okay so I’m going to try and use that principle to
going to try and use that principle to
going to try and use that principle to show you why closed borders are
show you why closed borders are
show you why closed borders are illegitimate so let’s think about
illegitimate so let’s think about
illegitimate so let’s think about borders for a moment okay no borders are
borders for a moment okay no borders are
borders for a moment okay no borders are like that’s not on border so a closed
like that’s not on border so a closed
like that’s not on border so a closed borders I can leave my bedroom freely
borders I can leave my bedroom freely
borders I can leave my bedroom freely and walk into my front room or not walk
and walk into my front room or not walk
and walk into my front room or not walk in my case but anyway and if I do then I
in my case but anyway and if I do then I
in my case but anyway and if I do then I love I love crossed a border and the
love I love crossed a border and the
love I love crossed a border and the norms of behavior that that govern those
norms of behavior that that govern those
norms of behavior that that govern those things will will have changed right so
things will will have changed right so
things will will have changed right so for example in the in the bedroom with
for example in the in the bedroom with
for example in the in the bedroom with the right background prerequisite it’s
the right background prerequisite it’s
the right background prerequisite it’s really very acceptable to be naked with
really very acceptable to be naked with
really very acceptable to be naked with other people much less so in the front
other people much less so in the front
other people much less so in the front room
room
room if you are you’ll probably be being a
if you are you’ll probably be being a
if you are you’ll probably be being a bit dirty that’s okay right but
bit dirty that’s okay right but
bit dirty that’s okay right but unfortunately all borders are open
unfortunately all borders are open
unfortunately all borders are open borders right I even if I had the money
borders right I even if I had the money
borders right I even if I had the money I don’t have the papers to go to the US
I don’t have the papers to go to the US
I don’t have the papers to go to the US I can’t jump on a plane tomorrow and
I can’t jump on a plane tomorrow and
I can’t jump on a plane tomorrow and spend the weekend in New York although
spend the weekend in New York although
spend the weekend in New York although being a nice white British person I
being a nice white British person I
being a nice white British person I could probably manage to manage to get
could probably manage to manage to get
could probably manage to manage to get papers within about 72 hours but if you
papers within about 72 hours but if you
papers within about 72 hours but if you came from Somalia or the global south
came from Somalia or the global south
came from Somalia or the global south and you want to go into the countries
and you want to go into the countries
and you want to go into the countries where the money’s flow you’re going to
where the money’s flow you’re going to
where the money’s flow you’re going to find those borders shut against you and
find those borders shut against you and
find those borders shut against you and an incredible level of state violence
an incredible level of state violence
an incredible level of state violence employed to keep you out and that’s why
employed to keep you out and that’s why
employed to keep you out and that’s why we’ve seen people drown of dying in the
we’ve seen people drown of dying in the
we’ve seen people drown of dying in the Sahara and drowning in the Med trapped
Sahara and drowning in the Med trapped
Sahara and drowning in the Med trapped in in in in effectively in concentration
in in in in effectively in concentration
in in in in effectively in concentration camps in in the Aegean and and
camps in in the Aegean and and
camps in in the Aegean and and persecuted and harassed border
persecuted and harassed border
persecuted and harassed border bottlenecks like Calais or across Europe
bottlenecks like Calais or across Europe
bottlenecks like Calais or across Europe okay so we know that happens how does
okay so we know that happens how does
okay so we know that happens how does the principle apply here well let’s just
the principle apply here well let’s just
the principle apply here well let’s just think about it for a moment if you’re in
think about it for a moment if you’re in
think about it for a moment if you’re in Calais and you’re trying to come to the
Calais and you’re trying to come to the
Calais and you’re trying to come to the UK without papers you’ll find the border
UK without papers you’ll find the border
UK without papers you’ll find the border closed against you but the law there has
closed against you but the law there has
closed against you but the law there has to be acting on both sides of the border
to be acting on both sides of the border
to be acting on both sides of the border right the law the British law is
right the law the British law is
right the law the British law is claiming the power over you to stop you
claiming the power over you to stop you
claiming the power over you to stop you coming in and forcing you but of course
coming in and forcing you but of course
coming in and forcing you but of course you’re outside of the UK’s jurisdiction
you’re outside of the UK’s jurisdiction
you’re outside of the UK’s jurisdiction so it’s not offering you its protection
so it’s not offering you its protection
so it’s not offering you its protection any sense it’s not taking your interest
any sense it’s not taking your interest
any sense it’s not taking your interest into account and that’s why those border
into account and that’s why those border
into account and that’s why those border spaces are so incredibly violent the
spaces are so incredibly violent the
spaces are so incredibly violent the people on the other side of the border
people on the other side of the border
people on the other side of the border has subject to the force of a law to
has subject to the force of a law to
has subject to the force of a law to which they’re not being offered its
which they’re not being offered its
which they’re not being offered its protection
protection
protection and I think that’s fundamentally
and I think that’s fundamentally
and I think that’s fundamentally illegitimate and so we can see that this
illegitimate and so we can see that this
illegitimate and so we can see that this assumption the state has a natural right
assumption the state has a natural right
assumption the state has a natural right to keep you out is in fact false now you
to keep you out is in fact false now you
to keep you out is in fact false now you might say like fine you’ve got an
might say like fine you’ve got an
might say like fine you’ve got an argument to show that that the
argument to show that that the
argument to show that that the principles false and it’s unjust but you
principles false and it’s unjust but you
principles false and it’s unjust but you can’t seriously expect us to open the
can’t seriously expect us to open the
can’t seriously expect us to open the border simply because you’ve kind of got
border simply because you’ve kind of got
border simply because you’ve kind of got a neat argument so that you need to keep
a neat argument so that you need to keep
a neat argument so that you need to keep the border closed that’s just a kind of
the border closed that’s just a kind of
the border closed that’s just a kind of philosophers problem and I would say
philosophers problem and I would say
philosophers problem and I would say well fine like I want to live in a just
well fine like I want to live in a just
well fine like I want to live in a just world I think it’s not just I think we
world I think it’s not just I think we
world I think it’s not just I think we can do something about it but maybe you
can do something about it but maybe you
can do something about it but maybe you can make yourself happy with that much
can make yourself happy with that much
can make yourself happy with that much injustice but I want to draw your
injustice but I want to draw your
injustice but I want to draw your attention to a feature of the UK border
attention to a feature of the UK border
attention to a feature of the UK border regime of
regime of
regime of that’s replicated across Europe and in
that’s replicated across Europe and in
that’s replicated across Europe and in the US but is one that I fight against
the US but is one that I fight against
the US but is one that I fight against here so that’s what I’m going to talk
here so that’s what I’m going to talk
here so that’s what I’m going to talk about and it’s namely that once you
about and it’s namely that once you
about and it’s namely that once you cross the border into the UK if you
cross the border into the UK if you
cross the border into the UK if you don’t have papers you don’t have the
don’t have papers you don’t have the
don’t have papers you don’t have the government’s permission it says if
government’s permission it says if
government’s permission it says if you’re not here legally you still remain
you’re not here legally you still remain
you’re not here legally you still remain on the other side of the border now why
on the other side of the border now why
on the other side of the border now why do I say that well for a start you’re
do I say that well for a start you’re
do I say that well for a start you’re not it’s illegal for you to work it’s
not it’s illegal for you to work it’s
not it’s illegal for you to work it’s illegal for someone to rent you a house
illegal for someone to rent you a house
illegal for someone to rent you a house you can’t have a driving license you
you can’t have a driving license you
you can’t have a driving license you can’t have a bank account you can’t get
can’t have a bank account you can’t get
can’t have a bank account you can’t get you can get only a very very small range
you can get only a very very small range
you can get only a very very small range of Social Security and then only in
of Social Security and then only in
of Social Security and then only in exceptional circumstances there’s an
exceptional circumstances there’s an
exceptional circumstances there’s an ever-diminishing range of health care
ever-diminishing range of health care
ever-diminishing range of health care services that you’re entitled to and to
services that you’re entitled to and to
services that you’re entitled to and to make it worse if you then go to any of
make it worse if you then go to any of
make it worse if you then go to any of these kind of service providers they’re
these kind of service providers they’re
these kind of service providers they’re expected to check your immigration
expected to check your immigration
expected to check your immigration status and report that back to the home
status and report that back to the home
status and report that back to the home office so effectively the border is
office so effectively the border is
office so effectively the border is everywhere and everyone is a border
everywhere and everyone is a border
everywhere and everyone is a border guard even more dramatically and more
guard even more dramatically and more
guard even more dramatically and more horrific Li you can be detained
horrific Li you can be detained
horrific Li you can be detained indefinitely for administrative purposes
indefinitely for administrative purposes
indefinitely for administrative purposes in so-called immigration detention
in so-called immigration detention
in so-called immigration detention centers like Moreton Hall immigration
centers like Moreton Hall immigration
centers like Moreton Hall immigration removal centers like Moreton Hall if
removal centers like Moreton Hall if
removal centers like Moreton Hall if you’re a UK citizen and so subject to
you’re a UK citizen and so subject to
you’re a UK citizen and so subject to the force of the law but also for its
the force of the law but also for its
the force of the law but also for its protection and the government wants to
protection and the government wants to
protection and the government wants to lock you up what the government has to
lock you up what the government has to
lock you up what the government has to do is go before a judge persuade the
do is go before a judge persuade the
do is go before a judge persuade the judge and the court that you you should
judge and the court that you you should
judge and the court that you you should be detained the exception of course is
be detained the exception of course is
be detained the exception of course is in some terrorist related stuff we
in some terrorist related stuff we
in some terrorist related stuff we should be very worried about the
should be very worried about the
should be very worried about the undermining of of that principle in with
undermining of of that principle in with
undermining of of that principle in with terrorism but if you’re if you’re a
terrorism but if you’re if you’re a
terrorism but if you’re if you’re a person here without papers you can be
person here without papers you can be
person here without papers you can be subject you can be locked up
subject you can be locked up
subject you can be locked up indefinitely simply because it serves
indefinitely simply because it serves
indefinitely simply because it serves the purposes of the administration it’s
the purposes of the administration it’s
the purposes of the administration it’s very clear that you are being subject to
very clear that you are being subject to
very clear that you are being subject to the force of the law but not being
the force of the law but not being
the force of the law but not being offered its protection before I move on
offered its protection before I move on
offered its protection before I move on to talk about what we can do about it I
to talk about what we can do about it I
to talk about what we can do about it I want to draw attention to the really key
want to draw attention to the really key
want to draw attention to the really key feature of of this system and that is
feature of of this system and that is
feature of of this system and that is that it’s racist I think a lot of people
that it’s racist I think a lot of people
that it’s racist I think a lot of people in my generation was taught by programs
in my generation was taught by programs
in my generation was taught by programs like Blue Peter that that racism was
like Blue Peter that that racism was
like Blue Peter that that racism was about prejudice and power and although
about prejudice and power and although
about prejudice and power and although of course prejudice and power are
of course prejudice and power are
of course prejudice and power are mechanisms by which racism works they’re
mechanisms by which racism works they’re
mechanisms by which racism works they’re not the heart of racism racism is simply
not the heart of racism racism is simply
not the heart of racism racism is simply the systematic exclusion of people
the systematic exclusion of people
the systematic exclusion of people from society and its goods and services
from society and its goods and services
from society and its goods and services because of their kind of perceived
because of their kind of perceived
because of their kind of perceived foreignness and I don’t need to have any
foreignness and I don’t need to have any
foreignness and I don’t need to have any psychological attitudes to work to
psychological attitudes to work to
psychological attitudes to work to exclude you from society because the
exclude you from society because the
exclude you from society because the things I take for granted all I have to
things I take for granted all I have to
things I take for granted all I have to do is make myself comfortable with that
do is make myself comfortable with that
do is make myself comfortable with that level of injustice and more pertinently
level of injustice and more pertinently
level of injustice and more pertinently institutions don’t have psychological
institutions don’t have psychological
institutions don’t have psychological attitudes affect they can have
attitudes affect they can have
attitudes affect they can have psychological attitudes but they can
psychological attitudes but they can
psychological attitudes but they can work to systematically exclude people
work to systematically exclude people
work to systematically exclude people because of because of their origins and
because of because of their origins and
because of because of their origins and that’s exactly what Sol or is doing if
that’s exactly what Sol or is doing if
that’s exactly what Sol or is doing if you’re here without papers that the
you’re here without papers that the
you’re here without papers that the whole mechanism of the state is geared
whole mechanism of the state is geared
whole mechanism of the state is geared up to keep you out from society and so
up to keep you out from society and so
up to keep you out from society and so we’ve got a brutal and racist injustice
we’ve got a brutal and racist injustice
we’ve got a brutal and racist injustice do we need to do something about I mean
do we need to do something about I mean
do we need to do something about I mean it’s a huge problem the best available
it’s a huge problem the best available
it’s a huge problem the best available estimate suggests that are around about
estimate suggests that are around about
estimate suggests that are around about 600,000 people here without papers we
600,000 people here without papers we
600,000 people here without papers we know that about 250,000 that’s a quarter
know that about 250,000 that’s a quarter
know that about 250,000 that’s a quarter of a million people immigrants are
of a million people immigrants are
of a million people immigrants are destitute and around about a hundred
destitute and around about a hundred
destitute and around about a hundred thousand of those people will have slept
thousand of those people will have slept
thousand of those people will have slept rough so it’s really something that we
rough so it’s really something that we
rough so it’s really something that we have to do something about and what can
have to do something about and what can
have to do something about and what can we do about it
we do about it
we do about it well I think the answer is quite a lot
well I think the answer is quite a lot
well I think the answer is quite a lot fortunately I’m an optimist and I think
fortunately I’m an optimist and I think
fortunately I’m an optimist and I think the first thing to remember is although
the first thing to remember is although
the first thing to remember is although laws govern society they’re not the only
laws govern society they’re not the only
laws govern society they’re not the only they’re not the only norms that govern
they’re not the only norms that govern
they’re not the only norms that govern things fortunately it’s not yet illegal
things fortunately it’s not yet illegal
things fortunately it’s not yet illegal to to lie about what you’ve been doing
to to lie about what you’ve been doing
to to lie about what you’ve been doing to your friends but you can generally
to your friends but you can generally
to your friends but you can generally expect your friends to be truthful when
expect your friends to be truthful when
expect your friends to be truthful when you ask them what they did at the
you ask them what they did at the
you ask them what they did at the weekend the law I think in some ways
weekend the law I think in some ways
weekend the law I think in some ways discourages us from helping our
discourages us from helping our
discourages us from helping our neighbors you can get yourself into all
neighbors you can get yourself into all
neighbors you can get yourself into all sorts of legal trouble if things go
sorts of legal trouble if things go
sorts of legal trouble if things go wrong when you’re trying to help people
wrong when you’re trying to help people
wrong when you’re trying to help people but that doesn’t stop us setting up
but that doesn’t stop us setting up
but that doesn’t stop us setting up schemes that promote based on mutual aid
schemes that promote based on mutual aid
schemes that promote based on mutual aid that promote good neighborliness and so
that promote good neighborliness and so
that promote good neighborliness and so I think that’s exactly the sort of thing
I think that’s exactly the sort of thing
I think that’s exactly the sort of thing we’ve got to try and do here look and
we’ve got to try and do here look and
we’ve got to try and do here look and also of course you can just ignore laws
also of course you can just ignore laws
also of course you can just ignore laws you can break them I think I’m not a fan
you can break them I think I’m not a fan
you can break them I think I’m not a fan of cannabis but actually one of the
of cannabis but actually one of the
of cannabis but actually one of the reasons why the criminalization of
reasons why the criminalization of
reasons why the criminalization of marijuana is creaking is simply that no
marijuana is creaking is simply that no
marijuana is creaking is simply that no one’s bothered by the fact that it’s
one’s bothered by the fact that it’s
one’s bothered by the fact that it’s illegal it doesn’t prevent anyone from
illegal it doesn’t prevent anyone from
illegal it doesn’t prevent anyone from smoking it so and I think we need to try
smoking it so and I think we need to try
smoking it so and I think we need to try and bring those principles in to to the
and bring those principles in to to the
and bring those principles in to to the struggle against the border so for
struggle against the border so for
struggle against the border so for example the school census is going to
example the school census is going to
example the school census is going to require you to give information and ask
require you to give information and ask
require you to give information and ask you to give information about
you to give information about
you to give information about your immigration sages and Nationality
your immigration sages and Nationality
your immigration sages and Nationality to the schools but if you’re a parent
to the schools but if you’re a parent
to the schools but if you’re a parent you don’t have to fill that part of the
you don’t have to fill that part of the
you don’t have to fill that part of the census in and if you don’t feel that
census in and if you don’t feel that
census in and if you don’t feel that part of the census in then it’s then it
part of the census in then it’s then it
part of the census in then it’s then it makes the whole exercise pointless and
makes the whole exercise pointless and
makes the whole exercise pointless and it’s a way we have of pushing the border
it’s a way we have of pushing the border
it’s a way we have of pushing the border back to the border similarly when you go
back to the border similarly when you go
back to the border similarly when you go to the hospital in Brighton and it’s
to the hospital in Brighton and it’s
to the hospital in Brighton and it’s going to be rolled out nationally you’re
going to be rolled out nationally you’re
going to be rolled out nationally you’re going to be expected to produce identity
going to be expected to produce identity
going to be expected to produce identity and proof of nationality so they can
and proof of nationality so they can
and proof of nationality so they can work out who’s entitled to treatment but
work out who’s entitled to treatment but
work out who’s entitled to treatment but you don’t have to produce those
you don’t have to produce those
you don’t have to produce those documents and if we don’t it will also
documents and if we don’t it will also
documents and if we don’t it will also strengthen the administrators and the
strengthen the administrators and the
strengthen the administrators and the frontline staff who want to resist being
frontline staff who want to resist being
frontline staff who want to resist being turned in to border guards and again we
turned in to border guards and again we
turned in to border guards and again we can start to push back the border now
can start to push back the border now
can start to push back the border now it’s harder in employment or housing
it’s harder in employment or housing
it’s harder in employment or housing work because it becomes a criminal
work because it becomes a criminal
work because it becomes a criminal offence to employ somebody or to or to
offence to employ somebody or to or to
offence to employ somebody or to or to rent them a house and by all means break
rent them a house and by all means break
rent them a house and by all means break the law I I highly encourage you to but
the law I I highly encourage you to but
the law I I highly encourage you to but obviously it’s a it’s a big risk right
obviously it’s a it’s a big risk right
obviously it’s a it’s a big risk right and that’s one of the reasons why we set
and that’s one of the reasons why we set
and that’s one of the reasons why we set up thousand four one thousand we said
up thousand four one thousand we said
up thousand four one thousand we said look we can find homes for people we can
look we can find homes for people we can
look we can find homes for people we can bring them in by community funding we
bring them in by community funding we
bring them in by community funding we can have recurring micro donations from
can have recurring micro donations from
can have recurring micro donations from enough people the headlines would have a
enough people the headlines would have a
enough people the headlines would have a thousand people with a pound a month and
thousand people with a pound a month and
thousand people with a pound a month and we’d be able to rent homes and so far we
we’d be able to rent homes and so far we
we’d be able to rent homes and so far we found homes for seven people in Brighton
found homes for seven people in Brighton
found homes for seven people in Brighton and we’re expanding all the time which
and we’re expanding all the time which
and we’re expanding all the time which is great there are also spare room
is great there are also spare room
is great there are also spare room schemes if you’re lucky enough to have
schemes if you’re lucky enough to have
schemes if you’re lucky enough to have the spare room in Brighton or anywhere
the spare room in Brighton or anywhere
the spare room in Brighton or anywhere then you can sign up to room for
then you can sign up to room for
then you can sign up to room for refugees from positive action in housing
refugees from positive action in housing
refugees from positive action in housing and and how somebody in your house will
and and how somebody in your house will
and and how somebody in your house will they sort out their immigration status
they sort out their immigration status
they sort out their immigration status but it’s not just those kind of
but it’s not just those kind of
but it’s not just those kind of practical things I also think we can
practical things I also think we can
practical things I also think we can think about how how we run our
think about how how we run our
think about how how we run our communities to make them more inclusive
communities to make them more inclusive
communities to make them more inclusive if you’re going to hear from Tim later
if you’re going to hear from Tim later
if you’re going to hear from Tim later in the day from the right in Table
in the day from the right in Table
in the day from the right in Table Tennis Club but they’ve been amazing
Tennis Club but they’ve been amazing
Tennis Club but they’ve been amazing about making space for refugees and
about making space for refugees and
about making space for refugees and asylum seekers and they’re now using
asylum seekers and they’re now using
asylum seekers and they’re now using ping-pong to teach people English and
ping-pong to teach people English and
ping-pong to teach people English and it’s a really lovely project that
it’s a really lovely project that
it’s a really lovely project that increases the diversity in our
increases the diversity in our
increases the diversity in our communities the Harvey Road project who
communities the Harvey Road project who
communities the Harvey Road project who are amazing set up the global social
are amazing set up the global social
are amazing set up the global social club on a very similar similar kind of
club on a very similar similar kind of
club on a very similar similar kind of way and there are plenty of other
way and there are plenty of other
way and there are plenty of other projects in Brighton that do similar
projects in Brighton that do similar
projects in Brighton that do similar things so that’s the more that we
things so that’s the more that we
things so that’s the more that we amplify these projects with our support
amplify these projects with our support
amplify these projects with our support with our voices with our money and with
with our voices with our money and with
with our voices with our money and with our time the more we increase the
our time the more we increase the
our time the more we increase the diversity and inclusivity of our society
diversity and inclusivity of our society
diversity and inclusivity of our society and the more we push back against the
and the more we push back against the
and the more we push back against the border and that for me is very exciting
border and that for me is very exciting
border and that for me is very exciting because I am rubbish on the barricades I
because I am rubbish on the barricades I
because I am rubbish on the barricades I am no good and that’s like type of type
am no good and that’s like type of type
am no good and that’s like type of type of the fight
of the fight
of the fight but instead we can try and find
but instead we can try and find
but instead we can try and find practical ways to make our society
practical ways to make our society
practical ways to make our society inclusive and value diversity for the
inclusive and value diversity for the
inclusive and value diversity for the good that it is before I go I want to
good that it is before I go I want to
good that it is before I go I want to leave you with one one final thought if
leave you with one one final thought if
leave you with one one final thought if you’re not yet convinced that we need to
you’re not yet convinced that we need to
you’re not yet convinced that we need to open the border and we should have a
open the border and we should have a
open the border and we should have a diverse society then then I want to try
diverse society then then I want to try
diverse society then then I want to try to sway do that we should is my last
to sway do that we should is my last
to sway do that we should is my last pitch ok so um I think I don’t think
pitch ok so um I think I don’t think
pitch ok so um I think I don’t think that many people who want to keep the
that many people who want to keep the
that many people who want to keep the border closed want to keep the border
border closed want to keep the border
border closed want to keep the border closed because they want Britain to be
closed because they want Britain to be
closed because they want Britain to be white I think there are kind of tiny
white I think there are kind of tiny
white I think there are kind of tiny handful of people that have those
handful of people that have those
handful of people that have those diehard racist views I think I guess for
diehard racist views I think I guess for
diehard racist views I think I guess for most people there’s a kind of fear I’d
most people there’s a kind of fear I’d
most people there’s a kind of fear I’d make that guess because I I have it
make that guess because I I have it
make that guess because I I have it myself from time to time and I think we
myself from time to time and I think we
myself from time to time and I think we all of us are aware that we have it good
all of us are aware that we have it good
all of us are aware that we have it good here in global terms we have a stable
here in global terms we have a stable
here in global terms we have a stable functioning society we have universal
functioning society we have universal
functioning society we have universal health care universal education Social
health care universal education Social
health care universal education Social Security and we’re rich enough to make
Security and we’re rich enough to make
Security and we’re rich enough to make those best and if we’ve made those
those best and if we’ve made those
those best and if we’ve made those political choices and of course change
political choices and of course change
political choices and of course change change is a risk you never know what’s
change is a risk you never know what’s
change is a risk you never know what’s going to happen if you make a big change
going to happen if you make a big change
going to happen if you make a big change so we kind of get scared I think and we
so we kind of get scared I think and we
so we kind of get scared I think and we and we don’t want to do it we want to
and we don’t want to do it we want to
and we don’t want to do it we want to keep our privilege but I think we should
keep our privilege but I think we should
keep our privilege but I think we should we should we should ignore that fear
we should we should ignore that fear
we should we should ignore that fear because when you’re afraid you’re
because when you’re afraid you’re
because when you’re afraid you’re isolated and you’re lonely and you miss
isolated and you’re lonely and you miss
isolated and you’re lonely and you miss out on diversity which is the
out on diversity which is the
out on diversity which is the fundamental social good so I really
fundamental social good so I really
fundamental social good so I really think you need to open a heart and open
think you need to open a heart and open
think you need to open a heart and open our minds and welcoming other people
our minds and welcoming other people
our minds and welcoming other people because frankly is just more joyous
because frankly is just more joyous
because frankly is just more joyous right so if you haven’t yet joined us in
right so if you haven’t yet joined us in
right so if you haven’t yet joined us in the struggle against the border then
the struggle against the border then
the struggle against the border then please do because I guarantee you that
please do because I guarantee you that
please do because I guarantee you that we have the most fun
we have the most fun
we have the most fun [Applause]
”
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