Tuesday 19 June 2012

World Refugee Day - Clare County Library "does 1 thing" to support refugees

No one chooses to be a refugee. This World Refugee Day, borrow a refugee book from your local library and show you care.  Libraries across County Clare will participate in the do 1 thing campaign run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Office in Ireland to mark World Refugee Day on 20th June. Stands displaying refugee titles, written by or about refugees, will be displayed in libraries across the County for one week around World Refugee Day.  

Hassan H Faramarz will read from his book The Flagless Ones: An Iranian Refugee Family Story in deValera Library, Ennis on Friday 22nd at 11am. Now a resident of Ennis, Hassan's story tells of his family's journey from Iran to China and finally to Ireland as part of the UN Refugee Agency.  Fleeing for their lives, this Iranian family found hearbreak, agony, bigotry and hatred before finally finding the good that exists in some people. Hassan describes the trials and difficulties of being a refugee cut off from his native land. 

All 15 branch libraries in the county will take part in the campaign. There are lots of refugee books to choose from, including titles for children and adults, fiction and non-fiction, popular novels like The Kite Runner as well as less well-known but equally moving ones like Purple Hibiscus. Relevant film titles are also listed and these are also available for loan. Anyone who takes out a refugee title will get a free bookmark with a list of other recommended reads on it.

The do 1 thing campaign asks people in Ireland to take one simple action to show support for refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland and internationally who have fled their homes in the hope of finding safety in another country. Reading a refugee related book is one way to show you care. Sophie Magennis, Head of Office at UNHCR Ireland says, “Refugees across the world have shown great courage and resilience in escaping from terrible situations and the do 1 thing campaign is about showing understanding and support. Some of the books highlighted by the do 1 thing campaign are difficult reads, but many of these titles are also testaments to human ingenuity, resilience and strength.” For more information about UNHCR Ireland and the do 1 thing campaign, log on to the UNHCR Ireland website: www.do1thing.ie

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