News

Prime Minister David Cameron may have won the vote in Parliament last night, but he could face a difficult four years by rebel Conservative MPs.

Mr Cameron comfortably defeated a motion tabled by Conservative MP David Nuttall, which called for a referendum on whether the UK should stay in the EU, leave it or renegotiate its membership. The Commons debate was prompted after a petition was signed by more than 100,000 people.

It was during the Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham back in 1985 that David Lammy MP made a decision which may have shaped the path he has taken in life.

The riots were triggered by the death of Cynthia Jarrett, who suffered a stroke after police officers searched her home. The place was turned into a warzone, with local youths clashing with riot police, which resulted in PC Keith Blakelock losing his life.

Jane Lane is an educationalist and a fervent activist always fighting for social and racial justice. Here, she writes for OBV on her thoughts about the assumptions we make and the damaging effects they have, often on those least able to defend themselves. It's a timely and thought-provoking piece.

It has been a long 18 years for the family of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence in their fight for justice and to find those responsible for his death.

Two men, Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 34, are set to stand trial next month for Stephen's murder at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London in April 1993.

It has been a tough journey for Stephen's family, who have fought tirelessly over the years to not only bring his killers to justice, but also preserve the memory of their son, who was 18 years old when he died.

In the continued fight to empower the next generation of leaders and captains of industry, OBV held an event for students at BSix Brooke House Sixth Form College in Hackney earlier this month.

'Empowering a new Generation' had the aim of empowering and engaging around 100 young people aged 16-18 years old in the areas of education, employment and civic partnership.

OBV invited a number of speakers from different fields of employment to talk about their journey in their chosen occupations and advise about following in their footsteps.

Bishop Wayne Malcolm is a good friend of OBV and a key partner in Operation Hope and Recovery. Here is his invitation to you. If you you’d like to go, friends of OBV will receive three tickets for the price of one.

Dear friends of OBV,

I’m Bishop Wayne Malcolm, inviting you to a special event that addresses the subject of economic empowerment in a very practical way. Live the dream 2011 was designed to furnish delegates with over 100 realistic alternatives to job-insecurity, austerity and inflation.

With unconfirmed reports, it looks like the very brutal end for Muammar Gaddafi, the former ruler of Libya for more than 45 years.

On the Guardian website they show (with an apology) a graphic blood stained picture of the former ruler.

Before his capture there was heavy fighting in his home town of Sirte. It has been reported that he was fleeing in a convoy of cars, before it was initially attacked by NATO helicoptors.

As part of Black History Month, BME women from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) organised a one-day seminar called “Black Innovation and Inspiration.”

There was an array of speakers, including Stephen Banyard (HMRC Director General Personal Tax and Gender Champion), Dr Vivienne Connell-Hall (HMRC Race Coordinator), and Cliff Johnrose from the Ministry of Justice Department.

The ‘Jasmine’ revolution started in Tunisia and spread across the region as the Arab Spring while the Toxteth race riots, Liverpool 1981, followed earlier demonstrations in Brixton.

Recent youth unemployment figures provide a stark reminder of the huge difficulties facing all young people during this financial crisis, but none more so than young Black people. Recent figures show 50 percent of Black people aged 16-24 years are unemployed compared with 20 percent White people.