OBV in solidarity with Norway

The whole world shuddered when the tragic news came through that a crazed Right wing extremist Anders Breivik slaughtered 77 Norweigans mostly young men and women. For us at OBV the pain was particularly close.

For over 10 years OBV has been invited to Oslo, Norway to collaborate with BME NGO’s such as the newly formed Anti-racism centre, KIM and political parties in their desire to ensure their migrant communities positively engage in the democratic process and become intergrated, active citizens.

After speaking at a number of conferences their OBV began a collaboration with organisations such as KIM and Committiee for Immigrants and the Authorties to encourage migrant communities to register to vote.

Positive results soon started to come in. We reported back in 2007 the breakthrough of Nadeem Butt became Mayor for the Oslo borough of Søndre Nordstrand and Fauzia Hashi became the newly elected councillor in the town of Vegårdhei.

I returned in 2007 for another conference in which the focus was on young BME individuals taking up politics. It was heartwarming to see so many young people bursting with pride about their multifaceted identity. They were proud to be Muslims, Latin Americans, Somalian’s and Norweigan’s.

As OBV paid tribute to the spirit of that progressive young generation, we pay tribute to the Norwiegan youth again.

Our thoughts are with you.

Simon Woolley

Picture: Norweigan national flag