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Taf-Od: A oedd CYI yn iawn i wrthod cwestiynau UKIP? P32 >> gair rhydd | freeword Cardiff ’s student weekly Issue 1091 Monday 6th February 2017 Wales town centres to receive £10m in regeneration loans
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Photographer: Jonathan Baker
Thousands gather on Cardiff Queen Street to protest against ‘Muslim ban’ Gabriella Mansell and Harry Webster
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housands of protesters took to the streets of Cardiff last Monday, in attempt to show ‘unity’ and ‘give a voice’ to those exiled by President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order. The polarising policy, which bans immigrants and visa holders from seven majority Muslim countries – Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan – from entering the US for 90 days, has been met by staunch opposition and protest across the UK, and has even seen a petition put to Parliament to the ban the President himself from the country. One protester, a Cardiff University history student, Yousif Nadeem, told Gair Rhydd of how the policy had ruined his plans to move to the US upon obtaining his degree.
Speaking exclusively to Gair Rhydd, first-year Nadeem said, “I’m here because I am Muslim and I am hoping that after I’m finished with university for three years I am hoping to get a work permit in the US, and that’s probably not going to happen now. “By me being a part of this I can hope to help to prevent this ban.” Sympathy for Mr Nadeem’s feelings were shared amongst protesters, with many claiming they had come out to show unity, and support for those affected by the ban. One protester said: “I don’t believe what’s happening in America is the way forward, not just for America, but for the rest of the world. “I hope together we will see people out on the streets and give a voice to those in need, but it’s just saying to the people who are experiencing a live that most of us have never had to go through, apart from our grandparents and great grandparents, that
such hatred and hostility towards the other can’t go on in the 21st century, and in 2017.” Such a rhetoric was ever-present, with offers of assurances to those outcast by the President’s policy from protesters up and down the country. In the Cardiff protest, demonstrators were heard chanting “say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.” Cardiff University law student, Tyler Ayah, expressed disbelief at Mr. Trump’s’ policy. She told Gair Rhydd: “I personally don’t agree with all that Trump is doing, and I think we are lucky to live in a place where we are not prejudiced by what we believe in.” When pressed to answer whether she was protesting directly against the ban, or against the British Prime Minister’s complicity with Mr. Trumps’ actions, Ms. Ayah said, “I think more with Trump’s actions but indirectly with the UK because they are refusing to do anything about it.”
First year student, Aisling Power agreed, stating that her main reasons for protesting consisted of: “Trump’s actions, as otherwise we wouldn’t have issues like the UK being complicit but Theresa May isn’t doing everything she could be doing, considering she is supposed to be the leader of one of the most powerful countries”. This was a feeling shared amongst many of the protesters with the Cardiff protest being of increased prominence, having coincided with Theresa May coming to the Welsh capital for the meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee. Mrs. May came under heavy criticism from many for her failure to stand up to the President following her recent state visit to the US.
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welve Welsh towns are set to receive £10m in loans as part of an effort to revitalise town centres. The money from the loans will be used to renevate derelict buildings and convert them into homes and business premises. In Cardiff, the funding will be utilised at Cardiff Bay, where a derelict raliway station on Bute Road could be given a new life as “live work units”, retail space or maybe even a military museum. Communities Secretary at the Vibrant and Town Centre Loans Fund, Carl Sargeant, told the BBC: “This funding will help local authorities regenerate their town centres by helping them find sustainable uses for empty sites and premises such as affordable town centre homes or tourist and leisure attractions.”
Wales’ Euro 2016 heroics made into documentary
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film documenting the Welsh national football team’s historic return to tournament football at Euro 2016 is set to be released on March 1. The film was directed by Jonny Owen, of Merthyr Tydfil, who is also responsible for the highly rated biopic charting the back-to-back Euopean Cup wins by Brian Clough’s Nottimham Forest side. ‘Don’t Take Me Home’, named after the Welsh fans’ signature song, will tell the tale of Wales’ astonighing run to the semi-finals of the European Championships last summer. After ending 60 years of failure to qualify for a major international tournament, and experiencing the tragic loss of former manager Gary Speed, Wales personified passion and team spirit before losing to eventual champions Portugal in the semis. The film will be released nationally on March 1 for anyone who wishes to relive last summer’s roller coaster. Rumours that Gareth Bale will be played by Danny Dyer are yet to be verified.