UN Anti Racism Week

Oulu 2007


(Click on any image to see a slide show of the images shown below.)

The UN Anti Racism Week was organised in Oulu between the 19th and 25th of March 2007.

The Organising Committee was chaired by Heikki Mankinen of Amnesty International. Others on the Committee were Eija Isoviita, Maija Polojärvi, Päivi Hirvonen, Päivi Pussinen, Henna Juusola, Emilia Frantsi, Paivi Jurvakainen, Eric Mwai, Tero Raiskio, Hilmi Oral, Aruna Somani and Jacob Matthan (JM).

The organisations who joined to organise this event were the Oulu Circles of the Finnish Red Cross and Amnesty International, the Oulu International School, Oulu Setlementti and CHAFF.

The Committee was supported by the Oulu City Sports Division, L&T, the Oulu Fire Department, Codenomicon Oy, Goreme Pizza and Kebab ry, Raimo Kuismin, Pailin Thai Restaurant, the Oulu Rugby side, the Royal Garden Restaurant (Indian Cusine) and Jacob and Annikki Matthan.

Three other members of the Finnish Red Cross, Oulu Circle gave valuable support in all the activities: Tiina Rojola, Iikka Paajala and Juha Repo.

The events of the week included an Information Centre of NGOs in Oulu University on Monday 20th March, an exhibition on Discrimination by the children of Oulu International School on Wednesday 21st March, a panel discussion at the Oulu International School in the evening of 21st March on Oulu and problems of Etrhnic Minorities in Oulu, Finnish Red Cross Dustbins in Oulu on Friday 23rd March to collect prejudices of the people to be destroyed, a Snow Football Tournament (which was changed to broom football because of the lack of snow) in the Oulu Market Place on Saturday 24th March, which was followed by the symbolic burning of the prejudices collected in the Finnish Red Cross Trash Cans by the Fire Department.

Other events outside of this were a talk by Ildikó Hamós and JM at the Heinätori School on problems of Ethnic Minorities in Finland, events organised at different schools by the Oulu Setlementti, and a talk about Ethnic Minorities organised by Emilia Frantsi to the Social Anthropology Group of Oulu University by JM.

On the Wednesday (21st March), after the panel discussion, we were given a chance to taste the fine Indian food at the then still unopened Indian Restuarant in Oulu, The Royal Garden, Indian Cusine Section.

To close the whole programme, there was an Organising Committee Closure Meeting at the Pailin Restaurant on Tuesday 3rd April. The excitement of the successful week was shared by all who are raring to do something more daring next year!

Below are photographs from some of the events and issues related to the programme.

Special thanks to Kamutaza Tembo, the Graphic Designer from Zambia who gave the Programme a great tone by his excellent designs for the posters.

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CHAFF Logo designed by Kamutaza Tembo Kamutaza Tembo Kamu's Graphic Design
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Kamu's Graphic Design Kamu's Design: Finally chosen design Welcome Address from Oulu International School by Eric Mwai
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Welcome Address from Oulu International School by Eric Mwai Panelist Ildikó Hámos Panelist Ildikó Hámos
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Panelist Lauri Gardner Panelist Lauri Gardner Panelist Anne Rännäli
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Panelists Anne Rännäli, Ildikó Hámos, Lauri Gardner Panelists Anne Rännäli, Ildikó Hámos, Lauri Gardner, Moderator Markku Heikkilä Panelists Anne Rännäli, Ildikó Hámos, Lauri Gardner, Moderator Markku Heikkilä
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Vote of Thanks by Organising Committee Chairperson Heikki Mankinen of Amnesty International Vote of Thanks by Organising Committee Chairperson Heikki Mankinen of Amnesty International Dinner at the Royal Garden
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Alexandra Bagaeva, Gordon Roberts, Jussi Roberts, Benjamin Hayes Gordon Roberts, Jussi Roberts Ildikó Hámos, Annikki Matthan, Hilmi Oral, Aila Syrjäkäri-Roberts,, Ilari Sohlo
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JM, Alexandra Bagaeva, Gordon Roberts, Aruna Somani Jussi Roberts, Aruna Somani Ildikó Hámos
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Alexandra Bagaeva Alexandra Bagaeva, Matti Mosia, Pentti Paakki Alexandra Bagaeva, Matti Mosia, Pentti Paakki
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Alexandra Bagaeva, Matti Mosia, Pentti Paakki Matti Mosia, Pentti Paakki Alexandra Bageva, Matti Mosia, Pentti Paakki
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Päivi Jurvakainen, Pentti Paakki Gordon Roberts, Aila Syrjäkäri-Roberts, Jussi Roberts. Eric Mwai Hilmi Oral, Annikki Matthan, Ildikó Hámos, Aruna Somani
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Hilmi Oral, Annikki Matthan, Ildikó Hámos, Aruna Somani JM, Indu Kumar, Ashesh Kumar JM, Indu Kumar, Ashesh Kumar
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Heikki Mankinen, Brent Cassidy, Mervi Heikkinen, Emilia Frantsi Markku Heikkilä, Miika Peltonen, Eija Isoviita Ilari Sohlo, Alexandra Bagaeva, Matti Mosia, Päivi Jurvakainen
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Red Cross Rubbish Bins on the streets of Oulu collecting Prejudices Paivi Jurvakainen and JM Paivi Jurvakainen, JM and Jenny from the US
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JM and Jenny from the US Oulu Market Square Spectators
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Spectators Spectators Watching
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Kaleva Journalists International Students Banner International Students
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International Students OYUS Rugby Banner OYUS Rugby Team
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Jorma Stoor Goreme side Goreme side
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Referee Briefing Broom Football Practice
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Practising Getting ready Ready?
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Bully Off Broom Football Action in the Market Square
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Action in the Market Square Action in the Market Square Action in the Market Square
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Action in the Market Square Action in the Market Square Action in the Market Square
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Action in the Market Square Action in the Market Square Action in the Market Square
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Action in the Market Square Action in the Market Square Action in the Market Square
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Action in the Market Square JM stands in the goal for Goreme JM
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JM in goal Panorama vision of JM Team photograph
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Team photograph Team photograph Team photograph
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Team photograph Team photograph Team photograph
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Team photograph Team photograph Team photograph
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Red Cross Dustbin containing Prejudices to be burnt Oulu Firemen overseeing the burning of Prejudices Oulu Firemen overseeing the burning of Prejudices
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Oulu Firemen overseeing the burning of Prejudices Oulu Firemen overseeing the burning of Prejudices Closing meeting: Eija Isoviita, Eric Mwai, JM
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Closing meeting: Heikki Mankinen, Emilia Frantsi, Päivi Jurvakainen, Tero Raiskio Closing meeting: Heikki Mankinen, Emilia Frantsi, Päivi Jurvakainen, Tero Raiskio Closing meeting: Eija Isoviita, Eric Mwai, JM, Heikki Mankinen
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Closing meeting: Päivi Jurvakainen, Heikki Mankinen, Eija Isoviita, Eric Mwai

The photographs were provided by Pentti Paakki, the Finnish Red Cross, Unnop Khungrai and Jacob Matthan.

This page was designed and set up by Jacob Matthan.

For further information please contact:

Jacob Matthan
CHAFF (Chamber of Assistance for Finns and Foreigners)




Last updated: 11/4/07