Race-free zones pledged -'Holding on to Friendships' campaign launched
'Holding on to Friendships', a campaign promoting racial harmony, which also celebrates the tenth anniversary of the convention on the Rights of the Child was officially launched on Saturday in front of the General Post Office (GPO) building. The organisation behind it is Rights of Children (ROC) "young people concerned about other young people." This campaign is part of a move by the group to rid Guyana of racism, and it has also elicited pledges from organisations to declare their areas race-free zones. Pledges have been forthcoming from the GPO and its 64 offices nationwide. Lynette Amsterdam, GPO's finance manager disclosed that the GPO will issue a stamp commemorating the Rights of The Child and the establishment of a Race Free Nation. Other entities to pledge include the New Building Society, the Methodist Church, the Georgetown Public Hospital, the Guyana Islamic Trust and three city supermarkets. The pledge which should be displayed in each "zone" requires organisations to submit to a standard of behaviour that opposes the avoidance of individuals or groups on the basis of race; any verbal abuse or racist jokes; discrimination; violent abuse including damage to property; inciting people to racially abusive behaviour by hate speech; eliminating through isolation or killing of entire racial groups. ROC was also instrumental in having a paragraph on children's rights concerning care and protection inserted into the preamble to the new constitution. Another activity that the organisation is engaged in is the painting of murals nationwide to promote racial harmony. To wit, the northern wall of the GPO building now has a mural depicting a "friendship" rainbow breaking through a desolate landscape of heavy black clouds and dying trees. There will also be a Rhymes and Rhythms on Race competition held in secondary schools. The launching ended with a skit by the famous Agree to Disagree duo Franklin and Puddock. At first they hurled racial abuse at each other and then slowly they realised the nonsense they were talking. "Racism is a stupid look in a ugly face!" said Franklin. They then broke into a "harmony" dance backed up by the members of ROC.
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