Why Are They Refugees - Paypal 2nd 02 April

I asked a Paypal manager to explain why one of their staff members asked me why people from Syria are refugees. They seem to suggest the reason is they are not from the EU.

3rd April, Explanation from Paypal manager

Customer serves 2nd April. Earlier that day, in a mother call a Paypal staff member stated ‘the concern is that you might be funding…’ they stopped half way through and wouldn’t comment further. I asked in this call, what they thought the previous person may be refereeing too. What is clear, that even though Paypal staff as individuals may recognise there is nothing being done wrong, the computer system and the central office in America, is the only place that can actually have any impact on an account.

1st April: Paypal, certain words will trigger our security

After a week of calling Paypal customer complaints, I was told that actually, I need to speak with a different department - the limitations department, as they are the ones that deal with restricted accounts. After a lengthy explanation of our situation, making very clear we are not selling/trading with anyone in Syria, this was the response. Halfway through this, they change the subject.

2nd April : Paypal not listening

This is regarding someone who tried to buy one of the cookbooks, Paypal has singled it out as a questionable transaction. The person in question is a friend, they forwarded me the email they had from Paypal, I had already provided evidence the book is printed in the UK
“It has come to our attention that you initiated a payment for the purchase of an item or items originating from Syria that is currently prohibited by U.S. regulations. 
We kindly request that you do not attempt to resend this payment or similar payments using PayPal.  
Please note that we reserve our right to close your PayPal account if we continue to identify activity that is in apparent violation of our regulatory obligations.”

2nd April: Paypal single out a transaction as being questionable

Our interview on BBC Sussex, from The Riwaq

BBC Sussex, with Danny Pike, Live from The Riwaq interview

Recorded at a St Nicholas event organised by Stand for Ukraine Brighton and Hove.
https://www.standforukrainebnh.org/

Brighton & Hove Ukrainian Voices St Nicholas Event 17 12 22

Field recording/soundscape from Ivana Kupala, Brighton, 2023. Organised by members of the local Ukrainian community. 
For more information:
https://kupalabrighton.org/
https://www.standforukrainebnh.org/

Kupala Audio Soundscape

Live @ Crawley International Mela festival 2015

Gnawa London Live

A short clip from one of 2 Kurdish Newroz celebrations in Brighton 2016. Newroz is the Kurdish New Year, and is also celebrated by many communities across Persia, the Middle East and some parts of Asia. The Kurdish homeland (Kurdistan) is occupied by Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, and many Kurds seek autonomy from these occupying states. In many cases Kurdish people and culture have been violently suppressed, and as such Newroz has become an important date in the calendar. 

Newroz Festival, Brighton, BMEC Center,20 March 2016

Ajanta Caves, Buddhist shrines dating back to 200 BC. Over 20 separate caves carved into the rock. We were about to pass an unfinished one, when a woman beckoned us in, and demonstrated, clapping on certain parts of the wall makes a 'humming' echo sound. 

Ajanta Caves; humming sounds walls

Madh Island, a small fishing village on the outskirts of Mumbai. These recordings are from a Roman Catholic service here for the Nativity of Mary, a nine day celebration. The singing is in Marathi language. Koli music, dance and dress is a culture that evolved from fishing communities in the Maharashtrian region of India.

Church Singing 02

Church Singing 01

Brass Band Koli Style

000 Markhanda; Temple Sounds
0.54 Gadchiroli; Evening insects and frogs
1.20 Markhanda village; Evening, Cows returning home
2.18 Gadchiroli; Guy on bike, reminding people to pay their electric bill.
2.36 Hyderabad; Evening, birds
3.22 Hyderabad; Independence Day, School kids singing
3.44 Hyderabad; Birds in Church
5.00 Hyderabad; Farmers/Workers protest
5.34 Hyderabad; Full Moon, Call to Prayer
6.46 Hyderabad; Golkonda Fort, Early warning claps
6.55 Hyderabad; Golkonda Fort, Early warning bells
7.07 Hyderabad; Golkonda Fort, Bats
7.21 Hyderabad; Qutb Shani Tombs, Pem Mati tomb sounds
8.12 Hyderabad; Evening, Call to Prayer
8.40 Hyderabad; Tailor sounds
8.49 Ramoji Film City; Birds
9.30 Balharshah; Roadside Wedding party
9.43 Chandrapur to Gadchiroli; Bus journey, music
10.53 Nagpur; Islamic Saints Street band parade
12.20 Ajanta Caves; Singing
12.30 Ajanta Caves; Resonant cave clapping
13.26 Ajanta Forest; Monsoon rain
13.36 Khandala; Dahi Handi celebration
14.44 Lonavala; Budgies in Church
15.00 Khandala; Nagphani, picnic in the rain
15.18 Khandala; Evening insects
15.56 Madh Island; Fishing village Koli Brass Band 
16.18 Madh Island; Fishing village, Roman Catholic Church, singing
16.40 Aksa village; Crows
17.11 Malvani; Kids preparing for Ganesh festival
A selection of sounds recorded, during our month in India. I chose the India Railways logo for an image, because we travelled so many miles via train, and it's a cool logo!

India Soundscape August 2016

Vaisakhi Celebrations held in Gravesend, Saturday 15 April 2017. Attended by 1000's of people from across all communities in the area, plus many more who travelled from neighbouring area's to join the festivities. Organised by teams from the Guru Nanak  Darbar Gurdwara and local community organisation Cohesion Plus, the event was a great success and celebration. 
For more information on Gravesend Gurdwara and the local Sikh community, visit;
Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara
http://gurunanakdarbar.org/
For information on culturally diverse festivals in the area;
http://www.cohesionplus.com/

Vaisakhi Gravesend 2017

Sussex India Society: We Shall Overcome (Hindi Version)

Sussex India Society: We Shall Overcome (English Version)

Part of Refugee Week 2017. From a joint concert with Best Foot Music, Sussex Syrian Community Group and Brighton and Hove Stand Up To Racism.

Syrian All Stars: Live, Brighton 2017

Jamal & Alaa. Live at 'Day & Night' EP Launch Party, Marwood Cafe, Brighton.
The official launch party for our EP with Jamal & Alaa, available on vinyl and digital via our website www.bestfootmusic.net
All money from sales goes directly to the Sussex Syrian Community Hardship Fund. 
http://www.sussexsyriancommunity.org.uk/
https://www.themarwood.com/

Jamal & Alaa. Live at 'Day & Night' EP Launch Party, Marwood Cafe, Brighton

Recorded in Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria, 28 July 2018. The town is famous for is folk music, there is a major festival every 5 years. This was a small event on Saturday afternoon, with people from the local community. There was a play which seemed to be based around a traditional wedding, it included a lot of humour as the crowd were laughing along with the performance. There was also a lot of music and dancing. Koprivshtitsa plays an important part in Bulgaria's history and is a popular tourist destination. It's very beautiful, surrounded by mountains. Everyone was very friendly, and there are loads of local cafes and bars with great food and atmosphere.

Village Folk Singers Koprivshtitsa 28 07 18 001

Village Folk Singers Koprivshtitsa 28 07 18 002

This guy was busking playing his Gadulka. He was happy to be recorded as long as i wasn't making any money from it.

Sofia, Gadulka Player. 26 July 2018

This group were playing at the Plovdiv International Folk Festival. Beforehand, they had been busking, and also played at someone's birthday party. Their manager was cool with me recording a bit, but there are only a few seconds as we were eating dinner in a nearby restaurant. We saw them later in the evening as part of the Bulgarian section at the folk festival.

Plovdiv Bagpipe And Drum Birthday Party_1st August 2018

Village Folk Singers Koprivshtitsa 28 07 18 003

Mate Cafe Ensemble 01 6 Oct 2018

Mohammed Al Hameedi: Iraq Love, Richess Of Iraq

This was Gaiths first time performing in public. He was great and we hope he'll be a regualr guest.
Maté Café Intercultural Social Club, 3rd November 2019.
For more on Maté Café
https://www.bestfootmusic.net/mate-cafe
https://www.facebook.com/pg/matecafebrighton/

Gaith, live at Mate Cafe, November 3rd 2019

Refugee Radio's new project 'Castaway Heritage' "captures the oral histories of 20 individuals which reveal the hidden historical forces driving the growth of the migrant community in Sussex. Through reminiscence and memory, this community interest project delves into the journeys of refugees, asylum seekers, workers and supporters who are trying to navigate assimilation in a space of social uncertainty."
There was a lunch event for the book on 19 December. Here is a short clip from Steve's intro about the book, and a song with Sharma (vocals in Aramaic) and Jamal on percussion.
http://refugeeradio.org.uk/
https://www.castawayheritage.org/

Castaway Heritage, Book Launch

Best Foot Music aims to support and document the diverse musical cultures of people who have come to the UK from other places of the world.

Best_Foot_Music

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