Book Cover: Refugees from Eden, Voices of lament, courage and justice.
Everyone is creeped-out by spiders.
My theory is that people who study them or have massive pet tarantulas, who are fascinated by their too-numerous legs and eyes, do so because they are super creepy.
But I must have read something about spider webs, I can’t remember what it was exactly, but it was something along the lines of:
My theory is that people who study them or have massive pet tarantulas, who are fascinated by their too-numerous legs and eyes, do so because they are super creepy.
But I must have read something about spider webs, I can’t remember what it was exactly, but it was something along the lines of:
“Personal connections are like spiderwebs.
You might meet someone for one moment and share an experience together.
Now you’re bound by a near-invisible thread,
like the fine, silk chord of a spider’s web.
When you meet that person again, share more time, experiences and conversations,
the thread is reinforced, until you’re bound strongly to that person, with unbreakable strength.”
That’s what happened for this book to be produced. I met Rosemary Power in Calais, France - a fellow brave volunteer during a pandemic. We spent time together at the beach with the other volunteers, and she lent me a copy of one of her books.
In Serbia, I met Aziz and Wahid. Stef and I saw them most days when we’d take hot food and re-charged powerbanks to their group who slept in tents in the woods. The threads of silk, already connecting us, bound us more strongly when we saw them again in Bosnia.
I am extremely proud to share their story in this book. Rosemary Power has collected stories for this anthology of stories from refugees and those from the communities that support them. Each person has a sad, uplifting, devastating and hopeful story to tell.
Aziz and Wahid are my friends - two teenage boys that I care about. But now more than ever, there are thousands of teenage boys like them who have fled Afghanistan, not to mention the other countries with equally harsh realities. There are thousands of families, struggling to keep hope, stuck at borders, their lives on hold.
In Serbia, I met Aziz and Wahid. Stef and I saw them most days when we’d take hot food and re-charged powerbanks to their group who slept in tents in the woods. The threads of silk, already connecting us, bound us more strongly when we saw them again in Bosnia.
I am extremely proud to share their story in this book. Rosemary Power has collected stories for this anthology of stories from refugees and those from the communities that support them. Each person has a sad, uplifting, devastating and hopeful story to tell.
Aziz and Wahid are my friends - two teenage boys that I care about. But now more than ever, there are thousands of teenage boys like them who have fled Afghanistan, not to mention the other countries with equally harsh realities. There are thousands of families, struggling to keep hope, stuck at borders, their lives on hold.
Aziz and Wahid, along with their friends from Afghanistan meeting us in the rain. Sid, Serbia. Photo credit: Helen Tennyson
The other piece I wrote for the anthology is about the Old Factory in Bihać, Northern Bosnia. Hundreds of people live there. I use the word ‘live’ simply as the opposite of ‘die’, it’s awful.
These people, who are mostly from Afghanistan, have fled the Taliban in the hope of a future. The European Union blocks that future by illegally denying them the opportunity to claim asylum. Time and again people like my friend Romal are pushed back from Croatia - belongings destroyed, hopes dashed.
Romal (not his real name) was in the Afghan Army, he fought against the Taliban before walking most of the way from Kabul to Bihać. A journey of 6,000 km which included danger, smugglers, fear, injury and years of his life. He is stuck in Bosnia despite having reached the European Union on multiple occasions, only for the Croatian authorities to illegally remove him back to Bosnia. A clear and documented violation of Human Rights. You can read more about the complex web of illegal pushbacks at borderviolence.eu
I would love it if you bought the book! Read the stories from around the world, and share what you have read with others. The profits from the book will go to an organisation helping displaced people, and the more we talk and stay informed, the more likely it is that something positive will come out of it.
Buy the book from Wild Goose Publications here.
Let me know what you think of the book, comment below.
Oooooh! I could sign it for you!! If you want a signed copy then send me a message and I’ll start practicing my best hand-writing.
These people, who are mostly from Afghanistan, have fled the Taliban in the hope of a future. The European Union blocks that future by illegally denying them the opportunity to claim asylum. Time and again people like my friend Romal are pushed back from Croatia - belongings destroyed, hopes dashed.
Romal (not his real name) was in the Afghan Army, he fought against the Taliban before walking most of the way from Kabul to Bihać. A journey of 6,000 km which included danger, smugglers, fear, injury and years of his life. He is stuck in Bosnia despite having reached the European Union on multiple occasions, only for the Croatian authorities to illegally remove him back to Bosnia. A clear and documented violation of Human Rights. You can read more about the complex web of illegal pushbacks at borderviolence.eu
I would love it if you bought the book! Read the stories from around the world, and share what you have read with others. The profits from the book will go to an organisation helping displaced people, and the more we talk and stay informed, the more likely it is that something positive will come out of it.
Buy the book from Wild Goose Publications here.
Let me know what you think of the book, comment below.
Oooooh! I could sign it for you!! If you want a signed copy then send me a message and I’ll start practicing my best hand-writing.
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