“We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us”. Jo Cox
Today, on what would have been Jo’s 42nd birthday, we as Oxfam – who were lucky enough to have worked alongside Jo for a number of years – are proud to be able to join with others in Cardiff to celebrate Jo and all she stood for and believed in.
If you can, join us today for More in Common: Cardiff festival of action to celebrate the life of Jo Cox MP, from 4.00pm at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff.
The event will being together a number of organisations who campaign on the causes dear to Jo’s heart, to share information about how we can all get involved in making a difference and show that we have “more in common than that which divides us”.
Events will be held in several locations simultaneously, including London, Aleppo, Brussels, New York and Washington. The coming together of thousands of people in love and solidarity with Jo proves the strength of her ideas and values.
Jo Cox was always a passionate campaigner for the most vulnerable in the world. Her speech on the ‘Dubs Amendment’ – calling on the UK Government to welcome more accompanied child refugees – was yet another case in point. In it, she said. “…desperate Syrian families are being forced to make an impossible decision: stay and face starvation, rape, persecution and death, or make a perilous journey to find sanctuary elsewhere…”
Oxfam believes we need to Stand as One with refugees across the world. If you think governments across the globe should do more, then please do sign our petition before the two days of summits on refugees that will take place in New York this autumn.
Here in Wales we can all do more, too. All 22 of our local authorities have said that they will welcome refugees from the current crisis in Syria. According to the latest Home Office data, only five have done so. Wales has resettled just 78 Syrian refugees, whereas Scotland has welcomed over 600, and Yorkshire just under 200.
Wales is a small nation, but a great nation – we can play a greater role in resettling vulnerable families in their time of need. You can help make this happen by writing to the leader of your local authority and telling them that you want your community to welcome more refugees.
You can also help provide the Warm Welsh Welcome that refugees arriving here deserve and need. We’re asking people to write a welcome letter for a refugee and post it in one of our post boxes in our 23 Oxfam shops across Wales, or you can write one online. We’ll then work with councils to distribute the messages to newly arrived refugees.
Your small note can make a big difference – helping to support those in need – those people that Jo Cox stood up for and campaign for all her life.