1 Billion Rising Reflection 2016
Feb, 18 2016
~Do you want to know what justice looks like? Well, Preston’s loyal supporters came out in solidarity last Sunday, February 14th , Valentines Day as a mark of defiance and respect in a global dance event that saw an astounding 200 other countries around the world dance to the same beat.
Preston itself has been subjected to over 4,000 women and girls aged between 16 and 59 who have suffered from domestic violence in the past year.
It was in Preston at the Universities Student Union at The Atrium café where the momentum was building for so many willing volunteers, male, female, young and old came out to support such a worthwhile cause.
Russell Hogarth, Honorary Fellow and Chair of the Creative Communities Group based at UCLAN, set the scene for a memorable morning and reflected on the motive for putting on such an event,
“ It was the 1 billion dancing event, something we’ve supported for the last five years and it’s something we think using dance as a way to raise awareness in solidarity really puts the message across in a very powerful way. When you look at the figures and the stats, 1 billion is massive! And it’s something that happens sadly behind a lot of closed doors, even in the very city we live, So I think it’s an ideal platform to raise awareness of that”.
Phil Kaila is an International Salsa Champion and he led the dancing spectacular. He speaks about the positive impact such an event can bring,
“ It demonstrates this is another way of demonstrating without actually going straight in and causing some violence . So it is uniting with other groups all over the world. I think it’s a good idea.
All sorts of people came to show their support and acknowledgement of such an emotional and powerful subject. CCG members were present, Nigel Farnworth and Ketran Eastham as was Russell’s dear wife Dianne Hogarth. All three saw what justice looked like.
Russell values all those who attended, he shares these personal thoughts,
“ To get this many people out on a Sunday and on Valentines Day was a massive commitment and we really appreciate it”.
Phil has these final words in the light of the 2017 event, in twelve months time,
“ We’ll be back next year for the same cause. Yes definitely we’ll be back again next year”.
1 Billion Rising Revolution took place on February 14th 11am-1pm at The Atrium at the Student’s Union, UCLAN.
The song was entitled ‘Break the Chain’. www.onebillionrising.org
Events in and around UCLAN are provided by the Creative Communities Group :- www.ccguk.org
The filming of the dance and the news report available online came courtesy of PR1 Media :- www.pr1media.co.uk
See you all in 2017. Keep breaking the chain.
