Friday 21st April – UK Media Coverage of Latin America: a critical look
6.30-8pm (doors open at 6pm) @ The University of Sheffield, Lecture Theatre 2 (A02), The Diamond, 32 Leavygreave Road, Sheffield, S3 7RD (FREE ENTRY)
How has the British and other English-language mainstream media reported on political developments in Latin America? Our panel take a critical look and argue that the role of independent journalism has
never been more important.
The Festival of Debate is the largest annual politics festival in the UK, taking place every spring across South Yorkshire, UK.
More info/tickets
https://alborada.net/events/uk-media-coverage-of-latin-america-a-critical-look-alborada-the-festival-of-debate-23/
21st -24th April “The Big One” XR protest events in London
Sheffield XR has extended an invitation to Sheffield trade unionists to join them for a weekend of protests/music/events in London and to gather 100,000 people at the Houses of Parliament. A “ground-breaking alliance” of organisations have announced their commitment to support ‘The Big One’ this April. From environmental charities like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, to health groups like NHS Workers Say No and Greener Practice; to justice groups including Global Justice Now, Black Lives Matter local groups and Don’t Pay UK, a wide range of organisations will be taking part in The Big One this April. As this will be a peaceful protest, prioritising attendance over arrest, and relationships over roadblocks, it looks as though many people who wouldn’t previously have thought of attending might now decide to take part
Focus for Friday 21st April –A number of South Yorkshire groups will be focusing their Friday protests on the Department for Transport, and will be backing the Better Buses for South Yorkshire campaign. Fast, reliable public transport is an environmental & social justice issue. Nearly a quarter of services in South Yorkshire are currently under threat of being cut. This allows us to take an important message to London, and to get publicity for it in our local press here.
Earth Day – Saturday 22nd April – Saturday 22nd April is Earth Day. There will be an enormous celebration and family-friendly march for biodiversity. With costumes, music, and giant puppets, as people unite for nature, biodiversity and the planet!
Coach Travel for 21 and 22 April – We’ve arranged two coaches for the Friday (one’s already fully booked!), and one for the Saturday, with prices to suit everyone’s ability to pay. They’ll pick up 6.30am from Paternoster Row, Sheffield, and Meadowhall coach park first thing, and return in the evening. Fares are from £10 – £30.
Book your seat through Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sheffieldmeadowhall-coaches-to-the-big-one-18908344342
If the cost would prevent you from going, please email xrsheffield@gmail.com
Saturday 22nd April Free Radicals Benefit for VIDA
doors open 7.30pm Crookes Social Club, Mulehouse Rd fundraising event in support of Vida Sheffield. See flyer attached Vida Benefit w Free Radicals 22April2023
Vida is an independent women’s voluntary sector organisation, delivering specialist domestic and sexual abuse services, and campaigning with partners towards an end to domestic abuse, and violence against women and girls, (vidasheffield.org.uk).
The marvellous Nisha Lall will warm us up with her Be Awesome: dance for wellbeing taster, with feelgood tunes and styles from around the world.
Then the fabulous Free Radicals will keep your toes tapping with classic dance tunes from way back when. No need to book – donations on the door!Hope to see you there,
All the best, Jon.
Tuesday 25th April “Rage Against the Machine: Young People and Politics”
A Festival of Debate event at the Leadmill. Hosted by Sheffield Future’s Young Advisors.
“We will be exploring power as a young person within the current political climate. Drawing on different perspectives, the debate will consider the intricacies of our political system and what it means to be of voting age in 2023. On the panel will be political activists, a politician and a police officer to tackle questions surrounding voting apathy, the new protest bills, and how young people can remain optimistic and empowered. After the debate, we will have around 8 stalls for audience members to engage with, such as how to register to vote from the council; protest groups signing up volunteers; young people’s charities that champion youth voice to get involved with and we would love to have trade union representation there also for young people to get informed and get involved with”
Wednesday 26th April Solidarity in Action – Sheffield students and Chile’s Solidarity Movement
6pm University Arms, Brook Hill S3 7HB 
Friday 28th April International Workers Memorial Day
1230hrs till 1315hrs outside Sheffield Town Hall. Organised by Sheffield TUC
Remember the Dead – Fight for the Living!” flyer attached: IWMD 2023
International Day of Action on Health and Safety at Work. Wreath laying ceremony and speeches. Please arrange for your union branch or other organisation to lay a wreath by the Memorial Tree. Please bring your banners!
You may of course arrange this with any florist but we have made arrangements with Townend Florist to take orders for wreaths from £35 upwards and deliver them to the event on the day. To discuss your order please ring Louise Nicholson tel 01142544477 www.townendflorist.co.uk/Contact_Us.aspx
Speakers: Jawad Qasrawi, Hazards; SARAG speaker (Yorks and Humberside Asbestos Support Group); Jack Czauderna -Doctors in UNITE and COVID/clean air in workplaces campaigner; Ritzwana Lala Public Health specialist, academic and campaigner; Holly Johnston GMB NHS workers and campaigner; Stand Up to Racism Kandali Uushoma (Sheffield refugee); Sheffield Needs a Pay Rise speaker
Friday 28th April “Braverman Out! Resist the Tories’ Racist Offensive”5pm outside Sheffield Town Hall Emergency protest Despite One of the most comprehensive studies on racism in 
Britain for a quarter of a century arguing that Britain was not ‘close to being a racially just society’ contradicting all the findings of the government Sewell report and highlighting deep structural racism and discrimination in society. But the government continues its attempts to stoke up racism, scapegoating and division with Suella Braverman’s latest outrageous attacks and false claims against the Pakistani Muslim community in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan and the continued ramping up of attacks on refugees through the ‘Illegal Migration Bill ‘and the threat to house refugees in what can only be described as a floating prison ship.
That’s why we have sought to pull together organisations to protest on 28th April at 5pm at Sheffield town hall. Please bring your friends and families – we want people from all communities to stand in solidarity with the Pakistani Communities and refugees.
Saturday 29th April “Santiago Rising”
6pm to 8pm Hideaway, White Rose Works, 61 Eyre Lane, Sheffield, S1 3GF
Another opportunity to see this documentary which contains some amazing footage of the uprising (el estallido) which took place in Chile from Oct 2019. 2021 documentary directed by Nick MacWilliam. There will also be a short video introduction from the director. Free entry: tickets here-
https://chile50years.uk/event/santiago-rising-documentary-screening-alborada-the-festival-of-debate-23/Chile: 50 Years of Solidarity and Struggle
-social to follow.
Saturday 29th April “Chile: 50 Years of Solidarity and Struggle”
7.45pm Hideaway, White Rose Works, 61 Eyre Lane, Sheffield, S1 3GF
Join Alborada for a panel reflecting on 50 years since the 11 September 1973 military coup against Salvador Allende’s government that installed the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile.
As well as looking at the lasting legacy of resistance to Pinochet and neoliberalism, we will be discussing the role of UK solidarity with the struggle for human rights and social justice in Chile. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/chile-50-years-of-solidarity-and-struggle-tickets-577807045427?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Speakers: Maria Vásquez Aguilar – PhD candidate, University of Sheffield. Maria is a child exile and co-founder of Chile Solidarity Network and Chile 50 Years UK; Dr Sergio Vasquez – Former political prisoner under Pinochet’s regime. Sergio continued his political activism once exiled to the UK; Pablo Navarrete – Founder of Alborada /Alborada Films
Event supported by Chile 50 Years UK There will be a social after until 11pm
Monday 1st May “Workers Day!” Sheffield May Day Parade and Rally
Sheffield TUC is once again organising a May Day parade with a rally and speeches.
Assemble Devonshire green 12 noon. The parade will then set off via Fitzwilliam Street, Fitzwilliam Gate, The Moor, Pinstone Street and Barkers Pool with a final rally with speakers on City Hall steps 1315hrs to 1400hrs. Please make sure your union branch is represented. Bring your banners!
Speakers include Musheir al-Farra, Sheffield Palestine Solidarity campaign; Maria Vasquez-Aguilar, Sheffield Chile Solidarity Campaign; trade union speakers and speakers on climate and Stand Up to Racism
Important note -everyone is invited! We welcome all those campaigning for peace, justice, race/gender equality, climate, international solidarity, workers’ and migrants’ rights, end to poverty, and community campaigns
N.B. We welcome offers to sing/play music before, during and after the Parade
Volunteers to be stewards for the parade needed. Please email tucsheffield@gmail.com
After the rally we are pleased to announce the showing of “Bread and Roses” film at the Quakers Meeting House, St James Street at 2.30pm followed by a discussion on working class fightback held by Sheffield TUC
This is part of the Sheffield Radical film Festival: radical films, discussions and workshops taking place from 2pm till 9pm at the Sheffield Quakers meeting house. “Spirit of 45” will be shown at 1800hrs. Tickets £4.50 from Eventbrite for each screening. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-sheffield-radical-film-festival-tickets-556466374907
Saturday 13th May With Banners Held High!
11am and all day, Wakefield. Labour and trade union history and cultural event with speeches, poetry, music and theatre. Bring your banners!
Saturday 13th May Latin America on the Frontline
Quaker Meeting House, 10 St James’s Street, Sheffield S1 2EW. Latin America Day School with workshops Organised by Sheffield Cuba Solidarity Campaign. Supported by Sheffield TUC and others. See flyer attached Latin America Dayschool 2023 flyer
Registration + tea/coffee from 0945hrs. Welcome/introduction 1015hrs. Choice of workshops morning/afternoon. Final plenary 1500hrs-1615hrs. Registration £10, £5 unwaged
Please spread this information far and wide! We are very excited to be planning a Latin America Day School
Solidarity, Sheffield Cuba Solidarity Campaign
Thursday 25th May Banner Theatre “Enough is Enough!”
7pm Trades and Labour Club in the concert room
Brilliant, funny, political – Banner Theatre tells the truth you don’t hear through the media, using theatre and song – and always has an inspiring message.
We hope to keep prices as low as possible e.g. approx. £10 – but we need donations from union branches to help cover the cost of the event. Bar is open before, during interval and after the show. Put it in your diaries now!
Organised by Sheffield TUC in conjunctions with Rotherham TUC
Saturday 17th June Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign anniversary rally
Assemble 1pm City Hall, Barkers Pool, Sheffield S1 2JA
SPEAKERS:
Yvette Williams – Director, Justice for Grenfell
Mark Serwotka – General Secretary, Public & Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Morag Livingstone – Film director, Author & Activist
Chris Kitchen – General Secretary, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
Neil Findlay – Former Member of the Scottish Parliament
Jodie Beck – Policy & Campaigns Officer, Liberty
John Dunn – Arrested striking miner, Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign
COMPERES: Chris Peace and Joe Rollin – Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign
MUSIC: UNITE Brass Band and PCS Samba Band
Facebook event here please invite your friends
https://facebook.com/events/s/orgreave-truth-and-justice-cam/601193785380443/
You can download Posters & Leaflets here https://otjc.org.uk/orgreave-rally-2023/
Saturday 17th June “Campaigning for outstanding bus services”
11am – 4pm National conference Hybrid event – in York face to face, and on Zoom.
The conference has been called by the Yorkshire and Humber Pensioners Convention (YHPC) with the aim of bringing together all those groups across the UK concerned about our failing bus services to build national campaigns for the funding and legislative changes we need.
Saturday 17th Sunday 18th June National Trades Councils Conference
TUC Congress House, London. Trades Councils from England and Wales will meet to discuss campaigns and strategy for 2023/24.
Unfortunately some of us will be attending so we won’t all make it to the other events on this weekend! MM.
Saturday 9th September Rally in memory of Pinochet’s coup in Chile
Come to our 50th anniversary vigil at Sheffield Town Hall for the 11th of September, which this year includes a march to a commemorative event at the Quakers Meeting House. (Note: this will be taking place on the Saturday as the 11th falls on a Monday)