Round-up

1. A dozen Somali families are being moved out of a troubled estate in Bristol because of racist attacks. The city council said a handful of residents on the Hillfields estate, in the east of the city, have caused abuse, violence and harassment. Incidents have included scarves being pulled off and verbal abuse.

Scarves being pulled off! Brrrrrrrrr!

Seriously, it's odd how the British people are always depicted as crazed Neanderthals in these kinds of stories, in opposition to the perfectly proper, flawless "persecuted" ethnic minorities. I'm not saying that there is anything admirable or justified about these people's behaviour, but no attempt is made to actually find out the misgivings the Brits might have about these people, apart from a brief mention of housing problems. Maybe those misgivings are legitimate and valid. Maybe the ethnics are not as rosy as they claim to be. Again, I'm not suggesting that's necessarily the case here, but how are we to know if we don't ask? We don't even know how many incidents of racism occurred here.

2. AFRICAN community leaders in Australia will complain to the Human Rights Commission over comments by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews that African refugees are involved in crime and violence.

Mr Andrews said yesterday that he had material highlighting concerns about gangs, fights between Africans at nightclubs, family violence and an increase in crime among African youths.

He said there were reports of African males congregating in parks at night to drink, and disagreements between prominent organisations about favoured treatment in accessing community services.

Where is the racism in this? Only the Africans will be able to tell you.

3. RAICTVMIHMWFC Watch....."Racism is alive, insidious and clearly targeted at those 'visible' minorities of immigrant heritage, the majority of whom are French citizens."

OK, it doesn't slip of the tongue quite as well as RAW Watch, I admit.