Woking Debates

A series of discussions on topics which are of interest to the people of the Woking area and the wider world

January 16

February 20

March 20

April 17

May 15

Revealed – there are modern slaves being exploited in UK

nAmy Harris from Hope for Justice gave an enlightening talk to more than 35 people via Zoom on Saturday, October 23 – revealing that modern slavery is common in our country. Immigrants as well as vulnerable British people are being exploited in jobs ranging from car washes to factories. Modern slavery is often linked to human trafficking, where a person is forced into a service against their will – physical work and, often, prostitution. Hope for Justice operates in several countries around the world but, not just as you might expect, in developing countries. It supports victims of employment exploitation in England, Scotland, Wales, Norway, the United States and Australia as well as Africa and parts of Asia. Many thousands of vulnerable children and adults are working long hours in difficult conditions for little or no pay and being housed in cramped, appalling conditions. Amy’s charity exists to bring an end to modern slavery by seeking out and preventing exploitation, rescuing victims, restoring lives and reforming society. Around the world, 40.3 million people are in forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and forced marriage. More than £100 billion pounds is made each year from forced labour, and Hope for Justice has so far rescued hundreds of people, from babies younger than a year old to adults up to the age of 63. Find out more about the charity and its work, how to spot and report the signs of modern slavery, and donate to their cause, at www.hopeforjustice.org.

Candles on water honour memory of atom bomb victims Members of Woking Action for Peace, a constituent body of Woking Debates, and members of the public commemorated the anniversary of the first use of atomic weapons at Wey Navigation in Send on Saturday, August 14. They gathered on the towpath by the New Inn pub to read remembrance tributes and poems before floating dozens of tealights in grapefruit and oranges skins on the waterway as dusk fell. The ceremony remembered the deaths of around 250,000 people when Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed in August 1945, at the end of the Second World War. "We deplored the Government's decision to increase our stock of nuclear weapons and widen the conditions under which they are used," said debates committee chairman Keith Scott, one of the organisers. "This completely contradicts the UK's obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. "The tradition of floating candles down a river in memory of those who have died does back to the Japanese belief that spirits come back to their families one day a year and need to be guided back to their homes in the water."

Films will now be shown next year nOur plans to show films this autumn have been cancelled due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety of people at indoor gatherings. We will review them next spring. nThis is the ninth year of the debates. The provisional titles for debates in 2022 include: What is gender? How many are there? Should we be concerned?; Local Democracy. Is it working?; Should Ireland be reunited?; Do we have an effective welfare state?; Does military intervention work?. nThe Journeymen Theatre will be bringing their play, The Bundle, to Christ Church in Woking town centre on Saturday, April 23. nOur final debate of the 2021 season, Air pollution: A hidden threat to Woking? featured two speakers, Woking Borough Council's environment portfolio holder, Councillor Kevin Davis, and Professor Prashant Kumar, from Surrey University, who leads a world-class unit on the subject or air pollution. There were also many contributions from members of the audience. A report will be posted soon. nRecordings of all our debates held via Zoom since August 2020 can be viewed at www.youtube.com. This includes Woking Borough Council's chief executive, Ray Morgan, causing a stir when he spoke unexpectedly at the end of our February debate, revealing his views on the controversial tower blocks being built in Woking town centre. nStarted by Woking Action for Peace to encourage active participation in our community by looking at underlying issues facing us, the debates are organised with the support of several local groups. We believe that together we can find ways forward to a more equal, peaceful and united world. Members of the public are always welcome, to join in the discussion and pose questions to the speakers. And if you have suggestions for future debate topics, or would like to join the committee, contact our chairman Keith Scott – see contacts page. nWhen conditions allow, the debates will return to being held on Saturday mornings, from 11am to 12.30pm, in The Gallery meeting room at Christ Church, Jubilee Square, Woking town centre. Entrance is free, although donations are requested to help with expenses. When we meet “in person”, tea and coffee are served for a small fee from 10.30am. Come along and meet other attendees and committee members before the debate begins. nAlso involved in organising and running the events are members of Churches Together in Woking, Friends of the Earth, Woking Environment Action (Formerly Woking LA21), Woking Quakers, Surrey Faith Links, Transition Towns, and Woking People of Faith.

A tribute
to Mary Holdstock

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