Motion passed at GUCU branch meeting, Wednesday 1 March 2023
This branch supports the following Goldsmiths UCU statement on the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria:
GUCU notes with great sadness the catastrophic earthquakes and aftershocks which have hit Turkey and Syria throughout February 2023. Although the situation is still developing, we understand that over 44,000 have died and a further 70,000 have been injured (according to the British Red Cross). The disaster has caused widespread destruction across the region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a three-month state of emergency in 10 of the country’s provinces while Syria’s current complex humanitarian emergency is among the largest humanitarian crises in the world and the earthquake will only exacerbate the situation and vulnerabilities.
We recognise that many GUCU members and non-members at Goldsmiths will be impacted by this tragedy, with some losing loved ones in the countries affected. We also recognise the valuable contribution that Turkish, Kurdish and Syrian communities make to our place of work and study, and wish to express our deepest solidarity and support.
In line with UCU’s statement of support for the earthquake in Turkey and Syria we are signposting our global union, Education International (EI), which has launched an urgent action appeal in support of education unions engaged in relief actions on the ground in Turkey and Syria.
GUCU proposes a £300 donation to the EI solidarity fund.
In addition to this members can donate directly to these initiatives in support of disaster relief:
- AKUT (Search and Rescue Association): https://www.akut.org.tr/en/donation
- Ahbap: https://ahbap.org/
- Turk Kizilay (Turkish Red Crescent): https://www.kizilay.org.tr/
- Syria Relief: https://syriarelief.org.uk/
- British Red Cross Appeal: https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal
This branch resolves to donate £300 to the EI solidarity fund