Photo-poetry book to raise charity funds
WALES’ first virtual Black Lives Matter protest has taken place.
People across Gwynedd posted pictures of themselves kneeling in a collective display of solidarity with the black community.
Organised by 14-year-old Sophia Machnik-Thomas, the virtual protest allowed people to show their support for the Black Lives Matter movement without putting themselves at risk of being infected with coronavirus.
People were encouraged to post pictures of themselves taking part in the protest on their social media accounts so their actions could be seen by people outside the local community. Sophia said the idea behind the protest was partly inspired by the NHS Clap for Carers which has become one of the defining acts of the lockdown period.
Instead of showing appreciation for the NHS, however, people are taking to one knee in solidarity with the BLM movement.
Last Tuesday afternoon posts flooded in of people kneeling, as Sophia’s idea for a virtual BLM demonstration in Gwynedd gathered pace.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts also took part in the virtual demonstration.
She said: “It is reassuring to see such impassioned responses from young people leading the charge against racism and intolerance. I am encouraged to see this level of youth engagement in anti-racism campaigns. The voices of young people in politics has never been so important.
“I hope we can all join Sophia in expressing solidarity with oppressed people everywhere by taking part in this socially distant and virtual protest.”
NWP Gwynedd South also took part in the virtual demonstration and praised Sophia in their post.
A NEW photo-poetry book written in lockdown will help to raise funds for two charities: North Wales Wildlife Trust and Many Tears Animal Rescue.
The book has been written by Carole Gowers, from Caernarfon, who has a keen interest in all things to with nature and wildlife.
She was inspired to write the collection during lockdown, focusing mainly on birds but also including some animals too.
The book, titled ‘Furries, Birds and Rhyming Words’ has been self-published by Carole and was released for sale on Tuesday, June 6.
The book contains more than 30 poems, and over 70 colour photographs collated by Carole and her friend Vivien Vardy-Smith who is also an amateur photogapher.
All profits from the book will be split evenly between North Wales Wildlife Trust and Many Tears Animal Rescue.
Carole said: “There is no financial reward in my book for me.
“My reward came from finding the time to be creative during lockdown and really enjoying writing the poems, and my reward also comes from achieving my goal of reaching the published stage with my lockdown project and helping to make other people happy and smile when they read my poems and look at the photographs.”
The book is for sale at www.lulu.com/en/gb/ shop/carole-gowers-andpixabay-and-carolegowers-and-vivienvardy-smith/ furries-birds-andrhyming-words/ hardcover/product48zd7k.html?fbclid= IwAR1p9i51BL pdfor0m3MJdNMLo 89Y9pdBv2po WnsHyEc2VaBoVVWF1 gyjMYA.