Disaster response: Lahore bombing

A powerful bomb blast rocked Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore on Easter Sunday evening. The blast is believed to have killed over 60 people and to have injured over 200 local police have said.

In Pakistan Christians have a long running tradition of celebrating as a family at local park fun fairs after their morning devotions. This practice has never been a secret and after the Lahore Twin Church bomb attack took a low death toll due to the tight voluntary security workforces at both churches, a pernicious Taliban splinter group targeted Christian women and children at a popular Easter venue at Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park. The bomb that was packed full of ball bearings was set of near the children's area with intent to pick off the most vulnerable of visitors to the park. A large number of families, especially women and children, were present when the blast took place Many of these are believed to be Christians as it is a common tradition for families to go to a local funfair to celebrate the birth of Christ after their Easter devotions.

The British Pakistani Christian Association has initiated an immediate disaster recovery and calls for as much help as can as be given as number of fatalities and casualties are increasing by the hour. Donations will be used to support victims with funeral costs, medical fees, rehabilitation of those injured, trauma counselling and restoration of families who will have lost a main bread-winner or will be laid of work for some time. Details of how to donate can be found by clicking (here). The BCPA's petition can be signed here (click here).

Casualties have been taken to local hospitals including Lahore General Hospital which does not have a special burns unit. It is believed the attack took place during the celebrations of Easter in an attempt to target Christians. Distraught family members have gathered outside local hospitals and the government has announced a three day mourning period. Read full story (click here).

Also see the BCPA's story on the BBC documentary 'Thailand's Asylum Crackdown,'. Chris Rogers has been undercover in Thailand to expose how the country treats its asylum seekers. Pakistani Christians fleeing extremist violence are among the second largest group of asylum seekers in Thailand. Many are routinely rounded up and sent indefinitely to immigration detention centres or locked up in jails. Their crime: to be seeking asylum, in a country which does not recognise refugees. Wilson Chowdhry Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association helped Chris Rogers, and organised direct contact with victims being helped by the BPCA. Read full story and watch video (click here).

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Ooberfuse ft Archbishop Warda of Iraq - We Are One.

Sophia Hub update

Ros Southern writes:

Here's a little info and photo about a fab Timebank skills swap on Friday and how it helped start-ups. It will be updated so will be worth checking again in a few days time. Click here.

Rakesh Rootsman Rak of Eco Logical Designs is our speaker at the enterprise club this coming Tuesday 9th December. A Goodmayes boy who travels the world to help people set up resilient and sustainable orgnisations. He is talking on future proofing your business. Take a look at what we will be covering on Tuesday at 12.45.

Rishi of Kuku's nest was the enterprise club speaker last week. Great session. Useful tips. Read here.

Rashida of Ilmi Aethetics has changed course in her business and has very expensive specialist massage chairs for sale at very cheap prices!! Pass it on! To read more about her business and the chairs, click here.

Great stall opportunity - Wilson Chowdhry (previous speaker) is running a market in Ilford Town Centre on Tuesday 23rd December. Stalls for Sophia Hubs contacts are the lowest fee of £25. More info here.

Finally a reminder about a local start-up social enterprise Organic Ilford - find out about their veg bags, Christmas gift opportunities, weekly email etc. Let's support Redbridge start-ups!

In case the links don't work, everything is on my blog. http://sophiahubs7k.wordpress.com/

I am hoping we can have increasing numbers of guest blogs and start-ups promoting themselves on the Sophia Hubs blog.

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R.E.M. - Stand.

Candlelight Vigil Service for victims of knife crime

Danny O'Brien of Anti-Knife UK has said that he was "so pleased with the turnout" at last night's Candlelight Vigil for victims of knife crime which was hosted at St John's Seven Kings. He says, we "had about 60 people attended and a few technical issues, but I think everyone who came was pleased they came and all my speakers were first class and Camara Jessica Fearon made me cry with her singing and the dancer at the end was amazing too. Thank you if you attended ..." He goes on to say that he would "like to thank everyone who attend or sent messages of support. A big thank you to all those who took part and especially Jonathan Evens who believed in what I was trying to do and offered me his church for the vigil."

I am quoted in the Ilford Recorder as saying that, “the congregation was very grateful for the event.” They took part in an act of remembrance, lighting a candle next to a photo display of knife crime victims. “They were very moved by the occasion, the prayers and reflection" and "were fired up by the speakers too.” Mike Smith, of Word 4 Weapons, an organisation which launched this country’s first weapon exchange programme spoke alongside Wilson Chowdhry, chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), and Danny O’Brien.

I said that, “We put on the service because we recognised a need people have when they are grieving to remember loved ones and to do that in a public way too with prayer and reflection in the run up to Christmas.” I'm also quoted as saying that we won't be repeating the service next year. That's partly because I will have moved on from St John's by that time and, therefore, can't make commitments on behalf of the church but is also because Danny would like to take the format of this service to other locations rather than simply repeating it annually in Seven Kings.

A contemporary dance act, “expressing the emotions of those affected by knife crime”, rounded off the service in a powerful and moving manner.

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Ooberfuse - Different Drum.

Sophia Hub update

Ros Southern writes:

'Hope to see many of you at the enterprise lunchtime club tomorrow - Tuesday 25th November.

We will be hearing from local business woman Linda Pearson. She has been working in her alternative health business Massage Gurus for 8 years. Linda has managed to find regular contracts in the NHS and local schools for the staff and is willing to share how she did it! She comes from a finance background and can share tips on all aspects of running a small business. Thanks Linda!

Thanks to Wilson Chowdhry of AA Security who was the speaker last week. A bit of information here. Wilson had lots of advice but a key thing was the importance of belonging to the relevant professional bodies and knowing about regulations. More info here.

If you are interested in attending a big event at Olympia on starting a business information is here.'

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Patti Smith - People Have The Power.

Sophia Hub update

Ros Southern writes

'Enterprise club speaker this Tuesday is Wilson Chowdhry, local business man. Info click here.

We have our first Big Timebank Skills Swap Buzz on Friday 5th December at 10.30 at Flirt Cafe. Find out more here!

Info on last enterprise session led by Ludmila Adamiak of Flirt cafe - click here.

Update on Seven Kings Winter Fayre, stalls, carols, Bollywood , 21st November - click here.

News of deals brokered at enterprise club - When Olive met Stephanie - click here,

And a reminder about the free paint on offer for artists, clubs, residents - click here.

Have a great weekend and hope to see lots of you at the Enterprise club on Tuesday at 12.45pm.

If any links don't work, it's all on my blog! http://sophiahubs7k.wordpress.com/.'

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Michael Kiwanuka - I'm Getting Ready.