UNISON Rotherham Local Government

December's branch executive agreed to donate £200 towards the rebuilding of a school in Kashmir following the devastating earthquake and to launch a fundraising appeal.

Kashmir is a mountainous and stunningly beautiful region but also one of the world's poorest. Many families were already reliant on money sent home from abroad to survive. The area will need massive assistance to recover from recent catastrophe.

Aid from the international community has been slow in coming leading inevitably to contrasts with the massive spending on war both in neighboring Afghanistan and Iraq. Serious attempts must be made to end the occupation and partition of Kashmir and to defuse the threat of nuclear war between India and Pakistan over control of the wider region.

The branch decided to support a specific local fundraising project, the Kashmir READ Foundation to rebuild a school as there is a desperate shortage of suitable buildings. Many poorly constructed schools collapsed during the earthquake killing and injuring pupils. The money will go straight to local people to enable them to help themselves.

If you would like to take a collection from your workmates or friends click here to download the collection sheet , any monies collected should be returned to the branch office (01709 376 933). We hope to keep members informed of progress with the project through our website.

Many thanks for your solidarity,

Gordon Jelley,

Branch International Relations Officer