Bristol is working towards being the second City of Sanctuary in the UK, offering more of a welcome to asylum seekers and refugees…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: part city. The blog is also related to: city bus.

From the Free Movement blog.

UKBA have changed their removals policy, and not in a nice way. The announcement letter to stakeholders is available here and does not really tell half the story. In essence, the 72 hour notice period for removals is to be waived in a wide range of cases and no-notice removals will become more widespread. This prevents access to a lawyer or the courts, basically, and it means that unlawful (why we don’t just say illegal still escapes me) removals can go ahead unchallenged. Read the full article on Free Movement…

Bail for Immigration Detainees has produced three new information bulletins for detainees and their representatives, and a revised edition on their notebook on bail, which can be downloaded from the BID website here.

Bulletin 19 explains the new Section 4 application process for bail applicants
(All immigration detainees who do not have an address to put on their bail form are eligible for Section 4 accommodation. You do not have to have claimed asylum. You do not need to show you are destitute. You do not have to show that you are willing to return to your home country.)

Bulletin 28 summarises UKBA’s policy on forced returns to Zimbabwe, Sudan (non-Arab Darfuris) and Somalia
(This bulletin is for people held in the UK under immigration powers in detention centres and prisons. It may also be useful for individuals and organisations supporting migrants and asylum seekers in detention.)

Bulletin 29 The right to legal aid in bail cases
(Explains detainees’ rights to appeal decisions not to grant legal aid for bail applications; it is accompanied by a leaflet for solicitors on legal aid funding for bail.

If you’d like to know what a heavy-duty year in reading looks like, head over to the indefatigable Brad Green’s for a list that will knock your socks off.  Donigan Merritt has also gotten into the act, as has Tom Conoboy.

The best book I read in 2009 was Little Dorrit, by Charles Dickens.  A morality tale for the ages.  (See my review.)

A close second was The Pornographer, by John McGahern.  This writer is for some reason quite obscure in America.  I can’t understand why.  Read The Pornographer, and you’ll be scratching your head, too.  I won’t be doing a full-blown review on this one, I don’t think, but I will post some excerpts .

In third was the thoroughly enjoyable romp Tokyo Zero, by Mark Horne.  (See my review.)  This “fat-tailed ebook” is a single-handed argument for owning an e-reader.

The best book I re-read was Bend Sinister, by Vladimir Nabokov.

Best nonfiction was a tie between Lovesick Blues: The Life of Hank Williams (by Paul Hemphill) and Nabokov: The Russian Years, by Brian Boyd.

Biggest disappointment is a three-way tie between Sanctuary, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and A Good Day To Die.  I’d been looking forward to Sanctuary, by my hero William Faulkner, and Their Eyes, by Zora Neale Hurston, for months.  They were the first two books I planned to read once we got to the USA in March and I would have access to them.  Some plan.  Couldn’t get past the first chapter with either.  And how can a book called with a title as awesome as A Good Day To Die and a quotable quote in the first 30 pages turn out to be so boring I quit halfway through?  I don’t know how, exactly, but I wouldn’t suggest picking this slim tome up to find out for yourself.

“Honorable” mention for disappointments: Give Us A Kiss, by Daniel Woodrell.  I’d been led to believe this book was Cormac McCarthy meets Dashiell Hammet.  It wasn’t.  (Probably it is debatable whether that would even be a good thing. )

NCADC campaigning workshops in the new year.

This NCADC training is for groups and individuals involved in resisting deportations. It will include an overview of the asylum system and training on how to plan, launch and run an effective anti-deportation campaign.

Tuesday 19th January, a three hour workshop in Oxford – full details here
Saturday 30th January a full day training session in Newcastle Upon Tyne full details here

NCADC Training: Newcastle Upon Tyne

Date: Saturday 30th January
Time: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Location: Quaker Meeting House, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Full details, address, directions etc will be confirmed to participants on registration.

This event is for groups and individuals involved in resisting deportations. It will include an overview of the asylum system and comprehensive training on how to plan, launch and run an effective anti-deportation campaign.

Drawing on 15 years of NCADC work and with input from campaigners in the North East and Scotland, the training day aims to share knowledge, skills and experience for current and future anti-deportation campaigns.

Some participants will go on to become anti-deportation trainers for their organisation or in their community. Others will find their own campaigns strengthened.

We will look at:

• The asylum system: how it works and what to do when it fails
• Planning, launching and running a campaign
• The roles of solicitors and supporters Involving politicians
• Dealing with the media
• Having a local /regional campaign network
• Running your own training workshops

Participants should be:

• A person facing deportation or working directly with those facing deportation
• Familiar with the basics of the asylum process and the experience of those facing deportation
• Committed to passing on and disseminating what you gain in the workshop
• Interested in the possibility of a regional anti-deportation network

This event is free, but places are limited. Travel expenses will be reimbursed for people who are seeking asylum. Lunch will be provided

To book a place please download this  NCADC training application (MS Word document), fill in your details and email it to: ncadc-north@ncadc.org.uk

For more details and for any questions, please email as above, or call Michael Collins on 0147 984 1770

This workshop is part of NCADC’s ‘Train-the-Trainer’ seminar programmes, funded by Barrow-Cadbury Trust and developed by an Advisory Panel of experienced campaigners.

Source: Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Civilians attacked, bombed, and cut off from aid in Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), along with stagnant funding for treating HIV/AIDS and ongoing neglect of other diseases, were among the worst emergencies in 2009, the international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported today in its annual list of the “Top Ten” humanitarian crises.

Continuing crises in north and south Sudan, along with the failure of the international community to finally combat childhood malnutrition were also included on this year’s list. The list is drawn from MSF’s operational activities in close to 70 countries, where the organisation’s medical teams witnessed some of the worst humanitarian conditions.
Three distinct patterns dominated in 2009:

1. governments blocked life-saving assistance to trapped populations, including in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Sudan,
2. respect for civilian safety and neutral humanitarian action further eroded, such as in Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, DRC, and Somalia,
3. people suffering from a host of largely ignored diseases were again neglected by the international community and those living with HIV/AIDS saw their chances of receiving life extending therapy further diminished.

DR Congo: Unrelenting Violence Stalks Civilians Throughout Eastern

Somalia: Citizens Endure Violence and Lack of Access to Health Care

Sudan: Precarious Situation for People in Southern Sudan and Darfur

Sri Lanka: Thousands Injured during the Final Stage of Decades-long War

Pakistan: Civilians Suffer From Violence & Neglect

Afghanistan: Politics of Aid Leaves many Afghans Cut off from Humanitarian Assistance

Northern Yemen: Civilians Trapped in Violent War

Children: Woefully Inadequate Funding Undermines Gains in Childhood Malnutrition Treatment

AIDS: Funding for AIDS Treatment Stagnating Despite Millions Still in Need

Neglected Diseases: Lack of R&D and Scale Up of Treatment Plagues Patients with Neglected Diseases

Update, 19 December 2009

An injunction was obtained on Friday, staying the removal until such time as new evidence is heard. Immigration at Yarl’s Wood have told Lydia she will remain in detention as they are or the opinion that if they gave her liberty she would abscond, plus, removal may be imminent. Thanks to all who Emailed/faxed/phoned.

For more information please contact RAPAR press officer Kath Grant on  07812 471047 OR  0161 225 2260 OR Rapar’s office on 0161 834 8221.
Email     kath.northernstories@googlemail.com

Or see Lydia and Bernard’s campaign page on the NCADC website

Dear God,

The story of the nativity is perhaps the greatest means of relaying the love of God through mankind. We are acutely aware that even to those who choose not to believe in Your  diety, can still be moved by the presence of a nativity scene in a sanctuary. For it is the questioning of the genuinely miraculous birth to a virgin, that makes unbelievers mock. But, we must not doubt that such events transpired and that historical fact and science can validate such an existence to a celestial event in our solar system.

Astronomy is a fact based study of the stars, planets, our solar system and beyond. We must remember that Galileo studied the stars and was able to show definitive proof to others who were amazed at what lies beyond our scope of normal physical vision. Every generation has used the sky, the planets and the stars to equate time and to predict future events. We are even finding out how other cultures used such ingenuity to foretell exact calendar events for over a thousand years.

But, it is one particular night, and one particular astrological event that perhaps makes even the nay sayers take a second look at prophecy. For the star that shown so brightly in the sky, and led three prestigious Magi to travel many, many miles to meet the one who they believed would be the prophetic Messiah, for this is the star that overshadowed our King.

According to Julius Marathus, who was an entrusted friend to Augustus Caesar, he stated that in 63 B.C.E. the Roman Senate ordered that all male children born that year, should be killed. This decision was made, because astrological signs and prophecy’s suggested that this would be the time that the King of the Romans would be born. The senators wives, who were pregnant  were even told to not register the birth of their sons, in case their child would later be discovered to be the chosen one.  We know that the King of the Jews did not come from royalty or from a prestigious Government lineage. No, the King above all Kings was brought to us by the conception of the holy spirit over a young innocent virgin. A loyal man named Joseph, who at first did not fully understand that his betrothed had  not forsaken him to another. You chose this man of honor to be the earthly Father to raise Your Son, and to teach Him of His heavenly duties.  If we understand that angels appeared to both Mary and Joseph, we must understand that You allow for the supernatural to occur, to redeem that which You have shown mercy upon-Your children.

It is fact based historical knowledge that on that date in history, something had occurred that had not happened for hundreds of years before, and would not occur again for thousands of years later. The planets of Venus and Jupiter would align. For this great celestial event would mark an unbelievable astrological occurence that would be seen by all in the western sky. Also, noted was that the moon would be full during this enlightening timeframe. We are to understand that this is not mere coincidence. Your mind does not allow for something as awe-inspiring as this to be a random act of celestial happenings. You are the ruler of the universe. You designed the sky, the stars, the moon, and the planets. You knew that Your son would be born, what day, what hour, what minute. You knew that the great minds of the Magi would be so curious to find the answers to the prophetic scrolls that would draw them to the birth of a child. But not just any child, the Son of God, and the Son of Man. One child whose birth would change humanity forever.

Today’s scientist have found positive proof of such an event in history. It has been researched by some of the greatest minds of todays astrological findings, from some of the most prestigious universities. We now know without question, that these two particular planets did align, and could therefore, be the sign that persuaded three highly intelligent scientist, to travel a remarkable distance to see for themselves, what they believed would draw them to the honor of presenting gifts to the much-anticipated Messiah.

The glory and hope of Israel was born in a stable, and three highly favored scientist believed with such integrity that they must look to the stars and follow it to where this Savior would lie. I know that many believe that they arrived on the night that Mary gave birth to you. But, we understand that You were approximately two years of age, when these men found their way to Your doorstep. For them this magical star was the sign that they had been awaiting for so many years. Their studies were their life. They spent their days studying astrology and the meanings to their relationship to man’s future. The books of Matthew, Mark and Luke cover so much of the same stories, that we must interpret this to mean that their significance is highly important to us. We must study to show ourselves approved unto You, Lord. I desire to learn everything that I can to bring me closer in my relationship with You.

This same star led these visitors to bring gifts that would normally be given to great Kings of wealth and highly favored recognition. The Gold that was given, was always a valuable commodity throughout time. The incense of Frankincense was considered a fragrant gum that was drawn from the bark of a tree. The Myrrh was used as a perfume and a spice and was highly valuable during this time. We later see why such extravagant gifts were offered to a small child.

When Herod gave the order that all male babies be destroyed, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and warned him of the sinister plan of a jealous Ruler. It is believed that these valuable gifts from the Magi, were used to help this modest family flee to Egypt. They may have also helped them to live with their essentials taken care of, until they received word that Herod had died, and the impending threat was over.

This enormously bright star–was the majestic sign that brought knowledge of the unveiling of a great kingdom. This star shone brightly over the cool evening air that soothed Mary as she held her son… the Son of God. This star drew the Magi to the most important birth that was ever documented.  In Matthew 2:7, Herod secretly called and found out from the Magi the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said that he too wanted to worship him. It was with Your acknowledgment in their dreams, that they knew they must not return to Herod with the exact location of the child. Your protection followed him everyday of His life. From Starry night, to conquer death in mornings light.

Praise be to the One who spoke each star into existence. Praise to the One who aligned them so that the Magi could follow it to the home of a small child that would change the world forever.

Gina

‘Freedom from immigration control is the only way to put a stop to the impossible hurdles placed in front of desperate parents seeking freedom to move to a better place with their children’

Open borders are the answer for migrant families

Immigration authorities are the real danger to the children of foreign nationals, says Anna Morvern

BBC News reports this morning (Sun 20 Dec, 2009) that an 18-month-old toddler, Audrey Nyanor, has been taken from a police station in Britain. It is reported that ‘A woman went to Walworth police station saying she was a friend of Audrey’s mother and was there to collect her, but it later transpired she was not.’ This story may not be, as it first seems, a tragic tale of a malevolent kidnapper, but may be the story of adults desperate to keep a child safe from state harm being perpetrated in the name of immigration control.

Full article: Fourth Magazine, Sunday 20th December 2009

Note: I do apologize for those readers who aren’t interested in this sort of thing, but I would be bringing an occasional post from my University of Edinburgh course blog to this space. Not too many, hopefully. Just the occasional one that seemed interesting after rereading it.

Levy’s “Information, Silence and Sanctuary” presents an interesting case for contemplation, specifically allocating time and removing distractions for extended periods of time spent to simply think. The article draws heavily from Thomas Friedman and his situation with the taxi ride from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Paris is revealing. With six different communication channels between them, neither the passenger nor the taxi driver spoke with each other. This analogy is meant to illustrate the growing fragmentation of modern life where everything vies for our attention and so nothing gets it entirely. This is unfortunately often true.

We are inundated with devices, blips, bleeps, vibrating contraptions and other interruptions into that occasional frolic into divine contemplation (or at least docile nothingness-just sitting there). We are pulled, almost literally, from our slumber with clocks, whistles, and all sorts of other noises designed to sever our connection with that world (that is their reason to be; they need to garner your attention). However, Friedman’s analogy seems a little simplistic to be anything other than anecdotal.

First, there is a chance that the lack of communication between the driver and Friedman was due to a lack of a common communication channel between them. There is an outside chance that Friedman does not speak French or is hesitant to do so. Regardless of whether this is true, it illustrates that language can be a communication barrier, one that many of these devices will serve to mollify a bit.

Further, how prone are we to talk to strangers regardless of our close proximity to them? How often does one strike up a conversation on the subway or a train? It seems that impromptu communication is much more prevalent on flights, but I suspect that has something to do with social interaction assuaging the impending fear of death foremost on everyone’s minds. Regardless, there are social factors here stunting communication well beyond the scope of technological barriers. A stare out the window or closing one eyes can signal disinterest in conversation just as easily as an iPod.

I suppose my ultimate point is that if communication devices are used in conjunction towards one ultimate pursuit, one singular point of reflection and observation, then cannot that indeed be contemplation? Is it jarring, a severing, an interruption if all devices (which are merely extensions of self) are focused on one pursuit? Isn’t all art based on this? A painter with a multitude of brushes and colors weaves them interdependently and does not consider them distractions. They are communication devices.

Multiple channels; one message. Retrieved December 12, 2009, from http://blissfullydomestic.com/wp-content/gallery/photo-bliss/collage-heart.jpg

I have no desire to downplay information overload as it indeed a real concern, one that plagues me as well at times (a few restless nights can attest to that). However, what I believe this represents is that we are still in our infancy of technological acumen. We see the tool as a thing and not as a tool; we are beholden to it and not the other way around. If we appropriate it for our own purposes (Twitter, iPhone, etc. as research tools), then we cease to see it as an interruption because it is more of an augmentation. How much is too much? That is indeed a valid question, but I suspect that we would be able to tolerate more “interruptive” devices if we aligned them with our overriding pursuits.

As the decade comes to a close in a few days, there will be only one thing that truly defines the decade: the fatefule events of September 11, 2001.

Her is my recount of where I was and what I was doing on that fateful day in September.

But first, let me give you a history of that whole year so that you can understand the change of the mindset of everyone, including myself.

The summer of 2001 was a rather interesting one due to the fact that I went on a mission trip for the first time as a Christian entitled “Houston 2001.” (Now known as “The Houston Project.”) I did it with the youth group that I was in at the time.

I was also about to enter highschool. I was slated to attend a local private highschool in my hometown: Houston, TX. The week that school started was a rather innocuous one – very innoccent. The entire class went on a retreat and we played a game called “Romans and Christians” – a Christian version of the classic game of chase.

A few weeks before, I remember my father and I were looking for camera equipment and we stopped by the local AudioVideo Plus store on Richmond ave (now an adult megaplexx place, ick!) and we just looked around the video store and the old videos. It was a rainy, but sunny day in Houston.

Then 9/11 happened a few days later. I went to class as usual and, according to the timeline of events (Houston is on central time), I was in World History Class because classes started at 7:45 am. But nobody told us about the event at first. The next class I had was a typing class and another fellow classmate, a boy, came into the class and exclaimed to the teacher that 3 planes had crashed. Knowing this boy to be obnoxious, I ignored him and thought that this sorta thing, plane crashes, happen everyday.

But little did I know that what I was about to hear in the announcements period on that Tuesday was a very life-altering event for everyone. The next period I went to announcements and sat down next to my friend, Brittan Braddock, and the principle, a native new yorker himself, made the shocking announcement that the world trade center had been hit as well as the pentagon by muslim extremists.

The whole room went into a state of disbelief and questioning. The next class period, women’s chorus, was no exception either because the teacher stayed silent in regards to helping us understand what happened in New York.

The rest of the day was filled with lots of talk about what happened, along with the two types of Islam. They even had televisions out broadcasting the news. Everything that day was cancelled. I remember that I was a little glad that handbell practice was cancelled because I was starting to not like handbells. So I was picked up by my father and left the school.

When my father picked me up, he told me that there was a call from the church that we attended saying that the wednesday youth group meeting was going to be cancelled and that there was going to be a church (or citywide since this particular church is a megachurch – not like Joel Osteen’s Lakewood.) prayer meeting. It was pretty crowded.

Friday, I went to my first highschool football game. It was a time of fun, yet still remembering what happened.

Sunday was a rather busy day. I had to go to two separate churches, a local lutheran church to sing and then Houston’s First Baptist because I wanted to go to my home church. At the lutheran church, we sang Great is the Lord by Michael W. Smith and Lord of All by First Call. It was such short notice that we didn’t change our performance and, like the rest of the congregation, we were in equal shock and disbelief. By the time I got to First, it was a pretty packed congregation. The day was a rather big blur but I do remember confiding in my friend Shannon and telling her that I did want to cry. She told me it was okay to do so.

The following week I went to see the Avalon “Oxygen tour” at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion. I and my friend were late to the concert, but we made it just in the nick of time for Avalon to take the stage with their then-upcoming single Wonder Why. Many things suprised me that night. For starters, neither I, my father (who was also in attendance), nor my friend were searched in any way. I was also suprised that Avalon did not show any footage or even mention the terrible events that had happened in the US during the song Picture Perfect World. Instead, during that song, they showed a video montage of the band doing work with Compassion International. I personally thought that this gesture was a little conceited and selfish – like they were giving glory to themselves and not Jesus.

However, looking back, they were playing to an audience filled with families and maybe those families were looking to escape, but at least maybe one of the members, such as Janna Long or now-former member Cheri (who is from Rhode Island – nearby), could have said something like “Tonight as we sing this song [Picture Perfect World] our hearts, minds and prayers are with those that are suffering tonight in New York City, Washington D.C, and Shanksville, PA.” Other than that, it was a good concert. I still have (and wear) my Oxygen Tour tshirt.

Other than that, the year was a normal one for me. I had a good Christmas – I got my very first bass guitar that year as a gift along with a new Out of the Grey cd. I experienced my first real crush on a boy named Owen – a senior no less!

A year and 4 months later, I got to visit Ground Zero on a choir tour of New York. It was a very moving experience being at that site, as well as a sad one. We all cried when we spontaneously sang Ein So Lord Jesus Quickly Come and another song called Sanctuary. Everybody cried while at that site.

Ldyia Besong

Lydia Besong, a Cameroon national and resident of Manchester, is currently detained in Yarl’s Wood IRC and is due to be forcibly removed from the UK on Kenya Airways flight KQ 101 Heathrow TN4 on Monday 21st December 2009 at 19:00. Although he is not in detention, the Home Office also wishes to deport her husband Bernard Batey at the same time.

Lydia and Bernard sought asylum in the UK on 18/12/06. Their asylum claim is based on their activities with the Southern Cameroon National Council, a peaceful political organisation that campaigns for the rights of the English-speaking minority of Southern Cameroon. Prior to their arrival in the UK, both Lydia and Bernard suffered beatings and imprisonment as a result of their involvement with the SCNC and Lydia was raped by a uniformed guard.

For background information and details of how YOU can help,

On 20/10/09 the Home Office issued a letter stating their reasons for refusing to grant asylum, asserting that any documentation from Cameroon is unreliable due to pervasive corruption in that country. Bernard and Lydia have submitted new evidence to the Home Office since then. he chairman of the SCNC has since affirmed that Lydia and Bernard were active human rights practioners in Cameroon and their human rights work in the UK stands as a testimony to that. Bernard and Lydia have worked tirelessly at RAPAR (Refugee and Asylum Seekers Participatory Action Research) and WAST (Women Asylum-Seekers Together) with refugees in similar situations to their own.

In spite of the Bajul ruling of the African Commission on Human Rights calling on the Biya regime of Cameroon to enter into dialogue, recent months have seen the Cameroonian state crack down on the SCNC. Meetings have been broken up and people carrying copies of the Banjul ruling have been arrested.

USA: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – Cameroon 2008
The government’s human rights record remained poor, and it continued to commit human rights abuses. Security forces committed numerous unlawful killings. Security forces also engaged in torture, beatings, and other abuses, particularly of detainees and prisoners. Prison conditions were harsh and life threatening. Authorities arrested and detained anglophone citizens advocating secession, local human rights monitors and activists, persons not carrying government-issued identity cards, and other citizens. There were incidents of prolonged and sometimes incommunicado pretrial detention and infringement on citizens’ privacy rights. The government restricted citizens’ freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and association, and harassed journalists. The government also impeded citizens’ freedom of movement. Other problems included widespread official corruption; societal violence and discrimination against women; female genital mutilation (FGM); trafficking in persons, primarily children; and discrimination against pygmies, ethnic minorities, indigenous people, and homosexuals. The government restricted worker rights and the activities of independent labor organizations. Child labor, hereditary servitude, and forced labor, including forced child labor, were problems.

Robert Sharp, of English PEN, the charity which campaigns for writers and playwrights internationally, is also calling for Lydia a playwright to be released. He said:

“This is a blow for freedom of speech. With this detention, Lydia’s fledgling literary career will be cut short. It is astonishing that the UK plans to deport someone who has been seeking refuge from a government that attacked her just for exercising her right to freedom of expression.”

Please urge Home Secretary Alan Johnson MP to cancel the planned removal and release Lydia back into the community of Greater Manchester in which she belongs. After the contributions this couple has made to our community and in mind of the grave danger they face if returned to their home country, it is time for the UKBA to realise that this couple are an asset to our country.

Take Action Now

1.) Email/Fax, Sam Okwulehie, Group Area Manager Kenya Airways and urge him not to carry out the forced removal of Lydia Besong – download model fax ‘Lydia BesongKA.doc. You can copy, amend or write your own version – please quote Kenya Airways flight KQ 101 Heathrow TN4 on Monday 21st December 2009 at 19:00.

E-mail: contact@kenya-airways.com

Fax: 020 8745 5027 – from outside the UK + 44 20 8745 5027

Phone: 020 8759 7366 – from outside the UK + 44 20 8759 7366

2.) Please send urgent Email/faxes immediately to Rt. Hon. Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for the Home Office asking that Lydia Besong be granted protection in the UK. Please use the attached “model letter” (LydiaBesongAJ.doc) you can copy/amend/write your own version (if you do so, please remember to include HO ref: B1236372.

Fax: 020 8760 3132

Email:

• UKBApublicenquiries@UKBA.gsi.gov.uk
• CITTO@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
• Privateoffice.external@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Please let the campaign know of any Emails/faxes sent:
Lydia Besong and Bernard Batey Campaign
C/o admin@rapar.org.uk

You may also wish to send messages of support to Lydia and Bernard:

Lydia Besong and Bernard Batey
c/o RAPAR 6 Mount Street
Manchester
M2 5NS
Email: admin@rapar.org.uk

For further information, please contact:
- RAPAR’s Press Officer Kath on 0161-225-2260 or mobile 07812471047
kath.northernstories@googlemail.com
- RAPAR’s office: 0161-834-8221

If I could live anywhere, it would be Rivendell, home of the Elves in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.  As depicted in the Peter Jackson film, it’s is a truly magical, mysterious, beautiful place.  Nestled in a valley and perfectly blended into the wild nature that surrounds it, I couldn’t imagine a more suitable setting.  The stonework, the intricate carvings and columns, the stunning architecture, the waterfalls, the trees — my ideal kind of home.  Hidden away from the rest of the world, a calm, quiet sanctuary, a place of peaceful reflection and meditation, a place for intellectual study, a musical and poetic retreat — a place to slow down and find oneself again.

Though a sad race, I’m greatly intrigued by Tolkien’s Elves.  They’re beautiful and wise, living at a slower pace, constantly learning, creating, observing.  I would love to live in such a place, wandering the open-air rooms, feeling a natural breeze indoors, spending my hours reading, thinking, observing, writing; then go take a walk among the trees, along the river, over the rocks, feeling the natural calm of the wild life around me, feeling washed over with serenity as the sound of water running and birds chirping are the only things I hear.

Update, 17 December

Florence and Precious will be home for Christmas! Good campaigning + good legal rep = freedom.

It’s not over yet, but wonderful news.

Message from MSP Anne McLaughlin on the Facebook page:

They’re out. They’re coming home. They’ll be back by morning and they are both very very happy. It’s not over yet but at least Precious is not locked up and she’s coming back to Glasgow.

Will (Robin Dunne) and Magnus (Amanda Tapping) cross paths with one of Magnus' old friends and colleagues in "Sleepers." Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of The Syfy Channel

SPOILER ALERT!! - Magnus (Amanda Tapping) and Will (Robin Dunne) investigate a number of inexplicable teenage disappearances. The common denominator in the case seems to be that they all recently spent time at an exclusive rehab clinic in Mexico. Paying a visit to the clinic, Magnus and Will are surprised to meet the program’s director…none other than a disguised Nikola Tesla (Jonathon Young), one of the original Five.  

Jonathon Young reprises his role as Nikola Tesla. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of The Syfy Channel

Tesla portentously explains he has been working on a treatment that cures the teens of their addictions in merely a week. Magnus and Will know Tesla has an ulterior motive and press him to disclose the real purpose for the clinic. Unable to hold back his excitement, Tesla reveals that he is actually turning his patients into vampires. His treatment is designed to create a time-release of the vampire gene, evolving his unsuspecting patients into vampires over a 30-year period. But when one of his patients discovers the formula to speed up the process, they find themselves up against a powerful and determined group of new vampires. Unless they can be stopped Magnus fears Tesla may have unleashed the resurrection of the deadliest race of Abnormals ever to roam the Earth. Sleepers airs Friday, December 18th @ 10:00 p.m. EST on The Syfy Channel.  

Tesla and Magnus must try to contain a seemingly unstoppable threat. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of The Syfy Channel

 For a sneak peek of this episode, see the following link – https://rcpt.yousendit.com/790568392/4c16aa8df2707921b9c59177e6028d7a  

As noted above, all photos by Jeff Weddell and copyright of The Syfy Channel, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Remembering the sci-fi episodes which had us on the edge of our seats, rolling with laughter and weeping with joy

At the end of each year, it is popular to be inundated with top ten lists of just about everything: the best television shows, the best actors, the best quotes, and just the best of the best.  So rather than just compile a list of ten shows or episodes that stood out from the pack in this past year, I instead opted to select one episode from each sci-fi television show that stood out and deserves special recognition from 2009.

No matter how anyone felt about it, “Battlestar Galactica – Daybreak: Part 2” was a work of art.  It was the epic episode everyone had been waiting for: where Galactica and its crew mounted one last stand in order to rescue the child Hera from the clutches of the Cylons.  The showdown was tense, nail-biting, painful and never more bittersweet than when the survivors found themselves face to face with the long sought after Earth.  The ensuing good-byes as each parted ways towards their final destiny was even more heart-breaking.  But like those conflicting feelings of each character, those feelings were mirrored by the fans around the globe saying their good-byes to one of the most controversial and lauded shows on television.  Our hearts may grieve, but we were lucky to enjoy such an astounding journey.

The name Joss Whedon has been associated with ground-breaking, cult television for over a decade.  Thus, it was with surprise that when Joss unveiled his latest creation “Dollhouse” —  which left the viewers were stunned by its complacency.  While titillating and thought-provoking, something was clearly missing:  it had no heart.  It was not until the episode  “Belonging” that we felt the chill of recognition.  This was the classic Joss Whedon we all knew and loved.  The episode was the darkest to date as it recounted how Sierra was taken captive and enslaved in the Dollhouse.  But with the least likely of champions at her back, Adelle and Topher, it was a tale of vengeance and awakening conscience.  The show had taken long enough, but once it found its true path, the fans rejoiced.  Another bittersweet moment since it came on the heels of the news of the show’s cancellation.  Another reminder at how fleeting success is in this volatile industry.  Enjoy it while it lasts.

Having now established itself as the popcorn king of summer television, “Eureka” returned this past summer with a delicious confection in the episode “Welcome Back Carter.”  The introduction of Sheriff Andy, a robot in a box, as Carter’s replacement was a clever and humorous look at the pro’s and con’s of having a robot try to take the place of a human being.  Using the Wizard of Oz mythology as a framework, this episode brought back the charm and innocence that has made “Eureka” such a pleasure to watch over the years.

After dazzling everyone with its flash of brilliance in its pilot episode, “FlashForward” raised the ante on itself in the episode “The Gift.”  While investigating the Blue Hand Club (a sly nod to the blue-handed men of Joss Whedon’s long-gone but not forgotten “Firefly” series), Agent Al Gough took matters into his own hands to prove to everyone that their fates were not predetermined as he took his own life.  With the simple act of stepping off a building, his sacrifice was mesmerizing and mind-boggling.  He gave them all back their free-will.  It was powerful and riveting.

Still reeling from the revelation that William Bell had been hiding in an alternate dimension at the end of its first season, “Fringe” embraced its walk on the wild side and gave us the episode, “A New Day in an Old Town” where everything was not as it seemed to be.  Plus, with Olivia suffering from not only her auto accident injuries, but also a fractured psyche, the balance of power shifted as Peter took up the reins of the Fringe Division.  We were also introduced to shape-shifter Charlie, who hid in plain sight just waiting to strike.  With all these surprises, the show rose to a new level of excitement and suspense.

While written off by many critics, none could disagree that in the episode “Cold Snap,” “Heroes” had regained some of its glossy allure.  The episode sparkled from start to finish, offering not only an apparent major death, but also a major revelation.  It was a loving reminder of why we all fell in love with the show in the first place and why it deserves to be remembered for its highs more than its lows.  Seeing Tracy Strauss shatter into a million tiny pieces was tragic and stunning.  Her heart may have been frozen, but she melted ours.

It may have lasted but one short season, but “Life on Mars” (the American version) was a dazzling array of science fiction subtly buried under all those ‘70’s clothes.  In the episode “Let All the Children Boogie,” it embraced its silly decadence and let us glimpse the fun frivolity at the heart of the show.  It also offered a phenomenal cameo by Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson who nearly swept Annie off her feet.  And if you saw the series all the way through, you will know exactly why this show deserves to be on this list.

In an episode that deserves every rave review and award of recognition it can get, “Lost” reminded us why it is king of primetime drama with the episode “The Incident.”  In a searing performance by Elizabeth Mitchell tangling with one nasty nuclear bomb, this episode rose to new heights for the sterling drama.  Flash-forward, flack-back or simply jumping around the timeline, “Lost” deserves its pedestal.  It can bring us to tears or awe us with its audacity.

A newcomer in the sci-fi realm, “Sanctuary” is still finding its legs.  But in a no-holds barred episode “End of Nights, Part 2,” it dared to stake its claim as a contender to be reckoned with.  It took its characters and gave them each the fight of their lives and bravely struck down not one, but two of its own cherished characters.  It felt premature, but still resonated loudly with its willingness to raise the stakes.

Continuing in its quest to fulfill its iconic legacy, “Smallville” ended its eighth season breaking our hearts.  In the episode “Doomsday,” it was not the big explosive battle between Clark Kent and Doomsday that we remember. It was Jimmy Olsen’s swan song and his loving gift for his bride that we cannot forget.  If there was any character who was deemed untouchable, it was Jimmy Olsen and yet “Smallville” dared to change a key piece of mythology by striking him down.  It was brave, gutsy and seemingly unforgivable, yet it pulled it off beautifully.

Another fresh-face rising in the ranks of sci-fi television, “Stargate Universe” tackled the big shoes left by its predecessors and strove to make its own mark in sci-fi television.  In the episode “Justice,” it did just that.  Unmasking Dr. Rush as the villain and leaving him stranded on a deserted planet was shocking and left us breathless for more.  It posed the question: does the crime fit the punishment — and we are still wondering. What an outstanding way to declare its independence and individuality.

Though many would wonder at its place on this list, “Supernatural” has always been a sci-fi sibling challenging the way we see the world around us through a distinct lens of good versus evil.  Departing briefly from its somber theme and tone in the episode “Changing Channels,” it took a decidedly humorous turn and brilliantly unleashed its comedic core.  It invoked side-splitting laughter and we were amused as the Winchester boys danced to the Trickster’s tune in order to woo another minion of evil to their cause.  Proving that laughter is the best medicine, it was a pure devilish delight.

With tenacity rarely seen on television, the scrappy upstart “Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles” sought to secure its place in another iconic legacy.  In the episode “Today is the Day, Part 2,” we glimpsed the man that John Connor would one day become as he stared into Jesse’s lost eyes debating whether her death was justified.  As the series struggled under the weight of its intricate mythology, it never shined so bright as when we saw the lengths they would go to in order to preserve the future of the human race.  Fortunately, it preserved its human heart in the process. 

With echoes of yesterday hanging over it, it was with a dash of surreal ingenuity that the new series “V” stepped outside the long shadow of its predecessor and with the pivotal performances of its lead characters walking the tight-rope of finely tuned writing, the “Pilot” episode captured the imagination of another generation of sci-fi fans.  As it unmasked a familiar face as the enemy, we all gasped with horror and wonder.  It was a nice twist to an old tale and immediately set itself apart as a show to watch.

Last, but not least, the summer sensation “Warehouse 13” made everyone take notice when it ratcheted up the tension and risk-level in the episode “Implosion.”  It was classic sci-fi at its best with implosion grenades and an invisibility sword.  It was also the episode in which the characters finally began working together as a team and the audience became invested in their survival.  It also steadily broke ratings and became the most watch sci-fi show in Syfy’s history.  Not bad for a rookie.
Special mention should be made of Syfy’s “Alice” and the 2 hour pilot episode of “Caprica” which was released early on DVD to whet the fans’ appetites as they mourned the end of their beloved “Battlestar Galactica.” Both offered up unique and intriguing tales on already established science fiction canon and provided glimpses into worlds that we would love to spend more time in.  They also were simply glorious to behold.

It should also be noted that “Doctor Who” and “Torchwood” were omitted, not because they are not the best shows in sci-fi, but because both did not have regular seasons in 2009. Rather both had television events instead.  Thus, it was impossible to pick out the “best episode” when offered as television events or mini-series.  Thus, like “Alice” and “Caprica,” “Doctor Who” and “Torchwood” deserve special recognition for being simply extraordinary in their entirety.

2009 was an epic year in science fiction with no less than a dozen sci-fi shows falling prey to audience erosion and the ever increasing network budget cuts.  But it also saw some extraordinary moments that deserve to be remembered.  So as we look back at 2009, let us remember the good and not just the bad.  Let us remember the moments that made us laugh, made us cry and made us eternally grateful that they happened at all.

***

The cross you see here is a landmark which is located in the capital city of my home-state. It has always reminded me of – ‘coming home.’ It didn’t matter my age, nor what direction I, or we (whomever that may have been) were traveling, or coming from – when I’d see that cross lit up in the night, or view it from the freeway, sometimes after being away for many years at a time, my first thought was always, ‘I’m home.’

Not so many years ago, I used to make the drive up to this place, at night, and walk to the edge of the cliff to meditate at the base of this cross. It was always so quiet up there, except for the wind that was always present at that altitude. Mostly, I’d just sit there under the lit cross and day-dream, or contemplate whatever had driven me there to begin with, or to make new plans, while looking out over the city and its twinkling lights. The scenery was gorgeous from that vantage point. I sought this place out, for the view, the atmosphere and solitude. It was a very comforting place, and quickly became a pilgrimage that I made quite often, just to get away from the world below.

To get there, I had to drive from the ‘bench,’ past the university, and head across town toward Warm Springs Avenue. Once I arrived at St. Lukes, I’d make a left and wind up, through the foothills (where my last stalkers’ common-law wife was found raped, sodomised and strangled) and through an old, affluent neighborhood (where i lost my virginity), which was nestled in the surrounding hillsides, then make a right and go until the black top became gravel. I’d drive for approximately two more miles, park, then walk the rest of the way up. I always parked back on the gravel road, before the entry gate, to save time and aggravation, as the rangers would come and lock the gate at sunset. Therefore, to avoid that particular inconvenience, I would time my arrival for just before closing, so I had enough time to park and hike the rest of the way up before darkness fell, and there was no chance of being spotted. I’d reach my destination just before sunset. It was soothing to watch the sun slip beyond the mountainous horizon, just beyond the city lights. It was quite gratifying, that ritual, and it was good exercise to.

From my cliff-side perch, I could look down at the old historic penitentiary, the Governor’s Mansion, the Warm Springs Victorians; with their history and old money, the city lights, the train depot from ages past, with a birds-eye view of the hiking trails that I would hike during the day, on weekends. The day ritual was to park at the Governor’s Mansion and hike up – The night ritual was to park on the mountainside and sit at the cross, looking down on my city and meditating, thinking, crying, dreaming, singing … communing with the elements and nature. Always finding some sense of serenity and peace.

The time before my last visit there, I rolled one of my cars coming off that mountain. I was going just a little – too fast. No, I wasn’t drinking and I wasn’t high. It was just one of those things that happens to serve as a wake-up call, I suppose. I had gained too much speed going down the mountain and veered off the road, spinning wildly after hitting gravel, then crashed into a huge boulder, which sent the car completely out of control.

Anyhow, when I realized there was no time to correct and bring my speed down, it was too late. And I knew the landscape and the probabilities. When I saw what was coming at me, I placed my arm in front of my face to try to prevent what would likely be extreme damage. Upon impact, my body smashed into the steering wheel, knocking the breath from me, but absorbing much of the impact. I hit the steering wheel with the back of my left arm; splitting the muscle, but sparing what might’ve changed my facial appearance forever, had I not. The car rolled once, end-over-end, then did three barrel-rolls – stopping about ten, maybe fifteen feet from the edge of what would have been approximately a 300 foot drop into Summerland: the ever-after. How’s that for ‘un-holy yoga!’

I walked away from that crash with only some bruising to my face, neck, ribs, legs and arms, a dis-located shoulder, a severed tricep, and a sprained ankle – but I was able to walk away. That was it! And just like that, it was over. What seemed an eternity, ended in a matter of seconds. There I was, suspended upside down and stunned, resting at the edge of a cliff; amazed to be alive. I was crying and laughing, simultaneously. I had somehow managed to walk away with my life, yet again.

And I never felt more free, than when I was tumbling into certain death.

That place has many, very special memories for me. It will always be ‘my special place’ – even if only in my mind. If only in memory. I found many answers to questions, while on that cliff-side retreat.

Today, I am sitting under that cross …

… to remind myself …

… I am still alive.

***

Martin Wood (front left) on the Sanctuary set. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

Having honed his craft directing such Sci-Fi TV shows as Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, Andromeda, Jeremiah and Earth: Final Conflict along with helping produce both Stargate series, Martin Wood has brought all those years of experience to his role as an executive producer as well as writer and director on Sanctuary. Debuting last fall on The Syfy Channel, Sanctuary began on the Internet as the story of Dr. Helen Magnus, who operates a worldwide network of facilities, or Sanctuaries, that were established to provide shelter for, and in some cases imprison, creatures called Abnormals. The series returned this past October for its second season, and while its overall premise remains the same this year, it has further grown and developed, as Wood explains. 

“When we came back this year and talked about where we wanted to go with the second season, we all knew that we now had an idea of what this show could be,” recalls the director. “The direction that Damian Kindler [series creator/executive producer], Amanda Tapping [who stars as Dr. Helen Magnus and also serves as an executive producer] and I wanted to go in was to make Sanctuary bigger and better. And everyone here took that to heart and ran with it, which I think is great. 

“We went through a whole range of different things as far as how we were going to start the season and what we were going to do. That included looking at a bunch of audience reactions to season one, because we wanted to react to what the viewers felt. As a result, we decided, ‘We have to shake things up a little bit.’ You know my philosophy on major characters; I always feel that they have to be expendable because the only thing that keeps a TV show alive is if its characters are in real jeopardy. If not, every time one of them gets into a dire situation, you know they’re going to come out OK on the other end. 

Emilie Ullerup (as Ashley Magnus) and Martin Wood. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

“We decided to take the Ashley [Emilie Ullerup] character and ‘Sci-Fi’ kill her, meaning she could come back in other episodes and different incarnations. After all, we have a 158-year-old Magnus, so her daughter could possibly come back. There are a number of things we could have done in terms of introducing jeopardy into our story; this is the way we wanted to go and Emilie embraced it with both hands. She was outstanding,” praises Wood. “In the first two episodes, she utters one word, ‘Mom.’ That’s it. The rest of her acting is done with just her face, which is tough, but Emile did it beautifully. I told her at the end of shooting the second episode [End of Nights, Part 2] that it was some of the hardest acting she had ever done on the show and she did a terrific job.” 

At the end of Sanctuary’s first season, Dr. Magnus’ chief rival, the Cabal, manages to turn Ashley against her mother and everything Magnus stands for. In the two-part second season opener, End of Nights, Ashley and five other individuals are transformed into super Abnomals and used in a campaign to bring down the entire Sanctuary network. Wood was given the monumental task of directing this story, which, among other things, has a fast-moving action sequence featuring new series regular Agam Darshi who plays con artist Kate Freelander. 

“I thought, ‘If we’re going to open things up, let’s really open it up,’” says Wood. “I said to Damian, ‘We need to have a car chase,’ so in the script he wrote the words Magnus chases Kate. Then we decided that Henry [Ryan Robbins] needed to be there, too. OK, Magnus and Henry chase Kate, but in two separate cars, and Magnus had to drive something hot. So I asked Damian if we could use his BMW and he said, ‘Sure.’ 

Martin Wood (back to camera) with Amanda Tapping (Helen Magnus) and Robin Dunne (Will Zimmerman). Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

“The idea was that if it was a sunny day we could have the top down on the car and Magnus with her hair blowing in the wind and driving this convertible. Then we found a place where we could actually shoot the scene, and without Damian knowing it, I set up this type of camera called the Ultimate Arm, which is a Mercedes SUV with a giant crane hanging off the side of it. You can stuff six people into this thing, and as the director I get to sit in the back sideways, because there’s a little hatchback in the rear. We travel twice as fast as the cars in the scene in order to beat them and get in front of and beside them. By doing it this way, we could have Amanda driving Damian’s car, Ryan Robbins driving a car, and Agam Darshi driving a car as well. 

“So we were able to drive beside them like that, but when we got into the hot and heavy stuff, Amanda said to me, ‘I’m going to keep driving.’ She’s used to driving a sports car anyway, so that’s what we did. We were shooting for about six hours and halfway through the day, Damian came out to see how things were going. The first words out of his mouth were, ‘My car!’ as he watched Amanda winding around a corner. And he had just put on his good tires, too,” chuckles the director. “Damian had no idea it was going to be a minute-and-a-half chase sequence, so that was fun to do.” 

Although it has been known since season one that Magnus’ Sanctuary organization is a global one, it was felt in year two that this fact needed to be visually reinforced to the audience. Wood and his fellow executive producers also wanted to give Abnormals a greater onscreen presence this time around. “One of the things we decided to do in season two was put more Abnormals into everything we did,” says Wood. “So, for example, in the season opener there was the fight with the big giant Abnormal. We had a huge stunt guy dressed in a green suit. He was only half the size of the Abnormal you see on the screen, but we still had more stunt guys jumping on top of him during that scene. It was pretty cool. 

Martin Wood running through an action sequence with Robin Dunne. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

“We also showed our Sanctuaries in London and Tokyo. We had talked about them before, but now we were actually in them. There’s that great scene with the nine monitors and Magnus talking to nine different Sanctuary heads, including Medusa in Japan, who you see after the Tokyo Sanctuary is attacked. There’s also the actual attack, where Ashley and two other super Abnormals drop through the skylight. I had talked with Lee Wilson [visual effects supervisor] about doing that practically. We went through all the machinations of what the set would look like and all that, and he said to me, ‘You know what, just let me do it [using VFX].’ Lee then took it and just ran away with it, and it was so amazing. It really was a remarkable visual effect for something done completely through a computer, and the entire process took about two weeks, too. 

“That’s something else that happens with our show. We end up getting so little time to do feature-film-like effects. You hear some people saying, ‘But it doesn’t look like it does in the movies,’ but it sometimes takes up to a year to do movie VFX. That’s why these sorts of things aren’t done very often on TV, because of the time involved. Sometimes I’ll be sitting with our visual effects guys, who will show me things on the computer, and my only reaction is, ‘Oh, my God, that’s so cool. OH, MY GOD, THAT’S SO COOL!’ And I’ll keep amplifying that response until everyone in the office is hearing me. They never hear me say, ‘Oh, that doesn’t look that great.’ We’re fortunate to have some really good [VFX] artists working on Sanctuary. I love the fact that in our first two episodes alone this year we have half the number of visual effects as we had in all of season one. That’s one of the ways we ramped up the show this year.” 

In End of Nights, Wood enjoyed the opportunity to direct some complex fight sequences, including one where John Druitt (Christopher Heyerdahl) battles Ashley and two other super Abnormals. “Damian said, ‘I’d like to do a sword fight,’ and I said, ‘OK.’ So we set it up as a serious sword fight with Chris using two swords, and that came from our fight coordinator, Rob Hayter, and our stunt coordinator, Marshall Virtue,” notes the director. “It was one of those things where you get into the shooting of it and think, ‘This is either going to be the coolest fight we’ve ever done, or the most unbelievable one.’ 

Setting the stage for the big fight sequence. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

Chris Heyerdahl (John Druitt, dressed in black, back to camera) in "action-mode" with Martin Wood right beside him. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

Martin Wood (right) checking out the shot. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions.

“Chris Heyerdahl came in and started rehearsing, and on the day leading up to the sword fight, whenever he had a break, he’d walk over to the side of the set, grab the practice swords and fight. He had the [stunt] guys there the whole time so he could practice, so when the time came to shoot the fight, it was mostly Chris doing it. Mike [Desabrais, stunt player] and the two stunt doubles were there for a couple of shots for when it got really violent, but otherwise all the activity you see on the screen is Chris. When we cut it together and I watched the scene for the first time I was like, ‘This is definitely worth it.’ It was very convincing and unlike any fight I’d ever shot before.” 

In the final moments of End of Nights, Ashley regains control of herself from the Cabal just long enough to save her mother’s life, but in order to do so, she must sacrifice herself. Not surprisingly, it was an incredibly moving moment for all involved. “Damian, Amanda and I massaged that scene in so many ways,” says Wood. “We sat down and looked at all the different scenarios for how Magnus could come across Ashley and how she couldn’t shoot her. Amanda then came up with the sequence of events, and then I said, ‘Well, Magnus has to put her gun down at some point.’ And that’s how that whole scene came together – the three of us sitting in Damian’s office and deciding how we wanted to play it out. 

“Then during the actual shooting of the scene, Amanda collapsed on the floor like she was supposed to, and I was standing behind the cameraman, who I kept pulling further and further back. It was so hard to watch Amanda cry like that. She was so distraught [in the scene] and the entire crew was waiting for me to yell, ‘Cut!’ Amanda was also looking at me as if to say, ‘Why aren’t you saying, ‘Cut!’ But I just kept pulling the cameraman back and having him continue to shoot way longer than is comfortable in a situation like that. I really felt, though, that that’s what was needed at the end of this episode where Magnus is saying goodbye to her daughter under the most heinous of situations. It was very emotional and we don’t shy away from that on our show. We allow that to happen as opposed to keeping it light.” 

Green screen work on the Sanctuary set. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

Following Sanctuary’s season opener, Wood directed episode four, Hero, in which a very ordinary man is unexpectedly thrust into a very extraordinary, and life-threatening, predicament. “This story shows us that, yes, human beings can ‘fly,’” says Wood. “It’s an amusing romp as well as a standalone story and a chance for our characters to take a bit of a breather from all that’s been happening to them. 

“Damian wrote a Stargate SG-1 episode called The Other Guys, and it was the first story of his that I directed. It was a great deal of fun, so he did the same kind of thing with Hero.  It’s like Sanctuary’s The Other Guys. Chris Gauthier from Eureka guest-stars in it, and his character [of Walter, "The Adjuster"] is one that we would like to bring back in the third season. 

On-location with Martin Wood. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

“We’ve done a lot more 3-D creatures as well in season two, and Hero has one in it called a Coleanthropus, and it looks great. The first time you get to see it in all its glory is in-between two garbage bins. Then it stands up and you’re like, ‘Yikes!’ There’s a huge fight with it during the climax of this episode that’s neat.” 

The director had been slated to shoot the episode Pavor Nocturnus, but the schedule subsequently changed and Brenton Spencer, another name very familiar to Stargate and Sanctuary fans, directed it instead. “When we finished the episode, we looked at it and said, ‘It doesn’t quite end the way we wanted it to,’” says Wood. “So we rewrote the final two scenes to give the story a bit more of a twist and I then shot those. Brenton did a fantastic job of directing what is a really, really dark story that includes a scene where Magnus gets physically abused. 

“My next episode was number eight, Next Tuesday, which is this year’s Requiem [referring to a season one story], and it’s Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne [Dr. Will Zimmerman] in the borehole of an oil rig in a crashed helicopter. They spent five days with me in a pool of water that was 72 feet across and 20 feet deep. Everything was done with Amanda and Robin, no stunt people, and it was quite incredible. I wanted to see one morning how long I could tread water without holding on to anything – I went four-and-a-half hours directing from a treading water position. And Amanda and Robin were in and out of the helicopter, in the water, underwater, you name it. It was a very hard shoot for them, but it turned out to be a beautiful episode.” 

Martin Wood directing Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne in "Next Tuesday." Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

Treading water for four-and-a-half hours! Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

Something nasty is lurking behind the door...Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

Behind-the-scenes shot from "Next Tuesday." Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

Wood’s final directing credit for season two of Sanctuary is the show’s two-part season finale, Kali, and it might surprise some viewers to learn that the episode has a Bollywood dance sequence in the second half that feature Robin Dunne. “It’s very much part of the story and it comes off perfectly,” says Wood. “I think episode 13 is probably the best show we’ve shot so far. And we actually did some filming in Japan for episode 12 as well. We were invited over there for a quick press conference and were going to be in Tokyo for a little over 72 hours. I looked at Damian and said, ‘Let’s shoot something while we’re there,’ and he said, ‘Sure.’ 

Singer, songwriter, artist and industrial designer Tatsuya Ishii, Robin Dunne and Amanda Tapping shooting in Tokyo. Photo courtesy of and copyright of Martin Wood

On-location in Tokyo with Robin Dunne and Damian Kindler - who have been up for 74 hours. Photo courtesy of and copyright of Martin Wood

“We’d been flying for 11 hours and after arriving in Tokyo we went on a little tour of the city and thought, ‘OK, we can shoot something here, and we can shoot something there.’ We even arranged to use a celebrity from there, Tatsuya Ishii; he’s a pop star as well as a Renaissance man, a beautiful sculptor and just a really cool guy. We wanted him to play the head of the Tokyo Sanctuary. 

Martin Wood, the director, as the cameraman ("I was the only one who knew how to use the RED camera"). Photo courtesy of and copyright of Martin Wood

Damian Kindler, Martin Wood, Robin Dunne and Amanda Tapping in the pouring rain! Photo courtesy of and copyright of Martin Wood

Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne shooting in Shabuya. Photo courtesy of and copyright of Martin Wood

“Damian wrote two scenes, and when we got to the filming location there was a soundman along with a camerman, but the cameraman didn’t know how to operate the RED camera [ultra high-definition camera] that we use. So it kind of fell to me to say, ‘OK, I’ll do the shooting.’ Damian was sort of wrangling things from a production assistant standpoint, so we filmed the scenes and just had a ball.” 

More shooting in Shabuya with Martin Wood. Photo courtesy of and copyright of Martin Wood

Final touches! Photo courtesy of and copyright of Martin Wood

With a second season of Sanctuary under their respective belts, Wood and the rest of the show’s cast and crew cannot wait to start work on number three. “This year has been just spectacular,” enthuses the director. “Amanda Tapping went further [as an actress] than I’ve ever seen her go in anything before. Robin Dunne, Ryan Robbins, Chris Heyerdahl, Agam Darshi, Robert Lawrenson, who plays a new character, Declan Macrae, and Jonathon Young, who came back a couple of times as Nikola Tesla, all really pushed themselves creatively as well and I loved that. 

Sanctuary DOP (director of photography) Gord Verheul and Martin Wood. Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

“As for season three, we’ve talked a lot about that already and are very much looking forward to it. In the meantime, we couldn’t be more pleased with the show, and the fans seem to be happy with it, too, so it’s all good.” 

Cut and print! Photo by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions

 Steve Eramo 

As noted above, all Sanctuary photos by Jeff Weddell and copyright of Sanctuary 2 Productions, and all on-location Tokyo photos courtesy of and copyright of Martin Wood, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of ANY kind. Thanks!