This year, British troops are set to withdrawal from the 13 year conflict in Afghanistan. The British media have focused on the numbers of British soldiers who have died in Afghanistan and those who have lost limbs as a result of the conflict. The commitment of British soldiers to Iraq in 2003 did not reflect the feeling of the British public who felt the war had no justification. The invasion based on the belief that Sadaam Hussein had mass weapons of destruction were later unfounded. War in Afghanistan was still ongoing and the British mood reflected concern over the employment of British servicemen and women abroad. As British forces continued to serve in Afghanistan, the shift in public opinion was changed dramatically with The Royal British Legion drawing attention to British soldiers fulfilling their duty, despite the negative atmosphere surrounding the war. The Poppy Appeal in 2009 focused on the wives and children left in the UK, while husbands and fathers fought a war far from home. Despite the political tension and public wrangling over Britain’s involvement, Help the Heroes, founded in 2007, consolidated the change in public mood. Charity events and music singles were released to support soldiers returning back to the UK. The British media followed the change in the national mood, and concentrated their coverage of the war in Afghanistan on the number of soldiers injured and the number of soldiers killed. Alternative viewpoints on the war were not presented, allowing a consensus across the media.
The objective of this journalism project: A home outside of Afghanistan is about the consequences of war in Afghanistan, the long period of Taliban control and the disruption which has led to a refugee diaspora in the UK. It is primarily about how that community is facing the challenges of living in the UK.
The author of A home outside of Afghanistan is part of an ethnic minority in London. She is the second generation of her family to live in the UK and is interested in cultural and racial issues. Her previous work includes Romanian Migration: January 1st 2014 on the hysteria concerning Romanians and Bulgarians migrants moving to the UK and Pick a number a blog on Stop and Search.
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