The SCA UK Committee are encouraged to hear the recent SCA decision to suspend further planning on these four events in Dubai, however we feel it is important to state our position on the original decision.
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22:00 11/09/2017
Following the recent announcement by the WCE detailing where and when the 2018 Cezve/Ibrik Championship, World Brewers Cup, World Cup Tasters Championship and World Coffee Roasting Championship are taking place, the SCA UK Chapter committee felt it appropriate to state their position on the decision.
“The SCA UK Chapter Committee wholeheartedly disapprove of the recent WCE decision to host competition finals in Dubai.” states the UK’s National Coordinator Mat North, “We believe the UAE’s record on slave labour and human rights abuses against LGBTIQ citizens and foreigners in the UAE states* is completely at odds with the underlying foundations that the SCA was built upon.”
“The SCA UK believe in the foundations of openness, inclusivity, and the power of shared knowledge, that the SCA was built upon”, continues Mat “and we feel that this decision goes against these values. We are constantly struggling to achieve diversity in competitions and this will not help!”
The SCA UK have stated that they will run the 2018 season of competitions in the usual manner to select United Kingdom Champions. The Champions who would go on to represent the UK in the Dubai hosted finals will be free to choose if they wish to attend the final or not. If they do not wish to compete as a matter of principle, the SCA UK will respect the champion’s decision and will not send an alternative competitor to compete in their place.
The SCA UK believe it is every individual’s right to stand up for their beliefs and not to be prejudiced for doing so.
*Sprudge.com have covered this story in detail here: The SCA Just Awarded Multiple Events to Dubai. That’s A Problem.
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