Write 4 Rights 2019

December 22, 2019 by zarganar

We held a fantastic ‪Write for Rights event at Bournemouth Library We got over 100 cards signed by passing members of the public; its Amnesty International UK annual campaign, sending greetings cards to prisoners of conscience and other human rights defenders around the world. Thanks to Jessica, Val, Michael and all the other staff at Bournemouth Central Library for being so helpful. But many thanks to all who turned out to help and those who stopped to sign cards. For more information about W4R, and details of the cases if you want to work on them at home or do online actions, go to the AIUK site:- https://www.amnesty.org.uk/write-for-rights

write 4 rights amnesty international — In the library foyer

Group Newsletter December 2019

December 10, 2019 by zarganar

Welcome to the latest newsletter.
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December – the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You may like to bring this to people’s attention as you go about your day tomorrow…
The next meeting is on Thursday 12th December, 7.30pm at Moordown Community Centre. You may have noticed there is an election that day and the room we usually meet in is being used as a polling station. Consequently we will meet in the cafe. It will be more of an informal gathering as we will just be writing cards as part of Write 4 Rights (see below). Hopefully we can engage one or two passing voters, so it should be an interesting evening. As ever, bring along any seasonal nibbles and any (non religious) spare cards.

Write 4 Rights

Every year Amnesty International has encouraged and helped groups send greetings cards to prisoners of conscience around the world in December. Traditionally there were just half a dozen names selected. In recent years Amnesty has branded this as “Write for Rights” (W4R) and produced much more informative information leaflets, covering many more prisoners of conscience. We have always made this a mainstay of our December meeting.If you have been tempted to try one of our meetings, but never quite got there, this is an ideal opportunity. We bring along seasonal “nibbles”and basically write cards to the various prisoners of conscience who have been selected.

We also try to have a public event in Bournemouth. For a few years we’ve been at Castlepoint and last year we tried Old Christchurch Road. Neither venue was that successful as its hard to stop shoppers from charging past you! This year we will try ground floor foyer at the Central Bournemouth Library on
Saturday 21st December 2019 (12 noon till 3.00pm)
For more information about W4R, and details of the cases if you want to work on them at home or do online actions, go to the AIUK site:- https://www.amnesty.org.uk/write-for-rights

[Read more…]

South America Newsletter December 2019

December 6, 2019 by zarganar

Another eventful month, with calls from Amnesty and others for a response to the human rights violations committed during the anti-government protests in Colombia, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador. In addition, Amnesty has issued a major report on illegal cattle ranching in the Brazilian Amazon. There are three new Urgent Actions, two on Colombia and one on Venezuela, and a new petition calling for justice for the murder of Marielle Franco.

COLOMBIA

A nation-wide strike called by disparate social groups protesting social injustices, the faltering peace process, violations of human and environmental rights as well as possible austerity measures by the government of President Duque was met ‘with excessive, disproportionate and unnecessary use of force and arbitrary detentions’, according to Amnesty International. ‘Days before the National Strike, the government already began a campaign to intimidate and frighten those who were planning a peaceful march in support of their rights.’

The ongoing conflict in Chocó has resulted in 2,250 people from indigenous and Afro-descendent communities living under siege from the guerrilla ELN (National Liberation Army) and the paramilitary Gaitanistas Self-Defence Force. They are denying these communities access to food and basic healthcare services and have planted mines in areas where there’s mobile phone coverage. Please respond to Amnesty’s Urgent Action here. (With copies to Mr Antonio José Ardila, Colombian Ambassador to the UK, 3 Hans Crescent London SW1X 0LN.)

The NGO dhColombia has asked the National Protection Unit (UPN) for protection following death threats, theft of sensitive information and surveillance by unknown men outside their homes and offices. To date, the UPN has not responded to their request for protection. dhColombia provides legal support to victims of human rights violations and seeks accountability from prominent military members, public forces and multinational companies. Please respond to Amnesty’s Urgent Action here. (With copies to Mr Antonio José Ardila, Colombian Ambassador to the UK, 3 Hans Crescent London SW1X 0LN.)

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre reports that 4,450 people were forcibly displaced in 3 different rural areas by armed groups in the month of November. In Chocó 3,280 people were forcibly displaced by the paramilitary Gaitanistas Self-Defence Force, in Córdoba Department 225 people were forcibly displaced by FARC dissidents, while in Santander Department a further 945 people were displaced due to clashes between the ELN (National Liberation Army) guerrillas and EPL (Popular Liberation Army) guerrillas. [Read more…]

Autumn Quiz 2019

November 24, 2019 by zarganar

Thanks to everyone who turned out for latest Amnesty Quiz at the Branksome Liberal Club in Parkstone. 6 teams battled it out and we raised £220. With overseas postage now starting at £1.35 this is a great boost to our funds. And much more fun than doing a street collection!

Thanks to David Rogers for setting the questions and Lucy Freeman for running the raffle. Many thanks to the Liberal Club for providing us with an excellent function room (for free). We will use this venue again as it has capacity to hold double the numbers we had – and has a cheap, easily accessible bar!

If you missed out, below a few questions to have a go at. Answers in the next newsletter.

In 1696 the government of the day imposed a window tax, which led to people bricking up windows to reduce their tax burden. What famous two word saying originated from this tax?

In what decade was the MOT introduced?

Who came to prominence with the hit song Budapest?

Which common pet has the Latin name carassius auratus?

What is the 4th most popular surname in the UK – also name of an occupation (although different spelling)?

Which bank note will Alan Turing be appearing on in 2021?

South West Schools Human Rights Conference

November 14, 2019 by zarganar

Over the past decade Amnesty International UK has developed a national programme of Amnesty Speakers who play a key role in delivering human rights workshops, lessons and assemblies in schools across the UK. The South West Speaker Coordinator, and also a member of our group, Tom Wilson organised the first ever UK Schools Human Rights Conference. This was coordinated by Tom and another former Dorset based teacher and AIUK Speaker Peter Radford.

On Tuesday 5th November just under 300 students and teachers gathered at Talbot Heath School. We had a stall to highlight the long standing existence and activism of the group in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch. We highlighted our current campaigns, such as justice for Marielle Franco, and the just launched Write 4 Rights.

Students heard first from Peter Radford,, who challenged delegates to realise the power they each have to defend the human rights of others in everyday situations as well as to raise awareness and engage others in challenging injustice. The conference was delighted to hear from Rebecca Ratcliffe, the sister-in-law of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe currently detained by authorities in Iran. Rebecca shared the trauma of the past three and a half years for their family and the joy at recently being reunited with Nazanin’s daughter Gabriella.

Students were able to choose from a range of workshops on offer on issues such as Climate Change, Modern Slavery, LGBT+ Rights, Women’s Rights and the Refugee Crisis. Headteacher of host school Talbot Heath, Angharad Holloway commented,

“It is more important than ever, during these uncertain times, to stress the importance of universal human rights. I am delighted that Talbot Heath School is hosting this significant regional conference for young people.”

The conference closed with a session led by Tom Wilson giving students the practical tools and strategies to take what they had heard, go back to their schools and make a difference. Harriet, a sixth form student at Talbot Heath commented,

“It was amazing to be surrounded by so many people with the same drive for change. I was educated about issues I had no idea were happening and the speakers showed that everyone has the power to make a difference. I left feeling so motivated and inspired.”

A Year 11 student commented

“I found today very inspirational, and I now think as a school we should promote humans rights more. As we move on I think it’s important that not only our R.A.D group knows how important it is for us globally. As a school I think we should use this opportunity to bring our school together to help the world become a better place by starting with our school.”

Tom and Peter then put on a second Schools Human Rights Conference in Wells the following week. It is hoped such conferences will be appear over the rest of the UK, following on from the success of this launch in the South West. Several of the schools attending in Bournemouth and Wells have offered to host if repeated in 2020. The two of us representing the local group were ourselves both inspired and excited to see such interest in human rights from the delegates.

amnesty schools conference — Lucy Freeman at our stall