Amnesty International Bournemouth Poole Christchurch Group – Page 67 – local news & events Amnesty International group for Bournemouth, Poole & Christchurch

Launch of Art Exhibition part 2

March 16, 2014 by zarganar

Two days after the successful launch at Christchurch Priory – with the Christchurch Mayor – we had a successful launch of the Bournemouth end of the Exhibition at Bournemouth Library.

amnesty international — On with the introductions… In the foreground is “Freebird” by Ellen Morgan

The Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor Dr Rodney Cooper, accompanied by the Mayoress, showed great interest in the exhibits as he was shown around by local group members. The library did a great job in helping to organise the launch and in their providing hospitality.
Thanks also to June Power for the photographs and to the many artists both for submitting their work and turning out in great numbers to launch the event.

Launch of Art Exhibition

March 12, 2014 by zarganar

After 18 months of hard work, our Human Rights Art Exhibition is now live. Last night (Tuesday 11th March) we welcomed the Mayor of Christchurch John Lofts to offically open the Christchurch end of the exhibition.

mayor chrictchurch john lofts — artist neville cooper shows his work to christchurch mayor john lofts and local Amnesty International group’s genevieve talon

Many of the artists who had submitted work turned out, along with group members, friends and well-wishers.

amnesty international art exhibition — Chairman Ted Stevens gives a short(ish) introduction

We had quite a crowd, as you can see below. Thanks to the staff of Christchurch Priory for their help in hosting the launch, and for letting us have the church as a venue. They have many visitors who come to admire this beautiful, historic place of worship, so allowing us space in a venue not designed for pictures (you can’t nail or screw into 900 year old walls!) was particularly nice of them.

December 2013 News Update – South America Region

January 14, 2014 by zarganar

As a local group we are signed up to the South America Region Network. Their coordinators focus specifically on the countries featured below and send us actions when they turn up. At our January meeting we wrote letters to President Santos in Columbia sample letter columbia and President Correa in Ecuador sample letter Ecuador

In this update the focus is on Ecuador, where the government is cracking down on environmental and indigenous organisations opposed to oil and mining activities and there is concern for the safety of activists. There is also feature developments in Colombia: a draft letter to President Santos to follow-up last month’s visit by members of the San Jose Peace Community; and an Urgent Action as a result of the murder of a member of a peasant farmer organisation and concern for the safety of others. In Brazil, a leading indigenous activist has been murdered and there is concern for the safety of construction workers in the run-up to next year’s World Cup while, in Peru, the government has temporarily blocked a gas project that threatens indigenous communities.

Ecuador

There are growing concerns for the safety of Carlos Zorrilla, an environmental activist in Ecuador, and others who have protested against development projects in the northern region of Intag. President Correa has repeatedly attacked their activities during his weekly televised addresses to the nation. These concerns are reinforced by the sudden police closure of environmental organization Fundación Pachamama on 4 December and the failure of government officials to allow such organizations and activists to carry out their activities. Attached is a draft letter, which we hope you will be able to use to write to President Correa. sample letter Ecuador
Links to Urgent Actions:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR28/003/2013/en/bd514043-8393-48f7-8d2f-9f2fa65aa8a9/amr280032013en.pdf

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR28/004/2013/en/a4371d7b-159c-45cf-92b7-35c2d8c4a62f/amr280042013en.pdf

[Read more…]

Close Guantanamo Bay

January 11, 2014 by zarganar

On January 11, 2002, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the first detainees were transferred to the US naval base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Since then, the detention facility there has made the world’s news headlines for the shocking human rights concerns associated with it – including arbitrary detention, secret detention, torture and other ill-treatment, renditions, and unfair trials. Over a decade after its opening, more than 150 detainees remain at Guantánamo Bay.

Watch this powerful video from the Guardian newspaper….

The majority of detainees are in indefinite detention without charge or trial. Those who have been charged face unfair trial by military commission and some can face the death penalty if convicted. The government claims that even those found not guilty can be returned to indefinite detention.

Over the years, detainees have engaged in repeated hunger strikes to protest the conditions in Guantánamo Bay.
Despite repeated promises by US president Obama to shut down the detention facility and investigate abuses, the human rights concerns in Guantánamo Bay remain an unfinished story. How long before the US government closes the book on Guantánamo and meets its international human rights obligations?

There are petitions on Amnesty International USA and Canada sites:-

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=519727

http://www.amnesty.ca/get-involved/take-action-now/usa-end-detentions-at-guant%C3%A1namo-bay

If you are on Facebook, please go to our page where you will find the photo below which you can share.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=645574975503984&set=a.340555899339228.78540.162604287134391&type=1&stream_ref=10

Autumn Quiz 2013

December 10, 2013 by zarganar

………. picture quiz sample……. who are these 3 “wise” men?

Our Autumn Quiz made £137, plus provided a nice “relaxing” evening’s entertainment. New quiz setter David Rogers did set the bar fairly high, although all questions had at least one correct answer from the nine teams battling it out! Sally Hawksworth didn’t take any nonsense as new quiz master (mistress?). In the end there was only 1/2 point dividing the top two teams – the difference between a bottle of cheap wine or a packet of Halibro (perhaps in future don’t rely on the Treasurer to buy the prizes!).

The Britannia in Lower Parkstone was again a very agreeable venue – and they do not charge. Whilst David and Rosemary Brown will return in the Spring, we need a new venue. ye Olde George Inn in Christchurch has turned their function room into a restaurant, so will no longer be able to help out. Any suggestions?

For those who were not there, please send an email via the contact link and we’ll send you the questions – with and without answers. The men above? The Heads of MI 6 (Sir John Sawers) GCHQ (Sir Iain Lobban) MI 5 (Andrew Parker). Easy!!!