Pride Planning & Clapmob Double Bill

2 exciting events happening back to back next Saturday – you are nvited to join us for either or both!

Saturday 18th May 2013

Meeting at York’s Bakery Cafe Newhall St B3 3NH (off Colmore Row)

Pride Planning 10.30am

We have a stall at Birmingham Pride later this month, where we will be highlighting LGBT rights around the world.  We will be especially focussing on the case of Noxolo Nogwaza, who was raped and murdered 2 years ago in South Africa for her sexuality and for helping to organise Pride events. Come along at 10.30 for coffee and planning, to look at how we can highlight this tragic case, and campaign for incidents like this to end around the world.

Then you are welcome to stay for:

Clapmob 11.45am

We will be repeating our clapping flashmob in solidarity with peaceful protestors in Belarus, where this form of protest is banned.  It’s very easy to join in, just bring yourselves!  Find out more about this protest, and see a video of our 2011 Clapmob.  If you can’t make the Pride Planning, but do want to join the Clapmob, meet at York’s Bakery at 11.45 for a quick briefing on what we’re going to do.

Video by Birmingham school students for Hakamada Iwao in Japan

Two Birmingham pupils have made a video to highlight the dreadful case of Hakamada Iwao, on death row for longer than anyone in the world, in Japan.
See this Amnesty blog post for more details.
For the video, see Vimeo link.

Tell GAP and H&M to look after the people that make the clothes.

I just signed a petition urging GAP and H&M to take urgent action to ensure safety of their workers in Bangladesh factories. Join me.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/crushed_to_make_our_clothes_ss/?chiCRab

Standing Up for LGBT Rights

You are warmly invited to our May Meeting where the focus will be:

Thursday 9th May 2013 at 7:30pm

at Wragge & Co, 55 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2AS.

Many people around the world face abuse, prison or even the death penalty just for being themselves.  With Pride celebrations coming up across the UK this summer, we’ll be looking at how we can stand up for LGBT people around the world.

Plus, if you’re new to the group, have any questions, or just fancy a friendly chat before walking over to the main meeting, you can always come to our pre-meeting:

7pm at Urban Coffee Company (Church Street Birmingham, West Midlands B3 2NP)

We look forward to seeing you there!

Live Below the Line 2013

It’s Live Below the Line time, and once again several of us from the group are taking part in this (non-Amnesty) challenge to eat for £1 a day for 5 days, to highlight the plight of over 1 billion people worldwide liing in extreme poverty.

For more info, and to see how I’m getting on: https://www.livebelowtheline.com/blogs/12026?lang=en

UK Feminista Summer School 2013

A non-Amnesty event on Women’s Rights – I went 2 years ago and can definitely recommend it:

Book your place at UK Feminista Summer School 2013!

“Date: 17-18 August 2013
Venue: University of Birmingham
Tickets: From the UK Feminista website
Open to all

Join hundreds of people from across the UK for a unique weekend of hands-on training in feminist activism.

Learn how to… plan creative protests,  run winning campaigns, do Non-Violent Direct Action, set up a powerful feminist group, hit the headlines and much more.

Facilitators and speakers include: Everyday Sexism Project, Southall Black Sisters, No More Page 3, UK Uncut, Imkaan, Women’s Networking Hub, South Asia Solidarity Group, Women for Refugee Women

This will be UK Feminista’s fourth annual Summer School. Check out what happened last year in the New York Times.

Summer School 2013 is open to all, and is perfect for seasoned campaigners and new feminists alike. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, skills or solidarity, this event is for you!

Book your ticket now “

Wolverhampton AI – Garden Party