Demo for a Human Rights Revolution

Last year several of our group members took part in a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in solidarity with Arab spring protesters.

One year on, Amnesty will be returning to Trafalgar Square to show our continuing support for those peacefully protesting for democracy in the Middle East and North Africa. 

When? 12 midday – 2pm, Saturday 11 February 2012

Where? Trafalgar Square, London WC2N

What to bring? Friends and family! Amnesty will supply placards, stickers and more.

Find out more and see a video trailer on the Amnesty website.

Guantanamo – 10 years and still there

From AIUK Media unit:

“As you probably know, this week has seen the tenth “anniversary” of Guantánamo (see my post about this from a couple a days ago) and now we’ve had news that rendition cases allegedly involving the UK are being investigated.

The point Amnesty’s been making this week is that the response to the – totally horrible – 11 September attacks (the rendition flights, secret detentions, torture, cover-ups) has left a “toxic legacy” for human rights.”

If you agree – please support the Amnesty petition to close Guantánamo (120,000 have already signed up in the past few days alone). “

Good news from Burma

Good news from Burma? Not a tag line that seemed likely.
Yet there’s been a marvellous wave of political prisoners being released in Burma, including protesters from back in 1988.
Burma has a long way to go before it can be called free: but the announcements in the last two days show that none of us should give up hope.
Read the Amnesty blog entry for more details.

Jon.

Happy World Travel

Indefinite detention, torture, Islamophobia, Guantanamo, the “war on terror”. Ten years after 9/11 this remains the new normal that we live in, and there’s nothing funny about it.

But humor can be powerful — so Amnesty International USA invite you to check out their new short video “Happy World Travel”, featuring Dileep Rao (Avatar, Inception). What happens when a normal dude named Rob (or is it Raj?!) heads to a travel agency looking for a relaxing vacation? Will he be eligible for the “Not-so Geneva Package”? Could Rob’s story be yours if we continue to allow the US to flout the rule of law?

Action for Shaker Aamer in Guantánamo

From AIUK:
“Shaker Aamer has been held at Guantánamo without charge or prospect of a trial for nearly ten years. Holding someone indefinitely is illegal. It is a violation of human rights. The US government is obliged to either bring criminal charges against Shaker and give him a fair trial, or they must release him.
Please end this travesty of justice and take action at www.amnesty.org.uk/shaker“

Jon.

Group AGM this Thursday

The next main meeting is the coming Thursday (12th January) at 7:30pm at Wragge & Co, 55 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2AS which is a firm of solicitors opposite St Philips cathedral in the city centre.  This month, it’s our annual group AGM, where we’ll be taking a look back at 2011, and deciding on what we want our focus to be for 2012, plus generating ideas for things we can do at meetings and beyond over the next 12 months.  As with all our meetings, anyone is welcome to attend, whether you’re an experienced campaigner, or totally new to human rights.

And if it’s you’re fist time, why not come along beforehand to our Pre-Meeting. These are designed for people coming to the monthly meeting for the first time. It gives you a chance to ask questions before walking over to the main meeting, without having to walk into a room full of strangers (not that we’re not all wonderful welcoming people, of course!) So, come along to Starbucks on New Street at 7pm and just say hello – bring a friend if you wish!

Hope to see you soon

2011 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,400 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Planning Meeting this Thurs

Apologies for the late notice – it`s our Planning Meeting this Thursday (5th January) at 7:30pm at the Birmingham and Midlands Institute.

The BMI is on Margaret St, next to the School of Art – Its an old redbrick building, just around the corner from the library. Ask the doorman for directions when you get there. Map here: http://www.bmi.org.uk/map.html

We will be doing the background stuff ready for our group AGM, and coming up with ideas for the year ahead.  New committee members are always very welcome – no experience required, just enthusiasm. Committe members do put in more hours than other group members, but there are lots of different roles, so you can give as much or as little time as you have.

Next monthly meeting is the week after, on Thurs 15th Jan – watch this blog for details.

Syria – Reports

For detailed information from reliable sources on the current situation in Syria, go to the following links:
Human Rights Watch; how much are the Arab League visitors actually seeing?
BBC online report – on the tremendously brave and important work of rights activists in Syria;
Amnesty Middle East Group – from the country coordinators of AIUK who gather information and promote work on the area. AIUKMEG includes our own group activist Ellis.

Take a moment to read and reflect on developments in the area, and the attempts to make Syria a better place to be.

Jon.

Freedom of Speech, Freedom to Protest?

Birmingham University has recently been at the centre of debate over student protests which at one stage involved the occupation of a building, as well as the separate suspension of one student representative (now reinstated).
The University obtained an injunction this month: “banning all occupation-style protests on its 250-acre campus for one year” – see the Guardian article at http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/dec/11/birmingham-university-protest-ban-condemned.
An appropriate measure for health and safety reasons, or an infringement of civil liberties and the freedom to (peacefully) protest?
Amnesty UK, Liberty and Index on Censorship have all expressed their concerns – read the Guardian article for details.
Jon.