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August Meeting + July Updates

Thanks to AMG for these updates. If you would like to read them as a PDF, you can do so here.

We warmly invite you to attend the next meeting of the Amnesty International Glasgow West Group. Please come and join in our lively and friendly discussions and help us make a positive difference to supporting Human Rights around the world.

This update includes:

  • Details of our forthcoming August 2024 meeting;
  • Information on current AIUK activities;
  • The minutes from our Group's July 2024 meeting; and
  • A note of our local Group's remaining meeting dates for 2024.

August 2024 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting

Thursday 8th August, Woodlands International Methodist Church, 7:30pm

The next Glasgow West Amnesty meeting takes place on Thursday 8th August 2024 at 7.30pm – 9pm in Woodlands International Church, Woodlands Road, Glasgow, G3 6LW.
Further details on Facebook - https://fb.me/e/24A3jSi3e

We would love to see you there!

Our next meeting will include:

  • A discussion on Human Rights in Myanmar / South East Asia, led by Mal, our local AI Group member who is also an AIUK Volunteer Co-ordinator for Myanmar / SE Asia;

  • Updates from our local group co-ordinators on their activities;

  • Discussing feedback from our Group members who attended the recent Pride event in Glasgow; and

  • Undertaking letter writing in response to recent Urgent Action alerts from AIUK.

AI Glasgow West at the recent Pride March & Rally Glasgow

Many thousands joined in the event as the 2024 Glasgow Pride march wound its way through the city centre, culminating in a large scale music event and stalls at the historic Barras area of the East End.

The AI stall enabled members to raise awareness of the work of AI and encourage attendees to sign current petitions. A number of people also signed up to the Group's mailing list and almost £110 was raised in donations, which will be used to support the Group's campaigning activities.

AIUK Local Updates

The latest updates for Local AI Groups produced by AIUK can be found via the following link.

Below are some of the highlights extracted from the update.

Call on the new PM to protect human rights


Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images

The new Prime Minister has previously promised to centre human rights in everything his government does. Now, we need to remind him. A lot needs fixing, and the UK desperately needs a fresh start on human rights.

The new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has said that human rights will be central to everything his government does - but promises need to be put into action.

In 2023, Keir Starmer said: “I've spent a lot of my life fighting for human rights. We need to make sure they are absolutely foundational when it comes to anything that we do in government.”

A lot needs fixing - and human rights provide solutions to these challenges. From ending homelessness, to the crisis in Gaza and fairly treating people seeking safety - human rights are the answer.

We must ensure the new UK government makes good on its promises. Email the new Prime Minister today and demand his government takes action to protect human rights and uphold international law.

Together let's remind the new Prime Minister of his promise to protect human rights. Your voice is crucial - take action now.

Orkney Amnesty Gaza Vigils

Orkney Amnesty Group has been organising a Gaza vigil every single Saturday in rain, wind, snow and sun since October in front of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney. The group has had hundreds of participants over the many months, including lots of tourists and cruise ship passengers. Above are members of the group at the vigil last week. Thank you so much for your relentless commitment Orkney group!

People, Power, and Politics: Influencing Political Decision-Makers on Human Rights

After the recent election, take this course to build your knowledge of human rights and British politics and learn key strategies to influence and advocate for human rights with your MP.

Link to the course
You can access all activist education resources and trainings on this page: Activist Education

For details of the most recent AIUK Local Groups' Update, click on this link.

Upcoming Dates / Events

Details on the Amnesty Events page.

Updates On AIUK Campaigns

For details on Amnesty International priority campaigns, click this link.

AI Glasgow West Group Meeting Thurs 11th July 2024

Minutes

  1. Welcome and apologies (introductions round table)

Attending - Claire (chair); Mal, Carol, Neil, Clara, Andrew, Kirstie, Jean. Merle, Sophie, Han & Chakar.

  1. Agreement of previous meeting minutes

  2. Team Updates (list of roles from AGM here)\:

    a. Treasurer (Kirstie) - £128.49 donated at art event; balance £665.04; Kirstie has requested AIUK to allow us to hold on to credit card reader.

    b. Social Media & website (Mal) - no reshares re. art event but lots of new followers.

    c. Local Political Outreach (Neil) - Labour is in. Need to keep pressure on government; email the PM/MPs re. Scotland Amnesty's Human Rights manifesto

    • Action: email PM - template here - all to consider signing online petition.

    d. Regional / Country focus

    • South East Asia/ Myanmar (Mal) - Mal will give talk in August meeting;

      • AI action on aviation fuel being supplied to Myanmar
      • September action = contact local MPs re. Myanmar. UK is “pen holder” for Myanmar at UN Security Council (UK drafts communiques/drafts documents)
    • Pakistan (Chakar) - Balochistan - report June 2024 - >80 people forcibly abducted by Pakistan army, 54 still missing; multiple cases of suicide after abductees released → shared with Cherry Bird (India & Pakistan Country Coordinator)

      • Today - protest in Quetta (capital city of Balochistan) - police opened fire/teargas
    • Korea (Clara) - Clara can do presentation for our group in September - re. Write for Rights IAR.

      • Film Screening “All Static and Noise” - need to find venue - Clara thinking end of Sep/start of Oct - Glasgow uni - Andrew to share contact w Clara

    e. Prisoner of Conscience/Individual At Risk Update (Han) - ongoing

  3. Actions from previous meeting Minutes:

    a. AI Group's Collaboration with artist Alexander Dakers (28.06.24) - Carol's speech was excellent!; lots of people signed AIUK torture trade petition; £128 raised; display table perfectly organised by Andrew; lots of interest in Amnesty; great atmosphere; 3 people added to mailing list

    Suggestion for the future: Carol to be group speaker!; method to count number of people who sign online petition

    Artist has donated 5 pieces of art to Amnesty - currently stored in Andrew's house!

    • Waiting for AI Scotland office to reply re. taking artwork

    • Potentially consider giving to Mitchell Library / Scottish University human rights dept?

    • Artist has indicated he will assist our Group in finding a suitable use / home for the artwork

  4. AIUK AGM 22.06.24 - Clara and Mal attended.

    a. all resolutions were passed including re. delaying sale of Amnesty UK HQ building in London

    b. hopefully 2-day joint AGM/conference next year

    c. Mal encouraged us all to attend next year!

  5. Film screening of Turkish documentary film The Decree - Mhairi - no update

  6. Hong Kong petition - Clara - group signed petition for IAR

  7. UK Election

    a. Opportunity still exists to forward the link to Amnesty Scotland's manifesto to MPs. (Neil?)

    b. Amnesty Scotland election hustings on human rights - went well - Kirstie attended

  8. Amnesty Global Assembly Consultation Meetings were held on 08 & 10 July. No-one from our Group attended.

  9. Claire & Barrie from the Perth Amnesty group have made a WhatsApp group chat “Scotland Amnesty” for members from the central belt groups (Perth, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh) so we can work closer on campaigns more easily. If you'd like to join, welcome! Please ask Claire for the joining link.

  10. Perth Amnesty is holding an Amnesty Information stall in the Birnam Arts Centre on Sunday 28th July - all welcome to join! Birnam is on the opposite bank of the Tay from Dunkeld and so the group are thinking of going on a low-level walk around there on the day also, for people who want to. If you are interested to attend, please message Claire/the Glasgow email.

  11. Pride march & stall - Saturday 20th July

    a. Starting point: Festival Park. The route will leave Festival Park and head over the squinty bridge to Broomielaw and up to Argyle Street before heading through the Merchant City and ending at Glasgow Green, where it is a short distance to the Glasgow Barrowlands, which will host the market, mainstage, and community stages.

    b. Music = 2-8pm at the Barras

    c. Stall at the Pride Hub, the Barras Market.

    d. Arr 8.30am to set up stall

    e. With laptop for petition / printed; merch / posters / badges / t-shirts, donation tins, etc

    f. March – Arrival Time: Festival Park by 10:00 AM. Group Check-In: 1 member of each group to take the lead. Please look for the designated check-in points upon arrival at Festival Park. We need at least 1 steward. There's a 10 minute training video & then a gform quiz, then on the day you wear a hi vis! Organisations are required to have at least 1 person for every 10 people in your group complete the providing training successfully. Info video here; assessment here - Claire has completed & done assessment.

    • Mal - set-up stall → march
    • Claire & Clara to be at Festival Park 9.30am
    • Kirstie - at the stall at 1-3pm
    • Han - at the stall sometime in the afternoon
    • Chakar - hopefully around!
    • ?? Mhairi, Chloe, Jim - Claire/Mal to msg
    • Daytime group - Carol to invite
    • Clara to msg uni group
    • Iona (Russian County Coordinator) - bringing actions
  12. Urgent Appeals - Merle circulated the undernoted Urgent Actions (and also subsequently posted them to our SIgnal Group).

  13. AIUK Local Group Updates - June here

  14. AOB:

    a. Carol - response from Russian Prosecutor's Office re. urgent action letter

    b. Neil Cowan (Scotland AI Head) coming to Glasgow Daytime meeting 18.07.24 1pm @ The Wee Retreat, Govanhill, Glasgow to talk about role of AI's Scottish Office and also Amnesty Futures movement

  15. Next meeting – Thurs 8th August 7.30pm - 9pm - Speaker: South East Asia/ Myanmar (Mal)

2024 Meeting Dates

New Members very welcome!

The Group meets every second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm - 9pm.

The meetings take place at Woodlands Methodist Church, 229 Woodlands Road, G3 6LW

For further information contact mail@glasgowwestamnesty.org.uk

  • Thursday 11th January 2024

  • Thursday 8th February 2024

  • Thursday 14th March 2024

  • Thursday 11th April 2024

  • Thursday 9th May 2024

  • Thursday 13th June 2024

  • Thursday 11th July 2024

  • Thursday 8th August 2024

  • Thursday 12th September 2024

  • Thursday 10th October 2024

  • Thursday 14th November 2024

  • Thursday 12th December 2024

BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS

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