Thank you to AMG for these updates. If you would prefer to read them as a PDF, you can do so here.
We warmly invite you to attend the next meeting of the AI 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 email includes:
- Details of our forthcoming July 2023 meeting, including our guest speaker;
- Excerpts from and a link to AIUK's most recent update for local AI groups;
- Minutes of our local group meeting held last month; and
- A note of all our local Group's meeting dates for 2023.
July 2023 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting
Thursday 13th July, Woodlands International Methodist Church, 7:30pm
The next Glasgow West Amnesty meeting takes place on Thursday 13th June 2023 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 activities for the July meeting include:
- A special Guest Speaker – Marion McPherson from AI's North Ayrshire Group, who will discuss campaigning work relating to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (IOPT), including information on a recent visit to Palestine that Marion had undertaken;
- Discussing LiftTheBan's “High Street Challenge” campaign. The aim of campaign is to overturn the ban on asylum seekers working whilst their claim is being considered; and
- Undertaking letter writing in response to recent Urgent Actions alerts from AI.
Extract Of Local Groups' Updates From AIUK
Full details of AIUK's update for local groups can be viewed via this browser link.
This month's update from AIUK includes the following:
4 June Tiananmen vigils
Groups across the UK held vigils on 4 June to mark the 34th anniversary of the Chinese authorities' crackdown against peaceful demonstrators in Tiananmen Square.
(As part of this, members of the Glasgow West AI Group joined colleagues from across Scotland in a vigil held outside the Chinese Embassy in Edinburgh).
AIUK is urging supporters to continue to support Chow Hang-Tung, who in 2021 encouraged people on social media to light candles in memory of the killings.
She was arrested and remains in prison.
Amnesty Summer Raffle
Enter the Amnesty Summer Raffle and grab your chance to feel like a winner! How would you spend £5,000? That's what's up for grabs when we draw the raffle in July.
Tickets cost just £2 and with every ticket you buy, you're speaking up for humanity.
Buy your raffle tickets online today for your chance to experience that winning feeling and you could help more people like unfairly imprisoned Yasaman Aryani & her mother Monireh Arabshahi walk free!
Immigration Bill updates
The government's latest immigration Bill has passed through the Commons and is currently being debated in the House of Lords. Despite widespread criticism, the government continues to push this cruel bill, using lies and sowing division in our communities.
AIUK is encouraging people to email the Prime Minister directly to call him to stop this cruel bill.
CC update - death penalty in Iran
The use of the death penalty in Iran continues to be an urgent issue.
Since the popular uprising - known as the Woman, Life, Freedom movement - began in September 2022, authorities have been using the death penalty as a tool of repression. The authorities attack civilians for protesting by shooting at them and throwing tear gas. Other ill treatments include flogging, sexual violence, electric shocks and death threats.
Since late April 2023 there has been a spike in death sentences and Amnesty have started an urgent action to release those detained for protesting, and to abolish the death penalty. For more information and to take urgent action soon as possible until 23rd July 2023, click here.
Further information from AIUK
Full details of AIUK's update for local groups can be viewed via this browser link.
Updates From June 2023 Meeting
Amnesty International
Glasgow West Local Group
Meeting held on 8th June 2023
Present: Claire (Chair), Chakar, Silvia, Fatma, Kirstie, Neil and Andrew.
Apologies tendered: Merle, Jim and Mal.
Welcome
Claire welcomed everyone to the meeting, particularly Chakar, who was previously a member of Perth AI Group.
Given the good weather, this month's meeting was held in Kelvingrove Park, together with an informal picnic.
Minutes of meeting held on 11th May 2023 and Matters Arising
Thanks to Claire for recording the May minutes.
The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and any matters arising were included in this month's agenda.
Social Media Update
Silvia indicated that she had begun looking at our website, but currently had limited access in terms of being able to amend some structural aspects. She would discuss with Rob, who has been responsible for developing and updating the website and other social media platforms for our Group for several years.
Claire suggested sharing the letter writing guide on our social media and also picking up on effective examples that other local AI groups had used.
Action – Silvia to liaise with Rob and also help develop our social media presence in the coming months, including the suggestion above from Claire.
Church Hall meetings
Silvia recently attended a meeting of groups that use the hall for meetings. There was a request that the front door be locked when groups are meeting. This is for security reasons. A buzzer system will be installed. The hall caretaker (Jim) will be in touch about this.
Action – Front door to be locked when meetings are taking place.
Finance Update
Kirstie indicated that she had been updating the Group's finance records and there were now more details included in the shared drive. Our current balance was £784.
Kirstie will keep a float of petty cash with her and anyone wishing to reclaim travel expenses to any of our meetings / events is encouraged to do so by speaking to Kirstie at any time before/during/after the meeting. Names won't be stored; receipts will be stored anonymously.
As part of our support for Refugee Month, the Group agreed to make a donation of £50 to Refuweegee and a further donation, also of £50, to Maryhill Integration Network. Potential further donations may be considered in the future.
Action – All to note that all Group members may claim travelling expenses for any of our regular meetings and one-off events.
Action - Kirstie to liaise with Refuweegee and Maryhill Integration Network to process the donations.
Local AI Events
Palestine - Claire updated that the recent Palestine rally had been good and that the AI Palestine Apartheid report had been referenced by speakers, so it was helpful to have had our AI banner on display.
Marion from the North Ayrshire Group will be invited to attend our 13th July meeting to speak about the N. Ayrshire Group's work on this issue. This will include exploring scope for our Group collaborating with the N. Ayrshire Group on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (IOPT), as part of a geographical focused activity.
Action – Claire to liaise with Marion about this.
Tiananmen Square – Amjad & Claire attended the recent commemoration vigil held in Edinburgh to mark the 34 year anniversary of the massacre.
Post–Iftar meeting – The planned meeting did not take place and was postponed until a future time.
Erskine Refugee Support – Members of our group attended the recent large rally at the Muthu Hotel in Erskine, to demonstrate support for refugees staying at the hotel. A much smaller anti-refugee protest also takes place. There are weekly protests every Sunday that everyone is invited to, which are organised by Stand Up To Racism Glasgow https://www.facebook.com/sutrglasgow . There are weekly rallies held, meeting at the Muthu Hotel Erskine on Sundays at 11.30am.
Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre – Following Claire's discussion with Arthur from the North Ayrshire AI Group, our Group will join with them and others outside Dungavel, to demonstrate love and support for the refugees currently resident there.
This will take place on Sunday 25th June.
Action - Neil has agreed to drive to the event and he will be joined by Chakar, Fatma and Claire. Others are welcome to join this event, though they would need to arrange another car (as the centre is not well served on a Sunday by public transport).
Maryhill Integration Network Event – Fatma updated on an event taking place in Maryhill on 20th June 5pm – 7pm linking with the work of the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Migration.
Action – Members should contact Fatma on our Signal group for further details or if wishing to attend.
Refugee Festival Scotland Events – Andrew shared details of the Refugee Festival Scotland's programme of events taking place throughout June.
https://www.refugeefestivalscotland.co.uk/about-us/
Action – All members are encouraged to peruse the Festival programme and attend any events that are of interest.
LiftThe Ban Campaign – Fatma provided a brief overview of LiftTheBan “High Street Challenge” campaign ‘
Fatma has been involved in this campaign for some time. The purpose is to campaign in order to allow refugees seeking asylum to be entitled to legally work in the UK, whilst their asylum application is being considered. https://lifttheban.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/LTB_HighStreetChallenge_A4_Booklet_TP_WEB_SINGLES.pdf
The Group will further consider this issue at the July meeting.
Action – Andrew to put on agenda for July meeting / Fatma to lead a discussion at that meeting
Balochistan – New Group member, Chakar requested that the Group discuss the issue of human rights injustices in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, which he has campaigned for. It was agreed to put this on the agenda for the August meeting (delayed until August because we already have an external speaker on Palestine scheduled for our next meeting).
Action – Andrew to put on agenda / Chakar to lead a discussion for the August meeting
AIUK Campaign ‘Stop the Cruel Bill' (Illegal Immigration Bill)
AI is campaigning to stop the Illegal Immigration Bill.
As part of the campaign, all members are urged by AIUK to directly contact the Prime Minster about this - https://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions/stop-cruel-bill-email-rishi-now
Action – All members are encouraged to sign the online AI petition
Urgent Actions
Merle had provided Urgent Actions and Claire had brought a couple of copies to the meeting.
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/urgent-actions
Action – All to consider responding to the Urgent Action appeals
Local Groups' Update
A summary of the latest Local Groups' Update news was circulated with the meeting notice
Full details of AIUK's update for local groups can be viewed via this browser link.
Date of Next Meeting
The next meeting will take place on Thursday 13th July 2023, 7.30pm - 9pm @ Woodlands Methodist Church, 229 Woodlands Road, G3 6LW.
2023 Meeting Dates
New Members very welcome!
The Group meets every 2nd Thursday 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
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Thursday 12th January 2023 -
Thursday 9th February 2023 -
Thursday 9th March 2023 -
Thursday 13th April 2023 -
Thursday 11th May 2023 -
Thursday 8th June 2023 -
Thursday 13th July 2023
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Thursday 10th August 2023
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Thursday 14th September 2023
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Thursday 12th October 2023
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Thursday 9th November 2023
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Thursday 14th December 2023
BETTER TO LIGHT A CANDLE THAN CURSE THE DARKNESS