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March 2024 Meeting and February Updates

Many thanks to the combined efforts of AMG and MDS 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 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 update includes:

  • Details of our forthcoming March 2024 meeting;

  • Information on current AIUK activities;

  • An update on our recent successful Comedy Fundraiser for Amnesty;

  • Minutes of our local Group meeting held last month; and

  • A note of our local Group's meeting dates for 2024.

March 2024 Glasgow West AI Group Meeting

Thursday 14th March, Woodlands International Methodist Church, 7:30pm

The next Glasgow West Amnesty meeting takes place on Thursday 14th March 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 activities for the March meeting include:

  • Reviewing the recent fundraiser event and planning further activities;

  • Discussion of the UK Government's Prevent Strategy and its impact on Human Rights;

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

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

International Women's Day Event in Ayr

To mark International Women's Day, our colleagues at the Ayr local Amnesty International Group are organising an ‘Amnestea Party' to ‘celebrate and respect women: past, present and future.'

The event is being held from 1pm – 4pm on Saturday 9th March. It will take place in the Holy Trinity Church Hall, Fullarton Street, Ayr. Tea, Coffee and cake will be served. Entry is free. All welcome!

Over £2,000 Raised in Our Recent Fundraising Event

Our local Group's Amnesty International Comedy Night Fundraiser held at The Stand Comedy Club, Glasgow in February 2024 raised over £2,000.

A total of £1,630 was raised via ticket sales, which went directly to AIUK's charitable arm.

A raffle and AI collecting tins raised a total of £442, which will go towards our local AI group's campaigning and expenses.

A big ‘Thank You' was given to the comedians on the bill, all of whom gave their input for free. Likewise, The Stand Comedy Club also provided its facilities for no charge. Finally, we wish to extend a special thank you to all our supporters who donated prizes for the raffle, bought tickets and came along to enjoy a great show, whilst raising money for an even greater cause.

Given the success of the event, we have already agreed a date with The Stand for a similar event next year. Further details to follow nearer the time, but, in the meantime, ‘Hold the Date' of Thursday 20th February 2025!

Updates On Current AIUK Campaigns

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

Web Events

21 Mar 7 pm - 8.30 pm - /ACEN Israel-Gaza: impacts, human rights and routes to peace. /Online. Sign up here.

2 Apr, 6 pm - 7.30 pm* - What are Economic and Social rights and why is Amnesty working on them? Online webinar. Details below:-*

‘What are Economic, Social and Cultural rights and why is Amnesty working on them?'

AIUK has spent the last six months meeting with people living in poverty and experiencing rights violations in the UK to find out how we, as the Amnesty movement, can work to end these violations.

Our new Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights Lead – Jen Clark and Campaign Manager Laura Trevelyan will be running a webinar to talk you through the finding of this research and our upcoming plans on Tues 2 April from 7pm.

Register here

For further details and more Amnesty International events, click this link.

New campaign on our everyday rights

Our human rights are under threat and it is not a distant problem, human rights violations are happening right here in the UK. Here at home, a chilling reality is unravelling – millions of families and individuals can't access what they need to live, from safe shelter to healthcare, food and more.

This crisis does not come from a lack of resources, as we're often led to believe, it comes from political choices that drive inequality. To show this reality we have worked with actors Olivia Colman and Adrian Lester to show that this is happening before our eyes. Watch our new trailer for a drama series that sadly is not drama. It is a reality.

Please be aware this is a video which tells the story of violations of human rights which includes the death of a baby so please do look after yourself and don't watch unless you want to.

Housing, food, healthcare – these are all our human rights but they don't often get as much attention as rights such as free speech, protest and a fair trial. At Amnesty we are working on making sure we are campaigning for all our rights including the everyday rights that are often and too frequently ignored.

Everyone should have a safe and secure place to call home, people should have enough food to eat and access to healthcare.

Watch here

Shop Amnesty

Amnesty Shop – Browse Amnesty International's wide range of ethical gifts and everyday items via this link.

February 2024 Meeting Updates

Minutes of Meeting held on 8th February 2024

  1. Welcome and apologies (introductions round table)

    • Attendees: Christine, Jean, Kirstie, Mal, Merle

    • Apologies: Andrew, Claire, Neil

    • Mal chaired in Claire's absence. (p.s. Thanks also to Mal for producing this note of the meeting)

  2. Agreement of previous meeting minutes

    • Minutes agreed

  3. Team Updates (list of roles from AGM here)*:*

    1. Treasurer (Kirstie)

      • Paid out since last meeting: £72 to AIUK for annual registration fee. £78 to church for hall hire for 3 months.

      • £305.91 in bank (prior to comedy night).

    2. Social Media & website (Mal & Cait)

      • Focus on promoting comedy night.

    3. Local Political Outreach (Neil)

      • No update.

    4. Regional/ Country focus – South East Asia/ Myanmar (Mal)

      • No update.

    5. Prisoner of Conscience/Individual At Risk Update (Han)

      • No update.

    6. Wellbeing/D&I Update (Sophie)

      • No update.

  4. The Stand 12.02.2024 comedy night fundraiser:

    • Further logistical arrangements made and agreed prior to comedy night. Further details communicated on Signal group ahead of event.

  5. Prevent AIUK Report Launch (published Nov 2023)

    • AIUK is looking to organise launch events in 5 different cities across the UK in the first quarter of 2024, inc. Glasgow. Is anyone interested in leading on this campaign?

    • No volunteers at meeting. Possibly involve political engagement so ask Neil if interested? Or anyone else not at meeting.

  6. Uyghur film screening in April: Nabila (China Country Coordinator) has linked up with the director of the film "All Static and Noise" for their April UK tour to include an AIUK IAR case - Ilham Toti and his daughter Jewher - who will be on the panel and coming from the USA.

    1. There will be a screening in Edinburgh. Do we want one in Glasgow (without Jewher - she'll just be in Edinburgh & various English cities)?

    2. If anyone wants to help organise a Glasgow one, or support the Edinburgh one, pls say

      • No volunteers at meeting. Suggest that instead we make a group trip to Edinburgh for screening, depending on date.

  7. Urgent Appeals - (Merle)

  8. Local Group Updates - January Updates email here.

    • See the useful list of “Who's Who”

    • 8th March = International Women's Day - SM?

    • Actions:

      • Rita Karasartova facing 15 years in Prison for Peacefully protesting in Kyrgyzstan - sign the petition

    • Respect Freedom of Expression in Jammu & Kashmir - Email the Indian Ambassador to the UK here

    • Peru: Stand with Victims of State Repression - Sign the petition here

    • Protect the Protest: Freedom of Expression in Bangladesh - raise concerns to the High Commission in London here

    • Zimbabwe - Charges Against Young Political Activist Must Be Dropped - email here

  9. Protect the Protest updates:

  10. Ongoing:

  11. AOB

    • None.

  12. Next meeting – Thurs 14th March 7.30pm - 9pm - Claire can't come - any volunteers to chair? No volunteers at meeting. (Note: Post-meeting Andrew has agreed to chair.)

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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