Lithuania: Move to criminalise the promotion of homosexuality

For further information on how to oppose homophobic legislation proposed in Lithuania see http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=629

Christmas Concert

Bourneville Amnesty are staging, together with The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture, another Christmas Concert for Human Rights. Last year’s concert was a great success and it would be great to fill the Cathedral again this year. There will be a Steel Band, Gospel Choir, Tradional Choir and Pianist [Rich Batsford -son of Bourneville Treasurer Vernon] plus a guest speaker from Medical Foundation. So please come along and support.
Date : Saturday 12th  December
Time: 11.30 am.
Venue : Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Row, Birmingham
Tickets : £5   Accompanied Children under 16 free

From John Bodycote, 41, Meadow Hill Road, Birmingham B38 8DF or email Derek Bennett: db@hayfinance.co.uk

Got my tickets – see you there!

“Hurried Steps” with panel discussion at University of Birmingham

Excellent event taking place at the University of Birmingham on Tuesday 1st December.  ’Hurried Steps’ is a play based on stories taken from Amnesty testimonies, including a new story set in the UK, in association with the Stop Violence Against Women campaign.  The play is currently touring in the UK and it’s great that it’s coming to Birmingham. The event will be made even more special as the author, Dacia Maraini, has agreed to travel from Italy to take part in a panel discussion after the play.

More details here: http://newshoestheatre.org.uk/Universities.html

Aged 16-25? Get recognised for your volunteering

For around the last 6 months the Central Birmingham Amnesty International group has advertised volunteering opportunities for young people through Changemakers. This gives us the chance to attract new members and them the chance to match more people to volunteering opportunities. On average this has led to the group having around 6 enquiries a month with many getting involved in group meetings and other activities.

A significant benefit for our volunteers is that if you are aged 16-25 you can get official recognition from Changemakers for your volunteering with a vinspired Award (see http://www.vinspired.com/awards/). This can provide you with evidence of the voluntary jobs and internships you have taken part in. To find out more contact Lynne Norman at Changemakers at lynne@changemakers.org.uk

Please note if you are already signed up to the scheme and require logbooks to be signed off please speak to a group officer at a meeting/event or email amnesty.centralbirmingham@gmail.com

Come rain or shine…

So, despite the rain there was an excellent turnout for Thursday’s meeting, and great to see lots of new faces – a warm welcome to you all, and to returning members as well.

We kicked off with a very informative talk from John Boyle from the Co-operative movement, sharing their history and current activities.  It highlighted many of the areas in which Amnesty and the Co-op share similar aims, especialy with regards to Demand Dignity, and I hope we’ll be able to work together in the future.  And if that wasn’t enough to win us over, he gave us some free fairtrade chocolate, so you’re welcome back any time John!

We took part in a letter writing action, encouraging Burundi and Cape Verdi to sign up to a UN treaty on bringing an end to dissapearances.  The unacknowledged detention and/or execution of individuals is sadly a tactic commonly used by regimes around the world, and it will require international co-operation such as this to finally put a stop to it.

We heard news of Bournville’s Carol concert on 12th Dec, a film event on Sudan and our own December meeting on the 10th Dec, and an action against Shell on 19th Dec, which will all get their own blog posts shortly.

We breifly reviewed the major actions we’ve taken this year, including Gay Pride, Celebrating Sanctuary, The Moseley Festival, The Burma Play and action in Victoria Square, and Rock for Rights.

Finally, we broke into groups to discuss new members questions, interests and ideas.  There was a lot of enthusiasm and interesting ideas appearing, and I’m looking forward to the new events and actions that we can put together in the coming year.

Thanks to everyone who came, and look forward to our next meetings – Cafe Forum at Bebo on 29th Nov, and the Greetings Card Social at Bennet’s on 10th Dec!

Demand Dignity Speaker

Many of you will remember Gethin Davies, the Amnesty trainer, who did a workshop for us on the Demand Dignity campagin.

Those of you who missed out will be able to catch up this month as the Bourville group has given us an open invitation. He will be talking about the campaign and about his own experiences in Kenya on Tuesday 24th November, 7:30 pm, Bournville Friends Meeting House, Linden Road. (Last time I went, it was the door round to the left by the glass panel doors, not the main Meeting room.)

November Group Meeting – 7.30 12th November @ Wragge and Co

Just a reminder that our monthly meeting is this Thursday (12th Nov) at 7.30pm, Wragg & Co., Colmore Row, Birmingham.

John Boyle will be talking to us about the Co-Op’s ethical investment policy, amongst other things. Our own Jon has provided some really nice resources for pre-reading on the group wiki – so get informed!

If you are interested, please leave a comment below, or email the group: amnesty.centralbirmingham@gmail.com . See you there!

Solidarity with Justine Bihamba

Last month we Cathryn, Amnesty UK’s country co-ordinator for DR Congo came to talk to us, and highlighted the case of Justine Bihamba.  Justine is a human rights campaigner, who continues to work for change in her country, despite soldiers attacking her family  in an attempt to stop her.

Later this month Justine is visting the UK, and Cathryn will be meeting her.  We are going to take a photo of the group at the next business meeting (10th Nov, 7.30, at BMI) with a message of solidarity that Cathryn can give personally to Justine.

If  you can’t make this meeting you can always take a photo of yourself holding up a message, such as the one below, and email it to amnesty.centralbirmingham@gmail.com, and we will forward it. Your messages of support really do make a difference!

Message: ‘Nous sommes de tout coeur avec vous et nous vous soutenons dans votre combat.’  (Translation: ‘We are standing with you in solidarity and wishing you strength’)

The Big Thank You

Now that we’ve all calmed down from what was some pretty awesome music, it’s time to say a big, big thank you to our Rock for Rights sponsors who gave the evening that extra fizz.

First up was the Co-op, immediately offering us what turned out to be an enormous hamper of Co-op’s finest goodies. The Co-operative has long supported fair-trade as well as animal welfare issues such as stocking free-range egg products so it was good to have such ethical sponsors on board. Find out how they make money and do good work at www.co-operative.coop

The Warehouse Cafe, Digbeth (www.thewarehousecafe.com) was another early sponsor. No word of a lie, I went for the first time the other day and it’s a lovely chilled out place, a genuine alternative venue in the midst of pop-culture Birmingham. I particularly liked the informative little eco notes in the toilet!

The stupendous Shiraz restaurant also came up with a buy one get one free offer, not to be sneezed at in these ‘tough times’ (as the cheerful politicians keep reminding us). One reviewer said that the ‘cosy’ restaurant’s kebabs were ‘without a doubt the best I’ve eaten in Birmingham; reminding me of Mombasa’. If you’re jealous get down to 167 Hagley Road, 0121 4549911, for a taste of Persia.

Topping off the foody freebies was one of Simon Ware’s coveted carrot cakes, which you should seriously regret missing out on, trust me I’m a human rights activist.

He wasn’t the only generous individual, Devocka, Birmingham’s new favourite band volunteered not only their time and talent but a CD and t-shirt as well.

And last, but not least, the Hare and Hounds gave us, not just the venue at a cut down rate, but contributed towards a bar tab as yet another raffle prize. So some lucky activist has got some free drinking to do. If you can’t wait till next year’s Rock for Rights for more metaly-atmospheric-rocking action check out www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk for your next night out.

But the biggest thank you goes to all of you who turned out on a drizzly Tuesday to support not just some great bands but to support two courageous women: Justine Bihamba of the DRC, whose daughters were attacked  by soldiers and Barbara Italia Mendez of Mexico who was raped by police officers. Both women were targeted following human rights activism. See www.amnesty.org.uk/bihamba and www.amnesty.org.uk/mendez if you haven’t already done the action. We now have 40 signed postcards from the night to send off and thanks to the generosity of all those involved we have the money to buy the stamps with!

Cafe Forum – Sunday 25th October

This month’s Amnesty Cafe Forum takes place tomorrow at Cafe Bebo, Paradise Forum, Paradise Place, Birmingham B3 3HJ (map) at 2 – 3pm. This is a more informal meeting which will be discussing West and Central Africa (following our speaker meeting), a chance to feedback on Rock for Rights and look at other current issues around human rights – all welcome! If you have any queries please leave a comment below.