Urgent actions – 2008 update

Just had these details through from Amnesty UK:

Out of the 349 urgent actions and 166 updates (which

included further action) issued last year, there were

unsuccessful outcomes in 13% of UAs and positive

outcomes in 20% (including releases, stays of execution

and pardons).

So your letter writing can and does make a difference!

Lent 2009

Hello

This term there are again many opportunities to get involved with Amnesty letter writing.

Mondays – letter writing at Cafe Project, Jesus Lane, from 8-10pm.  Contact Katie (klj29) for more information.

Tuesday – letter writing in Catz, contact Pete (pjy25) for more details

Thursdays – letter writing at Chads, contact Pete (pjy25)  for more details

Any questions, or to be added to the mailing list just get in touch.

Michaelmas 2008

Catz Amnesty have now settled in to the new term with regular letter writing each Monday from 8pm at the Cafe Project (22 Jesus Lane) and alternate Tuesdays in Catz JCR from 7.30pm.  Thanks to all of you who’ve come along so far, it should hopefully be a successful term.

If you’d like to be added to the Catz mailing list please email Katie – klj29@cam.ac.uk

Amnesty International Letter Writing at Cafe Project over the summer

For those of you still around in Cambridge over the summer, Amnesty letter writing meetings will be continuing, at least through July and hopefully beyond, subject to interest.  These will be on Monday evenings from 8pm at the Cafe Project, 22 Jesus Lane.  For more information and/or to be added to the summer mailing list please contact Katie Jones (klj29@cam.ac.uk) or Rachel Leow (rl341).

Information on the Cafe:

 http://www.cafeproject.org/

Letter writing in Easter Term

This term we’re doing things a little differently, taking into account that it is exam term for some people.  So, together with other colleges there will be uni wide Amnesty letter writing events at the new student-run Cafe Project, 22 Jesus Lane, every Monday from 8pm.  This should have a relaxed and social atmosphere and also lots of tea and delicious homemade cake!  Perfect for a break from revision.

Information on the cafe can be found at

http://www.cafeproject.org/

Final letter updates

On Thursday 6th, despite a drop in numbers 16 letters were written.

Last night we were less prolific, but still 7 letters were written to Saudi Arabia, Gambia and Chad.

This makes a total of 69 letters just from our group and not including those of you who are pidgeonholed actions, which is great

Have a good break

Upcoming letter writing meetings and film

Tonight (Thursday 6th Mar) Catz Amnesty letter writing meeting in the JCR, 7pm – 8.30 ish. Come along at any point to write as few or many letters as you like.

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This weekend is the Weekend of the Letter with actions focussed on International Women’s Day. There is a joint letter writing meeting at Cauis Green Room on Saturday 8th at 7pm, lasting until 11.45. Again pop along any time during the evening to write your own letters and/or sign some pre-written actions.

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Also on Monday 10th, Clare Amnesty are holding an Amnesty Works night in Clare Cellars 9pm. This includes:

Letter writing raffle (write a letter to enter the raffle)

Exciting cocktails

A chance to find out more about Amnesty successes and current campaigns.

A great excuse to chill out in the bar.

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Finally a film recommended by our own rep Rachel:

“Invisibles” 10th March, 7pm LG17 Law Faculty.

Javier Bardem worked with MSF to produce a film which highlights five neglected humanitarian crises taken from MSF’s yearly list of under-reported humanitarian crises. Each topic is addressed in a separate short film, shot by different directors, creating the five-part film “Invisibles.”

Mariano Barroso directs “Bianca’s Dream,” which looks at the dual role of eflornithine, a drug used as a beauty product in wealthy nations, but which is needed to treat Sleeping Sickness in the Central African Republic.

In “Letters to Nora,” director Isabel Coixet examines how the parasitic disease Chagas afflicting her family in Bolivia affects a young woman working in Madrid.

Director Javier Corcuera travels to Colombia in “Voices of the Stones,” where he documents a group of people affected by the ongoing violence in that country as they try to return to their rural homes.

“Good Night, Ouma,” directed by Fernando Leon de Aranoa, examines the ongoing crises of the “night commuters” and child soldiers in northern Uganda.

Acclaimed director Wim Wenders looks into the wide-spread problem of sexual violence and how it is affecting victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Watch trailer: http://www.sogecine-sogepaq.com/invisibles/

After the film there will be a speaker from MSF available for questions and answers.

Films/events of possible interest

Today (Mon 3rd March) 7pm. Film screening with Hands off Venezuela (HoV): John Pilger’s ‘The War on Democracy’  LG17 Law Faculty, Sidgwick Site – FREE but donations to cover costs!

Soc Doc Soc and the Cambridge branch of campaign group, Hands off
Venezuela, present John Pilger’s The War on Democracy. John Pilger is a
critically acclaimed documentary maker and journalist for the Guardian. The
War on Democracy is his first major film for the cinema – in a career that
has produced more than 55 television documentaries. Set in Latin America
and the US, it explores the historic and current relationship of Washington
with countries such as Venezuela, Bolivia and Chile.

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 Also today: 6.30 pm, B16 Law Faculty

CUID present Corporate (Ir)responsibility? – A Panel Debate on CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an ethical watchword in the marketplaces and business environments of today. It advocates that corporations should take responsibility for the impact of their activities on society and local communities.

This CUID panel discussion will tackle the controversial issue of CSR and its value to society. Come down to have questions answered by our panelists, and to ask questions of your own!

Chair – Dr Shaun Fitzgerald (BP Institute)

Panellists

Craig Bennett (Cambridge Programme for Industry); Sarah Hepworth (KPMG); Hannah Ellis (Corporate Responsibility Coalition);Tatiana Vakhitova; Jane Collier (Judge Business School) ———————————————————————————

Tomorrow (Tue 4th March) 7.30 pm:

Talks around the world presents:

“Xi Zang de Hai Zi – Children of Tibet” (documentary by  Kiki Tianqi Yu (Newnham MCR))
When: Tuesday, 4th March, 7.30 PM
Where: Old Labs, Newnham Gardens, Newnham
Free entry

“Children of Tibet” portrays the lives of the new generation of Tibetans in local schools and monasteries. It documents the ways Tibetan culture has changed under the administration of the Chinese government, and how Tibet is integrated into China and the wider international community. Kiki Tianqi Yu (Newnham MCR) produced, directed and filmed in the summer holiday 2006. After the screening of her film, she will answer questions and talk about her experiences in Tibet.

Letter update

13 letters were written this week, we weren’t able to write directly to Afghanistan or Iraq so these letters went via their UK ambassadors.

Afghanistan (death penalty) – 5

Turkey (fear for safety) – 5

Russian Federation (health concern and unfair trial) – 2

Iraq (fear of torture/ill-treatment) – 1

Don’t forget to check out the Amnesty cage this weekend and sign the flags! This term’s cage is campaigning for the release of Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage, for more information see http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=342

CUID Human Rights Fortnight

As part of this there are many events taking place in the next weeks, this week there are 3 events relating to Burmese issues.  Next week has events covering Rwanda, Darfur and Children’s Rights.

Check out http://www.cuid.org/ for more information.