Today at 5pm in QMU Committee Room 1 we’re going to focus on the attempts to secure and international Arms Trade Treaty. The trade in arms and especially in small arms has a devastating effect on human rights around the worlds as weapons are use to suppress populations and to prop up brutal regimes. We are hoping that talks next month can finally bring into force a treaty that would mean this brutal trade is afforded the same level of seriousness as countless others (including bananas) already have.
This week we held events focusing on gender based violence, harassment and assault. These are issues that we visit every International Women’s Day, but this year the talks on sexual harassment, assault and abuse as well as our workshops on taking action against it, felt particularly relevant on Glasgow University campus this year.
The treatment of the female debaters at this year’s ancients was shocking but unfortunately not at all surprising. The misogynistic abuse they received was part in part of a culture we live in where it is sometimes acceptable to judge women purely on appearance and where sexual and gender based harassment is normalised, where victims are told to expect it and where the perpetrators are excused.
For some reason this appears particularly acceptable within the Glasgow University Union. The incident this weekend was not an isolated incident; it is the result of a pattern of casual sexism and institutionalised condoning of sexism in the union – it didn’t start and end on Saturday night. The loyalty to the LAMB club, the bizarre pride of being the last single gender union in the UK, and the general aggressive laddish attitude that characterises many events at the union, have all had a part to play in the incident.
At the start of term we affiliated with the GUU because we wanted to try to be a presence across campus. We haven’t held any events there this term out of a mixture of practical concerns and because some of our members are very uncomfortable with this history and the culture at the union, but some among us maintained hope that the stories and image were exaggerated – the incident at the weekend convinced that last few that it hasn’t been.
GU Amnesty International is disaffiliating with the GUU, until we can see evidence of real change in the way it deals with attitudes to gender. After consulting our members, we do not feel we can credibly argue for respecting the human while having any relationship with a group so relaxed about disrespect and abuse towards women. We look forward to the day when we can campaign for human rights across campus and we hope the promised new code of conduct and equality training sessions can help change the culture of the GUU.
Until then, we urge anyone reading this to attend the demonstration tomorrow (Library Hill – 12pm) against all misogyny on campus, whether at the GUU, on bullying Facebook Pages or anywhere else.
This week we are teaming up with the GU Feminist Society, GU Oxfam, Rape Crisis Scotland and Get SVAI to deliver two fantastic days of workshops, film screenings and talks. Since this Friday is International Women’s Day, there are events focusing on Women’s Rights across campus this week (you can find a full list here). Our events are on Thursday from *5 pm* onwards in *Room 230* and *222* of the *St Andrew’s Building* and, in our usual time and place, on *Tuesday* in *QMU Committee Room 1* at *5 pm*.
Amnesty and Women’s Rights Talk: Tuesday 5 pm – QMU Comm 1
Amnesty speaker Elena Soper will talk about Amnesty International UK’s work on violence against women in the UK as part of the End Violence Against Women Coalition. “The End Violence Against Women Coalition is a unique coalition of organisations and individuals campaigning to end all forms of violence against women. We were set up in 2005 when women’s organisations and others came together to lobby the government to take a more strategic approach to ending violence against women, including making a commitment to work which aims to prevent violence against women.”
Women in the Media Workshop: Tuesday 6 pm – QMU Comm 1
A workshop looking at how the gender-stereotyped content of magazines affects the image of women today? There will be a mini presentation looking at the portrayal of women in both men’s and women’s popular magazines. Following the presentation a selection of magazines will be available to make picture boards for a follow-up discussion.
Rape Crisis Scotland: Thursday 5 pm – St Andrew’s Building Room 230
Rape Crisis Scotland are going to present on the work that they carry out, current campaigns and volunteering opportunities. This is a great oppertunity to learn more about a fantastic organisation, who are making a real difference to the lives of rape survivors here in Glasgow every day.
“For over 30 years, we have been at the forefront of campaigning against sexual violence. We have been influential in changing attitudes and in changing laws. From a handful of women who wanted to “do something”, we are now represented at the heart of government on the National Group to tackle Violence Against Women as well as partners with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS).” http://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/
Get SAVI: Thursday 6 pm – St Andrew’s Building Room 222
The Get SAVI bystander programme is designed to give participants the skills and confidence to challenge gender-based violence and harassment in everyday life. This session will be a short introduction to the programme, and will be a chance to learn more about gender-based violence and harassment, and what we can all do to stop it. http://togetherwecanstopit.org/get-savi/
‘How to Educate a Girl’: Thursday 7.15-8.30 pm Boyd Orr Theatre 222
FILM SCREENING:Â In 2000, 110 million children in the world were not in school—two thirds of them were girls. In 2010, filmmakers Frederick Rendina and Oren Rudavsky traveled to Nepal and Uganda, two countries emerging from conflict and struggling with poverty, to find the answer to one question: What does it take to educate a girl? Framed by the United Nations global initiative to provide equal access to education for girls by 2015, To Educate a Girl takes a ground-up and visually stunning view of that effort through the eyes of girls out of school, starting school or fighting against the odds to stay in school. http://www.ungei.org/
So there’s a lot on this week. We’ll keep the Facebook event (linked here) updated with details and I hope I see you all there.
We have a busy few weeks of Amnesty fun planned – we’re doing a demo for our Conflict Free Campus Campaign, talking about the International Arms Trade Treaty and at the weekend it is the long billed Action for Change. So if you want to get involved you know where to find us Tuesday – 5pm – QMU – Committee Room 1.
This Week’s Meeting
This week we’re going to focus on the attempts to secure and international Arms Trade Treaty. The trade in arms and especially in small arms has a devastating effect on human rights around the worlds as weapons are use to suppress populations and to prop up brutal regimes. We are hoping that talks next month can finally bring into force a treaty that would mean this brutal trade is afforded the same level of seriousness as countless others (including bananas) already have.
Conflict Free Glasgow Demo
On Wednesday we are going to be on Library Hill collecting signatures for our petition for a conflict free Glasgow. The demo will run for most of the day, so if you can come for an hour or so between classes your presence will be greatly appreciated.
International Women’s Day Event 7th March
To mark international women’s day we are working with the GU Feminist Society and GU Oxfam to put together an event. The venue is yet to be confirmed but we already have confirmed talks from Rape Crisis Scotland and the SRC Gender and Equalities Officer, Frances Bell, will be giving us a presentation as part of the Get Savi campaign. The Facebook event will be up soon with more details.
Arran – April 13th & 14th
We are planning a fundraising trip up Goat Fell on Arran for the weekend of the 13th and 14th April. It’s a fantastic hike and shouldn’t be too strenuous, so if you are interested or simply want to sponsor us come along tomorrow and we’ll take your name down.
Hey everybody, We’re got another still doing our best to keep up the pressure on the university to become a conflict free campus. With the SRC, Patrick Harvie and numerous other public figures on our side what we need now if to demonstrate how much support there is for our campaign on campus. So if you haven’t done yet please sign our petition online here or better yet come along and sign in person at our usual time and place at 5pm tomorrow in QMU Committee Roome 1. This Week’s Meeting: The meeting this week is going to focus on human rights issues that we face in the UK. We’ve been thinking that the meetings so far this year have been a wee bit arts and crafts heavy. So it’ll be more of a discussion orientated meeting. Coming Up: Action for Change is the weekend after next (1st and 2nd of March). It’s a really fantastic opportunity to learn some campaigning skills and if you are planning to stand for the committee next year, I really do recommend you come along. It’ll only cost you your travel expenses down to London, which if you book now will be about £20-30. http://www.facebook.com/events/463814903674353/?fref=ts See you guys tomorrow, Martin
As Martin said, the whole of Saturday was a great success. Thanks to everyone who made it possible; there were a lot of you who pitched in and made it what it was. (Photos after the jump) Read the rest of this entry →
Hey everybody, I’ve got to say that Saturday was a rampant success even by our own already high standards.
Our first Scottish Student Conference was a succession of powerful and lucid speakers in front of an gather of activists from all over Scotland. The after party hosted by Philanthrobeats was the perfect end to a night that saw our Secret Policeman’s Ball raise a staggering £2248.85 – the highest total yet!
We’re going to have a meeting as usual tomorrow at 5pm in QMU Committee Room 1, but we’re going to take it relatively easy and head down to Jim’s after.
This Week’s Meeting
Since it’ll just a short meeting this week we’re just going to focus on an Urgent Action appeal from Amnesty International regarding the situation in Cambodia. It ties into quite a few things we have already touched on this year including women’s rights and forced evictions. We’ll head down to Jim’s afterwards to say thanks to everyone and who helped out on the Saturday night and try to take it a bit easy (if only this week).
Coming Up
There are a few good events to look forward to in the near future: 8pm Wednesday in Qudos – the GU Independence Referendum are having a debate on the Foreign Policy of an Independent Scotland. Regardless of your opinion on Independence this will be a talk worth seeing (even if only for our campaign video star Patrick Harvie MSP). http://www.facebook.com/events/101019473410409/ On Thursday Philanthrobeats are hosting a night at the SubClub to raise money for anti domestic violence campaign One Billion Raising. http://www.facebook.com/events/552663334755030/?ref=ts&fref=ts Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd of March is Action For Change – a fantastic training weekend at Amnesty International HQ in London. The weekend is free to attend and includes food and accommodation. It is a great opportunity to learn some campaigning skills and I can’t recommend it thoroughly enough. http://www.facebook.com/events/463814903674353/?fref=ts
Warning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/speakup-email-petitions/includes/class.petition.php on line 307
Petition to: David Newall (Secretary of Court), Professor Anton Muscatelli (Principal)
Gold, tin, tungsten, and tantalum are found in the electronic products we use every day, such as computers, mobile phones, and MP3 players. These minerals are now known as ‘conflict minerals’ because they are extracted from mines controlled by armed groups who use violence and mass rape to control local populations. These armed groups generate an estimated $144 million each year by trading in conflict minerals 1.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the countries worst affected by this illicit trade, with an estimated death toll of over six million2; and hundreds of thousands of women and children having been raped 3. Children are also forced into mines, undertaking heavy labour and 80% of the population lives on 30 cents or less per day 4. The sheer scale of this forced labour amounts to modern slavery.
This is a conflict that major electronics companies have known about for nearly two decades, yet little has been done to prevent the use of conflict minerals in our everyday technologies. While it is an inescapable reality that we are all going to keep using our mobiles and other essential consumer electronics, this should not be at the expense of fuelling the deadliest conflict in the world. Companies that use these minerals in their manufacturing processes must ensure that these minerals do not come with the cost of human lives.
Glasgow University Amnesty International has joined Raise Hope for Congo’s Conflict-Free Campus Initiative (CFCI), a global movement of students campaigning for peace and justice in the Congo. By encouraging university officials and stakeholders to commit to measures that pressure electronics’ companies to responsibly invest in Congo’s minerals sector, we are voicing the University of Glasgow’s collective demand for certified conflict-free products.
While we recognise that a more multifaceted and comprehensive plan of action is needed to solve the current crisis in Congo, ending the largely unrecognised illicit extraction and trade of conflict minerals will certainly remove a major economic incentive for numerous state and non-state sponsored militias. The direct link between war in Congo and the consumer products we use every day gives our University enormous power to demand change from electronics’ companies. By issuing a resolution supporting the conflict-free movement, the University of Glasgow would amplify and strengthen efforts calling for companies to trace, audit, and certify their supply chains to ensure their products do not support a minerals trade that is benefiting militia groups.
The University of Glasgow’s Sustainable Development Policy 5 states:
“The University of Glasgow recognises the significance of sustainable development in global, national and local contexts and acknowledges a commitment to the protection of the environment and the conservation of our natural resources.
“The University is concerned about the effects of its decisions and actions on the quality of life, the economy and world poverty, as well as the environment and natural resources.”
The University has agreed to adopt the following actions:
“To build partnerships and create local information networks for sharing experience and knowledge of sustainability, and to contribute to national and global discussions of sustainability issues”
We the undersigned call for the University of Glasgow to action the proposals set out in the SRC Motion for a Conflict-Free Campus, which are:
To call for the University to give priority to companies who implement due diligence when sourcing their minerals – tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold – from the Democratic Republic of Congo, when considering vendors for future electronic product purchases
To call for the University to express and foster a strong commitment to purchasing products that have been certified as ‘conflict-free’, upon considering the future procurement of electronic devices, once commercially available.
To call for the University to express a strong commitment to purchasing electronic products from companies that respect and promote human rights throughout the products’ lifecycle including the mineral extraction and trading phases.
To call for the University to issue formal letters of inquiry to contracted electronics suppliers on the status of company efforts to address mineral supply chain transparency and accountability.
Attempts to address these issues of transparency and accountability should pay heed to these guidelines, developed by the University of Pennsylvania Conflict-Free Campus Initiative, instructing companies to:
Strengthen company management systems (including establishing and distributing a supply chain policy);
Identify and assess risks in the supply chain;
Design and implement a strategy to respond to identified risks;
Ensure independent third-party audits of supply chain due diligence at identified points in the supply chain;
Disclose publicly supply chain due diligence and findings.
If these approaches fail to bring change in a reasonable amount of time, the University should give purchasing preference to compliant companies as well as consider not renewing contracts and divesting from non-compliant ones.
To mandate the Students’ Association to do all of the above in their sourcing of electronics.
Our Scottish Student Conference, the Secret Policeman’s Ball and our After Party mobdro free download are all on Saturday. For one glorious day GU Amnesty International will take over the QMU. We’ll raise a lot of money, we’ll hear some fantastic speakers and we’ll have a nice wee boogie. Although Saturday is the climax of the week, we’ll still be in our usual place at the usual time hearing about another important Human Rights cause – tomorrow – 5pm – QMU – Committee Room 1.
This Week’s Meeting
Much of tomorrow is going to be us laying the final few plans for Saturday, but we’ll do our best to keep it as much like a normal meeting as possible.
– Debbie is going to give us a presentation about the IF campaign on human rights and poverty
– Siuan and Louise are going to be putting the final touches to the decorations for Saturday
– Elena and Me are going to sort out who wants to help out where on Saturday. There’s a lot of Mobdro Online TV setting up and clearing down we’re going to have to do on the day and the more help we can get the better for everyone.
GU Amnesty International takes over the QMU this Saturday
Amnesty International Scottish Student Conference: We’re delighted to bring you a day full of inspiration speakers and a fantastic opportunity to meet up with activists from all over Scotland. Starting at 10 we’ll have speakers on Scottish Gypsy Travellers, Falun Gong and guests from Amnesty International Scotland. The conference is on all day in Committee Room 1 so feel free to come any time. Secret Policeman’s Ball: Our pride and joy, the best comedy night on campus and the biggest student fundraiser in the UK. It kicks of at 7:30 pm in Qudos with tickets available on the door, but it could well be a sell out so I’d recommend getting yours early from the QMU Box Office or http://www.guamnesty.org.uk/tickets SPB After Party: We’re all going to head up to Jim’s after the comedy for a great night put on by GU Philanthrobeats and featuring some of the best DJ’s on campus. I’ll see you guys tomorrow, Martin
We’ve got another interesting week ahead of us, our main meeting is going to focus on Syria and we’re making a start on the table decorations for the Secret Policeman’s Ball. So if you want a varied and full session of human rights action, come along and meet us at our usual time a place Tomorrow – 5pm – QMU – Committee Room 1.
This Week’s Meeting:
Jana is gong to give us a presentation on the Syrian Civil War in a human rights context. It is the other end of the spectrum from what we heard last week about refugees and it’ll be a great opportunity to get an insight into the kind of conflicts that so many people flee.
Siuan is going to be organizing a group, getting stuck into the decorations for the SPB. We’re going to try to sort out candles based on the amnesty logo so if you’ve got any jam jars kicking around, please bring them along.
Nathan is going to go along to the QMU events committee to run our ideas for the after party past them, if any of you are keen to get involved in running club nights, this is a great opportunity.
Louise is going to be sorting out the PR rota and taking any tickets or money you guys have from the SPB.
Coming Up:
STAR are having Michael Collins from the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns along to give them some training on Wednesday. If any of you were inspired by our meeting last week this is a great opportunity to get some training.
On the 30th January – Glasgow Friends of Tibet are Screening ‘Dreaming of Lhasa’ (http://www.facebook.com/events/462818350444455/) which is a film about former polical prisoners in Tibet.
On the 31st Kate Allen, UK Amnesty International Director is giving a talk in the Wolfson Medical Building. Tickets are free but you need toregister ( http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5151251532/eorg) – fun bonus there are drinks afterwards.
The busiest day of GU Amnesty history 9th Feb: Scottish Student Conference – during the day Secret Policeman’s Ball – 7:30pm Secret Policeman’s Ball Afterparty – party o’clock (11:30pm)
by 
by 
by 
Watch our campaign video on YouTube.