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by megiana

Latest News

November 10, 2010 in information, news by megiana

Hello you GU Amnesty folk,

Tuesday 9th November: 5pm-6pm, committee room 1, QMU, Guest Speaker, Yu Yu Williamson, “China’s organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners” http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173170119360656&index=1

New Facebook group: Lots of you said facebook wasn’t working so we have a sparkling new group: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_129754327078051

THANK YOU: Firstly to everyone who came along to Tuesday’s “Love is a human right club night”. The takings are still to be counted but the night was packed out with people having fun, dancing away, and showing interest in the cause, a great success! Special thank you to Catriona Reilly for all her hard work compiling the evening.

Secondly, a huge thank you to all who helped create flash mob props, and then to all those who came along on Friday standing out in the freezing cold to collect signatures. We collected many many signatures so well done all! (Check out the photos on the new FB group!)

Green Light

Sunday 21st November: Amnesty Funternational: 8pm, Jims bar, £3. A night full of all your childhood favourites, games, crazes, music and sweets! Either come along or if you’d like to be involved in the organising of it contact Claire Rooney or Keleigh Morrison either through this e-mail address or on Tuesday evening!

Photos From Death Penalty Flash Mob

November 10, 2010 in photos by Rob Hallam

Thanks to Claudia for the photos!

by megiana

Flash Mob Finalised Plans

November 4, 2010 in actions, events by megiana

Hello everyone!

So, after deciding last night that we would postpone the flash mob again because of the forecast rain, it’s (typically!) not rained at all today!

Never mind, Flash mob this Friday 5th November, 11am-2pm. Forecast is for dry weather so let’s all cross our fingers and toes and go implement all the hard work we’ve put in over the past few weeks making props and getting prepared! I for one will be there no matter what, i promise, promise Friday is the day!

This e-mail is a plea for folk to let me know when they’re available on Friday so i can draw up a wee rota.

The Plan:

On the hours of 11am,12pm and 1pm as many of us as possible will commune on the library hill to flash mob for a 2 minute period with our masks/banners and traffic lights set up.

Those who then have lectures within the main hour can head off and those who are free for half an hour slots can stay around collecting petition signatures.

Be great if there’s quite a lot of us for the 2 minute stints as we’ll make a much larger impact!

So pop me a line, saying whether you’re free on the hour for 2 mins and then in the time slots of:

  • 10.30am, QMU, to help collect the traffic lights and set them up in time for the first mob.
  • 11am-11.30am
  • 11.30am-12pm
  • 12.30pm-1pm
  • 1pm-1.30pm
  • 1.30pm-2pm.

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by megiana

Updates For Week 7

October 31, 2010 in events, information, main by megiana

Hello,

Weekly updates in the land of GU Amnesty…

Short

  • Tuesday 2nd Novembers meeting: Flash mob prep completion (please print off Troy Davis mask templates if you have not done so already)
  • Tuesday 2nd November: Love is a human right dance party! Nice N Sleazy, £3, 11pm-3am ‘GET KRUNK FOR EQUALITY!’
  • Wednesday 3rd November: Death Penalty flash mob (rescheduled date), weather permitting, 11am-2pm, Library Hill
  • Saturday 6th November: AIUK’s Scottish regional conference, Scottish Trade Union Congress Building, 333 Woodlands Road, 10am-4.30pm, free/£5 if you want lunch, pre-booking necessary so let me know if you’re interested, (I’m definitely going so do join me :))
  • Friday 12th-Sunday 14th November: AIUK’s student conference, London, still places available but need to book so let me know ASAP.

Long

Tuesday’s meeting this week:

After the huge amounts of enthusiasm last week where we all ended up splashing lots of paint around we soon realised that props would not dry or anywhere near ready for a flash mob the next day so it was democratically decided to postpone the flash mob until this coming Wednesday the 3rd November and to use this Tuesday’s meeting to finish off our creations. Come along and help out as we prepare to petition for Troy Davis and his urgent case (http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11458).

And please print off your Troy Davis mask templates if you’ve not already by opening the attachment. Resources to make them into masks will be provided on Tuesday.

Love Is A Human Right!Tuesday 2nd November – LOVE IS A HUMAN RIGHT DANCE PARTY

What better way to spend your Tuesday evening than to go out have a few drinks, a wee boogie and a fun night with some friends than to also be doing it in the name of human rights? Raise some money for Amnesty and show some awareness about equal rights for the gay, lesbian and transgender community.

And if that wasn’t enough to tempt you then we’re going to have pre-drinks at myself and Jens flat to use this chance for some Amnesty socialising and chat. Everyone is welcome, 9pm, we’ll then all head to Nice N Sleazy together as it’s not too far away! My number is 07842094672 if you want to get in touch and I’ll let you know where to find us!

Wednesday 3rd November – Troy Davis Flash Mob

Again, details will be arranged on Tuesday but the general idea is to commune for a 2 minute demonstration on the hour of 11am, 12pm and 1pm. That way we’ll catch the rush and everyone can come along even if you have a lecture. Then we’ll use a rota system to gather petition signatures through the remaining time. It’s going to be highly visual and so will hopefully have a high impact and result in lots of signatures!

Saturday 6th November – AIUK Regional Conference

Amnesty staff and volunteers hold a range of conferences around the UK across the year, offering a great way to meet other active supporters, share your interests and passion for human rights, and to learn more about Amnesty’s campaigning work. This year the conference is to be held in our very own West End and running from 10am-4.30pm this Saturday it’s too handy to miss! If you’d like to come along just let me know and I’ll book us in a few places.

Friday 12th-Sunday 14th November – AIUK National Student Conference

This years Amnesty UK’s student conference will be in the Human Rights Action Centre in London. We have 11 places to send people down so i will ask that if you’re interested please e-mail me back and we’ll arrange places.

The weekend will allow you to hear inspirational speakers discuss and debate today’s human rights issues, learn new skills, take action, vote and meet Amnesty students from across the UK. I highly recommend it, it’s always a great weekend! (http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11635)

Conference places cost £20 per person, which includes:

  • Crashpad accommodation – bring bedding to make yourself comfortable (e.g. sleeping bag, mat)
  • All food for the weekend, from an evening meal on Friday through to a packed lunch on Sunday
  • Entry to the social events on Friday and Saturday evening
  • Transport between the conference centre and crashpad

Of course there will then also be the cost of travelling to London, by which means of transport can be decided. We will be able to apply for some funding from the SRC but it will involve presenting receipts so anyone wanting to go will need to be able to pay upfront in order to reclaim costs back. Not sure how much they will offer us either but if trains are booked early or people are up for mega busing it then travel needn’t be expensive! 🙂

Thank you!Troy Davis Mask

by megiana

Week 6 and Conference Info

October 25, 2010 in events, information, main, news by megiana

Hi everyone,
Week 6 in Brief:
  • Monday 25th October, Protect the Human gig night, The 13th Note, 8.30pm, £3.50 (for directions and travel arrangements see below).
  • Tuesday 26th October, meeting, committee room 1, QMU, 5pm. Troy Davis and the death penalty flash mob preparation. Please print off Troy Davis mask by opening the attachment.
  • Wednesday 27th October, 11am-2pm, Flash Mob and signature collecting.
  • AIUK Student Conference, 12th-14th November, London.
Itty Bitty Details:
Protect The Human

Protect The Human!

Protect The Human Gig (Monday 25th October)
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1552414063922#!/event.php?eid=155659441137836. Please invite everyone you know along to this promised to be awesome event! Music from Michael Timmons, Iona Bain, Overtone and Floor 16 it’s a night not to be missed! Tickets are £3.50 with all proceeds going to Amnesty International.
The 13th note can be found at 50-60 King St, Glasgow, G1 5QT, just down from Trongate. Check Google Maps.
If anyone fancies helping to decorate, a few of us will be heading there for 7.30pm. Either come along to the venue for then or if you wish to head down with me I’ll be at Kelvinbridge underground at 7pm and consequently at St Enoch underground at about 7.15pm. Anyone opting for that text me on 07842094672. Will be much appreciated!
Anyone else wanting to be directed, Jen will be leaving at 8pm from Kelvinbridge underground station (by the ticket machine as entrances get confusing) and thus also at St Enoch at 8.15pm. Anyone fancy that let me know also, 07842094672.
Otherwise hopefully see you all there!
Tuesday 26th Meeting
Following our recent death penalty campaign focus we shall be using Tuesdays meeting to prepare for a flash mob to take place the following day. Information on the campaign can be found at the following link: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11458.
We shall be making placards, banners, props etc. so if anyone has any cardboard boxes/card/crafty things in general please bring them along. Anyone who is free on Wednesday and up for taking part in the flashmob then please open the link and print off the Troy Davis face which we will then make into masks on Tuesday. The picture is colour but if we all just do black and white then we’ll be a unit.
Wednesday 27th Flash Mob
All the details shall be decided Tuesday so I shall send them out Tuesday evening so all can join in.
Student Conference
This years Amnesty UK’s student conference will be in the Human Rights Action Centre in London. We have 11 places to send people down so i will ask that if you’re interested please e-mail me back and we’ll arrange places.
The weekend will allow you to hear inspirational speakers discuss and debate today’s human rights issues, learn new skills, take action, vote and meet Amnesty students from across the UK. I highly recommend it, it’s always a great weekend!(http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11635)
Conference places cost £20 per person, which includes:
  • Crashpad accommodation – bring bedding to make yourself comfortable (e.g. sleeping bag, mat)
  • All food for the weekend, from an evening meal on Friday through to a packed lunch on Sunday
  • Entry to the social events on Friday and Saturday evening
  • Transport between the conference centre and crashpad
Of course there will then also be the cost of traveling to London, by which means of transport can be decided. We will be able to apply for some funding from the SRC but it will involve presenting receipts so anyone wanting to go will need to be able to pay upfront in order to reclaim costs back. Not sure how much they will offer us either but if trains are booked early or people are up for mega busing it then travel needn’t be expensive! 🙂
Finally, thank you very much everyone, and thank you for all your continued dedication to the group. A win for the letter-off and a cracking fundraising start with the Isle of Arran we’re well on the way to a successful year!

Book List

October 18, 2010 in main by Catriona

This is a list of recommended books compiled by the (brave) folk who hiked up the mountain this weekend.There’s no specific connection to human rights ,just a list of really good books. Enjoy!

Last Chance To See – Douglas Adams

Family Matters/A Fine Balance-Rohinton Mistry

The Book Thief-Markus Zusak

A People’s Act of Love-James Meek

Journey By Moonlight-Antal Szerb

The Brief  Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao-Junot Díaz

The Mandarins-Simone de Beauvoir

Lustrum-Robert Harris

Pale Fire-Valdimir Nabokov

The Master and Margarita-Mikhail Bulgakov

The Eyre Affair-Jasper Fforde

Knockemstiff-Donald Ray Pollock

If anybody has anything to add to the list then let me know.
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Guest Speaker On Tuesday

October 17, 2010 in information, We Like by Rob Hallam

House of Sharing

House of Sharing


Armando Rotondi will be speaking about the House of Sharing in Korea at our meeting on Tuesday 19th.

The House of Sharing is both a museum and home to former “Comfort Women” – survivors of sexual slavery at the hands of the Japanese military during the Asia-Pacific War (1932-1945). It is the world’s first human rights museum centred on the theme of sexual slavery. The museum opened on August 14th, 1998 to record Japanese war crimes, to restore the honor of the victims and to function as a place of historical education

Come along to learn more about this great project!

The image is a painting of a ‘comfort station’, you can see more paintings like this one and read about the the House of Sharing on their website: www.houseofsharing.org

by megiana

Cake Stall Now Outside Library!

October 11, 2010 in events, information by megiana

HUGE apologies for the lateness of this message but today’s (and indeed Wednesday’s) cake stall has been moved to outside the library.

CAKE STALL OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY TODAY

Sorry again and thank you!

Cakes!

Cakes!

by megiana

Letter Templates For the Letter-Off

October 11, 2010 in campaigns, information by megiana

These letters only require that you sign your name at the bottom with the exception of the second letter which also requires that you enter the name of your local mp which can be found on this website: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

These letters can be printed off multiple times and must be printed of as an individual letters and not as a block of six. Once you have printed them off and signed them ,either hand them in at a meeting or put them in the postbox in the John McIntyre building. If you wouldn’t mind donating a few print credits/printer ink it would make a big difference. There is also a prize for the person who collects the most letters so when you have collected them put the together in an envelope with your name marked on the front. PLEASE DO NOT ADDRESS THE LETTER TO THE SENDER

Read on for the templates!

PS Hand written letters means double points….

Read the rest of this entry →

by megiana

Updates (Week of October 10th)

October 11, 2010 in events, information by megiana

Hello all you good Amnesty folk,

I’m going to try and keep this nice and short..!

What ya’s need to know:

* Cake stall, Monday 11th and Wednesday 13th, 11-2, outside QMU.
* LETTERS – Glasgow vs. Edinburgh letter-off this week (WE MUST WIN!)
* Post box, Monday onwards, SRC building (John Mac) by the vending machines.
* Weekend away – 15th-17th www.justgiving.com/GU-Amnesty-International
* Tuesday 12th meeting – Letter writing, biscuits and a musical playlist.
* Tuesday 19th meeting – Armando Rotondi, The House of Sharing, guest speaker.
* Monday 25th October – Protect the human gig, 13th note, 8.30pm, £3.50.

Just a short version this week-more info on the gig night to come soon and those heading away i shall e-mail separately with all final details.

So I’ll just finish by saying please please get everyone you know to write letters, sign letters, come get cake, post letters into our box etc. Let’s go beat Edinburgh, good and proper!

Thanks,
GU Amnesty.