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This month's Draft Letter

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

   Bromley & Orpington Group

 November 2009 Newsletter

 

 

 

Campaign Roundup

Patrick gave us an update on Terrorism, Security & Human Rights. The Obama administration has set January 2010 as the deadline for closing Guantanamo Bay, and there has been some progress with 75 of the remaining 223 detainees released. A revision team is looking at each case to determine whether they should be sent for military trial or released. None will be allowed to settle in the US. We were delighted that a group of Uighur detainees were included, and have been allowed to re-locate to the Pacific island of Palau. Despite this progress, Bagram camp in Afghanistan where prison abuse has been reported, is still fully operational and a “legal black hole”. Trial by Military Commission is to continue under Obama and so the first few months of the new administration has been one of mixed messages. We signed a further letter to the Foreign Secretary urging the UK Government to ratify the UN Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances; please sign the online petition at www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=622.

Part of the Dignity Campaign is calling on oil giant Shell to redress its cata-strophic human rights impact in the Niger Delta by remediating pollution  and ending gas flaring. Across the globe, Amnesty activists have held “Shell Hell” actions outside petrol stations to draw attention to the plight of communities in the Delta and the effect on their lives and livelihoods. We also signed cards against forced evictions in Kenya, ending discrimination in maternal care in Peru, and supporting land rights among indigenous communities in Canada. Please sign the e-card at www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=508#action

Death Penalty – Happy Birthday Troy Davis!

Troy Davis has been on death row in Georgia, USA for 18 years having been convicted solely on witness testimony, yet seven of the nine testimonies have since been withdrawn or changed. Davis has maintained his innocence throughout, and yet, on circumstantial evidence, the Georgian authorities are determined to execute him. After facing three execution dates in two years, the Supreme Court has now allowed a further “evidential” appeal, and the chance to prove his innocence – Amnesty believes this is probably his final chance. Urgent appeals can be sent from the Amnesty USA website by logging on to:

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=12970  

 

Stop Press: we are delighted to confirm that we have secured a Bromley Little Theatre charity preview next year of “Heroes”, which will take place in September 2010.  

Amnesty Meeting Dates 2010

Enclosed with this mailing is a schedule of our 2010 meeting dates. We will continue to meet on the second Tuesday of every month (except October when we meet on the first Tuesday) from 7.30pm to about 9.30pm – details below. Everyone is most welcome to attend meetings – if you need a lift, please get in touch.

Our friends in the Croydon Group are holding a powerful theatrical benefit for Amnesty on Sunday 15^th November at 8pm, courtesy of Iceland Fire theatre group, who will be presenting their well regarded performance of the Asylum Monologues - an account of the UK’s asylum system in the words of people who have experienced it. The performance takes place at the Warehouse Theatre, Dingwall Road, (adjacent to East Croydon Station) and is free although places must be booked in advance. Contact rachel.lindley@googlemail.com to reserve tickets, or telephone 020 8680 7911.

We would like to thank everyone who helped to make the Sevenoaks Sponsored Walk on 2oth September such a success. We were blessed with outstanding weather and it was, once again, a hugely enjoyable occasion. We look forward to discovering the final result later this year when all the monies are collected in. A special thanks to Ted for being our nominated walker this year! 

 

 

Present on 6^th October: Neville White, Janice Davis, Joan Williams, Pat Easthaugh, Gladys Edmonds, Eleanor Ivens, Ted Burke, Margaret Coppard, Patrick Nield, Pamela Smith, Vivien Glanz, Wendy Simmonds, Patsy Paine, Waltraut Gilchrist, Rene Eastwood and Zoe Fishel. Apologies: David Howkins, Shirley Henderson, Eve Fisher, Mark Gill, Rachel Pascual, Reg Walters.

 

Meetings are held in the Wesley Room, Orpington Methodist Church, Sevenoaks Road, Orpington commencing at 7.30pm. E-mail aibromley@btinternet.com  website: www.aibromley.freeuk.com/