Weekly Action and News 02/12/2022
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
This week we have another action from the 2022 Write for Rights campaign. Dorgelesse Nguessan from Douala, Cameroon, is a hairdresser and the main breadwinner in her family. In September 2020, she joined a demonstration about the difficult living conditions in Cameroon – this was her first ever protest. Although the protest was peaceful, the security forces used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters and Dorgelesse ended up cornered in an alleyway. She was arrested, held in a cell with 22 other people, eventually charged with “insurrection” and sentenced to 5 years in prison. Please send her a message of solidarity and support and send an appeal letter to the President of Cameroon urging her release. You can find more details about Dorgelesse’s case and addresses for your cards and letters on page 7 of this year’s Write for Rights booklet or here. Or click the link below to send an email to the President right now. Or do all of these!
Write for Rights 2022
There are two remaining events in this year’s Write for Rights Campaign, which focuses on the right to protest. Protest is powerful, but this precious right is under attack globally from politicians, governments and regimes who fear change and accountability. The people featured have all been punished in some way for using their right to protest. You can find out more at https://www.amnesty.org.uk/write.
***TOMORROW***
We have our Amnesty Write for Rights stall at St Margaret’s church in Whalley Range Saturday December 3rd 2-5pm, at Whalley Range Peace and Justice Group’s 20th annual “Pen is Mightier than the Sword” event. There will be food, music, and the opportunity to buy merchandise in support of good causes.
The final group event this year is at our in-person December Group Meeting on Monday 12th December, 6 – 7.30pm (note the earlier start time!), at Central Library where you will be able to write your messages in good company with a mince pie in hand.
It is still not too late to organise your own Write for Rights session at work, church, at home with friends etc. We can provide materials, help, and support. Contact anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
And finally, if you can’t make any of these events or organise one yourself, please still take part at home by writing greetings cards with messages of support and appeal letters to the authorities.
Good news - both relating to past weekly actions…
Russia - On November 22, 2022, at the end of a court case that lasted three years partly spent under house arrest, the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Court of Appeal confirmed the acquittal of feminist artist Yulia Tsvetkova on charges of "spreading pornographic material", for creating positive illustrations of the female body.
Tanzania - On November 23, 2022, the charges of murder and incitement to murder against 24 members of the Maasai ethnic group arrested in June for peacefully protesting against the acquisition by the government of 1500 square kilometres of ancestral land and the consequent forced eviction of the communities residing there were dropped.
… and other good news
United States of America - On November 21, 2022, following yet another problem that emerged during an execution then suspended (ie the attempt, which lasted over an hour, to find a vein through which to enter the lethal injection), the governor of the state of Alabama announced the suspension of all executions.
South Korea - On November 24, 2022, the Supreme Court affirmed the rights of transgender people to dignity and happiness, stressing that they must be recognized by law according to their gender identity and have the same rights and legal obligations with respect to family life.
Manchester Amnesty Subgroups and other work
If you would like to join any of our subgroups, please contact the current convenors for joining details.
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher, bussk@btinternet.com
Anti-racism – Hazel Errey, hazelerrey@gmail.com,
Refugees – Alison Wearden, alison.wearden@gmail.com
HR in UK – Matthew Sherwood, m.j.sherwood@outlook.com
Craftivism - Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Other areas of work are led by:
Crisis and Tactical Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen Rebecca Shaw, r.h.shaw.7@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey, Fatih Segmen, fsegmen@yahoo.com
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
Individuals at Risk (quarterly letter writing) Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Alison Wearden
Communications Secretary
Manchester Group of Amnesty International
Please contact me with items for our Weekly Action and News email, or with ideas for longer articles for the quarterly Manchester Amnesty Group Bulletin.
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