Weekly Action and News 11/10/2024
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do this action and make a difference
The human rights violations taking place in Gaza have long been at catastrophic levels. Despite knowing this, the UK still hasn’t suspended all transfers of arms to Israel. Stopping some arms transfers isn’t enough. There should be no loopholes and no UK arms to Israel. The recent escalation in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, only makes it more urgent that all states, including the UK government, immediately halt arms transfers and other forms of military assistance to Israel and, where applicable, to Hezbollah.
Amnesty have prepared an email which you can send to your MP calling for an immediate halt to all transfer of weapons to Israel, and asking them to do all they can to champion human rights as set out in international law and covenants. You can access this email by clicking the link below, and then can either send it as it is, or edit it to make your own points. Even if you have emailed your MP before, it is worth emailing again so that they know the strength of feeling in the country.
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL
Silent vigil calling for a permanent ceasefire
and the protection of all civilians in Palestine and Israel.
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 11th October, 5-6pm.
Please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages. Feel free to bring your friends.
Please join us at 4pm in the Central Library café for drinks to mark one year of silent vigils.
Our October group meeting will take place online on Monday 14th October at 7pm. The main business of the meeting will be to discuss our responses to the AIUK survey of local groups, as well as discussing whether we want to make any changes to the way that we run our group. Please see the attached document for the questions that we would like to consider and discuss. There will also be updates on our campaigning work. All are welcome to attend, including new members. A zoom link will be sent to all members prior to the meeting.
Calling all Facebook fans!
We need a volunteer to help administer our Facebook group page.
Please let alison.wearden@gmail.com know if you are interested!
Is anyone available to help Anne
run a Write for Rights stall on Saturday 2nd November from 9:30-12 noon,
at St. Paul’s church in Heaton Moor?
If so, please contact Anne anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Amnesty North West Regional Conference, Action for Human Rights
10-4pm, Saturday, 23rd November. Registration is now open!
at the Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester, M2 1NL.
Topics covered will include anti-racism, anti-death penalty, craftivism, the human rights implications of face recognition technology, and more! There will be displays about the activities of local groups and a discussion of how we can develop our work in the North West.
All welcome. Book your place here.
Action for Human Rights (wegottickets.com)
Non-Amnesty events and actions
Rethink Rebuild Society is pleased to invite you to the screening of
Prayers for the Stolen (in Spanish, with English subtitles)
A film about life in the time of war, as seen through the eyes of three young girls.
Followed by an open discussion. You are requested not to bring children under the age of 15.
Wednesday 23rd October 2024, 7pm-9:30pm. Please arrive promptly.
Rethink Rebuild Society, First Floor, Discovery House, Manchester, SK4 5BH
Book your tickets (£1.79-£10.00) here
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and other organisations
Stop Israel’s Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza! Hands off the Middle East.
Demonstration, Saturday, 12th October, 12noon, St. Peter’s Square.
Whalley Range Peace and Justice Stand with Palestine
Each Wednesday 4.30-5.30 at Brooks Bar M16 7RN
Please support these events, but don’t take Amnesty banners.
Strings of Solidarity: An Evening of Folk Music for FALASTIN (Palestine), food available (vegan)
Saturday, November 16th, Doors open 7pm | Programme: 7.30pm – 10pm
Friezland Church Hall, Church Road, Greenfield, OL3 7LQ
£12/£20 In aid of Saddleworth Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund. More information here.
Good news
United States of America / United Kingdom - Following its hearing, on October 2, 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe designated Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, as a "political prisoner". Although the ruling came after Assange had been freed, the Court asked the US and UK governments to respond to some of the points raised during the hearing, raising the possibility that the ruling could have more general implications.
European Union / Afghanistan - On October 4, 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that all Afghan women can obtain asylum on the basis of "their gender and nationality" alone, due to the discrimination exercised against them by the Taliban. The ruling arose from an appeal filed by two Afghan women against Austria, whose government had refused to recognize them as political refugees.
Manchester Amnesty issue and campaign coordinators
Anti-racism –Hazel Errey hazelerrey@gmail.com
Craftivism – Lima Al-Iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com
Europe/ Turkey Fatih Segmen - fsegmen@yahoo.com
Human Rights in the UK volunteer needed
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins and Write for Rights in Nov/Dec) – Anne Walker and Sara Baptista anne.walker9@ntlworld.com, sarabm6@gmail.com
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com & Danny Jones dannyj644@gmail.comsu
Refugees Whatsapp group – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Our website Manchester | Amnesty International UK [amnesty.org.uk] (managed by Alison Wearden)
X/Twitter @amnestymanc [twitter.com] (managed by Steve Lindsay – stevenjameslindsay@gmail.com)
Facebook Manchester Amnesty Group [facebook.com]
Instagram @amnestymanchester [instagram.com] (managed by Sara Baptista - sarabm6@gmail.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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