Minutes of Amnesty International Medway Group October 8^th 2012.

Present: Mary Smith, Ted Wilcox, Rosemary Osgood, Ian Gray, Annie Skelton

Welcome New Member Duncan McGuffog

Apologies for absence:  None

Correspondence:

Mary has a copy of CVS news (at home) Amnesty Catalogues were distributed and Mary will order by beginning of November 2012 (orders to Mary please for Christmas cards and goods) Rosemary had copies of Group news and also gave an update on Campaigns

South East Conference will take place in Canterbury on the 23^rd of February 2013 hosted by the Canterbury Group. – Anyone interested in going please let us know

Rosemary has had lots of e mails regarding changes at Amnesty Head Office and action re staff reductions. This is all available on the Amnesty International Website or Rosemary has paper information

Treasurers Report and Fundraising

Ian reported we have £ 388 in the account and discussion on releasing some of the money to Amnesty.

Report on Country Wide Action Plans

Ted had nothing to report on West Africa, nor South Asia at this time

Poverty and Human Rights Campaign

Rosemary has two actions  One is to Italy re discrimination against Roma people, and the other is enforced evictions in Kenya – Ted will send names for paper postal copies and Rosemary will scan for people on e-mail.   Rosemary to Action

Report on Death Penalty Actions

The Sept Action File had been about Reggie Clemons in the USA where Mary got outside people to sign petition (too few at the meeting)   The petition was also signed at the Fresher’ fair and sent off

Report on Action File

This is the case of Hakamada Iwao who has spent 46 years in detention – and is believed to be the world’s longest serving death row inmate - confession extracted under duress. The action calls for the Japanese authorities to stop the execution and to introduce a moratorium on the Death Penalty. Group members will write to The Prime Minister and Senior Vice Minister plus copies to Japan Ambassador in London.

Any other business

Fresher’s fair voluntary day was attended by Rosemary and Mary - where we spoke to quite a few students.  There will be another day in February (date to be confirmed)

Dickens White Christmas Fair. Rochester Cathedral – Christmas stall  - December 1^st Sat from 10am  Annie and Duncan offered to help with this

Armistice Service St Mary Magdalene Parish Church Gillingham November 11^th  opportunity to sell Christmas Cards and other goods.  Action Mary

Rosemary has written to quite a few supermarkets but has had no reponse as yet.  This is to raise our profile and fund raise.  Action in the New Year

Rosemary will order Write for Rights packs - group will meet at member’s house to sign cards etc. – information regarding packs is on the website Action November

Date of next Meeting:  12^th November 2012