November
meeting report In
the year which remembers the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery,
our November meeting about the trafficking of women in the UK was a
solemn reminder that for many people slavery is still a horrible reality.
Basing her talk on the recent Amnesty International report 'Under the
Covers' , we were privileged to have Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru Assembly
Member, to speak to us.
• 'Trafficking in human
beings' means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring
or receipt of people, by means of the threat or use of force or other
forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception,... for the
purpose of exploitation.
• In the UK, there is particular evidence of cases of trafficked
victims in sectors such as the hospitality and catering trade, domestic
labour, care sectors, agricultural and food processing sectors, construction
and prostitution
• It was shocking to learn that within Cardiff and Newport at
any one time there are 60 or 70 women from overseas forced to work in
prostitution, lured to the UK on the promise of work, easy to trap by
unscrupulous but very organised gangs, by their alone-ness and sometimes
lack of legal status.
October
meeting report Our
guest speaker in October
was Mike Lewis, Chief Executive of the Welsh
Refugee Council. He spoke of the organisation's work with assylum
seekers and refugees in Wales who face destitution, withdrawal of medical
treatment and deportation to unsafe countries once their applications
are rejected, In many cases this is because of a process that makes
it nearly impossible for many to comply.
The Group also marked the
International Day against the Death Penalty (10th October) by lighting
22 candles to signify the estimated 22 people executed in China every
day (reliable estimates put the annual total at over 8,000 people, more
than the rest of the world put together.
September
2007
September
meeting report Our first
meeting of the season got off to a good start with our guest speaker
Bernard O’Hear who Amnesty’s China coordinator. He gave
a very interesting talk on the human rights situation in China, which
leads the world in death sentences and executions. An estimated 300-400,000
are held in detention. The death penalty can be used for minor offences
and economic considerations drive the death penalty in China.
He also talked about:
• Fallon Gong;
• the one child policy which since 1979 has led to forced sterilisations
and abortions, as well as the killing of new born babies by "birth
control officials";
• the organ transplant industry - worth 10 million dollars annually.
Although the West appears
unwilling to criticize China because of the economic opportunities contact
with the country offers, Bernard felt public pressure would influence
the government and the Olympics offered an opportunity to do just that.
Amnesty's campaign will run
until after the Olympics and concentrate on 4 main areas
• death penalty;
• human rights defenders;
• freedom of expression;
• freedom of information.
Sponsored
Walk Thank
you to the (disappointingly) small band of walkers who ventured to the
Brecon Beacons this month for our annual sponsored walk.
We expect
to have raised over £400 and will look to ways to encourage more
walkers next year (any ideas are welcome!).
China
Campaign Our main campaign
over the next year will be to highlight the human rights abuses in China,
running up to the 2008 Olympic Games.
At our October meeting we
will be lighting 22 candles to signify the 22 people executed every
day in China - according to reliable estimates, up to 8,000 people every
year, more than the rest of the world’s executions put together.
We will be photographing
the event to send to the local press to publicise the International
Day against the Death Penalty on 10th October.
July
2007
September
9th - Sponsored Walk
After a disappointing turn-our for our poll (see below), the walk this
year will return to Pontiscill. Full details are available on the information
sheet which includes a sponsor form.
AGM
We are pleased to announce that Janice Foxley and Jenny Pickstone are
the new secretary and chair of the Group following the AGM. Many thanks
to Linda for her tireless work as secretary! Voirrey cThorstein continues
as treasurer.
June
2007
Sponsored
Walk
This year our annual sponsored walk will take place on 9th September.
Last year we raised over £1,000 and to encourage sponsors once
again we will be offering bottles of wine and other prizes to some lucky
sponsors who are picked out of the hat.
We would also like to throw
open the choice of walk to the members.
Option 1 - Cefn Onn Country
Park
The first option is a local walk, starting at Cefn Onn Country Park
near Thornhill. The 8 mile walk takes in views of Cardiff and varied
countryside through Caerphilly Common and Rudry.
Option 2 - Pontiscill
Reservoir
For those who fancy something further afield, this 9 mile walk starts
at the Pontiscill Reservoir with the spectacular backdrop of the Brecon
Beacons. The walk has no significant climbs and includes a stop for
lunch.
Option 3 - Ogmore or
Southerndown
We have walked both of the previous options in recent years so the third
option is something new, a coastal walk near the fabulous beaches of
Ogmore or Southerndown.
Vote now!
Please e-mail your vote by 30th June to amnesty.cardiff@btopenworld.com.
We will let everyone know in July where the walk will be taking place
and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
Sleep Out
There are hundreds if not thousands of people who have come to Wales
seeking sanctuary and are forced into destitution. Amnesty International
is involved with the Still Human Still Here campaign, and will be supporting
Sleep Outs across the UK to protest against government policies that
force people into abject poverty. The Sleep Out in Cardiff is on 6th
July. Please e-mail wales@amnesty.org.uk if you would like to be involved.
New Office - New
Team?
Amnesty Wales have moved to Temple Court, a former synagogue in Cathedral
Road. They are also about to advertise a new part-time position and
new volunteer positions - all of which will be on their website (www.amnesty.org.uk/wales).
Do keep checking if you are interested in working or volunteering for
Amnesty International.
e-zine
Make sure you sign up for the Wales members e-zine. e-mail sct@amnesty.org.uk
to ensure that you are getting the monthly update especially for Welsh
members.
April
2007
Trafficking
Amnesty Wales have been working on a report on human trafficking for
the sex trade in Wales, which gives a shocking insight into a fairly
widespread industry. They hope to publish this report in May, and will
then develop a campaign to ensure that victims of trafficking in Wales
receive better support.
Some of you
may also have read about the Slave Britain, the photographic exhibition
currently on view in St Pauls Cathedral. We are hoping to bring this
exhibition to Cardiff in May, in conjunction with the Church in Wales.
More details to follow.
Refugees
and Asylum Seekers
The focus in the run up to the elections has been on getting something
practical agreed by the parties to improve access to services for refugees
and asylum seekers, and you can see what has been achieved at www.keepawelcome.org.uk
Wales e-zine
Cathy and her team have recently published the first Wales version of
the members e-zine. Its an edited version of the e-zine that goes to
all members, with an update on specifically Wales-based events.
To sign up
join My Amnesty on the AIUK website (www.amnesty.org.uk), or e-mail
sct@amnesty.org.uk, and request that you receive the Wales e-zine. The
more members registered with e-mail addresses, the easier it will be
to contact people in Wales to support Wales-based campaigns and events.
Joan Baez Concert
We are delighted to report that Amnesty were invited to collect money
at a concert by Joan Baez in March and raised a staggering £669
just by shaking a few buckets!
In
the year which remembers the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery,
our November meeting about the trafficking of women in the UK was a
solemn reminder that for many people slavery is still a horrible reality.
Basing her talk on the recent Amnesty International report 'Under the
Covers' , we were privileged to have Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru Assembly
Member, to speak to us.
October
meeting report