Weekly Action and News 24/11/2023
Manchester Amnesty Weekly Action and News
Please do these actions and make a difference
X/Twitter users: On Monday 27th NOVEMBER, take part in an international social media campaign for human rights and the climate!
Amnesty International UK has been working with several hundred human rights organisations and environmental groups around the world to use the spotlight of COP28 in Dubai (which opens on 30th November) to highlight concerns about human rights in the UAE. One way they are doing this is via a worldwide social media campaign on MONDAY 27th NOVEMBER.
We are asking you to tweet about five UAE-related topics. For each topic, there is some material to help you to tweet, and a photo. We will also be tweeting about these topics from @AmnestyManc.
ON MONDAY 27TH NOVEMBER, click on the links below and use the material to do as many of the tweets as you can. Search for the AmnestyManc tweets and retweet. Please tweet and retweet as much as you can! You can also put the information on other social media channels.
UAE: LGBTQI+ RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS TWEET
UAE: WORKERS’ RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS TWEET
UAE: STOP VIOLATING WOMEN’S RIGHTS TWEET
UAE: STOP JAILING YOUR CRITICS TWEET
For those of you who don’t use X/Twitter: Please take action for Ahmed Mansoor, a human rights activist who has been in prison in the UAE, under appalling conditions, for over six years. Manchester Amnesty has been supporting Ahmed Mansoor during this time, and we are pleased that his case has been chosen as one of the 2023 Write for Rights cases. Click on the link below to sign a petition demanding his release.
***THIS EVENING*** MANCHESTER AMNESTY SILENT VIGIL
Sixth Silent vigil calling for a ceasefire
and the protection of civilians in Israel and Gaza
St Peters Square, Manchester, Friday 23rd November, 5pm to 6pm
Meet in front of Central Library (next to Father Christmas)
Look for the Manchester Amnesty yellow banner.
Please dress warmly, wear black/dark colours
and please do not bring placards, banners or flags.
We will provide placards with Amnesty’s messages and tealights.
Further actions on Gaza are listed under “Non-Amnesty events” below.
Write for Rights 2023
We have lots of Write for Rights events planned this year.
The next one is TOMORROW Saturday 25th November at Central Library when you can sit down to write messages of support and appeals on behalf of this year’s cases with a cup of something warm from the café. All Welcome! Feel free to drop in for as long or short as you like – we will be there from 2 – 4pm, adjacent to the café. Look out for our black and yellow banner.
We are also running stalls to encourage members of the public to take part in Write for Rights. We still need volunteers to help, at least 2 people per shift - preferably more. Can you help?
People’s History Museum
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th December
Stall shifts 11-12.30, 12.30-2 or 2-4
If you can help, email anne.walker9@ntlworld.com NOW,
indicating your preferred date and time.
Stall Volunteers needed!
You can find out more about Write for Rights and download the campaign booklet at
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/write-rights-2023-get-started
see also Whalley Range for Peace and Justice event below
The next Acoustic Amnesty fundraiser gig
will take place on Friday 8th December, 7.30 pm at our regular venue,
Sacred Trinity Church, Salford M3 7WQ (close to Manchester City Centre)
We will be raising funds for Amnesty and Safe Passage International https://www.safepassage.org.uk/
There will be 6 performers - Tom Blackwell, Clive Mellor and Mark Greer, Lucy Hope, Ian Daniel/Leslie poet, Robin Mukherjee and the Open Voice Choir.
Tickets available here
https://www.wegottickets.com/event/594143 [wegottickets.com]
Save the date: Wednesday 21st February, 2024.
Amnesty craft stall, People’s History Museum. Details to follow.
Non-Amnesty events
Thursday 30th November, 12:30, Media City, Salford,
Climate Justice Coalition COP28 Vigil:
“The world is watching, and the planet cannot wait”
A peaceful vigil with music, speeches, songs. Together, we can make a difference. All welcome.
Let’s send a message to world leaders that we’re watching and demanding change.
Let’s remind media institutions such as the BBC of their duty to report on climate matters and hold the oil and gas producers organising Cop28 in the UAE to account.
Assemble from 12.30 to start at 12.45 and finish at 13.45. Thursday 30th November.
Outside the BBC, MediaCity, Salford, M50 2EQ.
Whalley Range for Peace and Justice
Saturday 2nd December, St Margaret’s Church, Rufford Road, M16 8AE
The Pen is Mightier than the Sword #21 with Amnesty Write for Rights stall,
Beech band, Open Voice choir, Tibetan Kitchen food, drink and shopping.
Please see attached flyer
11th December, 9.30-5pm,
Methodist Central Hall, Oldham St, M1 1JQ.
Greater Manchester Together With Refugees Workshop
Open to anyone interested in campaigning as part of the Together With Refugees coalition.
Find out more and book your place here.
Good news
UK - On November 15, 2023, the Supreme Court declared the UK government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda unlawful, deeming Rwanda an unsafe and unsuitable country.
Italy - On 16 November 2023, the European Court of Human Rights sentenced Italy to pay compensation ranging from €8000 to €10,000 to four Sudanese citizens, who arrived in Italy in 2016 and are currently recognised as refugees. The four had been arbitrarily deprived of their liberty in a reception centre and forced to remain completely naked while waiting for their fingerprints to be taken, thus being subjected to degrading treatment.
France / Syria - On November 15, 2023, a French judge issued arrest warrants for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his brother Maher al-Assad and two other prominent state officials, for the use of chemical weapons against the city of Douma and the Eastern Ghouta region which, in August 2023, caused over 1000 deaths.
Iran - On November 18, 2023, Toomaj Salehi, one of Iran's most beloved rappers and composer of songs in support of protest movements, was released on bail. He was arrested in October 2022 and sentenced to six years and three months in prison. The judgment was later overturned by the Supreme Court.
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 Lancine Sacko - sacko10@hotmail.co.uk
Individuals at Risk (bi-monthly appeal writing drop ins) - Anne Walker anne.walker9@ntlworld.com
Manchester Central Library café, 2-4pm 4th Saturdays November, January, March, May, July
Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians - Mike Reed mikewreed101@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ and Pride coordinator – Zoe Song weiyi.zoe.song@gmail.com
Press freedom and Julian Assange – Lima Al-Iskalachi limazakoor@gmail.com
Refugees – Alison Wearden alison.wearden@gmail.com
UAE – Kathryn Fletcher bussk@btinternet.com
Our website Manchester | Amnesty International UK
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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