Amnesty Medway Minutes December 9th 2013

AMNESTY MEDWAY GROUP MINUTES DECEMBER 9TH 2013
Present: Mary Smith, Carol Gravestock, Annie Skelton, Duncan Mcgruffog, Rosemary Osgood, Joan Wade
Apologies: Ted Wilcox, Ian Gray
Correspondence: Current Members have been contacted with One Action to do and their details have been updated where necessary.
Rosemary informed the group of the upcoming Panorama programme on the 10th Dec – which looks at charities (Amnesty to be featured)
Another reminder of the South East Conference is in Dorking on the 22nd February if anyone wishes to go.
E-mail received from co-ordinator from East Africa region – Rosemary to inform them we do not do actions for this area
Treasurer/Fundraising
e-mail from Ian – total is £ 581
Discussion on suggestion from Ian to approach schools and offer some finance (in relation to human rights) – overall group not keen but can be discussed further
Group agreed £100 to be sent to Amnesty
Mary mentioned that the Xmas card order was still to pay – Ian will action as per usual
Report on Caps None
Report on Action File
Duncan has now revised letter to be sent on behalf of Dr Tun Aung (Burma) and he will bring to January meeting
Action from AIUK
This month’s action was Russia – Stop the Crackdown – this is in relation to laws with severely limit freedom of assembly, restrict freedom of association, stigmatise the LTBTI community, and criminalise insulting the feelings of believers – as part of Write for Rights our group will be sending cards to the Bolotnaya Three jailed for protesting and are currently held in custody. See website if you wish to do more for this campaign.
Any other Business
Carol and Joan had attended St Margarets Church in Rainham in order to get Write for Rights card signed
The January meeting will be a planning meeting for the current year – and we hope to have a speaker on Burma in February.
Date of next meeting 13th January 2014 at 8.pm - Happy New Year – please continue to support us