First Meeting Of 2013

Hey everybody,

I hope you’re back in the term time swing and ready for some Amnesty action. We’re having our first meeting back tomorrow at 5pm in QMU Committee Room 1. There is plenty planned for this term and lots to show off so if you’ve always meant to come along but not made the leap, this is the week to come!

Over the winter break we’ve been busy redoing our Facebook presence so make sure you like our new page at: facebook.com/guamnesty

We’re proud to announce that tickets for this year’s Secret Policeman’s Ball are on sale on our flash new website and will soon be coming to a QMU box office near you. There are two types to chose from – £5 for just the main event or £7 for the main event and our after party hosted by GU Philanthrobeats!

This Week:

The next few weeks are going to have a heavy SPB presence (it’s the biggest student fundraiser in the UK after all) but we’ll try to make sure we have as good a range as usual:

– I’m going to do a presentation on who we are at GU Amnesty and what we do – Siuan is going to start planning the decorations for the SPB – Louise is going to start planning the publicity for the SPB – Elena is going to do a letter writing action

Coming Up:

– Secret Policeman’s Ball & After Party – 9th February – a night of Scotland’s best stand up comedy followed by the best DJ talent on campus – Lecture by Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International, UK – 31st January – free tickets available here http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5151251532/eorg
– Secret Policeman’s Ball – 9th February

See you tomorrow,

Martin

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

It’s okay, you made it through the winter break with the presents and parties and all that nonsense – now you can just kick back and look forward to another term of GU Amnesty fun (and activism). Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait another week for a proper meeting though.

As dissertations deadlines loom and resolutions are struggled to be maintained, we figure we can all do with a week to get back into the term time flow. So next Tuesday we’ll be back as usual at Committee Room 1 at 5pm. There is plenty to do this term including the launch of our new website and Facebook Page, a weekend away at Action For Change, more action on Conflict Minerals much more and last but not least the Secret Policeman’s Ball!

You are also cordially invited to Jim’s Bar tomorrow at 8pm for a wee informal social.

Welcome back,

Martin

Last Meeting of 2012!

Hello all,

How are we? Good? Fantastic.

It’s our last weekly meeting of this term tomorrow. I, for one, am devastated. It has been a great term, we’ve made videos, we’ve made banners, we’ve baked and sold cakes, we’ve made tote bags, we’ve heard from some inspirational guests, we’ve watched films, we’ve even had a motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament! It’s been busy, it’s been productive and it’s been terrific. If you’re not coming along to the screening/ social tonight and I don’t see you before you go home – Merry Christmas. I’ll tell you happy New Year when we start back, as always at 5 pm first Tuesday of term in Committee Room 1 of the QMU.

This Week

This week’s meeting is a very chilled out affair. Tomorrow at 5pm we’re showing last year’s Secret Policeman’s Ball in the Williams Room of the John Mac and eating some popcorn and eating some bake sale treats. It was a really funny night and we’ve managed to edit the whole 4 hour extravaganza down to an hour and a bit of sheer gold. After it’s finished we’ll head down to Common Rooms where I’ve managed to blag some free food for us all.

Comedy, pub, food, free… all the boxes are ticked.

Coming Up

We’re hoping to a do a few week events during the exam period. Caroling was a big success last year and we have Human Rights Day during the exams so there are plenty of possibilities on the horizon. If we do plan anything we’ll be sure to let you know. Until then the big thing on the horizon is, as always:

– 9th February – Secret Policeman’s Ball

See you tomorrow,

Martin

SPB Screening and Student Conference

Hi everybody!

The Student Conference was fantastic; I would very highly recommend that you go next year if you can. This year’s was particularly fun though because it saw us presented with our Secret Policeman’s Ball’s second consecutive award for Best Fundraising Event! The trophy is enjoying a brief stay in my flat, but you guys will all get a shot of it at our usual meeting tomorrow at 5pm in Committee Room 1 of the QMU – before we give it to last years President and casualty of the 2012 SPB Catherine.

This Week’s Meeting

It’s the usual tapas style Amnesty meeting this week, we have:

– A presentation on Women’s Rights in Afghanistan to mark International Day for the Eradication of Violence against Women – Committee Room 2 will be decked out with our new graffiti style Conflict Free Glasgow out so that we can get our Conflict minerals campaign video filmed – The merchandise department (Jana) will be making a few Christmas cards and finishing off some tote bags – Nathan will be taking a table writing Christmas cards to prisoners of conscience

Coming Up

Next Week will be our last weekly meeting before the break and we will be having a screening of last year’s award winning Secret Policeman’s Ball in the Williams Room of the John McIntyre Building at 5pm. Come along for some laughs, popcorn and shortly thereafter a trip to the pub and some free food – http://www.facebook.com/events/246908938771566/

– 27th November SPB Screening and Christmas Party – 26th November Reclaim the Night March – 9th February Secret Policeman’s Ball

See you guys tomorrow,

Martin

Remembrance Sunday, Pub Quiz, and Coming Up

Hey gang,

Last night’s pub quiz was a rampant success. The turnout was impressive, the banner was fluid and the funds were raised. Over £160 went straight into the Raise off account just from last night – more than 24 university groups raised all last year! But even as we plan Nathan and I’s imminent break into the game show hosting industry, we have another full week ahead of us, starting as we always do at 5pm on Tuesday in Committee Room 1 of the QMU.

This Week’s Meeting:

We have, as always a good range of Amnesty fun lined up for you fine people this week:

– Yesterday was Rememberence Sunday, as I am sure you are all aware, to mark the occasion Nathan is going to give a presentation on Human Rights in the context of war. – Jana is hoping to have a table making Christmas Cards for us to add to our increasing merch range and also because Christmas is awesome. – Siuan and Ruth are going to be putting the final touches to the backdrop that we are going to use for the conflict minerals campaign video, which we will be (finally) filming next week – Cat is going to be finishing the main footage for her own video project on activism, we’re going to have a second room booked for this (we’re slowly just taking over the QMU) but it won’t start until after Nathan’s presentation

Coming Up:

We’ve unfortunately had to postpone the Dialectic Society event until next term. We just couldn’t get a suitable room booked in time, but we are all really keen to get this event off of the ground next term. Still, there is always plenty to look forward to on the horizon including:

– 16-18th November UK Student Conference – 21st November Dialectic Panel Dicsussion – 27th November SPB Screening and Christmas Party – 26th November Reclaim the Night March – 9th February Secret Policeman’s Ball

Thanks for coming last night guys and see you tomorrow,

Martin

Pub Quiz and Student Conference

Hey everyone,

Pub Quiz

Me and Nathan are just putting the final touches on tomorrow’s quiz. It is really shaping up to be a great night, I know we’ve not done a lot to promote it but it just means you guys have to bring even more of your friends along. It’s at 7:30pm tomorrow in Jim’s Bar of the QMU. Entry is £3.

http://www.facebook.com/events/399130753492257/

Student Conference

The Student Conference is next weekend and we need someone to go down to accept an award on behalf of the group. I want you to be that person. Yes, you. Specifically YOU.

These away trips with Amnesty are fantastic. Everyone who has been to one has they same thing to say about them – they are an amazing expereince where you meet other Amnesty activists from all over the UK and make some really amazing friends. I cannot recommend that you go enough. Everyone on the committee has either work, parents visiting, deadlines or dissertation deadlines looming this weekend. It’s just fallen at the wrong time for any of us to go down.

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11635

The group is now willing to pay someone’s registration fee for the conference, meaning all you need to pay for is transport down to London and back. Accommodation, food, everything else is all going to be paid for you. If no one else wants to go I am going to go down (and have a great time while I’m down there but), it will mean a very big strain on my time before a major dissertation deadline.

See you guys tomorrow at the Pub Quiz,

Martin

Live From The Field

Hey everybody,

A busy week this is. Starts off with the fireworks of a guest speaker and ends with the bang of the Pub Quiz on Sunday. Then next Tuesday we’ll be back to our usual place in Committee Room 1 at 5pm.

This Week’s Meeting – Adam Smith Room 711

We have a special treat for you this week. In stead of our usual meeting we are having Yuyu Williams along to give us a presentation on Organ Harvesting in China. She came along to our group a few years ago and everyone who was there found her very moving. So we’ll be in the Adam Smith Building in Room 711. It’s the concrete building between the QMU and the Library in case you’re not sure. We’ll have people on the doors to direct you up once you’re there.

Bake Sale

On Wednesday from 10am we’re having a bake sale towards the raise off. The last one was a real success (raising over £50!) but Jana is hoping we can do even better this week. So if you can bake or if you can purchase baked goods and want to donate something, please bring it along tomorrow or meet on library hill from 10am on Wednesday!

Pub Quiz

The pub quiz is being eagerly prepared for Sunday. It should be a fun night with plenty of chances for you all to show off your trivial knowledge. We’re even going to have an Amnesty Round. So invite your friends and join us at Jim’s Bar in the QMU at 8pm on Sunday. It’s £3 entry and all the money is going towards the Raise Off.

Coming Up

– 11th November Pub Quiz – 16-18th November UK Student Conference – 21st November Dialectic Panel Dicsussion – 27th November SPB Screening and Christmas Party – Reclaim the Night March – Monday 28th November

– 9th February Secret Policeman’s Ball

See you bright sparks tomorrow,

Martin

Live From The Field

Friends, Students, Activists,

Here we go again for another week of GU Amnesty fun. We’re back in our usual time and place, Tuesday 5pm in QMU Committee Room 1, and we’ve got a typically full and diverse meeting planned.

After seeing ‘Blood in the Mobile’ last week I know I’m feeling a bit more informed on conflict minerals and raring to go with it. Just as I’m writing this we’ve gotten a reply ffrom one of our Freedom of Information Requests. Updates will follow at tomorrow’s meeting.

This Week’s Meeting

It’s a veritable smorgasbord of a meeting this week:

– I’ll be doing a presentation on Forced Evictions. It’s related to the Roma Rights issue of a few weeks ago but in a more global context. – Louise, eager for your poster competition entries, will be doing a poster brainstorming session. – Robert and Cat will be doing some filming for Cat’s activist video – Ruth and Siuan will be making a backdrop for our Conflict Minerals campaign video

And last but not least – We’ll be pulling names out of a hat for who want to go collect our Raise-Off Award at the student conference in London.

Coming Up:

– 6th November – Guest Speaker at main meeting – Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China – 7th November Glasgow Human Rights Group Talk – 11th or 18th November – Pub Quiz in Jim’s Bar – 16-18th November UK Student Conference – 21st November Dialectic Panel Dicsussion – 27th November SPB Screening and Christmas Party

– 9th February Secret Policeman’s Ball!

I’ll see you guys tomorrow,

Martin

Newsletter – Week Beginning 22 October 2012

Hey everybody,

It’s with a heavy heart I have to tell you I won’t be coming to the meeting tomorrow, I’m away on holiday. Don’t fear though, I’ll be back next week. In the mean time you guys are being left in the capable hands of our own Elena.

This Week’s Meeting

We’re changing up the format this week and screening ‘Blood on the Mobile’. It shows the connection between our phones and the civil war in the Congo. Director Frank Poulsen travels to DR Congo to see the illegal mine industry with his own eyes. He gets access to Congo’s largest tin-mine, which is being controlled by different armed groups. It comes highly recommended by the Conflict Free Campus Campaign and our own Ruth.

It’s at our usual time of Tuesday at 5pm, but we’ll be in the luxurious surroundings of Boyd Orr Room 412.

Coming Up

– Our Dialectic Society event is on 21st November, if any of you guys have any contact with groups interested in Consumer Ethics, give us a shout.
– On Wednesday we’re having a bake sale on Library Hill. Jana will give you details tomorrow
– Our Poster Competition for the Secret Policeman’s Ball is now live. If you guys have ideas for a poster send them to publicity@guamnesty.org,uk for your chance to get 2 free tickets!
– We are having a screening of the 2012 SPB in the Williams Room on the Tuesday of Week 11

See you guys next week!

Martin

Newsletter – Week Beginning 15 October 2012

Hey everybody,

We’ve got a slightly less busy line up this week. Obviously we’re still going to be in* QMU Committee Room 1* at* 5pm* on *Tuesday* for our usual meeting, but other than that there’s not too much planned. Btw, I’m writing to you from our shiny new email address, which we’ve got just before our website gets a revamp. So if you just can’t get enough GU Amnesty, checkout *guamnesty.org.uk* over the next few weeks while we get some more fun (and human rights related) content up.

*This Week’s Meeting:*

Although we’re going to be keeping up our Conflict Free Campus campaign, we’re also going to be looking at other things this week. It’s good to keep it fresh so we’ll be doing a pretty broad range:

– I’ll be talking about* Roma Rights* (against one of the few surviving forms of socially acceptable racism) and there will be a campaign action on that – *Siuan, Jana *and* Louise* are going to be making some *GU Amnesty merch* that we’re going to sell for the student raise off – *Ruth, Cat *and* Robert* are going to be working on the Conflict Free Campus *campaign video* and hopefully get some actual filming done

*Coming Up:*

– We are currently planning an event with the *Dialectic Society* on ethical products/consumerism for the *21st Novermber*. If you know any groups that might want to come along (enviromentalists, vegan groups, fair trade groups) please get in touch with us – *Bake sale next week*. Jana is keen to have our first old fashioned bake sale of the year and it looks like it’ll be next *Wednesday*. So if you enjoy *cake* or general bakery foodstuffs, give her your chat. – We are also planing a *pub quiz funraiser* in the *near future*. Me and Nathan are writing it so it’s porbs best to start reading up on * Twilight* and *Scottish football trivia*

See you tomorrow,

Martin