Hope you’ve all had a good weekend! Those of us who ran the 5k on Saturday are alive a well (just about) and are still waiting for the last bits of sponsor money to come through- well done runners!

This week’s meeting

We’re having a film screening in the BOYD ORR this week in room 412, Level 4 at 5pm. There’ll be people standing in the foyer to direct you if you’re not sure where to go. Here’s

Hope you’ve all had a good weekend.  We’re back in Qudos, 5pm on Tuesday in the QMU!

This week’s meeting:

This week we’ll finish the gorgeous cut-out letters we started last week for our End Stoning campaign:
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=12139 and plan our action on campus together. We’ll also focus some more on women’s rights around the world.

Coming up:  

- The Big Fun Run: (http://www.bigfunrun.com/?glasgow&locations_id=61) on Saturday 29th October- THIS WEEKEND! We’re hoping that many of you will get your running/walking shoes on for this 5k event.  It costs £12 to enter (paid to the organisers on the day) and we’ve set up a Just Giving page for sponsorship money: www.justgiving.com/Amnestyglasgowbigfunrun

- Weekend away:  4th-6th Nov, Isle of Arran.  We’re going for two nights, arriving on the Friday to do our sponsored walk up Goat Fell on the Saturday, followed by dinner and wine!  On Sunday, people can leave in the morning or afternoon, but I personally will be leaving in the afternoon to leave time to head to the chocolate shop and the Cheese Experience! Price wise, accommodation will be £25 for the two nights, and return transport will be around £18. It’ll be a great fundraiser and a brilliant way to get to know each other more. An easy way to donate or for people to sponsor you is through our Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/Amnestyglasgowgoatfell.

- Hot-dog stand outside Cheesy Pop:  This is a fundraising idea we’ve wanted to try for a while- selling hot dogs outside Cheesy Pop (the QMU’s Friday club night) as people are leaving at the end.  Other societies have done this successfully and so we’re keen to give it a go, so will discuss it more in meetings.

- Protect the Human club night at Stereo, Thurs December 1st: Owen in the group is running a club night in aid of Amnesty- he spoke to us about it at last week’s meeting and is wanting volunteers to give up a couple of hours to PR the event around campus.  It will be a great night- dancing in aid of Amnesty!

- Christmas caroling:  We are determined to make this happen this year! Whether you can sing or not we’ll muddle through lots of carols in a public place and raise tons of money!

- The Secret Policeman’s Ball is confirmed for Saturday 4th February in Qudos- very exciting!  Billy Kirkwood is confirmed as our compere and in the next couple of months we’ll get going on a big publicity drive- there’s lot’s to do!  This annual night of comedy has been more and more successful over the last couple of years, raising thousands of pounds for Amnesty, and we want to make this one the biggest yet!

- Please tell us if you’re keen to organise something, or have a fundraising or campaigning idea.

If you’ve not been to meetings so far, please come along- newcomers are always welcome. Our next meeting is in QUDOS at 5pm in the QMU.

See you on Tuesday at the meeting!

Catherine

After this week’s events- the execution of death row prisoner Troy Davis in Georgia, USA- we’re going to take a look at issues surrounding the death penalty, Amnesty’s work regarding this and take some action on behalf of individuals suffering as a consequence of its existence around the world.

It was great to see so many new (and old) faces last Tuesday, looking forward to meeting more of you tomorrow!

Secret Policeman's Ball Poster

Just a wee reminder that we’re meeting at 3pm outside the QMU today for operation Secret Policeman’s Ball posters!

My number is 07842094672 if any of you are running late and want us to wait

Thank you all very much for the help you’ve offered over the next few weeks, exciting times!

Megan

Just to inform everyone that the ‘Women’s Rights are Human Rights’ photo exhibition is now up and ready for viewing. It documents the extensive work carried out during Amnesty International UK’s six-year campaign, ‘Stop Violence Against Women.’

This campaign ended in 2010 but is by no means the end of Amnesty’s work on gender and women’s human rights. The exhibition celebrates the success and gives recognition to Amnesty supporters for their commitment and enthusiasm. It highlights that there is still much to be done on women’s human rights and achieving gender equality around the world, and that Amnesty will continue to work beyond the campaign.

The exhibition will be up in the University Chapel’s exhibition space until the 9th of December. Open every day, 9am-5pm, drop by at a time that suits you. Powerful and informative, this is well worth a visit.

Warm regards,
Megan.

Weekly updates in the land of GU Amnesty…

Short

• Tuesday 2nd Novembers meeting: Flash mob prep completion (please print off Troy Davis mask templates if you have not done so already)
• Tuesday 2nd November: Love is a human right dance party! Nice N Sleazy, £3, 11pm-3am ‘GET KRUNK FOR EQUALITY!’
• Wednesday 3rd November: Death Penalty flash mob (rescheduled date), weather permitting, 11am-2pm, Library Hill
• Saturday 6th November: AIUK’s Scottish regional conference, Scottish Trade Union Congress Building, 333 Woodlands Road, 10am-4.30pm, free/£5 if you want lunch, pre-booking necessary so let me know if you’re interested, (I’m definitely going so do join me )
• Friday 12th-Sunday 14th November: AIUK’s student conference, London, still places available but need to book so let me know ASAP.

Long

Tuesday’s meeting this week:

After the huge amounts of enthusiasm last week where we all ended up splashing lots of paint around we soon realised that props would not dry or anywhere near ready for a flash mob the next day so it was democratically decided to postpone the flash mob until this coming Wednesday the 3rd November and to use this Tuesday’s meeting to finish off our creations. Come along and help out as we prepare to petition for Troy Davis and his urgent case (http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11458).

And please print off your Troy Davis mask templates if you’ve not already by opening the attachment. Resources to make them into masks will be provided on Tuesday.

Tuesday 2nd November – LOVE IS A HUMAN RIGHT DANCE PARTY

What better way to spend your Tuesday evening than to go out have a few drinks, a wee boogie and a fun night with some friends than to also be doing it in the name of human rights? Raise some money for Amnesty and show some awareness about equal rights for the gay, lesbian and transgender community.

And if that wasn’t enough to tempt you then we’re going to have pre-drinks at myself and Jens flat to use this chance for some Amnesty socialising and chat. Everyone is welcome, 9pm, we’ll then all head to Nice N Sleazy together as it’s not too far away! My number is 07842094672 if you want to get in touch and I’ll let you know where to find us!

Wednesday 3rd November – Troy Davis Flash Mob

Again, details will be arranged on Tuesday but the general idea is to commune for a 2 minute demonstration on the hour of 11am, 12pm and 1pm. That way we’ll catch the rush and everyone can come along even if you have a lecture. Then we’ll use a rota system to gather petition signatures through the remaining time. It’s going to be highly visual and so will hopefully have a high impact and result in lots of signatures!

Troy Davis Mask Template

Saturday 6th November – AIUK Regional Conference

Amnesty staff and volunteers hold a range of conferences around the UK across the year, offering a great way to meet other active supporters, share your interests and passion for human rights, and to learn more about Amnesty’s campaigning work. This year the conference is to be held in our very own West End and running from 10am-4.30pm this Saturday it’s too handy to miss! If you’d like to come along just let me know and I’ll book us in a few places.

Friday 12th-Sunday 14th November – AIUK National Student Conference

This years Amnesty UK’s student conference will be in the Human Rights Action Centre in London. We have 11 places to send people down so i will ask that if you’re interested please e-mail me back and we’ll arrange places.

The weekend will allow you to hear inspirational speakers discuss and debate today’s human rights issues, learn new skills, take action, vote and meet Amnesty students from across the UK. I highly recommend it, it’s always a great weekend! (http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11635)

Conference places cost £20 per person, which includes:

• Crashpad accommodation – bring bedding to make yourself comfortable (e.g. sleeping bag, mat)
• All food for the weekend, from an evening meal on Friday through to a packed lunch on Sunday
• Entry to the social events on Friday and Saturday evening
• Transport between the conference centre and crashpad

Of course there will then also be the cost of travelling to London, by which means of transport can be decided. We will be able to apply for some funding from the SRC but it will involve presenting receipts so anyone wanting to go will need to be able to pay upfront in order to reclaim costs back. Not sure how much they will offer us either but if trains are booked early or people are up for mega busing it then travel needn’t be expensive!

Thank you!Troy Davis Mask

• Monday 25th October, Protect the Human gig night, The 13th Note, 8.30pm, £3.50 (for directions and travel arrangements see below).
• Tuesday 26th October, meeting, committee room 1, QMU, 5pm. Troy Davis and the death penalty flash mob preparation. Please print off Troy Davis mask by opening the attachment.
• Wednesday 27th October, 11am-2pm, Flash Mob and signature collecting.
• AIUK Student Conference, 12th-14th November, London.

Protect The Human!

Troy Davis Mask Template

• Crashpad accommodation – bring bedding to make yourself comfortable (e.g. sleeping bag, mat)
• All food for the weekend, from an evening meal on Friday through to a packed lunch on Sunday
• Entry to the social events on Friday and Saturday evening
• Transport between the conference centre and crashpad

Of course there will then also be the cost of traveling to London, by which means of transport can be decided. We will be able to apply for some funding from the SRC but it will involve presenting receipts so anyone wanting to go will need to be able to pay upfront in order to reclaim costs back. Not sure how much they will offer us either but if trains are booked early or people are up for mega busing it then travel needn’t be expensive!

Last Chance To See – Douglas Adams

Family Matters/A Fine Balance-Rohinton Mistry

The Book Thief-Markus Zusak

A People’s Act of Love-James Meek

Journey By Moonlight-Antal Szerb

The Brief  Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao-Junot Díaz

The Mandarins-Simone de Beauvoir

Lustrum-Robert Harris

Pale Fire-Valdimir Nabokov

The Master and Margarita-Mikhail Bulgakov

The Eyre Affair-Jasper Fforde

Knockemstiff-Donald Ray Pollock

If anybody has anything to add to the list then let me know.

inspiration

“I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom” – Bob Dylan.

“The human race is an unfair and stupid competition. A lot of the runners don’t even get decent sneakers or clean drinking water. Some people are born with a massive head start, every possible help along the way and still the referees seem to be on their side. It’s not surprising that some people have given up competing altogether and gone to sit in the grandstand, eat junk food and shout abuse. What we need is a lot more streakers.” – Banksy.

“Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.” – H.G. Wells.

“You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone, which can become a watered-down occasional hope that you’ll get to tomorrow. Intention without action is useless.” – Caroline Myss.