by Ruth February 7, 2014 in Human Rights News by Ruth
‘Love conquers hate.’ Always.
HRC Highlights Russia’s Anti-LGBT Law with Banner on National Headquarters | Human Rights Campaign.
by Rob Hallam February 6, 2014 in main, photos by Rob Hallam
Some photos of the fantastic banners being made!
by Rob Hallam February 5, 2014 in main, photos by Rob Hallam
These shots of the room were taken before the documentary, not after- otherwise the expressions would be quite different.
February 5, 2014 in Blog, information, main by Ellen MacAskill
What a great week for Scotland.
Even though it has been imminent been for some time now I cannot but be relieved, excited and proud that the last barrier has been broken. One of society’s most treasured institutions is becoming egalitarian. Finally. And with a record of 108 to 18 voting in favour, the decision was easy, without the MSPs being dictated by party whips. Scotland is the 17th country globally to fully legislate same-sex marriage, following England and Wales last year.
Also exciting is the amendment made to the first draft of the bill concerning trans couples. Last semester we had guest speaker Nathan Gale visit us from the Scottish Transgender Alliance. He spoke about how the proposed ‘spousal veto’ would stop people from having their gender confirmed off their own backs as a partner would have to confirm it for them. This breach of our basic autonomy was removed from the bill, making the bill fairer for the Ts as well as the LGBs.
You may also have noticed that the university are flying the rainbow flag on campus for the UK LGBT History Month. On Saturday GU LGBTQ+ celebrate this wonderful use for February with Queerfest. Check out their Facebook page for finalised details of the event and the afterparty.
Over in Russia, the future does not look so bright. The Sochi Winter Olympics kick off on Friday and activists and campaigners are being dealt with unfairly so Putin can avoid a scene. Pavel Lebedev was detained during the Olympic Torch relay for waving a rainbow flag. He is one of many who will be victimised for taking a stand. Last year legislation was passed which makes the promotion of ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations amongst minors’ punishable by law (Is that what they call it these days?). Homophobia is being further institutionalised when the opposite should have happened years ago.
A certain tension is hanging around the Winter Olympics as both sides of the ethical dispute wait to see what will unfold. We can only hope that Putin’s attitude can be recognised as an example of how not to use power.
Speaking of power: the internet. Isn’t it great sometimes? We love a petition here at Amnesty so naturally, we have jumped aboard the Change.org band-wagon. Following Coca Cola’s refusal to withdraw sponsorship from the Sochi games, despite much lobbying and deliberation, Dom conceived an idea for a petition to encourage them to symbolically repent. His brainchild asks Coca Cola to put a rainbow on their cans to represent the global LGBT community which they have ignored in their alliance with the Games.
The ‘Put a Rainbow On It’ petition has been a success, gaining more than 8000 signatures in a week. At the time of writing, the figure stands at 8,284. If your signature is not already on it, please add it and help us to reach 10,000. Below is a link (warning: refreshing the screen to watch the number grow can become addictive).
http://www.change.org/CokeRainbowFlag Â
We take one step forward and Russia takes two steps back. If we keep up the good work they will catch up one day.
by Rob Hallam February 5, 2014 in main, petitions, photos by Rob Hallam
Thanks to everyone who held the pink triangle for Lush’s Sign of Love photo petition! A quick description from Lush’s website:
We believe in love for everyone, between everyone. As part of our Sign of Love campaign, Lush are creating photo petition books which we will send to Russian embassies worldwide on the 14th February – the international day of love.
If you want to take part but didn’t get a chance, see the link above or send us your photos and we’ll pass them on to Lush.
by Debbie White February 3, 2014 in main by Debbie White
It’s now February, which means Christmas is well and truly behind us, we’ve given up on all hopes of snow and essay deadlines are approaching. But amongst all this gloom and doom, there’s something very exciting just around the corner! On the 22nd February, the Secret Policeman’s Ball is returning to Glasgow University!
We’re all working really hard to make it the best one ever but I wanted to write a wee update about what’s going on to let you all know what’s happening and why you should buy tickets to this year’s event! We’ve also got some exciting news about things we’re doing differently this year.
So, first, the line up! There’s still a few more acts to be confirmed so keep an eye on the for more announcements. So far we have:
Billy Kirkwood (Host)
Chris Conroy
The Geek Comedy Night
Rosco McSkelington
Eleanor Morton
Chris Dinwoodie (Magician)
G.L.A.S.S
Stu Who
Ryan Dooley
I’m particularly excited for the magician!
Like last year, we’ve got an afterparty hosted by which should be amazing!
We’ve got lots of raffle prizes for you! Confirmed ones so far have been donated by , , , Il Cappuccino and Amnesty UK. There’s more to come so keep your eyes open! Excitingly, this year we’re offering the opportunity to buy raffle tickets in advance, so if you can’t come along on the 22nd February but still want to support us, you can buy raffle tickets at one of our meetings, at our bake sale or e-mail me (Debbie) on spb@guamnesty.org.uk.
Another new venture for 2014 is the competition we’re running! Details are but it involves taking one of our flyers and getting a photo in the most exciting, strangest place you can! Entry is free and there’ll be a prize for the best one – just make sure you share the photo on social networks and email it to spb@guamnesty.org.uk. The competition is open to everyone – you don’t have to be a student at Glasgow University to enter.
I think that’s all – except a reminder that tickets are on sale! If you get them in advance from our then they’re £5/7 (higher price includes entry to the afterparty!) and on the door it’ll be £6/8.
If you want to help hand out flyers, set up Qudos on the day or have any general queries, then please do get in touch! See you on the 22nd February!
by Ruth February 3, 2014 in main, meetings, newsletter by Ruth
Hello GU Amnesty!
A big welcome to our new members who signed up at the re-freshers fair and to our new committee members as well. The results of our EGM last week are as follows:
Campaigns Coordinator – Ali Cooper
Press Officer – Ellen MacAskill
Ordinary Board Member – Alex Pancheva
Last week was especially busy with the events by the Coalition for Syrian Refugees, including the panel discussion, the challenge and the ceilidh. We raised over £600 for charities supporting Syrian refugees! It was great to see some of you at these events and you can read all about it on our website with Ellen’s first blog as Press Officer.
We are back in our usual spot on Tuesday for a more light-hearted meeting after last week’s hard-hitting documentary about Syria. Thanks again to Amby from UNICEF on Campus who came along for the discussion and if you missed the documentary ‘Saving Syria’s Children’ then you can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SD5QWi-FRU **This documentary contains footage of burn victims, including children and young people.**
GU Amnesty’s petition to Coca-Cola has been live for about a week on Change.org. The petition demands that Coca-Cola put the LGBT rainbow on their products to truly support LGBT people as they continue to sponsor the Winter Olympics in Sochi. At time of writing, we have about 8,000 signatures!!
Our Publicity Officer, Nikola, has been tweeting celebrities all over the place and asking them to show support for our campaign. Please join her by tweeting everyone you know! Here’s the link.
We will be having a meeting to make some banners for the Secret Policeman’s Ball as well as campaign materials for the Guantanamo Bay demonstration which will hopefully be happening in the next couple of weeks.
See below for updates on the Secret Policeman’s Ball publicity campaign.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â A discussion about recent cases in the UK
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Presentation from Stop the Traffik Glasgow. Last semester we made plans to run a joint campaign so I will get back in touch with the group and check their availability to come and talk to us.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Every year we hear a presentation from Yuyu about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Documentary film screening of ‘Free China: the Courage to Believe’
Our multi-award winning night of comedy is back. Once again we are bringing you the biggest student charity fundraiser on campus, hosted by Billy Kirkwood.
Our afterparty is being kindly hosted by Philanthrobeats who have recently gained official charity status and have raised money for many excellent causes since their first club night in 2012. Check out their website to see their events and how to get involved!
This year looks to be even bigger and better – remember to get your tickets in advance! Here’s the event page for those on Facebook and website page for those who aren’t.
We have now received the posters and flyers and are ready to go crazy with publicity!
Debbie has created a Doodle for flyering so please add your name and spare an hour or so to hand out flyers on campus.
Very soon we will be launching a competition to see who can take a photo of themselves with a poster/flyer in the strangest place. More details will be announced at the meeting on Tuesday but the winner will receive a prize, so don’t forget to take away flyers from the meeting!
Action for Change: Friday 28 February & Saturday 1 March 2014 – Human Rights Action Centre, London
FREE activism training event for Amnesty Student Groups, perfect for new groups and new committee members.  Booking opening soon!  Keep an eye on amnesty.org.uk/student
AIUK’s National Conference & AGM:Â Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 April 2014 – Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh
This is the annual event where Amnesty members and activists from all around the UK come together for a weekend of learning, discussion, and decision-making. We’re a membership-led organisation, so decisions made at the AGM are reflected in what we work on, and the way we work.
Student Human Rights Reporter Competition
Amnesty, the National Union of Students, the Observer and Unreported World are proud to once again be running a competition to find the Student Human Rights Reporter of the Year. The first prize is two weeks’ work experience at the Observer, a behind-the-scenes tour of Channel 4 News, and an award to be presented at the Amnesty International Media Awards 2014.
The competition deadline is 20 June 2014. Please see here for the Terms & Conditions and details of how to enter.
Any student can sign up for AIUK’s monthly emails by filling in this quick form.
I can’t believe it’s SPB month already! Let the countdown begin.
See you Tuesday,
Ruth
January 30, 2014 in Blog, main by Ellen MacAskill
Syria has been in the headlines this week. It has been in the headlines for three years now. And the humanitarian crisis in a country wreaked by civil war only continues to get worse.
Why has more not been done? Why does the conflict persist? What can we do to help?
After a screening in Tuesday’s meeting of BBC Panorama’s ‘Saving Syria’s Children’, I think I speak for us all when I say we were left harrowed, speechless, and asking these questions.
On the following day the UK government announced plans to take in 500 of the most vulnerable refugees – with Nick Clegg insisting that this was an exhibition of our “open-hearted” nature – and the Glasgow University Coalition for Syrian Refugees hosted a panel discussion. The title:
‘Syria: I Can Still See Hope’
The CSR is a collaboration of societies on campus, including Amnesty International, put together to raise funds and awareness for Syria’s plight. Five speakers on Wednesday gathered to inform an audience of students and answer their questions.
First to speak was Kurt Mills, a senior lecturer in social sciences and representative of the Glasgow Human Rights Network. He tackled the day’s headlines straight away: 9.3 million Syrians need assistance and the few hundred that the UK are willing to help is a mere 0.0008% of our own population. Mills said that we should demand more than this “cynical ploy” and stop relying on the £600 million that we have donated in aid. Monetary aid is helpful, yes, but it ultimately keeps Syrians “bottled up” in an unsafe country.
Three speakers from charities stood up to describe the challenges of the situation and emphasise the good work that is already being done. Tristan Jones from Medicine Sans Frontiers outlined the struggle to deliver medical care in a warzone where hospitals themselves have been targeted. A dwindling number of doctors and resources tackling a huge number of casualties means that basic needs are often not met. MSR have been sending doctors to hidden locations, and giving vaccinations to children and antenatal care to women.
From British Red Cross, Patrick MacIntyre told us about the work of the charity in conjunction with Syrian Arab Red Crescent. They work under the principles of “impartiality and neutrality” to provide aid such as medicine, food and hygiene. An Emergency Appeal for Syria was first launched in 2012 and has been extended since.
Amby Karamchedu, president of GU UNICEF, focussed on the work being done to help children in refugee camps, such as Zaatari in Jordan, and in Syria itself. Crossing the border does not guarantee security for Syria’s 6 million affected children. UNICEF’s current aim is to “winterise” the camps so that refugees can deal with the extreme climate. Education is often neglected in Syria and the surrounding refugee camps, despite its benefits for the future of the country. Amby mentioned that campaigner Malala Yousafzai travelled to New York to urge UNICEF executives to increase focus on basic education.
The most moving speech of the night came from a courageous man who cannot be named. From the ancient city of Damascus, he fled Syria when he became endangered by the state. Many of his family and friends have met their fate since the uprisings of 2011. Recounting his story, he was overcome with emotion to the point of nearly breaking down. He urged us to recognise the “Syrian holocaust of the 21st century”.
His words silenced the room. The reaction was unanimous. No matter how many statistics we can reel off and pounds we can donate and articles we can read – nothing compares to the scale of personal tragedy that the Syrian conflict has inflicted.
The Q and A session proved interesting, with Mills pointing out that sending aid becomes more futile the longer the political situation goes un-addressed. We were urged to take individual action by donating what we can, informing ourselves and writing to MPs and newspapers.
When the question turned to the uncertain future of the country, the refugee concluded that he “can see hope as a Syrian”. The end of the conflict may not be imminent or quick, but we must continue to do all we can to give hope to Syria and its people.
If you missed the panel discussion but are interested in the Coalition for Syrian Refugees, look them up on Facebook for information and get involved at two fundraisers this Saturday the 1st, the Challenge and the Ceilidh.
P.S. Hello, I’m Ellen, GUAI’s new and first Press Officer! I’ll be updating the site weekly with blog posts and all the Amnesty chat you could ever need and more. See you Tuesday!
by Rob Hallam January 26, 2014 in main, photos by Rob Hallam
A big thanks to Billy Kirkwood and Neil “Wee Man” Bratchpiece who came along and did some side-splitting improv- we are all looking forward to the 22nd of February!
If you haven’t seen it already: tickets are on sale, so buy yours now!
by Ruth January 25, 2014 in Human Rights News, news by Ruth
During a runway show in Düsseldorf Tuesday, German Olympians revealed vibrant new uniforms that are being called a “silent protest.”
via German Olympians will wear rainbow-colored uniforms in Sochi | For The Win.
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