Hello everyone ! We’ve had a lot of Freshers sign up to our mailing list this year. Here’s a recap of what’s happening this week:
Onwards and upwards ! CUAI is back online and better than ever.
We would like to bring to attention the case of Troy Davis, whose execution has been set to the 21st September by the U.S. state of Georgia. The facts in his case are rife with witness coercion and lack of evidence, yet despite this and various campaigns by Human Rights associations, his death has been scheduled after 20 years in Death Row.
All hope is not lost, however, since the Court has allowed a clemency hearing on the 19th September, to decide if the execution will be carried out at all. The time to act is now, and here’s what you can do to help : by going on the Amnesty International website, read up on the facts in his case, and send a message to the clemency board to help convince them that this execution should not take place !
Shell have hit back after our protest outside the Senate House on Thursday 4th February – Shell Hell day – which asked Shell to stop gas flaring and to clean up their operations in the Niger Delta. 13 colleges at Cambridge university have investments in Shell and Shell sponsors the Engineering department. It’s for this reason that Cambridge is particularly responsible to request that Shell is doing everything it can to protect the communities who live in the regions they operate in.
Watch a video of the protest here by Cambridge News.
Read all about the Shell Hell campaign here.
Read Shell’s come back comment here.
Read CU Amnesty’s further comments, in response to Shell here.
Thanks to everyone who supported Shell Hell day and signed our petitions – its good to know Shell’s listening.
The planning phase for CU Amnesty’s next big, fundraiser is about to commence:
We will be hosting The Secret Porter’s Ball!
A comedy night that unites student comedians with Footlights alumni (Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson, John Cleese, Sacha Baron Cohen anyone?) and friends of Amnesty (Eddie Izzard, Frank Skinner, Jo Brand….).
We need YOU and YOUR enthusiasm to get this show on the road.
– have a creative urge? a bit good at making eye catching posters?
– have contacts in the Footlights or John Cleese up your sleeve?
– experience in event planning or a general keeness to produce the best show ever?
Remember our fashion show in April last year? We got Lily Cole, Sam Roddick, 15 student models and 17 designers to contribute to a night of ethical fashion and fun. We raised £2,500. This year we want to do even better.
Be a part of it? Know of someone who’d be interested?
Come along to our first planning meeting and ideas brainstorm at Murray Edwards college. Meet in the porters lodge foyer at 5pm on Wednesday 12th November.
Want a taster for some of the action. Here is some footage of Amnesty UK’s big comedy event, The Secret Policeman’s Ball which began back in 1976 by our very own Footlights star and ex Downingite, John Cleese.
Eddie Izzard at The Secret Policeman’s Ball 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jHaR9rRpLg
Frank Skinner at The Secret Policeman’s Ball 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CskQf4KFtMA
Russell Brand at The Secret Policeman’s Ball 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1uhmnNnmL8&feature=related
Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/editevent.php?eid=330817325062&step=2#/event.php?eid=330817325062
We will be joining forces with the CUSU LBGT night: Rendezvous @ Revolution.
Tuesday 3rd November and Tuesday 1st December
Rendezvous is Cambridge’s newest LBGT night on a Tuesday. All are welcome to the sumptuous surroundings of Revolution to meet, chat, drink and dance the night away!
DJ playing a huge mix of party anthems and chart topping hits to keep Revs jumping all night long!
CUSU LBGT and CU Amnesty are proud to bring a friendly and welcoming party atmosphere to people of all sexualities so come down and join us for a great night!
Entry just £2 before 11pm, £3 after. Even better: a portion of your entry fee will be donated to Amnesty International!
CUSU Welfare and CU Amnesty International bring to you a night packed with the best comedic talent in Cambridge. Reserve your tickets now for a fantastic night of laughs all in aid of Amnesty International and CUSU Mental Health:
THE LINE UP:
Grace Rigg (Robinson College)
Adam Lawrence (Jesus College)
Ed Mustill (Clare College)
Phil Wang (Kings College)
Dannish Babar (Selwyn College)
David Stevenson (Homerton College)
Matt Lim (Magdalene College)
Emerald Paston (Murray Edwards College)
Watch student comedians unite to create a fantastic night of fun and laughs for you and your mates. You saw them here first.
And the best bit? Tickets are just A FIVER and all profits will be donated to Amnesty International.
Tickets are now available from this site.
http://www.cuamnesty.org.uk/cambridge-stands-up-tickets/
If you reserve now, you can bring your cash along on the night. You can also turn up at Trinity Hall on the night but we can’t promise there’ll be tickets left!
Where: Trinity Hall
When: 8.30 for 9pm start
Reserve now!
On the night, we will be dotted around with petitions campaigning for the release of Akmal Shaikh: a 53-year-old father of five from north London who is believed to be mentally ill could be executed in China within days.
On the 4th of june amnesty international organised a flower ceremony in london to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen square massacres. Cambridge Univesity Amnesty International member Hang Tung Chow was interviewed by Amnesty International about why she felt it was so important to keep Tiananmen on the news agenda.
Student conference is brilliant and well worth time out from uni. Our Cambridge group has 10 spots for delegates. If you would like one then please email us AND book your ticket at http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=11635
We can then let you know what time the Exec are grabbing a train and we can all head down together!
Speakers already confirmed this year include:
Conference places cost £20 per person, which includes:
If you do not require accommodation, you can buy a food-only conference place for £15.
Members of the Exec will be manning a stall throughout CUSU’s Freshers’ Fair at Kelsey Kerridge. We would love to meet you properly and to tell you about our plans for this term.
We will also be petitioning for the release of the ’88 Generation Students Group’. In August 1988 a courageous group of Burmese students began to call for democracy. Their ’88 Generation Students Group’ rapidly gained broad support across the country and led many peaceful demonstrations for change. But the government responded to the demonstrators with ferocity. Security forces killed around 3,000 civilians and thousands more people were imprisoned – or simply disappeared. The surviving leaders of the student movement were given long jail terms, some spending up to 15 years in solitary confinement. Many of them are still in prison today.
We may also have sweeties.
Mr. Hugh Sandeman, country coordinator for Amnesty UK and former writer and editor for The Economist, will give a brief overview of human rights situation across the North Africa region with special emphasis on Algeria, and discuss how Amnesty is joining with other organisations to campaign against impunity for human right abuses in the country. There will be a short action with photo shoot at the end of the talk; do join us in making a difference for human rights in the region!
The talk will be held in the Bateman Auditorium at Gonville and Caius College at 7pm.
You also have time to attend another talk afterwards – so don’t worry about choosing between!
The Peterhouse Politics society are hosting Baroness Cox for a talk entitled “The Privilege of Making a Difference”.
Baroness Cox, formerly of the Conservative party, is a cross-bench member of the House of Lords with extensive experience in humanitarian work. She is the founder and CEO of the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust and an active
member of the World Committee on Disability.
The Peterhouse Politics society are pleased to invite everyone to this talk free of charge, and there is
no dress code. The meeting will take place in the Music Room, Peterhouse at 8.45pm, and wine & snacks will be served. For further information, see their website (www.peterhousepolitics.co.uk).
