Cambridge University Amnesty International

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.

AMNESTY VARSITY LETTER WRITING 2010
Last year Oxford pipped us to the post in our challenge to write the most letters in a week- let’s not let that happen again!

Main event:
What: Letter writing and pancakes!
When? 1-4pm Tuesday 16th Feb
Where? Saunders Room, Newnham College
Who? Everyone Welcome

Plus, look our for events in your own college! ”

Let’s get writing!!!

Shell Hell Day

Thank you to everyone who took part in Shell Hell Day last Thursday. It was a great success. We are still gathering in petitions and letters from academics. We are then going to going to present them to Shell and make sure we make an impact. Below are some photos from the day:

Rally

At the Union

Since the start of 2009 Nicaragua has enforced a total ban on abortions in the country. This applies to victims of rape, incest and women who’s lives are endagered by the pregnancy. A pregnant woman suffering from cancer, with children waiting at home, would be given an effective death sentence by being forced to come off her medication which may harm the fetus. The effects of this new law are already being felt. An amnesty report found that in the first five months of 2009, 33 girls and women died from pregnancy and birth-related complications, compared to 20 in the same period of 2008.
The Film Night:

St. John’s cinema, Thursday Jan. 21st, 9pm

We are working with John’s films soc to show critically acclaimed film, Vera Drake, which tells the story of a working class woman in London in 1950, who performs illegal abortions for women in need. Come along to support Amnesty and find out more about this campaign.

The Rally:

Meeting at Parkers Piece and marching to Guildhall – Saturday 23rd Jan – 1-2pm

We will be calling on the Nicaraguan government to repeal this appaling law, and showing our support for the rights of women world wide to maternal health and reproductive rights!! Join us.

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.

13-15 November 2009

Human Rights Action Centre, London

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!

Programme

• Hear expert speakers discuss and debate the human rights issues of today, including:
  Demand Dignity: Shell – Business and Human Rights
  Stop Violence Against Women: Democratic Republic of Congo
  Israel/Occupied Territories
  Burma: Generation ’88 Student Activists
• Learn new campaigning skills at a range of interactive workshops
• Meet students from all over the UK + find out what other student groups are up to
• Stand up for the Demand Dignity: Shell campaign in the conference campaign action
• Participate in the Student Action Network Annual General Meeting + national student committee elections

• Dance the night away at the conference party!

Speakers

Speakers already confirmed this year include:

• Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK
• Ben Amunwa, Platform Project Manager, Remember Saro-Wiwa Campaign
• Ko Aung, Burmese activist, and former Prisoner of Conscience

Cost

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

If you do not require accommodation, you can buy a food-only conference place for £15.

Venue

• This year the conference will be held at the Human Rights Action Centre in London
• Accommodation will be at the Somers Town Community Centre details of which will be provided with your booking confirmation

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.