Monday, May 31, 2010

Training Day 24th of July 2010

On the 24th of July the Amnesty International NSW Campaigns Team and Branch Committee is organising a training day to allow NSW activists the opportunity to attain a broader understanding of both our current campaigns, activism and how to improve your action group. There will be 5 workshops encompassing the following areas - recruiting new members, facilitating action group meetings, helpful resources, group activities and organising events. Also campaign training workshops on Crisis Response, Stop Violence Against Women, Demand Dignity and Refugees will be provided.

The training day will start at 10am and will end at 4pm. Amnesty International NSW will reimburse travel and accommodation expenses for activists who live far away. Lunch, afternoon tea and dinner will be provided. If we get a big turn up from places out of Sydney we will also consider an evening dinner event also.

If you have any suggestions for other training workshops or if you or your group have any gaps in your knowledge or interest on which you would like to get more training. Please let us know asap.

Where: AIA NSW Action Centre, Level 1, 79 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW 2008

When: 24th of July 2010 from 10am until 4pm

RSVP, inquiries or suggestions: nswccintern@amnesty.org.au or on 83967667

Looking forward to see you all on the training day!

Face to Face locations for this week

Face to Face locations for the week commencing on the 31st of May:

Monday 31st of May 2010: Wagga

Tuesday 1st of June 2010: Wagga

Wednesday 2nd of June 2010: Narrandera

Thursday 3rd of June 2010: Leeton

Friday 4th of June 2010: Griffith

Saturday 5th of June 2010: Griffith

Friday, May 28, 2010

2011 International Council Meeting - Applications close 15 June 2010

Applications are now open for Amnesty members to apply to attend the 2011 International Council Meeting as one of Amnesty International Australia's delegates.

Held every two years, the ICM is a significant element of Amnesty International’s democracy in action, and is the highest decision making body of AI. An ICM brings together approximately 500 members and staff from across the Amnesty International movement for the purposes of planning and reviewing the direction of Amnesty International’s human rights work, and deciding how it intends to meet its campaigning objectives in terms of strategic and financial planning.

We are seeking applications from Amnesty members to be one of the Australian delegates to the next International Council Meeting in 2011.

Delegates are selected a year in advance (July 2010) to allow sufficient time for preparation. Six delegates will be selected and a pool of reserves will be nominated in case any replacements are required. One of the six delegate positions has been reserved for a youth delegate.
Applications to be an Australian delegate to the 2011 ICM must be submitted by COB Tuesday, 15 June 2010.

For more information about attending the 2011 ICM, the selection criteria and the application process please go to www.amnesty.org.au/about/icm and download the information pack.

Alternatively, to have an information pack posted to you, please contact Karla Fallon by email (Karla.Fallon@amnesty.org.au) or by telephone - 02 8396 7618.

We encourage all interested members to apply. Please forward this email to Amnesty members that you know that might be interested in this opportunity.

Refugee Week 2010

As most of you will be aware Refugee Week is approaching rapidly. Current policy and rehetoric around on asylum seekers and refugees in Australia calls on us to campaign on refugees in a way that is bigger than ever. Refugee Week is a good opportunity to get these issues out in the public arena in your local area.

Please let us know if you are planning on organising or linking into events for Refugee Week or over the next few months. We currently have brand new materials on the Refugee campaign and can also assist you with getting local media and promotion out to Amnesty International supporters in your area. Please advise us if you would like materials or help with your event.

The type of things we are encouraging people to do are: film screenings, morning teas,making oragami boats, letter writing to their local MP, art shows & linking in with other organisations and lots and lots more!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Crisis Briefing on Human Rights in Burma - 16 June


Join us in conversation with Amnesty International Burma researcher Benjamin Zawacki, and respected Burma activist Dr Myint Cho, to hear about the current human rights situation in Burma.

Speakers:

Benjamin Zawacki has been Amnesty International's Thailand and Burma specialist since late-2007, having begun in his post on the day that the crackdown on the 'Saffron Revolution' ended. He has a wealth of experience working as a Protection Officer with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, primarily along the Thailand-Burma border. Benjamin will discuss the current human right situation in Burma, the repression of ethnic minority activists and the 2200 political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Dr Myint Cho is a well-know and highly respected Burma activist, who has worked in various capacities for the promotion of democracy in Burma since 1988, firstly along the Thai-Burma border and later overseas. His activism has come at a great personal loss but he continues his work with the hope that there will be change in the country one day.

When: Wednesday June 16 2010 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Where: Museum of Sydney, AGL Theatre, 37 Phillip St, NSW, 2000
RSVP: 8th June 2010


In the news today




Our great efforts at Bondi Beach have been used as part of a story in The Australian about the AIA report launch!








Monday, May 24, 2010

Lunchtime Talks: Human Rights situation in China, 21 years after Tiananmen.



When: Thursday 3rd June 2010 from 12-13.30pm.

Where: Amnesty International Action Centre, Level 1, 79 Myrtle St, Chippendale

RSVP, inquiries and questions for our speaker:
nswccintern@amnesty.org.au or on 83967667


To highlight the fact that China still does not prioritise the respect for human rights and to commemorate the horrifying events that took place on Tiananmen Square 21 years ago, Amnesty International Australia is organising its sixth Lunchtime Talk of the year next Thursday.

High-profile events like the Beijing Olympics and the Shanghai Expo in the last couple of years raised some hope for real and sustained improvements in the country’s overall human rights situation. However, during the run-up to the Shanghai Expo 2010, more than 18,000 families were evicted from their homes to pave the way for China’s global technology and innovation showpiece, starkly contrasting with the central theme of the expo, “Better city-better life”. Moreover, since the end of February many human rights activists have been under surveillance or are detained to stop them from protesting or speaking to journalists.

During this lunchtime seminar Dr Feng Chonyi, Associate Professor in China Studies and Deputy Director of the China Research Centre for the University of Technology in Sydney, will shed light on the present situation of human rights in China. Afterwards there will be time for questions and informal exchange of thoughts over a typical Chinese Yum Cha Lunch.

Looking forward to see you all at the Lunchtime Talk!


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Second Amnesty International NSW Catch up


NSW Action Group Catch-Up

When: Wednesday 15th June 2010 from 6-7pm.

Where: Amnesty International Action Centre, Level 1, 79 Myrtle St, Chippendale

RSVP (please mention if you are going to attend in person or ring in), enquiries and to arrange assistance for transport and accommodation:
By 30th May: nswccintern@amnesty.org.au or on 83967667

If you are unable to attend in person but are keen to ring in:
(Ph.) 96960695, (PIN) 336849#


Amnesty International NSW is holding its second quarterly NSW Action Group Catch-Up of this year. The Catch-Up is a great opportunity to:
- Meet and engage with other NSW groups, convenors and members of AI NSW.
- Receive an update from us about new campaigns, strategy and resources.
- Provide us with valuable feedback about your experiences and concerns.

While AI wants to engage with as many Action Groups as possible, we understand that it may be difficult (both in terms of time and money) to travel to Sydney to attend the Catch-Up. AI NSW is able to pay for Catch-Up transport for Action Groups outside the Sydney area or assist those who would like to ring in over the phone to take part in the meeting. Please contact us ASAP to organise these things. Light food and drinks will be provided.


Looking forward to catching up at the meeting!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Face to Face locations for this week

Face to Face locations for the week commencing on the 17th of May 2010:

Monday 17 May: Muswellbrook, Scone, Seaforth

Tuesday 18 May: Maitland, Singleton, Leichhardt

Wednesday 19 May: Nelson Bay, Kurri Kurri, Potts Point

Thursday 20 May: Raymond Terrace, Muswellbrook, Marrickville

Friday 21 May: Singleton, Nelson Bay, Pyrmont

Saturday 22 May: Belmont, Newcastle

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

A number of Amnesty International Australia’s volunteers came together on Monday (May 10) for the Volunteer Week Lunch as part of the National Volunteer Week 2010. Amnesty International Australia’s National Director Claire Mallinson thanked volunteers for their support and emphasised their indispensable role in helping people in Australia and around the world cliam rights.

Volunteers were given Thank you badges, designed by Edem Badu, and Fair Trade chocolates, at the lunch organised at the Sydney office in recognition of their efforts.Discussing current issues and campaigns that AIA and volunteers have been involved in, Mallison spoke about the Australian government’s catastrophic Northern Territory intervention and the recent freeze on asylum seekers’ applications from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

She also outlined the successes of previous and ongoing campaigns, with the support of volunteers, like rallying for the freedom of prisoners of conscience. One such example is the story of Ratan Gazmare from Bhutan, who had been imprisoned. With the help of AIA and volunteers, he is now living in Adelaide with his family. Photographs of indigenous Australians, victims of the Northern Territory intervention, the Refugee Rally that took place on May 8 at Bondi beach were also circulated.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Face to Face Locations for this week.

Face to face locations for the week commencing:

Monday 10th of May 2010: Burwood.

Tuesday 11th of May 2010: Erskineville.

Wednesday 12th of May 2010: Martin Place.

Thursday 13th of May 2010: Paramatta.

Friday 14th of May 2010: Revesby.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Final Reminder: Protect Refugees Event Saturday 8th May.



Dear Action Groups and Action Group Members,

Just a final reminder about the Protect Refugees Action Day we have planned for this weekend. This Saturday on the 8th of May, we will be holding a large event as part of Amnesty International Australia’s response to the current refugee situation in Australia. This event is part of our countrywide campaign in reaction to the changed government policy issuing a blanket ban on processing new asylum claims from Afghan and Sri Lankan nationals. To show our politicians that Australians want fair and humane treatment for asylum seekers, we are joining up with a number of other organisations to gather as many people as possible at Bondi Beach this Saturday to form a giant human life-ring. We will also take an aerial picture of this human life-ring. We would love everyone to come down dressed in red and yellow for maximum visual effect. As well as the photo there will be several speakers and Ugandan refugee musicians performing.


  • Where: Bondi Beach south end, near the skate park.

  • When: 11am sharp!

  • How to get there: Public transport is your best option, however there is extensive track work planned for this weekend so leave plenty of time and check the website for more information – http://www.cityrail.info/.

    For more information on the rally and the government’s new refugee policy visit http://www.amnesty.org.au/.

Looking forward to see you all on Saturday!

Face to Face Locations for this week

Face to Face locations for the week commencing on the 3rd of May:

Monday 3rd of May 2010: Nowra, Stockland, Goulburn

Tuesday 4th of May 2010: Nowra, Stockland, Goulburn

Wednesday 5th of May 2010: Nowra, Stockland, Bowral

Thursday 6th of May 2010: Nowra, Stockland, Kiama

Friday 7th of May 2010: Nowra, Stockland

Saturday 8th of May 2010: Nowra, Stockland