"The rights of every man are diminished, when the rights of one are threatened." John F. Kennedy, 1962

Cookham and Maidenhead Branch of Amnesty International

Group News                                           April 2008

PAST EVENTS  

Meeting 29^th April

Present: Mike, Janet, Holly and Marion.

Sunday 13^th April

Sponsored Walk

Holly organised a 6 mile sponsored walk in the Chilterns.  The eight walkers had a pleasant morning, wonderful views, some sunshine and the bluebells were lovely.  Details of sponsorship money raised will be in next month’s newsletter.

Thanls to Holly for organising the walk.

FUTURE EVENTS

Sunday 11^th May, Amnesty Lunch in memory of Morris

Currently, 24 people have accepted the lunch invitation. Tom Headley, the Chair of Amnesty UK, will be joining us.   We will be ordering the food very shortly so if you would like to come and haven’t yet replied please phone Marion.  Everyone will be very welcome. 

Venue is the Parish Centre in Cookham, 12.30 pm.  We will be eating lunch about 1 pm.  It will be a hot, buffet style lunch, and a vegetarian option will be available.  Wine, fruit juices and water will be provided. 

There is no charge for the lunch but voluntary contributions towards the costs will be gratefully accepted, a bowl will be provided for this purpose.  

Saturday 14^th June, ‘Olympics’ Action in Maidenhead

We are planning an action in Maidenhead High Street, which will use the forthcoming Olympic Games to highlight the very poor human rights situation in China.  We will be in the High Street from 10.00am – 12.30 pm.  We would like to stage an ‘Olympic torch run’ in the town center to attract attention from the public and (hopefully) from the media.  This will probably mean one of us running (slowly) with a torch, surrounded by at least 4 other runners dressed in blue track suits or overalls.  We need several volunteers for this, so if you would like to be involved please phone Marion.   We will also need volunteers to man the  stall, so if you don’t fancy running, we’d  appreciate your help handing out leaflets, getting people to sign cards etc. 

Series of talks/workshops

We are considering holding a series of talks/workshops next winter.  Survey forms were circulated last month to guage the interest in this idea.  Mike has received several completed forms (thankyou), and the response has been very positive so far.  If you haven’t returned your form yet, send it to Mike now, (or give it to him at the lunch on May 11^th).

CAMPAIGNS

Monthly Action  April 2008

GAZA

A new report has recently been published about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.  Amnesty International was one of the co-authors of the report.

The report states that ‘The Humanitarian situation in Gaza is worse now than it’s been at any time since the beginning of the Israeli occupation in 1967’.  

Please write to the Israeli Authorities raising the following points:

Call for the lifting of restrictions which prevent the supply of fuel, electricity, medical equipment and humanitarian assistance to Gaza.  

Point out that such measures constitute punishment against the civilian population of Gaza.

Remind the Israeli authorities that according to international law, Israel, as the occupying power in Gaza, must ensure the people have access to medical care.  

Please write letters to :

Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister,

Office of the Prime Minister,

3 Kaplan Street,

 PO Box 187,

Kiryat Ben-Gurion,

Jerusalem 91919,   Israel

Salutation: Dear Prime Minister Olmert

Yacov Ben Yizri, Minister of Health,

Israel Ministry of Health,

2 Ben Tabai Street,

PO Box 1176,

Jerusalem 91010,  Israel

Salutation:  Dear Minister