|
|
|
 |
You're arrested, but you've done nothing
wrong. Dragged from your home to a secret detention centre. And savagely beaten.
You protest your innocence, but it's of no use. The beating continues. No-one
knows you're here. You're helpless and alone.
"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 December 2011
GROUP NEWS
This newsletter is being sent on Human Rights Day, so I'll start with a suggestion that you might use the opportunity to write on behalf of one or more of our Prisoners of Conscience. Letter writing is still at the heart of Amnesty's work and we know that it can make a massive difference for individual prisoners around the world. If you go to the Amnesty website (http://www.amnesty.org.uk/) you can go to the page with details of current prisoners (via the 'Write your letter today' link).
We are facing a difficult time with some of our key local 'committee' members standing down over the past year. All for a very understandable reasons, but it is making it more difficult to organise local activities. In particular, Marion Roberts has stood down after many years' great support for Amnesty, not least in producing the monthly newsletter: this email is a pale copy of her productions. The small core group of Holly, Bethany, Tess and Mike is keeping things going and is committed to a number of activities next year - four letter/card-writing sessions, a street collection in Marlow (probably in May), another of our successful Amnesteas in August and the ever-popular Quiz.
But we have also decided to cut down other activities with fewer committee meetings and we have reduced the paperwork we get from Amnesty head office and the commitments we make to support national initiatives. We will see how things go over the coming months but we would really love to hear from anyone who can get a little more involved and help ensure that we can continue the activities which our group has undertaken over the past 30+ years. It is NOT a big commitment: just a little more than the help that many give to us for specific events.
In the meantime, I hope you and your families have a very happy and peaceful Christmas and our very best wishes for 2012. Sadly there are many around the world who cannot enjoy the family life so many of us take for granted. Let's hope that many of them can see a better life ahead in the coming year.
PAST
EVENTS
Friday 18th November
Annual Quiz at Pinder Hall, Cookham
We held a very successful 50th Anniversary quiz last month with some 70 people helping to raise just short of £800, well up on 2010 and about the same as in 2009. It's good to know that we still have this great support despite the tough economy just now. Our thanks to everyone who came to the quiz, and especially to those who helped on the night.|
|
|
FUTURE
EVENTS Card-writing session at 8pm on Tuesday 10th January. We start 2012 with a card-writing session at 8pm on Tuesday 10th January. It's at Old Pinkneys, Lee Lane, Maidenhead SL6 6PE. Call Mike Copland 01628 630375 if you would like directions. We will provide details of all of the prisoners being supported in this year's Greeting Cards campaign: just bring along some cards, including non-religious ones. If you are able to let Mike know in advance if you are coming, that will help him prepare! |
|
|
home
back