Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire
Promoting human rights from Salisbury UK
Christmas tree in the festival which St Thomas’s Church in Salisbury mounts every year. Our tree attempts to depict the threats to human rights with the current government’s bills together with threats to the Human Rights Act on which we still await details.
We shall be holding our Write for Rights signings in two locations this year: the first time we have done this. The first will be 5th December in the Cathedral Cloisters and the second on 11th in St Thomas’s. We do not have the times yet so keep an eye out on this site – or Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr – for more details once known. Almost certainly in the mornings. We hope you can come along and sign.
For people abroad, feel free to send us your desire to be listed and we will copy your name in.
Attached are the minutes of the November 2021 meeting of the group thanks to group member Lesley for compiling them. At the end of the minutes are some future actions for example the annual carol singing in December, which members may wish to take part in.
There will be a protest concerning climate taking place this Saturday, 6 November 2021 starting at 10 am and lasting one and a half hours. It will be in the High St in Salisbury. Supporters are welcome to come along and it will be an opportunity for anyone wishing to join the group to make contact with us. This is part of a continuous series of actions by Extinction Rebellion to draw attention to climate issues. It is particularly important this Saturday as it will be midway through the Cop26 negotiations currently taking place in Glasgow.
Attached are the group minutes of the meeting held on 14 October thanks to group member Fiona for preparing them. A full meeting and there is a note of our meeting with the MP for Salisbury Mr John Glen. The meeting was successful and our three representatives pointed out the many misgivings people have over the proposed legislation. Over 200 organisations – including Amnesty – are very concerned at three major bills currently before parliament which singly and together will have a major impact on our human rights. There is also the review of the Human Rights Act the results of which are awaited any time.
The Salisbury group took a stand at the People in the Park event held in Elizabeth Gardens on Saturday 18 September 2021. It was an all day event. Our main focus for the day was to warn of the government’s four bills which, individually and together, will reduce our freedoms. They are the Police, Crime and Sentencing bill, Judicial and Courts bill, Election bill and Nationality and Borders bill. Added to the review of the Human Rights Act which is not popular with many in government, it represents an assault on our freedoms to seek justice and hold the government to account.
We had a steady flow of interest through the day and all our handouts (below) were distributed by the close.
We shall be at the People in the Park event all day on 18 September 2021 which takes place in Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury. Anyone interested in human rights issues is welcome to come and meet us and it would be a good opportunity if you are considering joining us.
Human rights are high on the political scale at present. Afghanistan is in the news following the Taliban’s victory in that country. Women’s rights will be severely affected: their freedom to go out without a male escort, reduced rights to education and a requirement to be covered from head to toe.
We must not forget Yemen where a war is still raging and the role of the UK and other western governments in supporting the bombing campaign is causing considerable stress and hardship.
Here at home in the UK, the government is keen to introduce laws restricting the right to protest and limiting the power of the judiciary to moderate government behaviour.
In China, the treatment of Uyghurs has been appalling with around a million being forced into so-called re-education.
All told, there is a lot to be concerned about around the world and in the UK. We look forward to seeing you on 18th.
We hope to hold our annual BBQ again next Saturday 14th August starting at 4pm weather permitting. Members and supporters welcome. Please let one of us know either by direct contact, a message on this site, or on our Facebook page if you are thinking of coming.
Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire 