We now have a tumblr site which can be found at salisburyai.tumblr.com. There isn’t much there at present but give it time …
Group has Tumblr page
September minutes
The minutes of the September meeting are now available thanks to Lesley. We discussed North Korea, the death penalty (see separate post on this), the forthcoming vigil on 17 October and agreeing to write to John Glen concerning his failure to reply to our letter of 5 August.
#Deathpenalty report for September now available
The death penalty report for September is now available thanks to Lesley for compiling it. Links to other blog posts and in particular the continuing correspondence with John Glen MP concerning the government’s policy change on the death penalty.
Death penalty report, September
Report on possible reductions in the use of the death penalty by India and China. This is to be welcomed although we cannot verify the situation in the latter country because the numbers executed are a state secret.
June #meeting minutes are now available
Minutes of the June meeting are now available. It includes the monthly death penalty report which is available in full as a separate blog post.
- Group members and speakers at the Playhouse. See blog post for full details.
Magna Carta Now – panel discusssion with readings by Edward Fox OBE
A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH READINGS BY EDWARD FOX, OBE
MAIN HOUSE
Monday 15 June at 2pm
Magna Carta’s importance meant that it was traditionally read out at the opening sessions of Parliament and in English cathedrals. This panel discussion about its relevance today will include Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK, Professor Guy Standing, author of The Precariat: The Dangerous New Class and Ben Rawlence, formerly of Human Rights Watch. Excerpts from the charter will be read by one of our most celebrated actors, Edward Fox OBE.
Chaired by Peter Curbishley.
Presented in partnership with the Playhouse and Amnesty International. Tickets from Salisbury Playhouse http://www.salisburyplayhouse.com or 01722 320333
Success for Amnesty campaigning in Nigeria
Success for local group
The Salisbury group, along with other groups around the world, has been campaigning on behalf of Moses Akatugba in Nigeria. He was accused of stealing three mobile phones and then subjected to torture and sentenced to death. Regrettably, torture has become endemic in Nigeria and police stations even appoint ‘torture officers’ to carry it out.
We have held many signings in Salisbury and a large number of cards were sent off to the Nigerian authorities. We are pleased to report that this campaigning effort has been a success and he has been granted a total pardon. Unusually, the Governor of Delta State mentioned the Amnesty campaign in his Facebook page.
Moses himself made a statement:
I am overwhelmed, I thank Amnesty International and their activists for the great support that made me a conqueror in this situation. Amnesty International and activists are my heroes.
I want to assure them that this great effort they have shown to me will not be in vain by the special grace of God I will live up to their expectation.
I promise to be a human rights activist, to fight for others. I am thanking the Governor for his kind gesture and for keeping to his words.
Further details of our campaign can be read on the fact sheet below;
Magna Carta event at the #playhouse with #EdwardFox reading
Playhouse event
UPDATE: Piece in the Salisbury Journal
On Monday, June 15, celebrated actor Edward Fox will read extracts from Magna Carta at Salisbury Playhouse as part of a panel discussion investigating the relevance of the historic document today.
We are pleased to announce an event at Salisbury Playhouse called Magna Carta Now on 15 June at
2pm. It will involve Edward Fox OBE who will read parts of the Magna Carta and there will be a panel discussion on the relevance of these readings in the politics today.
The event is particularly relevant in view of the announcement by the new government of their plans to scrap the Human Rights Act (or the ‘hated’ Human Rights Act as some would say), details of which are expected in the forthcoming Queen’s Speech on 27th. We have waited several years now for the promised British Bill of Rights which we understand from press comment has gone through at least 8 drafts but has still not been published.
The panel is a distinguished one:
- Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty UK
- Prof Guy Standing, author of among other writings The Precariat and A Precariat Charter
- Ben Rawlence, from Salisbury, who has been a country representative for Human Rights Watch and is author of Radio Congo
Tickets are available from Salisbury Playhouse www.salisburyplayhouse.com (24 hours) or phone 01722 320333 or at the Playhouse itself.
We hope local Amnesty supporters and others will come along to what promises to be an interesting event. We should add that there will be an opportunity for audience participation at the end of the event.
April minutes of the Salisbury group available
The April meeting minutes are here thanks to Karen. They contain a lot of useful information about the death penalty and North Korea in particular. There is a group meeting this Thursday 14th
Display goes up today in the Cathedral
We today erected the display in the cloister at Salisbury Cathedral to celebrate the signing of Magna Carta and to illustrate the #StopTorture campaign.
It will remain in place for many weeks. There is also a panel on the Human Rights Act.
Amnesty in Salisbury & South Wiltshire 