Bernwode Amnesty Group

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING JULY 19th 2009
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT


The Chairman's report is always a reflection on the work of both campaigns and actions over the year, run through monthly meetings, and of larger events, run with the support of the wider BAG membership.
This year the monthly meetings have been attended by smaller numbers, however we have taken part in regular monthly actions and in ongoing campaigns. Organisation of the big fund raising event has continued to be well supported and we appreciate the contributions and hard work required by members to make these events happen.

Big Event
Our big event for last year was the soup evening in December, for human rights day,with John Bercow, our MP. as guest speaker. John has been a regular and valued guest to BAG each year, keeping us up to date with key events, and this year he talked on the current state of affairs in Burma, Darfor and Cuba. He also responded promptly to a letter from the group, asking him to support an end to human rights violations committed by police forces in Southern Africa. His own letter received replies from Lord Malloch Brown in the Foreign Office, which was then forwarded to Walter Shwarzacher the AI UK Mozambique co-ordinator.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank John for his contribution to BAG over quite a few years, and to congratulate him on his appointment as Speaker. Miranda has written to him regarding our support and in particular his future link with BAG. Nine excellent soups were made by volunteers and the evening was a great success supported by forty five people. Approximately £300 was made and a substantial donation given to AI by Paddy. Thanks to all those people to contributed to the event.

Campaigns
During the Olympics we supported AI on an active campaign on China; we have sent regular letters concerning Columbia, led and translated by Doff Wheatley, particularly defending the nine members of the Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission who have all received death threats from para-military groups.
The campaign on Cuba, has been limited by the current size of the active group, as we would ideally require a volunteer to lead on this campaign, however Miranda Salmon has kept us informed of events through the Cuba co-ordinator. In March the action file was on Cuba: the EU had signed an accord with Cuba, providing financial support and returning a EU delegation. With Raoul Castro taking over from Fidel Castro there may be encouraging signs that the situation is opening up.We have just heard from AI that they would like us to work with a single individual from the medical personnel in Cuba and have asked for regular letter writing, with groups keeping AI closely informed of any correspondence.

Monthly actions
These are key actions sent out by AI and the group have taken an active role in these. We have written to the Japanese and Vietnamese governments on the release of individual prisoners from the death penalty, and to repeal the death penalty from their penal system. Cards were sent to families of members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) giving them encouragement and support. A letter was sent to the Iranian government concerning a woman imprisoned for campaigning for equal rights for women in Iran. Also letters were sent in February for release of the families in West Papua as an additional campaign. Our most recent action has been to write a letter to The Rt Hon David Milliband on the need for the UK government to support an active Arms Trade Treaty.

Other events
Richard and Helen Ellis gave a talk in November about their visit to Cambridge to an exhibition of quilts made by the families of disappeared people in Chile. The exhibition was organised by Roberta Bacic from Chile who gave a very moving talk to BAG a number of years ago, which led to the planting of the first worldwide commemorative tree, an oak tree, planted on the common.

Future events

Barn Dance
Our next big fund raising event is a Barn Dance, arranged for Saturday October 10th at 7.30. We have booked Alan Norton's band and caller. We will also be putting on a mystery turn with guest entertainers from the village. Refreshments will be bread cheese and puddings. John Vaile has agreed to do the bar and to give a donation to BAG from the profits. Any offers of help, puddings, decoration will be appreciated! Miranda has written to John Bercow to invite him and his wife to the event.

Visit from John Bercow
In addition to the Barn Dance, Miranda has invited John Bercow to speak on December 9th. John Vaile has agreed to provide the Sports and Social Club free for the evening, provided the bar is open.

The future of the group
The significant reduction of our meeting numbers each month and the need for the appointment of new officers has required us to take stock of where we are as a group and how we can move forward. I have taken advice from Amnesty International and put together some options, which I know that Miranda has circulated to all members. The small size of the group has meant that most of the regulars have been committee members, with Doff as Vice Chairman, Miranda as secretary, Paddy as Treasurer and Phil as minutes secretary.I would particularly like to thank them all for their hard work, Doff and Miranda for maintaining the campaign and action files, keeping closely in touch with the AI co-ordinators and preparing letters for signing; also Doff for her monthly update in the Bernwode News, Paddy for keeping the books in order and for chasing up membership subscriptions, and to Phil for the regular minutes of our meetings.


Katherine Collins
Chairman Brill Amnesty Group


Return to front page