Support: One Sheffield Many Cultures

	The founders of One Sheffield Many Cultures include Sheffield Faith Leaders, Sheffield City of Sanctuary, Sheffield Faiths Forum, the Islamic Society of Britain, Hope Not Hate, Sheffield BME Network, Who Is Your Neighbour?, Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism.
	One Sheffield Many Cultures launch
	You are invited to join us for a great day of music, dance, and much, much more Saturday 30th April midday to 4pm Barkers Pool, outside City Hall Please put this date in your diary and forward this email to your contacts or use the 'share' button below  » Read more

	Please sign up as a friend of OSMC
	One Sheffield Many Cultures promotes the unity of our city. We celebrate the contribution by people from all communities and backgrounds to the well being of Sheffield. We also celebrate Sheffield's proud tradition of opposition to racism, bigotry and prejudice. We urge people from all walks of life in the city to speak with one voice in support of One Sheffield Many Cultures.

Libyans in Sheffield protest against Gaddafi's horrors

Yesterday I was walking through the city centre and I came across a protest by about a hundred people, mainly apparently from Libya, protesting against the latest barbarities there.  One middle aged man with a placard, approached me with tears in his eyes, expressing his horror at what the Libyan government was doing against people in Libya.

I was very moved by his appeals but thought how it must be an absolute nightmare for the people in Libyan cities at this time.

Keep up to date with Amnesty Internationals' frequent reports and statements as the situation  in Libya progresses, go to:

http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/libya

Stop global arms sales to Libya
Please email the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to tighten UK arms controls. Act now

Arms trade treaty needed to stop violent crackdowns on civilians

Image: Still from YouTube showing vehicles that appear identical to those manufactured by UK based NMS International, in use in Libya to crackdown on protestors.

DearFriends

 

Over the last few days we've been appalled by the violent and totally unacceptable crackdowns on peaceful protesters in Libya, Bahrain and several other countries across the Middle East & North Africa. And there's evidence emerging that the UK may have licensed security equipment to the Libyan authorities which has been used to crush protests across the country.

 

Next weeks there will be negotiations at the UN on the proposed Arms Trade Treaty. The need for strong international export controls to prevent weapons, munitions and related security equipment from ending up in the hands of known human rights abusers is more vital than ever. 

 

Take action now to pressure the UK Government to press for a strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty

 

We have long campaigned for a strong and effective control on the deadly trade in weapons. These licenses for Libya should never have been granted in the first place given the reams of credible information we and others have supplied to the UK government relating to the Libyan government’s extreme intolerance of all forms of dissent.

 

We are also calling for a comprehensive arms embargo and an immediate suspension of any further shipments of equipment that pose a real danger of being used to violently suppress peaceful protests in Libya, and a halt to similar transfers to Yemen, Bahrain and other protest-hit countries in the region. 

 

 Please take action now

 

Thank you.

Kristyan Benedict
Campaign Manager - Crisis Response & Country Priorities

Stand up against Human Rights violations in Syria (Not an AI event)

In the Peace Gardens in Sheffield on Sunday, 27th  Feb at 12 PM there is a protest  against Human Rights violations in Syria . People will be demonstrating  all over the world near the Syria Embassies at the same day and the same time.


(This is not an Amnesty International organised event.)

For more information



 

http://www.shrc.org/default.aspx

Protect Life in Burkina Faso

A grey February day here in Sheffield.  You will love this feelgood video from Amnesty International members in Burkina Faso, West Africa, celebrating life.

Apart from everyone wearing amnesty t-shirts and looking very happy with their little babies, the songs basically say that life is precious, mothers' lives are also precious and mothers should not die needlessly, because of poverty. The rapper also mentions that bad time that women have with domestic violence, forced marriage and genital mutilation and calls the government to take action - there is a picture of President  Blaise Compaore looking very swish and holding up a banner, demanding dignity.


The clip is available online on various video sharing platforms. Here are
the links:

Vimeo : *http://www.vimeo.com/19348214* <http://www.vimeo.com/19348214>
Youtube :
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKfvtfVmJEM*<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKfvtfVmJEMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKfvtfVmJEM>
Dailymotion :
*http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgta6m_donner-la-vie_music*<http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgta6m_donner-la-vie_music>

AMNESTEA - Get together to drink tea and raise money for human rights

Anyone for Afternoon Tea?

Join us to raise money for Amnesty International

At St Bart’s Church

Primrose View, Langsett,

Sheffield, S6 2UW

Afternoon tea –sandwiches, scones and cakes and unlimited tea and coffee

 Saturday 19^th February

£5 per person

Tea will be served at 2.30, 3.30 and 4.30,

IIf people could let us know if they are planning to come

 and to what time, then we will be able to plan for numbers

To book and buy tickets, please speak to Gina, Helen or phone St Stephens office on 2751480

Asylum Dialogues : Burngreave Vestry Hall, 10th March

Dear iceandfire Friend,We have a jam-packed March, with four exciting events taking place across Yorkshire.Featuring iceandfire's acclaimed play Asylum Dialogues plus workshops by leading refugee organisations and The Co-operative. Events are free but bookings essential. To reserve your place email projects@iceandfire.co.uk If you can't read this message, please click here Valuing Diversity A series of free events across Yorkshire in March 2011 Featuring acclaimed iceandfire play Asylum Dialogues plus workshops by leading refugee organisations and The Co-operative Membership celebrating diversity across our community, followed by discussions and lunch. Thursdays in March 11am to 3pm March 10th, 11am to 3pm Sheffield Burngreave Vestry Hall, 2 Burngreave Rd, S39DD March 17th, 11am to 3pm Huddersfield Cultures United, 2 Trinity St, HD1 4DA March 24th, 11am to 3pm Bradford Kala Sangam, 1 Forster Sq, West Yorkshire BD1 4TY March 31st, 11am to 3pm Leeds St George's Centre, Great George St, LS1 3BR Free event but bookings essential. To reserve your place please email projects@iceandfire.co.uk For more information visit www.iceandfire.co.uk/coming-up Asylum Dialogues Scripted by Sonja Linden What happens when you meet someone who has fled their country to seek refuge in the UK? What happens when that person becomes your friend and needs your help? Drawn from real life conversations, Asylum Dialogues explores the everyday encounters between asylum seekers and British people, encouraging us to challenge our own preconceptions. " We regularly hear about the terrible hostility that asylum seekers and refugees face. But we rarely hear the stories of British people who are standing shoulder to shoulder with those seeking sanctuary in the UK. Asylum Dialogues tells these inspirational stories and shows how small gestures of welcome can make a big difference".- Juliet Stevenson, iceandfire patron The performance will be followed by workshops with leading refugee organisations and The Co-operative Membership, celebrating diversity across our community. In partnership with:   explores human rights stories through performance. Asylum Dialogues is performed by members of their national outreach network, Actors for Human Rights, made up of over 500 professional actors dedicated to drawing public attention to a range of contemporary human rights concerns. The actors and musicians involved volunteer their performance skills and public profile to encourage public acceptance of human rights laws and principles and to give voice to people whose basic human rights have been violated. www.iceandfire.co.uk/outreach/ Actors for Human Rights is supported by the Baring Foundation and: Formed to serve its members and the communities it works within The Co-operative has promoted its set of core values and principles since the 19th century. To these ends the Group strives to reflect the concerns and aspirations of its members through its commitment to local, regional and global communities. Owned by our Members - Sharing the profits - Helping your community - Changing the world - Committed to diversity iceandfire is a company limited by guarantee registered in England No 4648400, registered charity 1118200. -- iceandfire toynbee hall 28 commercial street london e1 6ls + 44 (0) 207 377 5299 www.iceandfire.co.uk iceandfire explores human rights stories through performance. Enter Amnesty & iceandfire's new writing initiative www.iceandfire.co.uk/everyonehastheright

Hospitality is being abused - Letters - The Star

Hospitality is being abused - Letters - The Star

British journalist expelled from Russia

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 (Sheffield Amnesty International supporters around the Anna Politkovskaya memorial tree, after the murder of Russian journalist, Natalia Estemirova)

 

 

 I read with horror about the clumsy expulsion of The Guardian's Moscow correspondent, Luke Harding, from Russia

 

His expulsion only serves to endorse the comments that Harding has made about the regime there.

 

The alarmingly high figure of journalists being killed in Russia allegedly in relation to their professional activity makes Russia the third deadliest country in the world for journalists, . The authorities in Russia have a poor record of bringing perpetrators to justice in high-profile cases of violence against journalists. Moreover, even the complaints about receiving death threats by independent journalists and human rights defenders are rarely addressed effectively by the authorities. 

 

Conditions for civil society, independent media and the work of independent human rights organizations have deteriorated in the Russian Federation over recent years. 

Whether or not the British government continues to talk to its Russian counterparts, you may be assured that Amnesty International will maintain its unwavering defence of journalists and human rights defenders who face persecution from harrassment to murder in that country.  We continue to seek the truth and bring to justice those responsible for the murders of many Russian journalists including Estemirova and Polkitkovskaya.

Last year Amnesty International supported  Russian journalists’ appeal to President Medvedev for increased protection, thorough investigations into unsolved attacks, and full implementation of Article 144 of the Russian Penal Code, which criminalizes the obstruction of the lawful professional activity of journalists.

It is time that the Russian governemnt respected freedom of expression and the right of human rights defender to do their work without intimidation by the state.

Solidarity with the People of the Middle East demo in Sheffield

In Sheffield today about 200 people assembled in front of the Town Hall to express their solidarity with the people of the Middle East. Another protest is due at the same place on Friday, 11th February at 17.30.  This is NOT an Amnesty International Event but organised by the Sheffield 'Solidarity with the People of the Middle East Committee.

For the latest information on Egypt form Amnesty International go to
http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/egypt


The violent crackdown on protestors demanding change in Egypt continues, with the authorities arresting those reporting on the crisis. We heard the shocking news that two Amnesty staff members were among 30 human rights activists, journalists and others who were detained by the Egyptian security forces. 

Thousands of Amnesty supporters took action overnight, calling for the release of activists and journalists detained during a police raid on Thursday. After spending almost two days in custody all 35 have now been released. This is welcome news but we are outraged that they were detained in the first place and remain concerned for other detained activists whose whereabouts we are still trying to establish.


The arrests are part of an unacceptable clampdown on human rights observers and journalists in Egypt in an attempt to stem independent reporting on the uprising and subsequent crackdown. Our staff and others monitoring the situation on the ground must be allowed to do their crucial work and we are demanding their immediate and unconditional release.

South Yorkshire Police to speak at Sheffield Amnesty International group

Wednesday 9th February, 7.15pm.  Sheffield Amnesty International meeting.  Guest speaker from South Yorkshire Police  on Tasers.  Quaker Friends Meeting House, St James St. Sheffield.  All welcome.

 

There will also be our usual discussion and actions on human rights around the world with full supporting activities.

 

 

George Bush trip to Switzerland has been cancelled

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PRESS RELEASE

05 February 2011

EMBARGO:Sunday 06 February 2011, 07:00Hs GMT

President Bush cancels visit to Switzerland

Former US president George W. Bush will not travel to Geneva on February 12, according to reports in the Tribune de Genève. The cancellation comes ahead of expected protests and possible legal action against the former president.

On Friday, Amnesty International sent Genevoise and Swiss federal prosecutors a detailed factual and legal analysis of President Bush's criminal responsibility for acts of torture he is believed to have authorised.  Amnesty International concluded that Switzerland had enough information to open a criminal investigation against the former president.

Such an investigation would be mandatory under Switzerland's international obligations if President Bush entered the country.

The organisers of the event President Bush was expected to attend told the Tribune de Genève that they decided to cancel the visit because of the controversy it has generated.  They denied that the potential criminal investigations against the former president were a factor in the decision.

Amnesty International has repeatedly called on US authorities to investigate the responsibility of the highest US officials for torture, and of President Bush in particular, most recently after the publication of his memoirs in November.

The USA has failed to open investigations that can adequately examine the former president's potential criminal responsibility for these acts, and all indications are that it will not do so.

To date, we've seen a handful of military investigations into detentions and interrogations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantánamo.  But none of these has had the independence and reach necessary to investigate high-level officials such as President Bush, said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

Meanwhile, there has been virtually zero accountability for crimes committed in the CIA's secret detention program, which was authorized by then-President Bush.

Anywhere in the world that he travels, President Bush could face investigation and potential prosecution for his responsibility for torture and other crimes in international law, particularly in any of the 147 countries that are party to the UN Convention against Torture.

As the US authorities have, so far, failed to bring President Bush to justice, the international community must step in," said Salil Shetty.

For further information or to arrange an interview, pleasecontact:

Josefina Salomon, +44 7778 472 116,

mailto:jsalomon@amnesty.org>jsalomon@amnesty.org

AMNESTYINTERNATIONAL

PRESS RELEASE

EMBARGO: Sunday 07February 2011 at 07:00 am GMT.

Swiss authorities must investigate President George W. Bush

Amnesty International today called on the Swiss authorities to open a criminal investigation against former US President George W. Bush in light of his expected visit to the country on 12 February.

President Bush admitted in his memoirs published last November, and in a television interview, that he authorized the Central Intelligence Agency

(CIA) to use a number of enhanced interrogation techniques against detainees held in secret CIA custody, including waterboarding.

The Swiss authorities would be obliged to detain and investigate the former President even if they were only to rely on his own statements that he authorized waterboarding, an interrogation technique that clearly constitutes torture, said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

It is not often that a person with President Bush's high public profile goes on television or puts in writing what amounts to admissions of personal involvement in crimes under international law, but this is what has happened here.

As the US authorities have, so far, failed to bring President Bush to justice, the international community must step in.

Amnesty International's submission to Swiss prosecutors and government officials examines the former president's legal responsibility for two cases in which he authorized the CIA to use waterboarding.

The CIA Inspector General found that these two detainees, Zayn al Abidin Muhammed Husayn (known as Abu Zubaydah) and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, were subjected, between them, to at least 266 applications of waterboarding in

2002 and 2003.  In this technique, detainees were strapped down, tipped backwards, had water poured over their nostrils and mouths, and experienced the pain and suffering of suffocation by drowning.

In the CIA ssecret detention program, set up under then-President Bush's authorization, at least two dozen additional detainees were subjected to a range of other enhanced interrogation techniques, including being forced to stay for hours in positions designed to cause pain and suffering, and being subjected to sleep deprivation and assaults.

The submission highlights further evidence of torture and other crimes under international law committed against detainees held in US military custody in Guantánamo, Afghanistan and Iraq.

For more than six years, Amnesty International has been calling on the USA to fully investigate and bring to justice anyone responsible for crimes under international law committed during the war on terror. The USA has failed to meet its obligations.

Switzerland prides itself on its support for international justice. This is an opportunity to translate that commitment from words into action, said Salil Shetty.

For furtherinformation or to arrange an interview, please contact:

JosefinaSalomon, +44 7778 472 116,

<mailto:jsalomon@amnesty.org>jsalomon@amnesty.org

Working to protect human rights worldwide