Minutes of AIBF Group 81
Meeting of November 2013
Present: Lucy (Chair), Alex, Jan, Karen, Stefania, Peter H., Peter K.
Apologies: Nicola, Natasa, Jane, Julia, Noreen, Fiona
October Minutes
There were no comments
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Letter writing
Letters prepared by Nicola and Jan were circulated; the letter from
Noreen would be distributed later by e-mail.
Lucy, Jan and Peter H. volunteered letters for the Decembermeeting.
Campaigns
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RAN South America
Peter H. reported the positive development of a deal
between the Colombian government and FARC, whereby the latter had agreed to abandon
violence as a means of political action, and agreed to enter into talks for a permanent peace,
to be held in Havana. Although this opened the way to genuine political participation, it was
not realistic to think of a settlement before at least a year’s work. Letters on the situation
were to be sent to the Prime Minister, the Defence Ministry and a mining company involved.
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Death penalty
Jan reported that the International Day against the Death Penalty
(October 10th) had focussed on the Caribbean, specifically Barbados, where execution as a
mandatory sentence for certain offences had been abandoned.
Individuals at risk
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Gao Zisheng Human Rights Watch has published a report on this case, stressing
in particular the incoherence of the sentence as handed down. The film on the situation,
“Transcending Fear”, was briefly discussed, and a decision taken to hire the film for viewing
before our Gao Zisheng/Euro Parliament Dinner in January.
Fundraising
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Pub Quiz The next quiz would be on Tuesday 12th November, for which Stefania
promised to bring a team. Peter K. reported that with Peter H., Jan, Jane & Louise as the
team, the evening was in good hands, but volunteers were always welcome for future
quizzes.
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Ceilidh There was a genuine problem choosing the venue for this event, both from
pricing and geography viewpoints. Peter K. proposed the Centre 1180 in Uccle, and David
the Stade Communal in Woluwe St. Lambert, but both these suggestions had to be
evaluated by third parties from the Group. Lucy agreed to approach the Caledonian Society
to discover the conditions pertaining to their choice of hall, and to delegate a Dutch-speaker
to negotiate in Dutch with the Maalbeck Centre.
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Chinese Dinner with Euro-Parliamentarians
The date chosen was 21st
January 2014, and the venue the “Quaker House” in the Sq. Ambiorix.
People in the
organisation loop included Philippe Givron (China Coordination AIBF), AI London, AI EU
Office, & AIBF Secretariat (Montserrat Carreras). Numerous MEPs would be invited, and
we could realistically expect 5-6 to attend, from a total capacity of 30 people in the room. It
was even possible that Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, would be in
Brussels that day and could attend. The Chair would be taken by a journalist expert on
human rights in China. Alex had done valuable work in setting this up; still to be determined
was the precise structure of the evening’s speeches, presentations, and responses. This
makes a fundamental difference on how the food should be served, so it is vital that Karen is
kept informed of developments.
Karen asked for volunteers from the Group for this event, who would need to help
prepare the room, serve the food & drink, and help clean up afterwards.
AIBF activities
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2013 Candle Campaign As in previous years the group will sell AI merchandise at
the Euro Parliament on December 2nd & 3rd, and in the Council on December .9th,10th, & 11th.
Lucy would find out if candles etc. had been ordered and would seek volunteers to help in
the selling. Peter K. agreed to man the Parliament stand during both days, with volunteers
being welcome at midday. Sally Bliss would welcome names for her stand in the Council.
Other business
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Beer Mats
It was agreed that there should be another edition of the “Happy News”
beer mats, but that we would await the 2014 edition of the AI Annual Report, to see what
would be the best message to use.
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USA Coordination Overtures had been received from the person doing this job,
and there was a standing invitation for her to come and speak to the group, whenever it was
mutually convenient.
The next business meeting is on Monday 2nd December 2013