[speaker001:] Yes. We shall just have to pretend it's not there, there's not, there's not quite as bad as when I had to speak for Amnesty on Radio Essex last year and it was live, as every word, every word I spoke was being you know [LAUGHTER] being heard by a lot of people and that's, that was very, that was very intimidating. Erm, I think since we've got some new people here, I'll, I'll perhaps just say a little bit about the group shall I, just to explain how we operate and erm and also how this meeting is going to operate erm. We are one of about three hundred Amnesty groups in the country, probably about this... size, perhaps, well were, were, I mean this, this group is probably about an average for the, you know, the groups in the country, some are smaller, some are much larger, but er, usually it's about a dozen or so people meeting once a month or, or that often in a room, erm, but apart from groups there are a l there are a great many more people who are called individual members of Amnesty about eighty thousand I think now who are, who just joined by writing to headquarters and many of those have no contact with the groups at all, we've had list of the people in this area and they run into hundred and fifty, two hundred people who live in this area who er, who belong, who, who belong to Amnesty but don't actually come to a group except for a small number of us. So the, the groups are very important though, because the groups do a great deal of the work for Amnesty, cos Amnesty's different from many organisations erm in that er, what the groups do, particularly the letter writing erm, helps to make the organisation work, it's not just a matter of raising money, we do things to, to fund raise or two, er have a proper publicity erm, the le the letters we write for prisoners and helps Amnesty to do it's work and not many other organisations operate like that. You can still do that as an individual member, cos in the magazine that comes every two months there are always cases, but er, it er, it's not qu ite the same as doing it in a group where we have our own particular prisoners to look after. So as far as this meeting's concerned, erm, most of our meetings are basically business meetings, but we, we have tried and we will try to put in speakers and, and do different things from time to time, we had er, er a woman last time who'd been to Central America recently and she gave us a very interesting talk on a visit to El Salvador and Guatamala, erm, and we, we'd like to do that more often, but, but what we do really erm, to begin with any rate, is we go th we go through the, the headings on this sheet, on the, on the minutes, we use them as headings for others and erm, items on the agenda and er... some may have more to say than others and there are one or two not on there which we'll pop in as we go along. So we start with apologies, does any one have any apologies to give to Ann?
[speaker002:] Yeah, Nicki and Saria.
[speaker003:] Yeah, Mike, Mike and, he's erm I don't think he's, I think he will be able to in future he's got a meeting arranged tonight... and he'll be here next time.
[speaker001:] We don't have from Hockerill school do we?
[speaker003:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Yes, yes.
[speaker001:] You're there, oh sorry
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] you're not the same that's why, that's why.
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, right, so you're from Hockerill school?
[speaker004:] Yes.
[speaker001:] Right, good, that's.
[speaker004:] Margaret can, can you ask, if I circulate that list again can you put your surname, anyone who's new, your surname, and then address. Oh are you new? Yes. Can you put your surname and address, so I can send you the minutes after this. I've got.
[speaker001:] Right, and, and, so your, your group's actually is it now?
[speaker004:] Yes.
[speaker001:] , the other way, the other way of, in which you can get more close to live Amnesty is to affiliate as a school group or a youth group or a religious group erm, that's nice to see you tonight. Erm... right now, er if you look at the minutes then of last meeting erm, can anyone see any thing they want to correct there at all? If they, if they seemed to be alright then I just sign a copy and that goes into our records.
[speaker004:] Can I just draw people's attention to the very last point which was made in case any one sending large sums of cash through the post office, erm, it, it's been running for a long time My mum was the only one who. And you're.
[speaker001:] So what are you talk
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] Your, your correct address is, is road isn't it, it's still reads as if it might not be, please note that on the membership list, Velma 's address is not Avenue.
[speaker004:] Is there a Avenue?
[speaker001:] It's Avenue.
[speaker004:] It should be road.
[speaker001:] It should be road.
[speaker004:] So, is there a Avenue? Yes, there is, yes. Oh, I see. She normally she brings them round to me, but erm.
[speaker001:] Shall we just, yeah
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER], getting fed up with it.
[speaker001:] On membership list Velma 's address should be
[speaker004:] It should be, should be, yeah.
[speaker001:] Should be 's Road, not Avenue. Right... erm, so were happy with the, with the minutes otherwise, alright I'll, I'll sign them, er
[speaker004:] Eleventh.
[speaker001:] eleventh, always have to look at them to see...
[speaker004:] . Like that. Oh you want the surnames of is that what you mean surnames of the Hockerill people? Yeah . They're, they're on, they're both on. Oh they are on there, alright, and I've got your address,. I've got the address of the other, the other.
[speaker001:] Right, erm, now... are there any matters arising from the minutes which erm, you want to bring up now, which won't come up under any other heading? Usually it's sort of following up things which have been mentioned, which, erm, Mary events that have taken place. I wonder about this Justice and Peace Group who requested a speaker, did they hear any more?
[speaker004:] Mary lives near them.
[speaker001:] Well then?
[speaker002:] Well I'm rather curious erm phone call from Eric, Ernest
[speaker001:] Ernest is the chair of the Saffron Waldren Group, yes.
[speaker002:] People keep asking Saffron Waldren
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker002:] for help and in fact, I had already spoken to the Justice and Peace Group, so I don't really know where the muddle had come, but he said he got a, a list from British Section and Bishop's Stortford hasn't got any representative at all, which is extraordinary, so I don't whether Rose has little note and told Mr.
[speaker001:] A list of what? Got a representative for as a speaker?
[speaker002:] No, representative Amnesty, all for, only known he had, I think it was Ann's and he, Ann was out he didn't get her, I thought, no it wasn't you, it was Ann, and he, and he couldn't get her, I don't understand quite what's he talking about, but anyway, I phoned the Justice and Peace Group and found they'd already,
[speaker004:] spoken.
[speaker002:] yes, and a, she's phoned tonight and said she hadn't arranged anything yet, but it's in hand.
[speaker004:] Oh, I see she hasn't actually given a talk, but she's going to. But she's, she going to deal with it?.
[speaker002:] I think it's alright.
[speaker004:] I, I haven't spoken to her, since the last meeting, so
[speaker001:] But if you do speak to them, perhaps you could get them affiliated again, cos they used to be didn't they in Sister May and Paul's time.
[speaker004:] I don't know where they? Yes. . That was Justice and Peace Group at St. Ersly?
[speaker001:] Yes.
[speaker004:] Oh right.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker004:] Yes.
[speaker001:] Yes.
[speaker004:] So when he's. Yes, yes we should ask Saria when he speaks to them, to see if they could do that, no, right. What happened, what, it's not as bad as it sounds, it'll.
[speaker001:] Oh that's, that's a hand that she, she's going to speak, that's for the.
[speaker004:] But, but, erm, I understand from quite often got erm individual member quir enquiries to Saffron Waldren cos they couldn't find a group erm, there's a. Oh that's for. Yes that's in, in the Highbury it's in the phone book so See I don't know what
[speaker001:] Any rate I said we were very much alive.
[speaker004:] That's right, so if. [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] Right, okay, the other thing I was going to ask about we, we had a big promotion of Amnesty by The Body Shop, last year, er and we noticed that Our Price were also going to do promotion of Amnesty and we asked, wonder if we look into local shops and see what they could find out and what was going on, did you find anything?
[speaker004:] Yeah, I, I went in yesterday actually, I spoke to the assistant manager and erm, it, it was not good news at all, he got two like plastic dispensers of leaflets in front of the till . and erm, they were absolutely chocker, they were really full and he said erm, I sa, he said he hadn't had to fill them up at all in all the time that it's been running, and no, I asked him if he had any enquiries and nobody stopped him and asked anything about it, and then he turned to the other lad who was beside him the sales assistant and he said no I've had no enquiries at all, so that was it. It's a similar story I just took erm, some leaflets, take a look at that. It's just erm... oh it's their own leaflet at Our Price Yes. Yes. Yes, but it's about the erm, thirty to er Thirty thirtieth anniversary yes, erm, the programme on television Mm, mm. erm, but again they said they'd hardly, hardly anyone had taken any.
[speaker001:] Was that the only publicity though, there were no other, no.
[speaker004:] Alright Liz? I didn't, I think that was the, that was it, it was just that . Would you bring that other chair. . . Er, group. I don't know whether it. would the, did the staff seem interested, a got a nil positive response from them, assistant manager or the other guy who sort of looked at me as if I Erm, no, no, no it wasn't like that at Harlow. I wrote out a. Oh doesn't sound very, doesn't sound very hopeful. Oh dear.
[speaker001:] Erm The Body, The Body Shop staff were all give were all given training weren't they and, and a lot of details and they had a video that they use with them, perhaps that's the aspect that's not been looked at so well.
[speaker004:] Mm. Yeah.
[speaker001:] Still they've got leaflets there, that's something I suppose, mm, right, so there's not, there's not a lot more we can do then really is there?
[speaker004:] Yeah .
[speaker001:] Unless you can have...
[speaker004:] Think it's.
[speaker001:] no, if they're, if they're, if they're not doing it, you know, the way The Body Shop did it, probably won't come to anything, mm, right, erm, are there any other matters arising, people want to bring up from the minutes?... no.
[speaker004:] Oh, probably the future of.
[speaker001:] Yes, yes, I think. Erm, right, so we'll move on, erm to the treasurer's report er now that Val is a treasurer she can tell us how we stand.
[speaker005:] Right, well we have two hundred and sixty five pounds and sixty eight pence in the bank at the moment, erm which actually isn't very much if you think that we've got to go right through to July to our next fund raising event, so, I was wondering that, if anyone hasn't paid their subscriptions for last year or if anyone owes for Christmas cards, I think there's one or two
[speaker004:] How much is the subscription?
[speaker005:] I don't know, you'll have to ask Mary.
[speaker004:] Right.
[speaker001:] How much is it Mary?
[speaker002:] I think it's still
[speaker004:] No you didn't pay I didn't. no, I know. I think I made a little note.
[speaker001:] I think it's still only five pounds, isn't it?
[speaker004:] Oh I haven't checked with.
[speaker001:] Mary, Mary, how much is the subscription?
[speaker002:] Well it's, we haven't altered it, it's still two fifty if you're an individual member and five pound if you're not.
[speaker001:] If you're, yes.
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] We need a lot of new members [LAUGHTER].
[speaker005:] It's because the erm, we can't really let, let the balance go to low especially if we've got the A G M coming up or probably be erm something.
[speaker004:] don't we?
[speaker005:] I don't, I don't really know, I can't remember what
[speaker001:] Twelve hundred pounds.
[speaker005:] We extend it to this year as well as last?
[speaker001:] No, what I mean is, we don't double the amount, I'm sorry we, were supposed to send six hundred.
[speaker005:] Ah.
[speaker001:] In fact this has been a bit over ambitious, very pleased with ourselves weren't we, perhaps we haven't given ourselves enough?
[speaker004:] But, there's still some Christmas cards.
[speaker001:] Ah right, well perhaps we can chase people up when they.
[speaker004:] They, there's the little bits, yes not too much, but a little bit. Oh yes, that's.
[speaker001:] But we have been as l low as that before?
[speaker005:] Oh yes, yes.
[speaker001:] Yes, it's just that quite right, we haven't got a fund, a major fund raising event now until July, unless anything else of, you know, smaller crops up and our two street collections we know will bring in quite a lot of money.
[speaker005:] Yeah, that's right and we had the car park last year didn't we?
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker004:] Mm.
[speaker005:] That was earlier on.
[speaker001:] Mm, well, we'll just have to go, go easy [LAUGHTER].
[speaker005:] So, that's all I think.
[speaker001:] Yes, as I say. Right, now erm, the next item is the prisoner, but we actually don't have a prisoner at the moment do we, because our, we have, we eat, every Amn each Amnesty Group has er usually nowadays one er given to look after and our most recent prisoner was er Sabri Lushe, is that the right one?
[speaker004:] Yes.
[speaker001:] From, from Yugoslavia, and we, we heard provisionally he was released about August didn't we, and then eventually a couple of months ago that he had definitely released, erm, and, were, were very pleased about that cos was he released before the end of his term, he must have been?
[speaker004:] He was, well it wasn't much before it, it was erm, he should of come out in February, he came out the Previous July.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker004:] So.
[speaker001:] Mm
[speaker004:] So, seven months, plus another year I think he had already.
[speaker001:] Yes. And he was previously in, in prison for del for handing out leaflets, er asking for the Independence or the separation of his bit of Serbia wasn't he, from, from the, from the rest. Erm, so what were doing is were, we hope were waiting for a new prisoner... to be allocated to us, erm, and perhaps we could, perhaps we could, perhaps we can write and remind you think, think we should do that?
[speaker004:] Yes.
[speaker001:] Haven't heard anything at all have we? I'm not sure, in the lists in the magazine we should have appeared as being having been released
[speaker004:] Yes, I'll check it.
[speaker001:] he hasn't been in has he? Mm.
[speaker004:] . I think they were playing on the, the sheet I'd sent back doesn't say that we hadn't had any official conformations, still didn't, although we had, had it on the telephone we hadn't had anything written. No, Val, have we still not had a letter from er...
[speaker005:] No, no, we haven't
[speaker004:] from M I S and that?.
[speaker005:] We, we had a letter from the International Secretarium in August or September I think saying that they'd changed the law and all prisoners of a certain category should have been released and our prisoners were amongst, our prisoner was amongst that list, but erm, they didn't say that they haven't got any definite news whether he had been or not, about the release.
[speaker004:] Yeah, mm.
[speaker005:] And it wasn't until I phoned the co-ordinators that he was able to tell me that, oh yes, yes, that was months ago he said
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker005:] you know, haven't you heard? and I said well we've not had any official conformation.
[speaker004:] Well. Yeah, this, this is interesting, it gets confusing perhaps because erm, I rang British Section, British Section today erm, enquiring about er, ah, there it is, were, were are we, erm enquiring about er groups having two prisoners you brought this up last time and as the result of me talking to somebody there erm, it became clear that British Section still showed us as having Sabri Lushe as a prisoner, erm and they weren't aware that we were no longer dealing with him, he'd been released, and what they say is they usually get conformation from International Secretarium Mm. erm and I said well, you know, as far as I'm aware we've had conformation Yes, but it's not written you see. but, not written. But it's interesting, but the Erm. the co-ordinator was very definite about his list, he, there was no question that, that he had, he'd, he'd got something written is, even he hadn't. Mm. Perhaps we, I mean, then British Section said to us on this erm and I'd s, already said I think er by the time it got to this stage of conversation that we were without a prisoner at the moment, but, but awaiting one, and he said well, that would ex, that would explain it because er, until we initiate it, British Section initiates it you won't get another prisoner, they're waiting for conformation from R E S Won't get one.
[speaker001:] Ah well in that case it would be a good idea to write to R E S.
[speaker004:] So it needs some, an action somewhere to erm, er, er, he said... could we get, if we've got a conformation, conformation that's from R E S could you send it to British Section. No, we haven't I anywhere.
[speaker001:] Yes, we, yes the, the rea the reason why it, this why confu confusions is if anyone else doesn't realise is that the International Secretaire, which is the International Body controlling all Amnesty Groups throughout the world of which there are maybe fifty, sixty, I've lost count of the number, erm
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] is, is, in London and we deal with the British Section which is are the particular bits, but the prisoners have to be vatted and looked at and found by the International Secretaires, then they're passed on to British Section who pass them on to us and a great deal of research goes into making sure that they really are truly prisoners of conscience, that they've been in prison for some er possibly because of their belief or religion or their race erm and they've not taken or advocated violence not taken part in or advocated violence and then, then they are full prisoners of conscience erm we maybe allocated them.
[speaker004:] Who should I write to British Section or?
[speaker001:] Well some, I think it's probably British Section, probably the best way just to write and say that we know, this is the case
[speaker004:] Erm...
[speaker001:] let them, let, do you think, let them, let, cos if we leave it to International Secretaire they may still not do it.
[speaker004:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Or both.
[speaker004:] Co-ordinator come under British Section and International Secretaire?
[speaker001:] The what?
[speaker004:] The co-ordinator.
[speaker001:] I don't, there isn't a Co-ordinator for prisoners as such is there?
[speaker004:] No, I'm not sure. There's a Crawly for Yugoslav So you go prisoners that I, I list them
[speaker001:] Ah, yes.
[speaker004:] Yeah, and is he, under British Section? He comes under British Section.
[speaker001:] Mm, and if he knows he's been released why doesn't British Section knows this?
[speaker004:] Well. Mm. It's serious isn't it.
[speaker001:] Well we cou, we could write to both if necessary I mean they'd want them to know that we, that our prisoner's been released and that we can have another one.
[speaker004:] Yeah Well, certainly, who ever it was I spoke to today said their files show they was, was still dealing with it. Mm. What was the outcome of the request of the multiple persons? Right, the, I was, about to er come to that, erm... the erm, there is no reason why a group should not have more than one prisoner erm, the practical situation is that, that groups are queuing up to, to get a prisoner at the moment in fact, erm, not always the situation but at presently there is a waiting list for who have groups to have a prisoner allocated to them, erm, if we so wish er, ah, if, if a group comes onto the list who has er, ah, and their prisoner is released and, and we, we er in that situation we, and any group without a prisoner at all goes to the head of the list and be allocated straight away, but we could request a second prisoner and that case would be put to the bottom of the list, so when the other groups who, who've got no prison will take priority now, but we, we could request a second prisoner if we so wanted so you are talking about a motion at the A G M, but it's not really necessary Oh I see. it is.
[speaker001:] The possibility's always there, but
[speaker004:] The possibility's there if we wish to take that up.
[speaker001:] Yes, I've always, I've always understood, understood more recently the reason why that there would always seemed to be enough prisoners, when we know there really must be enough prisoners throughout the world is that the betting procedure and they're making quite sure they're the right people takes time and money and effort, erm, that's part and also there are some areas of the world now, where, where there aren't as many prisoners as there were, there are very few, there are very few prisoners of conscience in Latin America because they don't put them in prison they just get rid of them, they just disappear and there are practically, practically none from Latin America countries, cos of these, these disappearances rather than being put in prison, erm, but it's a sort of combination of reasons I think but er quite a long time now, ten, fifteen years I think groups have only had one prisoner, whereas when I first joined and Ann's there, we had three didn't we at one time?
[speaker006:] Yes, oh yes
[speaker001:] So, that was when there were far fewer numbers of groups than there are now.
[speaker004:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Mm, so I'll see. But anyway, our, our prisoner, we, we, we are fairly sure he's been released, he's a, we had him for about two was it one or two years?
[speaker004:] About eighteen months I think.
[speaker001:] Yes and on the whole recently we've had prisoners who been imprison for sort of two or three years, we've, we've made up petitions, we've sent postcards and we've, we've written letters and er they've been released in reasonably short space of time, but then mostly the prisoners which, who haven't had a very long sentence, unlike the one I mentioned on the way here tonight, have the Russian who had been in thirty years
[speaker004:] Ooh.
[speaker001:] erm and he was released and he came to Harlow and we meet him and that was, that was very good, erm, but we haven't had one like that, you know for a long time. Erm just noticing press we did, say last time that would be, that Sabir's release would be mention in the press, did you manage that?
[speaker004:] Yeah, yeah,
[speaker001:] Oh.
[speaker004:] Well, well I'll do it in the
[speaker001:] Yes, yes,.
[speaker004:] Erm
[speaker001:] Right
[speaker004:] Sorry, got to, got, a, clarifying on that then, what, who we writing too on that I'm, I'm.
[speaker001:] Who do you think you're writing too?
[speaker004:] I [LAUGHTER]. Erm. I mean, I, I was very much got the impression from her I, I'm sorry I didn't get a name, the chap I was speaking to, but erm... it, he, he was very distinct that we should get a letter from I S and that have conformation and, and, er and send it on, you know, that, they all should also should get a copy, so it, it strikes me we should perhaps write a write to I S and perhaps send a copy with a covering letter to British Section I got erm... and brochures sort of thing you know. Do you think we should go to I S. Yes, British Section.
[speaker001:] That an idea, yes, we, if we let them both know then, then erm, we might we might speed things up.
[speaker004:] Yeah, yeah, then, yeah.
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Erm, see if, if there's a... a hitch and also get er something out.
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Get things moving.
[speaker001:] Yes, because it'll be nice, us, it's, I mean they, abode there is a lot oth, there is, there is a lot of other work now, there prisoner are prisoner of is still fairly central isn't it, he or she to be, to be er, the work we do.
[speaker004:] The most sort of personal thing I suppose, erm, let the group open.
[speaker001:] Right, now if we look on, erm we come to Regional Action Networks, another reason why Amnesty seems not to allocate more than one prisoner and all now is that they have expanded the ways in which we deal with prisoners and the world is more or less been divided up into areas, erm, of smaller regions and groups are asked to choose one or two regions to deal with particularly and we, we have for quite a long time now erm been concerned with Southern Africa and Central America and we get information through on prisoners and what's happening in those two regions, so John do you have anything else on Africa at all?
[speaker003:] Erm, I have nothing at all through me, erm, no action's come and er no information really, there is this change of co-ordinates up erm
[speaker001:] You mention that.
[speaker003:] co-ordinates up, erm, you know, I haven't yet had contact from... er... no, I thought I'd been given a new name, but, no I haven't had con any contact from my new co-ordinator yet, erm, but that wasn't in my mind when I spoke on Thursday about Christmas, perhaps I ought to pursue that one in time for the next meeting and see what's happening in South Africa and are getting it in South America for.
[speaker001:] Yes.
[speaker003:] Erm, I'll, well perhaps pursue that
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker003:] for the ne, in time for the next meeting, erm there was, what's full name for er not sending in a return or couple of returns erm at the last meeting and I've dealt with that and sent them off, have they sent you anything else?
[speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] No, thank god [].
[speaker003:] Right erm
[speaker001:] .
[speaker003:] but er, I have nothing, nothing, er no actions at all which is mysterious to me, I, why nothing's going on I don't know.
[speaker001:] Yeah, right, thank
[speaker003:] I'm jealous of Peter he always has much more
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER]. Are you kidding? It's, I, I mean these, these, the work with, with the original action network seems to, seems to come and go, you've got a very large amount at one point and then nothing for sometime, it just depends er, I think which country they're targeting and how much there is, because we had quite a lot on Malawi didn't we during the early part on last year not much on South Africa recently, as if they don't quite know what to do, you know with the situation there it's not quite er clarified. Mm.
[speaker001:] Right, now Peter do you have anything on Central America this time?
[speaker007:] Erm not a great deal, no actions
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker007:] er, so I've a, isn't it, it's a case of no news is possibly good news again, erm, I'm trying to get in touch with the National Co-Organiser for Carl and John without er any success erm, I know he was going to the erm, the British Section just erm, he was gonna check on them and what actions were forthcoming but er, I haven't heard about that erm, I dare say there's some on the way erm, the erm, the other few points were erm Jackie's talk last month she mentioned that erm she was gonna give sort of the more forms sort of side presentation and stuff at their centre in North London, I've gotta date for that now, it's erm the eighteenth of March, which is a Wednesday so eh, I'll certainly be going, if anybody else is interested that's er, that's the date... er, it's, it's not entirely to do with but it, it has a link in, erm we were mentioning campaigns last month, I believe there's a fourth coming one on, indigenous peoples, which, er, it's, it's all sort of triggered off by erm the er five hundredth anniversary of Columbus discovering the Americas erm, the erm cast and the whole of all the sort of the Region and Action networks and the Americas are, erm gonna have a big link in with that campaign so, erm, I, I'd really like to see us sort of getting involved with that, yes, and, I mean, I'll be involved to an extent anyway, cos some of the actions that I'll getting will be sort of addressing the issue of indigenous people's but erm, erm, they if, if nobody else is wiling to take it on, I'll, I'll, I'd certainly be prepared to erm, sort of co-ordinate that campaign, erm, having said all that, erm I mentioned to a few people that erm, erm in the process of buying a house, so erm I could be moving in well hopefully as little as two months time so erm, I mean if er is as quite as it has been for the last few months, I probably won't have any problems, but erm, sod's law it's bound to pick up just as I'm moving house
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker007:] so erm,
[speaker004:] Is the house local or erm?
[speaker007:] yeah it is local so I'll still be coming to the group, I mean it's erm, going, I mean erm just bear that in mind I might need sort of some help with coordinating cards and things, and erm, particularly if we do opt into the campaign, er it might be advisable for somebody else to do it, or at least sort of give me assistance.
[speaker004:] What is?
[speaker001:] .
[speaker007:] It, ah sorry.
[speaker001:] I, I, I don't mention it.
[speaker007:] It's Central America's special action, stands for it's, gives another regional action network, erm, right, I think that's it.
[speaker001:] Right, now, erm, were going to have it on the actual headings as far as the minutes concerned cos we didn't deal with anything very much last time, but the next item on the agenda erm, is usually campaigns and Amnesty erm usually has one or two or more campaigns running on a particular aspect of it's work or a particular country and there was some that really started maybe two or three years ago and which have continued erm in a smaller form since that time. One of those is a death penalty campaign which was a very big one about two, two to three years ago when we focused particularly on, on the United States and all the other major countries which erm... which er used the best penalty to fairly large extent, er do we have anything Catherine on that tonight?.
[speaker008:] Yes yes we do actually.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker008:] Erm, a couple of days ago, that's what they call a surprise action
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER]. What a surprise.
[speaker008:] we asked for space, and they said oh mid April, and that actually is the next schedule step down action and that's going to be on Europe and that'll run from April till June, erm but from now till April if anybody would like to write the country which is Chile and this is because they're, they suppose that they have extend the death penalty in Chile to include the murder of an off duty police witnesses, at the moment it's only erm, the death penalty only exists for on duty police officers
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker008:] so, erm, it's not actually very big, there are about eight addresses here, they do say if anybodies able to write in Spanish if anybody can sort of if you write in English, maybe could send it to you, could get it translated at the Stortford, oh that might be very useful, erm, I mean, I'll certainly do some letters and if anybody else wants to, if they let me know I'll let them have the addresses... for them, erm, there are fax as well and that suppose to be a quicker way than writing a letter actually than send through a fax, right, erm, if anybody can then we could send them to you and, and ask you to send it on, and we would sort of postage, would be covered would it Margaret?
[speaker001:] Oh yes it could be, yes, it could, it could be, if it's not too much, not faxed now
[speaker008:] Yes, so the wouldn't be, no, no. So if anybody would like to write I'll let them have all the addresses, there are about eight there, so erm, otherwise it's just the urgent action network which is er a constant thing really. Did one yesterday for a man who was due to be executed today, erm, I don't know whether he was or not, but he probably in a few days time.
[speaker001:] Which country was that?
[speaker008:] United States.
[speaker004:] United States. Oh gosh.
[speaker008:] So er, that's it anyway it's just Chile at the moment.
[speaker001:] So you'd like people to come to you afterwards if, if they, help, they can.
[speaker008:] Yes, if they want to, take their address.
[speaker001:] Right, thank you, erm, now Ross isn't, is there anything further on the thir, last year was the thirtieth anniversary of Amnesty's foundation in nineteen sixty one and we've had a campaign and that, and that still sort of running is there anything more on that?
[speaker003:] Erm, no there's, there's nothing on that.
[speaker001:] No, no, no, so perhaps we have finished.
[speaker003:] Well, I mean, hopefully there, there'd be at least er sort of thing erm in the summery to see what went on during the year
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker003:] at the moment we have nothing so just have to wait and see.
[speaker001:] Yeah, right. Now what about these other campaigns we mentioned last time, did we decide what, or did we leave it till this meeting cos there was India and there was Women's
[speaker004:] Women, yeah I spoke to [LAUGHTER] [] and er, it just. Yes, er I'll campaign. India we were going to discuss it with.
[speaker001:] So women you've sent, have you sent up Avriel's name or will send it up.
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER] I'll will send it up []. Yes. The late contact. [LAUGHTER] []
[speaker001:] It wasn't er, it wasn't a very long one was it, it was two or three months was it?
[speaker004:] Yeah
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] I think it was February to April.
[speaker001:] Mm, actually we had a women's campaign last year didn't we?
[speaker004:] Yes we did didn't we?
[speaker001:] Sort of a continuation of
[speaker004:] We had a fairly good result
[speaker001:] Yes.
[speaker004:] I do recall four out of ten released.
[speaker001:] Mm, there was quite a lot of publicity given to that wasn't there?
[speaker004:] Yes, it was very good...
[speaker001:] So you'll let me have that information?
[speaker004:] Or shall I, if I send the form off with your name, then they should come straight to you.
[speaker001:] Right, so what was the situation with India then? that's, that, how long was, how long does that run?
[speaker004:] Erm.
[speaker001:] Can't remember that far.
[speaker004:] Erm, I think it was March to about July something like that. March to July. Yeah.
[speaker001:] That's really a matter if, if anybody who's interested enough to take on what we call co-ordination, receiving the material and then you know, telling people what letters are needed. Erm...
[speaker004:] Is that running for the same period of time as the Women's campaign, do you know?
[speaker001:] Seems to overlap it's just slightly longer isn't it?
[speaker004:] overlap slightly, March to Ju July.
[speaker001:] Mm, yes.
[speaker004:] Are these the campaigns involve then? This is receiving the material, passing and sort of distribute it to the people within the group who are interested in writing letters. And it's mainly just writing letters is it?
[speaker001:] And advertising it and just anything you can do, er
[speaker004:] You'll be,
[speaker001:] to.
[speaker004:] you'll be, you'll be sent instructions on what, who to write to and it's a matter of sorting those out and erm sending out letters to group members like asking them to write to this person or that person, so that's not too bad,.
[speaker001:] Are, are you interested then?
[speaker004:] some help, brilliant sort of meetings. Well can I bring, say bring it to the meeting and.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm, we might even manage, I mean, we, we might talk later on about this, but, perhaps you know have two or three people working on a campaign if, if, if, if it was felt to be better that way, mm, mm.
[speaker004:] Mm, yeah. You, you've had no news of this indigenous people as a campaign? No. I was wondering about that. . I'm sure it was in last month's news No. Good News letter. It hasn't been in the, I cover, but I have some information you gave me, it hasn't been in that at all, mm. Mm. Mm, perhaps it's gonna be a big one? Making making it, all I know sort of saving it, saving it perhaps to American news. It is, it is, it's gonna be a really campaign. I thought it was, the, they're gonna sort of initially kick it off in March No, it hasn't. It hasn't been mentioned, no, these things sometimes get delayed don't they? Yeah. Mm. Delayed. Is that right? I think it's gonna get most. Yeah.
[speaker009:] Were sending February news letters so if it's starting in March
[speaker004:] Can you give us a copy?
[speaker009:] [LAUGHTER], think were gonna swop.
[speaker001:] Right, er Liz would you do an just to receive the information on India and look through.
[speaker009:] Yes, if,
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker009:] if I find it too much, cos I start, I'm starting a full time job again, I, I'll ask to share it hopefully.
[speaker001:] Yes, yes, it sounds it sounds as it's for a limited time anyway, so, you know
[speaker009:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Good, thank you very much.
[speaker004:] Yeah, it says it starts in March.
[speaker009:] So I, I'm pull your name and address out.
[speaker004:] Oh, great...
[speaker001:] Well we'll shall wait, we shall wait to hear about it, cos it, I don't see there was anything there was there?
[speaker004:] No.
[speaker001:] Right, so that's India, so that's good, so were, so the campaigns erm we are going to be involved in then er will be the Women's campaign and India campaign. That's quite good because y often there is a country though, we haven't had many campaigns on countries sort of lately have we, it's been more on different aspects on Amnesty's work so they're obviously going back to picking on countries where they deal, that'll. Right, now, the next item is the press and we have a press officer, yeah, like to, perhaps say what's been happening a little bit and, and you know talk about the next time.
[speaker004:] No, I haven't done anything recently, but today I actually rang publishing one of the papers about Sabri's release and spoke to a guy at the Herald and Post and someone at The Observer, said I hope you put something in this week.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker004:] And I actually found that it was, it was better to actually talk to them than just send them
[speaker001:] Press release.
[speaker004:] their press release, so I might do that in future, send out a release and then follow it up on the phone call.
[speaker001:] Cos you've got contacts now you know that, you know who the people are.
[speaker004:] Yeah, yeah, speak to them.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker004:] But I found at Herald and Post the actual reporters have only been meeting and I've been sending all the erm all the paper work to Harlow and Bishop's Stortford, but they're just sort of the erm, the advertising people so erm, that's why we've not had anything in the papers.
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Though I've found out now.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker004:] Have they moved to Luton recently somebody reported? I don't know. , had a conversation about this. Well when I rang about news was it June last year, they were still at Harlow. Mm. They used to be in they've all gone over to Luton.
[speaker001:] We do get bits in don't we from time to time?
[speaker004:] Yeah, yeah, recently.
[speaker001:] No. I think they, if they, I mean as long as they know we are going to tell them or give them something each month they ought, ought to begin to look out for it [LAUGHTER].
[speaker004:] No, it's just a bit of, you know the press release that.
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Especially if only goes in advertising section.
[speaker001:] Yes I think we, we started doing that originally because er the people from the Epping group said they did that every month didn't they, they, they issued a press release and sent it to all the local papers, that seems to be the way of doing it.
[speaker004:] Mm.
[speaker001:] And if you found that, you know, if find that
[speaker004:] Yeah, I might of thought still send out omitting the letter actually this month.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker004:] Probably. So I hope really there should be something in those two, and I'll try the Citizen and The Star tomorrow.
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker002:] Try speaking to Steve at The Star.
[speaker004:] At The Star?
[speaker002:] Yeah, he's quite useful, he's good at that sort of thing... erm...
[speaker004:] So this I thought about doing something on the erm, the new schools' group what we... when we finish the. cos I get some details from they like that sort of thing. Well.
[speaker001:] If you're happy with that? Mm.
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] Yes [LAUGHTER], yes.
[speaker004:] Yeah, I, I start at the moment. . Yeah.
[speaker001:] Yes, have you, I mean if you, ask Kate then Kate can come, come to these four. Good.
[speaker004:] If we can do the Insemination things. [LAUGHTER]. Did I tell you about that? [LAUGHTER]. When we went, it was really funny, when we went to do the, the talk erm, afterwards when we were all sort of getting together and having a chat, they're telling me about, they do artificial, they artificial inseminate pigs Inseminate pigs. don't you, up at with a cork and a bit of cotton wool. [LAUGHTER]. And and John and I were just in fits. [LAUGHTER].. It's not part of the. No, [LAUGHTER]. What item were we on? [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] Right, so, were hap were happy with that then? So, we'll, we'll, we'll do something on, on, on the on Hockerill school group, if, if you're happy with that? Yes, we have had other school groups but they, this is the thing, this, I mean, it could happen with you, as, as people move on and leave school er you need to encourage people lower down the school to get interested and then, then it'll, it'll carry on otherwise they tend to drop. Right, now we've come I think to future events, erm, and we need to just try and list anything you know that's coming up so, partly so that we've actually got it down writing and we can look back on it. So we noted last time that I booked the library in Bishop's Stortford for two periods, this year for display, we've booked the er street collection in Bishop's Stortford for July, now are there any other dates we need to mention.
[speaker004:] No, we we got the Harlow street collection though, erm... seventeenth of October.
[speaker001:] Seventeenth of October.
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] These, these two collectors are, are our main big fund raising events, erm, we, we have got, we have got erm, is that over, we have got over five hundred haven't we in Harlow I'm, and Bishop's Stortford haven't we?
[speaker004:] Erm, in fact we've got five hundred and twenty seven that
[speaker001:] Is that Bishop's Stort?
[speaker004:] Harlow one.
[speaker001:] In Harlow.
[speaker004:] The last of the collection is Harlow, last intake.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker004:] Yeah. And that, and that was a bit of a all year so that's, that passed.
[speaker001:] Yes. Erm, and we, we find although Amnesty does run er door to door collection which we are always encouraged to join in [LAUGHTER] which we never have [], which is I think always in June, in June now, it's good time, it's a good time of year for it, but that means going round putting envelopes in doors, going back and collecting them, the arguments on the doorstep about Amnesty [LAUGHTER], er going back again if people are not in and we, we as a, relatively small group covering a very big area we, we haven't felt able to do that, and we actually find that by standing in the street with each person having a tin for one or two hours, we can do quite well that way and er, that's, that's [clock strikes]. They say Wednesday erm activity at Latton Bush, thanks for sending that information, I've sent off the letter and said that we will take a stall and if anyone's free to help
[speaker004:] Me.
[speaker001:] on the seventh March.
[speaker006:] Which day?
[speaker004:] Wo Women's day?
[speaker001:] Mm, International Women's day.
[speaker006:] What day of the week?
[speaker001:] Erm, I think it's a Saturday Ann the seventh.
[speaker004:] The seventh of March?
[speaker001:] But even if no one else can help I will take part in it.
[speaker004:] Where, is that the Playhouse.
[speaker001:] I think it's, [cough] excuse me, I think it's at erm, it's a I think it's at Latton Bush, I'm not, I'm waiting for the
[speaker004:] It's been at the Playhouse in past years though.
[speaker001:] Oh, well maybe.
[speaker004:] No, it wasn't, wasn't at last year was it? Was it?
[speaker001:] Well last year I did it at Latton Bush.
[speaker004:] Well what, what's the date?. The seventh. The seventh of March.
[speaker001:] Erm, so that's going to be before our next meeting isn't it? So erm, if anybody wants to help contact me.
[speaker004:] Yes, what time, how much is, how much the day is it all day?
[speaker001:] I haven't any details either than what she said.
[speaker004:] No.
[speaker001:] Erm, shall we erm see, what shall we do about this, it's Saturday the seventh of March, on a Saturday
[speaker004:] As I say I'll take a stall and I'll be there all day if anyone can help me.
[speaker001:] Right, well perhaps I, perhaps people could as actually come and speak to me afterwards, if they, if they think they could help at all, that's International Women's Day and all the local organisations have been asked to take part
[speaker004:] Certainly, it's, it's for your. It was quite good last year.
[speaker001:] Yes, and we could sell our products and that's sort of thing.
[speaker004:] Yeah our things,. And that's a good way of advertising our.
[speaker001:] Mm, right, we've got a list, ah, you probably know, there's a list, a list isn't there, of, of sort of sale products, have you had that at all?, thing that came with us, with your, with.
[speaker004:] No. Yes I got it, but you may not of had it.
[speaker001:] I will pass it on, I will pass it on to you. We, we sell quite a lot of Amnesty products, a lot, a lot of clothing in every
[speaker004:] on tonight. Yeah.
[speaker001:] Tee-shirts and er sweat shirts and all sorts of things so we can take them along, so that's, that's Saturday the m, seventh of March, if you think you can help at all see Avriel afterwards.
[speaker004:] have you got a date? Yeah, got a couple.
[speaker001:] Anything you we got some of those things, tell me, I'll bring it along.
[speaker004:] Mm, yeah, [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] Right any other future events that ought to be mentioned. Erm, I suppose I don't know whether we ought, whether we should mention it here, erm, the, the National A G M is a future event really isn't it?
[speaker004:] Yes,.
[speaker001:] Erm.
[speaker004:] brought it with me.
[speaker001:] Er.
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] And what are the dates again, I think it's the weekend before Easter isn't it I think?
[speaker004:] Er, oh.
[speaker001:] April
[speaker004:] Run out of hold on.
[speaker001:] Right, April, April the tenth to the twelfth, is the, is the National Amnesty A G M which is held over a weekend and this year is in Exeter.
[speaker004:] Exeter. The twelfth.
[speaker001:] Exeter, er so that's the weekend before Easter.
[speaker004:] Er of April.
[speaker001:] And we, we normally have members go, we've had as many as five one year, or was it six, erm, not always that many I think, was it three of you went last year, I think it was three wasn't it?
[speaker004:] Three last year.
[speaker001:] Yes, erm, and, and we, were prepared to subsidise as far as our finances would allow, you know people who are going, but Ex Exeter is quite a long way, so the travel is going to be something isn't it? Erm
[speaker004:] Well I think
[speaker001:] who's, who's thinking of going?
[speaker004:] I, I, I've booked, erm
[speaker001:] Oh.
[speaker004:] Out comes yeah, so.
[speaker001:] You thinking of going erm
[speaker008:] Yeah I eh
[speaker001:] Peter?
[speaker008:] should still be going, yeah.
[speaker004:] Sari's going. Sari's going.
[speaker001:] Oh Sari.
[speaker004:] Yes I spoke to her. Yes, she's definitely going isn't she?
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker004:] Any, anybody else.
[speaker001:] Anybody else thinking of going?
[speaker004:] Any other offers?
[speaker001:] Cos, cos you're going by car are you or?
[speaker004:] I'll, I'll drive yeah, so there are three seats spare in my car, vehicle.
[speaker001:] So that you Plymouth.
[speaker004:] Instead of writing a check, send the cheque. If you can stand the strain of the noise and diesel engine all that way. [LAUGHTER]. All the girls in the back.
[speaker001:] You can get there, you can get there, perhaps, if you can get there
[speaker004:] I've got a seat in the back mate.
[speaker001:] You can get there on motorway, erm, all the way practically, can't you?
[speaker004:] . Mm.
[speaker001:] You can get there on motorway all the way.
[speaker004:] I ha I haven't looked at the round there, yeah, I'm, I'm sure it's not too bad really, you know, you know.
[speaker001:] M four. Right is there anybody else cos we have got forms haven't we?.
[speaker004:] . It's not that long if that's the case then, er, not that long a journey either.
[speaker001:] No.
[speaker004:] It's motorway all the way.
[speaker001:] Erm, anybody else interested for it, you said not didn't you.
[speaker004:] It's not to late to book I think it says something about surcharge after sixth of March or something on the form doesn't it? We'll make it. I don't think she was in no. .
[speaker001:] Right, does Saria had a form, she must cos you said she's booked, Peter have you g, Peter you've got forms have you?
[speaker007:] Don't think she has got a form, no, Alma have you got any spare forms for that. No, I think I've distributed them all, didn't I? Mm.
[speaker004:] We could get one from British Section couldn't we?
[speaker001:] You think, I thought you said she's booked, she hasn't booked.
[speaker004:] Oh no, she's definitely wants to go, but she hasn't actually filled out the form.
[speaker007:] Well, she's, she's going to it.
[speaker001:] Erm, yeah I think she said she'd get one directly.
[speaker004:] Erm. I think er, I guess that any individual members would get them in their, erm journal. Yes.
[speaker001:] I might, I might, yes, we, I, well, I'll, looks like it.
[speaker004:] I'm an individual member, perhaps I've done, got round to opening the.
[speaker001:] I'm not sure, I'm not sure, they, they have been there.
[speaker004:] That's possible. . Quite happy you know telephone them to send on
[speaker001:] Ah, right, well, we'll just check, yeah. Cos that's when, when, when we get to that nearer the date, we could, we could just, you know, when you're confirmed that you've been booked and you're definitely going, erm we could look at the finances and see how much we could afford to, to give, erm, something to each person to help with,eit either with the accommodation or, or the transport.
[speaker004:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Cos the accommodation is quite a bit, isn't it? It's fifty, sixty or more, probably more this time.
[speaker004:] No. Seventy six pounds. It's seventy six pounds.
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] More of sixty five last year.
[speaker001:] Mm, yes.
[speaker004:] Erm.
[speaker001:] That's nice, I'm, it's very good that people are going anyway, it's got
[speaker004:] That's for the whole weekend
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Erm, say anything about that?
[speaker001:] Well it's not sort of place you can get it to, before, before breakfast is it, so er, no.
[speaker004:] Mm.
[speaker001:] It's not, we, we have sometimes gone very early on a Saturday morning to places like Nottingham, but, it's not too far for that. Right, well that's good, erm, and, so in, in relation to the A G M erm we did, we were asked about putting in motion's erm, are you having to leave the one about the press after what John said? How do you feel?.
[speaker004:] One, what, one that we erm, one, yes, yes, but as a group why don't we review having another prisoner when we got
[speaker001:] When we got, when we got the next one yes certainly.
[speaker004:] Yeah, and then to see.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm, right and are we, I mean if anybody still wanted to put in a motion, there is still time just about.
[speaker004:] Yeah about, just about, yeah.
[speaker001:] But eh, you'd have to have it sort of written out and more or less ready I think to go. All groups are invited to send resolution which may or may not be actually debated but erm, we, we don't normally send one in, but some, some groups they send them in, no, no one 's thinking
[speaker004:] Think the closing dates a few days time isn't it? Thursday. Thursday, yeah.
[speaker001:] Oh, right, so it's very close.
[speaker004:] Got to be ready tonight, if they're to get it.
[speaker001:] No. Right, erm, so, I think, I think, as far as future events that's all what we need to mention? Now, erm Rose is secretary and she's had things through from er British Section Headquarters and she'll tell us what she's got there.
[speaker004:] Erm... I don't know if this one concerns us, it's about er, a working group for children, do we have, we don't have a working group for children.
[speaker001:] No, we've never been very close to the now.
[speaker004:] I won't obviously. Erm, I've also received information from the Region, erm with lots of events that's coming up in the East Anglian Region, erm, just run through those quickly, er, there is a workshop on this Thursday at the Courts, erm, there is on Thursday twelfth of March there is er, somebody from the Columbian committee for human rights speaking at an open meeting, that's the fifth... er, Wednesday first of April there is er somebody called Duncan, he's a paediatric surgeon who works part time as a volunteer at the Medical Foundation for the Care and Victims of Torture who will be speaking at St. Mary's and St. Edmunds group, and that, that's Bury St. Edmunds, and then the next East Anglia Regional Meeting is on Saturday May the twenty third at Bury St. Edmunds again. May twenty third? Yeah May the twenty third, it's a Saturday two to five pm at the Friends' Meeting House, Bury.
[speaker001:] Bank Holiday weekend isn't it?
[speaker004:] I don't know. That's all from Region. Er, I've also received minutes from the Epping Forest from Redbridge Group and they also have a lobbying workshop erm, that's on the second of March, and they're asking if anybody's interested in that. Is that an evening? It doesn't actually say I think it's but, er, probably would be. If you're interested could follow it up. They meet in, don't they meet in Leytonstone or was it Wanstead, somewhere in that area. Wanstead Mm, mm. was, was, where they help Islington. Monday mm. Would you be interested in it? Well I might this, this, the time fitting in with the families, they're, they're likely to come back to Okay, well I'll, I put some information not full details [LAUGHTER]. Right. Erm, actually there wasn't a lot of detailed stuff, there was erm, materials for gr groups and winter sales
[speaker001:] Do you want to pass that over to Aida please?
[speaker004:] which we have a... erm, there's a bit about release policy and procedures for local groups, er, groups can help their prisoner with mummy or other erm relief, erm on the Christmas family particularly and it's, it's explaining you know how they do it and the best ways to go about it.
[speaker001:] Mm, cos there's a special fund available for that, that's particularly why they
[speaker004:] anyway they explain all about it, if it would, if we need it. Er, there's a mandate workshop. Oh they, no, sorry, [LAUGHTER], they're offering still a mandate workshop for the group, erm, sending a trainer
[speaker001:] I'm the trainer.
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER] you're the trainer, oh well [].
[speaker001:] I've been very bad on this recently, I've really been too busy or tired, but I have got, I have, today I have had arrived oh not today, the last few days, the new mandate workshop, so
[speaker004:] So you've got to read through it and let. I was gonna say, having spent some months or years well [].
[speaker001:] It's all the new bits in about it, yes mind you, there's always, always been a mandate, the mandate workshop was the very first one that's produced, but this is an updated version and changes.
[speaker004:] Yeah, have there always been workshops, continue workshops on mandate or?
[speaker001:] Yes, there's always been a mandate workshop?
[speaker004:] Or just when there reviews?
[speaker001:] No, there's always been a mandate workshop, explaining why, you know, what our mandate is.
[speaker004:] You, you did give once to a group a few years ago.
[speaker001:] Yes, I've done the mandate workshop, yes, and I've done it with other groups too.
[speaker004:] Mm. So you've covered a bigger region in the past, not just Stortford.
[speaker001:] I, I have about five or six groups, I can, I can go and give talks.
[speaker004:] So even if we don't [LAUGHTER] call on you to, do it, you won't be called [].
[speaker001:] And I have a lobby workshop too.
[speaker004:] Amnesty's mandate what, what the don't do, or do do. Will there be any erm talking about lobbying, be in, in erm before and er.
[speaker001:] I don't know.
[speaker004:] Done any. . So the er lobbying workshops is the .
[speaker001:] That's why they're being cancelled
[speaker004:] Epping Forest and Redbridge are doing, erm, they've got some lobbying workshops
[speaker001:] Mm, presuming it's got that in mind
[speaker004:] Yeah, I mean he is.
[speaker001:] .
[speaker004:] Lobbying workshops would be that combined, erm... there is er, a one page journalist leaflet which we can order a pound for a hundred, that's it, that's all our journalist [LAUGHTER] friends []., yes that's, erm... yeah, I, last month I received the er, this booklet on the trade and they seemed to be coming out to doing campaign on erm a collection between British training and goods, er and their use abroad erm, and they now, they've got a, a booking form for a fringe meeting at the A G M, if anyone's particularly interested attending.
[speaker001:] Shall I pass, shall we pass this one.
[speaker004:] . Yes, the report on this, this book. Yes, there are, there are feature on the, just highlighting a couple of case for these, I imagine a problem book Yeah. and, there is. It is a good book that I, I've read through that, it's quite an informative. It was in one of the Sunday.
[speaker001:] It's called the M S P, the Military Security Police, mm.
[speaker004:] Security . I could, seems to though they're getting stronger on this than.
[speaker001:] Mm, it's come to the front of the journal hasn't it section
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] mm.
[speaker004:] One, one... er stress in my, on what happens so that, that it's companying it's been manufacturing leg irons that's been going out there to the Nile, hasn't it, wasn't it to. They didn't mention, they'd mentioned somewhere else, but erm Somewhere. I think it was Central America wasn't it? Wasn't it Saudi?. No. Saudi they had some sort of electronic torture chamber Thing electric was Oh yeah, the erm, the house of or something. Yeah. Wasn't one of the chair was, though the man held up, held arms was it? He wasn't an, I think he was. Oh, perhaps erm Got a number of. yes, mm, one wonders what a British company are doing manufacturing leg irons anyway in the twentieth century. [LAUGHTER]
[speaker001:] No... when you get to, when you get to the magazine, I'll see on the front cover.
[speaker004:] Yeah. It's not it's very.
[speaker001:] Right, anything else from Headquarters?
[speaker004:] Erm, I know there's a world conference at the assembly, central hall, Westminster, twenty second of February.
[speaker001:] It's Bury St. Edmunds interest in Asian we generally go if we've got an Asian prisoner, we haven't, perhaps it's of opinion.
[speaker004:] Sorry I missed that, Asian week.
[speaker001:] As
[speaker004:] conference, on the twenty second of February. Er raffle tickets, have a raffle ticket. . I'll give it to Peter, are you interested in that Peter, or.
[speaker007:] .
[speaker001:] Er this is erm, er this is the Spring, can't read out what it is, the Spring, this is the great Spring raffle, Amnesty does get quite a lot of money from the raffles, er they start off with just the Christmas one now we have them all through the year I think,
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] and they, the first prize is a thousand pounds cash, second prize family holiday cottage in the Isle of Mule and third prize holiday cottage in Norfolk and fourth prize holiday apartment in Cumbria and the, I mean the idea is you take a book and try, if you have a place of work or, or friends that will buy raffle tickets er just try and sell them and er, how much are they? er
[speaker004:] Fifty pence each.
[speaker001:] fifty pence each, right, erm, and er fill in the slips and either bring them back to us or send them off yourself to Headquarters, shall I put, I'll put those out for anybody who feel they could sell them, it all, it all helps to raise money for Amnesty and helps to get them... erm spend the money on the new prisoner's.
[speaker004:] Yeah, I have a complimentary copy of new internationalist [LAUGHTER] I'm not quite sure why they sent them, but []
[speaker001:] It's on, it's on the right.
[speaker004:] Yes, it's, it's got stuff that we could use that's all.
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] Er, the news letters we get, monthly news letter for groups, er, this one, which is all about what different groups in Britain are doing, can give you ideas.
[speaker001:] Were not gonna have, were not gonna have quite enough are we this time, I think if perhaps the people who come regularly, erm perhaps could take first, erm I don't know, you, we have ten, is it ten?
[speaker004:] Yeah, and I've taken one.
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] They are interesting, I mean then, they're, they're, got quite a lot of information on about what's going on
[speaker004:] Yeah
[speaker001:] within British Section
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] anyway.
[speaker004:] I'll erm, the International news letter which has lots of groups and details about people getting killed. Mm. What's going on [LAUGHTER]. Erm, and then if anyone wants to look at these, look at the er ninety one annual reports Haven't seen them. and these booklets that are.
[speaker001:] Has that recently become ninety one, one?
[speaker004:] No, we had these two meetings ago, but I bring it with me on meetings for anyone who's.
[speaker001:] Yes, and people should tell you if they take it, mm, mm.
[speaker004:] Okay, that's all.
[speaker001:] Right, very good, that's all from Headquarters, right then we move on to then any other business, erm I think mainly it's just the odd verse with arrangements for next meeting, because our next meeting is our own A G M, erm, at, which we erm elect our officers for the next year, er, and there are, are other arrangements to make, erm we sometimes put a little form don't we on the end of the minutes that, people to fill in if they wish to nominate someone, I think we should do that even though very, very rarely gets actually filled in, erm, and we have some post which we have elections for others where we can phone the people who are doing those jobs and, and hope they'll carry on. And I think the, the erm, the jobs which are elected are the Chair Person and, do we still have a Vice Chair Person? are you still Vice Chair Person?
[speaker004:] I.
[speaker001:] Well John and I are both Chair Person, are Co-Chair at the moment, erm
[speaker003:] Yeah, we don't, we don't seem to have a Vice Chairman, looking at last years
[speaker001:] Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps it was because of that we didn't have it, and the treasurer and the secretary are officially erm, and we do have constitution don't we now of course, so we can look at the constitution and see what it says
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] erm, I think what those post were, were erm elected and then the
[speaker004:] Means we've got to produce.
[speaker003:] .
[speaker001:] Right, we, we, we did actually draw, or we not draw, we, we adopted a constitution during the year and the officers that are erm elected are the Chair, the Secretary and the Treasurer, erm and other, together with other such officers, yeah to to determine by general meeting, erm, so it's really only those three, er and we have sometimes had Advice Chair if there's only been one Chairman haven't we, one Chair person erm... so I think people need to say if they don't wish to carry on the jobs they're doing and if anybody wishes to nominate anyone in a particular post then slip at the bottom of the minutes could be filled in and either brought to meeting or sent back to the Secretary. Erm, I think I will give up being Chair this time, I've done it too long, too long, and I've had it John as Co-Chair during the year and I hope that he'll be able to carry on as, as Chair Person, I think really I've done it, done it for long enough erm, and we'll have to ask, we hope, we hope the Treasurer just taken over will carry on
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] erm, and if anybody else has any other post they, they're interesting in doing in taking on or, or would like to help with that could be said as well couldn't it?
[speaker004:] Well are we then not going to have another Co-Chair?
[speaker001:] Well it depends how you want to deal with it, I mean erm, this, the, the, the I think it was just my idea last year of, of sort of erm sharing some of the load I think at that point and hoping that someone could perhaps take over, erm, this just says the following should be elected, A, Chair, B, Secretary and C, Treasurer, but erm
[speaker003:] Well, I, will, you know, I mean, will carry on as Chairman, but I, I'd welcome competition in the post if anyone's interested
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker003:] but, it's unfair saying that I erm, I, continue in my inefficient way if you're all willing to put up with me.
[speaker001:] I think if, if you are going to be the only Chair Person then there should be a, there, there should be a, a Deputy so if you're not able to take the chair, there is somebody else.
[speaker003:] Perhaps, yeah, yeah, yeah, erm
[speaker001:] Somebody could perhaps sat and
[speaker003:] Perhaps that's that's a good idea.
[speaker001:] that, that person ought to be elected as well.
[speaker003:] Mm, what under, that'll be a what Vice Chairman or
[speaker001:] Well was to be Chairman, was to be Vice Chair now under these this new.
[speaker004:] Is it in the constitution?
[speaker001:] It isn't in the constitution, no.
[speaker003:] No it isn't is it?
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] No, but you
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker003:] Not, not very good at drawing up constitutions are we?
[speaker001:] It does actually say together with other said officers and committee members as shall be determined by a general meeting, so if we wish to elect or choose somebody else we can do. Erm, but there's be a good idea to have
[speaker003:] She's taken someone's.
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER]...
[speaker001:] Well I think, we'll, we'll see what, we'll see what comes, if somebody else wishes to compete, compete for the Chair, the post of Chair, erm, then you may perhaps like to invite them to share the Chair with you, or, or, they can become the, the Vice Chair.
[speaker003:] Erm, erm, only too willing to welcome competition cos they're all to aware of my short comings, mm.
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker003:] Erm, so.
[speaker001:] Well, if, if there isn't anybody else who wishes to... compete with you for the Chair, er, then I think there ought to be a Vice Chair.
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Right. Now the other thing about, about the meeting is erm, we sometimes arrange for sort of special refreshments or something different in that line, it's at Ann's house, erm do you want, do you want us to do anything about that Ann or?
[speaker006:] Yeah, interested in any spare wine glasses please.
[speaker004:] Sorry?
[speaker001:] Bring some spare wine glasses, I've, I've got some wine glasses.
[speaker004:] Wine glasses
[speaker001:] What we have, wine and soft drinks and
[speaker004:] What you want six? Cheese and biscuits?
[speaker001:] A little bit of that yes, to have afterwards mm?
[speaker004:] . Cracker wheat.
[speaker001:] Cheese...
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] Cheese and biscuits, she's saying. What do, do you want help with that Ann, would you like people to bring some or, or, or what?
[speaker006:] .
[speaker001:] Mm, well confir you can confirm with Mary, I think Mary's offer to possibly. Shall I, shall I leave you and Mary to sort that out?
[speaker006:] Okay.
[speaker001:] Between you, mm, mm.
[speaker004:] What date is it?.
[speaker001:] I'm not sure what date it is, I haven't got it on here have we really.
[speaker004:] Is it the tenth? No the eleventh. The tenth.
[speaker001:] Yes, it's not going to be the same day because it's a leap year.
[speaker004:] It's the tenth then.
[speaker001:] So it'll be what, what did we say the tenth what did we?
[speaker004:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker004:] Tenth of March.
[speaker001:] Tenth of March.
[speaker004:] Where's that then?
[speaker001:] That'll be at erm... Ann I've forgotten your number.
[speaker006:] .
[speaker001:] That's fine, what's the address?
[speaker006:] Oh sorry [LAUGHTER], ninety four.
[speaker001:] .
[speaker004:] Is this all. Oh yeah. Yeah..
[speaker002:] Get rid of that on tape, yeah, we won't be transcribed.
[speaker004:] Why you writing it down for?
[speaker002:] So, that the next meeting.
[speaker001:] Right, that's, good, that's it [LAUGHTER], without, without your tape recorder.
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] Right, erm, so, now that's, that's er the A G M, now erm, any other business?
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] Right, let see, erm, er, who's got their notes? Ann, did you say yes?
[speaker006:] I said yes.
[speaker001:] Right, Ann, you gonna start?
[speaker006:] Well, this, I told you about this French boy that phoned, that contacted me, he's erm, [reading] my name is, I'm nineteen, I'm a student at Harlow College, I'm studying English foreign language and Law A Level, if there's an Amnesty International I would like to set up a group in the college... I hope you're involved in local groups are writing you to receive about me, and information about the local group []. So I... well... I sent him er our sheets, er sheet about the group and the minutes and er I contacted Michael er, who said he'll be very happy to help in, so I er phoned up this chap and said, gave him Michael's number and said erm he'd like to come to this meeting tonight, he said yes, so I went to pick him up and I just couldn't find that blinking house, anyone who knows Harlow, he's in Parsonage Leys, I just couldn't find the number it was, I just couldn't find anything less than thirty seven
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker006:] and I had, got pick up two so I, I just had to give up, I phoned him up when I got here, apologise, he hasn't been in touch with Michael yet, I don't know why not, er, though why, er sorry
[speaker002:] Erm, there used to be. Sorry, there used to be a group at the College I think.
[speaker004:] Yes, yes.
[speaker006:] Well there used to be that's right, with you John, talking about college group just about that time.
[speaker003:] Erm... yes and it's, it's funny thing I haven't sent things to the College with, with the other stuff that went out, but, er we have, I have spoken to Michael about College, yeah I mean.
[speaker001:] So we didn't, yeah well if we've got someone's who's interested in starting a group, that's the time which to start, we did, yeah, but there was a group, er previous thing but I think that, there was one girl who was very er keen, but I think when she left it probably lapsed.
[speaker003:] Mm,
[speaker004:] But.
[speaker003:] yeah, yeah, I did, did discuss it with Michael, I'd forgotten that, I just remembered now.
[speaker006:] Maybe, maybe I don't know if he's shy or anything, why he hasn't phoned up Michael yet, perhaps I ought to ask Michael to phone him then, he does, yes.
[speaker001:] Maybe, yes, we have, we have approved school or er student group officer so we should perhaps let him you know, perhaps we should, perhaps we should come back to him or Michael could.
[speaker006:] Mm.
[speaker003:] Well, shouldn't, shall I
[speaker001:] Should imagine, mm.
[speaker003:] take that number from you, cos I'll, I'm probably going, probably be seeing Michael this week,.
[speaker006:] Do you want the letter?.
[speaker003:] Yes, okay.
[speaker001:] Right, that's fine, well I, that would be very good if there was a group at the coll at the coll at the college, there ought to be one at the college
[speaker003:] Mm.
[speaker001:] of all, of all the
[speaker003:] Mm.
[speaker001:] you know.
[speaker006:] Oh, he's only, he's only there till September till
[speaker001:] Oh, great.
[speaker006:] he's only there till the Summer, by the way.
[speaker001:] Yes, well perhaps we could get it going quickly then
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] Right, erm, now, er, do you want to say something?
[speaker004:] I did, yes, erm, when erm, we thought our prisoner was finished the co-ordinators wrote to me and said would I be interested, would our group be interested in erm, writing to Yugoslavia's still, because with the Civil War going on there's lots of cases coming up, for example there was a whole hospital full of patients that were taken prisoner... I don't know if they were actually physically removed or whether they were held in the hospital without access to medical treatment for something like ten days, and erm, Saria did say she'd help me last time and I wrote back and said yes, two of us could write once a month, well they're taken that very liberally [LAUGHTER] and, and, got two or three things from the already and erm, if anyone else is interested in writing an odd letter say once a month to Yugoslavia maybe they could erm, let me know later on..
[speaker001:] Good, that's fine, right, any other business?
[speaker004:] Shall we have just a quick Lisa and Dean want to tell us what's going, cos they've had you, had the first meeting now, haven't you? Do you want to tell us what interest there was.
[speaker003:] I, I was about to ask the same thing, yeah.
[speaker004:] Are you going to, interest.
[speaker006:] Well I called a meeting but I didn't think I advertised it well enough because there was a lot of interest and then I think we held it at the wrong time as well didn't we,
[speaker005:] Mm.
[speaker006:] we held it after prep, so we've organised another one for tomorrow lunch time and erm... and lot more people express interest because of that, we haven't actually got any letters yet.
[speaker005:] No, that's so when we leave there should be more interest.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm, good, good.
[speaker006:] And I'm intending to, to hold a few more assemblies as well to sort of get interest going again because it's been a while since we did an assembly on it, so if we do another one, that usually gets it going again doesn't it?
[speaker003:] What you run assembly's with on, particular topic then.
[speaker006:] Yeah, well we'll take erm Michael gave us say erm a, an assembly sheet didn't he and we just read from that, and that got a lot of interest from that.
[speaker005:] Yeah
[speaker001:] Mm, good...
[speaker004:] How many teams were suppose to meet out of that?
[speaker006:] It was about twelve people.
[speaker004:] How many is that? [LAUGHTER].
[speaker006:] There were a lot more people than that.
[speaker005:] That was last week.
[speaker004:] I was gonna say, there were a lot more people when we went to school.
[speaker006:] There are a lot more people than that, there, I only put one advert.
[speaker003:] Well that's, that's, lot more people who are interested.
[speaker004:] Right.
[speaker003:] Even so, that tell us.
[speaker004:] Ah right, well yeah, I suppose
[speaker003:] Advertise in Stortford
[speaker004:] Twelve is a working number. [LAUGHTER]...
[speaker001:] Oh well I hope, I hope it goes right tomorrow.
[speaker006:] Yes.
[speaker001:] Yes, good, good, just keep in touch with us and know how things are going.
[speaker003:] Yeah. Are you, you keen to keep in touch keep, keep coming to the meetings or?
[speaker006:] Yeah, mm, mm. Yeah.
[speaker003:] You found it's contact, yeah, good, erm
[speaker001:] Right, now, erm
[speaker003:] smashing.
[speaker001:] anything else you want to bring up?
[speaker003:] Erm.
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Right, Rose, next leave your bit.
[speaker003:] Oh, I, I got something right come on.
[speaker001:] Go on Rose.
[speaker004:] Yes, I had a request from speaker at Birchwood High School and have a name of somebody there, I think it's a teacher or pupil but A lot of people would say. Did you send it out to them Rose? you know when we did that.
[speaker003:] Yeah, I think I do, yeah Birchwood.
[speaker001:] That was Margaret Dane, what it was, yes.
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker004:] the name of the person is Linda... er
[speaker003:] What, what, was it a request for a speaker?
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker003:] Yeah, right why have they sent that to you?
[speaker004:] Yeah, cos Michael's name went off to that batch that was sent out. You know there,, I, I wasn't actually in, but that was the message I got so.
[speaker001:] Cos you see, perhaps it didn't get to that teacher, you see, that's what happens, the letters don't always get to the right people.
[speaker004:] Yeah, mm
[speaker001:] Although
[speaker003:] What's the name?
[speaker004:] Linda.
[speaker003:] Mm, I've got a Mr, head of Humanities Mr I. There we go, so who, who is, this person is I don't know, that's their name I have now, that's a.
[speaker004:] Yeah,.
[speaker001:] So that'll be a speaker day.
[speaker003:] Okay.
[speaker001:] .
[speaker004:] Will, will you follow that up?
[speaker001:] You, you've got the name of the person have you?
[speaker003:] Erm, shout that out again and
[speaker004:] Erm, Birchwood high school.
[speaker003:] No, the, the, I've got all that
[speaker004:] Linda
[speaker003:] Linda, yeah.
[speaker001:] Yes, it'll be worth following that up, cos that's, that's one of the erm, they, they've done quite a lot of work of Amnesty and general studies in the past, there was a sheet of sort of quotes of, how good the Amnesty was, and there was one from the teacher at Birchwood or what, what's Margaret Dane School, so erm, yes, if, if you could definitely follow that up erm John
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] cos that'll be a very useful school to have interest.
[speaker003:] Erm.
[speaker004:] Erm I also have a letter er from a Kate, I'm not sure from which school she goes to, but she's fourteen and she's going to one of the local schools,
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker004:] but, erm, she was hoping to come to the meeting this evening, but she phoned at the last minute and said she couldn't make it, but erm, I don't know if it would be more appropriate perhaps for the schools groups to get in touch with her and I Did she leave her name and. Er, yes, but I, it's at home.
[speaker001:] Yes, could you, perhaps you could find out which school she's at
[speaker004:] Yes, okay.
[speaker001:] Erm.
[speaker004:] could give her a ring, find out what school she's at and then
[speaker001:] And then if, if it's fine with her, we'd have some, well you'd let you know, contact
[speaker003:] , what's the time.
[speaker004:] Alright, yeah, okay.
[speaker003:] Right.
[speaker001:] Because it's, I mean... it would be very good if we could have several schools
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] interested. Er... have you got, all these people waiting to be told.
[speaker003:] .
[speaker001:] Right, I hope, we won't be to long now, perhaps if we could just bring up the item you wanted to mention.
[speaker003:] Yeah, erm, right, yeah, that's all the other items, erm... what's been er been going through my head recently is, is er the, looking at the pattern of the meetings and the way the meetings are arranged and, and how, erm, at the last meeting we had a speaker er and that I think, we all found that quite interesting and the one, one from Central America that things and I feel we ought to have that much more frequently than we do have er, a, either a speaker or a focus of some sort of meetings erm, so I think that's something I'd like to raise and get the A G M at the next meeting I think similar thing we ought to consider there. Erm, quite how we arrange cos this, as Margaret says there's a lot of business to get through on occasions, but er, this, this meeting seems to had a lot, but, you know, er whether we could alternate er a business meeting with a, a, a speaker so I thought functional meeting every two months and a speaker attending er, er the other month, erm, I'm really sussing it open for ideas, what, what do other people feel and
[speaker004:] Maybe we should have speaker on a separate night.
[speaker003:] mm, well, this, or is everybody happy with the, the format as it is? er.
[speaker004:] Is it not but er
[speaker003:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Speaker's a very good idea, but difficult to organise,
[speaker003:] Mm.
[speaker001:] I think a, every so often it'll be very interesting, very sort of, we did try this once didn't we?
[speaker004:] This, this has cropped up before, oh yes this idea of trying to change this.
[speaker003:] Michael, Michael started the ball rolling in my mind, er, yes he, he, I, one thing erm yesterday, erm one thing he, he started to coming to more meetings last year and erm I think he'd seen one or two people come along and not,
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker003:] a couple of new people come along and then, not, not follow up
[speaker001:] Yes, there can be.
[speaker003:] mm, erm, and he wh you know he is thinking well is this, is that the reason erm, so er, I don't know, you know, er, I, I think perhaps it's worth looking at, perhaps we can all thing about it and have a look at it at the A G M.
[speaker001:] I think, I think it would be a good idea to have, as every sort of maybe every two or three meetings to have something a bit different erm, and we do, we do find if we want to get through the business quickly
[speaker004:] We can.
[speaker001:] we can, we can.
[speaker004:] We can.
[speaker003:] pressure.
[speaker001:] We can do, we've just got to, I mean we've just got to ask everyone to give a very brief report erm on another occasion and then it can be kept very short, I think though, there are, there are times when, when, you know, we do want to hear what's going on with sort of er networks and campaigns, we do need that time as well don't we, er so we can't, I don't think we can always do it.
[speaker003:] Well I'm, yeah, ern I wondered about sort of Executive Committee and er, I know you're not very keen on that idea and it, it does tend to remove information from the ordinary members, if, if, you have a small group of people dealing with the business and, a, a separate lead.
[speaker004:] We have had that in the past haven't we? We
[speaker001:] I can't remember.
[speaker004:] Remember we used to have a prisoner group didn't we, when I first came so that the
[speaker001:] What groups, yeah groups for particular things on, on the, you know like campaigns or prisoners there were special groups dealing only with this those, they met on there own, not there weren't any
[speaker003:] Schools groups.
[speaker001:] yes, the schools group, yes, I mean, that, that could operate more, in fact we could have, instead of having just talking about the, about the India one, er instead of having one person at it, it could be a group of, of three perhaps, er.
[speaker004:] But then they'd still presumably report back to the main group about what they'd been doing.
[speaker001:] Yes.
[speaker004:] Yes. So you're really, in a way, you're not much difference than where you started.
[speaker003:] I think Margaret's right, if, if we really want to get through the business we can and however busy we are, erm.
[speaker001:] I wouldn't we wouldn't to every time, but I mean it can be, it can be just a very brief report on what's happened, you know, if we want to get through.
[speaker004:] If we said, like, if we, every second month say or every third month, then we, we knew we were going to have a speaker, we could the time before we could then do the business more thoroughly and carefully so that the month of the speaker we could just go through it very quickly. . Alternatively to, alternative to, to speaker, can we get erm, you know, brief films about different countries and, political systems and so on.
[speaker003:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Yes, yes we have the video too, we have, we have the erm the Amnesty video and we, there are, there are schools videos to.
[speaker004:] Do, do, do they do different videos for different countries?
[speaker001:] Not, they're not, no, the one I've, the one the group has is, is a general one it's on Amnesty's work.
[speaker004:] Oh, I see.
[speaker001:] Yeah, yeah, there probably are ones on different countries. I'm not sure that Amnesty does produce on, on, one particular country.
[speaker003:] erm, we have.
[speaker004:] other organisations that
[speaker001:] Yes they might, yes, mm.
[speaker004:] Though even that's the sort of thing that on T V that er
[speaker001:] We can video ourselves.
[speaker004:] that's right.
[speaker001:] Mm,, mm.
[speaker004:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Yes, there are a lot, mm
[speaker003:] There's all these workshops Margaret.
[speaker001:] Yes, I, I, I have about twelve workshops.
[speaker004:] [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] On all kinds of things.
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] On all kinds of things, yes.
[speaker004:] I enjoyed that very much that last one.
[speaker001:] What was that one? What was that one?
[speaker004:] it was about death penalty wasn't it? .
[speaker001:] there's all sorts like, like recruiting, making contact with the schools, er, lobbying, er, there, there about ten or twelve different workshops now, almost on almost every aspects, so and that would be something that we could give, if, if these weren't.
[speaker004:] But there has to be one guarantee in because I think once we had rather good one, about six people kept, you can never tell how many come, I mean you'd want maybe bigger, more than, more space in this room.
[speaker001:] Well, we've, have got another room maybe we might sometimes be able to use haven't we?
[speaker004:] Well we could use the.
[speaker001:] Or your dining room, yes.
[speaker004:] it's probably better that
[speaker001:] Mm, we often need to use one more than one room for those.
[speaker004:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Mm.
[speaker003:] Though we do seem to be doing quite well in numbers.
[speaker004:] Yes, we have lately, yes.
[speaker003:] Better than last year.
[speaker001:] That suddenly, I mean it means you divide into smaller groups quite often, and, and have discussions on you can, yeah..
[speaker004:] Speak on what you've got.
[speaker001:] No, might be my speech, do we need a, meet, meet in a more public place, erm.
[speaker004:] No, no, we can't. [LAUGHTER].
[speaker003:] But you, erm
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] Yes, yes, you, you.
[speaker004:] Erm, your business would take care of itself if we have that pressure of booking it,. I honestly think it would. I think if anything, I'm sure it would. Yeah, mm, sure. I think. I'm sure that it would... make us more careful the months before.
[speaker001:] Mm, mm.
[speaker004:] Right, going on the streets think it would, going to find that many people that, that could speak to
[speaker003:] That was
[speaker004:] erm, sort of relative.
[speaker003:] Yeah, that, that needs something if you actually set up a system and then a business meeting one month and a speaker the next, it puts a lot of pressure on one of us or some of us to, to, erm, this is true.
[speaker001:] Maybe, maybe, maybe if, I think it sounds as if people would, would like that, you know, at least every few months perhaps to have something different
[speaker004:] Yes.
[speaker001:] maybe, maybe, people could just be thinking or, you know if they hear of somebody who might be able to come and give a talk like your friend who, who was very good, erm, you know, we could make a note of it and, or ask people, you know, could talk to talk or something that sort. Mm, mm, that sounds a possibility, I think, I think it is interesting to have someone like that you know
[speaker003:] Mm.
[speaker001:] Like we had you know, who could talk about experiences you know, in a, in a particular country where there are human rights and problems, good. Right erm, so that's it, is that all the
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] business? Yes, just, just, remind people the next, the next meeting erm, is Tuesday the tenth of March, we always meet on a Tuesday evening and it will be at Ann's house in Harlow, which is, said on the tape [LAUGHTER]. Must be of benefit.
[speaker004:] .
[speaker001:] Right, er, people can take what bits from tables they want them, or, I've got s, I've got one put out, erm, shall we open that door a bit, it's getting a bit hot in here, erm, don't know if Mary wants any help out there. Good.