Thank-you!

Thank-you to everyone who attended the Maritimes Regional Meeting this weekend! The meeting was fantastic, and it was wonderful to meet so many committed activists from across the region. See you all next year!

Maritimes Regional Meeting

The Maritimes Regional Meeting is fast approaching. Please email aihalifax@gmail.com for your registration form. For those coming from out of town, travel subsidies are available!

Meet and Greet Tonight!

Members, friends, and the general public are all invited to a Meet and Greet tonight from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Just Us Coffee, Spring Garden Rd. We will be discussing the case of Omar Khadr. All welcome!

SMU group launched

Monday night a group of eager students gathered to form Saint Mary's University Amnesty International group. After learning about the history and mission of Amnesty International, the group planned a fun year including biweekly meetings, letter-writing, and creative activism around campus. Members plan to use costumes, displays and fun activities to raise awareness about human rights. "People will come up to us and ask what we're doing," explained Tina, a group leader. "Then we can tell them about human rights."

The group is looking for new members. Visit them on facebook or check the calendar for meeting dates.

Volunteers needed!

Amnesty International Halifax is urgently seeking an editor for our monthly e-newletter.

Email kcahill@amnesty.ca

September kick-off

Our first meeting of the year was held September 11 and included a slideshow of last year's activities and brainstorming about the upcoming year.

In our plans:

vigils
film nights
letter-writing nights, and more.

Congratulations to our new Action/RAN coordinator, Peter, and our new Secretary, Samantha!

Check back regularly for new events and photos.

Youth helping youth

The young people at the YMCA Immigrant Outreach program know how to make a difference. In July, they sent cards and letters to help children left homeless by a conflict in Chad. It's part of Amnesty International's Lifesaver for youth. Each month, children and young people have an action specially designed for them.

You can download this month's lifesaver here.

And the winner is...

Thank-you to the over 150 people who visited the Amnesty International table at the Halifax Pride Festival on July 26. It was great meeting so many old and new friends.

Congratulations to contest winners Amber (t-shirt), and Wayne (book).

Look for us at the Halifax Latin Festival August 31 for another chance to win.

Happy Pride, Halifax

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Halifax Pride Week festival, a chance to celebrate and have fun. For gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, it is also a celebration of freedom and rights. Many people around the world are imprisoned, tortured, even killed because of their sexuality. And Pride Marches in many countries, including Lithuania and Latvia, have been marred by violence in recent years.

This year, speak up for the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Amnesty International will have a table set up at the Pride Fair this Saturday, July 26, on the Halifax Commons. Stop by to learn more about how you can help. Or take action online.

http://www.amnesty.ca/take_action/actions/latvia_lithuania_lgbt_rights.php

http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/turkey-urged-respect-lgbt-right-freedom-of-association

Olympic Dream

On July 10 over 25 Amnesty International members in Halifax gathered for an informal Meet at Greet and Just Us Coffee on Spring Garden Road. After meeting old and new friends, everyone signed a petition to the Chinese government, asking them to keept their promise to improve human rights leading up to the Beijing Olympics. With only weeks to go before the opening ceremony, China still has an opportunity to create a real human rights legacy. Be sure to visit the Keep The Promise blog to learn more about human rights in China and how you can make a difference.

www.amnesty.ca/keepthepromise