Minutes: October 28, 2010 Meeting

Halifax Action Circle
October 28, 2010
Citadel Community Centre
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Meeting Minutes



1. Welcome and review of minutes from last meeting

2. Update on this year’s Write for Rights event

• will take place on December 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Second Cup, Spring Garden Rd., Halifax
• we may need part of the next meeting (Nov. 26) to make signs. Catherine will let us know.
• Erin will approach Brad to make us some/one sign
• Brie will craft a couple of donation boxes to collect money to pay for postage
• Colleen will handle media relations for the event
• Catherine will contact AI re: W4R Kits
• Peter will bring his sandwich board for our use
• Second Cup will promote event on events calendar
• Catherine will connect with Kim re: contact list for AI school groupsq an announcement of the event will be made at the Regional Meeting on Nov. 27.
• See fundraising note in budget section below.
  

3. Regional meeting update

• Saturday, November 27 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at SMU
• Alex Neve will attend and will speak in the morning.
• Colleen will handle media interview with Alex
• Alison will create info blurb for posting at Kings (Catherine) and Dal (Ryan)
• Concern has been expressed that attendees might leave after Alex speaks
• Colleen needs internet access and projection equipment
• Technical support has been hired to assist
• Alison will lead an “Intro to AI” seminar for new supporters
• Colleen will lead a “Using Social Media” seminar for anyone interested
• Regional Meeting Assistance Required: Help is needed for: signage, registration, set up and tear down, running errands, to facilitate an activity during lunch, to billet out-of-town attendees
  

4. International Women’s Day event update

• Colleen is team lead on an event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2011
• Volunteers are needed to help organize
• Ideas for a venue were discussed and included: The Halifax Club (contact Jody Bartlett), University Club, McGinnis Room, MSVU
• We could partner with Dal Women’s Centre
• Contact Alexa
• The event would be a celebration of women’s lives and achievements. Women would tell a story from their lives.
• Music should be incorporated
• Could make a book of the stories and sell it at the event
• Ideas for invitees: Ellen Page, Deb Smith, Starr Dobson, Liz Rigney, Maria Panopalis, Shauntay Grant
  

5. Budget discussion and decision

• Bank balance is $248
• We will need to raise money to pay for room rental
• A suggestion was made that W4R letter writers ask friends and family for sponsorship
• Colleen is to send a letter requesting support to Alison’s financial advisor/Alison to send Colleen contact info
• Gina has offered to contact Scotiabank for support
  

5. Letter writing:

• An urgent action was sent to supporters in advance of the meeting as action was required before Oct. 28
• Info is included below.
  

6. Special thanks to Christine Emberley for her years of dedication and service to HAC. Christine is stepping down as chair of the action circle, but we are very fortunate that she is sticking around to help us with our current and future endeavors. Thank you, Christine! You’ve kept us going for a good, long time!

October Action
BILL C-300

Background information
Canada's parliament is considering adopting a bill on corporate accountability (Bill C-300, An Act Respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil and Gas in Developing Countries). If it passes, Bill C-300 would mean that Canadian mining, oil and gas companies that violate human rights in developing countries would be ineligible for financial and political support from the Canadian government.

The House of Commons will be voting on Bill C-300 at the end of October.
Amnesty International supports Bill C-300. But to ensure that the bill passes into law, we need everyone who cares about human rights to express their support.

Please send letter to:
Megan Leslie, MP
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
(NOTE: no postage required)

You may use this as your letter intro:

Dear Megan Leslie:

As your constituent and member of the Halifax Action Circle of Amnesty International, I am writing to thank you for your support of Bill C-300, An Act Respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Canadian Mining, Oil and Gas in Developing Countries.

Amnesty International is concerned about human rights violations committed directly and indirectly by some Canadian mining, oil and gas companies in developing countries.
To ensure that all Canadian companies respect human rights in developing countries, we need mandatory human rights standards and stronger regulations to hold transnational companies accountable.

You may wish to include some of these points:

Express your concern about the human rights practices of some Canadian oil, gas and mining companies in developing countries.

Tell your MP you do not want tax-payers’ money being used to support companies that fail to abide by international human rights standards.

Suggest that the Government of Canada, as a human rights leader and signatory to international human rights instruments, has a responsibility to hold Canadian transnational companies accountable for human rights violations in developing countries.