Amnesty International, Eastern PA

Amnesty International, Group 347, Minutes for 24 March, 2008 Meeting

In Attendance: Mary M., Bill B., Karen B., Bill F., Hans W., Ed S., Mike P., Maria W., Tony M.

Treasurer’s Report: February 1, 2008 Beginning Balance: 1,143.54
Total Deposits: 30.00
Total Debits: 248.60
Ending Balance: 924.94

There were 3 checks written:
1006 $60.60 to Mary Mesaros for Stamps
1007 $50.00 Gratuity to Moravian Church Janitor
1008 $138.00 to Allentown Group for Gift-Wrapping Fundraiser

• Ed will call all non-dues paying members to inquire if they are still interested in membership
• Part of Group 347 went to local US Senate offices to ask for support of Darfur
• Karen sent follow-up letters to the Senators & called them, but no reply was received
• Hans gave an update on the Darfur situation journalist Nicholas Kristof has said that Southern Sudan may become “Africa’s Next Slaughter”
• The San Francisco Chronicle will run a two page ad on April 4 asking China to “Extinguish the Fire in Darfur”, the emphasis is now on China to save Darfur
• Karen had 2 letters:
• The first to Sudan concerning the Death Sentences imposed on 9 Men and One Boy in the murder of Mohammed Taha, a newspaper editor. Their confessions were extracted by torture
• The Second letter is on the behalf of Kakule Kahemu age 16, he’s a former child soldier in the Democratic Republic of Congo who is now in prison.
• Maria passed out a list on upcoming Death Penalty Action speaking engagements
• The Georgia Supreme Court voted against a new trial for Troy Davis despite there not being any material evidence & 7 of the 9 witness have now recanted. He now has one more appeal left, before the US Supreme Court. Right now there are letters before Davis’ parole board asking for clemency.
• Mary gave an update on the situation in South Africa and the spread of HIV many women fall victim because they cannot refuse their partners or get them to use condoms.
• Tony gave a report on China he had a letter supporting Tibet, group members debated if the the term Genocide may be applied to Tibet
• Thanks to Tony’s daughter delivering her DVD player the group view a 60 Minutes report about rape as a weapon in the Congo conflict