The report of the day includes the latest news stories.
The aims of the afternoon are for groups to network, to learn from each other and to share experiences, and to raise public awareness of the issues of concern. To help facilitate discussions there's a room set aside (Room 1, on the left as you enter the concourse) where you can chat about tactics, campaigning and discuss solutions to common problems such as attracting new members, sustaining your campaigns and fund raising.
Originally, the plan was to have a whole day for "Network for Success". The morning would have been workshops (eg on media training, facilitation skills, successful campaigning and so on). Unfortunately, this time, we were unable to find funding to do all this. However, we think you'll agree that the afternoon event is worthwhile in its own right. We hope that next year we will be able to build on today, have even more organisations coming along, and have a series of workshops either running alongside or in a morning session.
There will be a report of today's "Network for Success", sent to all those who've come along and to the Networking Newsletter Project's members. But to ensure you continue to be informed of who's doing what on the Manchester scene, please subscribe by completing the form on the back page.
Free copies of the Networking Newsletter are distributed around the city, primarily at 6 Mount Street, Cafe Pop (Oldham St.), Chorlton Wholefoods (Beech Rd) ERIC (Central Library), MARC (28 Edge St.) Misty's veggie cafe (Longsight), and Bridge 5 Mill (22a Beswick St.). Most local libraries also stock a few copies. If you know of elsewhere for copies to be left please let us know by ringing [pls use email] or email leave us feedback
Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, PO Box 38, Manchester M60 1NX. (07939 264 864, [email protected])
The ISM uses direct action tactics to help highlight the situation in Palestine, to show much-needed solidarity with the Palestinian people and to make genuine, if small, differences to the lives of those living in the occupied West Bank. To this end, we helped remove Israeli army roadblocks, opening up ways which have been blocked to ambulances and food lorries for months. We formed human chains to protect Palestinian students who have been prevented from getting to Bir Zeit university by checkpoints which are illegal under international law. We made cordons around Palestinians asserting their right to march and challenge another of these checkpoints, at Bethlehem, on Christmas Day. We saw the factories, considered too polluting to be on Israeli soil, which pump untreated chemical waste onto Palestinian farmland. We lay, symbolising the dead of the conflict, in front of tanks in Ramallah. And we visited bombed-out factories and the wives and mothers of men recently killed by Israeli soldiers, and witnessed at first hand the human cost of the conflict.
They will be showing pictures and talking about their experiences on Tuesday 5 & Wednesday 13 February - see Events Listings
Info: Mel (07625 355 773, [email protected])
Three Manchester women report of their part in the protest at Menwith Hill US spy base in Yorkshire at the start of December:
There were about 50 people stood at the roadside with banners. The radical bunch that we are, we chose to stand in the road with a huge banner which read "truth = the first casualty of war". However, a patronising policeman soon ordered us to return to the pavement, this was our "first and final warning" - if we blocked the road again we'd be arrested.More info from: GM&D CND (0161 237 8283, [email protected]After some time, we decided to go for a little wander around the perimeter fence of the base. As we came to a field, straight away a very angry man on a squad bike drove at us from the other side of the field, glaring at us as we closed the gate behind us. No chance or getting inside then. p> The anti-war movement can mobilise 100,000 people to a march around London. If just half those who made it down to London were to go to Menwith Hill then just maybe we could shut down the base.
Forty six organisations from 64 countries attended the meeting in Nairobi, Kenya. A diverse group of people including arms campaigners, human rights workers, researchers and grassroots aid workers from Africa (where every year 500,000 people are killed by guns) discussed how to join together to tackle the flow of weapons to countries where they devastate development and cost lives.Katy McDermott, Oxfam North West Campaigns Office (0161 233 7062)The conference was organized by Oxfam GB and other non-governmental organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. It was prompted by the anger felt by the NGOs at the failure of the 2001 UN Conference on Small Arms in New York which did not produce any significant outcomes.
Despite a slow start, the Nairobi conference saw the delegates agreeing on a campaign strategy to be taken forward over the next few years. This global campaign will look at two main areas - how to curb the supply of guns internationally and, at a local level, making communities in countries like Sudan, safe from armed violence.
By the time the world's governments meet again in 2006 to review progress made since New York's meeting, Oxfam and others hope to have made real strides towards an international treaty on the sale of guns and other small arms.
The group is working on the possibility of making a return visit as a brigade, on a similar model to the CSC brigades - with some contribution to work projects as well as visits, meetings and free time both in Matanzas and Havana. The objective would be to contribute practical and symbolic solidarity as well as increasing our knowledge and understanding of the situation, achievements, challenges and so on, in comradeship with the people there.
The accomodation costs would be approx $10 per day (with breakfast and a meal) in Matanzas, and $20 in Havana - good rates in comparison with typical tourist rates in Cuba. Possible dates are 15-30 May, or from 20 June, although it may also be possible to organise a different time. Anybody who's interested should contact the group ASAP.
Manchester Cuba Solidarity Campaign (0161 881 6887, [email protected])
If you're interested in attending contact Anne Strachan at the Development Education Project , Manchester (0161 445 2495, [email protected]). Places are limited and invitations will come direct from DfID.
More details from the Events Listings
Campaign for Planning Sanity are holding a conference on the 9th February in London to bring together all the campaign groups nationally. Any one wanting to comment must do so by the 27th March. Copies of the Green Paper are at http://www.planning.dtlr.gov.uk/consult/greenpap/index.htm and info on the campaign is at http://www.onlincam.freeserve.co.uk/planpaper.html
The action attacted a constant ring of watchers carefully reading the leaflets, despite the action being basically four cardboard cereal packet style masks, three cardboard cut out sewing machines, a trestle table and a ghetto blaster!
Strangely, there was a complete absence of any store manager coming out and asking us if the protestors had permission and threatening to call the police. Our best guess is they knew they'd've been instantly cast in the role of the panto villain and booed off the stage. The two police who did turn up seemed to feel the same, and decided to go and talk to the nearest big issue seller instead.
Labour Behind the Label/Women Working Worldwide/Manchester WDM (07816 234545, 0161 247 1760)
Musicians who have already agreed to participate include a Chinese flautist, an Indian sitarist with a group of local schoolchildren, an Afro-Carribean drum/dance group, a community choir and a Russian balalaika group.
The aim is to promote a sense of unity and harmony within the local community and an experience of the one human culture within all. As RAWA is a charitable organisation, the concert will be non-profit making. All musicians will appear without a fee, and we hope that many of our expenses will be donated. There is a modest suggested donation of �4 on the door, all proceeds going towards further activities to bring together the community through music and the arts.
Renaissance Artists & Writers Association (0161 282 9224)
Indeed, everyone would benefit because a bike plus a tram is a fast, healthy, realistic alternative to the car and fewer car journeys means less pollution and less congestion.
Many government organisations support bikes on the Metro through their stated transport policies but they are not doing enough to make sure the new trams are designed to take bikes. It will be more expensive to modify the trams once they have been delivered.
Richard Venes, Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign (0161 224 3843, [email protected])