Contributing to Social Justice in the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Manchester

We have recently started a new venture which involves participating in the letter-writing campaigns co-ordinated by Amnesty International. The campaigns serve both to alert oppressive regimes to the fact that the world is watching their injustices, and also to offer a personal message of support to those people who are suffering.

Personal testimonies reported back to Amnesty confirm how much it can mean to prisoners of conscience around the world when a stranger sends a simple card to show that they have not been forgotten.

Some recent activities have been:

Date	Focus	Action
Sunday 25/01/04	Death Penalty - Russia	Letter to Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling for the full abolition of the death penalty. The letter reminded the Russian authorities of their obligation to ratify Protocol No.6 and to sign and ratify Protocol No.13 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (a condition to their accession to the Council of Europe).
Sunday 18/04/04	Stop Violence Against Women Campaign	Letter to George Bush urging him to ensure that the Violence Against Women Act is properly implemented across all US jurisdictions. Letter to Joseph Kabila, President of the Congo, highlighting the sexual violence being perpetrated there against women by members of the military. The letter cited the case of Kavira Muraulu and called for an end to impunity as well as the introduction of proper support systems for victims.
Sunday 11/07/04	The problem of extreme and violent homophobia in Jamaica	Letters of protest to P J Patterson, the Prime Minister of Jamaica and the High Commissioner for Jamaica in London.
Sunday 25/07/04	Falun Gong prisoner of conscience	Campaign postcards sent to Zeng Quinghong, the Chinese Vice President, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Yu Changxin.
Sunday 01/08/04	Falun Gong prisoner of conscience	Letters to Zeng Quinghong and Zhang Fusen (Minister of Justice), aimed at demonstrating that there is no substance to the charges brought against Yu Changxin and no basis for his conviction.

The Booth Drop-in and Activity Centre for Homeless People

(http://www.boothcentre.org.uk/)

We maintain a groceries box in the Social Room in which folk are invited to donate suitable items - they must be non-perishables which need no cooking, such as pot noodles, jam, marmalade, cup-a-soups, soap, disposable razors, peanut butter, tea, coffee and biscuits. All donations brought to church are taken to the Centre regularly.

The Hunger Site

While you're online, why not make a free donation of food to the starving people of our world by visiting the Hunger Site. Just click on the logo above, follow the directions, and, for the cost of a few moments of your time, the site sponsors will donate food through the scheme.

This is an open invitation to get involved in bringing about God's new realm of justice. Please consider it seriously and speak to Steve Gray about what you can do to make a difference.

Steve Gray

Social Action
Co-ordinator