Other organisations

Working for Others!

UK's Lesley Abdela to be high level, international gender adviser to UN and Nepali Government September 1 – November 30 2007

There is a big Women's Conference in Hilla on 4,5,6,7 October. Paul Bremmer (the US Civilian Administrator who runs Iraq is coming to open it). Women from across the 5 governorates in this region will be there. By Lesley Abdela

Yesterday a new women's centre was opened here in Hilla by the Governor and the Senior US civilian here. It has a theatre, exercise bikes a room full of computers for women to learn computer skills and other small meeting room.
The US are funding women's centres across the 5 Governorates in this area! These women are no shrinking violets. One woman stood up in the middle of the Governor's speech and told him to stop using Baathist vocabulary!
South Central Iraq's 6 governorates have the largest share of the Iraqi population and will be where any election will be won or lost. Over 60% of the population are women. There are reputedly 150,000 dead in mass graves in Hilla (a city of 300,000 population) - most people I meet have had at least one close relative killed or tortured at some point by the regime. The 40
relatives of the Governor killed and his brother was apparently beheaded in front of him.

There is a huge amount happening in this region of South Central Iraq on women and democracy and women in civil society. I am running workshops on political participation every day with groups of women around the governorates in this South Central Area. Yesterday I was in the religious city of Kerbala running workshops on constitutions and participatory democracy with a group of women who were engineers, scientists, sports teachers, pharmacists etc. All were covered in black head to foot and a couple of them had their faces fully covered by a black veil too. The veils were lifted once our bodyguards left the room. I was advised by my Iraqi assistant linguistics University teacher Hammida to wear a long skirt and drape a scarf over my head. 5 years ago at 22 years old she became convinced she should dress in full the full length black traditional dress of Muslims
in this area, including covering her hair.

PLEASE VISIT LESLEY'S WEBSITE WWW.SHEVOLUTION.COM AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR HER WORK.

Vegetarian/Vegan information

Vegetarian Society - recipes, vegetarian & nutrition information, cookery classes (they have a veggie cookery school called "Cordon Vert" near Manchester), vegetarian information for schools (they have a "Virtual School Room"), local veggie groups. www.vegsoc.org

Vegan Society - advice on going vegan, nutrition information sheets, local vegan groups, on-line forum. www.vegansociety.com

Viva! - many different campaigns against animal cruelty, books and merchandise that can be purchased on-line. www.viva.org.uk

International Vegetarian Union - unites most of the vegetarian and vegan organisations around the world. Links to overseas veg*n organisations, recipes, lots of information. www.ivu.org

Vegan Views magazine - a quarterly not-for-profit UK vegan magazine. Year's subscription only £4 including UK postage. The complete magazine is also downloadable for free from their website. www.veganviews.org.uk

VHA (Vegetarian Housing Association) Homes for Elderly Vegetarians and Vegans www.veghousing.org.uk

ACE (Animal Care in Egypt) by Pat Wilder

A registered charity founded to help ease the suffering of all kinds of animals in that country. Three years ago, ACE opened a centre in Luxor (well known as a tourist base for Nile cruises and the Valley of the Kings), primarily to give some care and respite to the horses, which pull the tourist carriages through the town in searing heat. They are often malnourished and suffering from sores caused by ill-fitting tack and injuries from cruel bits that cut the horse’s mouth. To begin with, the ACE centre just offered facilities for the horses to be washed, groomed, watered and rested, but it soon became apparent that most were also in need of veterinary attention. As time went on, more and more animals were brought in to benefit from the free service offered by the charity: goats, donkeys, buffalo, cats, dogs and wild birds and animals. In just a few years, the work of the centre has expanded. It is managed (in a very “hands on” way) by Kim Taylor and Mohammed Youssef, helped by a qualified vet and a number of local boys and young men to deal with the routine chores. An average of 150 animals visit the centre every day – some being kept in for a few days or more if in need of constant attention.

I have been involved in animal welfare in one way or another for over twenty years and was especially impressed with the way the charity runs the centre on the proverbial shoestring. This is thanks largely to the “24/7” involvement of Kim and Mohammed who are totally dedicated to the animals’ welfare and have to deal with cruelty and neglect on a scale hardly ever witnessed in the UK. Much of this is caused by ignorance, so by involving the local people in the centre it is helping with education in animal welfare. Just a small example of this is illustrated by the treatment of dogs: mostly, they are chained up all the time – “chained” being the significant word. Collars are unheard of – usually a heavy chain or wire is tied round the dog’s neck. Over the past year or two, unwanted collars and leads have been donated from supporters in the UK, and substituted for the chains when the dogs’ owners have visited the centre. Not only have the owners been proud to show off the smart “new” collars, but, prompted by Kim and Mohammed taking their own dogs for a walk (when the weather isn’t too hot!), they are beginning to exercise their dogs, giving them some respite from boring hours chained up.

Could you help ACE in any way? More dog collars and leads (any size!) would be welcome, and can be left at any of the following addresses: Cliffe Veterinary Practice, Cliffe High Street, Lewes. - Brockmead, Litlington (my front porch)Frankham Consultancy Ltd (2nd floor), Greencoat House, 38 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne – (for attention of John Masters) Volunteers are always welcome to help at the Centre, especially if you have any “hands on” experience with animals – Egypt is a great place to be veggie, and there are many cheap flights and inclusive deals to Luxor. Please give me a call if you would like to know more or wish to offer help.
Pat: 01323 871619 Email. patw@brockmead.freeserve.co.uk

Nearby Vegetarian/Vegan groups

Farmed Animal Action, PO Box 27, Tonbridge, Kent TN12 5WJ. Tel: 0845 456 9284. Campaigning vegan organisation against the live transport of animals, they also run a local animal sanctuary.

Human rights

The United Nations Association (UNA-UK) - campaigns at the local and global level to strengthen the ideals of the United Nations, particularly in the areas of conflict resolution, human rights and sustainable development. It is a membership based non-governmental organisation dependant on volunteers operating independently of the UN. Bringing people together in the form of public meetings, lectures and debates is a major part of being a UNA member. For more information on the UNA contact UNA Head Office at 3 Whitehall Court, London. Tel: 020 7930 2931.www.una-uk.org

Local UNA Group in Tunbridge Wells Kent - we need new members come and join us www.unatw.org/ or email Julia jlj@mistral.co.uk

Adopt-A-Minefield - raises awareness and funds to clear landmines and help survivors of landmine accidents. 'They support projects through the United Nations, that empower local populations to help themselves...' '...Landmines don't recognise ceasefires and peace treaties. Landmines don't distinguish between a soldier, child or animal. In 1999 The Mine Ban Treaty became international law, it banned the 'use, production, stockpiling and transfer of antipersonnel landmines.' However, although many acres of landmines have been cleared, thousand still remain making vast areas of land unsafe and impeding the progress of reconciliation and reconstruction. Tel: 020 7265 4945. www.landmines.org.uk

Fair Trade www.fairtrade.org