Birthday cards to DESO

At yesterdays meeting (Monday 5th June) we made some Birthday cards for DESO. DESO stands for Defence Export Services Organisation, a Government department which exists to promote UK arms exports abroad. This year is their 40th anniversary, and we feel that at 40 they are 'over the hill' and DESO should be closed. International arms compnaies should not benefit from tax payers money, in the form of government subsidies, to promote their weapons. Too often, British weapons are promoted by DESO to countries which are abusing human rights, in conflict or have development needs. Unforntunatly, the purchase of weapons, takes much needed money away from things such as education and health, and just adds to the countries debt.

For more information on SPEAK's arms trade campaign, please see www.speak.org.uk/armstrade

We'll be meeting again on Monday 19th June at Nexus and will continue to make cards and chat about some other stuff!

"Profit; who pays?" Event next Friday!

Hi guys,

"Profit; Who pays?" is an event happening next Friday 9th June at 7pm at the Town Hall, about business and corporate responsibilty. A coalition of Manchester campaigning groups, including SPEAK, are hosting the event, which will be discussing the new Company Law reform bill going through parliament, and the wider issues of companies' involvment overseas and their social and environmental responsibilities.

We can bring info leaflets next Monday - but please put it in your diaries if you're interested in coming along. There should be quite a few manchester MPs who will be commenting on the subject as well as presentations from Sam Lacey from Friends of the Earth and Ben Gilchrist (from SPEAK)! See http://www.tjm.org.uk/events/noticeboard.shtml#nw for more info.

Next Monday's meeting.

This Monday we'll be meeting at my house because Nexus is already booked. I live in Rusholme, just behind Curry mile, so its really easy to get to. My address is 75 Heald Place. Arrive from 7pm, for a 730 start. It seems we haven't had a 'proper' meeting for ages, what with Easter Hols, Bank holidays and doing the mailing! So we hope that lots of us can meet on Monday to catch up, here the latest on the CORE campaign on corporate responsibilty and plan for the next few months.

I've booked Nexus for the next couple of months, so we'll be able to meet there every two weeks, apart from Monday 3rd July, when its already booked. So the dates are:-

• 5th June - My house in Rusholme
• 19th June - Nexus
• 3rd July - Social/my house, tbc
• 17th July - Nexus
• 31st July - Nexus
• 14th August - Nexus (although maybe we'll take a break for the summer)

Another important date is Check 2, the young adult gathering in London - Saturday 24th June.

Hopefully see some of you on Monday at my house!
Lucy xx

Check 2

Hey! Thanks to those who came to help with the mailing over the past couple of weeks... we've nearly finished now!

I want to promote the next SPEAK event which is Check 2.... the young adults gathering! Check 2 has come about because many people felt Soundcheck is kinda geared at students and it would be good to have a separate gathering for non-students.

Check 2 will be a time to share ideas for how SPEAK young adult groups and networks can work. Some groups have found it hard to balance meeting regularly with other other commitments that come with full time work etc. But most people still want to be involved in SPEAK in some capacity, so Check 2 will be a time to discuss possibilities, get to know one another and be reinvisioned!

Check 2 is happening in London on Saturday 24th June... see the SPEAK website for times/location.... http://www.speak.org.uk/node/453

It would be fantastic if we could have a SPEAK City Manchester group go down to represent our group and share our experiences. I understand it s a long way to go for just one day... which is why i've deceided to have a (birthday) BBQ at my house (weather permitting!) on Sunday 25th, in Sussex. Its a short train ride from London Victoria (40 mins), and we've got floor space, so people could sleep there on Saturday night if they'd like.

Please get in touch if you would like to come... my email is lucy@speak.org.uk and my mobile is 07764741232

Love Lucy xxxxx

Stamping & Stickering!

Stamping and stickering tonight at Nexus from 7pm!

Please do come and 'lend a hand' as all good Brownies and Boy Scouts should.

cancelled meeting

sorry to mess everyone around but so many people are unable to make tonight that we are going to cancel the meeting. Hope you all had great Easter's.

Emma

Tonight's at NEXUS

Tonight is at Nexus again at 6.30. We will be watching The Corporation film (as requested) and discussing what level of involvment ManchesterSpeakCity would like to have in upcoming Manchester campaign events.