Fundraising for the Medaille Trust
C.W.L. Report on progress with political issues - Jackie O’Connor 9/3/09
Concerning the Medaille Trust and the police action in our city, I have written to our two M.P.’s:
Mr Shailash Vara and Mr Stuart Jackson.
Also Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Vanderpool.
We have had replies from both M.P.’s.
DCI Vanderpool phoned his reply.
Mr Stewart Jackson replied confirming his previous assurances of support for local police activities in our area,
Mr Shailash Vara is very involved with human trafficking as he helped to establish the All Parliamentary Group on Trafficking of Women and Children. He sent copies of reports of recent successful raids where young women were rescued and re-housed.
DCI Kevin Vanderpool was to have given us a talk in November, he rang to apologise that he could not come on the day, as he was called away on urgent business. He is now also responsible for the welfare of land workers who are often tricked into useless contracts and are abused with long hours of work, dreadful living conditions and meagre pay. He was sorry he had to cancel at the last minute. ( I did not get his message until after the meeting).
Concerning Terminator Technology. If you remember this is about a form of genetic modification of seeds that makes them sterile after the first planting. This could threaten the livelihoods of over 1.4 Billion poor farmers in the developing world.
I wrote to Mr Steward Jackson and Mr Shailesh Vara.
Both replied. Mr Jackson passed on our concerns to Hilary Benn MP, who was Secretary of State for the Environment and Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for international Development. They in turn sent it on to Phil Woolas MP Mininster for the Environment. We have the responses including reports from Defra and DFID.
Shailesh Vara passed on our concerns to Hilary Benn MP and Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for International Development. He also sent us their replies.
We were invited to attend a talk given by the Bible Society in the Baptist Church on 2nd March. Unfortunately, as our last meeting was cancelled there was no reminder given to our members. I went along, taking Mike my husband for support! We had the most heartwarming welcome and enjoyed the talk given by Madeline Reynard from the Bible Society. Apparently Ghana has for the first time a Christian president and he has given permission for the Bible Society to give a bible to all students between the ages of 12 - 16. They are now trying to raise £3,000,000 in three years to equip one million children with a bible. Each bible costs £3 and is printed in China so it is a huge task but they are determined to succeed. They asked for our prayers and also a donation if that were appropriate. I have brought literature for you to look at.