Who lives in a hell like this?

Why I'm glad I have control of my own reproductive organs, and other important issues Amnesty campaigns on...

Well I knew taking on a 500k bike ride would be a serious challenge and over the last few days I've managed to do zero exercise. I keep setting my alarm for 6 to go for a run but then just hit snooze! And tonight I'm off out for a reunion with some friends I made travelling a few years ago, which I think could end up being messy, so there's no hope of physical exertion tomorrow either. At least I have the day off work to recover and admire my beautiful, if slightly pointless, training plan. What's that saying, the best laid plans of mice and men go awry?!

Anyway, as well as being a physical challenge this bike ride is giving my brain cells a workout as I attempt to raise the necessary sponsorship to go. Luckily lots of my friends already support Amnesty International and have given very generously. But part of the challenge is also explaining to others why they should care enough to support my chosen charity?

No doubt many of you will have been rattled by the ongoing economic conditions in the UK and what this means for many of us in terms of living standards, or by some other issue that has inspired outrage amongst the UK population - student fees, Iraq war, Greenham Common to name a few. You may have even been on a protest march, made a complaint against a public service or written to your local newspaper or MP to air your views and seek redress. I completely support the right to criticise and challenge the world around us, including our own government, in this way. In fact I believe it is absolutely essential to do this if you want to live in a properly functioning democracy.

What irks me, though, is the idea that some of my fellow citizens seem to have in their head that our government is massively corrupt or that we in the UK are terribly unfortunate. I guess it's because more often than not the people who grumble about these things actually live comparatively comfortable lives and tar the whole political system with the 'corruption' brush when really it's down to the actions of a handful of individuals. I'm not suggesting our own government is perfect or blemish-free, far from it. It has more than a few skeletons in it's closet. But I believe that the freedom of speech we enjoy in the UK does make for far fewer injustices than others around the world suffer.

As we've all seen in recent years injustice, oppression and violence is committed daily against many people around the world. It is almost always committed in the name of things we take completely for granted - so fundamental are the freedoms we enjoy, we don't even stop to consider our good fortune for being able to protest if we want to, obtain contraception, be gay, wear religious symbols or join a union.

Many others do not enjoy these rights, which is why Amnesty International is campaigning around the world to secure them for others less fortunate than us. For example:

- AI is campaigning for women's rights in Indonesia, where the law requires a woman to get her husband's consent to access certain contraception methods.

- AI recently ran a successful campaign to stop the Royal Bank of Scotland from funding cluster bombs, meaning that fewer innocent civilians around the world will suffer the devastating consequences.

- In Nicaragua AI recently helped to secure the release of nine women who campaigned to help a nine year old girl secure a legal abortion after being raped.

- AI is currently working to try and secure the release of journalists in Zimbabwe who were detained after calling for more openness in the media and freedom of expression for Zimbabweans.

I am glad to live in a country where I have control over my own reproductive system, where I am allowed to be outraged at the rape of a young child without fear of reprisals and can read a range of critical views about my government.

If you are too, please go to my Justgiving page www.justgiving.com/Emily/CharlotteJeffrey and make a donations to help Amnesty International continue this vital work, or come along and support my 'Madras for Cash' fundraising dinner: http://www.facebook.com/events/356244781067608.

Thanks

Emily

Madras for Cash - 3 courses and a drink for £20, all for a good cause!

Day four of my fundraising and fitness efforts. The fitness efforts aren't going so well, I've been too lazy/full of cold/coughs to actually get off my bum and do anything for a few days. The alarm goes off at 6am to go for a run and I have a bad habit of just hitting snooze!

By contrast my fundraising efforts are going pretty well! Just a few days into the challenge and I've already had 7 donations to my Justgiving page http://www.justgiving.com/EmilyCharlotteJeffrey which means I'm halfway towards my monthly target of £300. Thanks to everyone who has helped so far.

So I have organised my first event - an Indian meal at Imli restaurant in Wardour St, London. For £20 you get three courses, a cocktail or glass of wine AND entry to my Indian themed quiz with a chance to win a great prize. Cheap as chapatis and should be a good fun night out.

If you're interested in coming see the facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/356244781067608/

Hope to see you there!

Emily

Spotlight on India's human rights record

Day Two of my new fitness regime. Yesterday I went for my second run in a week. The first one was a killer. For five days afterwards my whole body felt as though it had seized up! How I'm going to get from this to cycling for 8 hour stretches I'm not entirely sure, but I've got a little while to muse on that on...So today I'm planning to go for a swim, in the (probably) vain hope that cross training will make the transition from couch potato to triathlon-fit easy!

As part of my preparations for cycling India in 2012 and raising funds for Amnesty International I am using this blog to focus on the good work it does in all different areas of the world. Where better to start than India itself?

http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/countries/asia-and-the-pacific/india

And here's is a link here for an interview on Al Jazeera's Fault Lines with one of my favourite Indian writers and fantasy dinner party guests, Arundhati Roy, an incredibly wise lady, social commentator and unintentional campaigner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnTS9gHCZoI

Enjoy

My fundraising ideas...any takers?

Hello and welcome to my blog. I'm hoping this helps keep me enthused for the gargantuan task I've set myself of raising £2700 and becoming a fitness freak in order to cycle round India this year!


I've been considering doing this for several years but always been put off by the prospect of having to raise such a huge amount of money & the thought that I would end up simply asking my close friends and family to pay for a holiday for me. So I've decided as long as I organise events that people can have fun at or do things that are useful and people would happily pay for anyway, I should be able to raise the funds without making my family & friends want to take out an injunction against me and have loads of fun at the same time!


I have a long, long list of potential fundraising activities I'd welcome people's comments on, particularly what you'd be willing to put your hands in your pockets for and what you'd rather chew your own arm off than pay for!


So, here goes:

Catering other people's dinners/parties in return for donations

Curry night

Sari fashion show & auction

Making birthday cakes for donations

Come Dine With Me competition

Rent out my (many, many) beautiful dresses

Quiz night

Give people manicures/pedicures/or provide pamper days

Olympic sweepstake

Bad taste party

BBQ

Pot luck dinner

Tomato throwing party (think La Tomatina in Spain)

Badminton tournament

Singathon

Donate your coppers

Treasure hunt

Jigsaw marathon

Pancake party

Games evening

Tuck shop

Sponsored runs/swims

Cake sales

Raffle

Wine tasting evening

So, what do you think? Would you pay to take part in any of these activities?