Links
Civil rights
Amnesty International
An international movement of ordinary people
standing up for
human rights, producing extraordinary results. Prisoners
of conscience
released, death sentences, torturers brought to justice,
governments
persuaded to change ... the Sheffield group meets monthly
in the city. Tel. Sheff. 255 5748 or email
sheffieldamnesty@yahoo.co.uk
Critical Mass Sheffield
Not so much a group as an idea - once a month, massed bands of cyclists flood city roads around the world to reclaim the streets for the most environmentally friendly, fun form of transport. Everyone welcome, just bring a bike and tag along.
CycleSheffield
Cyclesheffield (formerly known as Pedal Pushers) is the new force for cycle promotion in Sheffield, the group has taken a step into the 21st century with a new name and a new manifesto for change.
Cyclesheffield has aligned itself with its national federation, cyclenation, and is proposing a massive change in people's attitudes to transport. Key objectives are safer streets, with 20mph limits in all residential areas - they believe that the average of 300 people a year killed or seriously injured on Sheffield's streets is disgraceful - and better driver behaviour. Most Sheffield drivers are courteous and respectful to cyclists, but there is still a substantial minority who are not. They want to see the awareness raised of the dangers this minority pose to people who choose to cycle. Cycling has never been more popular, and yet cyclists are still treated as second-class citizens on the road.
The training group has created a large number of competent and confident cyclists on Sheffield's roads, and will not have their safety compromised by inattentive drivers.
When Pedal Pushers was formed, nearly 15 years ago, it said "The City Council appears to have some pro-cycling policies, but in practice it is still regarded as a fringe activity, to be accommodated only when it will not inconvenience car-users." Sadly this is still the case. Nevertheless cycling is on the increase, and CycleSheffield is a key part of the coalition that aims to bring a sea-change to attitudes to sustainable transport in our city.
CycleSheffield is part of the national federation of cycle promotion groups in the UK, Cyclenation.
Feminist Poster Project
This website archives and shares feminist posters, postcards and stickers for you to print and paste, to encourage designing and sharing feminist posters and putting up them in public places. Sexist advertisement and misogynist media are all around us. If we want to fight this patriarchal propaganda, we have to produce our own images and messages. You can contribute your own self-made posters, postcards and stickers too.
Liberty
If you think civil liberties are part of American history you're missing some news. Detention without trial, deportation to torture and removal of rights to speech and protest are creeping into the UK. Liberty campaigns for civil and human rights, and a Sheffield group is being set up (2008) Tel. Sheff. 242 3511
NO2ID
NO2ID is a campaigning organisation focussed on the threat to liberty and privacy posed by the rapid growth of the database state, of which "ID cards" are the most visible part. Entirely independent, they do not endorse any party, nor campaign on any other topic. The Sheffield group meets monthly.
Nomad
Campaigning, support and advice for people under the strains of social housing, council housing or homelessness. In a sea of difficulties, Nomad has been a lifeboat for two decades. Its Burngreave office deals with tenancy support, and its West Street office helps in other areas. Opportunities for volunteers also available. Tel. Sheff. 2755441
Sheffield Equality Trust
We live in a very unequal city, in one of the most divided developed countries on Earth. As one example, some northern and eastern areas of Sheffield have an average 14 year shorter life expectancy than the wealthier west side. Sheffield Equality Trust plans to change this situation.
Sheffield Guantanamo Campaign
This campaign is not really running any more activities (from 2010) protest instead through Amnesty International (see above). But you can still contact Sheff 2555815 or email shefguantanamocampaign@hotmail.co.uk
Unlock Democracy
The UK's leading campaign for democracy, rights and freedoms. A grassroots movement, owned and run by members which campaigns on issues like fair and open elections, a written constitution and bringing power closer to the people. It incorporates a predecessor organisation, Charter 88
The website above is the UK national one but there is a Sheffield group, for details call Sheff. 2664607
