Newsletter 127
Content
National News and Events
- Take Action - Petition Reed Elsevier
- International Women's Day
- Global Health and Southern Regional Day
- March this Saturday to Save the NHS
- Medsin Dundee News
- MSF Scientific Day
- Global Health Parternships - Lord Crisp's Report
- Medsin Bristol - Asylum Monologues
- Medsin Spring General Assembly 2007
- Global Health Conference, 2007
- Submit a Poster for the Global Health Conference
- Host the Global Health Conference 2008
- Voting Session at the Global Health Conference
- Toilet Rolls Please!
International News and Events
- Run a Workshop at World Scout Jamboree
- IPPNW Conference in Porto
Website and News
The website is for YOUR events being held by YOUR branches, projects and campaigns. It is really, really easy to submit events and news, so please do, and let everyone know what wonderful things you are up to!
Action of the Week
If you have any ideas for a future action, please email Jen
National News and Events
Action of the Week
To sign a petition showing your disapproval of Reed's involvement in arms fairs click here
Last week it was highlighted that the Rowntree Charitable Trust had sold its shares in Reed Elsevier - the publishers of The Lancet - as a result of their involvement in the international arms trade. This sparked a flurry of attention and activity by campaigning groups, and Medsin was no exception.
Members of the National Committee penned a letter to The Lancet calling on Reed Elsevier to drop its involvement in the arms trade, asking shareholders to divest and if all this fails, asking The Lancet to find an alternative publisher.
The really exciting part came when we polled our voting members in order to sign the letter on behalf of Medsin as an organisation - the results allowed us to do so. This adds the weight of the entire Medsin network to our demands! Watch this space to see if we get published!
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
- Reed Elsevier publish most of the educational materials that we use as medical students - from 'Kumar and Clark' to 'Gray's Anatomy' and 'The Lancet'.
- Reed also provide information services to other professionals whose work is in the public interest and underpinned by principles of democracy, equality and human rights.
- It is therefore surprising that Reed Elsevier has chosen to involve itself in arms fairs that help to undermine human rights, exacerbate poverty and fuel conflict around the world. Their behaviour encourages developing countries with limited resources for public spending to put investment in arms before investment in health.
- The company has also subscribed to the UN Global compact which specifically commits businesses to uphold human rights and make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
- Reed, along with the UK government, is responsible for inviting government officials from countries involved in human rights abuses to arms fairs such as DSEi which takes place biannually in the UK. At DSEi 2005 it was discovered that implements used to inflict torture were on sale (stun guns, leg irons and others)although they are subject to a UK export ban. Cluster bombs were also on sale.
TAKE ACTION
- For more information about Elsevier's involvement in the arms trade click here
- To sign a petition showing your disapproval of Reed's involvement in arms fairs click here
The Lancet's editorial board have previously printed a scathing attack on their publisher's involvement in organising arms fairs. Medsin has a good relationship with The Lancet and have been in communication with them on this issue.
International Women's Day
8th of March is International Women's Day. To celebrate the Medsin Newsletter on the 5th of March will be an International Women's Special Edition.
We would like your submissions to produce a newsletter with some interesting news about women's health around the world.
Submissions shouldn't be too long - they might point to an interesting project in a developing country that is improving women's health, tell us about some experiences you've had of working with women in developing countries, highlight some recent research or tell us about what your project or campaign does to improve women's health.
Please send these to Jen by Friday, 2nd March.
Medsin Southampton - Global Health and Southern Regional Day
More than a billion people around the world are trapped in a cycle of bad health, bad debt and bad luck - can we do anything to end it?
'Improving Access to Healthcare - What can WE do?'
Medsin Southampton have put together a fantastic programme of speakers including:
Mike Rowson, former Director of Medact,
Dr Rhona MacDonald, Senior Editor of The Lancet and
Dr Frank Olaleye, the founder of the WISH for Africa initiative
In addition Dr Mike Roe, Consultant Paediatrician, will talk about his extensive experiences working in conflict zones and disaster areas
Please come along to this event for a chance to listen to some fantastic speakers, and find out how to get involved in the global fight against disease and poverty!
Date: 3rd March 2007
Time: 11.00am - 4.30pm
Venue: LT1, Boldrewood Campus, University of Southampton
Cost: £2 (lunch included!)
March to Save the NHS this SATURDAY
UNISON and the NHS Together alliance, including organisations such as the BMA and Keep Our NHS Public, have organised a day of action this coming SATURDAY (3rd March).
There are REGIONAL protests and marches so you don't need to come to London for it! Please go to this link to obtain the phone numbers of the local UNISON offices to find out where and at what time the regional marches are planned. March for our NHS, one which is interested in public health not private wealth!
The London rally is between 1.30 - 3.30pm at Friends Meeting House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ (opposite Euston station). Look out for other students in white coats/scrubs etc.
Medsin-Dundee News
Last week Medsin-Dundee hosted a "House Night" in our main lecture theatre. We watched series 1 of House throughout the night with lots of us sleeping over right into lectures this morning. We had some great games of "Streetfighter" a Twister Tournament and a HUGE midnight snack. Meanwhile raising £200+ for Partners in Health and Wateraid.
MSF Scientific Day
Scientific Day 2007 Thursday, June 7, 2007 Great Hall, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London EC1.
At the Scientific Day, recent operational research projects and epidemiological investigations will be presented by speakers from MSF, Epicentre, as well as invited external speakers.
The event will be relevant for all those interested in the scientific and medical aspects of humanitarian aid; including medical workers, staff of medical and humanitarian NGO's, infectious disease and tropical medicine experts, students and policy makers.
Provisionally the following topics are being considered:
- HIV and Tuberculosis co-infections
- Nutritional inteventions in Niger
- Ethics issues in (MSF) research
- The use of mortality surveys to guide operational response
- The effectiveness and implementation of artemisinin-based treatements for malaria
- The effects of user fees on access to health
More details about how to register to follow.
Global Health Partnership - Lord Crisp's Report
Lord Crisp's Report entitled 'Global Health Partnerships: The UK contribution to health in developing countries'was comissioned by the Prime Minister to undertake a review of how the UK could contribute to health in developing countries. A Inter-Ministerial Group, consisting of the Department of Health, the Department for International Department, The Treasury, and The Foreign and Commonwealth Office amonst others are working to take the recomendations of the report forward.
Download the report from here
Medsin Bristol - Asylum Monologues
Asylum Monologues - an amazing, provocative play about the UK asylum system based on personal testimonies.
Part of a COMPLETELY FREE evening to include 5 workshops by STOPAIDS,U8,GhAP, Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and Crossing Borders focusing upon the issues of destitution and healthcare faced by people seeking asylum in the UK.
FREE REFRESHMENTS AND LIVE MUSIC
Where: BRISTOL: UBHT, opposite the Bristol Royal Infirmary When: Thursday 1st March, 6.30pm to 8.30pm How: Just turn up early, limited seating!
Spring General Assembly
Medsin's 2007 Spring General Assembly will be held at Imperial in London on the 21st and 22nd of April.
This is a crucial meeting in shaping Medsin as an organisation as it's when the national committee for 2007/08 are voted in, voting sessions on a wide range of issues affecting Medsin occur and is a brilliant opportunity to network with other Medsin members and have a lot of fun.
For more information about what goes on at a General Assembly of Medsin, please see details of the Autumn General Assembly 2006.
Please put this date in your diary now and start thinking about making sure your branch/project/campaign is represented. We would like at least one person from each, but the more the merrier!
Also - start thinking about running for a position on next year's national committee - elections take place at the SGA and applications will be opening soon. Look on this page for details of what the jobs involve and get in touch with the relevant person if you are interested in any of the posts.
The deadline for bylaw submissions will be 6th April, 2007 and more details of how you can change the way Medsin works will follow in subsequent newsletters.
Global Health Conference, Newcastle, 24th/25th March, 2007
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!! Go to the website to guarantee your place. Places are limited - book in advance to avoid disappointment.
The Medsin Global Health Conference 2007 will center around the theme of 'Health and Human Rights and will build on the National Conferencein Bristol, 2006.
We aim to focus on four key areas during our conference:
- Women & the Right to Health
- Access to Water as a Human Right
- Conflict, Health & Human Rights
- Realising the right to health
We are seeking to create a Global Health Conference which is a unique and dynamic experience which challenges our perceptions of human rights, global health and medicine.
Plus we're having a social at St James' Park - do you need any more reasons to come?!
Poster presentation at the Global Health Conference 2007
Have you completed a piece of research this year in the field of global health? The Global Health Conference 2007 is offering the opportunity to present a poster of your work at this conference in Newcastle on 24-25th March.
We are particularly interested in work around our four plenary themes: Women and the Right to Health; Access to Water as a Human Right; Conflict, Health and Human Rights and Realising the Right to Health.
If you would like to present your work please email a 500 word abstract to Isabel Leigh-Brown (committee sec) by the 9th March.
Host the 2008 Global Health Conference
Could your branch host the Global Health Conference 2008?
Organising the conference is an essential part of Medsin's annual activities and gives your branch the opportunity to play a really important role in raising awareness about global health issues amongst medical students.
Guidance is available form the National Committee throughout the process and we hope that you will benefit from the experience of branches who have previously organised conferences on behalf of Medsin.
If your branch is interested, you will have the opportunity to bid to host the meeting at the voting session that will take place at this year's Global Health Conference in Newcastle. You should think about getting a team together, have some ideas of themes and your capability to host the conference and present these to Medsin members at the voting session.
If you are interested or have any questions about organising the conference, please email the committee
Voting at the Global Health Conference
An extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly of Medsin will take place at the Global Health Conference.
In other words, branch presidents, campaigns and projects coordinators will have a chance to represent their members by voting on issues central to the running of Medsin as an organisation.
The deadline for submission to changes of Medsin's constitution and bylaws is the 9th of March.
This is also the deadline for new project or campaign proposals. If you would like to vote in a new project or campaign, please get in touch with the national committee
Toilet Rolls Please!!
We need toilet rolls for the Global Health Conference! We will be using them in an action aimed at calling for better access to water and sanitation services for those in developing countries. Please contact wateraid@medsin.org
International News and Events
Run a Workshop at the World Scout Jamboree
THe World Scout Jamboree, organised in collaboration with UNESCO, is coming to the UK from 27th July - 8th August, 2007.
Medsin have been asked by our international network, the IFMSA, to provide workshops at this event.
Workshops should be on topics relating to young people and health, but are quite flexible and could include anything from primary health care, HIV/AIDs, TB and Health and Human Rights.
If you are interested in running a workshop please contact Abi.
Travel and accomodation costs will be met.
For more information about the event please see this website
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) 8th European Conference.
Where and When: Porto, PORTUGUAL, on the 27th- 30th April
Who: Open to all healthcare students. Last year people from over 20 different countries attended!
What's happening: Issues discussed in plenerys and workshops:
- Conflict in India- Pakistan, Middle East conflict, Landmines in Egypt,
- Humanitarian and Volunteer Projects,
- Koyoto Protocol
- Make Trade Fair
- Nuclear energy and Weapons including conflict in N. Korea and Iran, Thyroid Cancer due to chernobyl, Russian and French nuclear Tests
- Humanitarian and Volunteer Projects including the Refugee Camp Project and the UN Millenium development goals
Also not forgetting great social programmes planned in the city of Porto.
For more info and registration: See the website Or contact Kiran
Last updated on Tuesday 27 February 2007 at 10:47.
