International Students' Newsletter

Welcome to the inaugural International Students' Campaign Newsletter! This will be a weekly newsletter dedicated to publicising news and events from both national interest groups and charities which concern you. We are also hoping to include a free weekly classifieds section – so let us know if you are looking for a housemate or have books to sell! We are interested with what you want to see on this newsletter, so please feel free to email us if you have any comments, suggestions, etc.

Without further ado, let us kick off this newsletter with this week's exciting array of events with an international flavour!

Best,
Charlotte (Publicity Officer) and Sanjay (Welfare Officer)


Summary
1)        Russians in the UK Presentation
2)        Travelling China Talk
3)        Careers in Africa
4)        French Film Night
5)        Japan Matsuri festival
6)        New Zealand High Commissioner Visit - Jonathan Hunt.
7)        Russia, the EU and the West - another Cold War on the horizon? (EAS)
8)        Quills at the OFS Studio
9)        Urgent Campaign for an Asylum seeker (Oxford Amnesty International Student Group)
10)      Human Rights Talk (Oxford Amnesty International Student Group)


Link to websites:
Oxford University Russian Soc - http://oxford.russianstudents.net
French Soc - http://oufrsoc.googlepages.com/index.htm
OUANZ - http://oxford.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5891152124
EAS - http://www.oueas.org/
Oxford Amnesty International Student Group – http://users.ox.ac.uk/~amnesty/
Oxford University Japan Society – www.OUJS.co.uk


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1. RUSSIANS IN THE UK: PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION

Monday, 18th Feb, 5 pm
Lecture Room A, Oxford University Computing Laboratory
Wolfson Building, Parks Road

Speakers:
Anna Pechurina (Manchester University PhD student): "Emerging Russian associations and organisations in the UK"
Andy Byford (Oxford University Junior Research Fellow): "Russians in Britain: an Oxford interview project"
General discussion with the audience (chaired by Miron Fyodorov): "What is it like to be Russian in Britain?"

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2. TRAVELLING IN CHINA TALK - THIS TUESDAY!

WHEN: 7.30PM, this coming Tuesday (19 Feb)
WHERE: Worcester College, Lecture Theatre B

Whether you're thinking of planning a trip to China or simply want to know more about the various areas of the country, this is the talk for you!

An expert from STA Travel will be there to give travel advice and useful tips on visas and such. Come to find out more about all the insider must sees and must knows in China ranging from cultural taboos to specialty local cuisine!

We will be focusing on areas of China such as Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Xian and many more. This will be an excellent opportunity to talk to some of the locals and others with experience in travelling in China.

COST: FREE for members and GBP1 for non members

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3. INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN AFRICA?

Global Career Company is pleased to announce the Careers in Africa Recruitment Summit scheduled to take place in London on 23-26 May 2008.

Available career opportunities range from entry-level graduate openings to senior management appointments and cover a variety of
functions.

Candidates wishing to be considered for this event should apply online at www.careersinafrica.com by 6 April 2008.

If you have any questions or would simply like to speak to someone on campus about this opportunity, please contact Natalia at
natalia.rodionova@pmb.ox.ac.uk

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4. FRENCH SOC FILM NIGHT

7.30pm Thursday of 6th week @ the Engineering Sciences Thom Building (up Banbury Road), LR2.

Entry = FREE (bring your membership cards!)

In collaboration with the International Cinema Club, we will be screening 'Sur mes levres'.

Jacques Audiard combines disability, insecurity, love, revenge, and intensity to form his modern thriller Sur mes lèvres. The film is set
in the unwelcoming offices and dirty underworld of Paris in 2002. It follows a storyline where a lonely woman, burdened by disability and
lack of respect, takes comfort in a younger man who enters her life - Paul Angeli, a new trainee she decides to hire at the construction
company where she works. Paul is 25 years old and completely unskilled, but Carla covers for him when the need arises because of
his other qualities - he's a thief, fresh out of jail and very good-looking. And when Paul discovers a big crime deal being managed, Carla's
lip-reading skills suddenly come in very handy...

Awards:
Best writing, actress and sound at 2002 Cesar Awards
Nominated for best actor, actress and screenwriter at 2002 European Film Awards
Best foreign film and best independent film at 2003 Golden Trailer Awards

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5. JAPAN MATSURI FESTIVAL

This weekend the Oxford University Japan Society will be hosting its annual Japan Matsuri Festival. We will be hosting a range of traditional and modern cultural and artistic events. Including the opportunity to try wearing Kimono, watching Japanese films, and eating loads of Japanese food! For more info visit OUJS.co.uk

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6. NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISIONER'S VISIT – JOHNATHAN HUNT

When:  Wednesday 20 February: 5pm for a 5.15pm start.
Venue:  Rhodes House

Some background...
The Right Honourable Jonathan Hunt ONZ has been the NZ High Commissioner to London since 2005.  Prior to taking up this position, he was NZ's longest serving MP.  A Labour party stalwart, he was elected to Parliament in 1966 and remained an MP until 2005, also serving as Speaker of the House between 1999 and 2005.  He has been known as the "Father of the House" and the"Minister for Wine and Cheese".  He is a somewhat colourful character and should be an entertaining speaker, particularly for those interested in politics (or wine and cheese).

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7. RUSSIA, THE EU AND THE WEST – ANOTHER COLD WAR ON THE HORIZON? (EAS)

At a time when diplomatic relations between the UK and Russia have been at their most strained since the Cold War, join us for the highly
topical discussion of Russia and its relationship with the West.

With the personal appointment of the Russian Ambassador, EAS is proud to host the Senior Councillor of the Russian Embassay Ansdrey
Pritsepov, who, specialising in Russia's diplomatic relations with Europe, will bring his experience to this issue. He will be speaking
at 5.45pm in the Merton College Mure Room on Wednesday 20th February.

Do please email james.dobias@merton.ox.ac.uk if you would like to have dinner with the speaker afterwards.

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8. QUILLS AT THE OFS

Tues-Sat this week 7.30pm (2.30pm Sat Matinee) Tickets £7

The Marquis de Sade invites you to crane your neck, lend an ear and bear witness to the creation of France's most incendiary prose. Entombed within the Charenton Asylum, the Marquis publishes his insidious gospel with the help of the comely seamstress Madeleine.

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9. URGENT CAMPAIGN FOR AN ASYLUM SEEKER (OXFORD AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GROUP)

Anicet Mayela is an asylum seeker from Brazzaville, Congo, who was forced to flee his home after he escaped an extra-judicial execution. He has been in the UK since 2004, and despite repeated claims for asylum his case has been refused repeatedly on what appear to be highly spurious grounds.

Attached is a letter drafted from a report of the case, which highlights the areas in which the system has failed Mr Mayela. This case is important not only for this one individual and theconsequences he would face if deported, but for the attention it could
bring to general pattern of skepticism and cultural incomprehension that characterises the system of asylum applications.

I can't emphasise how urgent this situation is. Mr Mayela may be deported as early as next week. Please print out the letter and send
it ASAP to

Liam Byrne, Minister for Immigration
3rd Floor, Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

This is a chance to make letter writing count. Please give copies to all your friends and ask them to send a copy with their name, address and signature on as soon as they can.

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10. HUMAN RIGHTS TALK (OXFORD AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GROUP)

David Hallmark, currently visiting fellow at Trinity, will be giving a talk on human rights on Monday 18th February, room TBC at 17:00. He shall be focusing specifically on the lack of enforceability of human rights in Indonesia and Thailand, where he's had experience working as a practising lawyer.

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