Medact

East Midlands January meeting
2021-01-14 19:00 - 20:30 (Europe/London)
Join us on Thursday 14th January to get involved in our work to tackle climate change in the East Midlands.
If you would like to join the meeting please RSVP below to receive joining details.
[Registration has now closed]

Economic Justice & Health January Planning Meeting
2021-01-21 18:30 - 19:30
Planning meeting for members of the Economic Justice & Health Group. If you’re interested in joining please email siddharthamehta@medact.org

Climate & Health Group Action Planning
2021-01-21 19:00 - 20:30
The Climate & Health Group Action Planning team will be meeting this Thursday to continue work on upcoming Health for a Green New Deal actions.
If you’re interested in joining please email robabrams@medact.org

Climate & Health Scorecard Planning
2021-02-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
At the last big meeting of the Medact Climate & Health Group, we began discussing a plan to research and assess the action being taken by Royal Colleges and other health institutions on climate change. This research would have a particular focus on high-level actions such as fossil fuel divestment, declaring a climate emergency and engaging in policy advocacy.

More than 1250 health workers so far have signed the letter calling for health and climate justice at COP 26. To build on that and in the year of COP 26, it is important that health institutions are using their voice to advocate for Climate Justice. Please join Medact & Health Declares to discuss the next steps of the project and how we organise.

If you are unable to join next Wednesday, but would still like to be involved in the project, please sign up to our mailing list and we will update following the meeting. If you have any questions at all or would like to speak more about the idea, then please get in touch – beneder@medact.org.

[Registration has now closed]

Health for a Green New Deal Scotland - planning meeting
2021-02-08 19:00 - 20:30
If you’re a health worker or student based in Scotland interested in campaigning for a just & green recovery, join us for our planning meeting on Monday 8th February at 7pm, where we will be discussing potential ways to influence candidates in the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections in May.
For more info please email Rob – robabrams@medact.org

Climate & Health Research Team Meeting
2021-02-10 19:00 - 20:30
The Climate & Health Research will be meeting on Wednesday 10th February to continue work on our new briefing.
If you’re interested in getting involved in our research network you can sign up online or contact our Research Manager Hilary Aked ─ hilaryaked@medact.org

East Midlands February Meeting
2021-02-18 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Thursday 18th February 7:00pm – 8:30pm to get involved in our work to tackle climate change in the East Midlands.
If you would like to join the online meeting please send us email or RSVP below!
[Registration has now closed]

Prevent duty in NHS ─ February planning meeting
2021-02-25 17:00 - 18:30 | Zoom
We are having our regular meeting to discuss the different ways that the health community can take collective action on issues related to the Prevent counter-extremism policy in healthcare, and its connections with broader securitisation and racism in the NHS.
The meeting will take place online on Thursday 25th February from 5 – 6:30pm.
You must register for this meeting below, and details of how you can join the Zoom meeting will be sent to you.
If you are unable to attend but are interested in being involved in future meetings or actions, you can sign up to our Securitisation of Health mailing list or email reemabuhayyeh@medact.org
Our main priority is that as much as possible, health workers, patients and others impacted by Prevent who may attend this event feel safe both professionally and personally participating in Medact’s activities. As such, we ask that if you work in Prevent, the police or the Home Office, that you do not register to attend this event.
For any queries or for further discussion on this, please e-mail the address above.
[Registration has now closed]

Medact Scotland: Spring Planning Meeting
2021-03-01 19:30 - 20:30 | Zoom
Now that spring is springing, Medact Scotland will be meeting to discuss their ideas and plans for the next few months.
Items on the agenda include ICAN and the ICAN Cities Appeal, Don’t Bank on the Bomb (DBOTB), the COP26 coalition, Green General Practice and the Scottish Health Green New Deal group.
To join the meeting or get involved in the group, please email Lesley: scotland@medact.org

Migrant Solidarity Group: Meeting
2021-03-02 18:30 - 20:00
Our Migrant Solidarity Group will be meeting on Tuesday 2nd March at 6:30pm – 8:00pm.
To find out how to join the online meeting please email migrantsolidarity@medact.org

POSTPONED: Climate & Health Group - March Meeting
2021-03-11 18:30 - 20:00
We’re postponing the group meeting that was planned for tonight. Sorry for the late notice! Provisionally the new date is 22nd March but we will email to confirm ASAP.

Patients Not Passports Campaign Launch Greater Manchester
2021-03-11 19:00 - 20:30
We’re launching the Patients Not Passports campaign in Greater Manchester on Thursday 11th March at 7.00pm – 8.30pm.
Register your place

IPPNW Europe Meeting
2021-03-12 16:00 - 18:00
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
Medact is part of an international network IPPNW and this meeting is an opportunity to find out about their plans for the year.
If you would like joining details of the meeting please email benjaminwalpole@medact.org
Please note the 5-7pm timings previously listed here was CET ─ the meeting is 4-6pm UK time.

Economic Justice & Health Group ─ March Big Meeting
2021-03-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Join us to:

Get a quick refresher on our Health vs Wealth? UK economic policy and public health during COVID-19 briefing

Find out more from the people behind the campaign for Fair Furlough for Cleaners & Facility workers and those calling for a raise of legacy benefits in order to match the £20 increase of Universal Credit

Hear from a few of the members involved in the Economic Justice & Health Group

Find out ways you get involved with the work of the Economic Justice & Health Group

[Registration has now closed]

Patients Not Passports Greater Manchester: Taking Action to End the Hostile Environment
2021-03-18 19:00 - 20:30
This event is a great opportunity for health workers from the Greater Manchester area who would like to get involved in the Patients Not Passports campaign.
There will be lots of time for ideas and discussion; to find out about what we’ve done so far and who’s involved; and plan our next steps. We’ll think through campaign tactics and strategy, run sessions on action planning and power mapping, and develop a winning strategy for the campaign.
Register your place

Banning the Bomb, Smashing the Patriarchy: An Evening with Ray Acheson
2021-03-22 19:00 - 20:30
Our friends at Scottish CND are hosting an evening of conversation and readings with nuclear disarmament activist, Ray Acheson, to celebrate the release of their new book: “Banning the Bomb, Smashing the Patriarchy”.
On 22 January 2021, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons came into force. In the words of ICAN’s first staff member, Felicity Ruby, in her book “Acheson tells the story of seven decades of activism transforming an impossible dream into international law.”
The book offers a look inside the antinuclear movement and the recent successful campaign to ban the bomb — from scrappy organising to winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 and achieving a landmark UN Treaty banning nuclear weapons.
Register your place now

Securitisation of Health Group ─ Training follow-up
2021-04-07 18:00 - 19:30 | Zoom
The Securitisation of Health Group will be meeting on 7th April to follow-up from our Alternative Training event.
Please RSVP below to receive joining details.
Our main priority is that as much as possible, health workers, patients and others impacted by Prevent who may attend this event feel safe both professionally and personally participating in Medact’s activities. As such, we ask that if you work in Prevent, the police or the Home Office, that you do not register to attend this event.
For any queries or for further discussion on this, please email reemabuhayyeh@medact.org
[Registration has now closed]

Migrant Solidarity Group: Meeting
2021-04-08 18:30 - 20:00
Our Migrant Solidarity Group will be meeting on Thursday 8th April at 6:30pm – 8:00pm.
To find out how to join the online meeting please email migrantsolidarity@medact.org

Medact Yorkshire: Meeting
2021-04-14 18:30 - 20:00
Our Yorkshire Group are meeting on Wednesday 14th April at 6.30pm – 8.00pm.
If you are interested in joining their online meeting, please email office@medact.org

East Midlands Group: Meeting
2021-04-19 19:00 - 20:30
Our East Midlands Group will be meeting online on Monday 19th April from 7:00pm – 8:30pm.
To find out how to join their meeting, please email office@medact.org

Take Them to Court! How the Law Can Help in Creating Structural Change for Migrant Justice
2021-04-29 18:00 - 19:30
Our Access to Healthcare Campaigns and Programme Lead, James Skinner, is speaking at a seminar on how legal knowledge and tools can be used to help build wider movements and create social change, organised by Migrants Organise and UCL Centre Access to Justice.
James will be discussing the judicial review process, it’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as providing other examples of how the law and legal expertise can be used to build a wider movement.
Find out more & register your place

Access to healthcare, borders in the NHS and NHS charging
2021-04-29 19:00 - 20:30
Medact Sheffield and the Justice for Simba Campaign are speaking at this event with the excellent SYMAAG on Thursday 29th April at 7.00pm.
The event will focus on the different ways in which the hostile environment permeates into the NHS in the form of charging, data sharing and restricted access.
Find out more and register your place

Migrant Solidarity Group: Meeting
2021-05-04 18:30 - 20:00
Our Migrant Solidarity Group will be meeting on Tuesday 4th May at 6:30pm – 8:00pm.
To find out how to join the online meeting please email migrantsolidarity@medact.org

Medact Sheffield Group Meeting
2021-05-04 19:30 | Zoom
Our Sheffield local group will be meeting on Tuesday 4th May @ 7.30pm.
If you’re interested in getting involved, please email sheffield@medact.org

Prevent duty in NHS ─ May planning meeting
2021-05-05 18:00 - 19:30 | Zoom
We are having our regular meeting to discuss the different ways that the health community can take collective action on issues related to the Prevent counter-extremism policy in healthcare, and its connections with broader securitisation and racism in the NHS.
The meeting will take place online on Wednesday 5th May from 6 – 7:30pm.
You must register for this meeting below, and details of how you can join the Zoom meeting will be sent to you.
If you are unable to attend but are interested in being involved in future meetings or actions, you can sign up to our Securitisation of Health mailing list or email reemabuhayyeh@medact.org
Our main priority is that as much as possible, health workers, patients and others impacted by Prevent who may attend this event feel safe both professionally and personally participating in Medact’s activities. As such, we ask that if you work in Prevent, the police or the Home Office, that you do not register to attend this event.
For any queries or for further discussion on this, please e-mail the address above.
[Registration has now closed]

Medact Research Network: Peace & Security research cluster meeting
2021-05-05 19:00 - 20:30
Our Peace & Security research cluster will be meeting online on Wednesday 5th May from 7.00pm to 8.30pm.
They will be working on the final edits to their Global Health Watch 6 chapter.

Medact Research Network - Big Meeting
2021-05-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
Our big online meeting for everyone interested in being involved in the Medact Research Network will now take place on Tuesday 11th May.
It will have been around a year since we launched the network. Since then, each of our four research groups have been working independently on a range of brilliant projects.
At this meeting, we’ll all come together so that we can:

Revisit the vision for the network and celebrate our achievements so far
Meet others from different streams of the network or learn how to get involved
Share what we’ve been working on within the network & hear about others’ projects
Digest and reflect on the results of Medact’s research network survey
Discuss how we can learn from each other more effectively going forwards

Newcomers are very welcome and it will be a good opportunity to learn more about the network.
Please RSVP below to receive joining details for the online meeting
[Registration has now closed]

What happens when public health & immigration debates clash?
2021-05-13 14:00 - 15:30
Members of our Migrant Solidarity Group will be speaking at The UCL Centre for Gender and Global Health’s final webinar of their Borderings series.
Find out more and register your place

Medact Scotland: Meeting
2021-05-17 19:30 - 21:00
Our Scotland Group will be meeting online on Monday 17th May from 7.30pm to 9.00pm.
To RSVP/find out more email: scotland@medact.org

Race & Health Justice Reading Group ─ "The Language of Race"
2021-05-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
In March, the government’s report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities was published. The report has come under heavy criticism from charities working on racial equality to medical communities. While both BMJ and BMA expressed disappointment at and concerns with the biased and scientifically flawed report, the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ response is the most courageous voice amongst medical authorities. They write:
We see this as another wasted opportunity for the Government. We recognise that people from ethnic minority groups will likely feel let down, anger and sadness at the CRED report.
At Medact’s Race & Health Justice Group, we were shaken and angered by the report and felt it was important to explore how we can stand up in the face of tools which may be used against us.
For our third reading group, we would like to focus on ‘the language of race’ section of the report (pages 33-37). We wish to go deeper to explore the process of racialisation and reflect on our shared language of race when engaging in the discourse on race and racism. Without denying the importance of politics and power relations behind the report of the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, we also believe it reveals the harms that arise when race and racism as a historical and socio-cultural construct are denied in the lives of individuals and societies.
Here are some questions to consider whilst reading the section of the report:

What is happening here in the section titled ‘language of race’?
How do you relate to what is happening in this section? What themes stood out to you the most?
What are your thoughts on the Commission’s proposed framework to distinguish between different forms of racial disparity and racism?
What terms do we use when discussing racism? Are we using the same terms with the same meaning?
Have you come across any responses to the report – how did these speak to you?

Practicalities and accessibility:

We will circulate our group ground rules when you sign up, and ask that you only join us if you are happy to commit to these principles.
Please read the article ahead of the reading group. If you would like an audio version, or to read it collectively with others before the group, please email us.
We expect most attendees will be people working in healthcare, but the group is open to all.
The reading group will be on Zoom – we will run through logistics at the start of the meeting, but if you are new to Zoom you can read this user guide. The Zoom application will download automatically when you click on a meeting link for the first time.
We can provide captioning and/or BSL interpreting, please email us & we’ll arrange
You are welcome to have your camera on or off, and to eat during the session, but please do come willing to contribute to the discussion!
We will have a scheduled break half way through.
We will cap numbers in order to have a small and active discussion.
Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to support you to attend.

To sign up to the reading group, or for any questions about it, please email racehealthjustice@medact.org
If you are unable to join this session, please do join our mailing list to hear about future sessions.
Register below to receive joining details for this online event
[Registration has now closed]
