Chinese Liberal Democrats hold AGM with talk by Dr Louise Arimatsu on 'Human Rights in a new Obama era'

Chinese Liberal Democrats held their Annual General meeting and social event on 1 December 2008 at Shanghai Blues in High Holborn, WC1 where Linda Chung, Chair of Chinese Liberal Democrats (CLDs) reported to members and friends on another successful year of activities and campaigns. These included the CLDs taking part as Min Zhu Loong or Democracy Dragons in the London Dragon Boat Race in July, collaborative work with the UKCICC to 'save the livelihoods' of many in the catering industry as well as selection of CLD members into key seats in preparation for future elections.

Looking to the year ahead, there are other causes and campaigns to fight for including lobbying the government against the inhumane immigration rules and introduction of the ill-conceived and expensive ID cards. CLDs are also working for greater representation of ethnic minorities in public life and in educating the British establishment on the views of members from the Chinese community.

Dr Louise Arimatsu (lecturer at LSE, Univ of London), was the keynote speaker at the meeting and spoke to an enthralled audience of students, academics as well as community activists about 'Human Rights in the new Obama era'. Dec 10 would be the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"We believe that the election of Barack Obama has been a great inspiration to us across the Atlantic. People are coming to realise that politics affects all areas of our lives and we need to stand up for just causes and resist policies and practices which are discriminatory," says Merlene Emerson, CLD's Director of Communications and PPC for Hammersmith."