Amnesty Int. competition

Press, 24 December 1986, Page 12

Amnesty Int. competition

Amnesty International this month celebrated its 25th year of existence, and to mark the occasion a compilation album featuring 11 leading rock music acts was released in New Zealand last week.

The album, “Conspiracy Of Hope,” came about because of an idea by British disc jockey, Paul Gambaccini, and it features Steve Winwood, Peter Gabriel (with the song “Biko”), Elton John, Tears For Fears, Howard Jones, Paul McCartney, Sting, Dire Straits, John Cougar Mellencamp, Simple Minds, and Bryan Adams.

Amnesty International was launched on May 28, 1961, through a newspaper article, “The Forgotten Prisoners.” The story drew attention to the plight of those people of all political persuasions imprisoned for their peacefully held beliefs in countries throughout the world.

The article noted that Governments were sensitive to world opinion, and that an international, non-sectarian movement could persuade them to live up to their - commitments to human rights, as in the United Nations universal declaration of human rights.

What had started as a brief publicity campaign soon gained momentum, so that six months later, the founder, Mr Peter Benenson, decided the effort should be converted into a permanent international movement. Gambaccini was asked to help with Amnesty International’s anniversary celebrations after supporting the cause for several years. The disc jockey was aware of the effects of such musical events as

“Live Aid,” and the record “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” so he approached a number of artists to see if a compilation album was feasible.

Of the first 12 approached, only one could not be featured. The tracks have been donated by the artists, and the royalties from the album go to Amnesty International.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, “The Press” is running a competition. There will be five prizes, each consisting of a “Conspiracy Of Hope” album, an Amnesty International Tshirt, calendar, and handbook;

Answer the three questions below, on the back of an envelope, and send it to Amnesty International Competition, Entertainment Scene, Christchurch Press, P.O. Box 1005, Christchurch.

The three questions are:

© Which band, featured on the compilation album, played at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, earlier this year.

© Who had the idea to compile the album. © What year was Amnesty International started.

Entries must be received by 5 p.m., Monday, January 5. Please include your telephone number and home address. The first five correct entries to be drawn will win the prizes. The Judges’ decisions will be final. No correspondence will be entered into. The staff of the Christchurch Press Company, Ltd, and their immediate family, are not eligible to enter. The winners will be notified before publication of the results.