A letter from a Scottish Amnesty International member saved my life

My name is Susy Shearer I have lived in Orkney since 1984, when I came to visit the Island home of my then boyfriend, David, now my husband.

I was born in Chile and came to Scotland with my family as a refugee child in 1976. My father was a prominent and highly respected journalist who was made to “Disappear” by the fascist military junta that overthrew the elected government sending millions of Chilean lives into peril and despair.

Once my father was released and was given asylum in a European embassy, we were given sanctuary here in Scotland.

A couple of years after making Orkney my home I joined the Orkney group of Amnesty International and was able to put into context the job that Amnesty International members do and the impact that that can have, by telling my story and that of my family

On the twenty second of this month, I will be giving the AI Orkney group a book of poems that were written during and after the events that changed not just my life but the history of my country of birth.

I would like to invite you and your audience and public to join us on Friday 22^nd of March at the Life Style Centre, Pickaquoy Centre at 7.00 pm when I will be reading some of my poems and  will have some cards for sale depicting some of the drawings I have done for the Amnesty Orkney group.

Thank you