Sir,

We all love receiving handwritten letters. Be it a birthday card or a 'get well soon' note, there is nothing more uplifting than the thought of someone taking the time to write.

Which is why we encourage as many Beacon readers as possible to join in Amnesty's Write for Rights Campaign and make a real difference to the lives of those who urgently need our support.

It will only take five minutes to write for the rights of people whose rights are being denied. Just a short greeting or message on a card, that's all. Those five minutes can make a lifetime of difference to another person.

Previous campaigns by Amnesty have meant that former prisoners such as Azerbaijani activist Jabbar Savalan have been released, and others – such as residents of Nairobi's Deep Sea Settlement in Kenya – have seen their situation dramatically improve.

This year's Write for Rights Campaign includes Gao Zhisheng, one of China's most respected human rights lawyers, who has suffered enforced disappearance, imprisonment, torture and illegal house arrest because of his work.

Also included are the two Pussy Riot members still imprisoned in Russia. There's more information at amnesty.org.uk/write

Beacon readers can join in the campaign by going along to Monmouth Priory on Saturday 8th December, between 10am and 12noon, where the Monmouth & District Amnesty Group will provide all the details, cards and addresses.

Monmouth Amnesty will also be manning the coffee shop, so why not write a card while enjoying coffee and mince pies?

And as usual, Monmouth Amnesty will be collecting for a local refugee centre. Any donations of dry grocery items (such as tea, coffee, rice, lentils, toiletries) would be very welcome.

We want to see the situation improve for the men, women and children highlighted in Amnesty's Campaign this year. So please take five minutes to write what could be the most important card of the year.

Marian Fretter

(Monmouth & District Group, Amnesty International)