Peter Tatchell's beatings have ruined his health

Peter Tatchell, the human rights campaigner who came to talk to us at a Colchester meeting in March 2007, has been forced to cut down on his activities by the consequences of the beatings he's had, the Observer reports today. He was going to stand as the Green Party's candidate in Oxford East, but has had to quit because "horrific beatings have left him experiencing permanent symptoms of severe concussion." Peter's lifestyle and workload are punishing, but as he's driven to continue campaigning, he's unlikely to give them up.

The photo was taken at our meeting, when he spoke about democracy after a meal with a group of us at a local noodle restaurant. From the look of him, he could do with a lot more noodles.

Visit Peter's website here.