31 August 2007

you can speak up for holaria pastory and take a stand for women...

i'm blogging about this again because it strikes me as important...and it's a story about how you and i - we - are linked to our brothers and in this case sisters around the world...

imagine that the story begins with this factual assertion - you are a second class citizen...

you are a female prohibited from selling land, that you rightfully own, without the approval of a male...

that is the situation that holaria pastory, an aging widow in tanzania, finds herself in when she is no longer able to work her land and attempts to sell it...despite the fact that she has inherited the land from her father, pastory's nephew, bernardo ephraim, is attempting to block the sale...because pastory is female, phraim points out, she is prohibited by haya customary law from selling clan land...

this might have been the end of the story were it not for the treaty for the rights of women (and this is why we need you to speak with your senators about this important treaty!)...holaria pastory stood up for her rights, and filed a lawsuit in which she argued that customary law was discriminatory toward women and thus violated the tanzanian constitution's bill of rights...she cited the country's ratification of the treaty for the rights of women as evidence of tanzania's commitment to women's rights standards upheld in international law...the court agreed and ruled in holaria's favor!

women and men across the globe have used this treaty to help stop discrimination and violence...while the treaty does not impose laws on governments, it does require governments to examine their policies and practices in relation to women and girls and these reviews have led governments to make reforms--curbing sexual trafficking, improving literacy rates, combating domestic violence...the list is long...there is a problem though, and that's why we need your help...

the u.s. government has failed to ratify the treaty for the rights of women, and the fact that the u.s. has failed to ratify undermines the ability of women in other countries to use this international instrument to combat discrimination and violence against women and girls...across the u.s., individuals like you will be meeting with their senators from sept 24-28, to ask for their support for this treaty, and already more than 40 meetings are being scheduled in 17 states across the country...

sign up today to learn more about this important treaty and to speak with your u.s. senators on behalf of women....amnesty international will provide the resources, background, and training for you to meet effectively with your senators' office...

there are many more holaria pastory's in the world and you are in a position to help...

peace out <3>

30 August 2007

30 august – international day of the disappeared...

let me get this done first if you don't mind -- before you get lost in the background story you should go ahead and take action, okay... see how you can support the international convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance....now...

To “disappear” is to vanish, to cease to be, to be lost. But the “disappeared” have not simply vanished. Someone, somewhere, knows what has happened to them. Someone is responsible.
enforced disappearances are not a thing of the past...they continue all over the world – in algeria, colombia, nepal, the russian federation, sri lanka, the former yugoslavia – to name but a few countries...the usa, sometimes acting with the complicity of other governments, has carried out enforced disappearances of terror suspects...those who commit these crimes have done so with almost complete impunity...

each enforced disappearance violates a swathe of human rights: the right to security and dignity of person; the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the right to humane conditions of detention; the right to a legal personality; as well as rights related to fair trial and family life...ultimately, it can violate the right to life, as victims of enforced disappearance are often killed...

the 30th august is observed each year by amnesty international and other activists worldwide as the international day of the disappeared...we remember those who have disappeared and their relatives, and we take action to get disappeared persons released or charged with a recognizable crime and given a fair trial if they are still in custody...we also seek to bring the perpetrators of enforced disappearances to justice...

such as in colombia, where 43 people were abducted on 14 january 1990 from the pueblo bello community in antioquia department by 60 army-backed paramilitaries...this was allegedly in retaliation for the theft of some cattle belonging to a paramilitary commander...the 43 were taken to a farm where they were most probably killed...on the road to the farm, the paramilitaries were not challenged at a military checkpoint, despite reports that screams could be heard coming from the trucks...

following exhumations, six bodies were identified as victims of the pueblo bello abductions...the fate of the other 37 victims remains unknown...some paramilitaries have been given prison sentences for killing the six people identified...however, the perpetrators responsible for the enforced disappearance of the other victims have gone unpunished...

in january 2006, the inter-american court on human rights found that the colombian government had failed to meet its obligations to guarantee the rights of the people affected...the court made clear that it believed that the armed forces were implicated in the case...it concluded that the state was responsible for fomenting the development of the paramilitary structures and thus creating a situation of risk for the community of pueblo bello...

in december 2006, the u.n. adopted a powerful human rights treaty – the international convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance...it aims to prevent enforced disappearances, establish the truth when this crime occurs, punish the perpetrators and provide reparations to the victims and their families...

the international community must now ensure that the convention is ratified and effectively implemented throughout the world...

to read some more on the issue click this a crucial opportunity to end enforced disappearance (report, 30 august 2007)

so please take a moment today, consider what the families of the disappeared must feel, and take action...

peace out <3

29 August 2007

rock for human rights: the cure wants you on their guest list!!!

the cure have graciously given a pair of tickets from their own allocation (and meet and greet passes where applicable) to amnesty international to auction for each date on their upcoming world tour...this auction will include both u.s. and non u.s. dates...the auction will consist of several rounds...each round will begin on a friday at 9pm est and will last 10 days...
  • first round: (dates from the far east /australasian leg of the tour): closed
  • second round: september dates from u.s./canadian leg of tour): closed
  • third round: (october dates from u.s./canadian leg of tour): begins friday, august 3 at 9pm
  • fourth round: more tour dates for auction will follow when/if additional dates are confirmed
amnesty international is pleased to announce that for the u.s./canadian leg of the tour the cure has confirmed that the seat locations will all be in rows 1-5 of the orchestra floor section...no hard tickets will be mailed, your name will be on a guest list that will be at will call the day of the show once doors open...both you and your guest must bring government issued, photo i.d. to enter the event. ..this auction does not include transportation or lodging...
so for just this day i'm all cure all the time!!!


peace out <3

28 August 2007

evictions crisis deepens for palestinian villagers along with my religio-cultural identity...

when i was a young lad diligently going to hebrew school, shabat services, sunday school, and studying my haftorah i dreamed of visiting israel and spending some time as a member of a kibbutz collective...it seems that now i'd as soon as vacation in the sunni triangle - and you know why?...because i think that government policies towards the palestinian peoples and the whole "palestinian quesiton" is just plain irrational and results in intentional human rights violations..and this "the dude" will not abide...

it seems that the israeli army has increased efforts to force palestinian villagers out of the jordan valley region of the occupied west bank, by destroying villagers’ homes and restricting their movement and access to water...humsa and hadidiya, two hamlets in the north of the jordan valley, are among the targeted villages...more than 100 villagers, most of them children, risk losing their homes and being forced out of the area...
and on 13 august 2007, several homes and animal pens were destroyed by the israeli army in humsa...the families of abdallah hsein bisharat and ahmad abdallah bani odeh were made homeless...most of the 40-plus people affected are children...

last april, the villagers were forced to move from hadidiya to humsa, about one kilometre away, after the israeli army threatened to destroy their homes...threats of destruction and further displacement continued...the army considers the site a "closed military area" to be used for shooting practice by israeli forces...

the villagers rebuilt their tents and animal pens but even so they live in fear that the army's bulldozers may return at any time...in the meantime, they continue to be denied access to water and their movements are increasingly restricted by military checkpoints and blockades that prevent them from using the main roads in the area...

the israeli army has declared most of the jordan valley a "closed military area" from which the local palestinian population is barred...however, israeli settlements -- established in violation of international law -- continue to expand and israeli settlers are allowed to move freely and use vast quantities of water...

this is the hypocrisy that i find maddening!!!

]in humsa and hadidiya, every single home is slated for destruction and the palestinian villagers have to bring water for their basic needs from 20 kilometres away...meanwhile, israeli settlements only a few hundreds of meters away have well-watered gardens and swimming pools...

in a visit to the area in july 2007, an amnesty international researcher witnessed the extremely difficult conditions in which the palestinian villagers are forced to live, with no running water or electricity...they are no longer able to cultivate their land because they have no water to irrigate their crops...

if the palestinian villagers, who live off agriculture and sheep and goat herding, continue to be denied access to water they will not be able to survive in the area...

the question was asked when i was a youth, "do i consider myself a jewish-american or an american-jew" and with policy like this i'm afraid my answer today more than ever is neither...

peace out <3

27 August 2007

catch a fire with tim robbins has a companion curriculum for teaching youth 14-22...

catch a fire tells the extraordinary true story of one man’s and a whole nation’s struggle for freedom and equality...for almost 30 years from 1948 to 1995, the people of south africa lived under an oppressive system of control called apartheid...after years of struggle, the anti-apartheid leaders were released and true democracy came to south africa in 1995...over the last twelve years, south africans from all walks of life have shown the rest of us that it is possible to heal the bitter conflicts and hate that divide so many of our world’s citizens...

the human rights education program of aiusa are pleased to present a companion curriculum (in pdf format) to the 2006 release of catch a fire, directed by phillip noyce...both the film and companion guide address themes of justice and reconciliation, as well as motivators for social change and the concepts of personal and collective responsibility...the companion guide includes three lesson plans as well as discussion questions geared towards high school and college aged students...

catch a fire celebrates the determination of humans to live freely and equally...in the anti-apartheid struggle of south africa, the spirits of millions were uplifted by the words and melodies of the freedom songs...as you will see in the film, when it seemed that there was no end to the oppression, south africans would strengthen their resolve to continue to press for freedom by joining each other in song...

if you're a teacher or youth group leader here's a great chance to use the cultural tool of cinema to engage in a lively human rights educational activity...and if you're not but know someone who is please hook them up with the curriculum...
peace out <3

26 August 2007

help darfur and win the chance to win a fabulous gibson john lennon 1965 casino guitar...

yo yo yo yo homes...check it out...

amnesty international (ai) has scored a hit in the music charts with its album of john lennon cover versions...

the 28-track album - featuring songs from stars including u2, avril lavigne, jackson browne, jakob dylan, and green day - has picked up two gold discs after selling almost 400,000 copies worldwide since its release in june...

you can still receive the lennon tribute cd for FREE by joining amnesty international at the $50 level by clicking here...

make some noise: the amnesty international campaign to save darfur received the awards for its impressive sales in italy and ireland...so far it has sold 394,000 copies (including 130,000 in the u.s.) and the figures are still rising...

ai launched a global petition on darfur to coincide with the album, resulting in similar success...there was a boost for the campaign in august when the u.n. security council resolved to send a joint african union/united nations peacekeeping force to the crisis-hit region...

the ai petition also urges the sudanese government to halt indiscriminate attacks against civilians, disarm a regional militia (the janjawid) and enforce an arms embargo...

other artists to contribute to the make some noise album include r.e.m., christina aguilera, snow patrol and the flaming lips...thanks to the wisdom and generosity of yoko ono at least 97% of its proceeds go to amnesty international...

and in an exclusive competition in colloboration with ai, gibson guitars are giving away the chance to win a fabulous gibson john lennon 1965 casino guitar...you can enter the contest at: http://www.gibson.com/contestinstantkarma_eu.aspx

meanwhile, hard rock cafes around the world are selling signature t-shirts - designed by green day...you can buy the shirt at: http://www.hardrock.com/amnesty/default.asp!

oh yeah, you can download the album and access the petition at: http://www.amnesty.org/noise
peace out <3

25 August 2007

amnesty international releases new photos that expose sudanese arms violations against darfurians...

i hate it when heads of state are big fat liars and the "leaders" in the sudanese government are big fat killing liars...
amnesty international has released new photographs showing that the sudanese government is continuing to deploy offensive military equipment in darfur, despite the united nations arms embargo and peace agreements...said brian wood, amnesty international’s arms control research manager:

"Once again Amnesty International calls on the UN Security Council to act decisively to ensure the embargo is effectively enforced, including by the placement of UN observers at all ports of entry in Sudan and Darfur."
the photographs, sent to amnesty international and the international peace information service by eyewitnesses in darfur, reinforce evidence provided in amnesty international's may 2007 report: “sudan: arms continuing to fuel serious human rights violations in darfur”...the photos were taken in july at el geneina airport in darfur...

for a fuller report and more photos click here...
peace out <3

24 August 2007

women need all our help to ratify the treaty for women in the united states...

the treaty for the rights of women is the most complete international agreement on basic human rights for women...most countries in the world today have ratified this important treaty, but the united states has not...ergo, i am asking for your help to build support for ratification of the treaty for the rights of women in the united states senate...

you see, in nations that have ratified, women have used the treaty as an effective tool to reduce violence and discrimination, to ensure girls and women receive the same access as boys and men to education and health care, and to secure basic legal recourse against violations and abuses of their human rights...

yet despite the treaty's utility and broad support, a few organizations have managed to generate significant numbers of calls and appeals to senate offices in opposition to it...that's why we need your help to get the human rights message to your senator's office...

you can find and join a delegation to meet with your senators near you...participating as a delegation member will take a time commitment of about 3 hours, and entails reading background materials, participating in a practice meeting and participating in the actual meeting...not very hard to become a good citizen-activist...

please note that the actual meeting with your senator's office is likely to be during normal business hours some time between september 24-28, 2007...so click here to find and join a delegation near you...

you'll be glad you did and i'll be as proud of you as i am already...

peace out <3

23 August 2007

do you think abortion should be available to rape victims???


i do...the vatican does not...

for the longest time amnesty international took no position on the issue...but 3 years ago the world's largest grassroots human rights organization undertook a long term campaign to stop violence against women...in the process it drew many new activists into action under its name...and amnesty international is a hyper-democratic organization...

and when these (mostly) women joined together with long-time amnesty member-activists the push for a formal position, not on abortion but on specific aspects of women's healthcare issues as relates to human rights concerns, began to rise up from - the grassroots...

and at its international council meeting held in mexico last week, amnesty international's leaders committed the organization to strengthening its work on the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and other factors contributing to women's recourse to abortion and overwhelmingly affirmed the organization's policy on selected aspects of abortion...

which led to this past monday when the vatican's secretary of state, tarcisio bertone, commented on amnesty international's policy on sexual and reproductive rights -- including on selected aspects of abortion -- and said that the view of the vatican is that abortion should not be available to rape victims...

in think this whole dialogue between amnesty international and the vatican is fascinating...i strongly recommend you click here to read amnesty's response to the vatican (which includes some of how ai came to its position and what it learned in doing the research) and then read more about amnesty international's work on sexual and reproductive rights by clicking here...

then tell me what you think...me and the posse want to know!

peace out <3

22 August 2007

amnesty international takes on divided world - you should too!

in a world marred by division and discord, fuelled by inequality and impunity, the global leadership of amnesty international concluded their 28th international council meeting with a resounding commitment to tackling poverty and disparity as the gravest global threats to universal human rights...

this seems to me to cement this organization's new commitment to promoting and identifying violations of economic, cultural, and social rights...

as hurricane dean bore down on them over the past week, more than 400 delegates from 75 countries participated in the international council meeting which is a forum that amnesty internationals (each country has its own section) convenes every two years to plan, review and decide the organization's human rights work...said amnesty international secretary general irene khan:

"The human rights challenges of a world divided by inequality, impunity and poverty call for courageous and broad based human rights defence...Amnesty International -- the world's largest movement of human rights activists -- joins together in concerted action for human rights, people from all over the world, people of many different nationalities, ethnicities, ages, religions, cultures who share one common vision that human rights must be respected, protected and fulfilled for all people everywhere."

"Delegates from every region of the world affirmed the contribution that Amnesty International makes in defending the human rights of the most marginalized. To better challenge governments' erosion of human rights standards and ensure Amnesty International's relevance to those who face the bigotry and exclusion of discrimination, the organization took a decision to address grave abuses of human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments."

as a primary tenet of economic, cultural and social rights people living in poverty have the least access to the power needed to shape policies that may eradicate poverty and frequently are denied effective remedies for violations of their human rights...
in its most controversial advance, oddly to me, with the prevention of violence against women as its major campaigning focus, amnesty international's leaders committed themselves anew to work for universal respect for sexual and reproductive rights...

amnesty international committed itself to strengthening the organization's work on the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and other factors contributing to women's recourse to abortion and affirmed the organization's policy on selected aspects on abortion (to support the decriminalisation of abortion, to ensure women have access to health care when complications arise from abortion and to defend women's access to abortion, within reasonable gestational limits, when their health or human rights are in danger), emphasizing that women and men must exercise their sexual and reproductive rights free from coercion, discrimination and violence...

what a faulknerian sentence...

the international council meeting also marked the one year countdown to the beijing olympics 2008 noting that during the bidding for and awarding of the olympics to beijing, both the chinese authorities and the international olympic committee (ioc) had stated that the games would help develop human rights in china...

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

in response amnesty international agreed it will campaign to hold the government of china and the ioc accountable to their pledge...amnesty international then concluded its week-long gathering emphasizing its own roots of standing up for those whose rights are imperilled by injustice, impunity and abuse...secretary general khan said:

"Working for the release of prisoners of conscience or prisoners of poverty, prejudice and violence, Amnesty International will stay true to its mission of standing up for the marginalized. The human dignity of all people is at the heart of the human rights cause. Promoting the dignity of people who by reason of poverty and prejudice have least access to human rights is Amnesty International's most pressing task. And as the leaders of this world-wide movement for human rights, we renew again our conviction and our determination to do everything in our power to stand up and defend universal human rights for all people everywhere."
peace out <3

21 August 2007

know your human rights - either through the clash or vids like this one...

as i see it the united states had no clue that it would be held accountable to human rights standards when it pushed for an international human rights framework in the aftermath of the atrocities of world war ii...

and i think that is one reason why human rights have methodically been swept out of education curriculum at the public level in this country...so human rights education must be stimulated at the grassroots if we're ever to get it institutionalized at the grasstops...


so take a looksie here and see how many of human rights 21-30 from the universal declaration of human rights you were aware of or check out joe and mick advocate in their own inimitable style...


rock out y'all <3

20 August 2007

myanmar imprisons others besides nobel peace prize laureate aung san suu kyi...

as any parents might, ma khin khin leh and her husband may have hoped for a better future for their young daughter...but the actions of the military government had mainly brought hardship to the people of myanmar, the southeast asian nation formerly known as burma.

so ma khin khin leh, a school teacher, and her husband kyaw wunna, a student activist, helped to plan a peaceful demonstration to be held in the town of bago on july 19, 1999, to protest government policies and to show support for the national league for democracy (nld), the political party headed by nobel peace prize laureate aung san suu kyi...although the nld had won an overwhelming majority of the seats in national parliamentary elections in 1990, the military authorities refused to honor the election results, and instead jailed scores of political activists, including many of those newly elected to the parliament...

days before the bago demonstration was to take place, authorities moved to prevent it...failing to find kyaw wunna, security agents arrested ma khin khin leh and the couple’s three-year-old daughter...although her daughter was released after spending five days in detention, ma khin khin leh, then age 33, was eventually transferred to insein prison in the capital of yangon...on december 3, 1999, the insein special court sentenced her to life imprisonment under vaguely-worded security legislation...even by the normally harsh standards of “justice” meted out by myanmar’s military government, the life sentence given to ma khin khin leh was extreme...

ma khin khin leh (pronounced “mah kin kin lay”) is believed to be held in insein prison, where she reportedly suffers from an unspecified lung problem, rheumatoid arthritis and dysentery...amnesty international is rightfully concerned for her safety and well-being...

authorities in myanmar have justified the imprisonment of hundreds of students, politicians, doctors, lawyers, housewives, farmers and others on the basis that they were seeking to cause "unrest,”...such arrests have been made possible by laws that allow an excessively wide interpretation of what constitutes a threat to security...

i as a member of amnesty international seek the immediate and unconditional release of ma khin khin leh and all prisoners of conscience in myanmar...

so help us get the word out!!!

send your own letter-to-the-editor to one of your community newspapers about ma khin khin leh...call the local newspaper to find out how to submit a letter...

when it is published, please send a copy to:

AIUSA Casework Office
730 Peachtree Street
Suite 1060
Atlanta, GA 30308
fax: 404-876-2276

please feel free to use this sample letter (click here) as a guide, but please be encouraged to add your own thoughts...

peace out <3

19 August 2007

another success story: serbia's maja stojanović saved from imprisonment!!!

grassroots human rights activists can take a moment to savor another victory - a human rights activist from niš will not now face imprisonment, following the intervention by amnesty international and a coalition of serbian ngos...

maja stojanović was convicted by a srbian court for displaying posters in an unauthorized place...the posters had urged the serbian authorities to arrest and transfer alleged war criminal ratko mladić to the international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia...

after the appeals calling on the authorities of serbia to stop the imprisonment of maja stojanović, the president of serbia expressed his support for her...boris tadić stated that "the cooperation with the hague tribunal has a special value...this is not only the international obligation of serbia, but it is something we owe to our neighbours and to ourselves,"...

the serbian ngos decided to collect and pay a fine on maja stojanović's behalf, following the statement by the president...sian jones, amnesty international researcher on serbia made this statement:

"For years, Amnesty International has been calling on the authorities of Serbia to take meaningful measures to deal with the past, including by arresting and transferring Ratko Mladić to The Hague and by supporting the Serbian NGOs working on war related crimes. Hopefully, after the statement by the President, the authorities start taking their international obligations more seriously."
to learn more about maja's harassment: serbia: pursue mladic not human rights activists...

to take on-line actions to defend human rights now just click here...thanks!

peace out <3

18 August 2007

padilla jury is in: torture and ill-treatment is bad, constitutional protections are good...

the conclusion of the padilla criminal trial in a federal court on thursday shows that waging the "war on terror" does not require giving up our constitutional values or substituting military rule for the rule of law...the jury's guilty verdict should be appealed, but the verdict on the constitution is in: we should keep it...

for nearly two years, jose padilla was denied all access to his lawyers, his family and the court system...psychologists, and those who have visited with jose padilla over the past three plus years of his incarceration say that they see profound emotional wreckage as a result of his detention...as court filings indicate, padilla was allegedly subjected to sleep deprivation, stress positions and extreme temperatures...worse, he was held without human contact, without a clock or even natural light -- with no way to know how quickly or slowly time was passing...when he was removed from his cell to visit a dentist, goggles and earmuffs were placed on him...

psychologists have long reported that extreme sensory deprivation is one of the quickest ways to drive people mad -- and make them willing to confess to anything...therefore his "conviction" leaves me less than comforted and my feeling of "safety" has changed -- i feel less safe under the fascist-leaning hands of this administration than i would under one which understood the value and values of our long history of constitutional protections...

amnesty international usa executive director larry cox issued this observation:
"The trial, part of which an Amnesty International observer attended, failed to address a key issue which poses a great threat to all Americans - detention of a U.S. citizen without charge, as well as alleged torture and ill-treatment during detention. The timing of the U.S. government's addition of Mr. Padilla to the existing conspiracy charge in the south Florida case raises questions. Mr. Padilla's indictment in a U.S. federal court ensured that the circumstances of Mr. Padilla's incommunicado military detention without charge would not be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court."

"This verdict, if it stands, cannot be seen as an endorsement of a regime of unreviewable executive detention. President Bush should not take today's ruling as permission to continue to hold Americans outside the law at his whim."
this trial showed that our federal courts are perfectly capable of dealing with "terrorism" cases...the bush administration has continually argued that we should scrap our centuries-old constitutional protections and replace our system of checks and balances with one awarding the executive complete discretion to lock up whomever he wants, for however long he deems appropriate...the founders of this country rejected that kind of arbitrary and oppressive power...the federal court in florida has shown how weak the administration's case for abandoning the constitution really is...

peace out <3

17 August 2007

not all truth and reconciliation commissions work like that of south africa...

my sister, a dedicated buddhist, is making a spiritual trek to nepal in november...in the process she may learn more about the pain and struggle the decade long internal violence has caused in this beautiful country...

victims of nepal's decade-long conflict may be denied their right to truth, justice and reparation under current proposals for a truth and reconciliation commission, warned amnesty international today...

in its detailed memorandum on a draft bill currently under consideration, amnesty international is particularly critical of provisions that appear to allow the granting of amnesties to perpetrators of crimes under international law, including hundreds of cases of enforced disappearance...according to tim parritt, deputy director of amnesty international's asia program:

"Without bringing to justice the perpetrators of gross human rights abuses, there is a real danger of Nepal's recent tragic history repeating itself. Anything less would be a gross betrayal of the hundreds of families still anxiously awaiting news of their missing relatives and a recipe for further civilian suffering."
the memorandum also highlights a number of other serious deficiencies in the draft ill, including:
  • absence of any detailed provisions for the protection of witnesses, despite the concerns of many families and other potential witnesses that they could face intimidation if they give evidence;
  • lack of provisions to guarantee the independence of the proposed commission whose members are to be appointed by the government from political party nominations with no independent vetting of candidates and no involvement of civil society;
  • failure to specify that the commission's reports must be made public and be presented to nepal’s parliament within a set period.

the world's premier grassroots human rights organization has issued today's memorandum as a constructive contribution to continuing discussions on the bill by government officials, parliamentarians, human rights ngos and other interested parties in nepal, as well as the international community...

i along with thousands of other human rights activists fear that the present draft bill may not realize the objectives of its own preamble, which includes as an aim of the commission,

“to bring impunity to an end by bringing the persons involved in gross violation[s] of human rights and crimes against humanity… within the confinements of law and also to make all aware that such acts would be punishable in future too.”

amnesty international urges the government and parliament of nepal to allow sufficient time before the establishment of the truth and reconciliation commission in order to complete a comprehensive process of consultation with all those concerned, including civil society organizations, both nepalese and international, victims, human rights defenders, persons belonging to minorities and vulnerable groups, and others...

for a full copy of the memorandum nepal: reconciliation does not mean impunity, please see: http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA310062007?open&of=ENG-NPL

peace out <3

16 August 2007

take action on august 30 – international day of the disappeared...

please, just close your eyes and imagine ---

you could be taken at any time, day or night...you might be at home, at work or traveling on the street...your captors may be in uniform or civilian clothes...they forcibly take you away, giving no reason, producing no warrant...your relatives desperately try to find you, going from one police station or army camp to the next...the officials deny having arrested you or knowing anything about your whereabouts or fate...you have become a victim of enforced disappearance...

enforced disappearance is a grave human rights violation and a crime...amnesty international defines an enforced disappearance as the detention of someone by the state or its agents, when the authorities deny that the victim is in custody or conceal what has happened to them...enforced disappearances have occurred across the world - in sri lanka, russia, el salvador, morocco, iraq, thailand, pakistan, bosnia, equatorial guinea, egypt and argentina, to name a few...no one is immune; victims have included men, women and children...

an enforced disappearance violates the rights of both the disappeared person and their relatives...disappeared persons are denied the right to a proper arrest and to a fair trial...they may be tortured, detained in poor conditions and eventually killed...the relatives of the disappeared persons suffer anguish every day, not knowing what has happened to their loved one; they are victims, too...they often encounter social isolation, with relatives and neighbors being too afraid to offer aid or support...if the disappeared person was the main breadwinner for the family, they can also suffer economic hardship...

august 30 is observed each year by amnesty international and other activists worldwide as the international day of the disappeared...let us remember those who have disappeared and their relatives, and we take action to get disappeared persons released or charged with a recognizable crime and given a fair trial if they are still in custody...let us also seek to bring the perpetrators of enforced disappearances to justice...

this month's freedom writers newsletter features the cases of three individuals who are the victims of enforced disappearance...i'm asking you to please take action on these cases in an effort to persuade the relevant authorities to account for what has happened to these individuals and to take steps to prevent future disappearances...
to take action just click here...below is a sample letter to the editor that you can copy and/or edit as an e-z way to get this invisible issue into your local paper..
peace out <3

To the Editor:

August 30 is observed each year by Amnesty International and other human rights activists worldwide as the International Day of the Disappeared. Enforced disappearances are when someone is detained by the government or its agents, and the authorities deny that the victim is in custody or conceal what has happened. This occurs around the world.

In Russia, thousands of people have disappeared after arrest by the security forces during the conflict in Chechnya. The Sri Lankan security forces have been responsible for tens of thousands of enforced disappearances during two decades of Sri Lanka’s armed conflict. The U.S. government is also guilty of this human rights violation as some of the detainees were held incommunicado in secret CIA prisons and later transferred to Guantanamo Bay.

Enforced disappearances violate the rights of both the disappeared person and their relatives. Disappeared persons are denied the right to a proper arrest and to a fair trial. They may be tortured, detained in poor conditions and eventually killed.

On December 20, 2006, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (the Disappearances Convention). Countries signing the treaty pledge to make enforced disappearance a crime under their national laws and to prosecute anyone responsible for this crime.

On this Day of the Disappeared, we call upon the U.S., Russian and Sri Lankan governments to ratify the Disappearances Convention, to stop all further disappearances and to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

Sincerely,

your name and city

15 August 2007

help me condemn oppression and assaults on transsexual people in malaysia...

i need your help and the help of your network friends and contacts to tell malaysian authorities that violence and policies that discriminate against transsexual people cannot be tolerated...

here's the deal -- on july 30th, ayu, a male-to-female transsexual, was seriously beaten by state religious officials known as jabatan agama islam melaka (jaim) in kota melaka, malaysia...

state religious officials!!!

jaim is a local government body in charge of enforcing social "norms" in the area...ayu was detained, punched, and kicked for the offensive conduct of "dressing up as women in a public space,"...it is a charge that may result in a fine, a six-month prison sentence or even both...

amnesty international is concerned for ayu's safety as she will no doubt continue to be at risk, along with other transsexual individuals...in april 2007, it was reported that the authorities in terengganu state were planning to set up a "rehabilitation centre" for transsexual people due to fears that men were becoming more "effeminate" and that many transsexual people were "back to their old habit" even after serving time in prison...

call on authorities to order a full, immediate, and independent investigation into allegations that ayu was attacked by jaim religious affairs officers and to ensure that those found responsible for this violence are brought to justice...

please, take action now....

hey, thank you for taking the time to support this important work...your efforts are making a difference!!!

peace out <3

14 August 2007

more weapons for iraq security forces likely missing...

would you be surprised to learn that the u.s. department of defense allowed a subcontractor known to have smuggled arms to liberia to facilitate arms shipment to iraq???

that's right, as a matter of departmental policy known arms smugglers are designated as approved arms shipment facilitators to iraq...what's the matter with this administration, are they embracing the dark side of the fox that guarded the hen house as standard operating procedure???

as a taxpayer, regardless of your feelings about the war in iraq, aren't you outraged at this cavalier and authorized use of known thieves and armed conflict instigators and facilitators as agents of u.s. foreign policy administration???

need proof???

a recent government accountability office report revealed that the pentagon cannot account for 30 percent of the weapons that the united states distributed to iraqi forces from 2004 to early 2007...according to amnesty international research, additional hundreds of thousands of u.s. approved arms transfers from bosnia to iraq could also be missing...amnesty international fears this shipment may be in the hands of human rights abusers inside or outside iraq...

30 f___ing percent!

in a may 2006 report, dead on time, amnesty international revealed that taos inc., a u.s. company with multiple u.s. department of defense contracts, subcontracted to a moldovian/ukrainian company called aerocom to transport hundreds of thousands of arms from bosnia to iraq between july 31, 2004, and june 31, 2005, for iraqi security forces...u.s. military air traffic controllers in iraq, however, said aerocom never requested landing slots to touch down in the country...aerocom smuggled weapons to liberia in 2002 and was operating without a valid license in 2004, according to the u.n. security council...

in a series of exchanges with the pentagon, amnesty international has noted that various u.s. government department contracts contain a clause stipulating that actors previously involved in criminal activities should not be recipients of u.s. government funding...amnesty international has previously expressed concern about the u.s. department of defense's new authority to train and equip security forces in iraq and 16 other countries...the latest system does not have the same level of controls as other u.s. arms exporting mechanisms...without similar safeguards, the pentagon runs the risk of facilitating illegal or irresponsible arms deals to anywhere in the world...
Chronology of Correspondence with the Department of Defense

May 2006: AI released a report mentioning an episode in which Taos Inc. subcontracted U.S government-funded arms transportation contracts to Aerocom. Four Aerocom flights departed Eagle Base, Bosnia & Herzegovina, with flight plans filed for Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. Yet there were no records of the flights landing. Taos Inc. executives told Amnesty International that Aerocom did not appear on any U.S government list that forbid interaction with the company, placing the onus on the U.S government to determine whether an arms transporter/broker meets the requisite security, integrity and ethical standards.

September 28, 2006: Amnesty International contacted the U.S. Department of Defense requesting information on the current policies and regulations which attempt to prevent arms transactions with actors with criminal records, as well as measures currently under discussion which may assist in limiting the involvement of such actors in future U.S government contracts.

April 6, 2007: Amnesty International received a reply from the U.S. Department of Defense to its September letter indicating the Pentagon's intent to investigate whether the U.S. Department of Defense was involved in contracting arms shipments from Bosnia to Iraq. The Pentagon indicated that it had already conducted an assessment to determine whether controls governing U.S. Department of Defense contracted arms shipments need to be updated.

May 17, 2007: Amnesty International wrote to the U.S. Department of Defense concerning oversight and control of several legal arms shipments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

August 2007: Amnesty International is still awaiting a reply from the Pentagon regarding its investigation into the Bosnia-to-Iraq weapons shipments and steps the U.S. Department of Defense is taking to prevent similar irresponsible arms transactions.
amnesty international has asked the department of defense to determine what happened to the weapons that taos/aerocom agreed to transfer to iraq, and to assure amnesty international that the weapons are under a responsible entity's control...amnesty international has also asked the pentagon to ensure that it does not fund those in the arms brokering and transportation industry that have violated a u.n. arms embargo or participated in criminal activities...

peace out <3

13 August 2007

the adoption of u.n. declaration essential to indigenous women's human rights...

"We maintain that the advancement of Indigenous Women's human rights is inextricably linked to the struggle to protect, respect and fulfill both the rights of our Peoples as a whole and our rights as women within our communities and at the national and international level."
- International Indigenous Women's Forum Beijing +10 Declaration -



i would like you to intentionally know that amnesty international supports indigenous women's organizations worldwide in calling for the immediate adoption by the general assembly of the long-awaited united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples...

why you ask??? well then, you should understand that such international recognition and protection of the human rights of indigenous peoples is a necessary step to address the widespread violence and discrimination faced by indigenous women and girls around the world...

recent investigations by amnesty international, including the 2007 report maze of injustice: the failure to protect indigenous women from sexual violence in the usa and the 2004 report stolen sisters: discrimination and violence against indigenous women in canada, demonstrate that the rights and well-being of indigenous women is often inseparable from the protection of the collective rights of indigenous societies as a whole...

violations of the economic, social and cultural rights of indigenous peoples tear at the fabric of indigenous communities, put indigenous women at risk of violence at the hands of both indigenous and non-indigenous men, and place them at an extreme disadvantage in seeking justice...

the declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples, adopted by the u.n. human rights council on 29 june 2006, provides a comprehensive framework for states and indigenous peoples to work together to protect fundamental rights pertaining to self-determination, use of lands and natural resources, livelihood and cultural identity...

and its adoption by the general assembly would reinforce its significant contribution in addressing the impoverishment, marginalisation and discrimination that have put the lives of so many Indigenous women at risk...

the declaration affirms the equality of indigenous women and men and calls for special measures to protect the human rights of Indigenous women...the declaration is explicitly to be interpreted in relation to all other international human rights instruments and the principles of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, equality, non-discrimination, good governance and good faith" so that the "human rights and fundamental freedoms of all shall be respected,"...

finally, you ought to be aware that the declaration has been under development within the united nations for more than two decades...in november 2006, final adoption of the declaration by the u.n. general assembly was deferred to allow time for further consultation...it is anticipated that the declaration will come before the general assembly within a month...

so stay tuned...

for you and your children to learn more you can read:

peace out <3

12 August 2007

make some noise, instant karma, and the legacy of john lennon...

sometimes everything just seems to come together and this is one of those times...you have a humanitarian crisis of global proportions, musical artists committed to using their talent for the advancement of human rights and individual dignity, and the musical legacy of an icon of humanity and peace made available to the world's largest and most capable grassroots human rights organization...

"instant karma: the amnesty international campaign to save darfur," the new global "make some noise" project from amnesty international, seeks to mobilize millions around the urgent catastrophe in darfur, sudan...it combines the power of john lennon's music recorded by some of the world's best-known artists, together with cutting-edge forms of instant activism enabled by internet and mobile technologies...

as a solo artist, john lennon's unique talent and passionate campaign for world peace made him one of the most influential activists the world has ever known..."peace is no violence, no frustration, no fear," claimed lennon - and with this lyrical mantra, he strived to promote the issues he believed in, inspiring change through music which both provoked and united communities...in a world plagued by war, poverty, and fear, lennon's message is just as relevant today as it was when first written...

lennon's use of music, celebrity, and creative activism generated unprecedented support for the peace and civil rights movements...he was a man who not only spoke truth to power, but understood that music was itself power - a unique way to touch people's hearts and minds, and inspire them to stand up for human rights...

amnesty international is profoundly grateful to yoko ono for her extraordinary gift of lennon's solo catalogue for use in this project...with the gift, she had in mind to help amnesty international create the next generation of activists...may that new generation make a positive impact on our world and collectively raise our voices in the on-going struggle for human rights...

on june 6, 2007, amnesty international broke new ground in protecting human rights by launching an unprecedented project, eyes on darfur, which used newly acquired commercial satellite images of darfur to help protect 12 intact but vulnerable villages caught on the frontline of the conflict...amnesty international invited people around the world to log on to their computers and help protect these strategic areas, putting president al-bashir on notice that the villages are being watched through up-to-date, high-altitude satellite images that can serve an early warning capability or provide evidence of atrocities to international courts...

so please honor your love and appreciation for the values embedded in the life and music of john lennon by checking out the site, taking action, and purchasing the instant karma cd...

peace out <3

11 August 2007

overcoming the obstacles: human rights activists in guatemala and honduras part 3...

it's kinda' like a journey you're asked to take when you read blog entries in multiple parts and you might ask, "where is it you're taking me,"...

well, first we shared with you the broad issues faced by human rights defenders in guatemala and honduras and then personalized the situation by offering a day-in-the-life diary entry from one brave defender...

and now we're asking you to take a moment and take action...because your letters, your collective of letters written by individuals like you, make a difference:

"I am really happy especially because I am in a room looking at the faces of the people that saved my life. I am the one that is here thanking you for being Amnesty International, because what you did with your Urgent Actions, what you did to put pressure on my government to beat organized crime. Thank you so much."
– Lydia Cacho Ribeiro at the Amnesty International USA 2007
Annual General Meeting in Milwaukee

so make a difference in guatemala and honduras...write to the presidents to demand that human rights activists can work safely and freely:

Dear President,

I am extremely concerned that killings, threats, attacks and acts of intimidation against human rights defenders continue to take place in Guatemala and Honduras.

The lack of progress in identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice perpetuates impunity and further attacks on human rights defenders. I therefore urge you to:

• protect activists by implementing comprehensive protection measures
• prevent, investigate and punish abuses, including harassment of activists
• publicly denounce abuses that undermine human rights work and compromise the security of activists

Yours Sincerely,
you can copy and paste this sample letter into an e-mail or a document to print out...if you are planning to write your own appeal please read our letter writing guide...

please send appeals to:

Manuel Zelaya
Presidente de la República de Honduras
Casa Presidencial
Boulevard Juan Pablo Segundo
Palacio José Cecilio del Valle
Tegucigalpa
Honduras
Fax: +504 2214552
and to...

Licenciado Oscar Berger Perdomo
Presidente de la República de Guatemala
Casa Presidencial
6 a. Avenida, 4-18 zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala
Guatemala
Fax: +502 2221 4423, +502 2238 3579, +502 2383 8390

peace out <3

10 August 2007

overcoming the obstacles: human rights activists in guatemala and honduras part 2...

i am a human rights activist in central america, and i...

08:00

• drive to work rather than taking the bus or walking...i really like walking but have to take precautions to avoid being followed or being attacked...my own car has tinted windows, so no-one can see me...motorcycles and cars without number plates have followed me in the past, after i received death threats...

10:00

• have gone to a friend's house today to meet with indigenous women and interview them...i don't use my office anymore, as it's safer to keep changing locations regularly or work from home...it makes work difficult when I need an internet connection...

12:00

• have lunch in cafes that are small and where i know the people well...i still have to keep an eye on the door to see who comes in, no matter where I go...

14:00

• need to visit a community on the coast with a colleague...on long trips like these I arrange to change vehicles...this time i will change cars three times, to make sure nothing happens to us...

16:00

• start to make my way back home, changing cars along the way to avoid being followed again...i try to get home before dark, it makes it easier to keep safe, and my partner and children don't worry as much...

18:00

• am home, tired but happy because we moved things on...it was a good day's work...i do some more paperwork at home...as usual i'm the only one who picks up the phone or i let it go to the answering machine...i don't like my children and partner picking up the phone, as i've received death threats over the phone before...

listen to carlos albacete rosales, guatemalan activist, talk about threats and obstacles to his work

want to help these organizers and take action on their behalf???...stay tuned for part iii of this entry...

peace out <3

overcoming the obstacles: human rights activists in guatemala and honduras part 1...

i spent a month in alta verapaz guatemala back in 95' and even though the civil war had officially ended about a year earlier it was still a dangerous place...twelve years later it's still the case...and while honduras was the seat of u.s. intervention back in the 80's it too today is a dangerous place to live and seek justice...

reports of killings, death threats, harassment and intimidation of human rights activists continue to be commonplace in Guatemala and Honduras.

for you see many defenders of human rights are subjected to unfounded investigations and malicious prosecutions...their offices and homes are placed under surveillance, while at the same time important human rights information and documents are stolen to obstruct their human rights work...

and in some cases, grave violations result in activists having to stop, or radically curtail, their human rights activities...direct attacks or threats to their lives sometimes mean that they are forced to flee their homes or even countries...

and grass-roots defenders working on economic, social and cultural rights in remote areas face special challenges as their work is less visible...an atmosphere of impunity sometimes makes it impossible to continue human rights work without risking their lives and the lives of loved ones...

because for sure most of those who commit violations against human rights defenders evade justice, and investigations into abuses against activists are grossly inadequate...such violations also have wider repercussions -- they create a climate of fear...

and in spite of these threats and this danger human rights activists often feel privileged to do their work, despite suffering intimidation and impingements on their liberty...they fight injustice and make a positive change in society...their work and achievements have an impact on human rights worldwide...

governments have obligations to take action against those who hamper or threaten the work of human rights defenders...no one should have to live or work like this...

so let's take this imagining to the next level you n' me...a real honest to goodness day in the life of a human rights activist in guatemala or honduras -- imagine what that means...

stay tuned -- continued in part ii...

peace out <3

09 August 2007

don't accept that nigerian women and children must be beaten for you to drive your car...

we here in the u.s. don't hear much about or think much of nigeria...sharia islamic law is the legal framework of the state and violence against women is a continued problem, with gender discrimination standard in both law and practice...the most common kinds of violence against women include sexual and familial violence, genital mutilation, and forced marriage...discriminatory laws regarding divorce and employment make it difficult for women to flee such situations...

within this context armed men attacked the wife and children of bari-ara kpalap, a staff member of the movement for the survival of the ogoni people (mosop), on 19 may...amnesty international believes that his life and those of his family may be at risk...

at about 2 a.m. on 19 may, four unidentified armed men broke into the home of bari-ara kpalap in the city of port harcourt in southern nigeria, and entered the room where bari-ara kpalap's children were sleeping...while pointing their guns at the children, the men asked them where their father was...when the children responded that their father was not in the house, the men hit them...

that's right, these armed men hit the children...

when bari-ara kpalap's wife came into the children's room, the men took her at gunpoint to another room where they also hit her, leaving her with bruises and an injury to her leg...the men then left the house, warning that they would be back...the attack was reported to the police but no effective action has been taken so far...

mosop is a community organization that campaigns to ensure that oil companies and the nigerian government address environmental pollution linked to oil exploitation and pay adequate compensation to the oil producing regions...in the oil-rich niger delta, populations remain vulnerable to human rights violations by security and law enforcement officials...community members who protest chevron, shell, and their subcontractors risk collective punishment for their actions...

we can take action to protect the human rights of environmental defenders and their families simply by clicking here...

the ogoni ethnic group, based in rivers state, have been subjected to serious human rights violations in the past in its fight to get compensation for the environmental damage caused by oil companies...in 1995, during the military dictatorship of general sani abacha, ken saro-wiwa and eight other ogoni activists were executed for their work in defense of human rights...you may know of the street named after saro-wiwa in washington d.c...

ten years later, in 2005, the federal government appointed an independent mediator, the reverend matthew h. kukah, to assist the reconciliation between the oil company shell nigeria and the ogoni community...disagreement between different groups representing the ogoni community has lead to recent tensions (including previous death threats to the president of mosop) as to how to deal with the reconciliation process...

we will all continue to drive our carbon based fuel burning vehicles but we can stand up and support those people whose lives and livelihood are threatened by the oil conglomerates and have the courage to fight for the rights of their communities...we do not have to accept that the beating of innocent children and women is the price we pay to drive our lincolns, nissans, chevys, kias, dodges and the like...


peace out <3

08 August 2007

draft un resolution on iraq fails to address human rights and humanitarian crisis...

last friday's effort by the united nations security council to expand the mandate of the u.n. assistance mission for iraq (unami) sucked...

let me put it another way - it sucked...

oh yeah, that's the same way isn't it???

you see the mandate of unami is due to expire tomorrow on 9 august 2007 and the security council was considering a draft resolution that would expand the mandate of the u.n. mission for iraq to help promote national dialogue and reconciliation, support constitutional review and facilitate regional dialogue on security and refugees...and that's okay...

back in june, u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon emphasized the growing number of detainees resulting from intensified security operations and the u.n.'s chief humanitarian official has stressed that iraq is now witness to the largest population displacement in recent history in the middle east...

here's what irene khan the secretary general of amnesty international had to say:

"The draft resolution is completely silent on the gross human rights abuses taking place on a daily basis in Iraq, and on the deepening humanitarian crisis in the country...The Security Council must strengthen the current text to express its deep concern about continuing grave human rights abuses and their dire humanitarian consequences...The Security Council must take account of the sectarian and other killings of civilians by both armed groups and government forces, the continuing detention of thousands of Iraqis without charge or trial by the U.S.-led Multinational Force and Iraqi security forces, the widespread reports of torture, the sharp rise in the use of the death penalty and other gross abuses."
but it's not just us human rights peeps who are identifying the "silent" crisis emerging from bush administration policy...john holmes (no relation to the legendary porn star), the u.n.'s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, now describes iraq as one of the world's "largest and fastest-growing humanitarian crises," with the largest population displacement in recent history of the middle east: one out of seven Iraqis have fled their homes...

imagine looking down your street and noting that the one in every seven of your neighbors have fled heir homes for fear of death and/or torture...

so regardless of your position on the bush administration war on iraq know that the resultant humanitarian crisis is not being adequately addressed apparently as an outcropping - incidental or intentional - of that same policy...

oh, and have a nice day...

a pithy peace out <3

07 August 2007

for china and their idyllic dream time is running out...

The picture of a life remains
And the high ideals and the promise
You once dressed the future in
Are dancing in the embers with the wind
Time running out time running out
Time running out time running out
Yeah, beyond a shadow of a doubt
Time running out time running out

- Jackson Browne-
Black and White, 1986

as the one year countdown to the beijing olympics begins, time is running out for the chinese government to fulfil its promise of improving human rights in the run-up to the games...

but things aren't looking good for that word to be held...in may china's new foreign minister on denounced u.s and european efforts to link the beiging olympics with chinese policy in darfur, saying they run counter to the olympic spirit...

bullhockey...

already for many the time to begin shaming china is now---demanding that if the beijing government is going to host the premier international event, the summer olympic games of 2008, they must be responsible international partners...

apart from the global issue of chinese foreign policy propping up the genocide in darfur there is continued abuse against activists and journalists, increased use of detention without trial and widespread use of the death penalty on the domestic front...

to check out amnesty international's latest full report on chinese human rights abuses and what the organization is calling for just click your heels here three times...

peace out <3

06 August 2007

history remains unwrtitten: challenging a history of human rights violations in mexico a valid proposition...

if you've ever studied the history of our neighbor to he south you will know that like most governments that history is steeped in corruption and where there's corruption there's usually a history of human rights violations that parallels this construct. It was true in colonial mexico and it's been true for the last ~100 years under the rule of the pri...

well, in december 2006, felipe calderón hinojosa took office as president of mexico...this new government has a golden opportunity to make the protection of human rights a reality for all people in mexico...

it's a huge challenge - mexico has longstanding human rights problems...many of the human rights violations in mexico are a symptom of the failures of the judicial system and the lack of political will to recognize deep-rooted systematic flaws and weaknesses which perpetuate those violations...

no surprise there...

current human rights concerns in mexico include arbitrary arrest, torture and ill-treatment, violations in due process and denial of fair trials, the investigation and trial of military officials accused of human rights violations in military courts and the role of the military in law enforcement functions, violence against women, harassment and killing of journalists, intimidation of human rights activists and discrimination and marginalization of indigenous peoples...
to name a few...:-)...

impunity for human rights violations remains constant, stretching back to crimes from the "dirty war" of the 1960s, 70s and 80s, whose victims are still denied justice...

starting on 31 July, amnesty international secretary general irene khan (she rocks y'all) will lead a high level mission to mexico...the delegation will visit mexico city and the states of oaxaca and guerrero...it will meet with president calderón and other government officials, survivors of human rights violations and members of civil society...

the delegation’s first visit will be to the state of oaxaca, where the delegation will gather testimonies from victims of some of the numerous violations committed by authorities during the political crisis that erupted in june 2006...these human rights violations have not been investigated, nor those responsible held to account...in its report, oaxaca - clamour for justice (published 31 july, 2007), amnesty international urges the authorities to identify and bring to justice all those responsible...

in an event in mexico city, amnesty international will hear from survivors of human rights violations from across mexico regarding their struggle for justice and the need for urgent action to address human rights issues in mexico...

at the end of the visit amnesty international's delegation will visit guerrero, where the proposed construction of la parota dam threatens to displace thousands of people from indigenous and peasant communities...amnesty international's report human rights at risk in la parota dam project (published 4 august, 2007) highlights how the failure to provide communities with adequate information on the project and to genuinely consult all those affected has undermined respect for human rights...

the message to president calderón will be clear: the opportunity to respect, protect and fulfil human rights in mexico must be grasped now...

the message for you is that history can not be changed but the future always remains to be written...

peace out <3

03 August 2007

a major victory for darfuris!...keep the pressure on - sign the petition today...

at last - there is a major victory in darfur to report and YOU helped make it happen by blogging, getting signatures, making calls, writing letters, and never letting go of this huge human rights crisis...

the major victory for the women, men, and children of darfur who have been brutalized over the past four long years came on tuesday, the u.n. security council announced that it will deploy 26,000 peacekeepers and police to from a full hybrid u.n.-african union mission by the end of 2007...

this is amazing news.

this unprecedented number of u.n. boots on the ground will protect darfuris at risk of attack, disease and starvation, and will aim to stabilize the region...and while this victory has renewed my spirit and the spirit of everyone who has worked so hard to end the crisis, there is still much to be done before we can truly celebrate...


please accept all of our deepest thanks for all that you have done and all that you do to protect human rights...today, will you take a strong stand for the people of darfur and sign our global petition?..help ensure that passage of this week’s u.n.s.c. resolution is genuinely the beginning of lasting peace for women, men and children living there...

amnesty international and its human rights partners will deliver the global petition to the white house, and press president bush to use his influence to ensure that the new u.n. timeline for the deployment of u.n. peacekeepers and police to join the hybrid mission is followed and that peacekeepers have all the resources they need...it is time to guarantee the full protection of all civilians affected by violence in darfur and the region...


look - you and I must make it clear that we will not stand for any further steps backwards...we must move forward toward genuine peace and human rights in darfur...


peace out <3

02 August 2007

radiohead supports amnesty international...

no doubt amnesty international is the coolest because affirming and defending human rights is as basic as it gets if you believe that we are collectively one and that we are each and every one of us deserving and equal of living a life of dignity...

here's radiohead singing paranoid android in support of amnesty international and human rights...

peace out <3