reports of 1,157 Individuals in tibeten custody released...

in case you missed the news 1,157 people who were involved in the tibet protests last march were released from prison and i am hopeful that we will hear information about the trials of the 116 people in custody recently announced by tibetan authorities...

these reported prisoner releases come after the human rights group amnesty international published a report this week urging the chinese government to provide information about the more than 1,000 people detained during the protests last march who remain unaccounted for...the organization also called for free access to tibet by independent observers...

for more information, click here...

make a difference...
china: protect muslim uighur refugees

peace out <3

routine abuses in the name of security running amok in tunisia...

hundreds, possibly thousands, of people, including children, suspected of terrorism-related offences, have been arrested in tunisia since the introduction of the anti-terrorism law in 2003...authorities use the broad definition of ‘terrorism’ in this law to criminalize legitimate and peaceful opposition activities...

many have been tortured and otherwise ill-treated, held in incommunicado detention and subjected to enforced disappearances in the last five years...at least 977 people have been tried and sentenced since june 2006 - after unfair trials before military and other courts - to long prison terms or even death...

the tunisian government continues to say that the human rights situation in the country is improving...the legal reforms that should offer better protection for human rights are, in practice, little more than hollow promises...

abuses by security forces continue unabated and are committed with impunity, as the report in the name of security: routine abuses in tunisia reveals...

despite the record of violations, arab and european governments and the u.s. government have returned people they suspected of involvement in terrorism to tunisia, where they have then suffered arbitrary arrest and detention, torture or other ill-treatment, and blatantly unfair trials...

a responsibility of all governments

the tunisian government has a duty to protect its population from violent attacks, but when doing so it must comply with its obligations under international law...the government needs to condemn torture and other ill-treatment and bring to justice those responsible for authorizing and inflicting it...

foreign governments should reject the rhetoric of the tunisian government and face up to the reality of human rights violations in the country...instead of forcibly returning tunisian nationals, they should ensure that all cooperation in the context of counter-terrorism complies with human rights standards and put pressure on the tunisian government to prevent torture and hold torturers to account...

peace out <3

don't stop believing...

it's what me and the peeps do...



peace out <3

H - O - P - E spells what i'm doing with my summer in 2008...

in case you haven't realized yet the extraordinary thing about human rights defenders is just how ordinary their desires are...they want what so many of us take for granted – a safe place to live and work...free and fair elections...the right to speak out without the fear of arrest or torture...this summer, you can join my mission to bring hope to human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience around the world...

it's pretty simple...

recently, a women’s rights group, women of zimbabwe arise! (woza) organized a peaceful demonstration to protest the worsening social, economic and human rights conditions in their country...members of this group frequently report harassment, intimidation and other extreme treatment from police officers...right now, jenni williams and magadonga mahlangu, leaders of woza, are in prison...other members of woza face charges against their peaceful activities...send a letter of support to the members of woza as a part of this summer's solidarity action...

the struggle for human rights continues even during what is for most, a relaxing season – summer...for this summer's solidarity action, you can provide moral support to human rights defenders in zimbabwe, china, belarus, mexico, and libya...your action can help bring much-needed support and justice to these courageous men and women...

when people ask you what you’re doing for summer vacation this year, tell them you’re bringing hope to where it’s needed most...

peace out <3

take action while remembering victims of torture...

today, 26 june, is international day in support of victims of torture, and amnesty international members and supporters are taking action around the world...they are calling on governments to reaffirm their commitment to the consensus affirmed after the second world war - that torture and other ill-treatment are absolutely prohibited...

recently, there has been a new and acute threat to the international prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment in the context of government responses to the threat of terrorism...it is the validity of the absolute prohibition itself that has been challenged by the actions of governments around the world...

what this means in reality is that individuals are subjected to horrific practices. In the context of government counter-terrorism strategies, the human rights group has documented practices such as:

• beatings, electric shocks, simulated drowning, prolonged isolation and other physical abuse
• the return of individuals to countries where they are at risk of torture, sometimes on the basis of flimsy “diplomatic assurances”
• secret detention

i'm asking you to join me in calling on all governments to: condemn all forms of torture and other ill-treatment; prevent torture, including through ending secret and incommunicado detention; and hold to account those responsible for authorising, facilitating, or inflicting torture or other ill-treatment...

today is not a day of passive remembrance my friends, no -- it is one for action: governments and citizens across the world should act to reverse the trend of recent years and eradicate these cruel and inhuman practices...

don’t let torture go unchallenged:

• in view of france’s presidency of the european union, please send an email to president nicolas sarkozy and urge him to lead the eu council to take action to end rendition and secret detention;
• write to the tunisian government and demand it taks steps to end torture and other ill-treatment;
• sign up to demand that the u.s. government ends illegal detentions;

read more

No hiding place for torture
Tunisia: Torture, illegal detention and unfair trials
Six steps for Europe to end rendition and secret detention
USA: Torture, Enforced disappearance and Impunity

peace out <3

take heart - your letters meant freedom for reverend samba...

in 2002, he was arrested at his church solely for his ethnic origin and the peaceful expression of his political opinions...but as of saturday, june 7th, reverend bienvenido samba of equatorial guinea was freed under the terms of a presidential pardon...

local chapters of amnesty international usa in allentown, pa, dallas, tx, tampa, fl, and yonkers, ny in addition to countless other supporters around the world wrote thousands of letters on reverend samba's behalf...

today, those dedicated advocates should stand a little taller knowing that their efforts helped to give a man his life back...

take action to free other prisoners of conscience
read more about reverend bienvenido's case

peace out <3

europe must face facts on rendition (and exit state of denial)...

“My life has changed and I feel like a destroyed man…. All night long I suffer nightmares and all day long I remember torture so I shake."

so said abu omar, describing how he feels after the torture suffered in egypt...

usama mostafa hassan nasr, known as abu omar, was snatched by u.s. and italian agents from the streets of milan on 17 february 2003...cia agents then rendered him, via germany, to egypt, where he was held for nearly four years, including 14 months in secret detention...he says that, for seven months, he was tortured up to 12 hours a day...

abu omar is one of the six cases of rendition and secret detention – involving thirteen men - highlighted in the report state of denial: europe’s role in rendition and secret detention...

the report describes the involvement of european states - ranging from allowing cia flights headed for rendition circuits to use european airports and airspace to hosting secret detention centres, or “black sites” – and their failure to admit or investigate violations carried out by their nationals or on their territory...said amnesty international:

“European governments are in a state of denial and have been sidestepping the truth for too long. Their involvement in renditions and secret detention runs in stark contrast to their claims to be responsible actors in the fight against terrorism.”

amnesty international’s six-point plan for europe to end renditions and secret detention calls on states to condemn rendition and secret detention and take positive steps to bring those responsible to justice, ensure reparations for the victims and bring those responsible to justice...

peace out <3

help send a message of support to the tiananmen mothers...

check it -- when the eyes of the world are focused on the beijing olympics in august 2008, many will be reminded of a previous occasion when the city became the center of world media attention - the 1989 crackdown on students and other peaceful protesters in and around tiananmen square...

the tiananmen mothers is a group of around 130 human rights defenders, women and men, whose children and other close relatives were killed or injured during the military crackdown...the tiananmen mothers have compiled a list of those killed or injured in the crackdown...

they regularly submit appeals and petitions calling on the chinese authorities to end persecution of victims and their families, to allow victims' families the right to mourn in public, to allow them to accept humanitarian aid from organizations and individuals, to release all those still imprisoned for taking part in peaceful protests, and to implement a full and open inquiry into the events of june 3-4, 1989...

for these efforts, the tiananmen mothers have been harassed, detained and discriminated against...

please send messages of support to the address below, and amnesty international usa will forward them to their destination...please do not mention amnesty international inside your card or letter, but do include a return address inside the card if you would like to possibly receive a reply.

please send messages of support to:

Amnesty International USA
Program for Individuals at Risk
600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20003

click here for more information on china and the 2008 beijing olympics

peace out <3

twelve bodies found in zimbabwe – victims tortured to death...

my peeps over at amnesty international revealed on thursday that 12 bodies have been found in various areas of zimbabwe...most of the victims appear to have been tortured to death by their abductors...

they were allegedly abducted by zanu-pf supporters who, in some instances, were accompanied by armed men believed to be government agents...

four of the victims were reportedly abducted june 19th, thursday, from the home of mr .chipiyo, an mdc councillor-elect in chitungwiza by zanu-pf youths...one of the victims is archford chipiyo the son of the mdc councillor-elect...

five bodies were found in masvingo province, while two were found in gokwe district in the midlands province and one was found dumped in harare...

another victim died in harare today in hospital of injuries sustained from the beatings by zanu-pf youths when she attended a funeral of a relative in buhera...

amnesty international has also received information from eyewitnesses that soldiers are going about threatening villagers with guns, instructing them to vote for president mugabe on 27 june...

at the very least the government must publicly denounce all acts of violence by zanu-pf supporters, 'war veterans' and soldiers and work with all political parties to end political violence immediately...

i am so tired of listening to the self-righteous protestation's of mugabe administration officials lying about their intimidation tactics (and murder), claiming their innocence, framing themselves as propoganda victims...excuse me while i wretch...the human rights group said:

"It (the government) should withdraw soldiers, who have been deployed in rural and urban areas, and are instigating attacks against people perceived to be supporters of the MDC."

they also called on leaders of the south africa development community (sadc) to convene an emergency summit to address the deteriorating security situation in zimbabwe...

peace out y'all <3

help palestinian refugees on world refugee day...

today, friday june 20, is refugee day...it is a day to recognize the plight of refugees around the world...this includes palestinians who have been stranded on iraq's border since the u.s.-led invasion of iraq in 2003...

since that invasion, approximately 2,700 palestinian refugees have been abducted, tortured, killed, intimidated and threatened with death by shi'a armed militia groups...the militia groups have made conditions intolerable for palestinians in iraq and they are restricted from entering any of the neighboring countries...

with nowhere else to turn, palestinian refugees are forced to stay in makeshift camps near the borders of iraq and syria that one aid worker described as "hell,"...

support world refugee day - urge the u.s. government to commit to resettling stranded Palestinian refugees...

peace out <3

join me in the groundswell seeking to bring killers of women to justice...

the dead body of claudina velasquez, a 19 year-old university student, was found with gunshot wounds and traces of semen...guatemalan authorities assumed that because she wore sandals and had a belly button ring that she was a "nobody"...three years later, her parents still hope that one day justice will be found for their daughter and she will be recognized as somebody special...support the international violence against women act (i-vawa) and end impunity for killers of women and girls...

just two months ago, i-vawa, after receiving overwhelming bi-partisan support in the senate, was introduced in the house of representatives by rep. howard berman (d-ca)...such momentum only proves the importance of taking proactive steps to protect women and girls against violence worldwide...

as we move forward to ensure the passage of i-vawa, maintaining strong bi-partisan support is essential...call on your republican representatives to support i-vawa...

so many women and girls, like claudina velasquez, do not receive the justice that they deserve...the passage of i-vawa would mean:

• increased legal and judicial protection to address violence against women and girls
• increased pressure to find perpetrators and bring them to justice
• strengthened capacity of women's organizations in guatemala and many other countries working to bring such perpetrators of violence to justice
• increased economic and educational opportunities that would reduce the vulnerability of women at risk of violence

you and i know that women's human rights are not to be discarded...tell your representative to take a stand against violence against women by co-sponsoring i-vawa...

peace out <3

take action: tell mayor daley that homophobic abuses will not be tolerated...

three women were assaulted by a police officer on their way home from a gay pride event in chicago last summer...they say the officer physically assaulted them, used homophobic language and knocked them into the pathway of traffic...another man says he was physically and verbally abused by a chicago police officer because of his sexual orientation...

this pattern must stop...these two cases of homophobic human rights abuses are consistent with the pattern of abuse and impunity documented by aiusa three years ago in its report, stonewalled...in the report amnesty international documented a widespread pattern of police abuse and misconduct against lgbt people without accountability...

join me in sending a loud message to mayor daley and the chicago police commissioner jody weis that these human rights abuses will not be tolerated...

your voice can make a difference...as one of the finalist cities to host the 2016 summer olympics, chicago is sensitive to its international image...the pattern of police impunity and human rights violations against lgbts is a big tarnish on that image, especially in a city generally considered to be progressive on lgbt issues...

so tell mayor daley and police commissioner weis they must both make strong public statements declaring that police abuse, including homophobic abuse, will not be tolerated...

peace out <3

women’s rights activists arrested in peaceful solidarity demonstrations in iran...

nine women attempting to take part in a small, peaceful seminar to commemorate a day of solidarity with iranian women were arrested in tehran on thursday...the women -aida saadat, nahid mirhaj, nafiseh azad, nasrin sotoodeh, jelve javaheri, jila baniyagoub, sarah loghmani farideh ghaeb and aliyeh matlabzadeh - were arrested and taken to a detention centre, and released later in the evening...

the seminar organized by the campaign for equality in honour of the anniversary of the day of solidarity of iranian women, was due to take place in the rahe abrisham gallery, but security forces prevented it from taking place by forcing the gallery owner to shut the doors...the nine women were arrested outside the gallery...

the campaign for equality is a network which works to end legal discrimination against women...the campaign informs women of their rights, and is aiming to collect one million signatures from the iranian public to a petition against discriminatory laws...

22 khordad (usually 12 june) is identified by women’s rights activists in iran as their national day of solidarity against laws which discriminate against women...three years ago on this day, women’s rights activists organized a demonstration in front of tehran university, which was unprecedented in size...the following year, a similar peaceful demonstration was broken up violently, and resulted in 70 arrests...activists have pledged to continue activities on this date until their demands are met by the authorities...

women in iran face widespread discrimination under the law...they are excluded from key areas of political participation and do not have equal rights with men in marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance...

the iranian authorities must:

• stop the harassment of women’s rights activists and allow women to continue their peaceful activities, including future celebration of their day of solidarity unimpeded
• take concrete steps to bring laws governing the lives of women in line with human rights standards

read more

statement in support of iranian women on the anniversary of 12 june 2006 demonstrations
iran: authorities thwart campaign for gender equality (web news story)

peace out <3

third time court strikes down bush administration policies at guantánamo...

in a crushing blow to the bush administration, the u.s. supreme court ruled this week that guantánamo detainees have a right to challenge their detention before a legitimate court...

the court's decision is a stark indictment of wrongdoing at guantánamo...

still, the decision will not close guantánamo...it will not keep the administration from transferring detainees to countries known for torture...and it will not stop the bush administration from finding ways to circumvent the law...

tell congress to respect the supreme court's decision
visit the guantánamo cell tour blog
rsvp for the washington, dc june 25 - june 30 events
tear down guantánamo bay one pixel at a time

you'll never do it by not doing it...

peace out <3

500th blog...justice for civil rights martyrs!!!

in mississippi, in the 1960s, when segregation was king, racism the status quo, and bigotry the law, it was young people who rose up and challenged the system...in racially segregated and economically depressed neshoba county, mississippi, it was the local black youth and northern volunteers who challenged racism and led the fight for freedom and justice...because of the sacrifices made by many people, most of the obvious signs of racism and bigotry have been eliminated...because of the brutal beatings suffered by demonstrators at the hands of segregationists, public facilities have been desegregated...

to achieve the civil rights act of 1964 and the voting rights act of 1965, many marched, demonstrated, and suffered brutal beatings...and some died...for three who died, michael schwerner, james chaney, and andrew goodman, we still continue the struggle for justice...

all people of goodwill are invited to attend the 44th annual mississippi civil rights martyrs memorial service, conference, and caravan for justice...we will remember and honor slain civil rights workers goodman, chaney, schwerner, and all other mississippi civil rights martyrs...

the weekend’s events will begin with a caravan for justice, assembling at the first union missionary baptist church in meridian , 610 38th avenue , at 9:00 a.m. and departing at 9:30 a.m. on saturday, june 21, 2008...the caravan will visit the james chaney grave site, the three martyrs murder site on rock cut road, and mt. nebo church before going to the old longdale community center, county road 632, at 2:30 p.m. along the route, justice rallies will be held at the lauderdale county courthouse in meridian at 9:45 a.m. and the neshoba county courthouse in philadelphia at 1:30 p.m...

the memorial service and conference will be held on saturday, june 21, from 2:30–6:30 p.m. and sunday, June 22, from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at the old longdale community center site on county road 632 in neshoba county , mississippi ...it will be conducted outdoors on the steele family's land with ample shade and parking...another indoor site has been arranged in case it rains...

the local community around the site is friendly to the cause...there will be much and varied food, from barbeque to healthy salads, for attendees...thanks in advance to the food committee!

this event will be for remembering, exchanging thoughts and ideas, strategizing, and calling on officials to prosecute all known perpetrators who murdered civil rights workers...we will also develop plans to continue the struggle against racial oppression in mississippi ...the service is open to all people of goodwill who share our values and concerns...

i'm honored that this is the 500th blog i've posted here...

peace out <3

help stop the execution of mohammad feda'i and saeed jazee in iran...

mohammad feda'i and saeed jazee are both 21 years old and are in imminent danger of being executed in iran for crimes that were committed when each was 17...mohammad feda'i claims that he acted in self defense and saeed jazee insists that he killed a man by accident during a scuffle.help me prevent the executions of these juvenile offenders...

iran is one of only a handful of countries that still executes people for crimes committed when they were juveniles...currently, at least 84 child offenders are under sentence of death in iran...many were convicted after unfair legal proceedings...you can help prevent the executions of these juvenile offenders...

the execution of child offenders is a violation of international law and iran's obligations under the convention on the rights of the child, to which iran is a state party...join me in urging ayatollah sharoudi to demonstrate courage and compassion and commute these death sentences now...

help stop the execution of mohammad feda'i and saeed jaze

peace out <3

uganda should be condemned for attacks against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people...

i continue to be concerned over the harassment and attacks on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (lgbt) human rights defenders in uganda...the government of uganda needs to take steps to ensure the safety of lgbt human rights defenders and to end the harassment of lgbt people by ugandan police officers...

less than a week ago on 4 june three lgbt human rights defenders were arbitrarily arrested after a group of seven activists from sexual minorities uganda (smug) distributed a press release to people attending the hiv/aids implementers’ meeting at the imperial royal hotel in kampala...the press release and an accompanying report outlined their organisation’s call for hiv prevention programmes for the lgbt community in uganda...

the three activists were arrested by police officers at the hotel, including one who was reportedly a participant in the meeting, and as of 4 pm on 4 june were still being held at jinja road police station in kampala for questioning...

the human rights group amnesty international condemns the arbitrary arrest of these individuals, and is concerned that they may face harassment and degrading treatment in custody as such practices is common against lgbt people in ugandan police stations...the nobel peace prize winning organization said that the three activists are prisoners of conscience, detained for their peaceful activism for the rights of lgbt people to treatment and prevention measures for hiv/aids, and should be released immediately and unconditionally...

these arbitrary arrests follow the recent arbitrary detention and mistreatment while in custody of two transgender individuals in kampala...on 20 may 2008, the two were dancing at capital pub in kampala, uganda, when they were detained by club bouncers, harassed and beaten while being asked whether they were men or women, and “accused” of being homosexuals....

for fracking dancing for chrissakes...and driven by deep-seeded bigotry of course...

the club management of capital pub called the police, who detained both individuals for four days at kabalagala police station...during their detention, both were repeatedly beaten by police officers, and one was kissed, fondled and forcefully propositioned for sex by other detainees, and stripped and had their genitals groped by a police officer...one of the two was denied medical treatment for diabetes, and allowed only one meal a day...after their release on bond, both individuals were charged with public nuisance, and are currently awaiting trial...

since their release, both individuals have faced harassment and violent attacks from individuals in their neighbourhood who were informed by police of their gender identity...these started with threats and escalated to a serious violent attack on the night of 3 june in old kampala, where a group of youths attacked both individuals...one of the attackers has since been arrested by police...amnesty international has called for this attack to be investigated and any perpetrators brought to justice through fair trials...

peace out <3

take action: you can ask asean to help the people of myanmar...

on 2 may cyclone nargis devastated myanmar's irrawaddy (ayeyawady) delta region...tens of thousands were killed and over a million made homeless, without essential food, shelter or healthcare...the u.n. estimates that up to 2.5 million have been severely affected and urgently need relief to prevent more deaths and the spread of disease...a massive rehabilitation effort is needed in the months and even years ahead...

yet almost two weeks on, not all the devastated area has been reached and only a proportion of affected people have received any assistance...the myanmar authorities maintain that they need no help in providing and distributing aid to victims...however, u.n. agencies and humanitarian organisations with expertise in natural disaster management say that a massive international relief effort was needed immediately after the cyclone, and what little aid is reaching victims now is nowhere near sufficient...

unlike regional governments dealing with the consequences of the 2004 indian ocean tsunami, myanmar authorities have obstructed international expertise, aid and materials reaching the victims...myanmar's government has refused to open its borders fully to the required massive relief effort, has denied visas to u.n. and international aid experts, impounded relief material and delayed its distribution, and has restricted the movements in the affected area of aid workers already present in the country...reports are also emerging of armed roadblocks, and of the military confiscating desperately needed relief and selling it, and of the forced eviction of people internally displaced because of the cyclone from makeshift camps or locations where they have sought sanctuary...

i along with other amnesty international members are also concerned that the karen and other ethnic minorities living in the affected area may be discriminated against in the provision of relief aid...widespread and systematic human rights violations against the karen and other ethnic minorities in myanmar have been well documented for decades...

thousands more people will continue to die from malnutrition, communicable diseases and exposure to the elements as a result of the myanmar government's actions and omissions...each passing day survivors do not receive necessary aid greatly increases the risk of death or permanent injury...by deliberately blocking life-sustaining aid from affected people, the government of myanmar may be violating the rights to life, and to adequate food and healthcare...

in addition to the impact of this serious humanitarian crisis in myanmar, there are wider regional implications, including on food security as the irrawaddy delta is a major rice-growing area, and displacement of people from myanmar within the southeast asia region...

myanmar is a member of the association of south east asian nations (asean), the regional grouping including brunei, cambodia, indonesia, laos, malaysia, philippines, singapore, thailand, and viet nam...asean has a key role to play in coordinating a regional response to this catastrophe and has formed the emergency response assessment team in this regard...

you can ask asean to help the people of myanmar...

it should continue to press the government of myanmar to act immediately to save hundreds of thousands of lives and put an end to another tragic human rights crisis...in signing the asean charter, all asean member states undertook to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms...for hundreds of thousands of individuals, the very ability to enjoy these rights is now in grave danger, which is greatly exacerbated by the callus indifference and obstructive attitude of their government...for their newly-pledged charter to have any meaning,asean governments must take all necessary steps to ensure that the myanmar government abandon this attitude and allow full access to international aid in order to save the life and wellbeing of these individuals...click here ask asean to help the people of myanmar...

peace out <3

zimbabwe accused of using food for political gain...

the government of zimbabwe has banned field operations by non-governmental organisations (ngos) in the country...amnesty international has accused the government of using food for political ends and called on them to immediately lift the ban...

the suspension of field operations by all ngos on the order of the zimbabwean government is likely to increase food insecurity in zimbabwe and expose millions of people to hunger...the suspension is yet another attempt by the government to manipulate food distribution for political ends...i think that the suspension of humanitarian operations by ngos ensures that the government has a monopoly over food distribution through the state-controlled grain marketing board (gmb) during the pre-election period...

since 2000, amnesty international has documented how gmb food has been used as a political tool against perceived government opponents...

without giving specific reasons for his action, the zimbabwean minister of public service, labour and social welfare, nicholas goche, wrote to all private voluntary organisations and ngos on 4 june 2008, instructing them to stop their operations...the minister gave his intention to invoke section (10), subsection (c), of the private voluntary organisations act [chapter 17:05] as the basis for his action...

now that's creating and then hiding behind subterfuge!!!

amnesty international said that the restrictions will not only have a detrimental effect on food security in zimbabwe, but also serve as a means for the government to prevent aid workers from witnessing the sharply increased levels of state-sponsored political violence taking place in the country since presidential and parliamentary elections were held on 29 march...the human rights organization said:

"By closing off the space for NGOs in Zimbabwe, the government is attempting to hide the worst of the human rights violations taking place in the country. The Zimbabwean authorities must ensure that food is distributed to all on the basis of need -- irrespective of real or perceived political affiliation. Humanitarian organisations and other NGOs should be allowed go about their legitimate work without interference. By deliberately blocking life-sustaining aid, the government of Zimbabwe may be violating the right of its citizens to life, food, and health."

since 2000, millions of people in zimbabwe have had great difficulty in gaining access to adequate food...one of the major causes of the food crisis in zimbabwe has been the drop in domestic food production...

while climatic factors, the hiv/aids pandemic and economic problems have all played a role in declining agricultural productivity, government policies and practices have exacerbated zimbabwe's food security problems...

the poorest zimbabweans will be worst affected by the ban...they will be increasingly exposed to life-threatening diseases, since the suspension affects water and sanitation projects...the ban will also severely impact the care of zimbabwe's over one million children orphaned by aids, and the terminally ill who are on home-based care programs...

peace out <3

release prisoners on tiananmen square anniversary...

nineteen years after the tiananmen square crackdown, dozens of the pro-democracy protestors are still being held in chinese prisons...hundreds were killed in june 1989 and many were imprisoned in the aftermath simply for questioning the government's actions...

this week tens of thousands of amnesty international and human rights supporters will demand that the chinese authorities release all those who remain imprisoned in connection with the crackdown...

china has promised human rights improvements before the olympic games begin on august 8th...call on the chinese government to release the tiananmen activists and work to establish a positive olympic legacy...

demand justice for victims of the 1989 tiananmen square crackdown
download a petition to support the tiananmen mothers (pdf)
learn more about china's olympic legacy

peace out <3

call on sudan to arrest suspected war criminals...

over 2.3 million people have been displaced in the darfur conflict...more than 90,000 people are believed to have been killed as a result of the conflict, and over 200.000 are thought to have died from conflict related causes...thousands of women have been raped since the conflict began...

on 27 april 2007 the international criminal court (icc), an international tribunal, issued two arrest warrants against government minister ahmad harun and janjawid leader ali kushayb...the two are suspected of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in darfur, including murder, rape and torture...

the sudanese authorities have refused so far to allow ahmad harun and ali kushayb to be tried by the icc...

take action to ensure that persons accused of the worst human rights violations are brought to justice...

peace out <3

free jenni williams and other zimbabwean women at risk of torture...

a group of zimbabwean women activists are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment following their arrest at a peaceful demonstration in harare...

fourteen activists from the organisation women of zimbabwe arise (woza), including woza leaders jenni williams and magadonga mahlangu, were arrested on 28 may and are being held under harsh prison conditions...

jenni williams, national coordinator of woza, fellow woza leader magadonga mahlangu, and 12 other activists, including one man, were captured as they marched to the zambian embassy...they were calling on the chair of the southern african development community to help bring an end to the violence that has been taking place in zimbabwe since elections were held on 29 march 2008...

it is reported that some of the woza members were beaten by police as they were arrested...they are all being charged with ‘distributing materials likely to cause a breach of the peace,’ under section 37 of the criminal law (codification and reform) act...jenni williams has a further charge against her for ‘publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state’ under section 31 of the same act...

you can read more on their case and take action here...

some woza members appeared in court on 30 may and others on 31 may...after initially being granted bail, the state prosecutor then won an appeal against granting them bail and all 14 were remanded in custody...

the thirteen women are being held at chikurubi maximum security prison and the male woza member is being held at harare central remand prison...reports indicate that conditions in both of these prisons are deplorable and fall well below international standards...

sufficient blankets and warm clothing have not been provided to the woza detainees, which is of particular concern as it is currently winter in zimbabwe...they are being remanded in custody until 6 june when they will appear in court again...

amnesty international understands that the woza members were arrested and detained purely because they were attempting to exercise their universally guaranteed rights to freedom of association and assembly...

though woza members have been arrested on dozens of occasions since the formation of the organisation in 2003, the most recent arrests are part of a wider crackdown on human rights defenders, trade unionists, lawyers, journalists, election observers and opposition activists in the wake of the parliamentary and presidential elections of 29 march...

peace out <3

the film the cia doesn't want you to see...

while it's not sex and the city and all that it's a film that lifts the opiate fog off of the so-called "war on terror,"...

amnesty international's new short film "the stuff of life" portrays "waterboarding," the practice of torturing prisoners by partially drowning them...cia officials have recently admitted that their operatives have waterboarded "war on terror' detainees in secret interrogations..despite growing concern about waterboarding and other abusive practices, president george w. bush recently vetoed a bill that would have outlawed such so-called "enhanced interrogation" techniques...

watch the film and take action (i warn the squeamish in advance: graphic depiction of waterboarding

peace out <3

video of latvia's riga pride 2008 being pulled off successfully...

i blogged about the event and ultimately amnesty international activists from around 30 countries gathering in latvia to join riga pride 2008 in solidarity with the mozaika alliance of lgbt people and other lgbt people in riga, in latvia and in the baltic states...here's a short video of some people's reaction's to riga pride 2008...

read more
for the latest information about riga pride:
amnesty international blogging with pride

peace out <3