this 69 is definitely not sexy...

on mondays amnesty international nashville is bringing you a weekly video ...

some are music concert clips as a lot of bands and performers are supporters of amnesty international...

some are wily and witty such as the take-off of an HSN-type network selling ak-47s...

but this is v-day week and we are promoting our stop violence against women campaign and its recognition by the margaret cuninggim women's center and project safe at vanderbilt so this one isn't cuddly, or cute, or clever, or classical - it is what it is because domestic violence against women is what it is...

so view the video and see what 69 we're talking about...

peace out <3

Amnesty International clip

take action to save women’s lives in guatemala..

it's timely really that just 2 days after learning that our nashville chapter would benefit from this year's v-day production of the vagina monologues at vanderbilt that amnesty international would issue this action alert...

you see the educational focus of this year's nashville v-day event is violence against women in conflict (and post-conflict) zones and the prevalence of violence against women in guatemala today has its roots in historical and cultural values which have maintained women’s subordination and which were most evident during the 36-year internal armed conflict that ended with the signing of the united nations-brokered peace accords in 1996...and of the estimated 200,000 people who "disappeared" or were extra-judicially executed during guatemala’s internal armed conflict, a quarter of the victims were women...

that's synergy...

more than 2,500 women and girls have been brutally murdered in guatemala since 2001 and the killings are rising at an alarming rate...at the same time, actions by the guatemalan government to bring those responsible to justice are insufficient...

a house resolution condemning these brutal killings has been reintroduced in congress by representative hilda solis and may go to the floor for a vote at any time! Urge your representative now to support this resolution »

this resolution:- expresses the sympathy of the house of representatives to the families of women and girls murdered in guatemala, and - encourages the government of guatemala to bring an end to these crimes...(that is, get their freaking heads out of their BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP)...

take this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of women and girls in guatemala. Contact your Representative as soon as possible and ask her/him to sign on to this important resolution » ...

TODAY! - RIGHT NOW - CLICK ABOVE, OKAY?!?!?!?!

peace out <3

local amnesty chapter benefits from vagina monologues...

the #1 mantra for a community organizer??? -- it's all about relationships...

and that really helps explain why amnesty international nashville will be the beneficiary of eve ensler’s award-winning play the vagina monologues presented by project safe of the margaret cuninggim women's center at vanderbilt university...

each year all proceeds proceeds form the v-day production benefit a local organization working to stop violence against women...and this year it's the stop violence against women campaign of the nashville chapter of amnesty international usa...

and the relationship thing i was referring to??? well local activists diba enayat, becky owens, and jennifer kinsey have developed a working relationship with kacy silverstein and vicky basra over at project safe through their work the past 2 years on the take back the night march and rally held in october each year...and it is through this working relationship that amnesty international's stop violence against women's campaign was considered for this very special honor...

because, these $$$ will allow becky (who works with a domestic violence program at the ywca) along with diba to roll-out a model program for working with victims of domestic violence in safe spaces ... woot woot!

the 2007 college campaign production of the vagina monologues takes place february 11, 13, 14 from 7:00 - 09:00 pm at the sarratt student center theater on the vanderbilt campus ... tickets can be purchased for $12 at the sarratt cinema box office (vandy card, cash or check accepted) or by will call at 322-1333...

so our deepest thanks go out to the staff of project safe at the margaret cuninggim women's center at vanderbilt for recognizing the value and integrity of our work!!! oh yeah - and attend the show on either the 11th, 13th, or 14th!!!

peace out <3

monday's video - on the illegality of the iraqi conflict...

here's the video version of lt watada's official public statement ...

conscientious objector or not???

a most interesting individual lurks about as the u.s. senate prepares to debate competing non-binding resolutions regarding the funding for the war in iraq...

based on his belief that the war in Iraq is illegal and immoral, lt. ehren watada is refusing to deploy to iraq...he is being court-martialed by the u.s. military and faces up to 4 years in prison...we in amnesty international believe that a guilty verdict would be a violation of internationally recognized rights to freedom of conscience...

listen to lt. watada's official statement on a you tube video by clicking here...

amnesty international's press release on lt. watada's situation can be read here...

the transcript of an interview with ehren can be found here on kevin site's in the zone blogsite...

what do you think about lt. watada's decision???

peace out <3

$100 billion

President Bush has requested over $100 billion for the war in Iraq for 2007. That's $100 billion not spent on lowering education costs. $100 billion not going to post-Katrina rebuilding. $100 billion not redistributed to our poorest and most disadvantaged citizens. $100 billion not helping to fight the homeless crisis. $100 billion not going to ESL classes or adult education. $100 billion not going to the Sudan, or Haiti, or Serbia, among others. It is $100 billion going to a mismanaged war, which the majority of Americans do not want (and did not want) fought. $100 billion dollars not even going to the families of injured and fallen soldiers who have already paid the price.

America is one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world. What are we doing?

trial of blogger in egypt expands realm of repression...

you all take the right to express yourself through blogging for granted...this should alert you to never take such "simple" rights for granted...and at least imply why amnesty international should be important to you...

Amnesty International today called for the immediate and unconditional release of Karim Amer, the first Egyptian blogger to be tried for writing blogs criticizing Egypt's al-Azhar religious authorities, President Husni Mubarak and Islam.

Karim Amer, a former al-Azhar University student and blogger, is facing up to 10 years in prison for his writings in a trial that resumes today. Charges against him include “spreading information disruptive of public order and damaging to the country’s reputation”, “incitement to hate Islam” and “defaming the President of the Republic”.

"Karim Amer's trial appears intended as a warning by the authorities to other bloggers who dare criticize the government or use their blogs to spread information considered harmful to Egypt’s reputation," said Malcolm Smart, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme. "This is particularly worrying as bloggers have increasingly been posting information about human rights abuses in Egypt, including torture and police violence against peaceful protesters."

The trial opened on 18 January 2007 before Maharram Bek Court in Alexandria. Karim Amer was charged under Articles 102, 176 and 179 of Egypt’s Penal Code. Amnesty International has been urging the Egyptian authorities to review or abolish this and other legislation that, in violation of international standards, stipulates prison sentences for the mere exercise of the rights of freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion."

Amnesty International considers Karim Amer to be a prisoner of conscience who is being prosecuted on account of the peaceful expression of his views about Islam and the al-Azhar religious authorities. We are calling for his immediate and unconditional release."

Background

Karim Amer was first detained by the Egyptian authorities for 12 days in October 2005 because of his writings on his blog (karam903.blogspot.com) about Islam and the sectarian riots which took place in the same month in Alexandria's Maharram Bek district. These riots followed reports that the video of a play believed to be anti-Islam was being screened in a Coptic church in the district.

After he was charged and released, disciplinary measures were taken against him and he was dismissed from al-Azhar University in March 2006. The university's disciplinary board found him guilty of blaspheming Islam.

He was summoned to appear before the office of the Public Prosecutor in Maharram Bek district of the city of Alexandria on 7 November 2006 following a complaint made against him by al-Azhar University. The Public Prosecutor ordered his detention for four days on 7 November, which was later extended for a further 15 days, to allow further time for investigation. He has remained in detention since then following a series of extensions. While in detention, he was kept in solitary confinement and in incommunicado detention and was only allowed visits by his relatives last week.

source: Amnesty International USA

peace out <3

child soldiers use the ak-47...

yesterday we posted a video about the loopholes used by arms dealers to sell their "wares" around the world and the fact that child soldiers are trained to use the ak-47 in the wars they are subjugated to fight in...

now here's a letter from jimmie briggs who wrote "Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go To War," ...

Over the last year and a half, since the publication of my first book, "Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go To War," Amnesty International has been a major supporter, and partner, of mine. In particular, my involvement with the Human Rights Education Program and Artists for Amnesty has allowed me to grow as a journalist, and advocate, in ways I couldn't previously have imagined. The curriculum guide for my book has become a major tool for me to gain access to educational institutions and settings across the country. Whenever I visit a high school or university, the guide is a constant companion to be disseminated as widely as possible. Further, my relationship with Amnesty has provided me with the opportunity to participate in Amnesty-sponsored panels and screenings around issues close to my own interests, including war-affected children and women, arms, conflict resources and gender rights.

It took me a period of eight years to complete the research, reporting and writing of my book. My professional journey to fully capture the experiences of children in war continues, but now I am moving toward a focus on the lives of women and girls, especially when it comes to gender-based violence. Again, Amnesty International continues to provide assistance when asked as well as nurture me as a voice of experience and knowledge on a range of issues.

Being a freelancer, I've gotten quite used to doing things for myself, by myself. Working with Amnesty International and groups like it create vital relationships. Unfortunately, I didn't grow up with a full understanding or exposure to the notion of "human rights." My relationship with Amnesty International is its own education on the concept, and I remain very, very grateful to know the amazing individuals who work there.

Often I'm asked about my "objectivity," or "bias." From my point-of-view, one can't be objective about the individuals exercising their full human rights. I'm a journalist and writer, but I also see my responsibility to educate and advocate for those whose voices aren't heard. Amnesty International helps me do that.

Please check-out the Amnesty International USA website to learn more about how you can take action on a range of issues. Visit the education page of the website to learn about new resources and ways that you can contribute to the HRE program's
work.

In Solidarity,
Jimmie Briggs
Author of Innocents Lost: When Child Soliders Go to War

peace out <3

my father's a salesman ma'am...

oops, sorry, i was buying something over at HSN ...a lovely thing really, ...

well, it's time for our weekly video ... enjoy!


Amnesty International Lord Of War video

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Close to home

I want to tell you a story.

I grew up in a small town in Georgia. The highschool
in this town has a black prom and a white prom. It
has a black homecoming queen and a white homecoming
queen as well as homecoming court.

No one socialized with the latin migrant workers
who came through at periodic times of the year. Their
children did not speak English and were still placed
in the same classrooms as the rest of us, to sit and
learn nothing. They would leave a few weeks later.

My class started out with over 100 students and I
graduated with only 62 other people. At least eight
of them were pregnant. Two, that I can remember,
dropped out due to the pressures of having more than
one child before they were seventeen years old.

These facts alone are not what scares me.

I graduated from high school in 2000. 25 years old is
not old enough to have had the experience of
segregated proms. My mother should not have had
to listen what people were calling me for arguing for
gay rights and special education for ESL students. My
best friend's three year old son should not
automatically be the son of a whore simply because he
can claim two races.

That scares me.

We are only as strong as our weakest communities.
And South Georgia is not the only haven for racism,
high drop-out rates, teen pregnancy, non-existant
health care, and ignorance.

It's a silent epidemic that can't be relegated to the
most unseen corners of the south. So, people in
Tennessee can take some measure of comfort in knowing
that they are not alone in their societal problems.

Ok, now it's time to stop commiserating, stop
justifying, and start DOING SOMETHING.

way to go larry...

larry cox became the new executive director of amnesty international usa in april of last year succeeding bill schultz who served for 10 years...having most recently come from the ford foundation you might not expect him to be he fireball that he is...

so last week charles stimson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for detainee affairs made some disparaging and uncivil remarks regarding attorneys that represent detainees at the guantánamo bay detention center and regarding international calls for the center's closure...

larry cox didn't waste a minute in firing back and challenging the anti-american values being promoted by the current u.s. administration...

"Stimson's remarks could not have been more irresponsible. Referring to the international outrage at the U.S.-controlled detention center at Guantánamo Bay as nothing more than a few small demonstrations staged by Amnesty International is not only wrong but extremely disrespectful. After the U.S. government has been rebuked by world leaders, including leaders from allied countries, two U.N. committees, faith leaders, and people of conscience around the world, it is incredible that anyone would believe that the outrage about Guantánamo rests only with Amnesty International activists. Amnesty International has worked with other human rights organizations, legal associations, faith communities and international bodies in opposing U.S. policies in Guantánamo and will continue to do so as one of a cacophony of voices calling for its closure.

"Attacking attorneys who take their time, without recompense, to defend the human rights of people who have been subject to indefinite and arbitrary detention by the U.S. government distracts from the human rights violations that continue to be committed in Guantánamo Bay. Amnesty International stands with the attorneys who are dedicated to protecting the internationally recognized rights of all people in custody, and recognizes them as human rights defenders committed to upholding the rule of law.

"Rather than attack the law firms that have courageously and zealously fought for the most fundamental rights for their clients, such as the right to have their detention reviewed by an independent court, Mr. Stimson should spend his time working to bring the United States back into the community of civilized nations that does not imprison people without charge, without hope and without end."

peace out <3

demand the relese of mesfin woldemariam...

seventy-six year old retired geography professor and prominent human rights defender, mesfin woldemariam, is being detained under harsh conditions and suffers from pneumonia...he is being held in connection with demonstrations against alleged election fraud in ethiopia...

SPEAK OUT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS!

Please send politely worded letters to Ethiopia's Prime Minister, urging him to bring about the immediate and unconditional release of Mesfin Woldemariam and all those imprisoned solely for the legitimate exercise of their right to freedom of expression. Encourage him to take measures to ensure that human rights defenders, opposition political parties, and independent journalists are free to carry out their activities without arbitrary detention or other reprisals.

Write to:

His Excellency
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
Office of the Prime Minister
PO Box 1031
Addis Ababa
ETHIOPIA

Fax: 011-251-11-552020
Airmail postage: 84 cents

You can use our sample letter as a guide (PDF MS Word), but please be encouraged to add your own thoughts.

peace out <3

no one knows what it's like...

i think monday should become video day - what do you think??? here's installment one in the conveyance of this new social contract...

Amnesty international awareness

Enabling the Homeless?

This is what I heard on the Nashville news yesterday. The Metro Council and the police department are issuing statements strongly discouraging individuals from giving money to the homeless. And not just money, but food, blankets and any other gifts that might alleviate their suffering for a moment, because it encourages them to beg instead of taking action to get themselves off the streets. 
     So are we enabling the homeless to continue being homeless? By buying a man a burger are we encouraging him not to seek help from the Rescue Mission or other official homeless shelters? Are we the root of the homeless problem? 

No

    That is the same logic that says: " If we provide translation services for immigrants they won't actually learn English. It doesn't have anything to do with the lack of affordable, convenient, well-staffed and well-equipped ESL classes. Or the fact that English is difficult to learn" or: "Wellfare just encourages people to stay poor. Poverty doesn't have anything to do with how hard it is to actually get good jobs, or affordable housing, health-care, child-care, education, electricity, car insurance, or decent public transportation."
    Perpetuating fear is not a solution. It is well known that some people do cheat the system, whether it is through voluntary homelessness, fraudelant welfare or any other.  What is NOT well known is the sheer volume of people who simply cannot get their feet under them.  Is it worth sacrificing our compassion to make sure that people who do not deserve it don't receive it? What message are we sending?
  Unfortunately, the metro council and the police department have sent the message loud and clear.  And it is not "help the homeless help themselves" as they would have us believe, but rather "do not encourage the homeless to be seen on the gracious streets of Nashville."  Because a problem is not our problem if we don't have to look at it.

let us install a darfur photo exhibit in your faith community...

"It was early in the morning, people were sleeping. About 400 armed people cordoned the village, with military uniforms, the same ones worn by the army… Some were shot and others, such as children and the elderly, were burned alive in their houses."

- A villager of Murli (Darfur)

this is part of the narrative that accompanies the photo exhibit yesterday my village was burned produced by amnesty international to highlight the human nature of the genocide taking place in darfur, sudan...

these photos and testimonies, collected by amnesty international, reveal a nightmare that one can only begin to comprehend...while they depict the gravest of suffering, the photos also portray the best of humanity — the extraordinary courage and strength of the people of darfur as they look towards a more hopeful future...

the photo exhibit allows us a window through which we see that children have been killed, tortured, and forcibly displaced...of the 6.5 million people living in darfur, at least 2.8 million have been directly affected by the ongoing violence and tens of thousands of people have lost their lives...

the nashville chapter of amnesty international has the full series mounted on foam board and available to be installed in your church, synagogue, mosque, other places of worship, schools, or offices...we have fact sheets, petitions, actions, reports to supplement the exhibit and empower your community members to make a difference...

call us at 615-473-2950 or e-mail us at aiusa149@bellsouth.net to find out how to get the photo exhibit installed today...

peace out <3

an extraordinary gift from yoko ono...

you know there are many artists who sell their music rights to corporations for the big bucks (the doors being a noticeable exception to this trend)...and when my activist friend steve earle's song the revolution starts now became a chevy truck song i nearly s__t my pants (but with all due respect his alimony obligations are way out there and he's dome tremendous things for the anti-war, anti-death penalty, and ban the landmine movements)...

however one notable exception led to amnesty international usa creating the make some noise campaign...

yoko gave the recording rights to “imagine” and john lennon’s entire solo songbook to amnesty international to utilize for is human rights work...through this amazingly selfless gift amnesty international is harnessing the power of music to inspire a new generation to stand up for human rights...

you rock yoko - oh yes you do...so check out our hommage to john right now...

the aim to attract one million new supporters worldwide... not by talking about the past, tugging on the heartstrings, or show images of suffering, but by making a positive impact on our world and collectively raise all our voices to make as much noise as we can for human rights....

so check out music by afroreggae, the black eyed peas, dobacaracol, jaguares, k-os, maroon 5, snow patrol, the cure, the postal service, and more...

check out a free video from the us vs john lennon...exclusive lennon covers, artist videos and opportunities to make an impact, it's time to inspire a new generation to stand up for human rights...

make some noise today!

peace out <3

amnesty international speaks out in the tennessean on tasers...

so this was very cool...i've been working out of the atlanta office of amnesty international for georgians for alternatives to the death penalty for a few weeks, you know, commuting back and forth...

and so i'm hanging around with the great staffpeople at the southern regional office, getting to know them a little bit and one of those people is jared feuer who has been the director of that office for about 17 months (or so)...

and i went on line to the tennessean this morning and what did i find??? well, the opinion page topic was the use of tasers by police and lo and behold one of the opinion piece writers was... drum roll please... jared feuer!!!

if you click right here you can read jared's entire (concise) piece...i'm so proud of my family members!

peace out<3

come gather ye all...

we're just average people with jobs and families, pressures and bills, but we also have dreams and hopes that once a month, in nashville, bring us together to evaluate what we've done, monitor what we're doing, and plan what our next steps will be...always with a common vision:

a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights and other international human rights standards...

we are the local members of amnesty international the largest and most effective grassroots human rights organization in the world...a worldwide movement of people who campaign for human rights, whose work is based on careful research and on the standards agreed by the international community, that is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion....

amnesty international mobilizes volunteer activists — people who give freely of their time, like us, and energy in solidarity with those whose rights have been abused...

we believe that human rights are interdependent and indivisible – all human rights should be enjoyed by all people at all times, and no one set of rights can be enjoyed at the expense of other rights...

locally our members focus on the stop violence against women campaign, oppose abuses related to the "war on terror", and denounce torture which continues to permeate our world today...

we'd like you to come and join us...we meet the 3rd monday of each month at the atlanta bread company at 1720 west end avenue at 6:00 pm for about an hour...the next meeting is january 15th, the day we commemorate the life and work of dr. martin luther king, jr...

peace out <3

keeping the pressure on...

so if you have a cut that's bleeding and doesn't clot on its own you place a "bandage" on it and continue to apply pressure, strong pressure, until the bleeding continues...

and so it goes with the crisis in darfur which has been referred to as genocide by no less than the u.s. government...

so on tuesday january 9th amnesty international is kicking off the new year by taking our call for security in darfur straight to president bush’s doorstep...with a vigil in front of the white house to deliver tens of thousands of petitions to tell president bush to do everything in his power to get u.n. boots on the ground in darfur...

so sign the petition today...

and if you have friends in or near washington d.c. send them this link and ask them to go...

peace out <3

panel recommends new jersey abolish the death penalty...

On 2 January 2007, the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission – set up by the state legislature in 2006 to study all aspects of capital punishment in New Jersey – released its final report. The 13-member Commission had held five public hearings between July and October 2006 at which it heard evidence from a variety of witnesses. Its report recommends abolition of the death penalty and its replacement with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. It further recommends that any cost savings resulting from abolition be used to assist the families of murder victims. The County Prosecutors’ Association of New Jersey has concurred with the recommendations. The Commission’s findings include the following:

• There is no compelling evidence that the New Jersey death penalty rationally serves a legitimate penological intent.
  
  Deterrence. The Commission noted that in the 24 years since the death penalty was reinstated in New Jersey in 1982, there had been 455 defendants who were eligible for the death penalty. Of these 228 were subjected to capital trials and 60 were sentenced to death. There have been no executions, and the majority of death sentences have been overturned on appeal, leaving nine people currently on death row. The Commission noted that "the measurement of any deterrent effect based on such miniscule percentages is fraught with difficulty". It also noted that "many murders are not planned in advance but are committed impulsively or in a sudden outburst of rage". Finally, it noted that "as a practical matter, the length of time that convicted murderers in New Jersey serve on death row argues against the usefulness of the death penalty as a deterrent".
  
  Retribution and Incapacitation. The Commission said that its members were divided about whether retribution is an appropriate penological goal. Of those who believed it to be appropriate, some felt that this goal could be met by imprisonment while others believed that it was "trumped by the serious problems with the death penalty". Some argued that executing offenders permanently prevents them from committing further violence. However, they "recognized that life imprisonment without the possibility of parole similarly incapacitates an individual from committing further acts of violence outside the prison context".
  


• There is increasing evidence that the death penalty is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency.
  
  The Commission noted evidence of a trend against the death penalty in the USA, including the moratorium on executions in force in Illinois since 2000; the striking down of New York’s death penalty statute by its Court of Appeals in 2004 and the state legislature’s failure to reinstate it; abolition bills introduced in the legislatures of 10 states over the past two years; and the recent decline in death sentencing both in New Jersey and nationally.
  


• Abolition of the death penalty will eliminate the risk of disproportionality in capital sentencing.
  
  The Commission found that "there may not be a significant difference in the crimes of those selected for the punishment of death as opposed to those who receive life in prison". It noted that the effectiveness of the state Supreme Court’s system of proportionality review had been questioned, including from within its own ranks. After considering such evidence, the Commission concluded that "despite the best efforts of the State, the risk remains that similar murder cases are being treated differently in the death penalty context thereby elevating the probability that the death penalty is being administered ‘freakishly’ and arbitrarily. Given the finality of the punishment of death, this risk is unacceptable".
  


• The penological interest in executing a small number of persons guilty of murder is not sufficiently compelling to justify the risk of making an irreversible mistake.
  
  The Commission considered the numerous cases of wrongful convictions in capital cases around the USA and in non-capital cases in New Jersey. It heard testimony from a number of witnesses, including a man who had spent 18 years in New Jersey prison for rape and murder before being exonerated on the basis of DNA testing. The Commission also noted the unreliability of witness identification, and heard testimony from a rape survivor whose mistaken identification of her attacker had led to a wrongful conviction in North Carolina.
  


• The alternative of life imprisonment in a maximum security institution without the possibility of parole would sufficiently ensure public safety and address other legitimate social and penological interests, including the interests of the families of murder victims.
  
  The Commission heard testimony from family members of murder victims and other witnesses; the "overwhelming majority" testified that, in their opinion, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole "is the appropriate alternative to the death penalty". In concluding, the Commission stated that it agreed with the words of one of the witnesses – the father of a murder victim – "who stated that the non-finality of death penalty appeals hurts victims, drains resources and creates a false sense of justice".
  
  ~~~~~~
  
  Amnesty International welcomes the New Jersey Commission’s recommendation to abolish the death penalty, a punishment which the organization has long opposed.(1) The death penalty is a destructive, diversionary and divisive public policy that offends widely held values – today, 128 countries are abolitionist in law or practice. It not only runs the risk of irrevocable error, it is also costly – to the public purse, as well as in social and psychological terms (the Commission found that "the costs of the death penalty are greater than the costs of life in prison without parole", and that "intangible emotional and psychological costs must also be taken into consideration"). Capital justice tends to be marked by arbitrariness, and discrimination on grounds of race and class.(2) The death penalty denies the possibility of reconciliation and rehabilitation. It promotes simplistic responses to complex human problems, rather than pursuing explanations that could inform positive strategies. It prolongs the suffering of the murder victim’s family, and extends that suffering to the loved ones of the condemned prisoner. It diverts resources that could be better used to work against violent crime and assist those affected by it. It is a symptom of a culture of violence, not a solution to it. It is an affront to human dignity. As the Commission has concluded, it should be abolished. Amnesty International urges the New Jersey legislature and executive to maintain a moratorium on executions pending abolition. The organization will continue to work against the death penalty across the USA and the rest of the world.

originally posted here...

peace out <3

on executing one ot the worst of the worst...

from the diaries of the tennessee dude...

so i watched the video - one time and one time only - disgusting, saddening, disturbing, and thought provoking...

let's get this part out of the way - saddam hussein was a tyrant and murderer of the worst sort, no doubt about that...only holocaust deniers might argue otherwise and well...

but i ask - does such a spectacle with jeering, chanting, and chaos distance the rest of humanity from the actions of saddam?...my opinion should be clear - absolutely not...

the vatican's official newspaper decried the images of saddam's hanging as a "spectacle", violating human rights and harming efforts to promote reconciliation in iraq...italy, a rotating member of the um security council, announced a diplomatic push at the un for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty, following a wave of denunciations across europe over the execution...

supporters of moqtada al-sadr, the radical shiite cleric and militia leader, taunted saddam as he stood on the gallows...this type of testosterone driven action seems to have been in the minority as far as i can investigate...

arab commentators have condemned the execution nearly across the board...granted, many of them live in sunni muslim dominated states...but their anger seems to be focused upon the (intentional?) timing of saddam's killing - on the eve of the muslim feast of the sacrifice (ironic?)...but apparently sunni muslims start this holiday a day prior to shiites so saddam was actually killed during and nor before the holiday began...

many argue that the timing merely exacerbates the sectarian divisions within iraq making the political situation even more unstable...

i think that one interviewee got it right..."saddam had become irrelevent - this only increases his martyr potential,"...

great! i think i'll close with and stick by human rights watch's richard dicker on this one, "The test of a government's commitment to human rights is measured by the way it treats its worst offenders. History will judge these actions harshly."

no matter, the death penalty remains a torn and tattered policy tool...it's own death is coming to meet its makers...

one only hopes...peace out <3

Mama's in the fact'ry
She ain't got no shoes
Daddy's in the alley
He's lookin' for the fuse
I'm in the streets
With the tombstone blues

a lot of human rights victories in 2006...

in reflecting back on 2006 i'd have to say that it was a year marked by many key successes both here in the united states and abroad...and as an active volunteer activist with amnesty international you helped make it all possible by becoming members, writing letters, doing public education by hosting movie screenings and dvd viewings, marching to stop violence against women, lobbying c0ngresspersons and senators, attending trainings, and organizing meetings...

these are just a few of the things you helped accomplish last year:

• LGBT NGO's granted consultative status at the UN...


• Mikalay Astreyka was conditionally released from prison in November...


• Helen Berhane, a well-known Christian evangelical singer, was released from captivity in Eritrea...


• On September 1, U.S. District Judge Raner Collins dismissed the case against humanitarian aid workers Shanti Sellz and Daniel Strauss. Sellz and Strauss had been charged with transporting undocumented migrants after providing assistance to three men found in apparently life-threatening condition in the Arizona desert last July...


• Guantánamo detainee, Murat Kurnaz has been released!


• Honduran prisoners of conscience Marcelino Miranda, Leonardo Miranda, and Feliciano Pineda Freed ...


• On August 7th Amnesty International held ceasefire vigils around the world to show solidarity with victims and survivors on both sides of the conflict between Israel and Hizbulluh...


• Vermont Passes Law to Protect Women in Prison from Custodial Sexual Misconduct ...


• 115 Members of Congress Sign Letter Condemning Violence against Women in Guatemala ...


• U.S. Legislation Condemns Murders of Women in Chihuahua, Mexico...


• Prisoner of Conscience Hojjatoleslam Ezimi Qedimi is "Very Grateful" to Urgent Action
  ... "I am very grateful for the campaign which Amnesty started for my sake. I heard about the action while I was imprisoned. After I was released I saw letters while I was being interrogated by the security service. Your letters meant very much to me." ...


• Prisoner of Conscience Gurbandurdy Durdykuliev has been released!...


• Hu Jia, Prominent HIV/AIDS Activist, has been released! ...


• 5 Human Rights Defenders Released without Charge by Sudanese Security Forces ...


• Prisoner of Conscience Cheam Channy Released in Cambodia ...


• Prisoner of Conscience Gérard Jean-Juste has been released! ...


• Mamun al-Humsi has been released! ...


• Death Penalty Moratorium/Study Bill Passes in New Jersey ...


• Violence Against Women Act is Renewed ...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

for more details click here...

peace out <3

united nations attacks pernicious human rights violation...

so you're an isolationist, bircher, or neocon who thinks that the u.n. is a useless bureaucracy huh???

well consider the terror generated by state sanctioned, forced "disappearances"... this tactic was once in widespread use (70's and 80's) moreso in latin america than other geopolitical battlegrounds...the recent death of former chilean dictator augusto pinochet stirs memories of the caravan of death that roamed the country after the 1973 coup kidnapping and executing political prisoners and burying them in unmarked graves...

but the irony of the new terror becomes evident when the u.n. general assembly adopted a major new human rights treaty on december 21st: the international convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance..

enforced disappearances have recently emerged as an unlawful means in pursuing the so-called "war on terror"...the treaty is a response to all enforced disappearances, including those occurring in the form of renditions and holding people in secret places of detention...

which leads us to the movement to close down the torture camp that is guantanamo bay...according to amnesty international:

Despite a major international outcry and expert condemnation of US government policy, hundreds of people of around 35 different nationalities remain held in a legal black hole at the US Naval Base in Guantánamo Bay in Cuba, many without access to any court, legal counsel or family visits. Denied their rights under international law and held in conditions which may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the detainees face severe psychological distress. There have been numerous suicide attempts.

As more evidence surfaces that the abuse of Guantánamo detainees has been widespread, it is ever more urgent to end the plight of the detainees. US authorities must bring all detainees to trial, in full accordance with international law and standards, or else release them immediately and unconditionally.

no, of course the u.n. is no panacea for the world's disputes and ills but having a forum of dialogue where nations can come together and struggle in a place other than the battle field - traditional or otherwise - is vital to creating mechanisms for peaceful resolutions rather than, say, nuclear ones...

kudos to the u.n. general assembly for creating a much needed international human rights treaty...

peace out <3

diamond dealers need to connect dots...

no doubt you've read about the movie blood diamonds (watch the trailer here) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, and Jennifer Connelly...and it is a relevent issue as today many hundreds of thousands of diamonds are given as gifts on a day used to mark the birthdate of jesus of nazareth...

is the irony clear to you...if not consider that blood diamonds are more generally referred to as conflict diamonds...and what are they??? according to amnesty international:

Some diamonds have helped fund devastating civil wars in Africa, destroying the lives of millions. Conflict diamonds are those sold in order to fund armed conflict and civil war. Profits from the trade in conflict diamonds, worth billions of dollars, were used by warlords and rebels to buy arms during the devastating wars in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sierra Leone. Wars that have cost an estimated 3.7 million lives.

While the wars in Angola and Sierra Leone are now over, and fighting in the DRC has decreased, the problem of conflict diamonds hasn't gone away. Diamonds mined in rebel-held areas in Côte d'Ivoire, a West African country in the midst of a volatile conflict, are reaching the international diamond market. Conflict diamonds from Liberia are also being smuggled into neighboring countries and exported as part of the legitimate diamond trade.

in the end it is innocent civilians who suffer the worst consequences of the bloody wars financed through unscrupulously mined, processed, traded, and purchased (hello zales, jared, kay. et. al.) diamond rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants etc...

a major milestone occurred in 2003, when a government-run initiative known as the kimberley process was introduced to stem the flow of conflict diamonds...but in the end the process was and remains a fox guarding the chicken coop scheme...

does this mean you shouldn't buy any diamonds??? well no, but you should know how to hold retailers accountable, first by reading the buyer's guideline, understand how jewelers keep consumers in the dark, better understand the history and context of the issue in human rights context by reading this article by greg campbell, and most importantly understand how little jewelers and their employees know about the source of and bloody consequences of profteering from blood diamionds...

so go see the movie and if you feel the need to own a diamond be a consumer with a human rights heart - especially think about that today, christmas day...

peace out <3

stop violence against women: creative cross petition for juárez and guatemala...

**note: this action will continue through the spring of 2007...

the day of the dead is a major commemoration in mexico and guatemala during which families celebrate their ancestors by visiting and sprucing up grave sites, welcoming the souls of the dead into their homes with altars and offerings of flowers and food, and engaging in other festivities...

during the fall of 2006**, thousands of amnesty international activists helped commemorate the day of the dead by participating in a "cross petition" by creating and signing crosses protesting the murders of women in juárez/chihuahua and in guatemala and calling on the mexican and guatemalan governments to take steps to end the femicides...

amnesty activists from around the country took part, sending crosses from places as far apart as california, massachusetts, illinois, missouri, new york, and georgia...0n november 2nd, activists held vigils and delivered the crosses to consulates and embassies of both countries, where they met with officials...activists from highschools, to colleges, to individual members sent some 3000 crosses to the washington, dc office alone on day of the dead, and more than a thousand have come in since...in most of the meetings, officials were welcoming, and acknowledged that femicides are a serious problem...however, amnesty international wants to send a clear message that the issue is still a priority, and you can help make this action even more successful than it has already been by continuing to create and send crosses through spring 2007...

to get more information on how to participate in this creative action click here for english and click here for spanish...

peace out <3

middle tennesseans take action against torture in january...

january 11th will mark the five-year anniversary of the arrival of the first guantanamo bay prisoners...this date stands as a symbol of attempts to end protections of justice and humane treatment by the united states...

amnesty international members hold a vigil or rally in front of courthouses and other visible locations such as town squares and campuses across the country. ..the vigils will be to demand that the u.s. government end this dark chapter in u.s. history by closing the facilities in guantanamo bay and disclosing the rest of the detention centers...in addition to events across the country and around the world, there will be a press conference and rally in front of the u.s. supreme court...

did you know that despite a major international outcry and expert condemnation of u.s. government policy, hundreds of people of around 35 different nationalities remain held in a legal black hole at the u.s. naval base in guantánamo bay in cuba, many without access to any court, legal counsel or family visits...denied their rights under international law and held in conditions which may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, the detainees face severe psychological distress...and that there have been numerous suicide attempts...

to get more information on the human rights scandal referred to as guantanamo bay click here...

for information on united states government obligations under international law click here...

to read the indepth report guantánamo - an icon of lawlessness click here...

to join us on january 1th here in middle tennessee e-mail us here...

peace out <3

nashville activists write to prisoners of conscience...

because, as we say, "lest they not believe that they have been forgotten,"...

back in november we signed up to participate in amnesty international's annual write-a-thon which takes place on or near december 10th every year - international human rights day ... we pledged to write 40 letters that day to prisoners of conscience or people, regardless of their actions, who are the targets of human rights violations...

on thursday december 12th rosa and i met at jj's market near vanderbilt and between the 2 of us wrote nearly 50 holiday cards of hope...local member betsy asked for the addresses of the prisoners of conscience who had been targted to receive cards so we believe that we wrote at least 60 cards matching our pledge and then another 50% ... and maybe more!

we sent cards to 25 of the men on tennessee's death row as well as the people whose cases are mentioned here...

what did you do???

peace out <3

too flawed to fix...

after the botched lethal injection execution of angel diaz in florida last week and a federal u.s. district court ruling in california calling lethal injection "intolerable" it is time to abandon the search for an 'ideal' way to extinguish a human life and focus instead on developing genuine solutions to crime...

Call to Action: Speak Out Against Lethal Injections!...

Amnesty International USA Response to U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel's Ruling Deeming California's Lethal Injection Procedure "Intolerable"

(Washington, DC) – Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn, Director of Amnesty International USA's Program to Abolish the Death Penalty, issued the following statement in response to U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel's ruling that California's lethal injection procedure represents "an undue and unnecessary risk" of a violation of the constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment:

"Judge Fogel's ruling comes at a time when numerous states across the country are encountering significant legal challenges to the constitutionality of their respective lethal injection methods. Earlier today, in the wake of a horribly botched execution, Florida Governor Jeb Bush created a Commission on Administration of Lethal Injection to examine the constitutionality of that state's lethal injection protocol.

"While Judge Fogel's ruling chastises California for continuing to administer a procedure that 'lacks both reliability and transparency,' the flaws that taint the state's death penalty system go well beyond the specifics of its executing mechanism. It is plagued by racial bias and there remains the very real possibility of executing an innocent person. California officials should not waste the state's valuable resources trying to 'perfect' the apparatus of death. Instead, they should unequivocally reject the death penalty, which is both futile and irreparably flawed, and focus instead on developing genuine solutions to crime. The continuing search for an 'ideal' way to extinguish a human life is no sign of a humane, evolved society. California can and must do better."

peace out <3

nashvegas' take back the night recap...

on october 23rd amnesty international members in nashville participated in the annual take back the night rally and march as part of local activists commitment to the international stop violence against women campaign...

in particular a shout out goes to amnesty international members jennifer kinsey, diba enayat, and becky owens for giving their time and energy to advance preparations and representing aiusa in the event...diba is tennessee's stop violence aganst women campaign coordinator...

here's diba's summary of the events that night - photos from the night can be viewed here ... if you're not an amnesty member become one today!!!

peace out <3

Amnesty International had a table set up and there was a pretty good turnout so a lot of people stopped by our table and took information. Then they had a speaker, Byron Hurt, the director of "Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes." He spoke about the role that men have in stopping violence against women. After his speech, we marched from the Olin field, where we were, to the Centennial Park pavilion they had designated. As we marched, we yelled chants promoting stopping violence against women. When we reached the pavilion, there was an open mic. This was probably the most powerful part of the night. Some incredibly brave women stood up and told very personal stories about their experiences with sexual violence. It was incredible to see such a range of women from different backgrounds come together for one cause--they ranged from former prostitutes to students.

Surrounding the pavilion and also the olin feild was a clothesline with a t-shirt hanging for every woman who has lost her life to domestic violence. It was a pretty powerful visual image. Overall, I think the march went well--it really does play a role in healing for those women who have survived gender-based violence by showing them that they are not alone and really helps men understand the impact that gender based violence has on women and how we can all come together for this cause.

holiday cards that change lives...

tonight in nashville members and friends of amnesty international will gather to write their most significant holiday cards of the season...

each year during the winter holidays, amnesty international asks its members to send messages of support to prisoners of conscience and their families around the world...holidays can mean little to those who fear they've been forgotten by the world...a simple greeting card brings them renewed hope...

the prisoners and human rights defenders featured here need your support...please let them know they are not forgotten...

write to them in your living room from ANYWHERE in the world just by clicking here ...

it may be the most significant thing you do this holiday season...

peace out <3

outraged and heartbroken...

...is an apt way to describe how i felt after viewing the independent film osama on international human rights day december 10th...

osama is the first film made in afghanistan since the rise and fall of the taliban, and it shows that hope is a rare commodity there...the protagonists, a 12 year-old girl (marina olbahari) and her mother, lose their jobs at a local hospital when the taliban shuts it down..as the family's father and brother are dead and women are not allowed unescorted in the streets, they have little choice but to try and pass off the little girl as a boy and get her a job....

the young girl gets work in a tea shop, but merely walking through the streets to get to work and speaking to customers cause her deep anxiety...it gets worse when the taliban round up all the young boys -- including our heroine -- and shuttle them to a training center....a street thief knows her secret and tries to help her blend in, but her feminine looks soon betray her...

as i viewed the film i often had no more idea of what's going on than our hero does, which increases the film's sense of danger and fear...

osama is also unafraid to be brutal, showing matter-of-factly the strange and unkind justice that goes on in afghanistan...it can be shocking and difficult to take at times...remembering the terrified look on the young girl's face left me acknowledging deeply that we're all human...each and every one...

it's a must see...

peace out <3

p.s. special thanks to jeff anderson for sharing his words with me via the internet...

join the 16 days of activism against gender violence...

the 16 days of activism against gender violence is a global campaign running from nov. 25th through dec. 10th....amnesty international's theme this year is "16 shelters for 16 days," stressing the importance of creating safe and secure shelters for women fleeing violence....this is linked to amnesty's ongoing campaign to stop violence against women ...

here in music city usa our local chapter will hold a screening of OSAMA on december 10th as our action during this 16 days of international action...for information on this free public event click here ...

there is an easy action you can take as part of the 16 days of activism against gender violence by clicking on this link - you can't control the actions of others but you can take action - so please do it today...

peace out <3

a letter on world aids day...support hr 5674

i received this letter to take action on world aids day ... and i did ... you should too!

Dear Randy,

In commemoration of World AIDS Day this year, call on your Representative to support the Protection Against Transmission of HIV for Women and Youth Act of 2006 (HR 5674).

This legislation can help to address specific factors that leave women and girls at an increased risk of HIV infection - including sexual violence, economic disempowerment, and lack of access to information on HIV prevention.

Amnesty International believes that human rights-based policies should be at the center of all responses to HIV and AIDS, and that gender-specific strategies to address the particular vulnerabilities of women and girls are essential to effectively combat HIV and AIDS worldwide.

Sending best wishes,

Vienna Coluccion
on behalf of AIUSA's HIV and AIDS project
www.amnestyusa.org/hiv_aid

see the critically acclaimed OSAMA december 10th...

Presents

Osama

In order to save her family a 12-year-old Afghan girl disguises herself as a boy named Osama. As Osama, she embarks on an incredible journey to keep the Taliban from finding out her true identity. Based on a true story, this movie examines the lives of the Afghan people while under the Taliban’s control and highlights problems still in existence after the end of the Taliban rule.

Sunday, December 10, 2006
7:30PM

Nashville Peace and Justice Center
1016 18th Ave S


For more information you can contact
Amanda Van Doorn
tel: 319-215-6605

amandavandoorn@hotmail.com
www.aiusa149.blogspot.com
www.amnestyusa.org

TO SAVE HER FAMILY A GIRL MUST BECOME A BOY.

HER STORY IS TRUE.

HER NAME IS

OSAMA.

take action to save women's lives in guatemala...

the killings of women and girls in guatemala are rising at an alarming rate yet actions by the guatemalan government to bring those responsible to justice are insufficient...a house resolution condemning these brutal killings has been introduced by representatives burton (r-in), lee (d-ca), lantos (d-ca), solis (d-ca) and engel (d-ny) urging both the united states and guatemalan governments to do more to bring an end to this human rights scandal (h.res.1081)...urge your representative to sign on to this important resolution...

Take action »

Maratón de Cartas 2006...

Del 8 al 10 de Diciembre, 2006

English

Únete a nosotros – miles de miembros de Amnistía Internacional (AI), agrupaciones y amigos alrededor del mundo – para participar en el Maratón de Cartas de AI. Este evento de solidaridad internacional conmemora el Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos. El año pasado, activistas de Amnistía Internacional en más de treinta países escribieron cartas durante este evento. Las cartas y postales enviadas por los participantes tuvieron un impacto en la vida de muchos individuos, ayudaron a detener actos violentos en contra de mujeres y contribuyeron a la liberación de Prisioneros de Conciencia alrededor del mundo.

Este año, tu puedes participar y ayudar a aquellas personas que más lo necesitan. Solo necesitas decidirte a escribir cartas y postales. Elige casos y acciones urgentes para escribir cartas y postales en pro de personas que se encuentran en riesgo de abuso a sus derechos humanos.

Participa Ya

Ayúdanos a alcanzar nuestra meta de 50, 000 cartas organizando un maratón de cartas en tu comunidad. Nosotros te proveeremos con toda la información y recursos (en inglés) que tu necesitas para tener un evento exitoso.Registra tu evento en la
página en Inglés »

¿Qué puedes esperar cuando registres tu evento?

Al registrar tu evento en la página en inglés, tendrás a tu disposición varios recursos en inglés que harán que tu evento sea un éxito. Te ayudaremos, paso por paso, a organizar, promocionar e implementar tu maratón de cartas y te enseñaremos como motivar a tus amigos y familiares a escribir cartas y promocionar tu evento local en la página de eventos de AIUSA (opcional). Entérate de los recursos a tu disposición y cómo tu maratón de cartas te puede ayudar no sólo a afectar positivamente la vida de otros en riesgo de violaciones de derechos humanos, sino también fortalecer tu grupo, conocer nuevos amigos y divertirte.

¡Inscribete para participar en el maratón ahora! (En inglés)

the buck stops here - help darfurians now...

so even if there are millions and millions of useless blogs out there i still have to love "the blog" - wanna know yyyyyyyy???

otherwise jonah and i never hook-up (no you perverts - not that way) and i never get to share with you the darfur wall ...

see, some say that all things being equal (or accounted for) the simplest explanation (answer) is usually right (it's why you go with your first instinct" on multiple choice questions i guess) ... and that goes for organizing too - make things simple for people, offer them pathways to succeed, and your chances for success increase many fold - i think ...

now you all surely know about the human rights crisis that is darfur but if not click here for an overview and here for some context...

anyways, so jonah writes the tn_dude and says, "I develop and run a web site called The Darfur Wall -- http://darfurwall.org-- which raises money for four Darfur relief organizations in a unique way:by asking 400,000 people to donate $1 each...."

here's the summary:

"400,000 dark numbers cover the 40 panels of The Darfur Wall, eachrepresenting a person killed in Darfur. By donating $1 or more, you can light a number, turning it from dark gray to brilliant white. As we lightthe wall, we acknowledge the importance of each life lost, we cast light upon a tragedy too many have ignored, and we overcome one barrier to peace."

everyone has a buck - so if you've got a buck (and i know that you do) help support Doctors Without Borders ... Save the Children ... Save Darfur ... Sudan Aid Fund / Eric Reeves

click here now!!!

peace out <3

am i buggin' ya???

"i don't mean to bug ya,"...

it's my fav bono stage jabber from rattle and hum - so bono-esque...

and here's my point...in the u.s. conservatives have been using the same-sex marriage initiative to drive voter turnout, playing up homophobia and aggressively promoting sexual orientation discrimination - this is one aspect of an active anti-human rights agenda and is something that we in amnesty international oppose ... no one should suffer discrimination and be disenfranchised from their rights based on sexual orientation (i'll set aside the hypocrisy of this "movement" for another day)...

but it's worldwide - not just here in the united states...

on september 8, the ugandan newspaper red pepper published a list of 13 women they claim are lesbians...homosexuality is a criminal offence in uganda, and amnesty international believes that making such allegations against these women may put them in danger...the article called for people to name other women suspected of being lesbians in order to ''rid our motherland of the deadly vice,"...

click here to call on the president of uganda to ensure that incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against lesbians and gay men is forbidden...

peace out <3

give 45 seconds to sign the pledge...

before leaving washington, the last congress passed the "military commissions act of 2006", which disregards america's deep human rights tradition and gives the administration the power to detain people indefinitely without charge or trial and even allows the use of evidence obtained by cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment..the next congress must begin by reversing the dangerous provisions of that act and actively reaffirming america's commitment to human rights...because the violations of human rights by our government have been so profound, the steps needed to reclaim the american we believe in must be equally far-reaching..we want to collect 500,000 signatures on the america i believe in pledge to show the new congress that it's time to change the course on human rights..your signature will help leverage the human rights agenda to reclaim the america we believe in...

Sign the pledge »

send letters of hope...

it's the time of year when marketeers push our trained and ingrained consumerism buttons and we send out holiday cards by the dozens, thousands, neigh millions...

as you send out cards this holiday season, remember the courageous human rights defenders who have put their lives on the line to help others and those imprisoned solely for their deeply-held convictions...

remember the brothers and sisters of a better world that you've yet to and may never meet...

let them know that they are not forgotten...

peace out <3