this is not your mother's oldsmobile...

yesterday we were joined by my colleague and friend nograysunflowers who is teaching english in the land of the midnight sun for the summer semester and look forward to her continuing contribution to the conversation...

so amnesty international has sections in some 150 different countries, like japan, so we can check in through he amnesty international usa web site, select japan from the select a country menu under the heading what's going on where in the upper right corner and you'll learn that...

Elections in September increased the majority of the ruling party. The deployment of Japanese troops as overseas peacekeepers renewed public debate on whether to revise Article 9 of the Constitution which defines Japan as pacifist.

In November, the former President of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, left Japan for Chile where he was arrested at the request of the Peruvian authorities, pending an extradition request.

The 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, and renewed efforts by the government to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, increased tensions in the east Asia region. The government was criticized for its continued failure to apologize adequately and provide full reparations for wartime crimes against humanity such as forced sexual slavery, and for the way Japanese history textbooks portray its past aggressions.

The Diet (parliament) debated but did not adopt a Bill first submitted in 2003 to establish a national human rights commission.

The government indicated that it would accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court by 2009.

so right now you can Ensure Justice for Survivors of Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery and take actions in less time that it takes to get your shoes back on at the end of an airport security line...and look for more postings from tokyo and beyond...

peace out <3

Global Human Rights- A Stark Reminder

In Tokyo, just outside the school where I currently work, is the infamous war shrine visited every year by the emperor and other top Japanese officials on the anniversary of Japan's WWII defeat. It essentially houses internationally condemned war criminals from Japan's WWII campaign.

After having lived in China the previous year (perhaps the greatest victim of Japan's "expansion") the irony is not lost on me. Japan is considered one of the safest and most advanced countries of the modern world, yet in this quiet shrine, religion, politics, government and international relations all collide.

It represents a continued rift in the Asian world with China, Taiwan, South and North Korea protesting the enshrinement of class A war criminals as a subtle affirmation and blessing of Japan's aggressions. And while the shrine operates independently of the Japanese government, it is reminiscent of Japan's State Shinto, with the palace sending an official emmisary every year.

This is why we need global human rights organizations. The idea of impartiality protects us as humans without regard to the country to which we belong. Though Japan has reject militarization and done so much on behalf of environmental issues, the shrine is a reminder that any country can become an aggressor. And any one of us could be the target.

as if iraq didn't have enough headaches already...

let's add honor killings to the list...

fortunately, the kurdish regional government (krg) publicly condemned the recent stoning to death of du'a khalil aswad, a 17-year-old yezidi girl, and the subsequent summary killing of 23 yezidi workers, near the northern city of mosul, reportedly by a sunni muslim armed group...

in their may day public statement the krg pointed out that the "honour killing" of du'a khalil aswad took place in the area administered by the iraqi government, not the krg, and called for her killers to be brought to justice...

according to wikipedia an honor killing is a murder, nearly exclusively of a woman, who has been perceived as having brought dishonor to her family...such killings are typically perpetrated by the victim's own relatives and/or community and unlike crimes of passion or rage-induced killings, usually planned in advance...

according to amnesty international the krg stated in its statement that there had been 40 convictions for so-called honour killings in the kurdistan region since the kurdish parliament amended the law in 2002 to remove a provision in the iraqi penal code allowing lenient sentences for perpetrators of "honour crimes", and that at least 24 other cases are pending...

amnesty international has written to the krg requesting details of these cases, including the names of all those who have been tried for alleged "honour crimes" since the law was changed, how many were convicted and the sentences imposed in each case...the organization has also written to the iraqi government to seek information about investigations into the stoning to death of du'a khalil aswad and the subsequent murder of 23 yezidi workers, and calling for the perpetrators of these crimes to be brought to justice promptly and fairly and without recourse to the death penalty...

amnesty international is also urging the iraqi authorities to amend the law to ensure that "honour killings" are made a serious criminal offence and to take concrete measures to protect all those at risk of becoming victims of "honour crimes"...

for an excellent background story on this act of murder read killing for honor by laura jamison in amnesty international's magazine...help spread the word...

peace out <3

motivating high school kids with the crisis in darfur...

as senior high school youth prepare for graduation it seems a good time to ask the question, "what does it take to get high school kids motivated to participate in political actions, say, in the way they were in the late 50's (african-american youth motivated by the reverend martin luther king, jr. and his collegial peers) and middle class white youth of the 60's and early 70's motivated by opposition to the vietnam war and bobby kennedy?"...

perhaps it's the high school teacher, the one who is him or herself motivated and sees their role as one of more than training kids to take tests but to be tested by the burning moral an ethical issues of the day...

one of those is my local amnesty international colleague lynne robinson who teaches ell at mcgavock high school in nashville...lynne uses human rights curriculum as a part of her ell classes...

and so it is that adrian bahan has motivated youth at mcgavock high school to learn about and act on those lessons...this is just a reminder that each of us can always do a little bit more, be a little creative when it comes to motivating youth to act...as "elders" it's our job and responsibility to find ways to connect and reach out and set examples in ways that will catch their attention...

here's a brief exchange between adrian and myself as part of that reminder...now go and do something yourself, in your home, in your neighborhood, and in your schools...

peace out <3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey Randy,

thank you so much for letting me use the pics. They are going to add a new dimension to our campus wide awareness drive. I have developed a lesson plan to get students aware and involved of the situation and would be more than happy to share it with you if you are in contact with any other educators. I think that having the students go around collecting petitions along with a letter writing campaign would be an excellent extension of the unit plan. One group of students are really into soccer and they want to see if there is a way to get money for athletic shoes and soccer balls to NGO's to distribute to the kids in IDP camps. I thought that was a fantastic idea. What if we had a campus wide shoe and soccer ball drive? Is it feasible to send deflated balls and shoes halfway around the world? I know from research that what the aid agencies really want is money, but it might be easier to offer students a choice on what they can donate. Anyway, I'm just glad that my students are displaying some empathy and realizing that through a collective effort, they can affect change.

Adrian Bahan

885-____ex. ___

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: aiusa_tn_dude

Sent: Thu 5/3/2007 2:05

To: Bahan, Charles A (MNPS)

Cc: Lynne Robinson;

Subject: Re: Darfur materials

Dear Adrian,

I received your contact information from your colleague Lynne Robinson. She shared that your class had been studying the situation in Darfur and that you were looking for an action or something interactive for your students to work with on Darfur.

I sent with Lynne a photo exhibit <http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/sudan/photo_exhibit.pdf> that can be installed easily on the classroom walls, some action postcards on Darfur, as well as a petition <http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/sudan/sudan_petition.pdf> . The more students might take the latter outside the classroom to spread this action would be really nice. You will find endless on-line actions and background materials on Darfur at this Amnesty International web page <http://www.amnestyusa.org/Our_Issues/Darfur/page.do?id=1041028&n1=3&n2=52> .

Our local Amnesty International chapter has a blogsite <http://www.aiusa149.blogspot.com/> as well as a myspace page <http://www.myspace.com/aiusa149> . There have been a few postings re: Darfur on the former...

http://aiusa149.blogspot.com/2007/04/sarah-milburn-crisis-in-darfur-leaks.html

http://aiusa149.blogspot.com/2007/04/let-mikey-try-ithe-might-help-save.html

http://aiusa149.blogspot.com/2007/01/let-us-install-darfur-photo-exhibit-in.html

http://aiusa149.blogspot.com/2006/11/buck-stops-here-help-darfurians-now.html

http://aiusa149.blogspot.com/2006/10/women-bear-heavy-burden-of-violence-in.html

Maybe we could chat...I have some curriculum tools that may be of interest to you in the longer term related to human rights education generally. I hope that these tools are useful.

Randy Tatel

Amnesty International

Local Chapter Coordinator

1306 McAlpine Avenue Nashville, TN 37216

tel: 615-650-2938

mobile: 615-473-2950

aiusa149@bellsouth.net

threedoginn@bellsouth.net

http://www.aiusa149.blogspot.com/

http://www.amnestyusa.org/

should we have protected civilians in lebanon, the former yugoslavia, afghanistan, iraq...

did you know that in the last ten years u.s. cluster munitions have been used in or near civilian-populated areas in these countries with devastating consequences to civilians...when used in or near civilian areas, cluster munitions run a serious risk of violating the international humanitarian law prohibition on indiscriminate attacks...

cluster munitions also often leave large numbers of unexploded sub-munitions on the ground, presenting a grave danger to civilian lives similar to landmines...but you can take citizen responsible action by urging your u.s. senators to co-sponsor the cluster munitions civilian protection act of 2007 (s. 594), which seeks to prevent the u.s. use or export of cluster bombs with high dud rates and for civilian-populated areas...it was introduced by senators feinstein, leahy, mikulski, and sanders...

originally developed to attack concentrations of infantry, u.s. cluster munitions are increasingly being used in or near civilian-populated...cluster munitions are considered to have an indiscriminate effect, and when used in civilian-populated areas, present a very high risk of violating the international humanitarian law prohibition on indiscriminate attacks...

in the last ten years, several major recipients of u.s. arms exports have used cluster munitions in civilian-populated areas...including israel firing hundreds of thousands of cluster munitions in the villages like Ainata and Rashaya al-Foukar using U.S. cluster bombs...and the colombian military dropping a cluster bomb from a u.s. supplied helicopter on the village of Santo Domingo in 1998, killing 11 adults and 6 children...

find out more about the issue and regardless of your position on military conflict please take action to protect civilian bystanders from brutal and unwarranted death and injury from the use of indiscriminate cluster bombs...

peace out <3

history in the making...new jersey bill to abolish death penalty clears senate judiciary committee...

yesterday was amazing...just a day after tennessee executed philip workman (see posts on this critical case at my other blog http://blogs.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty) the new jersey senate judiciary committee voted 8-2 in favor of legislation that would abolish their death penalty and replace it with life without the possibility of parole...i am so proud of the 7 years worth of work that is behind this small step...the most amazing thing is the way that they have organized murder victim's family members against the death penalty (yes, read that line again)...here's their press release...peace out <3

Vote to implement study commission recommendations comes after testimony by victims’ family members, law enforcement, and others

Trenton – The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee voted today to pass S-171, a bill to replace the death penalty with life without parole, to the full Senate floor.

The vote came after several hours of public testimony featuring members of the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission, which was formed when New Jersey lawmakers enacted a moratorium on executions last year.

“The study commission set up by the legislature spent six months holding hearings, conducting research, and examining the death penalty from every angle,” said Celeste Fitzgerald, Director of New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. “They reached an overwhelming consensus in favor of life without parole over the death penalty. It is only logical that the legislature is acting to implement that recommendation.”

Among those testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee today were West Orange Police Chief James Abbott and Hudson County Prosecutor Ed DeFazio, representing the County Prosecutors’ Association. Both members of law enforcement began their work on the study commission favoring the death penalty, but after examining the facts concluded that the system was broken and should be scrapped.

“What I learned throughout our six months of study opened my eyes to the reality of the death penalty,” Chief Abbott told the Judiciary Committee today. “It turned out that what sounded good in theory was actually a complete failure in practice. Most importantly, what I learned about the death penalty convinced me that there was simply no way to fix it and make it right.”

The New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission was a bipartisan group of 13 members that included two sitting prosecutors, the police chief, a former Supreme Court justice who had upheld death cases, murder victims’ family members and victims’ advocates, and others.

“This was a tough on crime commission of law enforcement, victims’ family members, and other experts,” Fitzgerald continued. “They looked at the facts and heard from the people of New Jersey that it was time for the death penalty to go. Today’s committee vote is simply one more reflection of the public sentiment that the death penalty has been a miserable failure and a distraction from meaningful public safety policies.”

The legislation passed by the Judiciary Committee included a recommendation that any funds saved by replacing the death penalty with life without parole be used to expand services for homicide survivors. That provision was also adopted from the study commission’s recommendation after the commission heard testimony from more than a dozen victims’ family members who supported abolishing the death penalty and pleaded for increased services to support their healing.

Yesterday, a coalition of more than 50 family members of murder victims released a letter to the Judiciary Committee in support of the legislation. “To be meaningful, justice should be swift and sure,” they wrote in their letter. “Life without parole, which begins immediately, is both of these; the death penalty is neither.”

####

Celeste Fitzgerald

Director

New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Chatham Office: (973) 635-6396

Trenton Office: (609) 278-6719

http://www.njadp.org/

10,000 crane birds for freedom of expression in belarus...

no doubt i am an american kid at heart...i mean when i hear belarus i immediately think i am the walrus koo koo ka choo...for no apparent other than off centered alliterative reason...

but i digress...let's make some noise

a legend says that if you fold 1,000 origami crane birds, your wish will be granted...origami cranes have come to symbolise peace after the second world war...the wish today of hundreds of thousands of amnesty international activists including myself is for belarus to restore freedom of expression and proceed with the immediate and unconditional release of all those who are detained for the legitimate and peaceful expression of their views...

our appeal is in particular for the release of youth opposition leader zmitser dashkevich.... zmitser was sentenced in november 2006 to one and a half years' imprisonment for 'organizing or participating in an activity of an unregistered non-governmental organization', under article 193, part 1 of the criminal code...the article was added to the criminal code in december 2005 as part of a series of amendments that introduced penalties for civil society organizations and other outspoken critics of the government, in the lead-up to the presidential elections in march 2006...

what if everyone who criticized dubya were tossed in the slammer!!!

join make some noise and add your crane to free zmitser dashkevich! ..for your ready made origami print-out and a 'how-to' video, click here...take a picture of your best origami crane(s) and upload it in the form below...make some noise will then put all pictures online and track the progress towards the 10,000 cranes appeal...once your picture has been uploaded, put your crane(s) in an envelope addressed to:

Minister of Internal Affairs
Vladimir V. NAUMOV
ul.Gorodskoi Val 4
220615 Minsk, BELARUS

origami - hehe --

peace out ya'll <3

sung to the tune of "if i were a rich man,"...

but the lyrics would be...

"if i were in michigan...bada biddle biddle biddle bada la la la..." - or something to that effect...

why???

well, in 1984, a company called union carbide was responsible for the worst industrial disaster in history in bhopal, india...40 tons of deadly gas was released. 7,000 people died in the next few days and 15,000 have died since from illnesses related to the accident...

may 10th is dow's annual shareholders meeting...students for bhopal and amnesty international are organizing a protest at the meeting to send a message to dow that corporate irresponsibility will not be tolerated, and to demand that dow:

• CLEAN UP toxic wastes and contaminated groundwater left by this disaster
• FACE TRIAL, and ensure that Union Carbide and Warren Anderson present themselves in the Indian Courts
• COOPERATE with authorities assessing the long-term health consequences of the explosion
• MAKE PUBLIC information about the toxicity of reaction products released during the leak

over 100,000 victims still suffer from illnesses because of this event...in a 1989 settlement, union carbide agreed to pay $470 million to victims...however, $330 million still has not been paid to the victims...in addition, the site is still heavily contaminated and residents are continuously being poisoned without access to clean drinking water...in 2001, the dow chemical company based in midland, michigan (hence the mangled show tune ya'll) bought union carbide and with it, its liabilities...dow refuses to clean up the spill. more information visit »

22 Years & 20,000 Dead: DOW Clean Up Bhopal Now!

peace out <3

shouldn't we properly train los angeles police first???

it was the beating of rodney king on tape by l.a. police that moved rock star peter gabriel to found the witness campaign...

so it stands to reason that before the u.s. takes it upon itself to "train" police and military from around the world we should get our own domestic training right first...

i'm just sayin'...

yet the united states government trains approximately 100,000 foreign police and soldiers from more than 150 countries each year...one of the purported benefits of this training is that it instills respect for human rights and democratic institutions...but the vast majority of u.s. training courses do not include specific instruction in the human rights or humanitarian law obligations that soldiers must obey...unfortunately, many of the government forces the u.s. has trained have poor human rights records...

unless by human rights you mean torture, kidnapping or "disappearances", and ill treatment of detainees...

all of this cost of tens of millions of dollars...tens of thousands study in the u.s. at the approximately 275 known military schools and installations that provide training; the u.s. trains many more in their own nations through a variety of programs...closure of the u.s. army's recently renamed school of the americas (SOA) has been the principal focus to date of campaigners concerned about the human rights impact of u.s. military and police training...but SOA is just the tip of the iceberg...the map above represents only a partial listing of all the schools and installations in the u.s. that provide foreign military training...

it's not only about "what's in your wallet" but "what's in your backyard,"...

peace out <3

five men beat transvestite activist in honduras while police watch...

police are supposed to serve and protect...don't ask josef fabio estrada to confirm that supposition...

estrada, a transvestite activist in honduras, was beaten by five men on april 20 while police officers encouraged the attackers and reportedly prevented others from coming to his aid, according to amnesty international...estrada was injured and has received no medical attention in police custody....he was jailed for attempted murder charge when he tried to defend himself while his attackers were set free...

hmmmmmmmmm...justice...hmmmmmmmmmm...

further, estrada, a coordinator of the asociación arcoiris transvestite group, has been held on attempted homicide and robbery in the state penitentiary, normally reserved for convicted prisoners, not those awaiting trial...

his reportedly being held in the so-called "cell of death," which houses prisoners suffering from tuberculosis, hiv/aids and mental illness...colleagues from asociación arcoiris who visited him on may 1 noted that he had received no medical attention, and had visible injuries from the beating...

WTF...$#!&;%*&*%!*%&#!^!

amnesty international usa has written to roberto flores bermudez, hgonduras's ambassador to the united states, to express concern, and called on his office to ensure the safety of the members of asociación arcoiris...

estrada and two other transvestite sex workers had been working in a gay/transvestite district in comayagüela, tegucigalpa, when they were stopped and searched by police...almost immediately, estrada was set upon and beaten by five men, while a police patrol car sat parked nearby...

the officers reportedly watched, laughed and offered encouragement to the attackers, shouting, "Kill the faggot, beat him!"...the police allegedly prevented two other sex workers from intervening...estrada reportedly used a broken bottle found on the ground to defend himself...at this point the police finally intervened...they arrested and handcuffed estrada, but let his attackers go free...

lgbt rights activist donny reyes, the asociación arcoiris treasurer, was detained by police in comayagüela in march and held in a cell where he was raped and beaten...he has been intimidated by police since he lodged a formal complaint...the asociación arcoiris was forced to move its office this month because of police intimidation and harassment...amnesty international is concerned that donny reyes and other members of arcoiris may be in grave danger...

according to non-governmental organizations in honduras, 200 lgbt people were murdered between 1991 and 2003...

peace out <3

you took action and an environmental defender was freed...

amnesty international (ai) is happy to report that andrei zatoka was released from jail on january 31...andrei had been detained on december 17 by local police at the airport in his home city of dashoguz...there were allegations that he was targeted to punish him for his peaceful work as an environmental activist...he and his supporters are grateful for the appeals sent by amnesty international's urgent action network on his behalf...

work on behalf of individuals is the foundation of amnesty international's work...ai began as a letter writing appeal in 1961 on behalf of six prisoners of conscience (someone imprisoned solely for the peaceful expression of their beliefs)...over the years we have found that as we work to free individuals, we also raise awareness about human rights abuses affecting millions...

become a member or take action today...

peace out <3

green day joins the fray...

in association with warner bros. records, green day just released its cover of john lennon's classic song working class hero, proceeds of which will go to support amnesty international's campaign to stop the violence in darfur...

the full album, instant karma: the amnesty international campaign to save darfur will be available on june 12th, and will include lennon tracks covered best-selling artists - including u2, r.e.m., christina aguilera, the black eyed peas and jackson browne.

with hundreds of thousands already killed and another 2.5 million civilians forced to flee their homes, the u.s. government considers the atrocities in darfur genocide...the need is great, but we believe if we each take one small action, collectively, we can end the violence...start today by downloading a track.

Download Green Day's "Working Class Hero"

Download R.E.M.'s debut track "#9 Dream"

Find out how your efforts are making a difference in Darfur

peace out <3

As soon as you're born they make you feel small

By giving you no time instead of it all

Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all

A working class hero is something to be

A working class hero is something to be

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school

They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool

Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules

A working class hero is something to be

A working class hero is something to be

When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years

Then they expect you to pick a career

When you can't really function you're so full of fear

A working class hero is something to be

A working class hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV

And you think you're so clever and class less and free

But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see

A working class hero is something to be

A working class hero is something to be

There's room at the top they are telling you still

But first you must learn how to smile as you kill

If you want to be like the folks on the hill

A working class hero is something to be

A working class hero is something to be

If you want to be a hero well just follow me

If you want to be a hero well just follow me

richie rocks but dwayne is a racist dillweed???

senate bill 0162 (tennessee) just plain sucks...no wait, it's just plain racist!!!

here's a bill, pushed by white men such as senator dwayne bunch - r (for racist) cleveland - that would prevent the state from ever banning american indian mascots at schools - that's right, make it illegal to ever make it illegal to restrain a school from using native american icons or imagery as a mascot - i believe that senator bunch has all but wrapped this bill up in the usa patriot act and the war on "terror" ... in my neighborhood we refer to people who act like bunch as a "dillweed," - we don't know what it means but when you see it you KNOW we're not happy with him...

now choctaw activist evangeline lynch says that it is "disrespectful and unconstitutional," ... that, "We are not mascots, we are human beings," but this here southern white male says bunch's bill is just plain racist - period!

our local amnesty international chapter is helping to bring richie pless to nashville...here's some of what richie wrote to me:

My name is Richie Plass. I am a Menominee, Stockbridge/Munsee Indian from northern Wisconsin. I have been fighting the mascot/logo issue since 1968. Our non-profit group, Changing Winds Advocacy has developed a traveling exhibit on Native American Imagery...Our exhibit is titled, "Bittersweet Winds"...I call it the, "Good the Bad and the Ugly" of Native Imagery...It has over 150 items ranging from great photographs, craft work, documents, letters and other items both good and bad that use Native images..I also have some items as it relates to mascots and logos...Please visit our web site: http://www.changingwinds.org/ and you can read all about the exhibit and see some photos. Also, if you go to my web site you'll be able to read my story, "I Was A Teenage Mascot" and see first hand what I went through and why I continue my efforts with this issue.

so richie is coming to nashville and amnesty international 149 is collaborating with local activists and advocates to protect in this instance cultural rights...the universal declaration of human rights proclaims the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights...it equally recognises civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights...political circumstances related to the cold war divided this whole into civil and political (cp) rights on the one hand and economic, social and cultural (esc) rights on the other...ecs rights have also been regarded as second-class rights...it has been shown, however, that without the adequate living conditions that these rights ensure cp rights cannot be fulfilled.

wish us well and write to senator bunch sen.dewayne.bunch@legislature.state.tn.us and let him know that you don't approve of denigrating native american culture by passing racist and unconstitutional legislation...

peace out <3

we took a step, together, against femicides in guatemala...

i spent a month in guatemala in 1995 in an immersion program and really came to admire the people i met in alta and baja verapaz...so the work that we are doing to stop violence against women in guatemala is very dear to my heart...

say what??? you know not of what i speak???

between 2001 and march 2006, over 1,900 guatemalan women and girls have been brutally murdered...exceptional cruelty and sexual violence characterize many of the killings...some of the victims had their throats cut, were beaten, shot or stabbed to death...many of their bodies show signs of rape, torture, mutilation or dismemberment...amnesty international continues to call on the guatemalan government to demonstrate its political will to investigate these crimes, prosecute the offenders, and stop the killing...

and on march 27, 2007 the house committee on foreign affairs unanimously approved house resolution 100 (h. res. 100), condemning the over 2,500 killings of women in guatemala sponsored by congresswoman hilda l. solis (d-ca)...the resolution passed with 84 cosponsors...consideration of the resolution by the full house is expected in the coming months...

thanks to all who took action to make this possible!!! we will keep you updated on the progress of this resolution...

meanwhile keep up the heat by organizing around these actions in your neighborhood and with your friends and family...

paz con justicia <3

olympics create opportunity to leverage china???

"We must make efforts to create a harmonious society and a good social environment for successfully holding the 17th Communist Party Congress and the Beijing Olympic Games[...]We must strike hard at hostile forces at home and abroad, such as ethnic separatists, religious extremists, violent terrorists and 'heretical organizations' like the Falun Gong who carry out destabilizing activities."
-- Zhou Yongkang, Minister of Public Security --

hmmmmmmmmmm...equating "harmony' and "stability" with kicking the ass of your own citizens seems a little hard-lined doncha think??? and yet that appears to be the posture of the chinese government as the countdown towards its hosting of the 2008 summer olympics...

there is every reason for you and i to be deeply concerned that such 'strike hard' policies continue to be used to constrain the legitimate activities of a range of peaceful activists in china, including journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders...

you're gonna want to watch the competition and i don't begrudge any of us that...but just as we needed to know about the treachery of hitler's third reich even as we watched news reels of jesse owens defeating the the pride (sic) of the aryan nation we need to be aware of the heinous human rights issues and records in chine as we prepare for 2008...

just as these games offer a strategy to force beijing to pressure the sudanese government to respond to the genocide in darfur there may be other opportunities to leverage china on their own abysmal human rights record...

but to do that you gotta know some of the background...to get a thorough overview of internal chinese repression grab a cup of coffee or tea and read this amnesty international overview...

peace out <3

five minutes will bring you closer to native american and alaska native women...

that's right - just five minutes...takes that long to toast a pop-tart...go ahead, time it --

• stick one in the toaster
• review the slide show
• contact congress on-line
• return to eat your gooey warm pop tart...now that pop tart tastes better, eh???

this is a follow-up to saturday's posting ... you see this week amnesty international usa released a groundbreaking report that exposes the us government’s failure to protect native american and alaska native women from sexual violence...native american and alaska native women are more than 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other women in the us... more than one in three native american or alaska native women will be raped at some point in their lives...

that's right...set three women down on a sofa and one of them will be raped in their lifetime...

but why are native american and alaska native women at such risk of sexual violence?... a complex maze of tribal, state and federal jurisdictions created by the u.s. government often allows perpetrators to rape with impunity and in some cases even encourages assaults... according to pauline musgrove, the executive director of the spirits of hope coalition,

"women don’t report because it doesn’t make a difference. Why report when you are just going to be revictimized?"

impunity for perpetrators and indifference towards survivors contribute to a climate where sexual violence is seen as normal and inescapable...native american and alaska native women often:

• do not get timely – or any – response from the police
• may not get forensic medical examinations
• may never see their cases prosecuted

so that's the deal with my pop tart challenge -i want you to join voices with native american and alaska native women and take action to stop the violence...urge congress to support funding to improve safety and justice for indigenous women in the us...

now go ahead and eat that pop tart...

peace out <3

sarah milburn: crisis in darfur leaks into chad...

sarah milburn knows a good deal about that which she is speaking these days...milburn is one of amnesty international's country specialists for chad which is on the western border of the sudan where where the crisis stricken region of darfur is located..

what is a country specialist??? according to amnesty international they,

monitor the political situation in a country or region, collaborate with researchers at the International Secretariat in London, work closely with the members of AIUSA in developing and implementing strategies to promote human rights actions in relevant countries and serve as spokespersons for the organization.

she is advocating for us -that's you and me - to take action to urge chad to accept peacekeepers to protect civilians...

why??? because amidst the crisis of killing, famine, rape, and torture that defines darfur the chadian government is failing in its duty to protect civilians in eastern chad even in the wake of another massacre on march 30th in the villages of tiero and marena in western darfur...

it's so easy to take this action - i recommend you send both the e-mail and print out the letter version (and mail it ASAP), and hell, even fax a copy to ambassador mahamoud adam bechir of chad while you're at it...

you can do it in the time it'd take you sip down a glass of chardonnay or finish a cool sam adams - in fact you can do both at the same time...

so copy this post (or pimp it) and get others to take action with you and thank you...

here's sarah's full letter to me...

peace out <3

Dear Randy,

I am writing you today to ask for your help in protecting civilians in eastern Chad, as well as Darfur.

The Government of Chad must immediately admit UN peacekeepers to protect civilians in eastern Chad. Hundreds of unarmed civilians were killed on and around March 30 in the villages of Tiero and Marena, in the Dar Sila region of eastern Chad. These deaths were only the latest of thousands related to the conflict in Darfur, which has spread to eastern Chad, causing a regional human rights crisis. An estimated 120,000 people have been forced from their homes in eastern Chad, some of whom have been desperate enough to seek refuge in Darfur.

The Chadian government is failing in its duty to protect civilians in eastern Chad. Past assurances to the contrary, Chad's President Idriss Deby has recently said he would agree to only UN police, not UN peacekeepers with the resources and mandate capable of protecting civilians from attack. UN peacekeepers should be authorized to protect civilians in eastern Chad, as well as Darfur.

Thousands of Amnesty supporters have recently sent messages, placed calls and made in-person visits to Congress to tell their elected officials that they must do everything in their power to get UN peacekeepers into Darfur. But we must also press for the same protections for displaced Darfuri and Chadian civilians in eastern Chad. Please join our efforts by taking action today.

Sincerely,

Sarah Milburn
Chad Country Specialist
Amnesty International USA

who suffers shocking rates of rape???

and why's a good question too...

according to a new amnesty international report, native american and alaska native women in the united states suffer disproportionately high levels of rape and sexual violence, yet the federal government has created substantial barriers to accessing justice....native american and alaska native women are more than 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other women in the usa...

check this - one in three native american and alaska native women will be raped in their lifetime ... 1 in every three!!!

and who's committing these heinous sex crimes??? in at least 86 per cent of the reported cases of rape or sexual assault against american indian and alaska native women, survivors report that the perpetrators are non-native men...

"Native women are brutalized at an alarming rate, and the United States government, a purported champion of women's rights, is unfortunately contributing to the problem," said Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA). "It is disgraceful that such abuse even exists today. Without immediate action, an already abysmal and outrageous situation for women could spiral even further out of control. It is time to halt these human rights abuses that have raged unfettered since this country was founded."

take action here, yes you, right now...

to watch a slide show - maze of injustice - click here...

you can download a pdf of the full report too...

stop violence against women - all women...

peace out <3

if you don't succeed in killing the first 5 times then try, try again...

from the diaries of the tennessee dude...

for the entirety of my tenure at the tennessee coalition to abolish state killing the state of tennessee sought to kill philip workman ... five times they set execution dates, once coming within 37 minutes of taking his life...and yet this case is infected with perjured testimony, police misconduct, withheld evidence, and a former medical examiner who was under indictment by federal authorities all making it clear that with more than reasonable doubt and a verdict and/or sentence renounced by five jurors that workman should, but has never, receive a new trial...

the video below outlines key issues that make it clear that lt. ronnie oliver was tragically shot by friendly fire while responding to the robbery of a wendy's restaurant in memphis, tn...a robbery workman has always acknowledged he committed...and that workman should not have been eligible for the death penalty according to tennessee law at the time of oliver's tragic death...

the video also includes oliver's daughter's plea for reducing workman's death sentence to life in prison - an appropriate punishment for the crime he actually committed...

click on these links for detailed information on the case related issues of perjury, official coercion of an "eyewitness" who did not see the shooting to perjure himself, judicial prejudice making a mockery of due process, a state medical examiner clearly confusing his role as relates to science and the role of others in judicial review, and the upholding of a district court judge's order that stayed workman's last execution date in september 2004...

a full accounting of the case and action request from amnesty international is available here...




peace out <3

r.e.m. covers lennon for darfur...

my man larry cox, the very intense and very cool executive director at amnesty international usa, sent this letter to me and because i'm so crazy for john lennon and the access that yoko has given amnesty to his musical treasure trove that i'm giving it up to you...

oh, and when i lived in athens ga from 78' - 85' i met michael, peter, mike, and bill - the r.e.m. dudes (and even hung at the old church where they practiced next to rick the printer's shop where i apprenticed for $1 and hour - or was that a day? - and ll the espresso and cheap yugoslavian red i could drink) - and my claim to fame with the rock n' roll hall of fame boys??? i told them,

"you're okay but i don't see you going any where,"

... ahhhhhhh, my bad...

but hey, remember --- instant karma's gonna get you...

here's larry's letter... peace out <3>

--------------------------------------------

Dear Human Rights Advocate,

Some things just go together – peanut butter and jelly, fireworks and the 4th of July, Laverne and Shirley. And let's not forget about music and human rights.

Throughout time, people and communities have leveraged their voices, instruments, lyrics and performance to pursue ideals of justice, freedom, and courage – and to confront and defeat danger and persecution.

Today more than 50 musical artists have joined our most recent international effort that harnesses the power of music to inspire and mobilize millions around the world to act and stand up to end the mass-scale violence taking place in Darfur, Sudan.

Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur – benefiting Amnesty International’s human rights work – will feature iconic songs by John Lennon recorded by an array of best-selling artists including Green Day, Christina Aguilera, Snow Patrol, The Postal Service and many more. The full album will be available in June, but you can get a sneak preview by downloading two advance songs by artists R.E.M and Los Lonely Boys available now on iTunes.

Don’t just read about our first two track releases – download them and hear for yourself why they are getting so much buzz.

R.E.M. – recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – performs Lennon’s "#9 Dream." With drummer Bill Berry back for this one recording, it marks the first time the entire band has been in the studio together since Berry retired in 1997. Download the song.Roots rock sensations Los Lonely Boys perform Lennon’s "Whatever gets you through the night." They dub their own sound as Texican Rock and Roll and bring a whole new perspective to the John Lennon classic. Download the song.

I'm so proud to kick start this campaign and call attention to the groundswell of Amnesty-led events and actions to help end the catastrophe in Darfur. To find out more about our campaign and our work visit www.instantkarma.org.

Almost 20 years ago, Amnesty made history with our Human Rights Now concerts – calling attention to human rights abuses around the world. With your enthusiasm and support, we will recapture the world’s attention through music and channel the momentum to help end the dire human rights crisis happening in Darfur.

Sincerely,

Larry Cox

Executive Director

leo dicaprio, conflict diamonds, and...us...

so last evening our local amnesty chapter hosted a screening of the leo dicaprio, djimon hounsou, jennifer connelly feature movie blood diamond and i gotta tell ya it's a pretty damn good movie...dicaprio plays a modern day sydney carton character (tale of two cities) who redeems himself pretty well albeit hollywood style...

unfortunately conflict diamonds are still driving violence, especially in sierra leone, sudan, and angola, and there remains over 300,000 children soldiers involved in these conflicts...and that's the saddest aspect of this particular human rights crisis marring the african continent...

so before the movie i took a few moments to send an online letter to my federal rep and senator (and printed out letters for the attendees to sign and mail) and already received this response from representative jim cooper (d), 5th congressional district tennessee:

April 25, 2007

Mr. tn_dude
Nashville, Tennessee 37216

Dear Mr. Dude:

Thanks for getting in touch with me about your concerns with the trade in conflict diamonds. I agree that it is important to recognize the relationship between high-value, easily extracted resources-including diamonds-and the funding of armed groups in many developing nations. This problem is especially acute in Africa, where long-running conflicts in Sierra Leone and Congo are fueled by money from the illicit trade in diamonds. In addition to the millions of deaths and human rights violations produced by these conflicts, these wars threaten to create large, ungoverned areas of Africa where terrorist organizations could thrive. These lawless areas are a direct threat to every American's security, and it is critical that the United States take steps to end these conflicts.

I strongly support the Kimberly Process to control the illicit trade of diamonds, and I look forward to passage of legislation by Congress to implement appropriate international trade controls. I appreciate your concerns on this important issue. If you have further concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me in the future.

Sincerely,

Jim Cooper
Member of Congress

if you're reading this letter you have time to learn more about conflict diamonds and to take action here, doncha'???

peace out <3

on tibet, nepal, and human rights education...

i found this letter from sonam dolker, a sophomore at international high school at laguardia, queens, ny quite interesting -- i hope that you do to, and check out amnesty international's human rights education page when you're done...

peace out <3

I am a third generation refugee from Tibet. My grandparents from my dad's side came to Nepal to seek refuge and gave birth to my dad and uncles in Solukhumbu, Nepal. My grandmother from my mom's side came to Nepal because her parents had arranged a marriage for her with a Nepalese trader from Taplejung, Nepal. However, they all came to Nepal to get away from the human rights atrocities in Tibet that were being committed by the Chinese government. Such human rights atrocities included the targeting of monks, nuns, freedom fighters and of anyone else who would hang a picture of H.H., the Dalai Lama on their wall. Even those who celebrated Lhosar, the Tibetan new year and the most important festival of the year were eligible for arbitrary arrests, severe torture and even mass murder by the authorities. Tibetans were being oppressed by the communist government of China who had annexed Tibet in the late 1950s with the world hardly even noticing. Many Tibetans sought refuge and became citizens of neighbouring countries such as Nepal, India, Bhutan and many more. Those who were lucky enough to escape unscathed, opened up various businesses such as carpet businesses in their new host countries. My mother and father resettled here in the United States for opportunities that Nepal couldn't offer. I followed to America 7 years later.

I have to admit that in all those years I spent happily in Nepal, never did I once think of Tibet. I couldn't care the least about Tibet. I thought of Tibet as my grandparent's country and of Nepal as my parents and my country. This notion that I had was the same notion that all my Tibetan and Nepalese peers had. I was born in Nepal, so Nepal is my country. I didn't think much of Tibet and didn't know or explore about the human rights side to what had happened to my people. I didn't know about the religious rights side to it either. Among all the countries that host Tibetans, Nepal has probably been the most unwilling. It doesn't allow any free Tibet activities and even the display of H.H. the Dalai Lama's picture in public is offensive to the government. All this 'hush hush' in Nepal about Tibet is because of its poor economy and its dependence on China for much financial backing. In private schools, they teach us the Tibetan language and history of Tibet from centuries ago but not the current situation in Tibet or about the struggle for freedom that is occurring today. This lack of activism regarding Tibet, the lack of awareness in the Tibetan population of Nepal, takes away the potential next generation of activists and change makers.

It was only after I came here to the United States, that I learned much about the country where 75% of me is from. I had learned all about the 25% of me that is Nepalese in Nepal. I could write scores of pages about Nepal but not a single page on the history of Tibet. Perhaps it sounded boring to me at that time, especially because of the lack of good teachers of Tibetan history and language. After I came here, my knowledge of Tibet didn't get any worse than it already was, instead I did have a stronger stance on the issue of Tibet than I did in Nepal. I learned all the things that I know about Tibet from my teachers here and from all of the activism that I see here on March 10th of every year. I had never heard of 'Students For a Free Tibet' (SFT) or about the 'Tibetan Youth Congress'. I never knew who was prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile.

This is why I think human rights education is so important. If I hadn't learned about the above mentioned issues from my teachers and from my Global Kids (a human rights education group) leaders, then I wouldn't have been inspired to be the leader that I am today and I would be another youth gone to waste. Today I'm a sophomore at International High School at LaGuardia, and an intern at Amnesty International, learning about things going on around the world and how I can be a part of a movement to make positive change in the world. Most importantly, I am learning how to educate others and creating awareness about human rights. I hope that this will inspire a domino effect with whoever this article may reach.

Sonam Dolker
Sophomore, International High School
LaGuardia, Queens, NY

forced evictions shatter lives in zimbabwe...

i first heard of the country of zimbabwe through the music of paul winter more than 30 years ago...and through time the beautiful tradition of their mbiri music has contrasted with the political life that has shattered the people of zimbabwe during both colonial and post-colonial time...

but it's just pissing me off to learn about the actions of the government of tyrant robert mugabe embodies in what is referred to as Operation Drive Out Trash...

rather than a plan to raze illegal buildings amnesty international asserts that the real plan is to evict poor zimbabwean slum dwellers who form the core of he opposition to the brutal mugabe regime...

when porta farm was wiped off the face of the earth it was the destruction of over 850 buildings that housed more than 6000 of the poorest people on the planet...and where was the proof??? lars bromley, a geographer with the american association for the advancement of science, paid for high resolution satellite photos that revealed the the tragedy...according to a story published in amnesty international's the wire last year,

The destruction of Porta Farm left thousands, including children and the elderly homeless, destitute and traumatized. They joined the hundreds of thousands of other victims of the government's Operation Murambatsvina -- a countrywide programme of mass forced evictions and demolitions of homes and informal businesses. The UN has estimated that in six weeks between May and July 2005, 700,000 people across Zimbabwe lost their homes, their livelihoods, or both.

the only bright spot here is the use of satellite imagery to expose the brutal nature of governmental lies that attempt to cover up massive human rights violations...the same tactic has been used by amnesty international in darfur and iraq...

peace out <3

iran is kind of sucking when it comes to human rights...

one of the first, okay well the first, things that amnesty international ever did was to work for the release of prisoners of conscience or pocs which are defined by amnesty international as:

"Any person who is physically restrained (by imprisonment or otherwise) from expressing (in any form of words or symbols) any opinion which he honestly holds and which does not advocate or condone personal violence." ... also exclude those people who have conspired with a foreign government to overthrow their own..."

and so it seems that the regime in iran is jailing prisoners of conscience out the yin yang including but not limited to teachers, students, and women's rights advocates...for example:

Dozens of teachers, mostly members of local Teachers' Associations or the National Council of Teachers' Associations, have been detained in recent weeks in connection with demonstrations which began in March 2007 by teachers demanding higher pay and working conditions.

and ...

Bizhan Sabagh, an engineering student at Mazandaran University who had previously been suspended by the university disciplinary committee for one term in connection with his student activities, was arrested on 14 April 2007 by security officials in front of the university...

not to mention that ...

Bizhan Sabagh, an engineering student at Mazandaran University who had previously been suspended by the university disciplinary committee for one term in connection with his student activities, was arrested on 14 April 2007 by security officials in front of the university...Five women active in the "Million Signatures Campaign" were arrested on 2 April 2007 while collecting signatures in support of an end to discriminatory legislation against women in Iran...

for the full story click here and stay tuned as we alert you to coordinated mass action that can be taken...

peace out <3

let mikey try it...he might help save darfur...

that's right, "let mikey try it, he hates everything,"...

you may recall this catchphrase from a life cereal ad campaign from a while ago...the idea was for mikey, who doesn't like stuff, to try this cereal as a guinea pig, one likely to let the older kids off the hook so THEY don't have to try it...

shocker of all shocks - mikey tries it and LOVES the cereal and all eat happily ever after - or sumpin sumpin sumpin...

well in this instance you could say that we - the local amnesty international faithful - said to markey (mark smith), "you try it," with the it being a lobby visit to the nashville office of republican senator lamar alexander...

and markey tried it - and you know what??? he LIKED it!!! you see mark smith, high school teacher paid 0$ to lobby for anything, had a meeting with michael schulz a field representative for senator alexander and shared with him why the senator should sign a letter to chinse president hu jintao regarding chinese policy with the sudanese government, the government that is responsible for the ongoing genocide in darfur the region in western sudan...

here's mark's report:

4/17/7

Greetings everyone,

I met with Michael Schulz (Field Rep.) at Alexander's Nashville office. It was our first meeting. Prior to our meeting he had been sent (from Washington) the request from Senators Lugar and Biden to sign the "Hu Jintao Letter" on the crisis in Darfur. I showed Mr. Schulz the list of twenty-nine Senators who had already signed on to the letter. We were both pleased with everyone's awareness and briefly discussed the relationship among Sudan, China, the United States, the United Nations, and the African Union. I left Mr. Schulz the information Amnesty International had prepared for the visit which included a copy of the letter to President Hu Jintao.

Mr. Schulz has been in the Nashville office since June when he moved from Alexander's Washington office. I let him know of my desire to begin an Amnesty Student Chapter at East High School next year and our interest in becoming familiar with Senator Alexander's Nashville office.

Senator Alexander had not signed the letter at the time of our meeting, but Mr. Schulz reminded me that the Senator was one of the first to bring attention to the crisis in Darfur. I am sending a copy of this missive to Mr. Schulz in hopes to receive news that Senator Alexander has joined his colleagues in asking China to become more influential in stopping the crisis in Darfur and signed the letter to President Hu Jintao before the April 20 deadline.

Happy trails

Mark Smith
Darfur Delegation Leader

and here's the remarkable thing about mark smith - he went to meet mr. schulz all by himself and it was his first lobby visit!

and what was the outcome of this rookie effort??? well here's the e-mail he received within 72 hours of his visit:

Good morning Mark,

Senator Alexander has signed the letter to President Hu Jintao.

Thanks...

Michael Schulz
Field Representative
Office of Senator Lamar Alexander
615-736-5129

so the moral of the story is not only should mikey and markey try it but so should bill, carrie, danielle, freddie, gil, heidi...

you get my point - congratulations mark on not just a job well done but on the job attempted in the first place...

peace out <3

have we forgotten about afghanistan???

all this bush administration proactive war stuff began in afghanistan did it not??? i was deep in the mountains in north georgia reuniting with an old friend when the bombings began there, when...end of october 2001???

and most of the news these days is about the interminable and in my opinion wasteful (and useless) war in iraq ... but isn't afghanistan the more appropriate place for our attention (and news) to be directed??? -

yes, civilians are up shit's creek in iraq but civilians are under threat in afghanistan and there aren't enough peacekeepers, soldiers, what have you to keep the taliban from being right where they were, all over again, before 9/11...

in fact, according to amnesty international:

Civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict in Afghanistan, with local people caught up in the fighting between the Taliban, Afghan, US and NATO Forces. Suicide attacks, roadside bombs and other forms of violence pose a daily threat to the people in the conflict-ridden parts of the country.

The Taliban's military rulebook, or Laheya, explicitly sanctions the killing of teachers. If a teacher ignores a warning from the Taliban to stop teaching, he must be beaten. If he continues to teach “contrary to the principles of Islam”, he must be killed. A Taleban fatwa orders the death of anyone who supports the US-led intervention.

Scores of civilians have been deliberately killed by Taliban insurgents in the past two years after being branded "spies". Targets include election candidates, clerics, government and health workers and teachers. In April, three men were publicly hanged by the Taliban in the southern province of Helmand after being accused of spying for international troops.

The Taliban failed to distinguish between civilians and military targets in suicide attacks and attacks using improvised explosive devices such as roadside bombs. At least 756 civilians - including many children - were killed in 2006 in such attacks, according to UN and NATO figures.

The Taliban's stance towards civilians is inconsistent -- and far removed from its obligations under international law. A Taliban spokesperson told Amnesty International that attacking "unarmed" civilians was "forbidden". But he added that: "There is no difference between the armed people who are fighting against us and civilians who are co-operating with foreigners".

By deliberately targeting civilian workers, the Taliban are committing war crimes - and some of these crimes constitute crimes against humanity.

The Taliban must comply with the rules of international humanitarian law, to which they are bound. They must end indiscriminate attacks, such as suicide attacks in public places, and stop deliberately targeting civilians working for the government or with foreign organisations.

Read the full report:
All who are not friends, are enemies: Taliban abuses against civilians

peace out <3

perhaps we should listen to more returning troops , maybe???

even though this is a personal blog of amnesty international volunteers and is in no way any sort of official amnesty international blog we should be clear that neither the usa section nor the international organization holds any position for or against nation based armed conflicts...

on its official website http://www.amnesty.org/ it says:

AI is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion. It does not support or oppose any government or political system, nor does it support or oppose the views of the victims whose rights it seeks to protect. It is concerned solely with the impartial protection of human rights.

and amnesty international cedes the right of a government to carry out an armed action so long as it conducts itself in accordance with the geneva convention and all international treaties related to the conduct of war...

VideoVets: Rose Forrest

so when it comes to the armed action in iraq amnesty researches, identifies, and reports on human righs violations that occur during the conduct of the war...

therefore rather than listen to any of us talk about how we feel let's listen to some of the returning iraqi war veterans...

peace out <3

VideoVets: Shelly Burgoyne

katrina victims not shunned by amnesty international southern regional office...

tom ashbrook, host of on point on npr, is broadcasting from the big easy this week wondering whether or not the country has moved on and left the victims of katrina and government lethargy in the dust...and the picture from nawlin's isn't good...

but i'm especially proud to be a member of amnesty international today...why??? amnesty international is ponying up the resources to help those human beings devastated by one of the worst disasters to ever strike the u.s. of a...

monika gerhart will start on april 23rd as the project coordinator of a new campaign to address the human rights violations of hurricane katrina. ..monika's work will be centered on the right to housing for katrina survivors, and she will be working to mobilize amnesty international's diverse structures in support of this campaign...

woot woot for amnesty intenational's commitment to housing as a human right...

peace out <3

corporate accountability doesn't have to be an oxymoron...

see the thing is that here in the u.s. the legal system treats corporations as an individual with all the rights inherent therein...which leads me to wonder why we don't expect corporations to maintain a level of "personal" accountability on par with what we expect from say "welfare mothers"...

in other words all companies have a direct responsibility to respect human rights in their own operations...and amnesty international believes that the business community also has a wider responsibility -- moral and legal -- to use its influence to promote respect for human rights...

i think that we should support national and international legal instruments (UN Norms for Business, Alien Tort Claims Act, International Right to Know) that promote greater corporate responsibility for human rights, including those that assure the risk of legal accountability if a company commits or is complicit in human rights abuses in their operations...

and on my mind most recently is that employees and individual contractors of u.s.government contracted companies are alleged to have abused, tortured and killed people in areas including iraq and afghanistan, but not a single one has been brought to justice...tell congress to demand accountability of contractors in the “war on terror”...

i'm just sayin'...check out amnesty's business and human rights site...

peace out <3