Aliados

Are you an artist or know someone who is? Amnesty International USA and Avenue 50 Studio are pleased to announce a call for artists in our first art show partnership. Please help us spread the word of art-ivism (art through activism) by telling your artist friends about this exhibition. The show is next March in LA. Details below. Gracias!

Amnesty International USA and Avenue 50 Studio in Los Angeles announce a call to artists for the "¡Presente! Homenaje a la Mujer" art exhibition. The show will run throughout the month of March 2008, in commemoration of International Women's Day.

The purpose of the art exhibition is to celebrate women, while at the same time creating awareness of Amnesty International's Stop Violence Against Women campaign. Both men and women artists are welcomed to enter. All 2- and 3- dimensional media invited. Please limit one entry per artist. Images of entries must be emailed no later than January 1, 2008 to voluntarios@aiusa.org and should include artist's name, title of work, medium, and dimensions.

Jury will consist of Kathy Gallegos, Director, Avenue 50 Studio, Liliana Herrera, Latino Outreach Coordinator, AIUSA, and Julissa Gómez, Field Organizer, AIUSA.

Images of entries mailed by: January 1, 2008

Notification of inclusion in exhibition: January 31, 2008

Exhibition Opening Date: March 8, 2008

* Check out Avenue 50 Studio at: http://www.avenue50studio.com/ *

I want to invite everyone to check out this new documentary:

"This 37-minute film explores the current landscape of international justice through the stories of survivors and the legal cases they are pursuing in Peru, Chile, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, The Hague, Guatemala and Spain.  Featured in this film is the story of Rigoberta Menchu's and other survivors' campaign to bring Efraín Ríos Montt and other former officials to justice."

The documentary provides an overview of three cases in the pursuit of international justice: the case of Alberto Fujimori in Peru, the International Criminal Court, and the case of Efraín Ríos Montt in Guatemala. Watch the film here:  http://www.amnestyusa.org/justice/

 Also see: Tips on how to host a screening.

 Happy viewing!

 -Sarah

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Public Statement

AI Index: AMR 51/183/2007 (Public)
News Service No: 222
15 November 2007

USA: Amnesty International calls for inquiry into force used by the US Border Patrol against 'No Border Camps' protestersAmnesty International (AI) has called for a full investigation of allegations of excessive force by the United States Border Patrol (BP) in dispersing a protest organized by the group 'No Border Camps' at the US border with Mexico in Calexico, California, on 11 November.

Video footage shows BP police advancing on the group of some 30 demonstrators, swinging batons and indiscriminately firing pepperball guns (projectile weapons that fire painful pepper spray gas) at the protesters. Although the police later reported that some demonstrators had assaulted officers and begun to destroy government property, none of those shown on the video appeared to be engaged in acts of violence when they were charged by officers.

Those at the scene also reported that no prior warning was given for the protesters to disperse before agents began using their weapons against them. A number of the demonstrators are alleged to have suffered injuries as a result of the police action.

In a letter to the Border Patrol Chief, David Aguilar, AI expressed concern that the agents' actions appeared to breach international standards on police use of force set out under the United nations (UN) Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms. These stipulate, among other things, that force should be used only as a last resort, in proportion to the threat posed, and should be designed to minimize damage or injury.

The Basic Principles note that "everyone is allowed to participate in lawful and peaceful assemblies, in accordance with the principles embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights" and state under Article 13 that "In the dispersal of assemblies that are unlawful but non-violent, law enforcement officials shall avoid the use of force or, where that is not practicable, shall restrict such force to the minimum extent necessary".

AI also pointed to the dangers inherent in the use of projectile weapons, and noted that pepper spray can be harmful in certain cases, particularly when used in large quantities. A number of people have died in the USA after being subjected to pepper spray devices, including a woman in Boston who died in 2004 after being struck in the eye by a pepperball gun.

Background information
No Borders Camp is a group which describes itself as opposing borders. The protest took place at the border fence which separates Calexico in the USA and Mexicali in Mexico. There were also demonstrators on the Mexican side.

No Border Camp Site  

I just got back in Seattle from the Western Regional Conference and have been eagerly awaiting to submit this blog.

Every year I attend the regional and every year I leave the weekend more and more inspired and motivated than before. This year has definitely managed to move me more than any regional, AGM or training before it. Perhaps it is because its my last year participating as National Youth Advisory Committee Rep, or because change is definitely in the air at AI USA or because this movement is crucial today more than ever before. Whatever the reason may be; this trip to San Francisco meant a lot to me as I am sure it meant a lot to all of the activist there.

My time on the NYAC is nearing its end and I was able to discuss the position with possible candidates at the student caucus and throughout the regional. I highly encourage anyone with experience out here in the west that may be interested in taking on this challenging and rewarding position to please contact Njambi Good(ngood@aiusa.org).

The NYAC is a great way to leave your mark on AIUSA by communicating with students in the region, reporting their thoughts to the larger organization and developing your own activism while enhancing the activism of your peers.

Staff and volunteer structures within AI are definitely changing with the implementation of the Strategic Plan. After talking to several people and knowing what I know about the strategic plan; it sounds like the changes will really revolutionize our activism and with the changes we will have a great deal more volunteer opportunities for students and youth.. Keep an eye on the AIUSA website, member news and all of your amnesty contacts for the latest information on the adjustments being made. At the student caucus I had the pleasure of announcing the December launching of a new collaborations with Reebok to send Amnesty Student Activists around the world doing human rights related research. Keep a look out for more news on that! Also, there is an interest in the future of turning the National Youth Advisory Committee into larger Leadership Council representing students/youth/faculty advisors and young professionals to the larger AI body.

Finally, it seems this years conference was definitely in the shadow of human rights atrocities taking place in Pakistan, Burma, Sudan and even here in the US. The message was clear and important: our movement is crucial and our activism vital to bringing about change. We are not just people signing a petition and hoping for the best. We are students, youth, leaders, young professionals all joined in a movement to end injustice, bring about peace and spread respect for human dignity worldwide.

If you did not have a chance to attend your regional, please connect with AI staff or volunteer leaders to get the latest information and resources distributed at the conference. If you want to hear more about the opportunities I mention in this blog please feel free to contact me at eleazar.juarez@gmail.com

In Solidarity,

Eleazar Juarez

Visite: http://www.jaguaresmx.com/ para más información.

Hola Aliados!

Whos coming to the Western Regional Conference this weekend in San Francisco? 

Aliados and The National Youth Advisory Committee(NYAC) will be hosting the Student Caucus on Saturday from 12:45 to 2:00! 

 The Caucus will be a chill, fun and informative gathering of youth in the Western Region. If youre heading out to the Regional make sure to use the Student Caucus for what its best known for...  student/youth networking.

Not only will you get to mingle with other activist doing awesome work in their communities, but youll learn about Aliados and The NYAC as well as get a chance to meet and greet with AI USA's Executive Director Larry Cox. 

If you are in another region post a comment here and let us know what you thought about your regional conference! Let me know if you'll be there so we can meet up!

Safe travels!

-Eleazar