Student Activism

This summer AIUSA members are sending cards of support to four political activists in Belarus who were detained on February 21.  KGB officers arrested the activists after raiding and searching their workplace, the office of the Initiative Partnership, which was focused on monitoring the upcoming elections. If the detainees, Mikalay Astreyka, Enira Branizkaya, Alyaksandr Shalayka, and Tsimafey Dranchuk, are sentanced to prison AI will consider them prisoners of conscience and demand their immediate release.

Please show your support of the detained activists by sending them letters or cards as part of AIUSA's Summer Postcard Action. For details on what to say and where to send them, check out the Summer Postcard Action '06 website.

To read more about the abuses of human rights in Belarus click here.

student activism | Belarus | human rights

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As you know the dedication and hardwork of activists and volunteers are what keeps AIUSA running.  Here are four ways to get more involved with Amnesty.  It's super important that we have student leaders involved in these committees - if youth make up the vast majority of Amnesty activists we should represent in leadership roles! 

The Program to Abolish the Death Penalty National Steering Commitee  is currently recruiting for three unpaid volunteer leadership positions. One of the openings is for a position that will represent the Western Region. Additionally, there are two other vacant "at-large" positions for which a resident of any region may apply. The position description and information is also available at http://blogs.amnestyusa.org/trackback/12030viw09l9h.  (Applications due June 16th)

Join the Generation Activist Advisory Team.  We are looking for a few passionate individuals to help on an advisory team to engage Amnesty activists between the ages of 22 and 33. This group will contribute imaginative and exciting event and action ideas and help plan and host an event in his or her region. Send an email or call 202-544-0200 x526 ASAP if you're interested.

Become a Student Area Coordinator.  Field Organizers in all of the regions are constantly looking for Student Area Coordinators (SACs) to help keep high school and college groups in touch with each other and in touch with AIUSA.  If you're interested call or email  your Field Organizer at 866-A-REGION or at youth@aiusa.org.  Don't forget to mention the city and state you're representing.

The Washington, DC Women’s Human Rights Action Team is currently seeking two new members for its Coordinating Committee.  The Coordinating Committee consists of volunteer leaders who are responsible for guiding the Action Team in its efforts to promote and protect women’s human rights.  For more information about the DC Women's Human Rights Action Team please visit their website. (Deadline is June 30)

student activism | volunteer | human rights

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Kyle from  Rancho Cucamonga High School in California reports:

Hi, I'm Kyle McNeal, the president of the Amnesty International Club at Rancho Cucamonga High School. I just wanted to let you know what we've been doing in support of the ZUBR group in Belarus. While we were unable to hang jeans in trees or anything like that, we DID have an after school workshop where we made about 100 denim wristbands with phrases such as "ZUBR", "Free Belarus", etc. With these wristbands circulating throughout our school we've been able to have many conversations about events in Belarus, and we think we've helped spread awareness in our community.

Also, although we were unsure the extent to which students in the ZUBR organization spoke English, we had a letter-writing day where we wrote letters of support and encouragement to the people of Belarus. We also included some drawings and a couple denim wristbands. These will be sent within the next few days as soon as the last few letters are completed. We plan to continue to circulate the wristbands.

Well, I just read online that you wanted to know what groups are doing, so that's what we've been up to lately. =D

-Kyle McNeal

Awesome work!!  If you're group wants to let us know what you're doing (Belarus-related or otherwise) make a comment on this blog (click comments below) or send an email to youth@aiusa.org!

Did anyone get to do anything for the Dow Bhopal day?

student activism | Belarus | human rights

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We just got a fantastic package here at the AIUSA offices in Washington, D.C. from Ashland High School in Ashland, Oregon.  They sent in about 50 drawn faces for our Million Faces action to support about our Control Arms campaign.  Go to the Control Arms site to learn more about small arms control and to learn how you can submit your face can be one in a million to stop illegal and irresponsible arms transfers.

Also, don't forget that June 26 is is the United Nations conference on small arms and light weapons.  If you want to participate in actions targeted towards this conference email Colby Goodman.

And now, some of the awesome artwork from Ashland High School.  Thanks guys!

student activism | human rights | control arms

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You've rallied in the streets and you've Made Some Noise for Darfur.  But despite recent developments in Sudan, widespread atrocities continues in the Darfur region. Much of the violence perpetrated in the Darfur conflict has resulted in grave human rights violations against women. Check out Amnesty's new video about Darfur featuring actor Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda, Crash, Ocean's 11 & 12) and  demand justice for women in Darfur.

If you're in the Chicago area, come to a rally and candlelight vigil for the Women of Darfur!  The event will be held at 7:30PM on Thursday, May 25, at the Hutchinson Commons of the University of Chicago.

The rally will be followed at 8:30 by the championship Grand Slam of Slammin’ for Human Rights, AIUSA’s Poetry Slam tour.Join us as the local winners from across the Midwest throw down rhymes for rights. This dazzling display of talents, hosted by renowned slam poet, Kevin Coval, features some of the freshest regional talent speaking up for human rights.  Both events are free and open to the public.

Darfur | Violence Against Women | Student Activism | slam poetry | Chicago

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Let us know what your group is up to!  Either post a comment on the blog or send us an email at youth@aiusa.org

Thanks to Jenny Xie and the students of Irvine High School in Irvine, CA, for completing the Denim Revolution action in the last High School Action Pack.  They created a denim display in solidarity with the Denim Revolution and the ZUBR student group in Belarus.  If you're interested in doing more to show support in Belarus, read about and send a letter to the Belarusian student, Mikita Sasam.  He is currently undergoing trial and if he is sentenced Amnesty International will consider him a prisoner of consicence.   The Irvine High School group sent the message and picture below:

"Your movement for democracy and justice has inspired us--keep it strong! "

student activism | Belarus

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We just got back from the AGM in Portland - and it was amazing!  It was very cool to see all of Amnesty's youth activist in effect.    We met a lot of students who are doing amazing things for Amnesty on their campuses, including students from Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, NJ who have 200 students in their Amnesty group!!

Highlights from the AGM include:

- the t-shirt making session in the Student Lounge - lots of creativity on display!  See below for pictures.
- the Student Networking Lunch - tons of students came - the room was packed!
- the Save Darfur concert rocked.  We loved all of the acts which included Youth Movement Records, March Forth Marching Band, Suzanne Vega, Collective Soul, Tom Morello from Audioslave and Incubus.  Some Portland students even came after their prom in time to check out Incubus' acoustic set.  Mira Sorvino was also there to rally the crowd and Make Some Noise about the dire situation in Darfur

We are putting ALL our photos from the AGM Student Lounge on  Flickr under "Amnesty International" - if you have any Amnesty you should upload them and make them available to all!

Share your comments about the AGM with us!

 Tasha Weber & Camara Bedell-Stiles from Portland, OR show off the shirts they made

Josh Srednicki from Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, NJ
 
Loren Heinbach, Chair of the National Campus Advisory Committee and student at Penn State.
 

student activism

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