Student Activism

Join activists across in the fight to protect the people of Darfur.
Click here to register now, and make a difference.

student activism | Darfur | online action | human rights

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Since September of 2005, between 50,000 and 75,000 people in Chad have been displaced along the border with Sudan. Around 15,000 have actually moved into Darfur to escape the Janjawid presence in Chad. Because they are defenseless against armed groups, many civilians have been recruited into their ranks. To make matters worse, Janjawid militias have increasingly been working with Chadian armed groups to spread the violence.

At an African Union summit meeting this week Amnesty International calls on the international community and the AU in particular to take action to protect civilians from this violence. The United States must keep its promise to support the African Union and United Nations peacekeeping forces, which Sudan has been blocking.

To read Amnesty's new report, click here.

To test your knowledge of the conflict in Darfur take our quiz.

student activism | Darfur | online action | human rights

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Hello everyone! I'm Laura, another member of the AI student and youth team. As a National Student and Youth Program intern this summer I work on projects like the Youth Activist Kollege, this blog, and the Young Professionals Initiative (as well as fun lobbying experiences like the one I wrote about below). I am a junior Spanish and Anthropology major at the University of Maryland in College Park. As the group coordinator of the UMCP chapter of Amnesty, I know that students are the real force behind the movement, so I'm excited to be working here for all of you. Like my girl Erica down there, I love to hear your comments on our blog so post away! Peace,

Laura

This is the story of one victim of extraodinary rendition by the US government. For background information on extraordinary rendition, check out the Air Torture website.

Salah 'Ali Qaru, a Yemeni national, was living in Jakarta, Indonesia, with his Indonesian wife Aisha when he was arrested on August 19, 2003, while out shopping. After being held in Jakarta for four days, he was sent to the detention facilities of the Jordanian intelligence service in Amman, Jordan, and tortured for another four days. He reports being routinely beaten by Jordanian officials, spat upon, verbally abused and threatened with sexual abuse and electric shocks.

From Jordan he was transferred into US custody, and for the next year and a half, Salah ‘Ali Qaru was detained without charge or trial in three unknown locations, probably in Afghanistan and Eastern Europe. The entire time, Salah ‘Ali Qaru was never told why he was detained. He was held in solitary confinement with no access to family, lawyers, diplomatic representatives, visits from the Committee of the Red Cross or contact with other detainees.

On May 5th, 2005, without explanation, Salah ‘Ali Qaru was released from secret detention and flown to Yemen, where he was detained in the central prison of Aden, even though he was never charged or tried with any terrorism related offense. The Yemeni authorities admit they had no reason to hold him and told Amnesty International delegates that he was held at the request of US authorities. Salah ‘Ali Qaru was released at midnight on March 27/28, 2006 from the central prison in Aden, Yeman, two and a half years after his arrest. 

Salah 'Ali Qaru's life was completely disrupted and forever changed.  He does not know if he will have the money or permission to return to his wife in Indonesia, as he was given instructions to report to the government every month and not to leave Aden without permission. He fears he will remain stigmatized as a security risk for the rest of his life, although he was never charged with a terrorist offense. He continues to suffer the dire mental and physical health consequences of torture and ill-treatment.

The world is calling for the investigation of the US government's practice of extraordinary rendition, which the UN has found to be in violation of the Convention on Torture. To take action, visit the Air Torture website where you will find pre-written letters to be sent to congressmen and President Bush, among other ways to get involved.

student activism | torture | extraordinary rendition | human rights

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Hello Student Activism Blog readers!  Do you ever wonder who writes this thing?  We figured you might, so we thought we'd introduce ourselves and put some faces behind our posts.  My name is Erica and I work with Amnesty International's National Student and Youth Program, and I'm one third of the team that's responsible for writing this blog.  Over the next week or so, you'll be hearing from the other writers, Zodiac and Laura, but for now I'll tell you a little bit about myself.

Like I said, my name is Erica and I'm a student at George Washington University studying Political Communication.  I've been working at Amnesty since January on projects like the On Campus Film Festival, the National Week of Student Action, and the upcoming YAK conference.  I'm originally from Baltimore, where I've lived all my life, but will be venturing out next semester to study in Spain.  I'd love to hear from you, so feel free to comment anytime.  Have a great day!

Yesterday was the UN's day in Solidarity with Survivors of Torture, and AI members and supporters from all over the country came to lobby their senators and representatives on the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act. My first lobbying lesson was christened with the record-breaking downpour that flooded D.C. and closed several metro stations.

With the nation's capital in a frenzy over the rain and transportation issues, the AI staff walked us through the facts of the bill and gave us the pep talk we needed to walk into our elected officials' offices with confidence. My fellow Marylanders and I decided who would present which points, and we did a quick practice run of the meeting. Our group included a middle aged businessman who was nervous and stuttering because he had never lobbied before, as well as a recent high school graduate who had already done it twice. After a 20 minute walk in killer heels, we got to the Hart Senate Office Building and met up with the other local activists outside Senator Barbara Mikulski's door.

There were about 8 of us in the lobby group altogether, and it would have been overwhelming for the aide if we had all been talking, so I was glad we planned who would say what. We met with the senator's legislative aide on human rights who listened to our concerns and assured us that Senator Mikulski was supportive of the issue. She already knew a lot about the bill so we didn't have to test our knowledge by giving her a recap, although with all of the preparation that AI gave us we easily could have. We asked that Senator Mikulski cosponsor the bill, or at least take some other action in support of it, such as writing a letter to President Bush, and we promised that we would follow up in a couple weeks.

Despite the inevitable roadblocks like weather and painful shoes, the day was a success. The legislative aide was very approachable and open to our concerns, and I realized that we are all capable of letting our representatives know what's important to us. When officials hear from their constituents they are more likely to fight for the issues that matter most to them, so make your voice heard. To learn more about lobbying visit AI's Lobbying page.

Sigh the petition today, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, in calling on President Bush to end the practice of outsourcing torture and bring the United States into compliance with its legal obligations!

We are concerned by the practice of "extraordinary renditions" in which the United States is transferring individuals for detention and interrogation to countries with a substantial record of using torture. US legal obligations under federal law and international treaties prohibit the transfer of any person to any country where they are likely to face torture. Nonetheless, the US Government is reported to have sent or been complicit in sending individuals to countries like Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Morocco, countries that the Department of State has criticized for practicing torture.

The administration has defended the practice of "extraordinary renditions" by stating that the US receives "assurances" that detainees will not be subjected to torture or inhuman treatment. However, assurances from countries with a long and well documented history of torture is inadequate. In its review of the United States' compliance with the Torture Convention, the UN Committee Against Torture rejected the use of such assurances, and also found that the practice of rendition to countries with a record of torture violates US obligations under the treaty.

student activism | torture | extraordinary renditions | human rights

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If you're looking for some entertainment this weekend, check out Road to Guantanamo, now playing in select cities. It tells the story of the Tipton Three, young British Muslims held without charge in Guantanamo for 2 years. It's already looking likely to be more controversial than a Michael Moore film, but harder to ignore because its content is based on facts and in the papers every day.

Critics say: "the film has a winning combo of excitement and topicality that should get it rolling through international theaters, backed by critical support and press coverage." (Variety.com)

And my personal favorite: "Released and sent back to Pakistan, the Three - who start out as seemingly apolitical and not especially devout wide boys - are greeted as heroic martyrs and paraded through the streets in full Muslim finery. And it's with this image that Winterbottom pushes his final and most powerful argument, about how a place such as Guantánamo, where international law and human rights seem to break down, will strengthen far more voices of dissent than it can ever hope to stifle" from UK's Telegraph.

For showtimes at a theater near you check out MovieFone's page.

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Today, June 20th, is World Refugee Day.  On this day it is important to raise awarness about the thousands of people who have been displaced and are seeking asylum in the United States and other countries around the world.  It is crucial that international governments recognize their responsibility to protect these people and their most basic rights, a responsibility that is far too often ignored.  Take some time today to support World Refugee Day.  Here are some great actions that Amnesty has created which you can use to get started.

On June 15, congress passed $173 million in emergency funding for African Union and United Nations peacekeeping forces in Darfur, Sudan. This marks an important step forward in ending the conflict, but there is still a long way to go. If we can keep up support like this we can keep hope alive for the millions still suffering in Sudan.  

To thank your members of congress for their support visit the Genocide Intervention Network's website. To learn more, read Amnesty's latest statement on this issue, or check out the Washington Post's coverage.

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We are collecting photos and self portraits from around the world for our Million Faces petition to send a powerful, global message to the world's governments at the UN Arms Conference in just 9 days.  We have collected over 960,000 faces, help us reach our goal by submitting a photo or sketching a self portrait online!

Learn more about how the lack of controls on the arms trade is fuelling conflict, poverty and human rights abuses worldwide. Every government is responsible, which is why the Control Arms campaign is asking governments to toughen up controls on the arms trade with a global treaty. Stand up for Arms Control and be apart of our goal of One Million Faces!

See some submissions from students at Ashland High School on our blog or check out the gallery of other concerned citizens from around the world!

student activism | arms control | million faces | human rights

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Next Tuesday, June 20th, is World Refugee Day. Educate yourself about Amnesty’s refugee work then test your knowledge with this quiz.

Once you're in the know, take this important issue to the streets on World Refugee Day! Here are some great ideas for actions like book drives or movie screenings.  Or, contact your Regional Office to see what’s going on in your area.

As always, we'd love to hear what you're doing - make a comment on this blog or send us a line or a photo of your World Refugee Activities.

Come back in July for actions related to the Sudanese refugee crisis in Chad.

student activism | refugees | human rights

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Join us in calling for the closure of the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay, an independent investigation into recent deaths, and an end to the policy of indefinite and arbitrary detention of alleged terrorism suspects! Send a letter to Donald Rumsfeld and George W. Bush from our Online Action Center!

 The detention facilities of the US Navel Station at Guantanamo Bay are currently under fire by UN officials for continued violations of the human rights of detainees. The facility is holding over 460 men from roughly 35 countries, some in their fifth year of detention, while only 10 have been charged with a crime. The UN Committee Against Torture is calling for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay facility, as indefinite detention without charge is a violation of the Convention Against Torture.  

Some of the detainees were picked up off the battlefield of Afghanistan, while others were sold to US forces by Afghani warlords and Pakistani officials. After labeling them enemy combatants, the Bush Administration denied them rights under US and international law. Without a legitimate opportunity to challenge their detention, detainees are becoming increasingly frustrated. On June 10th, three detainees were reported to have committed suicide. Numbers of detainees on hunger strikes has risen to 89, which has been met by the use of restraint chairs to facilitate force feeding. More information on the hot issues around the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities.

student activism | Guantanamo Bay | torture | human rights

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Have you seen our MySpace account recently?  It looks great, all thanks to Brian Glasscock of Salinas, CA.  Brian did an awesome job at revamping the site to include video clips, a new featured song, and a ton of amazing graphics work.  Check it out at MySpace, and if you're on MySpace, don't forget to friend us!  That's not all Brian's done for Amnesty though, his school group's website is equally as cool, take a look at their page.  Thanks again Brian, you're the best!

TAKE ACTION NOW- send a letter to German officials urging them to prevent crimes of human trafficking this summer during the World Cup games.

Today kicked off the first game of the FIFA World Cup. It's the event of the year for countries around the world, and it should be a time of celebration for fans everywhere. But for the 30,000-60,000 women and girls being trafficked to Germany to service the million men coming in to see the games, it means sexual exploitation, forced labor, and abuse.

Amnesty International is calling on the European Union, and Germany in particular, to try to prevent this crime and raise awareness among sports fans about the situation. To learn more about the problem check out AIUSA's Human Trafficking page. Send a letter to German officials now voicing your concern for the women and girls being trafficked.

student activism | human rights | human trafficking | world cup

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This call for volunteers comes from the Control Arms website:

Volunteer at AIUSA events during the UN conference in New York June 26th - July 7th! The crucial UN conference on small arms and light weapons begins on June 26th 2006 and takes place in New York City. Control Arms campaigning activities and events will be happening throughout the 2 week conference across the city. These include: the delivery of the million faces petition to Kofi Annan on Monday June 26th a concert on June 28th, a film festival, and a photo exhibition. If you’d like to volunteer at one or more of these events, please send your name and dates your available to Carol at controlarms@aiusa.org

student activism | human rights| arms control

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For everyone wishing they could be at the real World Cup games here is a great alternative. At the Control Arms World Cup website you can choose your seat in the Million Faces Stadium. You get to create your own persona- complete with glasses and facial hair if you wish- and send a message demanding an arms control treaty (and maybe rooting for your favorite team).

student activism | human rights| arms control| world cup

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Due to the ongoing atrocities in Darfur, Sudan, Amnesty International has initiated a three month-long period of "crisis response," increasing resources and work on the issue. The situation is getting worse, so it's time for AI to step up its action.

Visit our website to learn more about the conflict in Sudan, and don't forget to TAKE ACTION NOW!

Click on the text below to visit the website of the Save Darfur coalition for additional information.

student activism | human rights| darfur

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In the spirit of Torture Awareness Month, members of AI and other organizations will be lobbying on June 26 in support of H.R. 952. Making your voice heard in Washington is crucial to bringing about the changes that this country needs. But to be effective you have to be informed. So here's the basic info you should know about H.R. 952, the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act:

-It states that torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment (CID) is prohibited in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention Against Torture, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, among others

-It states that Amnesty International has received reports of 200-300 individuals being sent to 3rd countries where they were tortured

-It asks the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to make a list of countries practicing torture/CID

-It asks that these countries demonstrate verifiable proof that they aren't committing torture/CID, such as by allowing AI to investigate

Sign up to lobby your rep in their district or in D.C. at www.tortureawareness.org

student activism | human rights| torture

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June may be the start of hurricane season, reminding us all about the Katrina crisis, but at AI it's also the month to raise awareness about 2 crucial issues: torture and GLBT rights.

June 26 is the UN's International Day in Support of Survivors and Victims of Torture. In recognition of this day, AI and several other organizations have declared June Torture Awareness Month- check out the website to learn more about torture and extraordinary renditions, see what related events are going on near you, or sign up to lobby on Capitol Hill June 25-26.

June is also Pride Month, and AI's OUTfront is organizing events all over the US and Latin America, including rallies in major cities on June 28. Check out what's happening in your area to get involved, or visit the interpride website. Be sure to snag a HOT pink Make Some Noise tee- especially for Pride Month- while they last!

student activism | human rights| GLBT rights| torture

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Plugged In is a group that organizes teen bands and gives profits from benefit concerts to charity. This year Amnesty International USA will be the lucky recipients. If you live in the area be sure to check it out and support AIUSA and Plugged In's awesome efforts.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the Regent Theatre @ 781-646-4TIX (4849) or online.

For more information please call Sandra at 781-956-4281 or e-mail: srizkallah@comcast.net

student activism | human rights| benefit concerts

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On June 8 the state of Virginia plans to execute Percy Walton, a mentally ill 18 year-old. Take action now by writing to the Gov. Tim Kaine asking him to commute the sentence.

Walton was convicted for the 1996 murder of Elizabeth and Jesse Hendrick, and Archie Moore. He was sentanced to death despite suffering from severe schizophrenia and possible mental retardation.

Read about Amnesty's stand on the death penalty here.  AIUSA's Death Penalty blog.

student activism | death penalty | human rights

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