Student Activism

The holiday season is here and the year now winds down; some folks have a few more days of finals; and I personally can say there is a lot going on for me, especially when adding Amnesty to the equation.

But we at Amnesty want to make sure that your holiday is extra special.  Below, we have some tips for activist health, so you won't burn out over the holidays. We're going to need you in 2007!

Enjoy the Ride

• Take a moment to celebrate
• Appreciate others
• Recognize the benchmark of success
• Have fun and keep a good sense of humor
• Laugh
• Maintain a positive outlook

Know "No"

• Learn when to say "no"
• Learn when to stop
• Take real breaks - don't be reachable 24/7
• Learn how to convey limits without guilt or shame
• Ask for support from people around you

Think/Act Holistically

• Take care of yourself emotionally/mentally, spiritually, and physically
• Develop healthy habits and routines/practices
• Develop structure to your life and work

Happy Holidays,

Corey

National Student & Youth Program Blog Team

Bringing Human Rights in the New Year!!

Before you know it, 2007 will be here. In reflection of 2006, we have seen many successes on Human Rights including the release of Prisoners of Conscience, successful district-lobbying on Darfur, and much more. There are also many challenges facing human rights, from the Miltary Commissions Act's passage, to the Death Penalty Referendum's passage in Wisconsin.

We couldn't have had any of the success we have had this year without you, the activist. In 2007, Amnesty International will continue the momentum - only stronger and more strategic than ever. But WE need YOU the activist to make it a reality

Because again, it's YOU folks that are the heart and soul of the movement. So this New Year make a human rights resolution. Get creative, spread the word, commit to human rights in the New Year. Please do send any resolutions you or your group make to mailto:youth@aiusa.org, so we can share with others.

Happy Holidays,

Corey

National Student & Youth Program Blog Team

Bringing Human Rights in the New Year!!

Before you know it, 2007 will be here. In reflection of 2006, we have seen many successes on Human Rights including the release of Prisoners of Conscience, successful district-lobbying on Darfur, and much more. There are also many challenges facing human rights, from the Miltary Commissions Act's passage, to the Death Penalty Referendum's passage in Wisconsin.

But we couldn't have had any of the success we have had this year without you, the activist. In 2007, Amnesty International will continue the momentum - only stronger and more strategic than ever. But WE need YOU the activist to make it a reality

Because again, it's YOU folks that are the heart and soul of the movement. So this New Years make a human rights resolution. Get creative, spread the word, commit to human rights in the New Year. Please do send any resolutions you or your group make to mailto:youth@aiusa.org_, so we can share with others.

Happy Holidays,

Corey

National Student & Youth Program Blog Team

Amnesty International and Global Witness encourage you to watch the film, Blood Diamonds.

Blood diamonds currently fuel conflict and violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and have led to over 4 million deaths and millions of displaced people in Angola, Sierra Leone, the DRC, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast. International diamond dealers buy diamonds, and rebel groups use the profits to buy large quantities of small arms. (Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths of children, women, and men). "Blood diamonds have been used by rebel groups to fuel brutal wars in Africa." 

The diamond industry was worth $60 billion in 2005. The industry agreed to police itself through the Kimberley-Process - intended to halt trade in conflict diamonds - but the Kimberley Process is ineffective. "Governments have let the industry off the hook, failing to account over the trade in blood diamonds." Diamond companies are able to take advantage of weak governments, to circumvent any diamond trade regulations, including trade that leads to violent and deadly conflict.

Many diamond-rich countries are extremely poor and people are not benefiting from the wealth in their soil. Diamond fields are rife with chaos and instability, and rebel groups and terrorists can still take advantage and access diamonds. The Kimberley Process means little to hundreds of thousands of men and children digging for diamonds in dangerous, dirty and difficult conditions in Africa. They often earn less than a dollar a day from artisanal mining, carried out with simple picks, shovels and sieves.  From Conflict Diamonds: What's Happening Now

Watch Blood Diamonds to learn more. Send a letter to your government representatives that urges them take action to stop diamond trade that leads to conflict, and to support the Kimberly Process. If or when you buy diamonds, make sure they are not conflict diamonds.

peace,

Nadine

As my time at Amnesty International comes to an end I would like to reflect on all the things I learned this semester.  The interaction that I have had with student groups and young Amnesty members has shown me the importance of youth within the human rights movement. The initiative that is taken by young people to raise awareness about human rights violations is astounding. The dedication and motivation of young activists shows the world that we desperately care about these important issues and are willing to work hard to solve them.

As the Global Write-a-thon (Dec. 8-10) and Human Rights Day (Dec.10) quickly approaches, now is an excellent time to plan a large event for your community or student organization. Plan a letter writing party that features food, movies, and discussions as a way to educate other about prisoners of conscience. You work will show that young people can be leaders in the human rights movement.

I would also like to encourage young activist to maintain their support of the human rights movement long after you graduate from high school or college and are no longer a part of the student Amnesty group. There are many ways to stay involved; become a volunteer in a regional Amnesty group, mobilize others in your community around a current issue that you think should have more global attention, sign up for Generation Activist and connect yourself with other human rights activist in your area. There are hundreds of possibilities so go out there and get (and stay) involved.

Later,

Veronica

In observance on Human Rights Day (Dec. 10^th), many local and campus Amnesty chapters will be participating in a Global Write-A-Thon event. In the days leading up to Human Rights Day, there will be a world-wide movement to help seed human rights awareness and to help free prisoners of conscious. Amnesty chapters throughout the world will be holding letter writing events to let authorities of different nations know that human right activists are aware of the prisoners of consciousness lingering in their prisons. Letters also let the multitudes of prisoners know that they are not alone or forgotten, that we are working to free them. Writing letters is very important because it has lead to releasing of prisoners and helps prisoners maintain hope.

I you want to be a source of hope for a prisoner of conscious, learn more about the Global Write-A-Thon. Also, to locate an Amnesty chapter near you that is conducting a letter writing event, visit the Write-A-Thon Events website.

Holding a Write-A-Thon event in you community is a great way to recognize Human Rights Day, but it is also a great way to bring people together for the holiday season. This is a wonderful time to come together and work towards helping others who desperately need our support.

Peace,

Jihad *)

What kind of America do you believe in? It seems like a simple question. When I posed the question to my friends they gave me a variety of answers about what the responsibilities of the government should be and the image America should present for the rest of the world. I suppose my own beliefs would be different from what other people, including my own friends, thought about their ideal America. But the one thing we agreed on was that American should be a human rights' role model for other nations. I don't believe that America should violate an individual's human rights through unfair detentions with no evidence or formal charges. I also believe that American should not use torture on detainees under any circumstances. I don't want these abuses happening to other people just as I wouldn't want them happening to me.  

Amnesty International's The America I Believe In campaign raises public awareness about inhumane treatment towards prisoners. In October, President George W. Bush signed the Military Commissions Act which will "allow the administration to detain people without charge or without trial, and to withhold legal recourse for anyone labeled an enemy combatant. Furthermore, the law allows the President to define torture any way he wants." We can not let laws like become the norm in practices of the United States government. Sign the America I Believe In pledge to encourage the Unites States government to become a leader of the world in preserving human rights. Then pass the pledge along to your friends.

After signing the pledge, think of others actions that your Amnesty group can complete and raise awareness about unfair detainment and torture issues. Hold a DVD house party of the film Outlawed. Pass along Amnesty's new ‘man on the street' web videos to your friends. Participate in Human Rights Day on December 10^th with activities focused on this issue. There are numerous possibilities. So get out there and teach the world about the America YOU believe in.

Later,

Veronica