Student Activism

Hello Everyone,

Congratulations on the amazing efforts during the Global Write-a-thon.  Of course its still not too late to add your letter to the over 80,000 pledged to help human rights victims all around the world.  Amnesty International usually requests members to right letters to leaders and make demands to ensure that governments and individual act in the name of human rights.  This holiday season, we are also taking the time to send cards of support that go directly to individuals who are dealing with harrassment, unfair imprisonment, and ill-treatment.

Regardless of religious orientation, everyone enjoys to be wished a happy holiday and to be sent words of encouragement from people thinking of them no matter how far away.  Join Amnesty International in the Holiday Card Action to share the holiday goodwill to those who need it the most. 

 » Let them know they are not forgotten

You can read profiles of individuals punished for fighting for their human rights from the link above.

Both installments of the Holiday Action Card Guide as well as updates from the card recipients of 2006 are also available to download.

2007 Holiday Card Action (1st half) | (2nd half) | 2006 Holiday Card Action Update (pdf)

 Thanks for you time, and keep spreading the goodwill this holiday season.

-Allison

Dear Youth Activists,

First, let me greet you and say Happy International Human Rights Day! Around the world on this day, individuals, organizations and governments remember the historic signing of the International Declaration of Human Rights. 

But what is the meaning of reflecting on such a document? After all, as activists, we of all people know it takes a lot more than a piece of paper to protect fundamental freedoms that each person on our small planet deserve!

To truly reaffirm the vision that was manifest in the UDHR, perhaps we should re-examine our own activism for a minute- how can we be more affective as activists? As activists in the U.S., can we find solidarity with diverse campaigns, individuals and struggles which are not our own? How do we use our own human rights to change destructive policies of our own government? Even though we're busy looking to help others elsewhere, are we attentive enough to call out the human rights abuses we see in our own communities?

If we are able to truly internalize what it means to be a human rights activist, we realize it does not simply mean denouncing injustice, and creating change to end atrocities. It means continually questioning ourselves in our methods and approach: are we attacking the root of the problem or calling attention to a symptom? When we denounce torture of Guantánmo detainees, are we preventing this from happening again down the road?  When we denounce warlords for recruiting child soldiers, do we always stop to think of what U.S. economic policies might be causing the conflict in the first place?

Perhaps Human Rights Day has come and gone for you in the years past without much activity, or even thought towards what it means to you.  But I challenge you, this year, to examine your own power- you're very powerful to create change! You know what you're passionate about already- what can you do for this issue in one year? One month? One day?

What kind of change you create will be up to you, but in the same way that artistic expression is always individually unique, your passion will lead you to create change which is unlike that of anyone else.  Our duty as activists, here on this Human Rights Day 2007, is to join the world in promising ourselves and others that we will keep this channel open, we will listen to ourselves, and the meaning behind a document describing not just Civil and Political Rights, but Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Warm wishes from the National Youth Advisory Committee for peaceful holidays, and an energizing new year of activism! Reaffirm your commitment to human rights, by becoming a member today!

Hannah L. Dunphy

Chair/ Northeast Representative

National Youth Advisory Committee

PS. To leave you psyched for another year of activism with AIUSA, check out some of our successes. 

Hey Everyone!

A couple weekends ago, November 16th to be exact, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference was kicked off in Baltimore, MD! Much like the Western Regional Conference you heard Eleazar talk about earlier, the Mid-Atlantic regional is always an inspiring and motivational experience. This year we had a GREAT turnout, with more students than I ever remember being in attendance.

In the opening plenary, we listened to Amy Goodman from Democracy Now speak of the state of the world and our own situation in the US. Honestly, if you haven't heard her speak, I HIGHLY recommend it. She has such intensity, it's contagious. It was wonderful way to start the morning.

Later in the afternoon, there was a youth/student caucus put on by the NYAC members who were there (Anne Schaufele and I). We basically just introduced ourselves and then opened up the lunch to some constructive networking, which went quite well. One girl made a video about her chapter's Fair Trade coffee campaign and was able to solicit votes for a contest she had entered it in. Just another Amnesty activist doing their part!

On Saturday afternoon, everyone got an awesome opportunity to do some genuine human rights work. Amnesty hosted a Death Penalty Abolition Rally at Maryland's Supermax Prison. It was some student's first rally and very exciting.

Overall the Conference was a success; the workshops were interesting, the speakers were inspiring, and the members were on task and ready for action! Okay that's all from me for now, take it easy and keep it real!

- Rox

Roxanne Lepore, Mid-Atlantic National Youth Advisory Council

Dear Student Activists,

Justice Without Borders (35 minutes, 2007) is a documentary film by Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), produced by Skylight Pictures. The film explores the global movement seeking justice and accountability for the most grave human rights abuses.  Pre-screenings have been taking place across the country, but now you can bring it to your local community!

You can host a ScreeningActivists across the U.S. are organizing Justice Without Borders screenings to mobilize local action for international justice and accountability.  Check out the links below to preview the film and find out more. 

» Sign up now to host a screening and receive your copy of the film!
» Learn more about the project on the Justice Without Borders site   

The AIUSA Program for International Justice and Accountability supports local efforts as part of the missionto build an active and vocal constituency in the U.S. for international justice. Amnesty International believes that by working together, we can break down the walls of impunity and build a world in which no one - no matter their title or position of power - evades justice for the most grave human rights crimes.

A screening of this film would be a great supplement for any International Justice and Accountability action or even a letter writing party.  For instance, AI Group 27 in Brooklyn will host a Holiday Card Action & Film Screening with a presentation by AJ Jackson (Amnesty's NYC International Justice & Accountability Anchor) on December 11th, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Flying Saucer Cafe
494 Atlantic Ave.
(b/t 3rd Ave. & Nevins)
Brooklyn, NY

Keep an eye out for this film on our On-Campus Film Festival Library list as well, and consider showing this as a great introduction into one facet of Amnesty's work at your next student-run film festival.

Thanks,

Allison Kole

On-Campus Film Festival Coordinator

Last year in Saudi Arabia a 19 year-old woman was repeatedly raped by three of the seven men who kidnapped her...all because she rode in a car with a member of the opposite sex, who was not an immediate family member (known as Khilwa).  Although the gang of men were apprehended and sentenced, under Shariah law, the woman was also convicted and sentenced to 90 lashes. 

Last month in response to the appeal brought by the "Girl of Qatif", a Saudi court increased her sentence to 200 lashes and six months in jail. 

Amnesty believes the criminalization of Khilwa is inconsistent with international human rights standards, in particular, an individual's right to privacy. 

Take action now and write a letter to leaders in Saudi Arabia, asking them to retract the woman's sentence, end the sentencing of Khilwa against women and stop the use of flogging in judicial punishment. 

Make your voice heard!  Stand up for human rights now! 

-Tiffany

Dear Student Activists,

I would like to tell you about an innovative outreach tool being used by a Mid-West Region local group.  Amnesty International USA Group 86 hosts regular human rights reports and discussions on a local radio station in Cincinatti, Ohio. In addition, the group's aiusa86 website contains past audio reports and talks so those outside of the broadcast area can check it out.  This month, you can tune in to WAIF 88.3 FM's International Hour on December 8^th from 12-1pm. 

LISTEN NOW at: http://www.waifstream.com/

Student run radio and television stations are always looking to fill time slots.  Why not get your group's agenda on the ears of the student body?  Maybe you can gain some experience in media as well.  Why not conduct a show in Spanish, or a language that might tap into a new community for your group's work?  After all of these years, radio is still alive and well, why not use this time-tested medium to get the word out and generate some dialogue on AIUSA issues. 

You can find out more tips on using media to Move Your Message from AIUSA resources or your University's journalism or telecommunications programs. 

Thanks for your great work AIUSA Group 86!

Best of Luck,

Allison

Global Telecast on CNN 

This Thursday, Dec.6th at 9pm EST three individuals selected for extraordinary achievement in the fight for justice and human rights will be honored by CNN.  One of the honorees is Pablo Fajardo, the lead lawyer defending indigenous communities in Ecuador against the Chevron Corporation, for environmental destruction connected to Texaco (now owned by Chevron). 

BACKGROUND

"Our health has been damaged seriously by the contamination caused by Texaco. Many people in our community now have red stains on their skin and others have been vomiting and fainting. Some little children have died because their parents did not know they should not drink the river water." Excerpt: Affidavit of the Secoya tribe given by Elias Piaguaie -Aguinda, et al v. Texaco Inc. - Case # 93-CV-7527.

From 1964 to 1992 Texaco (now Chevron) built and operated oil exploration and production facilities in the northern region of the Ecuadorian Amazon, known as the "Oriente", and allegedly disposed of toxic formation water into pits, swamps, creeks and rivers.  The amount of crude dumped was 30x greater than the Exxon Valdez disaster. 

Texaco/Chevron's disregard for human and environmental rights has had the following disastrous impacts:  

1. Severe health effects such as, rising levels of cancer, reproductive problems and birth defects

2. Displacement of indigenous communities from their traditional homelands

3. Destruction of more than 10,000,000 square meters of irreplaceable rainforests adjacent to pipelines and production facilities

4. Pollution of a region 3x size of Manhattan with more than 600 open toxic waste pits. To this day, outdated and unlined dumps continue to leak, polluting rivers and streams used by more than 30,000 people for drinking water, cooking, bathing and fishing

Get informed and tune in to CNN this Thursday!   

Learn more about Pablo in the May 2007 Vanity Fair article,Jungle Law.

Learn more about Amnesty's campaign to hold Chevron accountable in Ecuador

For more information contact corpaction@aiusa.org