Amnesty International-Amherst, MA

Amnesty Chant

2010-11-06T20:03:00.003-04:00

A cheerfull artistic way to motivate people to stand by our information table @ the Amherst Farmers Market

Amnesty Chant
by

Yosra & Kassandra
Holyoke High School, MA

Sign-up @ the Amnesty desk (clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
And if you do we will handle the rest (clap x5)
Free some prisoners because it's right (clap x5)
And if you do it will make their lives (clap x5)

Another Successful Event...!

2010-09-22T13:55:00.005-04:00

Thanks to all who made the Fundraiser Tag Sale a successful event that netted us over $500 in 5 hours!

This is a good net revenue especially in this difficult economic time...
Again like in last year's Tag Sale, books sold very good (thanks for the good titles our dear member Nigel and others picked @ the Amherst Book Recycling Ctr).

The low price strategy attracted more students, major customers at any Tag sale in the begining of the school year....

Petitions/information table was another success and donation put in the Stamps jar was over $3... We forgot this year to have Greeting Cards available on the table to write and mail to our POC, Karim Amer (sorry Karim, we hope to send you one when you are free, soon Inshalla!).

Thanks to our elected State legislators, Rep Ellen Story and Senator Stan Rosenberg for continuing to

show their commitment to human rights and support to Amnesty International. Both legislators gave powerful speech and saluted Amnesty International on its 50th Anniversary, and the 32 anniversary of the local chapter

A brief video of their talk will be posted here later.

We also want to remind our members and other human rights activists in the area that the

2010 Northeast Regional Conference will be held on Boston University Campus on Sat Nov 13th. We are hoping many will be able to attend this important event.
The Conference will be divided into workshops and of them will be focusing on auung Sun Su Kyi, one of our adopted POC cases.

Conference registration :

$40 Regular

$30 Students, seniors, Limited Income

Registration Deadline is Mon, Nove 1, 2010

Our Annual Fundraise Tag Sale

2010-09-03T13:02:00.002-04:00

For Immediate Release---
AMHERST MA, AUGUST 27, 2010.

THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL TAG SALE ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 9 AM TO 2 PM, ON THE AMHERST TOWN COMMON.

Starting at 11 am during the tag sale on the Common, the Amherst area chapter, called Group 128-AIUSA, will pause for a short interval to anticipate and acclaim the approaching Amnesty anniversaries, the 50th of Amnesty International and the 20th of Group 128, both occurring in early 2011. State Senator Stan Rosenberg and state Representative Ellen Story will join us and say a few words to commemorate the occasion. US Representative John Olver, and the Chairman of the Amherst Human Rights Commission, Winslow Reynolds, have also been invited.
The anniversary in 2011 of Group 128 actually can be regarded its 33rd because its forerunner existed since spring of 1978 as a handful of townspeople and students assembled to bring public awareness to human rights abuses and prisoners of conscience. The group grew, was then assisted by Amnesty's New England coordinator, and officially became an AIUSA affiliate in 1991, with many of the original 1978 participants as charter members.
The current coordinator of Group 128, Mohamed Elgadi, now a US citizen and resident of Amherst, was himself a prisoner in Sudan where he endured torture at the hands of that repressive regime, which is still in power. He attests to the effectiveness of Amnesty's actions, remarking that it was after AI brought attention to his and others' situation in Sudan in 1992 that there was amelioration of their ordeal, and he suggests that their eventual release may in large part be due to AI.
The Amnesty International website (www.amnestyusa.org) likewise reports that the work of AI had the effect of moderating severe treatment, and even bringing about a just resolution, in a number of cases.
Every other Saturday from May to November, Group 128-AIUSA has a table on Amherst Common to collect signatures on petitions opposing human rights abuses, death penalties, state terrorism tactics, and supporting prisoners of conscience--among a long list: Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, Karim Amer of Egypt, Birtukan Mideksa of Ethiopia--and to ask for letters to be composed and sent as encouragement to these prisoners seeking justice. When a passerby comments occasionally that these petitions have no effect, Group 128 volunteers often point to the specific experience of Mohamed Elgadi. The next Saturday table days are September 4 and 18, 11 am to 1 pm.
Anyone wishing to donate items for the sale, or to learn about the work of Group 128-AIUSA, can
contact coordinator, Mohamed Elgadi, at mohamedelgadi@yahoo.com

Political Prisoners on Hunger Strike in Chile

2010-08-21T20:51:00.003-04:00

Ester, Ismail, and Cylvanna during one of the Group-128 activities in downtown Amherst.

In the last meeting of the Chapter, the Chilean-American member Ester Orellana, updated the group on the hunger strike of the Mapuche political prisoners in Chile.

"Since the 12th July 31 Mapuche political prisoners have been on hunger strike in the Chilean prisons of Concepcion, Temuco, Valdivia, Angol and Lebu. The political prisoners are demanding the right to a fair legal process, the application of an objective and impartial system of justice and, in particular, the abolition of the anti-terrorist law."

For more information on this urgent case see this link:
http://www.mapuche.info/?kat=8&sida=788

Activities in Aug

2010-08-14T14:51:00.005-04:00

So far we are having a good successful 'tabling' events @ the Amherst Farmers Market.

Our Aug 7 table witnessed good crowd of a diverse poulation from many different towns (and states) who usually come to the popular Farmers market.

We were joined last week by a group of activists from the

Sudanese immigrants community of upstate NY (Albany, Schenectidy, Troy, and Cobblskill).

They came to visit to learn from our experience how to start a similar 'tabling activity' in their towns that service issues of their interest.

"I think I will be able to start something like this" said Osman who work in a neighborhood store in Albany and was thinking to have an Information table once a month @ his store. Our active member, Martha, encouraged him and offer to provide clipboard and a starting kit.

Our next table will be on 8/21 @ the same place 11am and followed by our monthly meeting @ 1pm.

August Tabling dates

2010-08-01T22:27:00.005-04:00

* August 7 is our first Table this month (we will be tabling with Western Mass. Darfur Coalition). Coordinated by Fanny & Mohamed

August 21 is our second table (coordinated by Nigel & Ismael

Don't forget our annual fundraise Tag Sale is September 12 (Sun).

Justice urged for murder of human rights defender in Democratic Republic of Congo

2010-08-01T22:18:00.002-04:00

source: Amnesty International

30 July 2010

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) must bring to justice those responsible for the murder a human rights defender five years ago, Amnesty International and Minority Rights Group International said.

Pascal Kabungulu, a prominent human rights activist, was killed on 31 July 2005 by a group of armed men who broke into his house in Bukavu in eastern DRC, dragged him out of his bedroom and shot him dead in front of his family.

The trial of the men accused of killing him, who include a Colonel in DRC's armed forces, has been deadlocked since December 2005.

"President Joseph Kabila made a public and personal commitment in 2006 that justice would be done in the case of Pascal Kabungulu," said Claire Morclette, DRC campaigner at Amnesty International.

"The fact that Pascal's wife and six children have had to flee the country and yet his killers remain free makes a mockery of this promise."
Read more...

Our Summer Events..

2010-07-03T17:26:00.003-04:00

Source of photo: Amherst Farmers Market

After our longer-than-usual 'hypernation' we woke up and quickly took back our usual spot in downtown Amherst @ the Farmers market and our famous banner took its usual place in the Center of Amherst.

Clipboards and petitions travelled around the market's customers and the 'word of human rights floated around' as we say...

We will be having 2 events each month until Dec 10... we had 2 successful tabling events in June and one. so far, in July...

Come a join our campaign on behalf of many human rights defenders... come and sign petition to free the courageous Burmese Aung San Suu Kyi , and the Ethiopian opposition leader Birtukan Mideksa

Today, we joined W.Massachusetts Darfur Coalition to run 2 tables on Darfur and other human rights issues...

2009-11-18T13:29:00.002-05:00

Our adopted POC (prisoner of conscious), Kareem Amer is not alone!

Thanks to letters from people around the world, including Amherst, that reaching him every day and giving him support and hope...

The online FreeKareemBlog campaign proved to be very effective in moblizing manyactivists on the ground.

We encourage our members and other human rights activists to either stop by our table this Sat at the Amherst Farmers Market (11-1pm), or to visit the above link and send few lines to Kareem in his soilitary confinement in Egypt (1108 days so far!)...

Come on down to our Table Sat 11/21

2009-11-14T11:34:00.003-05:00

Yes, it's confirmed news: Sat 11/21 is the last Farmers Market in Amherst for this year... Today, the heavy rain forced us to fold up the Table and only leave the beautiful banner of our Chapter-128So we encouraged all our members to come out and celebrates this successful Tabling Season next week...The weather will be gorgeous, I was told by one farmer.... let's talk by email/phone to make next table the Best...!

mohamed

Farmers Market Table, etc

2009-10-15T05:40:00.002-04:00

This Sat 10/17, our weekly Human Rights Table will be facilitated by 3 enthusiastic members: Ibrahim (Sudan); Cylvana (US/Phillippines/Sudan); and Yasmine (Morocco).

Amnesty International Table @ the Farmers Market became one of the common activities in Downtown Amherst. It "added more to the diversity of the Market" as noted by one activist who stopped by the table.
Two petitions on the Table find lot of signatures and discussions every Sat: Our adopted POC Karim Amer (Egypt); and the letter to President Obama to hold torturers accountable.

We are planning to continue the table until the end of the Farmers Market (first Sat in Nov)...

Do not forget our Octber monthly meeting @ Jones Library (second Floor) on Sat 10/31 @ 2pm.
The meeting will be devoted for a proposed event to bring together the local Amnesty Chapters in one event.

Tag Sale: Sunday 9/13

2009-08-30T18:29:00.002-04:00

Our annual Fundraise Tag Sale is approaching (Sunday 9/13)..
We are looking for saleable items (books, school supplies, clothes in good condition, kitchen stuff, etc)...

Please contact Mohamed @ 413-256-4298 or Claudia @ 548-9522 to arrange for pick-up

Urgent: Send message to President Mubrak

2009-08-14T18:00:00.002-04:00

Karim Amer,

Our New Adopted Prisoner

of Conscience

EGYPT

for the "crime" of publishing material on the internet that was critical of Islam and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The former al-Azhar University student was sentenced on 22 February 2007 and the Court of Appeal confirmed the

sentence on 12 March of the same year. He was 23 years old at the time.

Amnesty International considers Karim Amer to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely on account of the peaceful expression of his views. The organization calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
Please send politely worded letters to the president of Egypt, asking him to release Karim Amer immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.

President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak
Arab Republic of Egypt
'Abedine Palace
Cairo
EGYPT

Email: webmaster@presidency.gov.eg

Airmail postage: 98 cents

To take action for Karim Amer online, click here.

Send Messages of Solidarity!
Solidarity letters or cards can also be sent to the organization that has been defending Karim Amer and supporting bloggers and freedom of information. Send your cards to:

Karim Amer
c/o Gamal Eid
Arab Network for Human Rights Information
19, 26 July street
4th floor, Suite 55
Downtown
Cairo
EGYPT

Annual Tag Sale meeting

2009-08-05T21:02:00.002-04:00

The Tag Sale planning committee will be meeting on 8/12 (7pm) @ the following address:
135 East Hadley Rd. (South Amherst)
The meeting is scheduled for one hour.

Mohamed Elgadi & Magda Ahmed

Observing the UN International Torture Survivors Day

2009-07-05T14:40:00.003-04:00

Many activities around the country were taking place....Mohamed Elgadi, coordinator of our Group 128 travelled to Philadelphia, PA to speak at a forum hosted by AI (Group 112), Darfur Alert Org, Liberty Ctr for Survivors of Torture, Group Against Torture in Sudan-GATS, and the Philadelphia Ethical Society.

GATS issued a PR in English and Arabic and was circulated in the Valley to observe the UN day for torture survivors. The PR called for the formation of a unique Truth Committees in Diaspora within the Sudanese refugee communities to address and expose the crime of torture in Sudan.

Our Table @ the Amherst Farmers Market has drawn more crowd on Sat 6/27. Thanks Ibrahim, Ismail, and Cylvana (our next table will be on 7/11 at the same location by the Information kiosk).

The following links and actions were coppied from our Amnesty International website that addresse torture-related actions:

Take Action

1. Demand Congress & President Obama investigate and prosecute torture

2. Urge Presidential Task Force on interrogation to end torture for good» Write letters on behalf of people at risk of torture worldwide
3. Host a screening of the powerful 30-minute documentary Torture on Trial
Counter Terror With Justice

Torture News
TUNISIA: END DENIAL, ADDRESS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN THE NAME OF SECURITY June 26, 2009
Former Bagram detainees allege abuse while in US custody June 24, 2009
USA: Judge orders Guantánamo detainee released after seven and a half years in detention without charge June 24, 2009

Fathi el-Jahmi: Sad News

2009-06-03T13:35:00.002-04:00

photo source: http://phrblog.org/

Scott Allen, MD, of Physicians for Human Rights, examines Fathi al-Jahmi at Tripoli Medical Center on March 13, 2008.

Libyan activist dies in hospital
in Jordan21 May 2009

A prominent Libyan political activist died in hospital in Jordan on Thursday following his release from detention in Libya just over two weeks ago. Fathi el-Jahmi was detained in Libya in March 2004 and held without charge or trial, most recently at the Tripoli Medical Centre. He was flown to Amman in Jordan for medical treatment just over two weeks ago.

Amnesty International has said that the organization is greatly distressed by the news of the Fathi el-Jahmi's death. "Amnesty International is still seeking clarification from the Libyan authorities as to the circumstances in which Fathi el-Jahmi, who was a prisoner of conscience, became seriously ill and was transferred to Jordan," said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme. "At this time, however, our most immediate thoughts are with his family to whom we extend our deepest sympathy."

AI Tabling at the Amherst Farmers Market

2009-06-03T09:10:00.003-04:00

Atlas Farm, South Deerfield,

one of the popular Farmer Market vendors

Summer is almost here in Amherst and our Tabling activity just resumed last week.

Ismail Elgadi, my nephew and one of our our youngest Amnesty members, was very active and busy in his first tabling event.

AI-Group 128 in Amherst will be meeting at the jones Libray on Sat 6/13 (12-1pm), Room to be determined, to discuss the economic crisis and how it's affecting Amnesty International, in addition to discussing our Summer plans.

Please come with your ideas t the meeting...

mohamed elgadi, Coordinator

Tel. 256-4298

Tabling this Sat

2009-03-11T21:12:00.002-04:00

image source www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.net/

in Amherst Common this Sat 3/14 from 11am to 1pm... stop by and sign petition to save lives in prisons and to stop violence against women...

New Report from Amnesty

2009-03-11T21:06:00.003-04:00

Middle East and North Africa: More protection and guarantees needed for people defending human rights

Human rights activists in the Middle East and North Africa still face imprisonment, torture, persecution and repression for seeking to uphold the rights of others, more than ten years after the UN called on all states to support the work of people defending human rights,

read more in the above link of Amnesty International

Join us in the coming Annual General Meeting

2009-02-18T17:41:00.003-05:00

Where: Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers,
When: March 27-29, 2009

Confirmed speakers include:

Sharon Asetoyer: Executive Director, Native American Women's Health Education Resource Center
Congressman Michael Capuano
Larry Cox: Executive Director, AIUSA
Sherif Elsayed-Ali: Head, Refugee and Migrants Rights, Amnesty International, International Secretariat
Margaret Huang: Executive Director, Rights Working Group
Juan Melendez, Death Row Exonoree
Eva Millona: Executive Director, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition
Stephen Oleskey, Attorney, WilmerHale, attorney for Guantanamo detainees and co-lead counsel in the case of Boumediene v. Bush
Sarnata Reynolds: Policy Director, Refugee and Migrants Rights, Amnesty International USA
Gouri Sadhwani: Deputy Executive Director, AIUSA
Lhadon Tethong, Students for a Free Tibet
Jenni Williams: Women of Zimbabwe Arise
Ginetta Sagan Human Rights Award Winner (A Colombian Human Rights Defender)

The AGM Program Agenda is now posted. Check out the schedule and plan to arrive early on Friday to take part in our action at the State House and to join a special pre-conference training.

Human Rights Day: Vigil in Amherst Commons

2008-12-10T01:44:00.002-05:00

photo from this link: http://pakistaniat.com/images/candles-HR.jpg

“Dignity and justice for all of us”

Join our celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
When: Wed 12/10/2008 4:00-6:00pm
Where: Amherst Downtown

Amherst, MA- Since its adoption in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been and continues to be a source of inspiration for national and international efforts to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Declaration is universal, enduring and vibrant, and it concerns us all.

“Any attempt to sacrifice justice not only validates the false dichotomy between peace and justice but undermines the potential for a sustainable end to the crisis in Darfur." said Salih Mahmoud, attorney and human rights defender from Sudan, a country plagued by over 6 millions of Internally Displaced People (IDPs).

It is no surprise that the theme for the Human Rights Day this year is focused on dignity and justice. More than 42 million people have been uprooted from their homes around the world, including 16 million refugees who fled to neighboring countries. Without justice these 42 million would not have the dignity that we enjoy in a relatively peaceful area here in Western Massachusetts.

Sixty years later, we pay tribute to the extraordinary vision of the Declaration’s original drafters and to the many human rights defenders around the world who have struggled to make their vision a reality.

We dedicate our celebration of the Human Rights Day this year to one democracy activist from Libya, Mr. Fathi El-Jahmi, a prominent journalist who has called for democratic reforms in Libya. This month marks the beginning of his seventh year of imprisonment in the horrific prisons of Colonel Gaddafi. We strongly encourage you to send a letter on behalf of this courageous human rights defender (see sample letter at the blog of AI’s Amherst group: http://ai-amherst.blogspot.com/)

Amnesty International vision is of a world in which every person – regardless of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity – enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Sample letter to free Fathi El-Gahmi

2008-12-03T23:09:00.002-05:00

http://www.amnestyusa.org/action/special/fathiletter.doc
Colonel Mu’ammar al-GaddafiLeader of the RevolutionOffice of the Leader of the RevolutionTripoliGREAT SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA

Your Excellency:

I am deeply concerned about 66-year-old democracy advocate Fathi el-Jahmi who has been detained since March 2004 for seeking peaceful political reforms in Libya. He suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Without proper medical treatment, his life may be in grave danger.

On 6 February 2008 the Gaddafi Development Foundation (GDF) issued a statement that a court had determined Fathi el-Jahmi to be “mentally unstable” and that Mr. el-Jahmi had been transferred to the Tripoli Medical Center as a result. The GDF failed to explain how the court arrived at their conclusion, or whether medical expertise had been used to reach this diagnosis. A previous claim by Libyan authorities that Fathi el-Jahmi was suffering from mental illness was contradicted by independent medical experts at Physicians for Human Rights and the International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organizations, who stated in a public report that Fathi el-Jahmi remained “mentally strong.” I am concerned that Fathi el-Jahmi’s physical and mental health may have deteriorated due to the conditions in which he has been held, particularly because he appears to have been detained in solitary confinement for much of the period since his arrest on 26 March 2004.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Libya is a party, states that everyone shall have the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Amnesty International considers Fathi el-Jahmi to be a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for the peaceful expression of his political views. I urge your government to bring about his immediate and unconditional release. I further urge you to ensure that while he is detained, Fathi el-Jahmi receives adequate medical treatment, delivered by professionals with relevant expertise, and that an independent medical assessment of his condition is allowed immediately.

Sincerely,

copy to:
The Honorable Ali Aujali
Libyan Embassy
2600 Virginia Avenue N.W.
Suite 705
Washington, D.C. 20037

Journalists Arrested in Sudan

2008-11-20T20:16:00.003-05:00

More than 60 journalists were arrested in Sudan according to international media http://allafrica.com/stories/200811200007.html
The Sudan Human Rights Org (Cairo Chapter) issued the following Press Release:

THE SUDAN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION – CAIRO

Gross government violations of the press and journalist rights

November 20, 2008

The Government of Sudan is required to respect the right of the Press and the right of all journalists to attend Parliament sessions, in general, and those sessions scheduled to pass a new law of the press and publications to govern journalist work and their relations with the authorities.

The government prevented unlawfully hundreds of journalists from attending the National Assembly session on the new law on Monday November 17th. Harsher prevention by police and security forces disassembled peacefully protesting journalists outside the parliament space, then arrested and detained 78 protestors. These acts and others inviting the abstention of three English papers and seven Arabic journals from publication constitute a flagrant violation of the Interim Constitution and the parliamentary traditions that allow journalists to cover parliamentary sessions in the press.

The Sudan Human Rights Organization is deeply concerned with the repressive environment the government has been spreading over the public life throughout the last three years in the course of implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (2005) prior to the upcoming 2009 elections.

The Organization has repeatedly condemned the government’s insistent violations of journalist rights and public freedoms. We have been asking the government, to no avail, to end the unlawful security interventions that obliterate journalist columns, restructure printed news, and confiscate whole papers, in addition to arbitrary arrests, heavy fines, and possible terms of imprisonment by the notorious Press and Publications Law.

As we welcome the Assembly’s approval of the National Elections Commission, SHRO asks the Government to abide by all provisions enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the National Interim Constitution, especially those concerned with the freedom of the expression and the right to peaceful assembly to prepare the national elections’ process prior to the actual voting in 2009.

AI-128 particpates in Tents of Hope

2008-11-12T17:20:00.005-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8eDuH1SCQ0

Photo by John Grant

Mohamed Elgadi, Amherst Chapter Coordinator, spoke in front of Sudan Embassy in Washington, DC and was among the group that delivered the People's Arrest Warrant of President Omer Al-bashir

"As part of the events, about 450 students from around the country traveled to the capitol for leadership training in grassroots mobilization for genocide prevention"
for more info, read the story http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article29219

Fathi el-Jahmi: Our Adopted POC

2008-10-28T18:42:00.003-04:00

In our October meeting, our Group-128 decided to adopt a jailed journalist from Libya as our POC.

Five years sentence for calling for democracy

Join Amnesty International and send message to President Muamer Qaddafi to release Fathi el-Jahmi
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=9653
Libyan authorities arrested Fathi el-Jahmi in 2002 after he called for free speech and political reforms during a conference in Tripoli. For that "crime," he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was released in March 2004 following international pressure but authorities detained him again just weeks later after he repeated his call for democracy during a television interview.» Learn more about Fathi el-Jahmi

Northeast Regional Conference

2008-10-18T22:42:00.002-04:00

November 14-15Boston UniversityBoston, MA
Keynote Speakers: Juan E. Mendéz, President, The International Center for Transitional Justice

and Grace Akallo, author of child soldiers

Focus Panels
Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy: Challenges for the New Administration in the First 100 Days • Libya-Human Rights Under Gaddafi • The Challenge of Human Rights In Africa

more tha 20 workshops...
check here for more info http://www.amnestyusa.org/regional-conferences/northeast/page.do?id=1091789

The Northeast Region of AI

2008-10-06T07:15:00.004-04:00

Our Group-128, or as it's known as Amherst Chapter, is part of the Northeast Region that includes the New England states and New York.

Northeast Office address: 58 Day Street, Davis Square, Somerville, MA 02144

phone: (617) 623-0202

fax: (617) 623-2005

1-866-A-REGION aiusane@aiusa.org

Northeast Region Home Page The Northeast Office covers the following states: CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, VERMONT, RHODE ISLAND

No More Torture in our name!

2008-10-01T12:54:00.000-04:00

Let's ban this disgusting crime committed under our name... Let's join Amnesty International campaign to stop torture...
see the campaign page Counter Terror With Justice

We encourage you to join the national camapign led by the interfaith groups National Religious Campaign against Torture, and the torture survivors in the US (more than 400,000) @ the Center for Victims of Torture to ban torture and hold Presidential candidates accountable to their promises during the debate.

Please read the Declaration of Principles and sign it online

Welcome to our new look!

2008-09-25T21:18:00.000-04:00

below are few materials from our old Blog:

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Eyes on Darfur

Amnesty International USA has identified 12 towns and villages in Darfur and eastern Chad that are at risk of attack by Janjawid militia, the Sudanese government, and/or armed opposition groups. Using satellite technology, AIUSA is closely monitoring these sites – and others in the region. Action must be taken now to prevent these sites from joining the long list of towns and villages utterly destroyed in Darfur and eastern Chad. Tell Sudanese President al-Bashir the world is watching – that we will know if harm comes to these civilians – and ask him to take all necessary steps to prevent attacks on these sites.
http://eyes.amnestyusa.org/

Sudan Accepts Phaase III Amnesty International (AI) said Sudan took a positive step on June 19 when it agreed to the deployment of the full African Union - United Nations (AU - UN) hybrid peacekeeping force in war-torn Darfur.AI called on the Sudanese Government to protect all civilians and to fulfill its commitment to disarm the Janjawid militia. AI also called on the international community to adopt a timelien and bencphmarks ato get UN peacaekeepers oon the ground as quickly as possible."The agreement is a step in the right direction," said Lynn Frederiksson, AIUSA Advocacy Director for Africa. "Now, the international community must ensure the full AU - UN force deploys as quickly as possible, and Sudan must disarm the Janjawid."AI urgedthe UN Secaurity Council and the AU Peace and Security Council to adopt the bnecessary resolutions to provide the hybrid peacekeeping force with a strong mandate and sufficient resources to protect civilians. In particular, AI said the resolutions should ensure that the hybrid force has:* The capacity to protect civilians at risk* The mandate to monitor human rights abuses, including sexual violence.* The capacity to oversee the disarmament and demobilisation of the Janjawid and armed rebel groups.* The mandate and resources to prevent Janjawid and armed rebel incursion into Chad.Darfur Satellite Project and Webxite now in OrbitAI officially launched its Eyes on Darfur project on June 6 at the Fifth International Symposium on Digital Earth in Berkeley, CA. The launch received substantial media coverage in thpe US. Two days after the launch AIUSA's New Media unit reported an initial 330,000 pae views of the Eyes on Darfur site. The sit ehas continued to experience heavy traffic.House Passes Bill that Includes Funding for Darfur Peacekeeping.The House of Representatives has passed its FY08 Foreign Operatins Appropriations bill, adding $100 million for African Union peacekeeping as well as increased funds for the UN peacekeeping account, which will fund UN participation in the joint AU - UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur. AIUSA activists and staff actively lobbied members of the House for this additional funding.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

The Road to Guantanamo.
The Road to GuantanamoAmnesty International Group 128, Amherst will hold two showings of the film, "The Road to Guantanamo" in April. The first showing will be at the home of Mohamed Elgadi at 135 East Hadley Road in South Amherst on Thursday, April 5 at 7:15 pm. For directions call 256-4298.The second showing will be at the home of Fanny Rothschild at 26 Morgan Circle in Cushman, North Amherst on Wednesday, April 11 at 7:15 pm. For directions call 549-0945."THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO is the terrifying first-hand account of three British citizens who were held for two years without charges in the American military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Known as the "Tipton Three," in reference to their home town in Britain, the three were eventually returned to Britain and released, still having had no formal charges made against them at any time during their ordeal. Part documentary, part dramatization, the film chronicles the sequence of events that led from the trio setting out from Tipton in the British Midlands for a wedding inPakistan, to their crossing the Afghanistan border just as the U.S. began its bombing campaign, to their eventual capture by the Northern Alliance and their imprisonment in Camp X-Ray and later at Camp Delta in Guantánamo.
posted by Claudia Rhodes @