Archive for November, 2007
Agenda: Bethlehem Group 347 November 26, 2007
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Amnesty News, Bethlehem
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GROUP 347, MONDAY, 11/26/07, 7-9:00 PM
Draft AGENDA
- Introductions, letter count, “pass the hat” We are meeting in a new facility tonight with the courtesy of the Lehigh Dialogue Center–An introduction to the Dialogue Center.
- Darfur: Hans Wuerth—either in person or by report
- Burma
- Maria Weick: Death Penalty in PA—Senate Bill 751 & House Bill 1370 & Update
- Colombia Update & letter: Tony Marino?
- Mary Mesaros: Turkey
- Some African concerns– Report on Central African Republic: K. Berry
- Report on Sameh Khouzam of Egypt—deportation.
- Mid-Atlantic Conference and Dorney Park fundraiser–$450 for AIUSA (follow-up report)
- Election/confirmation of 2008 Group 347 Coordinator Mary Mesaros & Treasurer Ed Simons
UPCOMING EVENTS
11/16 thru 18: Regional Conference in Baltimore
12/10 Human Rights Day
12/22 and 12/23: Barnes and Noble Gift wrapping, 9 am -1:30 and evening on Sat. and all day on Sunday
4/25-28/08: Annual General Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Speaker on Terrorism and the Middle East (Berwyn)*
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Other Human Rights News
This is not an Amnesty International event, but may be of interest to AI supporters.
November 27, 7:30 pm
Tredyffrin Township Municipal Building Auditorium, 1100 Duportail Road, Berwyn PA
Professor Larry Davidson to speak on
“Terrorism and the Middle East in Perspective: What History Can Tell Us”
What causes terrorist behavior in the Middle East? Is there such a thing as state terrorism? What lessons from recent history can we learn to help contain terrorism?
Our speaker is Lawrence Davidson, a Professor of History at West Chester University whose specialization is the history of American relations with the Middle East.
Davidson, who has traveled extensively in the region, is the author of several books including “America’s Palestine: Popular and Official Perceptions from Balfour to Israeli Statehood” (University Press of Florida, 2001) and “Islamic Fundamentalism” (Greenwood Press, 2008). He is also the co-author, with Arthur Goldschmidt, of “A Concise History of the Middle East” (Westview Press, 2006, 8th edition).
This event will be moderated. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of our speaker. Light refreshments will be served.
Genocide in Darfur discussion (Easton)*
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Bethlehem
November 8, 7:30 pm
Lafayette University, Colton Chapel
Easton, PA
This is not an Amnesty International event, but may be of interest to AI supporters.
Nicholas Kristof, renowned author, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and columnist for The New York Times, will present “Genocide in Darfur” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 in Colton Chapel.
Free and open to the public, the lecture is sponsored by the Policy Studies program. A reception and book signing will follow the talk.
For complete information, see the press release here.
Fairness Matters for Troy Davis
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Take Action
A message from AIUSA
Because of you, Troy Davis is still alive today. Listen to Troy thank you personally.
Last July, despite strong evidence of his innocence, Troy Davis came within 24 hours of execution by the state of Georgia. Thanks to the 34,000 individuals who sent appeals, Troy was granted a 90-day stay.
The Georgia Supreme Court will decide if Troy gets a new trial and an opportunity to finally present evidence that has never been heard in court.
- There was no physical evidence against Troy Davis.
- The weapon used was never found.
- The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony.
- 7 of the 9 non-police witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony.
- Many of these witnesses have stated that they were pressured or coerced by the police. One of the witnesses who has not recanted is the principle alternative suspect.
- Nine individuals have signed affadavits implicating this suspect as the actual shooter.
- Troy Davis has never had a hearing in federal court on the reliability of the witness testimony used against him.
Troy’s life was temporarily spared, yet the possibility of his execution still remains if he is not granted a new hearing or trial. Please sign the petition today, and ask five of your friends to do the same.
Together, we’ll send a strong message to the Georgia authorities that when it comes to the death penalty, fairness matters.
Freed Ethiopian Journalist Serkalem Fasil Donates Prize to Amnesty International
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Amnesty News
Serkalem Fasil was freed from an Ethiopian jail in April, following extensive campaigning by human rights NGOs including Amnesty International. Her ordeal was recognized recently when she picked up a Courage in Journalism award from the International Women’s Media Foundation. She has decided to give the prize money to Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists, which also campaigned for her release.
Serious health concerns for Guantánamo detainee Abdul Hamid al-Ghizzawi
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Take Action
Both Amnesty International and members of the Chester County Religious Campaign Against Torture (CCRAT) are extremely concerned for the health and life of Abdul Hamid al-Ghizzawi.
From the Urgent Action report:
“After visiting Abdul Hamid al-Ghizzawi in May 2007, his lawyer described the condition of his health as ‘…alarming. His face was drawn and his skin looked both ashen and jaundiced. He had a difficult time focusing on anything…He was in constant visible pain…He was very weak and tired…[he] told me he could not walk more that a few feet before being overcome with fatigue.’ His lawyer most recently visited him in September 2007 and she has stated that he could barely walk and during the meeting was doubled over with pain. She has expressed fears for his life.”
Please write appeals for Abdul Hamid al-Ghizzawi using the Urgent Action report (PDF). Send appeals by December 5, 2007.
You can also find out more by visiting The Guantánamo Blog by H. Candace Gorman, who represents Mr. al-Ghizzawi and another detainee pro bono.
Two cases from Colombia combined into one letter
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Bethlehem, Take Action
Karen from the Bethlehem group writes:
“Amnesty sent two Urgent Action requests earlier this fall concerning death threats in Colombia, where it appears paramilitary groups are still terrorizing people and little or nothing is being done to stop this aggression or to find the violators. Another group which has found the situation to be almost lawless is Fellowship of Reconciliation, which has a formal report on this situation.
“To save you time, I have written letters combining the two cases below. The cutoff for the first case is Nov. 9 and the second case in November 16. … The postage is 90 cents to Colombia.”
Urgent Action Files:
Sample Letters:
Bucks County Monthly Meeting CANCELLED
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Amnesty News, Bucks County
The Bucks County group monthly meeting for November has been cancelled. Sorry for any inconvience.
Ask Senators to Support the Security Contractor Accountability Act
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Allentown, Take Action
At their last meeting, the Allentown Amnesty International group discussed AI actions to support the Security Contractor Accountability Act (S.2147). This important bill would demand accountability for U.S. government and military contractors such as Blackwater.
“In this environment, serious allegations of contractor involvement in human rights violations–including the torture at Abu Ghraib and hundreds of shootings, sometimes lethal, of Iraqi civilians–have emerged, yet Bush administration officials have made virtually no effort to hold contractors accountable or compensate victims.”
Dan from the Allentown group notes that the bill “has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, of which our own Sen. Specter is Ranking Minority Member.”
Find out more about Amnesty’s position on the Security Contractor Accountability Act (S.2147). Then, take action!
You can also read the bill at the THOMAS website (Library of Congress).
AIUSA is supported in the effort to get this bill passed by Working Assests. You can also send a message using their website.
Cluster Bomb Speaker Tour (Lancaster)*
Posted November 4th, 2007 by April | Other Human Rights News
November 6, 7pm
East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church
432 E. Chestnut St., Lancaster
This is not an Amnesty International event, but may be of interest to AI supporters. Sponsored by Mennonite Central Committee.
Speakers from Laos and Lebanon will talk about how cluster bombs have affected their lives, and provide information about the use of cluster bombs in their countries. The country of Laos represents one of the earliest uses of cluster bombs and Lebanon marks the most recent case of cluster bomb use. Traveling with the speaking tour will be a photo exhibit and resource materials about the impact of cluster bombs worldwide, as well as current international efforts to ban them.
Speakers include:
- Raed Mokaled, an optician from Nabatieh, Lebanon whose 5-year old son was killed by a cluster bomb in 1999.
- Bassam Chamoun, community development worker for Mennonite Central Committee in southern Lebanon.
- Phounsy Phasavaeng, community development worker for CARE in Sekong Province, Laos who lost her nephew in a cluster bomb accident.
- Lasee Phetsavong, an employee of World Education whose responsibility includes organizing immediate and long-term care for cluster bomb accident victims in Laos.
Contact:
Titus Peachey
tmp@mcc.org
Mennonite Central Committee
21 S. 12th St., Box 500
Akron, PA 17501
PH: (717) 859-1151
FAX: (717) 859-3875