Amnesty International, Eastern PA

HIGHLIGHT

Guantanamo Cell Leaves DC: Thousands of People in the Nation’s Capital Visited the Cell

Sunday evening Washington, DC said goodbye to our replica of a Guantanamo detainee’s cell. In it’s time on the National Mall thousands of people saw the cell and more than 2,000 people took the time to step inside the cell and learn more about the human rights violations that our country is committing. While not everyone who passed by the cell agreed with our message, we did meet support from military attorneys, activists, government employees, tourists, veterans and even people who had never heard of Guantanamo.

We want to send a big thank you to all of the dedicated activists who spent hours in the hot sun to spread the word about our Counter Terror With Justice campaign.

More information about what happened at the cell
Information about how to become involved with AIUSA’s work to close Guantanamo

TAKE ACTION

Help End the Crisis in Zimbabwe

The government of Zimbabwe’s campaign of terror and voter intimidation has drawn on for months. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, swayed by the massive violence lodged against civilians, had to withdraw from last Friday’s run-off presidential elections against President Robert Mugabe. Amnesty International has repeatedly called for an end to human rights violations. For this once-prosperous country to move toward stability, Zimbabwe must hold perpetrators accountable and establish human rights monitors. Call on governments in Zimbabwe’s neighboring countries to protect human rights in Zimbabwe.

Take action
Learn more about what is happening in Zimbabwe

Expert Organizing Tip: Get your members more involved by assigning officer positions. When people have specific tasks, they are more likely to be willing to help and get the job done. They will also feel empowered. Some officer positions examples are: Event Coordinator, Publicity Coordinator, or New Member Coordinator.

CAMPAIGN UPDATES

Counter Terror With Justice: Activist Letters Make A Difference

Thank you for your Holiday Card Action messages to Sami al-Hajj which we were able to relay to him on Friday. Sami told us that he received 10,000 letters while he was in Guantanamo and apologized that he was not able to reply to each of you individually. He told us that when he received the first letter he knew he was part of the AI movement. He asked us for the following message to be relayed to all AI members.

“Myself, my son Mohammed and my wife Asma thank all AI members for supporting me and for supporting human rights. We will work hard with them together until we achieve peace for all people in the world. I will never forget their help and I will pray for them. I ask them to keep praying for me also. I will be glad if they continue their relationship with me, are in touch with me in my life and help me with my new job.”

Sami al-Hajj has a new job with al-Jazeera where he will be working as a News Producer on Liberties and Human Rights Affairs. AI will remain in contact with him and will be exploring ways in which we can support him and work with him in the future.

Thanks again to everyone for your work and dedication on this and every case.

OPPORTUNITIES

Regional Planning Group: Give Your Input

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Group (RPG) is preparing for its July monthly meeting. In an effort to connect the RPG’s work with the work that you are doing in your groups, we’d like to invite you to take a look at the notes from last month’s meeting and send any comments or suggestions to RPG co-chair Jonathan Cohen or Regional Director Folabi Olagbaju.

See the notes from last month’s call
Apply for a position on the RPG [PDF]

Summer Postcard Action: Write Prisoners of Conscience Letters of Support

For many people, summer is a time for vacations, picnics and recreation. But for prisoners of conscience or those who defend human rights in many countries, summer brings no relief from the potential danger and sense of isolation they may face. By simply sending a postcard, however, you can help support these women and men. On Amnesty’s website, there is information about some of these prisoners.

REGIONAL & NATIONAL EVENTS

Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference: Register Online!

This year activists like you will be meeting up in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia to learn more about AIUSA, network with other activists, and engage around this year’s theme: “Educate to Activate: Building a Human Rights Movement for All”.

Learn more about the conference
Register at the reduced early bird rate

LOCAL EVENTS

Burmese Scholar in York, PA

The York PA chapter of Amnesty International will be hosting Dr. Tun Lin Moe, a Burmese scholar, who will speak about human rights in his native country. The event is free, but donations will be accepted.

Where: Cobblestones Restaurant and Sports Emporium in the Loft, 205 South George St., York, PA, 17403
When: Thursday, July 10th, 2008 at 7 PM

For more info contact: Kathleen Lucas, Co-Coordinator York Amnesty International, 717-755-3031, AmnestyYorkPA@comcast.net

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Help Plan the AGM: Be Part of the Annual General Meeting Planning Committee (AGMPC)

The AGMPC serves as the advisory committee for AGM programming, including speakers, theme, and program sessions. The AGMPC consists of one committee member from each AIUSA region, a member of the National Resolutions Committee and the Chair of AIUSA’s Board of Directors. Each regional member serves a two year term. Committee members provide input and ideas, play an important role in regional promotion of the AGM, and provide logistical support onsite.

We are currently accepting applications for the Mid-Atlantic region. For more information and a copy of the application email: agm@aiusa.org. Please submit your application by Thursday, July 24, 2008.

For more resources and information for the Mid-Atlantic Region visit: www.amnestyusa.org/MARO
For questions or comments please contact us at aiusama@aiusa.org

From Dan Laxar, Allentown PA group coordinator:

Hi Folks! I received a call tonight from Tom Gill, AI’s Country Specialist for Africa, who informed me that Rev. Bienvenido Samba, Group #531 (Allentown)’s adopted prisoner of conscience has been released! His release comes as a pardon for some 25 prisoners in Equatorial Guinea, 14 of them POCs, on the occasion of the birthday of the President of the country. AI has been in touch with Rev. Samba, and he is apparently in good health, and elated to be free. He told AI that he was aware that we were working on his behalf, both because he received letters via his lawyer from AI activists and because he heard his name mentioned on the Spanish World Wide Service (shortwave radio, I believe) as an adoptee of AI. He thanks all of you who wrote letters, and sends his deep gratitude.

Often we write letters which seem to disappear into a “black void” of uncaring. And while we can’t know for sure that our letters had an effect on Rev. Samba’s imprisonment, it seems likely that they were part of the reason his name was included on this pardon. Congratulations to all of you!

Monday, April 21, 2008
7:00 pm

Sinclair Auditorium
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA

Jacqueline Murekatete is coming to speak at Lehigh University this Monday at 7pm in Sinclair Auditorium.  She survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide and now works for the nonprofit organization Miracle Corners of the World. She has made it her mission to inform others about what it is like to survive such an event and what needs to be done to prevent future genocides.

Thanks to Amnesty International at Lehigh University for this news.

Here is a report about last weekend’s Global Day for Darfur from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office staff.

Global Day for Darfur - This April marks 5 years of crisis in Darfur. Children have grown up knowing violence, displacement, and unrest as a normal way of life. On Sunday, April 13th, Amnesty International USA joined in a global day of action for Darfur.

Here are a few highlights from the day:

• More than 1,000 people walked through Displaced, Amnesty International’s human rights exhibition.
• Darfuris and activists came from all over the east coast to participate in the day of action.
• Approximately 500 people stopped what they were doing to hear the inspiring words of Larry Cox, Mohamed Yahya, and others Darfuris and activists.
• Over a thousand petition signatures were collected and hundreds of students and young people used their hand prints to call on the Bush Administration to use their authority to end the violence in Darfur.
• MARO Director, Folabi Olagbaju, got an op-ed printed in the Richmond Times.

Take action for Darfur in your community
See pictures from the day on Flickr

Come join us for Amnesty International Chester County’s next meeting!

Amnesty International New Member Night & Darfur Information Session
Wednesday, April 16 at 7:30pm
NEW LOCATION!
Saxby’s Coffee
60 Lancaster Ave., Malvern PA
610-812-6640

Our April meeting will be dedicated to welcoming new members and honoring our returning veteran members, and will also focus on the human rights crisis in Darfur.

In our next meeting we’ll…

• welcome new members and present them with their fabulous “welcome premiums”
• enjoy an Amnesty International fashion show by America’s Next Flop Model Jeff Singleton
• taste complimentary Saxby’s coffee and desserts
• begin planning for spring and summer tabling events
• discuss recruiting strategies
• see brief video presentation of Darfur atrocities and testimonies from Darfur survivors produced by SaveDarfur.org
• hear a brief summary of Amnesty International’s new report on the displaced people of Darfur
• sign a petition to Secretary of State Rice concerning delays in deployment of peacekeeping forces in Darfur
• send letters that press some of the most powerful companies in the world, 10 of the top investors in Sudan’s oil industry, to use their influence to help end the human rights catastrophe in Darfur
• send letters to our Senators and Congressmen urging them to co-sponsor important resolutions to protect civilians in Chad and the Central African Republic

Hope to see you there!

Saturday, May 3, 2008
7:30 pm

Arch Street Meetinghouse
Fourth and Arch Streets, Philadelphia

Concert to Benefit Darfur Alert Coalition
Performed by the Jazz for Peace Foundation
Information and tickets at www.jazzforpeace.org

Not an Amnesty International event

Sunday, April 13 is being marked by many organizations as Global Day for Darfur. Amnesty International is holding a large rally in Washington, DC that day. If you cannot make it to Washington, Darfur Alert Coalition is also holding a rally in Philadelphia (however, this event is not sponsored by Amnesty). Here are the details about the two events.

Amnesty International Rally in Washington:
Global Day For Darfur
5 Years of Conflict is a Lifetime for a Child

For the last five years the world has borne witness to war, famine, disease and rape in the Darfur region. Children have grown up with conflict as their normal way of life. Five years of conflict is a lifetime for a child and we are working to stop childhood under attack.

Join us on the national mall to educate and activate yourself for Darfur.

When: Sunday, April 13 from noon to 4 pm
Where: National Mall, Washington DC
Metro Directions: Take the orange or blue metro line to the Smithsonian stop and exit towards the mall. We will be between 12th and 14th streets.
For more information contact GlobalDayForDarfur@gmail.com

Darfur Alert Coalition Rally in Philadelphia:
Come on down to City Hall!

The Darfur Alert Coalition is holding a public rally Sunday, April 13, at noon, as part of an annual day of worldwide demonstrations. With the Beijing “Genocide Olympics” on the horizon, and the Olympic torch about to arrive in the U.S., China’s shameful role as Sudan’s enabler is the main focus of our collective Global Day for Darfur protests.

We’ll be at Philadelphia’s crossroads – the west plaza of City Hall at Broad and Market Streets – from noon to 2 p.m. We’ll have a Tent of Hope set up, and lots of petitions for people to sign. With the Pennsylvania presidential primary heating up, help us take this opportunity to raise awareness about world inaction and show people how they can get involved.

And bring your cameras: With the primary campaign going full tilt, we’re inviting the presidential candidates to stop by!

To sign up, email us at info@darfuralert.org

Friday, April 11, 2008

For the 13th consecutive year, Amnesty International Local Group 133 in Somerville, MA is organizing Get on the Bus (GOTB), a trip to New York City for one full day of human rights action and education. GOTB will be held Friday, April 11 in NYC.

2008 Actions:

Darfur: Call for International Justice and Accountability (IJA) ~ GOTB activists will focus on the need to lobby the government of Sudan to bring individuals responsible for human rights violations in Darfur to justice.

Special Focus Case: Fathi el-Jahmi (Libya) ~ Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience, who has been detained solely for the peaceful expression of his political views. We will be calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Fathi el-Jahmi.

Side Action: Bhopal ~ To show our continued commitment to the survivors of the 1984 chemical disaster in Bhopal, a small group of GOTB activists will gather at the Indian Consulate to demand the Government of India compel Dow Chemicals to appear before the Indian courts.

More information forthcoming at the GOTB Website

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
7:00 pm
Lehigh University - Perella Auditorium, Rauch Business Center room 184, Bethlehem PA

From Karen:
Tomorrow at 7 pm (Tuesday, November 13), the Sudanese Ambassador to the United Nations will lecture at Lehigh University on his views on Darfur, namely that there is no genocide. The lecture will be held in Perella Auditorium, located in Rauch Business Center room 184. Rauch is on the SE corner of Taylor and East Packer Avenue. It is next to the Zoellner Auditorium.

Thursday, November 8, 2007
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.