Amnesty International, Eastern PA

Agenda - Thursday November 19th
Amnesty International Philadelphia Chapter Meeting
7:00 pm at the Ethical Society, 1906 S. Rittenhouse Square

• A speaker from the ACLU – detention of illegal immigrants
• Reports about last month’s events:
• The Friday noon Human Rights Luncheon on October 23rd featuring Gladys Monterroso from Guatemala
• Lobbying Senator Casey on November 19 on closing the Guantánamo Bay detention center; ratifying the international women’s human rights treaty; and human rights of immigrant detainees
• Report on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference
• Planning for the Global Write-a-thon:
• We will participate during our December 17th meeting
• Ellal Aklilu will attend to talk on an Ethiopian prisoner of conscience, Birtukan Mideksa
• Write letters regarding human rights violations in Mexico; also some Amnesty International Urgent Action letters

Minutes from Amnesty International Group 112 Meeting, October 22 at Philadelphia Ethical Society

Report on last month’s events

The event “Dancing To the Edge of Darfur: Expression, Awareness Impact” at the Prince Theater last Saturday evening was discussed. This event which was well attended highlighted the work of Global Grassroots in Sudan and Rwanda. This was organized by the Rebecca Davis Dance Company. Bob Page and Ron Coburn showed an exhibit that highlights our activities.

Report on planned events

1. The Friday Noon Human Rights Luncheon, sponsored by our group was discussed. This event will take place at the Ethical Society 12 to 2PM. We are bringing Gladys Monterroso here to speak on violence, impunity and immigration reform. Ms Monterroso a Guatemalan human rights activist and torture survivor is on a US tour sponsored by the Guatemalan Human Rights Commission. This invite only luncheon is oversubscribed.

2 . Lobbying with other Amnesty International people. This will occur on November 11, 12 or 13 and we wlll lobby our senators on death penalty and immigration detention. This is an opportunity to learn how to effectively lobby. I am planning on leading a lobbying group and will distribute information. We need volunteers to participate.

3. Tabling at the Clark Parks market, perhaps late in November or early December. We have obtained permission to do this from the Farmers Coop. I need one volunteer to help with this.

Report: Key findings of Amnesty International’s report on immigration detention were summarized by David Loeb.

Treasury Report (not given at the meeting). $38 was deposited into the account giving a balance of $524.68.

18 letters were written and sent regarding human rights violations in the Dominican Republic and in Darfur.

Contributions totally $18 are noted.

NOTE: OUR NOVEMBER MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THE THIRD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH AT 7PM AT THE ETHICAL SOCIETY, RATHER THAN THE FOURTH THURSDAY (WHICH IS THANKSGIVING).

Submitted by Ronald Coburn, Coordinator

Join us at NoChe, 1901 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia for human rights happy hour! Friday July 31 7:30-9:30 pm.

Wristbands will be available for a donation of $3 or more, and may be used for these specials: $5 Bud Light Pitchers, $2 Bud Light Drafts, $4 Well Drinks, $4 Finlandia Drinks, $5 House Wines, $4 Nachos and 1/2 Price Pizzas.

100% of wristband proceeds will go to Amnesty International USA. Become a member of AIUSA and receive a wristband free.

Information about Amnesty International will be available, as well as petitions for current human rights cases.

Members of Amnesty International Center City Group 112 will be meeting together with representatives from Darfur Alert Coalition to discuss the possibility of a joint fundraiser in June. The meeting will be next Monday, April 20, at 7:00 pm at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, on Rittenhouse Square near 19th Street, Philadelphia. Any Amnesty supporters who are interested in helping plan this joint fundraiser are encouraged to attend.

The University of Pennsylvania Amnesty International group’s first meeting of the semester will be on Wednesday, September 10, at 8 pm in Huntsman Hall F94.

The group will be discussing possible collaborations with a group called Project Nur and other groups on campus, as well as discussing and signing petitions for a prisoner of conscience case.

To keep in touch with the Penn group, please join:

• AI at Penn’s Google Group
• AI at Penn’s Facebook Group

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
7:30 pm
1032 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA

Saturday, June 21, 2008
7:00 pm
Virginia Evans Theater at the Please Touch Museum, 210 N 21st St., Philadelphia PA

*Not an Amnesty International event
Call 215-991-7642 to order

The improbable bravery and beauty of victims of torture in Abu Ghraib Prison is told through the eyes of Jennifer Schelter, founder of Yoga Schelter. Inspired by interviews of Iraqi prisoners of war, these powerful tales uncover the best of friendship, justice, art, and even dating advice.

HIGHLIGHT

Your Letters Helped Free a Political Prisoner: Reverend Bienvenido Samba is Free!

Amnesty International welcomed the release of 14 prisoners of conscience in Equatorial Guinea. Reverend Bienvenido Samba from Equitorial Guinea, a pastor who was an outspoken critic of government treatment of minorities, was released.

Since 2002, Amnesty members have worked steadily on his behalf, publicizing his plight and sending thousands of letters calling for Reverend Samba’s release. Reverend Samba was the subject of ongoing campaigning by the local group in Allentown, PA and in December 2007, individuals sent messages of encouragement and support to Reverend Samba through AIUSA’s Holiday Card Action.

Reverend Samba’s case is a clear illustration of the power your letters and actions hold - the affects are far reaching and can change the lives of people in faraway corners of the world like Equatorial Guinea.

Read the full press release
Participate in our summer postcard action to show your solidarity with other individuals at risk

TAKE ACTION

Stop Executions of Children in Iran

84 known juvenile offenders currently await execution in Iran. The total number could be much higher. Iran is one of the only countries left in the world today that still executes children and child offenders in violation of its commitments to international treaties banning the practice.

Teenager Mohammad Hassanzadeh was hanged on Tuesday. However, Mohammad Feda’i whose execution was postponed, will live for another month. Feda’i has been on Iran’s death row since the age of 17 and after an unfair trial, with inadequate representation and allegations of a tortured confession, Feda’i’s life will continue to hang in the balance.

Take action for Feda’i and other juvenile offenders

CAMPAIGN UPDATES

Supreme Court Supports Habeas Corpus for Gitmo Detainees

In a crushing blow to the Bush Administration, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that Guantánamo detainees have a right to challenge their detention before a legitimate court. The court’s decision is a stark indictment of wrongdoing at Guantánamo.

Still, the decision will not close Guantánamo. It will not keep the administration from transferring detainees to countries known for torture. And it will not stop the Bush administration from finding ways to circumvent the law.

Ask Congress to uphold the Supreme Court’s decision

Expert Organizing Tip - Make the most of the summer heat by asking your local ice-cream shop to donate a percentage of their profits to your group on a day when the temperature tops 100 degrees. Then, to show your appreciation and cool off, go to the shop and buy yourself two scoops to celebrate.

OPPORTUNITIES

Guantanamo Cell on MySpace

The Guantanamo Cell replica that is touring the country now has its own page on MySpace! Become its friend and keep updated with its travels!

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.

Help Shut Down Guantanamo Bay

We need your help to put the pressure on Washington to close the Guantánamo Bay Detention Facility and to bring individuals responsible for crimes to account and ensure that they are given a fair trial and punished accordingly.

By meeting with U.S. Representatives and Senators who are both very supportive of closing Guantánamo, and those who might have different views, we will raise the chorus of individuals working for closure of the facility, and we will ensure that the facility is closed in the proper manner and we will also quell those voices who would have the human rights abuses persist.

Participating in a Delegation visit will take a time commitment of only about 3 hours, and entails reading background materials, participating in both a practice meeting and the actual meeting with your elected official. Please note that the official meeting with your elected official’s office is likely to be held during normal business hours during the week of June 30 - July 3, 2008.

Join a delegation

See What the RPG is Up To: Read the Regional Planning Group’s Call Notes

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Group (RPG) is a volunteer body which acts as a voice for the membership (local and student group and action team members, network members, volunteer leaders, and individual members) and as an advisory board to the Regional Office. Each month the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Group (RPG) has a call to discuss important issues facing the region.

Read the minutes from the RPG’s June call
Contact the RPG about issues for next month’s call

Pretty Bird Woman House Supply Drive

Help get necessary supplies to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault
Amnesty International’s Midwest Regional Office is organizing a supply drive for Pretty Bird Woman House (PBWH) through the end of June in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Women’s Health Month. PBWH is an emergency shelter that provides temporary housing, advocacy support, and educational programs for women on the Standing Rock reservation who have been victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.

PBWH was highlighted by AIUSA’s Maze of Injustice report last year. Native American and Alaska Native women are more than 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other women in the United States in general. They face considerable barriers to accessing justice A complex maze of tribal, state and federal jurisdictions allows perpetrators to rape with impunity and in some cases even encourages assaults. This is why these women are a top priority of Amnesty International’s Maze of Injustice campaign, and PBWH is a pillar to the program as one of the few facilities set up to help Native American.

AIUSA groups and members are being asked to hold supply drives for the items needed. Get more information about how to host a supply drive and what supplies are needed.

Items should be mailed DIRECTLY to PBWH by the end of June along with a card so PBWH will know who is sending them the much needed supplies.

Address:
Pretty Bird Woman House
211 First Ave W
McLaughlin, SD 57642

All donations are tax deductible.

LOCAL EVENTS

Love Lessons from Abu Ghraib

The improbably bravery and beauty of victims of torture in Abu Ghraib prison is told through the eyes of Jennifer Schelter, founder of Yoga Shelter. Inspired by interviews of Iraqi prisoners of war, these tales uncover the best of friendship, justice and art.

When: Saturday, June 21st at 7pm
Where: Virginia Evans Theater at the Please Touch Museum, located at 210 N 21st St. Philadelphia, PA.
For more info visit: www.yogaschelter.com or www.phillyfunguide.com.

Local Group 531 Bi-Monthly Meeting

Join the Allentown, PA group for their meeting on Tues, June 24th from 7-9pm. It is located at: St. Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church, 140 S. Ott St. Allentown, PA 18104. For more info contact: dlaxarai@excite.com

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Fall Internships With Amnesty International

Attention all those interested in a fall internship!
Did you know that the Amnesty International office in Washington, DC offers internships for summer, fall, and spring? Now is the time to start thinking about applying for the internship. The deadline to apply for the fall term is June 30th, 2008.

This is a highly competitive internship program, so we recommend you start preparing early.

More information about the requirements for the DC internship program, and other programs in the DC office offering internships

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

This moment, for me, was one of the highlights of the Philadelphia Cell Tour stop. I was so disappointed when it didn’t appear on The Daily Show. Luckily, someone recorded it for posterity.

Who ya gonna call?

The Philadelphia stop of Amnesty International’s Guantanamo Cell Tour was featured on The Daily Show last night! You can watch it online here. It’s also for sale on iTunes - look for the June 10 episode.

I thought that they left out one of the highlights of the weekend - the sight of Daily Show correspondent John Oliver performing Ghostbusters and Johnny B. Goode with the band The Late Night Drifters.

To those who are visiting this site for the first time after seeing the Cell Tour on The Daily Show - welcome, and thanks for stopping by. If you live in the Philadelphia area, you’re invited to join our Mailing List to find out about future Amnesty International events in our region.