Blog
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- An Exploding Worldwide Human Rights Crisis
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Published May 28, 2009 @ 07:09AM PT
Underlying the economic crisis is an explosive human rights crisis. The crisis is about shortages of food, jobs, clean water, land and housing. Amnesty International's 2009 Annual Report reveals that the worldwide recession is leading to greater repression amid rising threats to security and justice. The release of the report marks the launch of the new Demand Dignity campaign that will address poverty as a human rights crisis. Some key findings of the report include: - Skyrocketing food prices led to more hunger and disease while some governments used food as a political weapon; - Marginalized and indigenous communities were denied basic rights for a decent life; - Hundreds of thousands of people were forcibly uprooted in the name of economic development Read More
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Aung San Suu Kyi's life on the line
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Published May 20, 2009 @ 07:05AM PT
The military junta in Myanmar (Burma) wants to throw Aung San Suu Kyi in jail for five years. Act now so we can flood General Than Shwe's office with letters. Aung San Suu Kyi faces her oppressors this week on charges that could land her in jail for five years. The trial comes just days before she was set to be released from house arrest. Her life is on the line. Aung San Suu Kyi's health is at risk, and five years of torture and abuse at the infamous Insein prison in Myanmar could spell disaster. Our rapid response to these developments started last week in Australia (a member of ASEAN) when the Amnesty section there mobilized and generated over 7,000 letters to ASEAN. Yesterday, the chairman of ASEAN called on Myanmar to release Aung San Suu Kyi. With the international pressure s... Read More
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Make it the best Mother's Day!
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Published May 06, 2009 @ 09:51AM PT
Ground-breaking legislation that could help end violence against women around the world is in Senator Kerry's hands. Tell him to reintroduce the International Violence Against Women Act by Mother's Day, May 10th. Amnesty International has worked with a coalition of supporters to draft the International Violence Against Women Act. Last week, we sent Senators Kerry and Lugar, the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a final draft of the legislation. Now, it's up to them to say "yes" to ending violence against women - walk the bill over to the floor of the Senate and reintroduce it this week. Let them know you think that ending violence against women should be a priority. After you take action you can send a Mother's Day card to you... Read More
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Our broken and costly immigration system
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Published March 25, 2009 @ 10:29AM PT
New research shows immigrants, including asylum seekers fleeing torture and long-time lawful permanent residents, are being unjustly detained in the U.S. Tens of thousands of people sit locked up in a broken and cruel system of detention with no right to even a hearing to determine if their detention is warranted. Many languish separated from their families, commingled with people serving criminal sentences, and sometimes denied access to attorneys, family members and adequate medical care. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could issue new regulations that would quickly solve many of these problems. But instead, just three weeks ago, the office in charge of these policies testified before Congress that it plans to detain almost a hundred thousand more immigrants this year than ... Read More
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- Take a stand against Internet censorship!
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Published March 12, 2009 @ 11:45AM PT
Today is the World Day Against Cyber Censorship and we're taking a stand against the role of U.S. companies in internet censorship. We're asking Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google to uncensor their search engines and blogging portals, even just for one day (although we hope for good). Learn more about Internet censorship by big U.S. companies and how you can take action: http://www.amnestyusa.org/business-and-human-rights/internet-censorship/world-day-against-cyber-censorship/page.do?id=1361061
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- Powerful New Video to Save Troy Davis
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Published February 04, 2009 @ 08:28AM PT
Indie rock group State Radio has joined forces with Amnesty International USA to create a powerful new video about the case of death row inmate Troy Anthony Davis. Davis faces execution in the state of Georgia, despite compelling evidence that he may be innocent. Watch the video and then take action for Troy!
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Stop the violence in Gaza & Israel
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Published January 09, 2009 @ 11:59AM PT
The latest news from Gaza is bleak. Two weeks of horrific attacks on Gaza have caused over 770 Palestinian deaths and injured thousands more. Rocket fire by armed Palestinian groups, including Hamas, has taken the lives of 14 Israelis and caused several dozen injuries. Amnesty International condemns the violence on both sides and calls on both parties to abide by international law and policies. The U.S. government cannot continue this lop-sided blame on Hamas for the crisis. Ask Secretary Rice to urgently express deep concern about Israel's disproportional response and its policies which have brought the Gaza Strip to the brink of humanitarian disaster. Civilians in Gaza, already trapped in disgraceful humanitarian conditions, are victims of Israeli air strikes and intensified attack... Read More
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- The Price of Silence
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Published December 10, 2008 @ 08:34AM PT
Anniversaries are a dime a dozen. We’ve got days for everything. Sled Dog Day. Bubble Gum Day. Ballet Day. Dump Your Significant Jerk Day. I’m not kidding. Today is different. 60 years ago this December 10th – after the horrors of World War II – the world came together to unanimously pass the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Not one nation dissented (though a few abstained). The declaration says that every human being deserves dignity, freedom and respect. It’s the first blueprint for global rights, establishing fundamental freedoms for every human being. I guess years of a hellish war have a way of teaching you what’s important. 60 years later, millions if not billions still suffer from tyranny, torture, injustice and ine... Read More
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- We believe in justice without borders!
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Published July 18, 2008 @ 12:36PM PT
This week, we celebrate the ten year anniversary of the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court (ICC). The treaty is groundbreaking because it established for the first time in history a permanent court to investigate individuals accused of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. Today, 107 countries around the world have joined the Court. On Monday, the ICC Prosecutor requested a warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmad al Bashir, alleging that Bashir bears criminal responsibility for 10 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur. In recognition of International Justice Day this year, we invite you to watch AIUSA's film Justice Without Borders and find or organize an International Justice Day event in your ... Read More
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- Governments Must Apologize for 60 Years of Human Rights Failures
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Published May 28, 2008 @ 12:30PM PT
Sixty years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations. Amnesty International's brand new 2008 round-up of the State of the World's Human Rights show that sixty years later people still face: • torture or ill-treatment in at least 81 countries • unfair trials in at least 54 countries • filtered or blocked speech in at least 77 countries Governments are failing to respond to growing angry demands for justice, freedom, and equality - similarly to those voiced in Myanmar, Pakistan and Iran. In honor of the 60th anniversary of the UDHR, Amnesty International challenges governments around the world to set a new paradigm for collective leadership to solve the world's human rights crises. Read More
