Amnesty International at UGA

Human Rights Film Festival!

2010-03-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

Amnesty International invites the UGA and Athens community to a film festival that will open your eyes to issues from around the world. Amnesty International recognizes the power of films as a medium to educate individuals and stimulate action from the public. Our three award-winning films take an uplifting approach to fighting for human rights, and we hope these stories encourage all of us to "become citizens of the world." The festival will be hosted at Cine from March 19-21 and all viewings are absolutely FREE FREE FREE!

Information about Amnesty's goals and mission plus specific information related to each film will be available all weekend. Please take a few moments before or after watching to sign our petitions and learn more about the global human rights movement.

The festival is also a membership drive event for Amnesty International's Southern Regional office in Atlanta. You can also become an annual member with Amnesty International USA. It's $25 for adults and $15 for students.

Again, the public is welcome to watch these viewings completely FREE OF CHARGE.

Films:

"Burma VJ": an Oscar documentary nominee about a tenacious band of Burmese reporters armed with video cameras who face down death to expose the repressive regime controlling their country.

"The Stoning of Soraya M.": a drama set in 1986 Iran and centered on a man whose car breaks down in a remote village where he enters into a conversation with a woman who relays to him the story about her niece Soraya whose arranged marriage to an abusive tyrant had a tragic ending

"Soundtrack for a Revolution": tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music, interspersed with a vibrant blend of heart-wrenching interviews, dramatic images, and thrilling contemporary performances -- a film of significance, energy, and power

Film Line-Up:

Friday 19th

7:00 PM Burma VJ

9:00 PM Stoning of Soraya M

Saturday 20th

7:00 PM Stoning of Soraya M

9:00 PM Soundtrack For A Revolution

Sunday 21st

3:00 PM Soundtrack For A Revolution

5:00 PM Burma VJ

For more information about the festival or Cine please see:

Athens Cine
234 West Broad Street
Athens, Ga 30601

View Larger Map

Tuesday Nov 3: Individuals At Risk

2009-11-03T07:47:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

We hope you all have had a fun and relaxing Fall Break. For tomorrow, we are going to combine our meeting with Clarke Central High school's Peace Jam group. We will be writing letters about jailed journalists and talking with the students about life in general. The meeting will held at Little Italy at 6:00 PM. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Best,

Nima

Nimapt@uga.edu

Eli

Lilae@uga.edu

Photo Exhibit: “Become a Citizen of the World”

2009-11-03T07:46:00.000-08:00

“Become a Citizen of the World” Photo Exhibit to benefit Amnesty International:
So many of us in college have had the chance to visit other parts of the world. In those travels, we gain sensitivity to the diversity and richness of humanity. With that view of the world, Amnesty International is hosting a photo exhibit to showcase people around the world. Amnesty International is an organization dedicated to the fighting injustices globally. We hope that with this exhibit to excite people about cultures everywhere and encourage people to join the movement of promoting peace and justice. We will be selling the pictures on a donation basis to raise money for Amnesty International and their campaigns.

If you have photos from around the world that you would like to donate, please turn them into Memorial Hall (the Amnesty mailbox) or Moore College 216 by November 9th. You could also bring the pictures to our meeting tonight at Little Italy or our meeting next week in Journalism. If you feel inspired to mount or frame them however you think best displays them, feel free! The idea is to have pictures of the people in other countries (not just you!), so turn in pictures that say something about the culture you visited. Please write the country on the back of the photo. Thanks!

Tuesday Oct 20, Maternal Healthcare. Journalism 516, 6:00 PM

2009-10-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

In continuing with our month's focus on womens rights, tomorrows meeting will focus on maternal healthcare.

More than half a million die annually in childbirth, that's one death every minute. Globally, almost all cases of maternal mortality are preventable. About 74% of all maternal deaths could have been avoided had the women had access to proper treatment that would assist in birth complications. Maternal mortality has until recently been a neglected issue. Currently 99% of these cases are plagueing low income countries like Sierra Leone, Peru and Nicaragua, and tomorrow we will discuss maternal healthcare issues in these regions.

Considering death on this scale is preventable, all measures should be taken by these governments to ensure sound policies that don't neglect, devalue and discriminate against women. Come out tomorrow to write action letters urging government officials in these countries to make a change.

Meeting are held Tuesday in Journalism Room 516 at 6:00 PM

Best,
Nima Patel
Nimapt@uga.edu

Eli Tedesco
Lilae@uga.edu

Film: "Lumo" Oct. 6, MLC 171 6:00 PM

2009-09-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Next week we officially begin our month of campaigning for women's rights. We'll start the month off with a film capturing the story of a young Congolese woman in recovery at a hospital for rape victims. The following is a synopsis pulled from the producer's website:

The agonies of war torn Africa are deeply etched in the bodies of women. In eastern Congo, vying militias, armies and bandits use rape as a weapon of terror.

Recently engaged to a young man from her village, 20 year-old Lumo Sinai couldn’t wait to have children and start a family. But when she crossed paths with marauding soldiers who brutally attacked her, she was left with a fistula— a condition that has rendered her incontinent and threatens her ability to give birth in the future. Rejected by her fiancé and cast aside by her family, Lumo found her way to the one place that may save her: a hospital for rape survivors set on the border with Rwanda.

Buoyed by the love of the hospital staff, and a formidable team of wise women known to all as “the Mamas,” Lumo and her friends keep the hope of one day resuming their former lives, thanks to an operation that can restore them fully to health. A feisty young woman with a red comb perpetually jutting from her hair, Lumo faces the challenge of recovery with remarkable courage and sass. As she and her friends recover from surgery, they pass the days by gossiping and sharing their dreams of one day finding love.

But when it looks like her operation may have failed, Lumo’s faith is thrown entirely into question.

On this uncertain road to recovery, Lumo shows that the solidarity of women can bind the most irreparable of wounds.

We hope everyone can make it to the screening of "Lumo" which will be playing in the MLC from 6-8 PM on Tuesday, October 6.

Nima Patel

Nimapt@uga.edu

Eli Tedesco

Lilae@uga.edu

Meeting, Tuesday Sept. 29

2009-09-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Tonight we will continue our discussion on the death penalty and focus on international cases and the mentally ill. Come join us to discuss these important issues. Below are a couple of links that give background information.

Death Penalty Issues with Mentally Ill

International Death Penalty Issues

Nima Patel

Nimapt@uga.edu

Eli Tedesco

Lilae@uga.edu

Troy Davis Teach-In Tomorrow!

2009-09-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow Laura Kagel will be conducting a teach-in for the Troy Davis Case. This case has been a local priority for Amnesty and we hope to get the word out to those of you who aren't familiar with his story.

Laura Kagel who's with Georgians For Alternatives To The Death Penalty and Amnesty International will discuss the Troy Davis case in detail and will answer questions anyone may have.

Please come out and show your support for Troy!

Meetings are in Journalism 516 from 6-7 PM. If you'd like to become more involved in Amnesty stick around for our planning meetings right after the general meetings.

Nima Patel

Nimapt@uga.edu

Eli Tedesco

Lilae@uga.edu

Film: "At The Death House Door" Sept 15, MLC Rm 171

2009-09-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

**UPDATE: Film will be shown in MLC Room 171 from 6:00-8:00 PM.
Hey guys, Next week we'll be showing a documentary, "At The Death House Door," and here's a blurb I pulled from the producer's website: --At the Death House Door follows the remarkable career journey of Carroll Pickett, who served 15 years as the death house chaplain to the infamous "Walls" prison unit in Huntsville, Texas. During that time he presided over 95 executions, including the very first lethal injection done anywhere in the world. After each execution, Pickett recorded an audiotape account of that fateful day. The film also tells the story of Carlos De Luna, a convict whose execution affected Pickett more than any other. Pickett firmly believed the man was innocent and two Chicago Tribune reporters turn up evidence that strongly suggests he was right.

This film tackles controversial issues regarding the death penalty, a premier issue for Amnesty International. Soon after its foundation in 1961, Amnesty International began sending appeals to prevent the execution of prisoners of conscience. Over time, its opposition to the death penalty has broadened to include all prisoners, regardless of the crimes of which they have been convicted. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to kill the prisoner.

Progress has been dramatic in the last few decades. In 1977, only 16 countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes. Thirty years later, that number had grown to 90.

**UPDATE: Film will be shown in MLC Room 171 from 6:00-8:00 PM.

Nima Patel

Nimapt@uga.edu Eli Tedesco

Lilae@uga.edu

First Informational Kick Off!! Journalism Rm 516, 6:00 PM

2009-09-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody!

Welcome back to another year of human rights activism! We hope the summer holidays were relaxing and everybody is recharged for a new year. There are several opportunities and updates we would like to inform you about:

-- Letter-writing meetings are now tentatively Tuesdays 6:00-7:45pm in Journalism Room 516. We might change to a room that offers AV equipment if one becomes available.

**Meetings will start TOMORROW, Tuesday September 8. This first kick off get together is a great time for new members to become informed about Amnesty International here at UGA including our campaigns, actions, and events for the coming year! We'll briefly discuss Amnesty's history and how we as a local branch operate, and then kick off the new school year with an action and information about every campaign we will be promoting this year. This meeting will also have FREE FOOD! Come out and bring your friends!

-- This semester we are planning two major projects. The first will be an event where we plan to sell pictures people have taken from all around the world. In order to get this project off the ground we could use everyone's help. The second project we're pursuing is a human-rights film festival early in the spring semester. This is an ideal time to begin working on both of these projects. If you are interested in working on either of these exciting projects, please contact us so we can put you in touch with the coordinators.

-- Another initiative were striving to accomplish is to have helped establish an Amnesty International chapter at every high school in Athens. If you would like to become more involved in this project please contact Eli Tedesco directly.

-- Troy Davis still remains a priority for our organization. Currently, the United States Supreme Court has issued an order mandating a new evidentiary hearing for Troy's case. There will be an opportunity to travel to Savannah later this month to rally for Troy Davis. We'll send out more information and updates about this case when we know more.

--If you are interested in becoming more involved with our organization please let us know ASAP. After each regular meeting, the planning committee hangs back and has their weekly meeting. Anyone may attend this meeting and pitch in ideas! We're always open to new people who want to get involved.

Once again our first informational get together is tomorrow, September 8 at 6:00 PM in Journalism 516. And remember we'll have FREE FOOD!

Nima Patel

Nimapt@uga.edu

Eli Tedesco

Lilae@uga.edu

Human Rights Film Festival!

2009-04-15T20:38:00.001-07:00

Amnesty International invites the Athens community to a film festival that will open your eyes to issues from around the world. Our five award-winning films take an uplifting approach to fighting for human rights, and we hope these stories encourage all of us to "become citizens of the world." The festival will be hosted at Cine from April 24-28.

On opening night, Friday April 24th, members of the Liberian Association of Metro Atlanta will join us to discuss Pray the Devil Back to Hell and contemporary issues in Liberia. Deputy Regional Director Laura Moye of the Amnesty International USA Southern Region office will also be on hand to open the festival and introduce Amnesty. Food will be provided by local Athens establishments. Tuesday, April 28th, local band Venice is Sinking will close the festival, and we'll be giving away great door prizes from the band, more Athens businesses, and Amnesty.

Information about Amnesty's goals and mission plus specific information related to each film will be available all weekend. Please take a few moments before or after watching to sign our petitions and learn more about the global human rights movement.

The festival is also a membership drive event for Amnesty International's Southern Regional office in Atlanta. For $15 you receive an annual membership with Amnesty International USA, a free festival t-shirt, entrance to the closing night event (including a chance at one of our great door prizes donated from local Athens businesses), and you enjoy $5 tickets Friday through Thursday April 30th on all films!

Tickets prices:
$15 - Opening Night Event including film, speakers and food ($10 with Amnesty membership)
$6 - Matinee
$8 - Evening
$5 - Each film Friday through Thursday April 30th with purchase of $15 Amnesty membership (great deal!)

Films:

Trouble the Water is a powerful documentary about Hurricane Katrina survivors from New Orleans. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a multiple award-wining documentary about a peaceful women's protest movement in Liberia. Winner of the Best Documentary Award at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Letter to Anna is poignant, moving documentary about prominent Russian human rights journalist Anna Politkovskaya, the recipient of Amnesty International's 2001 Global Award for Human Rights Journalism, who was assassinated in 2006.

Were the World Mine is an award-winning musical comedy version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream that touches on the many of the issues facing the LGBTQ community today.

Favela Rising follows the remarkable story of Anderson Sá, a former drug gang member, who turned to music to turn his community around. Winner of 36 different international awards, including Best Documentary at the Sydney, Leeds, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, and Sao Paolo International Film Festivals.

Film Line-Up:

Friday 24th
5:00pm Pray the Devil
6:30-7:30pm Opening Event
7:45pm Pray the Devil
9:45pm Trouble the Water
12:00am Were the World Mine

Saturday 25th
4:00pm Letter to Anna
6:00pm Pray the Devil
7:45 pm Trouble the Water
9:45 pm Favela Rising
12:00am Were the World Mine

Sunday 26th
4:00pm Favela Rising
6:00pm Letter to Anna
7:45pm Trouble the Water

Monday 27th
4:00pm Pray the Devil
6:00pm Favela Rising
7:45pm Letter to Anna
9:45pm Trouble the Water

Tuesday 28th
8:30pm Were the World Mine
10:00pm Favela Rising
10:00pm Closing Event with Venice is Sinking and door prizes

*Please note: film screenings will continue through Thursday April 30th.

Stay tuned for updates about the festival in the coming week. We also have a Facebook event available for those interested.

For more information about the festival or Cine please see:

Athens Cine
234 West Broad Street
Athens, Ga 30601

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4/1/09: Film Festival Planning + Liberian Truth Commission

2009-03-31T18:04:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody,

Tomorrow we're doing a letter of support on behalf of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission being conducted by Liberia and its citizens. This continues our series of actions focused on issues featured in our upcoming Human Rights Film Festival. For more info:

http://liberiatrc.mnadvocates.org/
https://www.trcofliberia.org/

If you'd like to write a letter yourself, here is the address (thanks Eli):

Here's the address:
Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
650 Third Avenue South
Suite 550
Minneapolis, MN 55402

We will also be completing much more planning for the festival. We will have films screening Friday April 24th - Tuesday April 28th. Opening night will feature a speaker and food, closing night will feature music. Discounts will be available all weekend to those purchasing a $15 Amnesty International annual membership.

***This is a great event, but it will take a lot of time and energy to pull it off! We need as much help as possible, so please join us tomorrow night to chip in and give some advice. All officers, both outgoing and incoming are expected to attend! This is an important part of being an officer.***

A list of films we're screening at Cine:

Favela Rising
Letter to Anna
Trouble the Water
Were the World Mine
Pray the Devil Back to Hell
______________________________

____________

Another news:

ISL World Fest: We'll be there this Saturday, April 4th, from 12-5pm downtown on College Avenue (between Broad and Clayton Streets). Join the international community of the University to celebrate diversity. We'll have petitions and more info on the film festival, too!

Updates from Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (GFADP): SB 42 and 151 continue to pose threats to the integrity of Georgia's criminal justice system. Please take a moment to read up on these bills pending before the State Legislature and make an informed call to your legislator.

Visit:
www.vote-smart.org (for your rep's contact)
http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

___________________________________________

Meetings 6:30pm Wednesdays in SLC 277. Contact zach.l.fox@gmail.com or elitedesco@gmail.com with questions.

3/24/09: Film Festival Actions + Planning

2009-03-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody!

We are nearing the end of the semester, and our big project for the year is coming along great. In one month we'll be hosting a human rights film festival downtown at Cine. Over the next month we will be providing a set of actions, available each week, that directly correspond with the movies. We will also be going into high gear for the festival itself, so come join us to take part in this exciting event.

Our current roster of movies are all relatively new releases, some are very new. Almost all have won major awards at festivals like Tribeca, Sundance, and Cannes:

Trouble the Water - Powerful documentary about Katrina survivors from New Orleans...very well done, and not to be missed! Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell - Multiple award-wining documentary about a peaceful women's protest movement in Liberia. Winner of Best Documentary 2008 Tribeca Film Festival.

Letter to Anna - Very moving documentary about the prominent Russian human rights journalist Anna Politkovskaya, the recipient the Amnesty International's 2001 Global Award for Human Rights Journalism. Politkovskaya, who was often at the forefront of recording human rights abuses by the Russian military in Chechnya, was assassinated in 2006 in the elevator of her apartment building; her murder(s) remain at large.

Were the World Mine - Musical comedy take on Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream that is funny, but also touches on many of the issues facing the LGBT community today. Another multiple award winner. [waiting on confirmation]

Favela Rising - Winner of 36 international awards, including Best Documentary at the Sydney, Leeds, Rio de Janeiro, Vancouver, and Sao Paolo International Film Festivals. FR follows the story of Anderson Sá, a former drug gang member, who turned to music to turn his community around. [waiting on confirmation]

________________________________

More announcements:

- Thursday March 24th the Roosevelt Institution is hosting an exceptional event. Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Couch, a former Guantanamo Bay military prosecutor, will be in Athens to describe his experience at the military base in Cuba. This is a rare opportunity to hear first-hand about a topic that Amnesty has worked hard on for years. 7pm in Journalism 106.

- The Indian Student Association is hosting a week of events. The list is in the picture below:

3/18/09: Indigent Defense Slashed in Georgia! + Death Penalty in New Mexico

2009-03-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!

Hope Spring Break was restful, or at the very least fun. We're gearing up for our big film festival less than two months away now! But first...

Tomorrow we will be doing two actions.

First, Senate Bill 42 in the Georgia Legislature is currently undergoing debate before seeing the Senate floor. This bill would drastically reduce already chronically underfunded indigent defense resources for public defenders. This is totally unacceptable, especially in light of the Troy Davis case. Help us take a stand to ensure that our justice system is not undermined!

Second, the House of the State of New Mexico recently legislatively abolished the death penalty. Gov. Richardson, a staunch supporter of the death penalty himself, has publicly voiced concern about the high costs of imposing the death penalty and the potential to execute an innocent person. Help us help New Mexico become the latest state to abolish the death penalty!

*Dinner afterward for those interested, too!

More announcements:
- The Center for International Trade and Security is celebrating its 20th Anniversary with a series of lectures this week (starting tomorrow). Participants will include the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and General Eugene Habiger, former U.S. Commander in Chief of STRATCOM (Commander of all American strategic nuclear weapons). Visit http://www.uga.edu/cits/ for more information.

- On Thursday, March 19 at 12:30pm on the 4th Floor, Dean Rusk Hall, North Campus "The Conduct of Foreign Policy under the Obama Administration: A lecture (with a Q&A on careers in foreign affairs) by former U.S. career diplomats Earle and Barbara Scarlett. Refreshments provided ;).

- On Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. in the Miller Learning Center Room 101, representatives from Invisible Children will be coming to UGA to show a short documentary entitled "The Rescue".

- On Monday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the Miller Learning Center Room 101, representatives from LiNK will be at UGA to show the award winning film "The Crossing". LiNK, or Liberty in North Korea, is a non-profit organization that educates, protects, advocates, provides, and empowers the North Korean people so that one day they will have the opportunity to live in true freedom.

3/4/09: AIUSA Priority Cases

2009-03-03T08:36:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

This week will be an informal meeting. We'll be providing several different letters for priority action cases. These are high profile individuals who are being detained, or whose whereabouts are not known, simply because of peacefully exercising their right to freely express themselves. We will have one case each from: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Turkey, China, Gambia, and Myanmar. In addition, we'll also be continuing our special focus case on the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) movement.

For anyone interested, or anyone who needs a break from midterm studying, we'll also be doing dinner and sign painting (maybe) after the meeting.

Reminder: Next Wednesday, from 5:00-7:00pm, we'll be participating in a rally for accountability for abuses in the War on Terror. It's being held in Atlanta, at the intersection of 14th and Peachtree Streets in the heart of Midtown -- should be a lot of fun (we'll be in jumpsuits and business suits) and get the chance to meet some other Amnesty activists from the Atlanta area. We can grab dinner afterward, too!

2/25/08: ELECTIONS! + Angola 3 + Sign-making

2009-02-23T18:30:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody,

This week is packed with events and opportunities, so we hope you take advantage of at least some. We apologize for canceling last week's meeting, as we were herded into the ground floor of the SLC during the tornado warning (which conveniently started just as we were). The Angola 3 case is rolling over to this week.

In addition, we are having elections this Wednesday for new officers for the upcoming academic year! Please join us if you are interested in participating more with Amnesty, or just want to help direct the activities for next year. Current officers are expected to participate.

Lastly, we will also be making signs for a newly planned demonstration in Atlanta. The demonstration will be focused on accountability for violations committed during the War on Terror. It will be held Wednesday, March 11th (yes, Spring Break) from 5:00-7:00pm at the corner of Peachtree and 14th Street in Midtown Atlanta (Colony Square, for those familiar with the area). We will be joined by several other student groups from the Atlanta area, the Atlanta Group 75, and other members of the community.

__________________________________

More announcements:

Stand-Up is screening Rendition (2007) this Wednesday 6:15pm in SLC 171. If you want to catch the movie and discussion, but also want to participate in our meeting, please drop by at least for elections. We will make every effort to finish elections as quickly as possible.

Amnesty members also have an opportunity to have lunch with Martina Correia, human rights activist and sister of Troy Anthony Davis, this Saturday. The Law School is hosting a panel on the Death Penalty from 10:45am-12:15pm. Contact Zach at zach.l.fox@gmail.com ASAP to participate, as space may be limited.

Not For Sale Campaign anti-slavery event this Friday, hosted by UGA graduate student Ryan Willoughby. Modern day slavery and human trafficking are forms of organized crime and are truly awful human rights violations. Two times to catch the presentation and discussion: 1:30-2:30pm, 5:30pm-6:30pm, both SLC 150.

2/18/09: Angola 3 Louisiana Prison Case

2009-02-16T20:44:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Sorry for the late notice this week. We're doing an action on the Angola 3 (referring to Angola Prison in Louisiana) prisoners. Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox, who were convicted of a stabbing murder in Louisiana's Angola Prison while incarcerated there, have been held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day for at least 28 years. The two inmates also helped organize a prison chapter of the Black Panther Party. Since their convictions, additional restrictions have been imposed on their personal property, reading materials, access to legal resources, work and visits.

As the Troy Davis case has also illustrated to us, the criminal justice system in the United States suffers from some serious flaws and unwarranted or cruel and unusual punishments. Please join us to help end this injustice, and for more info on the Angola 3 case, please see this Amnesty USA press release (a bit outdated from 2007, but helpful nonetheless): http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGAMR511452007&lang=e.

Also, for those interested, we'll be going to see Milk following the movie. It just opened at Cine downtown and its $5 student ticket night Wednesdays! Dinner beforehand perhaps, too :).

_________________________

Other announcements:

-- GFADP Lobby Day is tomorrow (actually today!). If you've got a last minute urge to go (if you hadn't already planned on attending), the program runs 9am-1pm at the State Capital in downtown Atlanta. MARTA would be easiest, as the Georgia State station is very close to the Golden Dome.

-- We continue to work on our film festival to be held at the end of April. This will be a major event held at Cine downtown, with sponsorship from the national Amnesty organization and several organizations on campus. If you'd like to be a part of the planning process let us know ASAP.

-- Elections for officer positions for the upcoming year are scheduled for February 25th. THIS DATE IS SET IN STONE. If you are interested in becoming more involved with Amnesty on campus, please consider inquiring about the positions available! :)

-- African Night 2009 is being held at the Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, February 21, 2009 at 7pm. Tickets may be purchased at the Tate Cashier office, $5 for UGA Students, $10 for Non-UGA Students. For more information contact Joseph Abdallah, President of the African Student Union at jfabdallah@gmail.com or visit www.uga.edu/asu.

2/11/09: Valentine's Day Action for Women of Zimbabwe Arise!

2009-02-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

I hope you got to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend, despite it still being February!

This Wednesday we will be doing a solidarity action for WOZA, a womens' rights and human rights activist group in Zimbabwe. WOZA members and leaders have been harassed, detained, and beaten in some cases simply for trying to peacefully speak out against injustices in Zimbabwe. The group is also our current focus action for the Southern region! We'll be making paper roses (which are a symbol WOZA activists use) and a letter/card to be sent to the Zimbabwean embassy.

We also had a good time last week getting dinner and catching a movie at Cine last week ($5 student tickets Wednesday nights!), and we plan on doing so again this week. Let me know if you'd like to join us for dinner and movie if you can't make the meeting.

See everyone Wednesday :)

Zach
zach.l.fox@gmail.com

A few more opportunities:

-- The UGA Living Wage Campaign is hosting a rally and speakers this Thursday, February 12th at 3:00pm at Tate Plaza. The rally will conclude with a march up to President Adams' office where members of the LWC will present a letter to Adams. Amnesty will be in attendance to support this worthy cause, and so should you!

-- The annual Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (GFADP) Lobby Day at the Georgia State Capital is Tuesday February 17th. The day begins with training at 9:00am and concludes at 1:00pm. This is an excellent opportunity to work on lobbying skills while making your voice heard on an immensely important issue here in the state. More info soon!

-- The first 2009 Georgia cluster meeting of north Georgia (primarily Atlanta and UGA groups) Amnesty groups will be held Feb. 21st (Saturday) at the Atlanta Regional office. We'll be working with Atlanta groups to plan a coordinated action on the 100 Days Campaign. Let us know ASAP if you'd like to attend.

2/4/09: Red Hand Campaign against Child Soldiers!

2009-02-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Hope the weekend was relaxing and enjoyable. This Wednesday we'll be discussing the global (and growing) use of child soldiers. Obviously this is a very serious issue because the long-term individual and societal effects of children in combat can be devastating to communities. We'll also be taking part in the Global Red Hand Campaign. The campaign is a worldwide petition being presented to the UN on Feb. 12th. Come hang out with us, get some info, and have fun with finger paints too.

Also, we're planning on grabbing a bite to eat after the meeting and then catching a late screening at Cine. If you're interested just stick around for the planning meeting after the petition, or if you can't make the meeting but would like to go to the movie let Zach know at zach.l.fox@gmail.com.

1/28/09: 100 Days Campaign!

2009-01-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

The inauguration of President Obama and his quick action to decisively end American abuses in the War on Terror -- including closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay -- give us hope that change on human rights issues is indeed on the way. To carry this momentum, we are dedicating this semester to a new theme:

"New Year + New Administration + New Policy = More Human Rights!"

This week will be writing to President Obama, thanking him for his quick action but also impressing on him the importance of concrete plans to implement his executive orders. The letters will also give us the opportunity to demand accountability for past violations -- a full reckoning of past abuses is necessary to truly understand what was done and why those violations are unacceptable and illegal.

PLEASE NOTE: This week's meeting will be informal as we do not have a reservation for the room this week. Instead we'll be at Jittery Joe's in the SLC, just down the hall from our room, starting at 6:30. Stop by, grab a cup of coffee, write a letter, and take a break to socialize with us. :) We'll also have info on some other opportunities of interest in the coming weeks (including Lobby Day with GFADP!) Our (always open) planning session will start about 7:30 so stick around if you'd like to get more involved this semester and/or next year, or just to hear what's around the corner.

1/21/09: Welcome Back + Gaza

2009-01-19T15:05:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I hope you're enjoying the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and looking forward to building on the dramatic change that he helped initiate over 40 years ago. Dr. King remains one of the most prominent and important examples of human rights advocacy and action today, and I hope his legacy inspires us all to work harder for human rights.

This week, Amnesty at UGA will be hosting a Welcome Back meeting. ***Meetings are now Wednesdays, 6:30pm in SLC 277.*** We'll be introducing Amnesty as a movement, our group, and some exciting new opportunities for the semester and next year. Also, THERE WILL BE FREE PIZZA :). Even if you've done work with us in the past, or are familiar with Amnesty International, please join us to have fun, meet new people, and get some free food.

Our action for this week is focused on the Gaza crisis. Thankfully both sides have now entered into a tentative ceasefire, but serious concerns remain. The most pressing concerns now are delivering humanitarian aid to the hundreds of thousands of Gazans without basic necessities and services and ascertaing what violations of international law were committed by Hamas militants and the Israel military.

Our action will be addressed to members of Congress, urging them to 1) halt all arms transfers to Israel until it is certain that the weaponry will not be used in contravention to international law, and 2) pressure countries in the region to block the flow of smuggled weapons into Gaza, which have been used indiscriminately against civilian targets in southern Israel. Accountaiblity for violations on both sides is the primary goal.

***Again, meetings are now Wednesdays at 6:30pm in SLC 277. Our open planning sessions will be directly after letter-writing meetings, too, so join us! PLEASE NOTE: We will not have meetings every Wednesday due to scheduling conflicts. On those dates, an alternate location for letter-writing will be announced in advance (probably coffee somewhere!).***

News for the Spring Semester!

2009-01-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

We hope the winter holidays were relaxing and everybody is recharged for a new semester. There are several opportunities and updates we would like to inform you about:

-- Letter-writing meetings are now tentatively Tuesdays 6:30-7:15pm in the SLC. We do not have a room confirmation just yet, and unfortunately the time change was necessary to meet in the SLC. If this time slot and location absolutely do not work for you, PLEASE LET US KNOW so we can factor your availability into any schedule change we might make in the coming weeks. Topics for each week are open and suggestions are always welcome. As usual, topics will always be posted and emailed out in advance of letter-writing meetings.

*Meetings will start January 21st. Stay tuned for the SLC room number.

-- We have restructured the Amnesty officer group for this semester in order to make the organization more efficient and visible on campus. A diagram of the new positions is available on request (because I can't figure out how to attach the doc in Blogger). This plan is flexible and tentative, but not all positions have been filled, and there are lots of opportunities to work with officers on projects. If you are interested in becoming more involved with our organization please let us know ASAP.

-- This semester we are planning two major events. The first will be a 5-K run fundraiser mid-semester for the HEAL Africa clinic in Goma, Dem. Republic of the Congo which serves sexual assault and violence victims in the war-torn eastern DRC. The second will be a human-rights film festival later in the semester. If you are interested in working on either of these exciting projects, please contact us so we can put you in touch with the coordinators.

-- Another great opportunity we are pursuing this semester is a teach-in program for local public schools. This is a brand new initiative, but something we're very excited about. Please contact Nima directly to help get our teach-in program started.

-- The Troy Davis case remains a local priority for our group. We are committed to sparing Troy's life and seeing him receive a new trial. Currently Troy is awaiting word from the 11th Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta on whether has grounds to pursure a second federal appeal. If the 3-judge panel finds in his favor, Troy could potentially receive a evidentiary hearing in Savannah. Please stay tuned for updates about the case.

-- There will be an opportunity to travel to Atlanta later this month to rally with Atlanta student and local groups in Midtown Atlanta calling on President-elect Obama to end abuses in the War on Terror. This is a major priority for Amensty USA and part of the 100 Days Campaign. Join us to make your voice heard, and in a very public place too!

Thanks for all the work you've done with us in the past! We look forward to another great semester.

***We will have a planning meeting open to everyone (as they always are!) this weekend to get the ball rolling on all our projects for the semester. When a time, date, and location are determined, we will notify everyone as quickly as possible.***

Zach Fox
zach.l.fox@gmail.com

Nima Patel
nimapt@uga.edu

11/18: Native American Women's Rights

2008-11-16T14:56:00.000-08:00

This coming week we will be discussing the disproportionate incidence of rape and other violence among Native American women. 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. A complex maze of tribal, state and federal jurisdictions allows perpetrators to rape with impunity and in some cases even encourages assaults.

Join us to learn more about this very serious issue, and help us take action by pressuring the Acting Indian Health Services Director to protect the rights of Native American & Alaska Native survivors of sexual assault.

We will also be doing some crafts for victims of violence and abuse in the spirit of the coming Thanksgiving holiday! :)

Meeting Tuesday 5:30pm Sanford Hall

Also join us this Thursday at International Student Life (ISL) Worldfest on Tate Plaza all afternoon. We'll have petitions and lots of info so stop by!

Zach

11/11: LGBT Rights + Planning Session!

2008-11-09T15:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported our demonstration against Guantanamo on the eve of the election! The petition campaign was successful and we certainly made a visual impact.

This week we will be doing an action on LGBT rights. Members of Lambda Alliance will also be joining us for the meeting and action.

***At this Wednesday's planning meeting we are discussing long term strategy with the goal of making our activism stronger on campus. EVERYONE who is interested in participating in Amnesty activities on campus should attend to make their voice and ideas heard. This is a great chance to shape how our group on campus works, so please take this opportunity seriously.***

NOTE: Wednesday's meeting is scheduled for 8:00pm.

CLOSE GUANTANAMO Demonstration

2008-10-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

As part of Amnesty's national Counter Terror with Justice campaign we will be demonstrating for the closure of the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay this coming Monday, NOVEMBER 3rd at Tate Plaza from 10-3.

We will have lots of information available, plus some members of Amnesty and other concerned students will be wearing orange jumpsuits and hoods to give the demonstration visual punch. Petitions will be available, too!

Please consider joining us in solidarity for this event as we strive to ensure human rights don't get lost in the shuffle of the election the following day. Amnesty wants to make certain that human rights remain a priority for the United States Government. To demonstrate that commitment our newly elected leaders need to see our outrage and concern about Guantanamo because it is above all the poster-child of the USG's abusive and illegal conduct during the ongoing War on Terror.

To participate or help in any way, please contact Zach at zach.l.fox@gmail.com or Nima at nimapt@gmail.com by the evening of Sunday, November 2nd. Or, just show up the day of and get involved!

HELP US SHUT IT DOWN!

Zach

2008-10-26T13:57:00.001-07:00

This week we will be hosting a screening of Taxi to the Dark Side (2007, 106 minutes), a revealing documentary exploring the use of torture and extraordinary rendition by or at the behest of the American government during the ongoing War on Terror. The film includes some of the earliest images of Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and details the beating death of an Afghan taxi driver in American custody there. It also explores CIA techniques, Congressional debates over torture, and the impact of pop culture on attitudes about torture. Taxi to the Dark Side won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary.

Join us on WEDNESDAY October 29th at 8:15pm in SLC 214. NOTE: The screening will be replacing our regularly scheduled Tuesday letter-writing meetings.

This event is BLUE CARD.

________________________

We are extremely happy to announce that we will not be holding a candlelight vigil for Troy Davis on Monday because the 11th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals in Atlanta granted him another stay Friday morning. Stay tuned, or check gfadp.org or amnestyusa.org, for the latest news concerning the case.

This coming weekend we are headed to Memphis for the Southern Regional Conference. Updates and news from the conference will be posted next Sunday evening.

______________________________

REMINDER: Join us on NOVEMBER 3rd at Tate Plaza for a demonstration against Guantanamo Bay. We'll have plenty of information and some petitions, in addition to jumpsuits!

Zach Fox

URGENT: Troy Davis Demonstration in Athens!

2008-10-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Troy Davis' last appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied last week, clearing the way for his execution. The date has been set by the State for October 27, next Monday. Please join us for a rally TOMORROW night, October 23rd from 6-7pm on Troy's behalf. We will meet at the Arch a little before 6pm. Guidelines and suggestions for signs and posters can be found at www.gfadp.org.

Please consider joining us for this show of support, and plan on joining us for a vigil Monday night as well.

In solidarity,

Zach

10/21/08: Letter of Support for Guatemalan activists + Troy Davis update

2008-10-19T21:02:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

Two items to note this week:

This week we will be learning more about human rights violations in Guatemala, including political repression, disappearances, kidnapping, extrajudicial killings, and ethnic cleansing. Many of these abuses occurred during Guatemala's long civil war and were the result of "counter-insurgency" operations by the Guatemalan military. Today many of these abuses continue, although at much lower levels and with less intensity. Furthermore, justice and truth continues to be denied to many victims and their family members due to the structure of the peace accords concluded last decade ending the civil war. Our letters for the week will be addressed to human rights activists working to bring remaining human rights violators to justice, including officials who continue to hold important posts in the Guatemalan government.

We will also be completing new petitions on Troy Davis' behalf. Last Tuesday, October 14th, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Troy's cert petition, clearing the way for his execution. The execution is now scheduled, in all likelihood, for the 27th. We are in a very difficult position, but Troy cannot afford for us to stop advocating on his behalf now. For more information, please go to amnestyusa.org and gfadp.org.

We hope to see everyone Tuesday night at 5:30pm back in our normal room, Sanford 112.

In the next two weeks, we will have two major events focusing on the War on Terror and Amnesty Counter Terror with Justice campaign so please stay tuned for updates.

Zach

10/14/08: LUMO and the rape epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2008-10-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I hope the weekend treated you well, the weather was beautiful :).

This week we return to the troubled DRC to look at the horrific rape epidemic that has traumatized millions of women in the central African state. We will be screening the documentary LUMO at 5:00pm in SLC 350 -- TAKE NOTE: This is replacing our normal meeting time and place this week only!

From 9-3 on Tuesday you can find us at Tate Plaza tabling and fundraising for the Heal Africa clinic profiled in the film. Stop by to contribute to this immensely worthy cause -- Heal Africa is doing some of the only major surgery and other therapy offered to women in the Kivu regions of the eastern DRC and their work is absolutely vital.

The early deadline to register for the regional conference Oct. 31st-Nov. 2 in Memphis is tonight, Sunday October 12th. If you would still like to attend you can register for additional ten dollars. Please notify an officer immediately if you are planning on attending because we receive a group discount which we can put towards gas and other collective costs.

-Zach

10/7/08: Child Soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2008-10-05T17:02:00.001-07:00

Child Soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This week we will be discussing the extremely serious and tragic issue of child soldier recruitment in the DRC as part of a two week cluster of action on the troubled state. We will be joined by Dr. Stacey Mitchell of the International Affairs department and David Lewis, a representative of Falling Whistles, a new NGO focused on ending the abuse of children in the DRC. To open the meeting we will watch the short film Duty to Protect.

We are also cosponsoring an event at 8pm in Journalism 503 with Invisible Children. David Lewis will expand on the work that Falling Whistles is planning, and we will have letter-writing and/or petition materials there too.

***We will also be taking last calls for anyone interested in attending the Regional Conference in Memphis, TN during Fall Break. Please notify one of the officers ASAP if you would like to attend, and register online yourself through the amnestyusa.org website.***

*****Troy Davis Update*****

Troy was granted a stay of execution from the U.S. Supreme Court less than two hours before his scheduled execution two weeks ago. We are extremely happy that some body has found it appropriate to halt, at least temporarily, this injustice.

The Court has yet to issue a decision on their assessment of Troy's petition and whether his case merits a Supreme Court hearing. The justices will likely issue their decision within the week. Please stay updated on this story by going to gfadp.org or amnestyusa.org.

See you Tuesday!

Zach

9/30/08: Russian Journalists and Human Rights Defenders

2008-09-29T14:47:00.001-07:00

This week we'll be discussing the dangers of being a journalist or human rights activist in Russia today. There have been several high profile cases in the western media of journalists (especially investigative journalists) who have been targeted for their work. Some have even been killed, and their deaths have resulted in uninterested and incomplete investigations, much less justice.

We also have news on Troy Davis' case -- last week he received a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court less than two hours before his scheduled execution. The Court reconvened today to decide on whether his case merits a Supreme Court trial -- this afternoon the Court issued a statement saying that no decision on the case will be made until Wednesday. This will void the death warrant in Davis' name, and the state will have to seek a new warrant (with 10 days notice) should the news from the Supreme Court be bad.

*Thanks to everyone who worked so hard on Troy's case -- you made a definite impact that was felt and seen around the world. The fight is not over, but Troy won a small victory last week and again today.*

Zach

____________________

Meetings are in Sanford Hall 112 at 5:30pm Tuesdays, unless otherwise noted.

Troy Davis granted stay of execution!

2008-09-23T19:00:00.001-07:00

Earlier this evening, less than two hours before his scheduled execution, Troy Anthony Davis was granted relief by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court will reconvene Monday to decide whether to hear Davis' case. Everyone can still take action to persuade the Parole Board to grant Troy clemency. If you haven't called, sent a letter, and told all your family and friends about this case, please do so as soon as possible. The outpouring of support for justice and fairness in Troy's case has been tremendous, but he is far from safe and still needs our help.

Please find more information on his case and how you can take action at:

www.amnestyusa.org/troydavis

www.gfadp.org

Week of 9/22/08: Katrina Survivors + Troy Davis Update

2008-09-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I hope the weekend was relaxing and enjoyable. We had a good time at the state conference in Macon on Saturday and picked up some new ideas.

This week we will be discussing the plight of Hurricane Katrina survivors within the framework of international human rights norms. It has been 3 years since the destructive storm pushed through Louisiana and the rest of the Gulf Coast; but recent storms, including Ike in Texas, have reminded us that powerful hurricanes and their consequences will continue to be a part of life in the southern United States. One of our members had an opportunity to volunteer in New Orleans after Katrina and will share her experience with us. Actions for the week will be directed to our senators, Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss.

Last Thursday, several members of our UGA group attended a march and prayer vigil for Troy Anthony Davis in downtown Atlanta. Despite the very somber nature of the event, it was well organized and received media attention. Just in the past week, Troy has received new support from former President Jimmy Carter, presumptive Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr, and Nicholas Sarkozy, President of France. President Sarkozy personally phoned Martina Correa, sister of Troy Davis, Friday afternoon. The Reverend Al Sharpton personally visited Troy Friday evening at the state prison in Jackson, Ga. We have received no other news about Troy's execution scheduled for tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night, following our general meeting, we will be participating in a vigil at the arch for Troy. Vigils are held at the arch on Tuesday nights when executions are scheduled in Georgia. They are attended by members of Jubilee Partners, Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, and others from the local community. If you cannot come to our meeting, do try and join us at the arch for the vigil at 6:30pm in the hope that Troy will NOT be executed. If you have not sent an email to the Board of Pardons and Parole in the past week, please do so by going to amnestyusa.org/troydavis.

Zach

Week of 9/15/08: WOZA + Troy Davis update

2008-09-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

We did receive some really terrible news Friday night: Troy Davis was denied clemency following his hearing with the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole. Amnesty is gearing up another round of actions to counter this shocking decision by the board. Stay tuned for what we will be doing as part the new action plan. For those interested, the Southern Regional office is quickly organizing another rally and march through downtown Atlanta this Thursday, September 18th at 6:00PM. Right now, we don't have any more details, but please stay tuned on our Facebook page or this blog for any updates.

Tomorrow night we will be discussing on the special focus case for the Southern region: WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Unite). WOZA is a group of 35,000 women who have peacefully advocated and demonstrated for human rights in their country. They have also spoken out about the worsening social and economic conditions. For their efforts, WOZA members have been intimidated, harassed, and detained. We will be writing letters on their behalf and to the organization directly -- your choice but we recommend doing both!

I hope the weekend treated everyone well -- we pulled a narrow one out in Columbia!

__________________________

The Amnesty State Conference in Macon, Ga is THIS SATURDAY, September 20th from 10-4. If you would like to attend and carpool, please let Zach know ASAP (zach.l.fox@gmail.com). The cost is $15, and includes lunch, snacks, materials, and an Amnesty membership for the year (great deal). Again, let us know ASAP if you would like to attend.

__________________________

Meetings are Tuesdays 5:30pm in Sanford Hall 112, unless otherwise noted.

Week of 9/8/08: Darfur, the ICC, and International Justice PLUS Troy Davis Update

2008-09-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who joined us last week for our action about Iraqi refugees, and also to those who came out for ISL Coffee Hour!

We have two important issues this week. First...

Our third week of action will focus on crimes against humanity being committed in the Darfur region of Sudan. Recently, the International Criminal Court indicted several members of the Sudanese government and leaders of the Janjaweed militias responsible for some of the most serious human rights abuses. Dr. Maurits van der Veen of the International Affairs department will give a brief introduction to the topic, and then we will screen a 2007 Amnesty documentary entitled Justice Without Borders. We hope you'll join us, and try to make it on time to get a seat because this event is Blue Card (we might fill the room!).

We will also have a critical update on the Troy Davis death penalty case here is Georgia.

On September 11th, a rally for deathrow inmate Troy Davis will take place from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta, GA. He was convicted in Savannah, Georgia for the shooting of a white police officer. Since his conviction 17 years ago, strong evidence of his innocence has surfaced. For example, seven of the nine eyewitnesses have recanted their testimony. Despite that, a tentative execution date has been set for Sept. 23rd - only a few weeks away! The clemency board is Troy's last chance, and he needs our help more than ever.

We will be hosting a screening of At the Death House Door and collecting signatures on Troy's behalf Wednesday, the 10th, at 7:30pm in SLC 148. We will also be tabling earlier on Wednesday at Tate so try to make it out to see us at one or the other.

Please go to amnestyusa.org for more information on how you can help.

____________________________

Meetings are Tuesdays 5:30pm in Sanford 112, unless otherwise stated.

Troy Davis receives new execution date!

2008-09-05T06:04:00.000-07:00

The State of Georgia is set to execute Troy Anthony Davis on September 23rd, despite strong claims of innocence. Troy has been on death row for 17 years for the murder of an off-duty Savannah police officer, a crime he maintains he never committed. The prosecution of the case is fraught with inconsistencies, witness recantations, and police and prosecutorial misconduct. Nonetheless, Troy has exhausted all of his appeals -- even though his claims of innocence have yet to be heard in a federal court. He still has one appeal pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, but his execution date is before the Supreme Court returns from recess.

Please take immediate action on Troy's behalf! This is extremely urgent and important!

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=11223

Week of 9/1/08: Iraqi Refugees

2008-08-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

This Tuesday (9/2) we will be discussing the plight of Iraqi refugees who have fled their country as a result of the 2003 Anglo-American invasion. The meeting will begin with a short film from Joshua van Praag about Iraqi refugees in Egypt (Barbara Harrell Bond, a leading academic in refugee studies and founder of the Refugee Studies Program at Oxford, helped supervise the production). We'll conclude the meeting with letters addressed to our senators and representatives.

I hope everyone enjoyed the game this weekend for those who went despite the blast furnace temperature. Have a relaxing Labor Day holiday and Go Dawgs!

Zach
zach.l.fox@gmail.com

Reminder: Letter writing meetings are 5:30pm Tuesdays in Sanford Hall 112.

Week of 8/25/08: China and the Olympics.

2008-08-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to another year of Amnesty activities! This week, our first week back, will serve as a introductory meeting. We'll briefly discuss Amnesty's history and how we as a local branch operate, and then kick off the new school year with an action about China, the Olympics, and the Chinese government's broken promises to improve its human rights record. Discussion, as always, will be highly encouraged. Join us afterwords for coffee downtown...or maybe even Last Resort cake!

Reminder: Letter-writing meetings are, for now, Tuesday 5:30pm in Sanford Hall 112.

We hope to see many new faces and some old friends too!

Zach

Listerv

2008-08-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

It has come to our attention that many people on our Listserv no longer attend UGA or wish to receive our weekly update. For our sanity (and our inboxes), if you wish to be removed from the Listserv please do so yourself. Follow this link and do it manually -- http://www.listserv.uga.edu/. It takes about 15 seconds :).

Thanks very much!

Zach

Information for the Fall

2008-08-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

Hello one and all! Welcome back to Athens and another year of Amnesty activism. Here’s a rundown of information for the fall:

Letter-writing meetings are set for Tuesdays, Sanford Hall 112 at 5:30pm.

Planning meetings are set for Jittery Joes in SLC at 8:30pm Wednesdays, except for this coming week, when the meeting will be held on Thursday at 6:00pm. Stop by to suggest a new action or pitch an idea for an event.

Everyone is welcome to attend both meetings, and we encourage everyone to do so.

_______________________

Here is a tentative schedule of upcoming actions, events, meetings, etc. More details are forthcoming:

8/26/08: Introductory meeting about Amnesty and Amnesty at UGA followed by a letter concerning China and the Olympics

9/2/08: A week of events about sexual violence against women…including a meeting on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), an event on sexual violence and kidnappings of young women in Mexico, and a screening of Lumo, a movie about the extreme and very tragic sexual violence against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

9/9/08: Our first meeting/event of the semester on Troy Davis, with Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (GFADP). Troy is a Georgia death row inmate who has a very strong case of innocence, but he now faces possible execution after exhausting all of his appeals earlier this year; plus a screening of the documentary At the Death House Door.

*Troy’s case will be our most important campaign and highest priority for the foreseeable future due to the nature of his case, our previous work on the death penalty, and the very “local” nature of his case.

9/16/08: An action on Darfur and the continuing crises there, specifically regarding the deployment of a full fledged UN Peacekeeping force to the Darfur region

9/23/08: An action on Iraqi refugees, who number in the millions, their plight, and the dangers of not addressing the needs of this very vulnerable population.

Also…join us for coffee, or cake, or maybe even dinner downtown after meetings this fall to socialize and hang out.

_________________________

You can keep up with our events through our List-Serv, but we also have a Google calendar, Facebook group, and our Blogspot site here (www.amnestyuga.blogspot.com) with up-to-date information.

We are hoping to have our old website (located at www.uga.edu/amnesty) replaced with a new site that is current and easier to navigate within the next two weeks – stay tuned for this!

We also still have new T-Shirts available for sale. They are really great shirts, and the design can be seen on our Facebook group. Send Zach Fox an email at zach.l.fox@gmail.com to request a shirt, or just stop by a meeting to get one!

Welcome to a new year of activism!

2008-08-08T16:37:00.001-07:00

Thanks to all who are interested in being active with the University of Georgia chapter of Amnesty International. Amnesty International is the world's largest grassroots human rights advocacy group, and one of the oldest -- founded in 1961 in London in support of "prisoners of conscience.' This blog will serve as our website until we can get a new, up-to-date site early in the fall semester 2008. Please join our Facebook group and University ListServ, and subscribe our GoogleCalendar, to stay informed on upcoming meetings, events, and other happenings!

For more information on Amnesty International: www.amnestyusa.org