Amnesty US newsletter

Dear Supporter

Welcome to the Autumn 2008 issue of Action. The Beijing Olympics have been a spectacular sporting event but they've taken place against a backdrop of human rights violations. The Chinese authorities have prevented activists from expressing their views, holding many in detention when they have committed no crime and arresting journalists who have tried to report on human rights violations. Read more about the situation in China here

Regards,
Dugald McNaughtan
Activism, Amnesty International UK

Control arms

World is watching Help secure an Arms Trade Treaty. Two years ago 153 governments voted at the UN to develop an Arms Trade Treaty. Act now to ensure they honour this promise and deliver the treaty. Take action

Cluster bomb ban Good news Cluster bomb ban. On Friday 30 May, the UK signed a treaty banning cluster munitions, and in doing so, agreed to drop it's calls for exemptions and ban its two remaining cluster bomb systems. Read more

Loopholes closed in arms export controls Good news Loopholes closed in arms export controls. The UK government has announced several new measures to improve its own arms export controls. It will close loopholes on small arms brokering and trafficking as well as introduce controls on arms that could be used for torture. Read more

Amnesty on the web

ProtectTheHuman.com Amnesty's new socially based activism website ProtectTheHuman.com now features 'groups' functionality. Users can create groups based on Human Rights issues, hold discussions and post related content. Visit the site and provide us with feedback

Business and human rights

A young boy holds a banner which has 'clean up Bhopal now' written on it Good news Bhopal - Survivor organisations claim victory The Government of India announced that it will set up an Empowered Commission on Bhopal, and take legal action on the civil and criminal liabilities of Union Carbide and Dow Chemical. Read more

Stop violence against women

Parvin Ardalan, one of five women's rights activists arrested in connection with a peaceful demonstration on 12 June 2006 demanding equal rights for women in Iran. Image courtesy of www.kosoof.com Women's rights campaigners in Iran. Women in Iran face far-reaching discrimination under the law. They are denied equal rights in marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance. Activists working to defend women's rights continue to face harassment by the Iranian authorities. Take action

Terrorism, security and human rights

Binyam Mohammed, Uk Resident detained at Guantánamo Bay © Private Health concerns for UK resident detained at Guantánamo Bay. Send an appeal to David Miliband to get UK resident Guantánamo detainee Binyam Mohamed moved out to a less harsh environment. Take action

LGBT rights

Turkish LGBT rights Turkish LGBT rights action. A local court in Istanbul ordered the closure of the Turkish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender solidarity organization, Lambda Istanbul. Such a closure violates the right to freedom of association. Take action

Events

The secret policeman's ball 2008 The secret policeman's ball 2008. Tickets for this year's Secret Policeman's Ball are now on sale. You can buy them here or read more about the event here.

Ways of supporting Amnesty

Join us Join us Amnesty relies on the support of individuals for 94% of our income. Become a member with a one-off payment of £24 or spread the cost through direct debit; concessions available for students and the unwaged. Find out more

#080808

I like the date, I like the day - last day of work before my holiday trip to Budapest:)
China is celebrating, Chinese Twitter users are celebrating too. Check this article, and their blog for more info.

I joined, so follow me on Twitter:)

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Beijing will get YouTube coverage

The Guardian is just informing that Olympics will get a YouTube channel coverage. This makes me slightly confused - maybe I am just grumpy today and didn't have enough coffee, but...can we please give Chinese audience full access to YouTube service instead?

Update: here we go, US reacts differently this time? hm...

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Amnesty for Women

'

Human Rights for China

Demand justice for the Tiananmen Mothers
Demonstrate on the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Crackdown

When: Wednesday June 4 2008, 6-7pm
Where: Chinese Embassy, 49-51 Portland Place, W1B 1JL London
Nearest Tubes: Regents Park & Great Portland Street

Human rights defenders, activists and ordinary people in China are increasingly being repressed in order to ensure that they are silenced before the Olympic Games begin in Beijing - people like the Tiananmen Mothers. The Tiananmen Mothers are a group of around 130 human rights defenders whose relatives were killed or injured during the military crackdown on the 1989 pro-democracy movement in China.

On the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown we are saying we will not be silenced - we will speak up because we want human rights for China. Visible public action is crucial now to create international pressure on the Chinese authorities.

What you can do
Please join us and bring a rose to take part in the solidarity action. Visit the Amnesty UK website for further details, as well as information on how to make a flag or headband to bring to the demo. Speakers will include Kate Allen, Director - Amnesty International UK; Wei Jingsheng - Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition; and Ze Xia - Director - Friends of Tiananmen Mothers in the UK.

Demonstrations are also planned in Edinburgh and Belfast; visit www.amnesty.org.uk/china for more information about the campaign.

Activism Hotline: 020 7033 1675
Email: activism@amnesty.org.uk'

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Mother's Day in China

'Dear friend of Amnesty,

This Sunday, 11 May, is Mothers' Day in China. Just like here, it's a day for families to celebrate the strength and love that mothers bring into our lives.

And this year, it's a chance for us to reach out to some particular mothers in Beijing who have experienced the worst thing a mother could endure - the death of their own children, at the hands of their own government.

They call themselves the Tiananmen Mothers. They are a group of predominantly Chinese women who never wanted to be activists. But when their children were killed in the violent military crackdown on the Chinese pro-democracy movement in 1989, everything changed.

All they ask is the freedom to publicly mourn without harassment, the release all those who remain in prison in connection with the 1989 protests, full public debate about the events and an independent inquiry into what happened on those dark days almost 19 years ago.

All they want is justice. Led by Ding Zilin (who was nominated for a Nobel peace prize), they face great personal risk every time they speak out. They've suffered detentions, repeated interrogations, and prolonged house arrest. It's a long, dangerous, and all too lonely campaign.

We can never restore what they've lost. But this Mothers' Day in China, we can show these brave women just how big their global family really is, and how much we appreciate their courageous stand for justice.

If you take a moment to fill out a Mothers' Day card online, we'll deliver your comments directly to the Tiananmen Mothers by Chinese Mothers' Day. Just click below to complete and send your card:

Click here to send your card

This Mothers' day in China, let's take a moment to show the Tiananmen mothers that on this day -- which has become so bitter sweet for them -- they are not forgotten. They are never alone.

Please fill out your card today.

Thank you'

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China is getting ready

Amnesty International once again picked up on an important issue so please check their site, Google it for blogs or go to this site. I find the work of MUW on this project stunning! Believe me, the one above is still a 'light' photo message!
“In the name of ensuring stability and harmony in the country during the 2008 Olympic Games, the Chinese Government continues to detain and harass political activists, journalists, lawyers and human rights workers. Get involved: www.amnesty.sk”

Check the Color Orange campaign for UK as well...

Let me know what you think!

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