The BlogSpot for Amnesty International @ FAU

Amnesty meeting tomorrow!

2007-09-19T15:51:00.000-04:00

i know its been a while and youre dying to get together to talk about amnesty...well, tomorrows your chance! come to the free speech lawn at 6pm and mingle with an amazing group to discuss human rights issues. we'll be planning some events and taking suggestions on how to make things better! hope you all can come!
see you tomorrow,
alexis
(the free speech lawn is the area between the SO building and the spiffy new cafeteria...)

Free Trade is NOT Fair!

2007-09-17T23:37:00.000-04:00

Stop.

Take a look around.

You see that girl drinking a latte? Notice that guy's new sneakers? What about the last time you called your cell phone company about your bill, and received help from a friendly foreign accent? Chances are, you're encountering the results of unfair labor practices every day—and you probably don't even realize it.

The workers who pick and process those coffee beans—often women and children— are subjected to low wages; discrimination; and sexual, physical and verbal abuse. This violates both regional and international law, but it continues to happen nonetheless. Kenyan coffee workers earn about $12 USD a month, which is the cost of just three lattes made from the very same beans they're picking. Additionally, 60% of the workers on Kenyan coffee plantations are children. Working 10-12 hours a day, like adults twice their age, prevents child workers from getting an education. Because coffee workers of all ages begin working as children, illiteracy persists into adulthood. When female workers were interviewed about labor rights in Guatemala, 84% indicated that they did not know what "labor rights" meant.

It’s not just the female workers in Guatemala, either. Women throughout the Global South—the developing countries located below the Equator—are being exploited at alarming rates, put to work under slave-like conditions in sweatshops from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Globalization occuring through NAFTA and the WTO allows large transnational corporations to violate people in less-developed regions of the world through substandard working conditions. Think we’re safe here in the U.S.? Think again. Sweatshops can be found in some of our nation’s most industrious cities’ garment districts where labor rights violations run rampant. But sweatshops are only the beginning of labor rights violations here at home: some of the worst offenders are American mass-market retail chains that refuse to acknowledge the universal rights of their workers to unionize.

That’s not all globalization is doing to devastate our country’s workers. Outsourcing is stripping our country's workforce of the jobs that at one time were filled by hard-working Americans. But you’re getting a degree, so what do you have to worry about? The truth is that white-collar industries like the ones being offered as majors at universities—such as mechanical and electrical engineering, and computer programming—are now being outsourced to places like the Indus Valley before the Silicon Valley. Even one of those customer service jobs would be great for spending cash while you’re in school… only problem is they’re getting outsourced, too.

Now is the time we have to act. We have to send a message to Washington, D.C. to make them realize that the current policy towards “free trade” is not working. A shift towards fair trade is a better alternative, and helps us concentrate on creating sustainable work environments that uphold workers’ rights and provide living wages, in addition to keeping a focus on stabilizing local job markets.

support amnesty, the UP, and the constittution all while enjoying free food!

2007-09-16T13:29:00.000-04:00

we need a lot of amnestyers to come to make our presence known...and it will be more fun that way! did i mention free food?
email me if you can come and are willing to participate with amnesty! arossi4@fau.edu
*signs and other protest equipment are being supplied by assistant group coordinator lisa marciano!*
All you have to do is show up!
12 til 2pm behind the UC on the outdoor stage!

im sure youve all seen the fliers around campus...anyway, we are going to be particiapting in this awesome event by stageing a protest in the right-free area. the UP says we have to give up our constitutional rights in order to get into the area and because we are using our rights to organize and speak, we are going to be thrown out by 'goons'. its a really amazing event and its a lot of fun.
we will be protesting for the release of zmitser dashkevich, a belarussian who is imprisoned for talking about peace. outside the stage we will have a table with petitions and paper to make cranes out of. (thats the campaign idea...we're going to make paper cranes and send them to the belarussian governemnt)
ok cool, i hope to see a lot of amnesty members out there! ill be at our table by 1145.
alexis

Meeting this week!

2007-09-10T23:50:00.000-04:00

Hey guys!
i just wanted to take a sec to invite you all to our meeting this week. were going to meet this wednesday, the 12th, at 4pm on the free speech lawn...thats the area between the breezeway and the SO building.
were going to plan some events for this fall so bring your ideas and your motivation!
see you on the lawn,
alexis : )

We're Famous!

2007-08-22T23:49:00.000-04:00

Today, FAU's chapter of Amnesty International was featured in the "back to school" edition of free weekly paper, Citylink. Thanks so incredibly much to Colleen Dougher for scouting me out, and writing the article!

Click here to read the story, "An F in Apathy". Click here for the related blog post on Colleen's blog, which features more in-depth interviews with Josef and me. Even though we were the only people quoted, and even though that wasn't exactly how we hoped it would turn out, we all know that you're all just as responsible for the club's successes as we are. I can't thank you all enough for making us the news-worthy bunch of kids we are today! ;)

And I can't thank Citylink or Colleen enough either...I'm ridiculously grateful for this vote of confidence from the journalistic community. They apparently think this activism stuff is pretty awesome, so we should all feel pretty damn good about that. I also think this kind of support is a sign of things to come: as Josef famously said in the article, "it's gonna be one hell of a year." :D

Until Nakedness and Nudity can solve all the world's problems...

2007-08-04T12:11:00.000-04:00

Hey there, Josef here. This is just a quick Note to anyone who may be in the process of shopping for back-to-school clothes, now that the summer sales (and the August tax-free week) are coming up.

For your convenience, I've made a list of clothing companies that are 100% sweatshop-free, and 200% infinitely awesome. I personally shop with these clothiers, and I'm passing along the word-of-mouth to you.

It's totally possible to be a socially-conscious consumer and still look good at the same time. So this coming semester, kick sweatshops in your new kicks.

--------------------------------------------------

FAIR INDIGO. Fair Indigo is exactly what they say: fair. They are a fashion industry leader in providing fair trade wages to their employees. The clothes are simple, and if you're a fan of J. Crew, you'll be a fan of Fair Indigo. Check out their website to shop online or order a catalogue— and read about the amazing Fair Indigo Foundation.
>> www.fairindigo.com
Peep This Product: men's cashmere V-neck sweater in cerulean blue

NO SWEAT. No Sweat Apparel is not your run-of-the-mill sweatshop-free retailer— if the company could be personified, it'd be that kid with the hardcore tattoos and piercings that punched you in the face for having 'NSYNC hidden on your iPod. The gear is completely union-made by workers all over the world because No Sweat believes that the only viable response to globalization is a global labor movement. Regulars at Urban Outfitters will appreciate the style of No Sweat.
>> www.nosweatapparel.com
Peep This Product: special edition CODEPINK high-top sneaker ($5 from each sneaker sold benefits CODEPINK, an international organization of women united for peace and justice)

JUSTICE CLOTHING. These guys tell you straight-up from their homepage: "If you don't mind buying clothing made by slaves, children, indentured servants, or workers who are paid pennies a day, we are not your kind of store." The collection of office-friendly business casual attire is especially of note from this company, so for all of you who might need to grab something for a job interview, this would be a good option. The clothes are similar to what's offered by companies like Eddie Bauer or L.L. Bean.
>> www.justiceclothing.com
Peep This Product: the "railroad" cap

THE GREEN LOOP. This company does all the work for you, by rounding up a wide assortment of threads from various sweatshop-free, fair trade, and eco-friendly fashion designers. In addition, The Green Loop even sells all-natural, organic makeup products and body care items (like shampoos and face soaps). If you're wondering what kind of stuff is sold here, compare it to one of those trendy boutiques that your favourite (or not-so-favourite?) ubiquitous "celebutante" was last spotted at shopping.
>> www.thegreenloop.com
Peep This Product: the iWood Aviator sunglasses

--------------------------------------------------

Well, that's all I got kiddies, but if you're still interested in sweatshop-free clothing options that don't look like something your grandparents would wear, hit me up and I'll help you out. Human rights don't just mean peace in Darfur; they also mean worldwide corporate accountability and international workers' rights. Remember, Article 23 of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights clearly states:

(1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

(3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.

(4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

So now you can do your part in making the world a better place— simply by sporting sweatshop-free swag.

...Although I still maintain my position that nakedness and public nudity would solve all of the world's problems.

XO,
Josef

Recap of Saturday's Amnesty meeting/ upcoming events

2007-08-01T13:59:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone!

I wanted to introduce you to the stuff we're going to be doing this year.

We're still in the process of deciding what campaigns to focus on, because the polls are still open till September 1. Right now, the campaigns receiving the most votes are Darfur and Economic, Social and Cultural rights. Tied for second place are the environment, the War on Terror , and women . But lots of campaigns are still neck-in-neck. Basically, this is one poll where one vote actually can make a difference, so, you know, Vote or Die, Rock the Vote, and all that. ;)

vote on your favorite 3 campaigns in the sidebar right now!
For more information on any and all of the campaigns up for election, (so you can be an informed voter) check out their amnesty web page.

These are the events we are planning this year:
(Dates are tentative, pending clearance from the administration.)

Next Amnesty Meeting | Thurs. August 23, 6:30pm in the Jewish Life Building
Put it on your calendars, and request the day off from work, people!

Human rights Film Fest | Thurs. September 13th, all day
Probably with free food!!
This will provide an introduction to many Amnesty campaigns, in a fun, entertaining way. Our awesome assistant group coordinator, Alexis Rossi, is organizing it, so e-mail her if you'd like to help out at arossi4@fau.edu. We really need someone to design pretty flyers.

"Human Rights Issues in the War on Terror" Workshop | Weds. October 17th, time TBA
in the Majestic room
This is Amnesty's contribution to a larger teach-in on the Iraq war, organized by Dr. Frezzo in Sociology and Dr. Tracy in Communication. We'll be focusing on the US use of torture, Iraqi refugee rights, and private contractors operating with impunity in Iraq.

United Nations Day | Weds. October 24, all day
We will be passing out mini universal declarations of human rights (amnesty's founding document, and the basis for the UN)
and chalking its resolutions all over campus. We did this last year, too, and it was a fun, silghtly subversive way to educate people about their rights.

Fairtrade Fashion Show | Thurs. November 15, free speech lawn
This long-anticipated event will start with models wearing sweatshop-made clothes, while the announcer describes, from official reports and documentation, the conditions their producers endured. Next, amnesty activists will wear sweatshop-free clothes that actually help better the lives of the people who produce them. Last year's Amnesty president and this year's...um...President's Assistant(?) , Josef Palermo is in charge of this event, so e-mail him if you'd like to help out at jpalerm3@fau.edu. We especially need to figure out how to make/rent risers for the models to walk on. We also need a band or DJ to play the event!

That's it for this semester's events! Just a heads-up: next semester, we'll probably be fun-raising by selling fairtrade chocolate around valentines day. :)

Before I go, I want to thank everyone who contacted us because they were interested in helping out this year, with various campaigns, people like Iris and Vicki and Tommy. And I know there are more of you who e-mailed Josef...thanks so much.

And I need to introduce you to our new officers:
I'm the new group coordinator, (which is Amnesty-speak for president) and Alexis Rossi, Sapna Talati and Angel Roque are my Vice presidents. Josef Palermo is the secretary/my assistant/whatever. :)

That's it, guys! Thanks for everything! I'll see you all on August 23!

An Open Letter to the Radical Community About the Darfur Genocide

2007-07-28T03:24:00.000-04:00

Lately I've begun to notice a lot of articles coming out of the communist, anarchist and otherwise radical communities attacking the Save Darfur Movement.

An admission before I go on: as an activist who has worked to end the all-too-real Darfur Genocide for about 4 years, it is both painful and shocking to suddenly see my peers and fellow activists claiming that I have, unbeknownst to me, been part of a government conspiracy to commit corrupt and unjust acts. I have great respect for the radical community; I have worked alongside them on issues of global justice, and I hope to continue to do so.

So I must disclose, for the sake of full journalistic disclosure, that this feels like a betrayal--not by any individual, but by radical ideals that I had a lot of hope and faith invested in.

Yet the more I've seen this conspiracy theory in zines, newsletters and blogs, the more I've realized that I need to write my thoughts--and, most importantly, the facts-- in plain English, and in the public (blogo)sphere, as an act of faith that my peers have the ability to discern propaganda from principle on both sides of this new, emerging debate, and determine the truth on Darfur for themselves.

So here it goes.

To paraphrase, the articles I've read claim that the crisis in Darfur is a lot more complex and a lot less black-and-white than the Western media portrays, in its typically anti-Arab propaganda. The radical media says the Darfur Conflict is not necessarily a genocide; it is a complex clash between diverse groups who do not need to be "saved" at all.

Furthermore,radicals point out (correctly) that the largest Darfur advocacy group, the Save Darfur Coalition, is not donating directly to Darfur, and that it has on its board of directors former diplomats, who have worked for the US government--which has proven many times that their interest in gaining control of an oil-rich Arab state comes before their respect for human rights. Radicals believe the Save Darfur Coalition is advocating military intervention for the corrupt purpose of gaining Arab oil and overthrowing another Islamic regime. Most notably, they believe the movement to "save" Darfur is actually a government conspiracy to justify another act of US military intervention in an Arab-Islamic state. They use the fact that President Bush has even shown unprecedented support for the Darfur movement to drive the point home: If Bush supports the Save Darfur Movement, how could it possibly be anything more than a scheme to steal oil, money, and power from the Arab world?

That’s basically the argument I’ve read a lot these past few weeks. Here is my response, as one Darfur activist, who can’t claim to speak for the entire movement, but has a lot to say:

I strongly agree that the Darfur conflict must be viewed in its rightful historical and political context of the colonial legacy, global inequality, the exploitation of environmental resources, etc. And I agree that the media tends to ignore these facts because black-and-white ploblems make for better sound bites, and perhaps also because the real context in Darfur implicates the West in the genocide:

We, as affluent world citizens, are responsible for the global warming that dried the wells in Darfur, and made competition for resources harder. We are political allies with Britain, who colonized Sudan over a century ago, and appointed Arabs from its other colony, Egypt, as Sudan's ruling elite--establishing an unjust racial hierarchy that has remained intact, to this day. We, as westerners, are even responsible for consuming the oil that gives despots like Sudan’s president, Bashir, money and power on the world stage.

And it’s sadly true that the Save Darfur movement has left these facts out of some of its press-releases and public statements. But this void is not unique to Darfur; it’s hard to find complex back-story on the front lines of any social movement, (even though it's there in the larger analysis)...simply because it’s hard to rally strong support behind a complicated cause. It is always easier for people to support simple, black-and-white issues that don’t require a history degree to grasp. That said,
I firmly believe that we, as a movement, must work harder to ensure the complexities--that do implicate the West in causing genocide--make it into the media sound bites and Washington rallies. And I believe we’re getting there.

Furthermore, Darfur may have complex causes, but it is still a genocide. This is not simply propaganda. If you don’t want to trust me, or UN statistics, trust the many people I have met who have been on the ground in Darfur and Chad, people like Brian Steidle and John Heffernan who have documented the atrocities there, people like the nuns who go to the church a few miles from my house and have visited refugee camps; but most of all, trust the Darfurian refugees I’m honored to have met in my own community, who have brought with them to this country tears of righteous anger and pain for their families, who were buried under fire, in the Darfuri desert . I have heard their stories. If you don’t want to believe me, please believe these stories, because they are not hard to find, and they are not myths invented by President Bush.

Like so many other activists, I want the people of Darfur to have autonomy; but the way to restore their autonomy is not to leave them to fend off a genocide completely alone. This was not the way to give the Rwandans or the Bosnians their autonomy. Radicals often emphasize global solidarity in social movements, such as the Zapatista movement; we must have this same solidarity with the Darfuri people, in defeating genocide. The fact is that the Darfur genocide exists because autonomy has been stolen from the Darfuri people—much like it has stolen from powerless people everywhere—by their own government, and by the world’s governments.

This is how the genocide started: In 2003, black African rebel groups, calling for racial equality, attempted to stage a coup against the powerful, Arab-lead government (an act radicals should respect). The corrupt, racist government responded bribing Arabs to decimate Native African populations in the region. Without this obviously heinous act the genocide wouldn’t exist. Ever since then, the Sudanese government has continued to use their own military as well as this Arab proxy-militia, called the Janjaweed, to painstakingly raid and burn Darfur’s villages. Militias also rape Darfuri women, to impregnate them with Arab children, and thereby destroy the Native African race. This military campaign, (like other corrupt military campaigns in recent history) has been waged against civilians, and has been funded by oil revenues.

So who is buying Sudan’s oil and funding this genocide? It’s actually not the United States, who has an embargo against Sudan. It's Russia and China who purchase the majority of Sudanese oil....and pay for it in blood money: not only do Sudan's military revenues directly fund innocent deaths in Darfur; but Russia and China also look the other way when the genocide comes up in the UN security counsel, and veto any bills calling for action.

To me, this--not some conspiracy-- is the story of oil-hungry first-world countries persecuting Africa. For such a story, radicals need look no further than the truth.

But that’s not to say the United States in innocent in Darfur. Because all along, The US has had the power to break Russia and China’s silence; yet we have refused to use economic threats to push them to action, and have neglected the diplomatic tools in our substantial arsenal.

Speaking of arsenals...the proposition of unilateral US military intervention in Darfur really is just a myth. I say that because I know the activists I've worked alongside for years would never allow it to become more than that. Save Darfur—along with every other prominent NGO who’s spoken out on Darfur—advocates AGAINST US military intervention in the region. I can say with very little doubt that if president Bush announced tomorrow that he wanted to invade Darfur, he would face rallies and letter-writing campaigns from the millions of people who have used the same tactics to beg him to do something in Darfur for so long. That’s because we have been advocating for something specific, (and it's not more military attacks): a UN peacekeeping force endowed with the power to protect the homeless, hungry civilians who are being targeted by their own government.

It’s true that Save Darfur has Washington Big Wigs like John Prendergast in its ranks, but it wasn’t always that way. Save Darfur began as a grassroots organization. But as its numbers grew, so did its need for lobbying power and expertise. So, like all prominent NGO’s, it began to recruit people who know their way around Washington DC better than a bunch of activists...because the sad truth is that a bunch of activists calling for justice aren’t necessarily going to get anywhere in Washington DC (even if one of them is Elie Weisel). Save Darfur doesn't give directly to aid..but plenty of other prominent organizations do, like the Genocide Intervention Network, (or GI-Net) which actually funds the grossly out-numbered, poorly-funded African Union peacekeepers on the ground in Darfur. GI-Net is also a prominent member organization of the Save Darfur Coalition.

The coalition is so widely supported because Save Darfur has affirmed a great truth in US politics: that a bunch of activists, working with a bunch of famous politicians, publishing a bunch of ads in the New York Times can actually make some progress. That’s the real reason why President Bush has spoken out in favor of Darfur: Because millions of people (some of them famous) have begged him to do so for years. (... people who probably wouldn't have known about the genocide if not for Save Darfur's ad campaigns.)

If even that seems too benevolent for our president, consider this: Bush has only very recently taken small steps to end the genocide, but he talked about Darfur for years before he did anything about it. Since 2003, Bush was just being another corrupt politician: He didn’t want the legacy and publicity of a genocide hanging over his head, in the face of a growing movement to end it; but he still wasn’t ready to truly confront the power of China head-on. And so, like any politician, he remained a hypocrite, matching moral words with immoral inaction because he was too afraid of the repercussions of real bravery.

So finally, four years into the genocide, and four years into my activism to end it, Bush’s rhetoric FINALLY begins to become reality. And what happens? The radical community—reactionary, and skeptical of anything the US government supports—decides my movement’s first real success is just a conspiracy.

The Sudanese Communist party agrees with most of what I--and the Save Darfur Coalition-- has said about how to end the Darfur Genocide.

So maybe Western radicals--so eager to give the people of Sudan their autonomy-- should start listening to them, in stead of their own propaganda.

It seems to me that it would be a tragic irony if, after everything else they've endured, the civilians of Darfur became casualties in an unnecessary activist war.

meeting Saturday

2007-07-26T16:14:00.001-04:00

Hi! This is just a reminder that the activism planning/networking meeting is THIS SATURDAY at FAU:

S. Fla Activism Networking/Planning Meeting
Saturday, July 28
4PM
24-Hour study building (next to library),
Florida Atlantic University,
Boca Raton
(click here for maps)

I would like to invite you and everyone you know to this meeting...to plan the fate of Amnesty International at FAU with both its own members and all members of the larger community; to open a dialog between diverse groups to deepen our understanding of each other's organizations, causes, and the connections between them; and to begin to determine how we can all work together to reach common goals.

If you are unable to attend the meeting, please e-mail me at amnesty.ana@gmail.com to let me know any causes or campaigns you're already participating in or are interested in participating in this year. Just throw out any kind of ideas or plans, and I'll make sure to bring them up. Of course, you can also e-mail me if you have any questions/ideas/thoughts/etc.

If you'd like to know more about Amnesty International at FAU, please visit our myspace page, facebook group, or our brand-new blog! And while you're at our blog, vote for the issues you care about in the sidebar on the right.

Thanks,

Ana Halper,
Group Coordinator, Amnesty International at FAU

hey activists!

2007-07-24T02:32:00.001-04:00

Dear friends and fellow activists,

Hi! I'm contacting all of you because you're involved with activism in South Florida, and because we share goals of global justice, although we often approach these issues from different angles and understandings.

I (like some of you) am a human rights activist with Amnesty International at FAU, but I've realized that every human rights issue has complex, interrelated causes... and I've begun to see those complexities as opportunities for connections and understandings. After all, global warming helped cause the genocide in Darfur; unfair free trade decimates labor rights as well as the environment; and the War on Terror has lead to horrific human rights violations. These are just some examples of how the causes we specialize in impact each other. So I've started to think that getting moderates, environmentalists, anarchists, communists, artists--everyone together in one room to talk about global justice and human rights can help make our approach to activism more nuanced, dynamic and holistic...both on the FAU campus, and in our communities.

So, I would like to invite you and everyone you know to a meeting...to plan the fate of Amnesty International at FAU with both its own members and all members of the larger community; to open a dialog between diverse groups to deepen our understanding of each other's organizations, causes, and the connections between them; and to begin to determine how we can all work together to reach common goals.

S. Fla Activism Networking/Planning Meeting
Saturday, July 28
4PM
24-Hour study building (next to library),
Florida Atlantic University,
Boca Raton
(click here for maps)

If you are unable to attend the meeting, please e-mail me at amnesty.ana@gmail.com to let me know any causes or campaigns you're already participating in or are interested in participating in this year. Just throw out any kind of ideas or plans, and I'll make sure to bring them up. Of course, you can also e-mail me if you have any questions/ideas/thoughts/etc.

If you'd like to know more about Amnesty International at FAU, please visit our myspace page, facebook group, or our brand-new blog! And while you're at our blog, vote for the issues you care about in the sidebar on the right.

Thanks,

Ana Halper,
Group Coordinator, Amnesty International at FAU

The State of Florida gets ready to help SAVE DARFUR

2007-06-07T11:31:00.000-04:00

After we all worked so hard to raise awareness for the ongoing crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan this year, Amnesty International at FAU is proud to announce that Senate Bill 2142 was passed by the Florida Senate-- which will withdraw Florida money from the government of Sudan as a measure against the Sudanese government's role in the mass genocide.

Now, Governor Charlie Crist is ready to sign the Bill into Law, and he is doing it right here in our backyard!

This Friday, June 8, at Temple Beth El in Boca Raton, Governor Crist will be conducting a public signing of the Bill, and you are invited to attend in order to be recognized as a member of the FAU Chapter of Amnesty International for all the work we've done on the issue of Darfur! The signing takes place at 12pm noon, so if you'd like to come, please contact Josef or Ana and let them know so they can give you directions.

In the meantime, we hope you're enjoying your summer, and we're looking forward to starting off our second year of Amnesty International at FAU in the Fall!

YO! I've got BIG news for you!

2007-06-06T09:20:00.000-04:00

And you know it's serious if I use the interjection "yo".

So, as many of you know, I have been interning for State Senator Ted Deutch (whom I'm pictured with below) since January, and I was told that my background pertaining to activism for the ongoing crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan would be an asset to the senator's staff, since Senator Deutch was writing a Bill Proposal aimed at mandatory divestment for the State of Florida from the country of Sudan. What this means is that Senator Deutch was looking to withdraw Florida's funds from any company doing business with the government of Sudan, as the leaders there have ties to the mass murders of hundreds upon thousands of native Africans living in Darfur.

The Senator's staff (along with me and the other interns: our fellow Amnesty friends Ana Halper, Sapna Talati, and Alexis Rossi), worked tirelessly on researching the various methods of divestment, poring over similar legislation that was passed by other states, and submitting draft after draft of potential legislation.

It was an amazing day for all of us when our work eventually became Florida Senate Bill 2142 during this year's Legislative Session in Tallahassee. However, it was a nerve-wracking day when our humble Bill was finally heard on the floor of the Florida Senate. Senate President Ken Pruitt opened up the floor just before the roll call to allow any Senators the opportunity to add their names as a sponsor to our Bill.

As someone who has made it my personal mission since 2006 to bring the issue of Darfur to light at Florida Atlantic University, I'm very, very proud to say that the legislators who represent all of us in the state of Florida definitely heard our FAU students' calls to action on behalf of Darfur loud and clear, as each and every State Senator signed on in support of SB 2142-- thereby making Florida history by unanimously passing the Bill before it even reached a vote.

My friends at FAU, I am extremely touched by the overwhelming response you have given me, our beloved Amnesty International chapter, and the helpless people of Darfur by your hard work this past year. You have signed countless petitions, made phone calls in the Breezeway on your cell phones to the White House, participated in awareness rallies on the Free Speech Lawn, and stood with us to "MAKE SOME NOISE!" for Darfur and genocide prevention. Whether you know it or not, you all have become activists in your own right; and I hope you realize that by doing what you've done, you just made a courageous move to help save millions of men, women, and children in Africa that you will probably never meet.

With that being said, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. None of this could have been accomplished without your support.

But now, we mark the next phase of this monumental movement-- the passage of the Bill into Florida State Law. This past Monday, Governor Charlie Crist was presented with the Bill, and he has decided that he wants to publicly sign it into Law in the part of Florida where it originated.

That's right, Governor Charlie Crist is coming to Boca Raton on Friday, June 8, at 12pm to acknowledge all of our combined efforts-- and I want YOU there to be recognized for your role in raising awareness and inspiring change for the people of Darfur.

Please join us at Temple Beth El (333 SW 4th Avenue, Boca Raton 33432) this Friday at noon for an opportunity of a lifetime to watch history unfold, as Governor Crist signs this Bill into Law.

If you need directions, more information, or would like to let me know you're coming so I can add you to the list, please call or e-mail me.

I hope to see you there!

In memory of Memorial Day (and Amnesty International)

2007-05-28T11:22:00.000-04:00

On this date in 1961, British lawyer Peter Benenson authored a letter-to-the-editor of The Observer newspaper titled, 'The Forgotten Prisoners'. His article brought attention to those who were imprisoned by governments in violation of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The article described these violations occurring on a global scale, specifically those related to freedom of opinion and expression. It also launched 'Appeal for Amnesty, 1961', the aim of which was to mobilize public opinion, quickly and widely, in support of these individuals who Benenson named "Prisoners of Conscience"-- and whose cases are still taken up by worldwide Amnesty chapters today.

Now, 46 years later, Amnesty International is almost 2 million members strong, having earned a Nobel Peace Prize and consultative status at the United Nations, among other accolades for its work in prioritizing universal human rights.

In honor of this monumental occasion, I invite you to stop by the Amnesty International Online Action Center to donate a moment of your time to sending an e-mail on behalf of a worthy cause, just like the original letter-writing campaigns of Amnesty in the 1960s. (I've just sent an e-mail from the AI website to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in support of the Clean Diamond Trade Act, which helps stop the sale of "blood diamonds".)

So enjoy your Memorial Day, and as you remember those who have sacrificed for the good of our country, also remember those who have sacrificed for the good of our planet in the name of human rights.

P.S. And if you have a second after sending an e-mail, please feel free to post a comment to let everyone know that you took part in making human rights matter.

Won't you stand with us to end Genocide in Darfur?

2007-04-18T12:52:00.000-04:00

Friends and fellow Amnestyers, we're writing to you with extreme urgency. Today, Senator Ted Deutch (D-Delray Beach) had his bill on Divestment from Sudan to stop the genocides of Darfur heard by Florida's House of Representatives-- and it PASSED!

Because of our collective efforts to MAKE SOME NOISE! for Darfur this year, the House was able to hear us loud and clear. Now, we must continue to make noise as the Bill goes before a Senate subcommittee this afternoon.

Please take a moment of your time to contact the following Florida State Senators on this committee today and urge them to MAKE SOME NOISE! in support of Senate Bill 2172. Together, we can all do our duty as fellow citizens of humanity in saving our brothers and sisters in Sudan.

-------------------------
END GENOCIDE TODAY
WITH SENATOR DEUTCH

WE MADE NOISE IN
THE HOUSE...THANKS TO YOU!
Thank you Rep. Porth & Rep. Schwartz

Before 2:15 Call the Senate Committee
TELL THEM TO SUPPORT SUDAN DIVESTMENT!

Sen. Al Lawson, Tallahassee
Committee Chair
(850) 487-5004

Sen. Bill Posey, Rockledge
Committee Vice-Chair
(850) 487-5053

Sen. Nancy Argenziano, Ocala
(850) 487-5017

Sen. Jim King, Jacksonville
(850) 487-5030

Sen. Steve Oelrich, Gainesville
(850) 487-5020

Sen. Frederica S. Wilson, Miami Gardens
(850) 487-5116

Let them know that you will stand against GENOCIDE
TOGETHER in the State of FLORIDA

F Y I

2007-03-16T09:54:00.001-04:00

General Meetings have been postponed for the month of March to allow for the pre-production of our upcoming MAKE SOME NOISE! Concert to Benefit Darfur. This event, an all-day music festival presenting music from Punk Rock to Hip-Hop, takes place in the Kaye Auditorium of the Student Union (formerly the UC) on Friday, March 30th, from 12pm to 6pm.

ALL Student Organizations are invited to attend with a table in the Lobby (to be provided by Amnesty). Here's who has signed on so far:

HILLEL. Hillel and the Jewish Student Union will be presenting a display on the Holocaust, a genocide not unlike the current conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan.

ARMENIAN STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (ASA). This group will sponsor a table highlighting the Armenian Genocide that took place during the early part of the 20th Century.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN (NOW). NOW will be presenting a table on how sexual violence is being used as a tool of genocide against women and girls in Darfur. Rape and molestation are common human rights violations that MUST be stopped.

So if you would like to get your Student Organization involved, please contact us ASAP!

SEE YOU ALL AT THE CONCERT... AND GET READY TO MAKE SOME NOISE!

SAVE DARFUR RALLY-- tomorrow! Join the Miami Heat and your peers!

2007-01-27T14:33:00.000-05:00

Hey there, it's Josef! I just wanted to remind you that tomorrow, Sunday, January 28, from 1pm to 4pm is the Save Darfur Inter-Faith Festival for Peace at Temple Beth El in Boca Raton! (Address is 333 SW 4th Avenue, Boca Raton; between Palmetto Park Road and Camino Real, across from St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.)

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS AND DIGNITARIES AT THIS EVENT INCLUDE:
- Miami Heat forward, #25 Wayne Simien
- Miami Heat chaplain and former basketball player, Pastor Billy Thompson
- United States Congressman, Representative Ron Klein
- State Senator Ted Deutch, District 30
- John Heffernan, Director of the Genocide Prevention Initiative for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Various speakers from a diverse assortment of religious backgrounds, sharing their faith's message of the importance of achieving peace (Jewish rabbi, Catholic priest, Muslim imam, Hindu pundit, etc.)

In addition to live music and entertainment, there will be opportunities to TAKE ACTION for peace in Darfur. Save Darfur t-shirts, pins, bracelets, and pizza from Peace-A-Pizza will be on sale with ALL PROCEEDS BENEFITTING DARFUR RELIEF EFFORTS.

And, remember to stop by the booth being co-sponsored by Amnesty International's FAU chapter and Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach! We'll be there, and we look forward to seeing you! So bring your passion for peace, cash to purchase a Save Darfur t-shirt, and a friend!

This is going to be a GREAT event, and I'm so excited to be a part of this amazing cause. I'll see you on Sunday!

Next General Meeting for the FAU chapter of Amnesty International

2007-01-26T11:03:00.000-05:00

This semester, we will be holding two General Meetings bi-weekly in an effort to accommodate our members' schedules. The meetings will cover that same information, so feel free to pick one that best fits your schedule that week.

The next General Meeting(s) will be held Monday, January 29th, at 12:30pm, and again on Thursday, February 1st at 4:00pm on the Bookstore Lawn next to Starbucks in the Breezeway. Look for us with the bright orange Amnesty International banner and our now-trademark blankets on the lawn! We plan to discuss in detail the three major campaigns we'll be working on this semester, as well as forming committees for our upcoming events.

See you then, if not sooner!

Meeting Notes from 2007's first General Meeting!

2007-01-25T18:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Thursday! We're posting to give you an overview of what had been discussed at last week's General Meetings.

As you know, this semester we began holding the same General Meeting twice in one week to be able to accommodate more of our over 200 members. So on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. and on Thursday, Jan. 18 at noon, Assistant Group Coordinator, Ana Halper, and our Darfur Action Coordinator, Sapna Talati, chaired the meetings, respectively. Below is a bulleted list of highlights from the meeting:

CAMPAIGNS FOR SPRING 2007

Every semester, our chapter votes as a group on the three major campaigns we intend to focus on bringing to the campus. This semester, the members have spoken, and we will be concentrating on Darfur activism to end the genocides of Sudan, Conflict diamonds (also known as "blood diamonds") that are being harvested to finance terrorism, and the Business & Human Rights campaign, aimed specifically on stopping sweatshop labor.

At our next meeting, we will need to organize our members into Campaign Teams, so if you would like to join one of our campaigns this semester, please e-mail and let us know which team you would like to be a part of, and we'll make sure you get added to that list. For more information on the campaigns we've selected, as well as the other Amnesty International campaigns currently underway, click http://www.amnestyusa.org/activism/campaigns.html to check them out.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Save Darfur Interfaith Rally: This Sunday, January 28, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., our chapter will be joining with several different area groups to co-sponsor an inter-faith rally for peace in Darfur with the Save Darfur Coalition of South Palm Beach. This is going to be an amazing event with speakers from all the major world religions coming together in the name of peace. In addition, there will be interactive tents that you can visit, petitions that you can sign, and free food and music for your entertainment. The event is free of charge, and we would love to have you come show support to the tent we are sponsoring with Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach! The rally will be held at Temple Beth El in Boca Raton, and for a map, click here: map to Temple Beth El. If you would like to arrive early to assist with the set-up of our tent, feel free to call/text Josef, or e-mail him. (And special thanks to all of you who have already RSVP'ed to this event on Facebook! Kudos to chapter member Melanie Tolchin for setting up the event information.)

Amnesty International Florida State Conference 2007: This year, our very active and very new FAU chapter has been selected to host the annual state conference. Our chapter member, Stacey Ray, is a professional event planner who has undertaken the monumental task of coordinating this conference. Currently, we have a list of workshops that we are going to be presenting to the delegates in attendance from all over the state. The UM and FIU chapters are also going to be assisting us with these workshops. We'll get you more information as it develops!
MAKE SOME NOISE!: Concert for Peace in Darfur: During the National Week of Student Action (March 23 to March 30), student groups from all over the U.S. will be hosting events aimed at raising awareness for Darfur and calling for a stop to the genocides in that region of Sudan. On the last day of this amazing week, March 30, we will be holding an all-day music festival for peace in Darfur in conjunction with MTV and their college network, mtvU. In addition to a full lineup of musical acts ranging from hip-hop to punk rock, the FAU Housing Lawn will be covered in booths sponsored by different organizations that will be focused on the crisis in Darfur. WE'RE GOING TO NEED HELP PLANNING THIS, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS HUGE EVENT, PLEASE E-MAIL US!

No Sweat: A Sweatshop-Free Fashion Show: In April, we will be organizing a sweatshop-free fashion show sponsored by No Sweat Apparel and Luis Hernandez Salons. This will be a full-on fashion show with a cool, relaxed vibe (and a live band, courtesy of mtvU) designed to promote fashionable, sweatshop-free alternatives to the FAU student body. If you or someone you know makes their own clothes, and would like to have them showcased in our fashion show, please let us know-- we want to hear from you! And, as always, if you'd like to get involved with planning this event, e-mail as well.

So as you can see, we have a very exciting semester coming up! Feel free to post a comment if you have any feedback-- especially if you'd like to participate in the preparation of these events. We give volunteer hours for your transcript through the FAU Volunteer Center, so get in touch if you'd like to make that happen.

In the meantime, we'll see you at one of our next General Meetings! The next General Meetings are scheduled for Monday, January 29th at 12:30 p.m. and Thursday, February 1st at 4 p.m. And remember to join our Facebook group or stop by our MySpace page!

Make your New Year's resolution to get more involved with Human Rights!

2007-01-17T11:22:00.000-05:00

Hey there, and welcome back to an exciting semester for Amnesty International at FAU! We've got a very busy Spring 2007 planned, and we're eager for you to be a part of it.

The event information below is for our first rally of the year with the Save Darfur Coalition of Palm Beach County. This is going to be a great event, and we're co-sponsoring a tent at the rally with Hillel of FAU on the theme of genocide prevention and awareness.

So come by Temple Beth El in Boca Raton on Sunday, January 28, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for an amazing inter-faith rally calling for a stop to the genocides in Darfur-- because no matter what your religious beliefs are (or aren't), everyone can share in the beauty of peace.

And also, don't forget our bi-weekly General Meeting! Make sure you stop by the Bookstore Lawn next to Starbucks in the Breezeway tomorrow at 12 p.m. noon! Look for Ana, our Assistant Group Coordinator, or Sapna, our Darfur Action Coordinator, on blankets in the sunshine with the Amnesty banner.

See you soon!

-------------------
SPREAD THE WORD
AND Get Involved in our
RALLY FOR DARFUR : STOP THE GENOCIDE
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
More Info:561-391-8900 or SAVEDARFURSPB@GMAIL.COM

Sunday, January 28, 2007 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Temple Beth El, Boca Raton
333 SW 4th Ave
SW 4th Ave , Between Palmetto Park Rd and Camino Real, Across from St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.

Dynamic Speakers including Pastor Billy Thompson, Miami Heat invitees, interfaith clergy, humanitarian aid workers and governmental officials
Music, Dance & Poetry
TAKE ACTION

Amnesty International @ FAU... GET READY!

2006-10-23T04:59:00.000-04:00

Hey Amnestyers! We're writing to you with a mix of anticipation and excitement.

As you know, our chapter has been working diligently on the "7 Days/7 Ways to Get Involved" week of events on the FAU Boca Raton campus, aimed at highlighting a different Amnesty International campaign for each day. This week starts off on Tuesday, October 24th with our United Nations Day celebration, and our promotional campaign to introduce the various articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as chartered by the United Nations. We've launched a DIY ("do-it-yourself") flyer initiative called "Write Your Rights!" where we have students personalize a piece of construction paper with their favorite article from the Declaration (viewed here on the UN website); and then we snap a Polaroid picture of them to attach to the flyer.

We even got the support and involvement from professors (like our advisor, Dr. Mark Frezzo of the Sociology department), Student Government leaders (President Kirk Murray, Chief Justice Farid Hamidzadeh, and Boca Raton Campus Senator Greg Wise), and other student clubs (such as the Muslim Student Organization, Association of Latin American Students, and OWL Radio)! Call Josef tomorrow, Monday, October 23rd, if you'd like to take part and add yourself to this awesome campaign.

In addition to the "Write Your Rights!" campaign, our students have worked very hard at assembling other aspects to this kick-off event. We also have created a massive handmade copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that will be rolled out on the Free Speech Lawn the day of our event for students to be able to read as they walk by.

Now here's where we need your help. We also want to "tag" the campus with sidewalk chalk to cite different articles of the Declaration. For example, Article 26 grants the right to education, so on the sidewalk near the Library leading into the Breezeway, we could write something illustrating that specific right for the students to see as they are arriving on campus. So if you can make it to school with your morning coffee at 7am on Tueday morning, October 24th, to begin the tagging, we will provide the chalk! Let your creativity and artistic talent shine-- and send a noble message to the campus at the same time. We know you've got that creative spark in you, so come on out and share it!

Well, that's all for now. we'll be sure to post again soon with more information on Wednesday's HUGE event-- the Day For Darfur on October 25th.

An Amnesty International Message from Josef (at 3:00am!)

2006-09-21T03:03:00.000-04:00

Hey everybody, it's Josef here, writing to you not-quite-bright and early at 3:00am. (I'm taking a break from pulling an all-nighter before my exam tomorrow.)

I wanted to let you all know that in January, next semester, our chapter will be hosting one of the legs of the world tour for "Invisible Children"-- a moving documentary and telling account of the horrors of kidnapping, sexual abuse, and involuntary servitude of children as soldiers in the militant extremist groups of Uganda. That very grave situation gave birth to an amazing social protest in Uganda, led by groups of children who refused to live in fear, and instead took to the streets to let the abusers, and the world, know that they were not going to tolerate the crimes being committed any longer.

Our chapter's founder and Assistant Group Coordinator, Stacey Ray, has worked tirelessly to bring this very prestigious tour to our campus for the students, as well as the South Florida community at-large. In preparation for our chapter's hosting of this monumental event (which will no doubt garner considerable local media attention), I would like to have you all take a moment of your time to familiarize yourself with this project. Please visit the Invisible Children website to look at selections from the film for yourself, in addition to the movement sections of the website. Something interesting to note is the "Global Night Commute" event which happens at universities all over the country in conjunction with this cause. I participated with friends of mine at the University of Florida last year, and it was a HUGE success. I'd love to see it resurrected on our campus this year.

So definitely take a "first look" at what this project is all about, and for more information on this event, get in touch with Stacey via e-maill. I'm sure she'll also need some help in organizing the film festival, so if you'd like to contribute to this admirable cause, let her know-- because as of now, she's the only one handling all the aspects of the planning, and that certainly must be overwhelming her.

Take care guys, and if you're up like I am-- GET TO BED SOON!

Always,
Your Fellow Activist.

Recap of our first General Meeting

2006-09-20T23:13:00.000-04:00

WOW! Can you believe that our FAU chapter of Amnesty International just had its very first meeting today? The overwhelming support of all of you out there who came and stopped by to chat with us at our table in the Breezeway on Tuesday-- especially those of you who made calls to the White House urging President Bush to keep Darfur on the agenda at his speech to the United Nations yesterday-- was impressive.

First things first, we wanted to post the notes from today's General Meeting. Many of you wanted to come today, but were unable to make it due to a class, work scheduling conflict, or illness, but here's what happened today.

At 4:20pm today, a group of about 12 of us descended upon the Free Speech Lawn in front of the Social Sciences Building with blankets, bottled water, and our dry-erase board. We opened the meeting with an "ice breaker" designed to get everybody to know each other a little bit better. The attendees were each asked to find someone who had a birthday as close as possible to their own, and then to spend about 5 minutes getting to know as much about that person as possible. Then when the time was called, each person stood up to introduce their partner, and we learned some VERY interesting things-- like Maria Angelica Vargas, who doesn't know how to dance the hokey-pokey; and Tim Davis, who has a severe mayonnaise phobia! Following introductions, we began the official business of the meeting, by introducing everyone to the history of Amnesty International, as well as its mission to advance human rights worldwide.

However, the most exciting news about today's meeting is that our chapter now has specific campaigns that we plan to initiate this year. The three main campaigns that our FAU chapter will take part in promoting on campus are as follows:

"Control Arms": a special campaign enacted by Amnesty International aimed at stopping the illegal arms trade, and to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of those who would use them to abuse human rights. There is clear evidence that the international transfer of arms or the training of foreign security forces can provide repressive governments and abusive armed groups with the means to carry out or intensify gross human rights violations. By encouraging governments to act responsibly in this area, Amnesty International USA seeks to prevent or minimize gross violations of humanitarian and human rights law. More information

"The Environment and Human Rights": Amnesty International USA works on issues related to the environment and human rights as part of their Business & Human Rights Program. Defending human rights and protecting the environment is a universal responsibility. But protecting the environment and a community's way of life can also be a dangerous undertaking, as the tragic deaths of Brazilian Chico Mendes and Nigerian Ken Saro-Wiwa demonstrate-- both were murdered for their activism. One of the goals of Amnesty’s Corporate Action Network (CAN) is to defend the rights of environmental activists and address pervasive patterns of human rights abuses that occur in the wake of environmental degradation. More information

"Denounce Torture: Stop It Now!": Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (other ill-treatment) are violations of human rights, condemned by the international community as an offence to human dignity and prohibited in all circumstances under international law. Yet they happen daily and across the globe. Immediate steps are needed to confront these abuses wherever they occur and to eradicate them. More information

In addition to the above, our group has also decided to highlight specific Prisoners of Conscience (A "prisoner of conscience" is someone imprisoned solely for the peaceful expression of their beliefs. The term was coined by Amnesty International's founder, civil rights lawyer Peter Benenson, who launched Amnesty International with an appeal on behalf of six prisoners of conscience) for each one of our major campaigns this semester.

Now, you're probably thinking that this may seem like a lot. Well, today, several students signed on to make the commitment to act as Campaign Coordinators to help facilitate each one of the campaigns. Duncan Zevetski and Maria Angelica Vargas have both decided to spearhead the "Control Arms" campaign, Zainab Ali has volunteered to coordinate the "Environment and Human Rights" work, and Ana Halper, Kyriaki Tsaganis, and Supna Talati have joined together to guide our "Denounce Torture: Stop It Now!" initiative. PLUS, Marcus Nielsen has agreed to research prisoners of conscience in regards to each of the campaigns. I applaud the enthusiasm of our fellow activists! And if you're interested in jumping on-board to help out with any of these projects, please send us an e-mail and we'll put you in contact with the coordinator(s) of that assignment. Great teamwork, everybody!

Finally, after the discussion concerning the campaigns, we talked about the recent developments concerning the situation in Darfur. Thanks to the help of activists just like you from all over the country, President Bush made an announcement at the United Nations yesterday that he has appointed a special administrator to his staff to be in charge of overseeing the U.S. efforts to aid Darfur. This is fantastic, and a great first step! However, we can't take time to celebrate victory yet-- we still need to pressure the UN to send over peacekeeping units to stop the genocide and violence occurring in that region of Africa. If you will, please visit the Save Darfur website and check out today's call-in script to urge our world leaders to continue to help Darfur get much-needed relief from its present situation.

Also, today at the meeting, we decided to alternate our bi-weekly General Meetings between having dates scheduled on Mondays/Wednesdays and Tuesday/Thursdays. Furthermore, we have decided to begin holding "Daytime De-Briefing Sessions" (informal meetings to be held from 11:00am to 12:00pm in the Library on the Tuesdays following our General Meetings). In these meetings, we will go over the business discussed at the previous General Meeting, so that members who are more available during the day can still be informed and participate in the group's communication. And as always, we will continue to make the effort of publishing notes from the General Meetings.

THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, AT 6:00PM ON THE FREE SPEECH LAWN IN FRONT OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (SO) BUILDING!

Well, thanks for giving us your time and attention in reading this! We were truly excited to see those of you that were able to attend today, and we also completely understand that not everybody could make it. (P.S. Some of you got the reminder e-mail too late due to a glitch with Google). However, we're here to accommodate you! Please always feel free to give any of our Coordinators a call if you need to reach someone, or send us an e-mail. We look forward to working with all 116 of you registered members in the coming semester!

P.S. We're pleased to announce the launch of our new group webpage on the Facebook. If you haven't already done so, search for the "Amnesty International -- FAU Chapter" today from the option "My Groups" found in the home screen and click "Join This Group".

Our FIRST General Meeting!

2006-09-19T16:46:00.000-04:00

Good evening, everyone; we wanted to post a quick note to remind you that our chapter's first-ever General Meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday, September 20th, at 4:00pm on the Free Speech Lawn in front of the Social Sciences (SO) Building.

Bring a blanket or something comfortable to sit on, and your brilliant ideas for our group! We'd like to get started on planning upcoming events and the civic projects we want to bring to the attention of the university community. Also, be prepared to make a new friend! We've got a few "ice breakers" that we'll use to encourage you to meet other students-- like yourself-- who are interested in the fight for worldwide human rights.

Can't wait to see you tomorrow at 4pm!