Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Human Rights Action Update January 14-20

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labors of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

GOOD NEWS Good news to share!

GOOD NEWS FROM HONDURAS

In a major win for Indigenous and Afro-descendent peoples in Honduras, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued a judgment in January declaring the State of Honduras responsible for the violation of collective ownership rights and the lack of judicial protection. The case was brought by OFRANEH, the Black Fraternal Organization of Honduras which has been working for years to defend the territory of the Indigenous Garifuna peoples and a partner of a broad coalition of Indigenous and campesino rights organizations across Honduras. Read more...

Photo by Felipe Canova. Forum on Land grabbing in Latin America, La Ceiba, 2011.

EMBASSY FINDER

Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country.
http://embassy.goabroad.com/ You can also find embassies at this link. https://embassy-finder.com/

CHARITY CORNER

In the wake of the closing of the Titan and Pollyanna blogs, we are continuing the charity corner here. This week, the we refer you to Btzelem, an NGO that monitors human rights in Israel, the Occupied Territories and the Palestinian Authority. B'Tselem has championed human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for over two decades, promoting a future where all Israelis and Palestinians will live in freedom and dignity. We suggest you open the site, read of the human rights violations and make a generous donation to support this worthy cause.

GENERAL OUTRAGE

We append links to Avaaz petitions and ask you to sign. One is a call to the UN to increase its efforts on behalf of the starving population of Madaya in Syria.

The other is a call to Yahoo to stop the online trading in ivory.

MOURNING HUMAN RIGHTS JOURNALISTS

It is with great sadness that we join Amnesty International in mourning the tragic deaths of photographer Leila Alaoui and driver Mahamadi Ouédraogo, as a result of the Al Qaeda attack in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Friday. They were there on assignment from Amnesty and died in the service of human rights. We join Amnesty International in condemnation of the vicious attack on civilians in Ouagadougou, that killed and injured dozens of people of many nationalities and faiths.

DEATH PENALTY CASES

USA

Michael Lambrix has been denied clemency and his execution set for 11 February. Twenty-three years old when he was sent to Florida’s death row in 1984, he is now almost 56. He maintains that he acted in self-defense during the crime in question. Please act.

SAUDI ARABIA

Ashraf Fayadh, a Palestinian poet and artist who lives in Saudi Arabia, has been sentenced to death for ‘apostasy’. The Saudi Arabian authorities claim that his poetry has questioned religion and spread atheism. Ashraf has committed no crime. He is a prisoner of conscience. Ask the Saudi Arabian authorities to free him now.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

We have added a new section to the blog in order to join the struggle against slavery worldwide. This week we refer you to the site of the CNN Freedom Project where you can find a large number of campaigns against manifestations of slavery in different countries. The number of people living in slavery is of the order of 35 million, which indicates the extent of the problem. We suggest that you look up the Fair Trade movement in your country and make an effort to avoid buying slave-produced products. Look for this logo:

This week we return to the issue of cotton harvest slavery in Uzbekistan. You may not be aware of the fact that the Daewoo corporation is a major purchaser of slave-grown cotton from Uzbekistan. Please call on Daewoo to stop profiting from Uzbek cotton slavery by signing the pre-written letter.

ISRAEL

A 23-year-old Palestinian man, Mohammad Faisal Abu Sakha, has been detained by the Israeli military, without charge or any explanation, since 14 December. He has not been allowed visits from his family. Please demand his release.

CHINA

A Swedish national working for a China based NGO has been detained in Beijing since 3 January on charges of “endangering state security”. The Chinese authorities have not allowed consular visits, and he has a health condition that requires urgent medical treatment. Please act on his behalf.

MYANMAR

Phyoe Phyoe Aung was arrested after organizing a largely peaceful protest in Myanmar, during which police attacked students with batons.

She and scores of others now face lengthy jail terms. To prove that it has left its brutal past behind, the Myanmar government must release these Prisoners of Conscience now. Please act.

NEW ZEALAND

Two hundred workers at AFFCO, the New Zealand meat company owned by the anti-union Talley family, have been locked out since June last year for resisting the company's brutal push to replace negotiated collective agreements with individual contracts. Talleys/AFFCO is also punishing union members and workplace representatives with suspensions and dismissals. SEND A MESSAGE TO TALLEYS/AFFCO!

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Human Rights Action Update January 6-13

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labors of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

GOOD NEWS Good news to share!

STUDENT FREE AFTER SENTENCE REDUCED

A Tunisian student jailed for engaging in homosexual relation is free after his sentence was reduced on appeal on 17 December.
A 22-year-old Tunisian student, referred to by the pseudonym “Marwan”, was sentenced to one year in prison on 22 September 2015 by the Court of First Instance in Sousse under Article 230 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes same-sex sexual relations. He was released on a bail of 500 Dinars (247 US$) on 5 November so he could complete his final university exams, according to his lawyer.
During an appeal session held on 17 December, Marwan’s sentence was reduced to two months in prison and a 3,000 Dinar fine (1,459 US$). Having already served this time in detention, Marwan was free on 17 December.
No further action is requested from the UA network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.

SUCCESS ON THE LABOR FRONT

Reported by Eric Lee:"Meanwhile, two of our campaigns launched in December closed down fairly quickly -- and for good reason.
A campaign we launched on December 14th demanding the release of Iranian teacher trade unionist Mahmoud Beheshti Langroodi closed within a day after we learned that he had been freed. Mahmoud's hunger strike captured the attention of many human rights activists and trade unionists, and the more than 4,500 of you who sent off messages in that short time helped send a clear message to the Iranian government.
And just one day before that we learned that the deal between the Israeli and Chinese governments -- which would have led to the importation of 20,000 Chinese workers as bonded labor -- failed. The collapse of the deal came after more than 6,300 of you supported the online campaign we launched with our partners in the Israeli and Hong Kong labor movements. Full details are here."

DEATH PENALTY IN FLORIDA DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL

By a vote of 8-1 the U.S. Supreme Court today (12-6-16) declared Florida's death penalty statute unconstitutional, concluding that it gave judges too much power. Read more.
Juries — not judges — should make the final decision in whether a defendant should be executed, wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Under Florida's current system, a judge makes the final decision after a 12-member jury has listened to evidence and made a recommendation. That recommendation, however, need not be unanimous, something often criticized by death-penalty opponents. Let us hope that this decision leads to abolition.

EMBASSY FINDER

CHARITY CORNER

In the wake of the closing of the Titan and Pollyanna blogs, we are continuing the charity corner here. This week, the we refer you to Breaking the Silence, an Israeli NGO of Israeli soldiers who talk about the occupied territories and what they were called upon to do there.

Michael Sfard the famous human rights lawyer writes about them in the NYTimes.

Demonstrators in Tel Aviv last month protested against a video that accused human rights activists of being "foreign agents." Baz Ratner/Reuters

The government and the right wing media are strongly against them, mainly because what they publish is the truth.
Please support them.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.

This week we inform you of the awarding of the title "racist of the year for 2015" to Fernando Furtado, a deputy in the Brazilian state of Maranhao. Furtado, of the Communist Party of Brazil, was given the award for comments he made in a speech in July, in which he said that Amazonian Indians should be left to starve. He also called them “a bunch of little gays.” After having caused outrage in Brazil, Mr. Furtado was forced to issue a formal retraction.

Fernando Furtado, Survival's Racist of the Year 2015, addresses the Maranhao state assembly

Addressing a meeting of loggers and ranchers, Mr. Furtado said of indigenous Brazilians: “They don’t know how to plant rice, so let them die of hunger in poverty, that’s the best thing, because they don’t know how to work.”

We ask you to respond to Mr. Furtado by helping the victims, the Awa tribe whose land is being burned over by the people to whom he made his speech. Your support is vital if the Awá are to survive. There are many ways you can help.

    a)Writing a letter to the Brazilian government is a quick and simple way to let them know of your concern.
    b)Donate to the Awá campaign (and other Survival campaigns).
    c) Write to your MP or MEP (UK) or Senators and members of Congress (US).
    d)Write to your local Brazilian high commission or embassy.

    If you want to get more involved, contact Survival…

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

This week we call your attention to the issue of recruitment of children into armed forces in Afghanistan. Please amplify the efforts of UNICEF by posting the page to your social media and your circles.

© UNICEF Video Officer Maryam, a police recruitment officer, interviews an applicant. “When I ask them for the reasons why they want to join the police force, they usually say it’s because of poverty,” she says.

We also ask you to help get the international antislavery protocol adopted by your government. The international community is clearly not equipped to effectively address modern slavery. In 2014, governments adopted a new global treaty to end modern slavery. Please call upon your government to ratify it.

TURKEY We have a few issues with Turkey this week:

1. Twenty four-hour curfews have been declared since 11 December in the Sur district of the city of Diyarbakır, and since 14 December in the towns of Cizre and Silopi, in Şırnak province, south eastern Turkey. The curfews have been put in place as the police and army conduct operations against the armed Revolutionary Patriotic Youth Movement. More than 200,000 people live in the affected areas and some are unable to access food, medical care and face severe electricity and water shortages. More than 70 residents and at least seven soldiers and police officers have been reported killed. Please act on behalf of the affected population.

2.The year 2016 begins with news of yet another company responding to workers' attempts to organize themselves with mass dismissals. In this case, it is a company in Turkey that has sacked 30 workers who dared to join a trade union. The International Union of Food Workers (IUF) has launched an online campaign demanding their reinstatement and a recognition of union rights. Please take a minute and add your name here.

ETHIOPIA

The Ethiopian authorities arbitrarily arrested a number of peaceful protesters, journalists and opposition party leaders in the context of a brutal crackdown on ongoing protests in the Oromia Region which started in November. Those arrested are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment and should be immediately and unconditionally released. Please write immediately to call for their release.

ARGENTINA

Sixty-one prisoners have been threatened and punished for exposing human rights violations in No 1 Wing of Prison Unit 37 in Barker, Province of Buenos Aires. Karina Valenti, the human rights defender who reported these grave abuses, has been banned from entering all penal institutions in the province. Please act at once in this matter.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The trial against Yekaterina Vologzheninova will continue on 21 January. She faces the charge of “inciting hatred or enmity”, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, for her posts on social media criticizing Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Please call for the charges to be dropped since she is being prosecuted solely for exercising her right to freedom of expression;

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTION UPDATE December 30-January 6

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labours of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

EMBASSY FINDER

CHARITY CORNER

In the wake of the closing of the Titan and Pollyanna blogs, we are continuing the charity corner here. This week, the we refer you to Cultural Survival. This is an NGO devoted to the protection of indigenous cultures and peoples. Their mission and vision statement:"Our Mission Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures and political resilience since 1972.
Our Vision "Cultural Survival envisions a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance."

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.
This week we ask you to help the Matses people.There are around 2,200 Matsés living on the Peru-Brazil frontier in the Amazon rainforest. The Yaquerana river runs through the heart of their land, marking the international border that separates their home. But to the Matsés, the streams, floodplains, and white-sand forests make up an ancestral territory that is shared by the entire tribe. Their land is being pillaged by mineral prospectors from Canada. In 2012, Peru promised to strengthen legal protection for the rights of its indigenous people, but it has granted Pacific Rubiales exploration licenses against the clear wishes of the Matsés. Please email Pacific Rubiales and write to the Peruvian government as indicated in the site.

When school’s out, parents take children to their gardens to teach them how to grow their own food.

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

We have added a new section to the blog in order to join the struggle against slavery worldwide. We refer you to the site of Walk Free where you can find a large number of campaigns against manifestations of slavery in different countries. The number of people living in slavery is of the order of 35 million, which indicates the extent of the problem. We suggest that you look up the Fair Trade movement in your country and make an effort to avoid buying slave-produced products. Look for this logo:

This week we call your attention to the Clean Clothes Campaign against slavery and exploitation in the garment industry. Please sign the petition and be sure to inquire about the supply chain when you buy clothing for yourself and your family.

AFGHANISTAN

Roghul Khairzad, a Senator in Afghanistan, won’t give up fighting for the rights of women in her country, despite shocking attacks by the Taliban on her and her family. Please support her in her struggle.

IRELAND

Ireland has inhuman laws about abortion. In Ireland, a woman can only get a legal abortion if her life is at “real and substantial risk”. Termination on all other grounds, including for survivors of rape or incest, where the woman’s or girl’s health is at risk, and in cases of fatal foetal impairment, is banned. The Eighth amendment to the constitution protects the rights of the fetus at the expense of the mother

Please read Nicola's sad story and sign the petition.

MYANMAR

On December 9 2015, Su Su Nway appeared at a local court in Pyin Oo Lwin, facing a charge for a protest she organized in 2014 against land grabs .

Please join the protest.

ZIMBABWE

Itai Dzamara, Zimbabwean journalist, peaceful pro-democracy activist and leader of the protest group Occupy Africa Unity Square, disappeared on 9 March 2015 in Harare. His family deserves answers. Please sign the petition calling on the Zimbabwean government to launch an investigation into Itai Dzamara’s disappearance.
Image result for Itai Dzamara

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Human Rights Action update December 23-30

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

First we wish a Happy New Year to all our friends and readers. May 2016 be a better year for human rights than its predecessors.
Happy New Year Quotes Quotes for BF-GF

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labours of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

EMBASSY FINDER

WRITE FOR RIGHTS

In December, in connection with World Human Rights Day, December 10, Amnesty International sponsors this campaign of letter writing for human rights. You are invited to join in. Here are 12 egregious cases of gross violations of the human rights of individuals around the world.Do as many as you can.

WriteforRights

When a duty becomes a crime,it's time to change the law. twitter.com/bartalder/sta…

You can also find more cases on Twitter at the hashtag #Write4Rights posted by Ai Wei Wei.

CHARITY CORNER

In the wake of the closing of the Titan and Pollyanna blogs, we are continuing the charity corner here. This week, the we refer you to the Union of Concerned Scientists. In the wake of the need for action to combat climate change, the is an organization of independent scientists united to confront the real dangers confronting all of humanity. Their scientists and engineers develop and implement innovative, practical solutions to some of our planet’s most pressing problems—from combating global warming and developing sustainable ways to feed, power, and transport ourselves, to fighting misinformation and reducing the threat of nuclear war. This is a most worthy cause.UCS continues to receive recommendations from the United States’ premier charity rating agencies, Charity Navigator, the Better Business Bureau, and the American Institute of Philanthropy. Please donate.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Protest-Harvard=Looting

This week we call upon you to urge Harvard University to behave in a responsible way toward the wetland region essential for the well being of the Guaneri people.The Iberá wetlands system in Argentina is one of the world’s largest freshwater bodies, but it is under threat. Vast monocrop pine and eucalyptus plantations have virtually eliminated biodiversity in more than half of the wetlands, devastating freshwater levels and dramatically affecting the livelihoods of the Guaraní Indigenous People who have lived in relationship with the lands for generations and depend on these ecosystems. Who's responsible? None other than Harvard University. Please sign the petition.

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

This week we return to the issue of the scandalous treatment of migrant workers in Qatar where a football World Cup facility is being build by what is essentially slave labor. If you have not joined this campaign, please click and raise your voice to both Qatar and to FIFA.

VIETNAM

Vietnamese lawyer Lê Thu Hà, a human rights activist, was arrested on 16 December, at the same time as prominent human rights lawyer Nguyễn Văn Đài, a colleague. No other activists have been allowed to see her, and she is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Please act for her.

Miss Le Thu Ha at a local seminar on human rights issues

TUNISIA

Six Tunisian men have been convicted of ‘sodomy’ and jailed for three years, the maximum provided by Tunisian law. Please call for their release and for the decriminalization of consensual same-sex relations,

GUINEA

Following the wave or arrests of opposition members and trade unionists ahead of the 11 October elections, 10 of the at least 35 opposition members arrested in Koundara, northern Guinea, have been released on bail. The other 25, including a minor, are still in detention. Five trade unionists, including Jean Dougo Guilavogui, remain in arbitrary detention in Conakry, the capital. Their trial has been postponed and Jean Dougo Guilavogui has been denied access to adequate medical care. Please act for them.

CHINA

The crackdown on labor leaders continues. Since 3 December, the authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have carried out a coordinated and wide-ranging crackdown on labour rights activists and labour organizations in the province. More than 25 people have been targeted. Please click and join the outcry.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

15 Indigenous Rights Victories That You Didn't Hear About in 2015

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Human Rights Update December 16-23

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

First we wish a very Merry Christmas to all our readers who celebrate it and a Happy New Year to all. Let 2016 be a better year for human rights around the world.

Of course, this will not be achieved by prayers, but by actions by all of us.

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labours of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

EMBASSY FINDER

GOOD NEWS

Good news to share! After pressure from Walk Free supporters and other organizations, Norway has become the second country, after Niger, to ratify the Protocol to the Forced Labor Convention (better known as C29).1 This is important since the adopted Protocol only comes into force 12 months after being ratified by two member states.
Norway ratifies the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention – C29

Norway ratifies the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention – C29

Following the Norwegian Government’s action, the new Protocol will come into force on 9 November 2016. Please write to your foreign ministry and urge them to ratify the protocol that provides measures to prevent forced labor, to protect victims and give them access to justice.

WRITE FOR RIGHTS

When a duty becomes a crime,it's time to change the law. twitter.com/bartalder/sta…

Do as many as you can. You can also find more cases on Twitter at the hashtag #Write4Rights posted by Ai Wei Wei.

CHARITY CORNER

In the wake of the closing of the Titan and Pollyanna blogs, we are continuing the charity corner here. This week, the we refer you to Reporters without Borders, which was founded in Montpellier (France) in 1985 by four journalists: Robert Ménard, Rémy Loury, Jacques Molénat and Émilien Jubineau. This association, registered as a non-profit organisation in France since 1995, soon took on an international dimension.
Under the direction of Christophe Deloire, Reporters Without Borders organized its team of researchers by geographical area. The organization also gradually developed two essential and highly specialized spheres of activity: one focused on Internet Censorship and the New Media, and the other devoted to providing material, financial and psychological assistance to journalists assigned to dangerous areas
A large number of journalists have have paid heavily for their service to the cause of freedom of information. A total of 54 journalists are currently being held hostage worldwide, versus 40 this time last year - a 35% increase. Journalists are easy targets for radical groups such as the Islamic State and Al-Nusra Front, who use them not only for ransoms or leverage but also, and above all to impose a reign of terror and to silence their critics. It comes as no surprise that the most dangerous country is Syria, where entire regions are now “information black holes.” This is a most worthy cause. Please donate.
A few words from a laureate of the Netizen Prize, Huynh Ngoc Chenh of Vietnam.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.so that
This week we call on you to help the the Wichi people of Argentina. Cattle ranching and logging have reduced their traditional habitat to the point that they have been left almost landless and without their livelihood. The local Salta authorities have, since 1966, repeatedly promised to recognise Indian territory in their province – but have failed to fulfill one single promise. Please take the steps requested in the site.
Wichi-profile_cropped

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

This week we call upon you to support the Global March Against Child Labor. In particular, we ask you to sign the Pledge against child-slave manufactured goods You would not like to put under your Christmas tree, for your children, presents made by child slaves.

THAILAND

Authorities in Thailand removed student activist Thanet Anantawong from hospital on 13 December where he was admitted for treatment. He is currently held in a military detention facility without adequate access to medical treatment, or to his family or lawyers. He may face up to 27 years’ imprisonment for a post he made on Facebook. Please act for him.

MYANMAR

There are increasing fears for the health of detained Kachin peace activist Patrick Kum Jaa Lee, who suffers from a number of medical conditions and may not be receiving the treatment he needs. He was arrested in Myanmar in connection with a Facebook post mocking the army. He is a prisoner of conscience, who must be released immediately and unconditionally. Please raise your voice.

CHINA

The crackdown on dissidents, the lawyers who represent them and the public that supports them continues. Four activists (Zhang Zhan, Wang Su'e, Qu Hongxia and Ran Chongbi along with several others whose identity is unknown) have been criminally detained after gathering outside a court in Beijing during the trial of prominent human rights lawyer Pu Zhiqiang. It is not known what charges they are being held under, and they have not had access to their lawyers or families. Several other activists who were taken away have not been heard from since, and it is feared they may also be in detention. Please act for them.

IRAN (not for Israelis, alas)

Iranian teacher unionist Mahmoud Beheshti Langroodi has been on hunger strike since November 26 to protest against his unfair trial and subsequent 9-year prison sentence. Please act for him if you can.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Human Rights Action update December 9-16

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labours of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

EMBASSY FINDER

GOOD NEWS

The Supreme Court of Israel has allowed a class action suit against a haredi radio station that refuses to allow women's voices to be heard. The suit was filed by Kolech, a religious women's organization. Cheers, read all about it.

WRITE FOR RIGHTS

When a duty becomes a crime,it's time to change the law. twitter.com/bartalder/sta…

Do as many as you can. You can also find more cases on Twitter at the hashtag #Write4Rights posted by Ai Wei Wei.

CHARITY CORNER

In the wake of the closing of the Titan and Pollyanna blogs, we are continuing the charity corner here. This week, the we refer you to PAI (imPassioned Advocates for gIrls and women), a global organization advancing the right to affordable, quality contraception and reproductive health care for every woman, everywhere. Their mission of advocacy: "PAI champions policies that put women in charge of their reproductive health. We work with policymakers in Washington and our network of partners in developing countries to remove roadblocks between women and the services and supplies they need. For 50 years, we have helped women succeed by upholding their basic rights."

PAI has received top ratings from both the American Institute for Philanthropy and from Charity Navigator. More than 80 cents of every dollar PAI spends goes to critical program services. For more information about PAI, read our annual report or our 990 form. This is a most worthy cause. Please donate.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming.
This week we call on you to help the the Enawene Nawe, who live in an area of tropical forest in western Brazil. The state government has announced it will build a vast complex of hydroelectric dams upriver of the Enawene Nawe’s land. The Indians oppose the dams because they will pollute the water and destroy the fish which are an essential part of their diet. Please act now.

Enawene Nawe men perform the Yãkwa ritual, a four-month exchange of food between humans and the ancestral spirits, accompanied by dancing and chanting to the sound of flutes.

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

This week we call upon you to support Slave Free Seas, an NGO dedicated to putting a stop to slavery on board ships at sea. Slave Free Seas is a team of the world’s foremost legal experts on human trafficking at sea. Slave Free Seas has the expertise and global legal resources to implement jurisdiction-specific strategies to identify tainted supply chains; promote accountability and ensure that victims are provided remedies for the harms committed against them. Slave Free Seas (SFS) is a charitable trust based in New Zealand.
The mission:
“To fight the business of modern slavery on the seas”

SFS is the only NGO in the world with a specific focus on ending human trafficking at sea.

ECUADOR

Twenty-one people among those detained during anti-government protests in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, have been sentenced following concerns of violations of their right to a fair trial. Amnesty International received reports during the protests of excessive use of force and clashes between the security forces and protesters, as well as arbitrary detention. Please act for them.

VIETNAM

Prisoner of conscience Tran Thi Thuy, currently serving an eight year sentence in Viet Nam, is being denied medical treatment for a tumor on her uterus in circumstances that could amount to torture. Although diagnosed by a prison doctor and despite being in severe pain, she has been told she will receive no treatment unless she “confesses” to the crimes for which she was convicted. Please raise your voice to protest this atrocity and demand her immediate and unconditional release.

Image result for tran thi thuy prisoner vietnam

JORDAN

The Jordanian government is refusing to let 12,000 Syrian refugees enter the country, including pregnant women, children and elderly people. They are now stranded in a remote desert area on the Jordan-Syria border. Please call for their admission to Jordan in light of the principle of non-refoulement.

CHINA

Zeng Feiyang

Last we we alerted you to the crackdown on labor activists in China. We now call your attention to a petition by the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions Globalization Monitor. Please open the link and sign.