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| Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012 |
HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)
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| 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". |
EMBASSY FINDER
CHARITY CORNER
This week your attention is drawn to Global Fund for Women. Their mission statement: "We are a global champion for the human rights of women and girls. We use our powerful networks to find, fund, and amplify the courageous work of women who are building social movements and challenging the status quo. By shining a spotlight on critical issues, we rally communities of advocates who take action and invest money to empower women." The fund is rated highly by Charity Navigator. 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. We send you to the campaign page and urge you to choose a cause to support. View this video.THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY
We have added this section to the blog in order to join the struggle against slavery worldwide. This week we refer you to the the ILO’s Protocol on Forced Labor which is all about modern slavery. We call your attention to the anti slavery campaign. There you can sign up for action updates.The importance of checking your sellers' supply chains cannot be overemphasized.Look for these logos:
Find a campaign to work for. Light must be made to shine in the darkest of places.
Please note the Urgent Action call concerning slavery in the chicken industry in Thailand.
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| Slaves being sued by their exploiter! |
Good News!
Cambodian Housing Rights Defender Released
Two Cambodian housing rights defenders were tried and convicted on 22 August for “insult of a public official”. While Bov Sophea has been released, Tep Vanny remains in detention, serving a six-month sentence for charges related to a 2011 protest, and under investigation for separate charges linked to a 2013 protest. Tep Vanny and other housing rights activists from the former Boeung Kak lake area continue to be targeted by the authorities. In another resurrected case, on 19 September, Tep Vanny, Bo Chhorvy, Heng Mom and Kong Chantha were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for insulting and obstructing public officials. This relates to a protest of almost five years ago in November 2011. Amnesty International will keep monitoring this case closely and will open a separate action if necessary.
CHINA
Help Release Chronically Ill Falun Gong Practitioner
Falun Gong practitioner Chen Huixia was unable to stand or walk after being tortured, according to a fellow detainee. Suffering from chronic illness and poor health, she currently has no access to her family or a lawyer. Please call for her release
PERU
Help Protect Máxima Acuña and Her Family From Harassment and Attacks
Máxima Acuña and her family, subsistence farmers in northern Peru, have reported acts of harassment and physical attacks against them by security personnel from the Yanacocha mining company. They are in an ongoing legal dispute against the mining company over the ownership of a plot of land where the family lives. Please call upon the authorities to protect them.MEXICO
Help Stop Attacks on Soup Kitchen Staff and Migrants at Risk
A soup kitchen for Mexican and Central American migrants has been vandalized in the northern Mexican city of Nogales, on the US border. Staff members had previously reported receiving death threats and having electronics stolen. The attacks could be a reprisal for their complaints of kidnappings against migrants in the area. The lives of staff and volunteers, as well as the migrants who use the soup kitchen, could be at risk. Please call upon the authorities to protect the volunteers at the soup kitchen and the migrants.
EGYPT
In late May this year, workers at the shipyard docks in Alexandria organized a peaceful protest. They were jailed by police. Please click and join the protest.USA/PAKISTAN
We return to the abuse of workers at a Pepsico factory in Pakistan. PepsiCo management at the company's Frito-Lay plant in Lahore, Pakistan has responded to the formation and official registration of a trade union with 650 members by harassing and transferring union officers and seeking to violate the union's collective bargaining rights by creating a bogus union. If you have not participated in this campaign, please click to protest.