Amnesty International at Dickinson School of Law

Cook-Off Competition Results!!

2007-02-04T14:23:00.000-05:00

The International Law Society and Amnesty International are happy to announce the recipe winners of the 2007 International Cookoff Competition...

1ST PLACE OVERALL:
* Baklava - Becky Faulkner

2ND PLACE OVERALL:
* Justin's Jamaican Jerk Chicken - Justin Pickens

3RD PLACE OVERALL:
* German Onion Tart - Amber Sizemore

SPECIAL AWARD - MOST ORIGINAL RECIPE:
* Cig Kofte (Çiğköfte) - Faruk Usar

CHEF'S CHOICE AWARD - BEST INTERNATIONAL COMFORT FOOD RECIPE:
(Awarded to this mid-winter belly-warming recipe, for being widely favored overall, with significant votes appearing in all four winning categories above.)
* Hot & Sour Soup - Professor Jay Mootz

**** PRIZE LIST ****

1st Place - Becky Faulkner:
- $50 Gift Certificate to Passage to India Restaurant in Harrisburg;
- Custom-made International Cookoff Winner’s Apron;
- Free copy of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law International Cookbook, with special mention.

2nd Place - Justin Pickens
- $25 Gift Certificate to Passage to India Restaurant in Harrisburg;
- Free copy of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law International Cookbook, with special mention.

3rd Place - Amber Sizemore
- Free copy of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law International Cookbook, with special mention.
- Amnesty International T-shirt

Most Original Recipe - Faruk Usar
- Custom-made International Cookoff Winner’s Apron;
- Free copy of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law International Cookbook, with special mention.

Chef's Choice Award - Jay Mootz
- Custom-made International Cookoff Winner’s Apron;
- Free copy of the Penn State Dickinson School of Law International Cookbook, with special mention.

THANK YOU TO ALL COOKOFF COMPETITORS, VOTERS, PARTICIPANTS, AND SUPPORTERS!!!!
- Amnesty International and International Law Society

DSL Amnesty International Cook Off Competition!

2007-01-23T14:16:00.000-05:00

WHAT: International Cookoff Competition at Penn State Dickinson School of Law.
WHEN: Thursday, February 1st, 2007. 7:30 pm
WHERE: Cafe at Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle

Come to Compete or Come to Eat!
All are invited: students, faculty, administration, family, and friends of Penn State Dickinson School of Law. (UP - this means you too, please attend and compete!)

The Event: Amnesty International is hosting an International Cookoff Competition where competitors will cook up their best international recipes for everyone to come taste. Those who attend will vote on the winning recipes. This is a fundraising event!
The post-event Cookbook: All of the recipes entered into the competition will be compiled into the first official Dickinson School of Law International Cookbook. All submitted recipes will be included to be published and photographed in the cookbook.

Competitors: If you have a 'regional' or 'international' recipe that you'd like to share with the rest of the school, please sign up to compete. Your recipe could win "best recipe" in one of various categories - prizes will be awarded! (Yes, this also includes U.S. recipes that are "regionally-themed," such as Maryland Crabcakes, Memphis BBQ, etc)
Everyone else - Free food! Come eat! Try out the cooking skills of your fellow students, faculty and staff, and support your friends who are competing. You will get to sample all of the different recipes, and YOU decide who wins by voting at the end.
Tickets are only $3, and will support fundraising for Amnesty human rights initiatives, along with the production of the Cookbook.

(Even if you have a recipe but are not able or do not want to compete in the actual Cookoff, you can still submit a recipe to be included in the cookbook.)

If you would like to compete: Please email me your name and the name/title of your international recipe (you do not have to submit the actual recipe itself yet.)
If you would like to attend: You can get your tickets by emailing me the number of tickets needed.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

-Amnesty International at Dickinson School of Law

Letter Writing Guide and Sample Letters

2006-09-17T10:14:00.000-04:00

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL-DSL Chapter

Letter writing guide
There are a few simple rules:

1. Always be polite. This rule is essential and invariable. Your aim is to help a prisoner, not to relieve your own feelings. Governments don't respond to abusive or condemnatory letters (however well deserved).

2. Always write your letters on the basis that the government concerned is open to reason and discussion.

3. It is important where possible to stress a country's reputation for moderation and justice, to show respect for its constitution and judicial procedures, and to demonstrate an understanding of current difficulties. This will give more scope to point out ways in which the human rights situation can be improved.

4. Follow strictly the instructions given by Amnesty International in the case in question. For instance if the World Wide Appeal asks you to appeal for medical treatment for a prisoner, make sure that you request this, and not a speedy trial or release which might be appropriate in another case.

5. Never use political jargon. Don't give the impression that you are writing because you are ideologically or politically opposed to the government in question. It is far more effective to stress the fact that your concern for human rights is not politically based in any way, but in keeping with basic principles of international law.

6. If appropriate, please explain who you are and what you do. Some of our sample letters (below) do this. This indicates that the letter is genuine, and also shows that people from varying walks of life are following events in the country concerned.

7. If you have any special interest or link with the country, it is a good idea to mention this in your letter. For instance, you may have visited it or studied its history. (See sample letter H.)
BE BRIEF. A simple, one-line letter is adequate (see sample letters A and B) and is certainly better than no letter at all. Sample letters C and D might be considered the standard length to aim at where you have nothing special to add. A good rule is not to write more than one page (ie one side).

________

Sample Letters

SAMPLE LETTER B
Your Excellency,

I write to appeal to you, on humanitarian grounds, to spare the life of......... presently under sentence of death.
SAMPLE LETTER C
Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to you, in the spirit of friendship that has always existed between your country and mine, about the plight of ......... who I understand has been detained for nearly three years under the Internal Security Act without any reason being given. If this information is correct, this would appear to violate Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which says "No one shall be subject to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile". I therefore appeal to you to look into this case urgently, with a view to releasing ......... .
SAMPLE LETTER G
Your Honour,

I am an engineer, and I worked on an irrigation project at ......... where the dam was constructed with the expert assistance of technicians from your country. This was truly a memorable experience. The dedication of your engineers, both to the irrigation project and to the development of your country, was really inspiring. Many misconceptions about your country were dispelled, and we became good friends too. It was therefore with special concern that I came to hear of the case of.........

I understand that he was arrested in November for publishing a book critical of some aspects of the government, and has been held since then without charge or trial in contravention of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This matter has been the subject of discussion among my colleagues. If the facts are incorrect, please let me know and I will see that the true version is explained. If, however, they are true, I appeal to you to look into this case with a view to releasing.........
SAMPLE LETTER F
Your Excellency,

In my capacity as President of the Women's Institute of Toronto, I am writing to you on the subject of the recent arrest of ......... who is, I understand, in detention under the regulations for the Suppression of Rebellion.

In view of the information available to me concerning this case, ......... is deprived of her freedom in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. May I take the liberty of drawing to your attention the specific violations of the Declaration apparently involved in her case.
Her arrest under the regulations for the Suppression of Rebellion constitutes a violation of Article 9 of the Declaration. She has been held since her arrest without charge (at least as far as is publicly known) and without trial, which constitutes a violation of Articles 9 and 10 of the Declaration.

The only reason which has been given for the arrest of ......... is her role in the legal and legitimate opposition in the public life of your country, not only as a parliamentarian, but as a political worker conducting actions guaranteed the full protection of your Constitution. It therefore appears that the rights proclaimed in Articles 18 and 19 of the Declaration have also been violated.
Motivated solely by respect for human rights, I appeal to you to intervene personally in this case to secure the immediate release of ......... from detention or to grant her the right to an early, fair and open trial.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration,
Yours sincerely,

AI Film Festival, Washington, D.C.

2006-08-28T15:44:00.000-04:00

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – Washington, D.C.September 14-16, 2006

Venues
National Geographic Society Headquarters

1600 M Street, NWWashington, DC 20036

Tickets

General Admission $10

National Geographic Member $8

Amnesty International Member $8

Seniors and Students (w/ valid ID) $5

Children 12 and under $5

Tickets will be available from 8/25 and can be purchased in advance by calling 202-857-7700 or by visiting the National Geographic website.

Advance purchase is recommended to avoid disappointment at the door.

Sponsors & Links
Festival Sponsors

Schedule at a Glance
Thursday, September 14
Friday, September 15
Saturday, September 16

The Films
All About Darfur
Black Gold
Catch a Fire
Golden Venture
Mario's Story
Reception
Salvador - Special 20th Anniversary Screening
The Ground Truth
The World According to Sesame Street
Film Festival Home

About the Film Festival
The Amnesty International Film Festival is proud to present its second annual program, co-sponsored by National Geographic, in Washington, D.C, September 14-16, 2006. This year’s festival features eight films, on some of the most important issues facing the global community. Challenging and inspiring, these stories help us understand what it means to be a citizen of the world today. The festival celebrates the significant contributions made by filmmakers worldwide to the awareness and understanding of human rights issues.Amnesty International Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing some of the world’s best documentary and fiction films related to human rights. Through the art of film, with its unique ability to bring the viewer in touch with reality, the Festival strives to expose new audiences to human rights abuses occurring around the globe, including in the United States. Using the resources of Amnesty International, we strive to provide our audiences with concrete opportunities to take action against these abuses.

The Amnesty International Film Festival started in 1991 and now screens annually in Seattle, Salt Lake City, West Hollywood, Pittsburgh and Asheville, NC, as well as on dozens of university and high school campuses around the US, with our Festival OnCampus program. We hope to offer our communities an opportunity to bare witness to, and to honor our collective struggles for freedom. And should some who attend be moved to action, Amnesty International is ready to help you get involved. For each film being screened, the Amnesty International Film Festival has gathered related news, research and action opportunities. NOTE: The documentary and feature films and videos presented in the festival are individual works of art and journalism, and have not been produced by Amnesty International. The perspectives or opinions presented in these films and videos are not necessarily those of Amnesty International, and Amnesty International has not necessarily researched or verified any specific facts presented in the films.

FILMS HAVE NOT BEEN RATED; SOME FILMS MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR VIEWERS YOUNGER THAN 17. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Guantanamo interview: Full Transcript from BBC

2006-04-13T09:58:00.000-04:00

Niva shared this article with me,
thought you all may be interested.

Thoughts? Comments?

Guantanamo interview: full transcript

A Kuwaiti detainee at Guantanamo Bay has given a rare interview to the BBC. The interview was conducted through a legal representative as journalists are not permitted to speak directly to detainees. The BBC Today programme's Jon Manel submitted questions for Fawzi al-Odah to his lawyer, Tom Wilner. The BBC was unable to challenge or question any of Mr Odah's responses.

No-one from the outside world can see you. So describe your physical appearance now.

I am much lighter than I was. I am now about 120 pounds, down from about 150 pounds when I came here. I have become an old man here. I'm only 29, but I have been here four years in isolation and have got old and much weaker.

How's your health?

I'm always tired. I have pain in my kidneys. I have trouble breathing. I have pain in my heart and am short of breath. I have trouble urinating and having bowel movements.

How would you describe your mental health?

I have given up. I am hopeless. I don't care about anything any more. I just want to be released. My health doesn't matter. Death in this situation is better than being alive and staying here without hope. Death would be better if it helped end this situation.

They told me: if you continue the hunger strike, you will be punished. First, they took my comfort items away from me one by one. You know, my blanket, my towel, my long pants, then my shoes. I was put in isolation for 10 days. Then, an officer came in and read me an order from General Hood [commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay].

It said if you refuse to eat, we will put you on the chair - these are special, new metal chairs they have brought to Guantanamo - that you will be strapped up and down very tightly in the chair and that liquid food would be forced into me using a thicker tube with a metal edge. The tube would no longer be left in all the time, but would be forced in and pulled out at each feeding, and that this would happen three times a day. I told him: "This is torture."

He said to me: "Call it whatever you like - this is the way it's going to be: we're going to break this hunger strike."

One guy, a Saudi, told me that he had once been tortured in Saudi Arabia and that this metal chair treatment was worse than any torture he had ever endured or could imagine. They gave these formulas on purpose to make them defecate and urinate and throw up on themselves.

I would still be on this strike if I had any choice. Death is better than continuing life like this.

Did those in charge at Guantanamo agree to negotiate with detainees or hold any discussions in any way?

For a while they did. And there were some changes in conditions, but then it went back.

You must understand that the real problem here is not the horrible conditions - the lousy food, no reading materials, bad medical care, being in isolation.

The real problem is being here without reason, without hope, without a hearing. I am an innocent person who has done nothing wrong and I have had no opportunity to show that. That is the real problem.

General Hood sent messengers to me and asked to talk to me himself about ending my hunger strike. I refused. I told the messengers to tell him that the problem was not you - you are irrelevant. My issue is with the people in Washington. They are making the decisions. We need to be released or have the opportunity to show that we are innocent.

The American authorities say that you are being held because you are a dangerous enemy combatant. What do you say to that?

It is rubbish. Why don't they charge me then if they really think this is true? It's absolutely untrue. And I have never had a fair hearing. I left my home to teach and work for needy people on my official leave. I was caught out of the country and couldn't get back. I have never supported terrorism. I hate it. I have never done anything against the United States. I was simply sold by a Pakistani for money to the United States. Why are they afraid of giving me a hearing? I was simply unlucky. I was out of the country and couldn't get back home. Everything else is simply rubbish.

What do you say to their allegations against you? They allege that you admitted travelling through Afghanistan with Taleban members, that you admitted firing an AK-47 rifle at a training camp near Kandahar, that you admitted staying at a guest house with fighters armed with AK-47s, that you engaged in hostilities against the US or its coalition partners, that you carried an AK-47 through the Tora Bora mountains for 10 to 11 days during the US air campaign in that region and that you were captured with five other men by the Pakistani border. How do you react to those allegations?

I don't think it is right to discuss these details on radio; I should discuss them at a hearing in court. As you know, they are stupid.

I was out of my country and couldn't get back. I found myself in an area that suddenly became incredibly dangerous, with everyone carrying guns around and hunting Arabs. I was in this place at the wrong time and couldn't get home. And I still can't get home.

The guards will beat you up quickly if you give any problem at all. They are very young people. They think we are terrorists and they treat us that way. They hate us. If anything bad happens to the United States anywhere in the world, they immediately react to us and treat us badly, like animals. It's understandable they would treat us that way. And maybe if we were terrorists they should treat us that way. But we're not.

Have you been tortured?

I don't want to repeat it again. No details here. But I was tortured badly in Kandahar. I was tortured here, too. I was beaten up badly at first when I was brought here. Also, when I first started on this last hunger strike, they abused us badly. They pulled the tubes in and out. If I resisted or tried to take the tubes out, they would strap me down, hold my head back and force the tubes in and out causing a lot more pain. It was useless to resist.

A fair court with fair procedures is what I have been asking for. That is all I have asked for from the beginning so that the truth can be known.

Before all this happened, what was your view of America?

I loved America. It freed my country from Saddam Hussein. My father fought with America against Saddam. I respected America. It stood for human rights and fairness around the world. America was the country we all looked up to.

What is your view now?

It has abandoned all of its own traditions and beliefs which were the cause of my respect for it. As someone who lived in the US, I cannot believe the American people know what is happening down here. This is wrong.

Career Resources by American Society of International Law

2006-04-06T21:05:00.000-04:00

Career Resources

Internships in International Law

International Courts and Tribunals

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (The Hague)

The Internship Program of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia offers professionals, graduate students, and undergraduate students who are in their final stages of education the possibility to enhance their professional training in the unique environment of an international court.

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (Tanzania)

The Internship Program is geared towards providing offices at the ICTR with the assistance of students and professionals specializing in fields relevant to the work of the Tribunal. The Internship hopes to promote a better understanding of major global problems confronting the world and to give them an insight into how the ICTR attempts to find solutions to the problems.

International Criminal Court (The Hague)

The ICC welcomes highly motivated candidates with outstanding academic qualifications to serve as interns/clerks in one of the Organs of the Court for a period of up to six months. Interns/Clerks will acquire practical experience in the implementation of international criminal justice in a unique setting.

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (Hamburg, Germany)

The purposes of the program is to give the participants the opportunity to gain an understanding of the work and functions of the Tribunal. Participants will be expected to be able to contribute to the work of the Tribunal in the fields of, inter alia, the law of the sea, public international law, and international organizations.

Permanent Court of Arbitration (The Hague)

The Permanent Court of Arbitration offers internships to individuals with outstanding academic records who wish to acquire work experience at an international arbitration institution. Interns gain insight into both the practical and legal aspects of international arbitration.

Special Court for Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone)

The internship program will provide unique opportunities to work with the Court and contribute to its development. Interns will be given the opportunity to work on current cases, prepare decisions, draft opinions and work on overall issues surrounding the Court.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (Washington, DC)

The internship provides students and recent graduates in law or other related disciplines with the opportunity to learn about the Commission’s work. It is also an opportunity to acquire practical training in the area of human rights.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights (San Jose, Costa Rica)

This autonomous judicial institution is part of the human rights protection system of the Organization of American States. The Court hears and rules on the specific cases of human rights violations referred to it and issues opinions on matters of legal interpretation.

International Human Rights Law

Human Rights First (Washington DC; New York, NY)

Human Rights First has worked in the U.S. and abroad to create a secure and humane world by advancing justice, human dignity and respect for the rule of law. Law and graduate school students can participate in research, writing projects, supporting Asylum casework, and an assortment of advocacy projects.

Human Rights Watch (various locations)

Human Rights Watch offers academic semester and summer internships for graduate students in their New York, London, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Brussels, and Berlin offices. Interns monitor human rights developments in various countries, draft reports on human rights conditions, and engage in advocacy efforts aimed at curtailing human rights violations.

Amnesty International (various locations)

Amnesty International USA is principally concerned with the dissemination and education of all human rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Various internships are available throughout the year in their main office in Washington DC and other regional offices.

Center for Justice and Accountability (San Francisco, CA)

The Center for Justice and Accountability works to deter torture and other severe human rights abuses around the world by helping survivors hold their persecutors accountable. CJA currently represents more than 40 survivors from more then twelve countries including Bosnia, Chile, China, East Timor, and Honduras.

International Justice Mission (Washington, DC; abroad)

International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that rescues victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery, and oppression. Legal interns conduct legal research and prepare memoranda of law on international legal issues, participate in strategy meetings, and prepare case documentation.

International Commission of Jurists (Geneva)

The International Commission of Jurists is dedicated to the primacy and implementation of international law and principles that advance human rights. The internship offers young graduates the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience in an organization dedicated to the legal protection and promotion of human rights.

Human Rights in China (New York, NY)

HRIC’s internships offer direct and in-depth exposure to the workings of an international human rights organization, domestic and international advocacy work, and participation in HRIC’s projects, research and briefings.

International Service for Human Rights (Geneva)

International Service for Human Rights' (ISHR) Internship Program is currently made up of three programs. ISHR recruits interns for the UN monitoring team, the Education and Training Program and the Human Rights Defenders Office.

Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights (Minneapolis, MN)

Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights is an organization dedicated to the promotion and protection of internationally recognized human rights. Interns can play an integral role by assisting with activities such as research, writing, client service, translation or event planning.

International Institute of Humanitarian Law (San Remo, Italy)

The IIHL is a forum for the promotion, dissemination and teaching of human rights. Interns will be engaged in the secretariat and in the library, contributing to the organization of the courses and to the preparation of relevant material and documents needed for the various meetings of experts held by the IIHL.

Immigrant and Refugee Appellate Center (Alexandria, VA)

The Immigrant and Refugee Appellate Center, LLC is a law practice devoted to immigration appellate work on behalf of aliens. IRAC encourages law students to practice their appellate skills on behalf of indigent aliens who are on appeal and need a brief.

The Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance Legal Aid Project (Cairo, Egypt)

The intern will assist refugee clients to prepare testimony supported by legal arguments based on international refugee and human rights law, assist in training Egyptian lawyers and students in refugee law and legal practice and improving policies and practices concerning refugees.

International Environmental Law

International Environmental Law Research Center (Geneva)

IELRC seeks to contribute to the development of legal and institutional frameworks that foster equitable and sustainable environmental management at the local, national and international levels. The organization offers various opportunities for interns in their offices.

Center for International Environmental Law (Washington, DC)

CIEL's intern/extern program offers students excellent opportunities to gain experience in the field of international environmental law. Responsibilities of an intern include researching and writing about areas of international law and policy; assisting with policy analysis and advocacy; attending meetings and conferences; and otherwise working closely with CIEL staff on various projects.

United States Government

The State Department (Washington, DC; abroad)

The US Department of State offers a wide variety of opportunities for students to gain experience in a foreign affairs environment. Some interns are placed in Washington, DC, while others have the opportunity to work in US embassies and consulates abroad.

The Department of Justice (various locations)

The U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Government's law firm and the world's largest legal employer, offers opportunities for law students, entry-level attorneys, and experienced attorneys in virtually every area of legal practice.

The Department of Transportation: Office of International Law (Washington, DC)

Projects have included research and analysis of the law of executive agreements, treaty denunciation, and dispute resolution clauses in international agreements, review of legislation affecting international transportation, and review of orders granting license authority to U.S. and foreign air carriers in contested adjudicatory cases.

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (Washington, DC)

Created to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress. Work includes researches on a variety of other international human rights and comparative law topics, as assigned.

Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Washington, DC)

Interns for the Helsinki Commission get the opportunity to work for an organization that provides a blend of international relations, human rights, and Capitol Hill experience. Interns research Helsinki Final Act-related issues on human rights, religious liberties, corruption and rule of law, and free media as well as a wide range of other tasks.

Other International Organizations and NGOs

World Trade Organization (Geneva)

The WTO secretariat maintains a limited internship program for post-undergraduate students wishing to gain practical experience and deeper knowledge of the multilateral trading system. Assignments given to interns are intended to enhance interns' knowledge and understanding of the WTO and of trade policy more generally.

ABA Section of International Law: International Internship Program (abroad)

The ABA Section of International Law acts as a liaison between foreign law firms and interested students by providing a list of law firms that have agreed to host potential interns. Internships are available in a range of countries and in various disciplines of international law.

ABA Africa Law Initiative Council (Washington, DC)

The Africa Law Initiative Council is a public service project of the ABA designed to provide assistance in support of legal reforms and the rule of law in African countries. Intern duties include assisting Director in all aspects of project work, including corresponding with and handling requests of ABA representatives overseas. Monitors information flow between DC offices and overseas projects.

ABA Asia Initiative (Washington, DC)

The Asia Law Initiative is a public service project of the American Bar Association that provides assistance in support of legal reform and the rule of law in countries in Asia. Interns perform legal research and writing, particularly pertaining to Asian legal systems, assisting in grant proposal development and assisting in developing training programs.

ABA CEELI (Washington, DC)

The Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (CEELI) -- a public service project of the American Bar Association (ABA) -- advances the rule of law by supporting the law reform process in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. CEELI regularly offers internships for students in their Washington, DC office.

The American Non-Governmental Organizations Coalition for the ICC (New York, NY)

AMICC is a coalition of non-governmental organizations committed to achieving full United States support for the International Criminal Court and the earliest possible US ratification of the Court's Rome Statute. Intern duties include researching ICC issues in the US as well as outreach to member organizations and alliances.

Center for Justice and International Law (Washington, DC; Costa Rica; Argentina; Brazil)

By the end of their internships, interns will possess hands-on experience litigating cases before the Inter-American Commission on Human Right, a comprehensive and realistic understanding of the Inter-American human rights system in Latin America, and practical experience in the day to day operation of an international NGO.

International Law Institute (Washington, DC)

ILI provides training and technical assistance to find practical solutions to the legal, economic and financial problems of developing countries. ILI regularly offers internships for students in their Washington, DC office.

International Republican Institute (Washington, DC)

The International Republican Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting democracy and the rule of law throughout the world. Its programs are tailored to meet the needs of pro-democracy activists in over 35 countries. Programs include grassroots political organizing, campaign management, polling, parliamentary training, judicial reform and election monitoring. IRI regularly offers internships for students in their Washington, DC office.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (Washington, DC)

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) is a nonprofit organization working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide. NDI offers throughout the year various internships opportunities in their large range of program areas.

Other Opportunities

Everett Public Service Internship Program (various locations)

The Everett Public Service Internship program offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to participate in ten-week internships in over 55 organizations dedicated to improving the world. Everett Interns work on substantive projects, develop professional skills, and gain knowledge about the enormous societal impact of public service.

Blenheim Foreign Law Student Internship Program (Amsterdam)

Blenheim is a Netherlands law firm specializing in Dutch business and corporate law. Interns at Blenheim have the opportunity to learn about international legal practice in The Netherlands. Activities include legal research, attending meetings, and being present at court hearings.

Fellowship and Research Opportunities for Students and Professionals

Fulbright Scholars Program

The Fulbright Program, the U.S. government's flagship program in international educational exchange. Fulbright grants are made to U.S. citizens for a variety of educational activities, primarily university lecturing, advanced research, and graduate study.

Human Rights First

Fellowships with Human Rights First offer recent law school graduates an opportunity to explore real world application of international human rights law in national settings, working closely with our highly qualified and experienced staff.

Human Rights Watch’s Alan R. and Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship

Fellows work full time for one year at Human Rights Watch, based in New York City or Washington, D.C. Fellows monitor human rights developments in various countries, conduct on-site investigations, draft reports on human rights conditions, and engage in advocacy aimed at publicizing and curtailing human rights violations.

ABA CEELI Legal Analyst Fellowship

Legal practitioners have the opportunity to join CEELI's staff on a one-year contract basis as Legal Analysts in the Office of Rule of Law Research. The Legal Analysts are relied upon to conduct in-depth legal research and provide analysis of issues related to the rule of law and legal reform in emerging democracies and transitioning states.

Center for International Environmental Law’s Louis B. Sohn Fellowship

This fellowship offers the opportunity for a recent law school graduate to work at the Center for International Environmental Law in their Human Rights and Environment Program. Fellow will seek to identify and develop connections between human rights and environmental protection.

United States Institute of Peace Research Fellowship

The Jennings Randolph Program for International Peace awards Senior Fellowships to enable outstanding scholars to conduct research at the U.S. Institute of Peace.

Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program

To further this goal, and to strengthen the ties of friendship and understanding between the United States and Germany, the foundation sponsors a fellowship program that enables young American professionals to participate in an intensive work and study program in Germany.

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

The Center awards approximately 20–25 residential fellowships annually to individuals with outstanding project proposals in a broad range of the social sciences and humanities on national and/or international issues.

Open Society Institute International Policy Fellowships

The International Policy Fellowships Program (IPF) identifies and nurtures the next generation of open society leaders in the countries of the former Soviet Union, Central and Eastern Europe, and Mongolia. From 2005, IPF activities will diversify into two main program areas: an impact-oriented fellowships program designed for leaders with proven policymaking and advocacy experience, and a public policy capacity development program providing assistance to up-and-coming policy researchers at local and regional levels.

Alexander von Humboldt: German Chancellor Scholarship

Ten German Chancellor Scholarships are awarded annually to prospective leaders from the US enabling them to carry out research projects of their own choice in Germany.

Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute Teaching Fellowship

The objective is to equip participants in the Program with the academic tools and experience they will need to embark successfully upon the path of teaching human rights law. Teaching Fellows audit courses drawn from the human rights curricula offered at the law school and other departments within the Columbia University system.

Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute LLM Human Rights Fellowship

Human Rights Fellows receive funding towards tuition, room, and board for the LL.M. program at Columbia Law School. The successful LL.M. Human Rights Fellowship applicant is committed to human rights scholarship and/or advocacy and intends to work in the human rights field following completion of the program.

Crowley Program in International Human Rights Teaching Fellowship

The Crowley Program is administered by a fellow who is a law school graduate. The Fellow, as a member of the adjunct faculty, will teach an elective seminar in human rights in preparation for the annual fact-finding mission during the spring semester.

U.S. Agency for International Development World Learning Democracy Fellows Program

The Democracy Fellows Program places fellows in USAID/Washington and in USAID missions overseas. Democracy Fellows help to strengthen democratic institutions, programs, practices and activities in emerging and transitional democracies.

Organization of American States Fellowship

Every year, the Agency provides several hundred fellowships for undergraduate and graduate studies and research at universities through out the region and awards for specialized, short-term training at educational institutions and training centers in OAS Member and Observer States.

New Voices Fellowship Program

New Voices is a national leadership development program that helps nonprofit organizations recruit innovative, new talent. It awards salary-support grants to small nonprofits demonstrating a commitment to cultivating and strengthening the leadership potential of creative and diverse "new voices" in the field.

Carr Center for Human Rights Policy Fellowships

The Carr Center for Human Rights Policy Fellows Programs bring together a diverse group of human rights practitioners, scholars and activists to conduct research on human rights policy, contribute to the Center's programs, and participate in broader dialogue with students, faculty and researchers in the Harvard community.

UN Institute for Training and Research Fellowship Programme in International Law

The Fellowship Programme is jointly organized by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs and the United Nations Insitute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The fellowships are intended to enable qualified professionals from developing countries and countries with economies in transition, in particular mid-level government officials and young university teachers of international law, to acquire additional knowledge on international law and on the legal work of the United Nations and its associated bodies.

Pro-Bono Opportunities

ABA Africa Law Initiative Council

This project focuses on training, capacity building, and building partnerships and collaborations in Africa. The Council coordinates the Association's programs and projects in Africa

ABA CEELI International Legal Liaison Program

Through the Liaison and Legal Specialist Program, attorneys, judges and law professors volunteer as liaisons in host countries for at least one year. Working closely with a host country's legal community in a spirit of long-term trust and cooperation, a liaison develops and carries out legal assistance projects to help meet the host country's needs. As CEELI's primary representatives in the field, liaisons coordinate reform efforts with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of Justice and other assistance providers; implement work plans; and manage the office.

ABA Iraq Initiative

Legal Specialists provide expertise and assistance on specific projects for periods ranging from several weeks to one year. The ABA will need legal specialists to provide support on a wide variety of topics, including constitutional law, women's legal rights, judicial training, criminal law, public legal education and more.

Center for Justice and Accountability

Law Firms have the opportunity to commit varying amounts of time and resources to help CJA bring their cases to trial and hold human rights abusers accountable. Each case depends on the generous pro bono support of attorneys and their firms.

DC Bar Directory of Pro Bono Opportunities in International Law

A comprehensive guide that lists various pro bono opportunities in the field of International Law. The Directory features timely, concise information about more than 60 prospects for interested attorneys.

Lawyers Without Borders (Hartford, CT)

Lawyers Without Borders is the world’s largest group of volunteer lawyers from around the globe who stand ready to offer pro-bono services to worldwide projects and initiatives. LWOB provides legal support to rule of law projects and initiatives in human rights and nation building.

The Immigration and Human Rights Committee of the D.C. Bar International Law Section

Volunteers are needed to staff the bimonthly Free Legal Advice and Referral Clinic. Attorneys meet with non-citizens that have immigration questions or concerns, offer general information about immigration law, and refer them to local legal or social service agencies for further assistance and/or representation.

Ethical Bling Bling

2006-04-06T20:03:00.000-04:00

This article is pertinent to our upcoming Hip Hop for Human Rights: a Focus on Blood Diamonds...

Now...dirty gold is trying to be 'clean' with concerns for indigenous populations and issues of unfair treatment and trade. Check it out:

With This Ethical Ring I Thee Wed By

KIRK JOHNSON

Published: April 6, 2006

MANY of the shoppers who happen into Leber Jeweler's modest brick storefront in Western Springs, Ill., just outside Chicago, don't know much, if anything, about the social and environmental costs of industrial gold mining.

Skip to next paragraph

Kate Lacey for The New York Times

Andrew and Johanna Heyduk of New York chose "ethical" wedding rings of platinum.

William Zbaren for The New York Times

Leber Jeweler's rings are made of recycled gold.

Brian Leber, the president and owner of the 85-year-old company, is happy to enlighten. He can then quietly suggest a piece of jewelry that makes the concerns about mining moot: his Earthwise Jewelry line, which Leber manufactures using recycled gold.

"I try not to pontificate," Mr. Leber said. "But I do try to educate people on the issues."

In the last few years, as the outsize environmental impact of gold mining has been exposed, jewelers — as the retail face of the industry — have been trying to inoculate themselves against a consumer backlash. It is not here yet, but many people say it is sure to come.

In February eight jewelry companies — some small like Leber, others giant like Zale, the nation's second largest gold retailer after Wal-Mart — signed on to a national campaign called "No Dirty Gold." The campaign was created two years ago by a coalition of advocacy groups to highlight the issues surrounding gold and gold mining.

The pledge is minimal in its requirements, essentially a promise to work toward a resolution of gold's tangled issues, rather than a solution. But many environmentalists and industry officials say that the momentum and commitment are what matters.

"It's like the lock has been picked, opening a door that could lead to responsibly sourced gold," said Stephen D'Esposito, the president and executive director of Earthworks, a mining watchdog group in Washington that helped create the campaign. The eight companies together represent $6.3 billion in retail jewelry sales, or 14 percent of sales in the United States, according to Oxfam International, a confederation of groups that work on poverty and economic justice, and a leader of the campaign.

Along with Zale and Leber, the other signers are: the Signet Group (the parent firm of Sterling and Kay Jewelers), Helzberg Diamonds, Fortunoff, Cartier, Piaget and Van Cleef & Arpels. As recently as last year only Tiffany & Company had signed the "No Dirty Gold" pledge.

Most jewelers, including Mr. Leber, say that making jewelry of recycled gold is only a tiny piece of the answer. The deeper question, they say, lies around the phrase "responsible mining," and whether it is possible. About 80 percent of all the gold mined today is fabricated into jewelry.

"What does indeed constitute a responsible mining operation?" asked Michael J. Kowalski, the chairman and chief executive of Tiffany. "Who's there at the moment, and how do we get to where we need to be? The critical next step is reaching a substantive agreement on those questions."

Tiffany buys most of its gold from a Utah mine called Bingham Canyon that does not use cyanide, which can pollute water and lead to the release of other pollutants like mercury. Last year Tiffany began processing its gold itself at a plant in Rhode Island as part of a strategy to control the supply chain. Tiffany aims ultimately to provide customers with a "chain of custody assurance" stating where the gold in a ring or necklace has been, from mine to display case.

These changes are partly coming about, people in and out of the jewelry industry say, because gold mining's environmental and social impacts have become impossible to ignore, especially in developing countries where political protests, corruption and displacement of indigenous peoples have often accompanied mining.

Because most of the known gold deposits in the world are in microscopic form — the shiny nuggets of old are as dated as the miner and his mule — huge industrial open-pit mines, usually using cyanide to retrieve the metal from base rock, are required to make mining economically viable. And because the grades of ore are so weak, the process is hugely destructive and wasteful, with at least 30 tons of waste rock often needed to produce a single gold ring.

A months-long investigation by The New York Times, which led to a four-part series last year called "The Cost of Gold," also raised questions about how and whether communities in developing countries consent to the mines in their midst, and whether the long-term environmental impacts in places like Nevada and Indonesia are being correctly assessed.

Then there's the Wal-Mart effect.

Wal-Mart's strategy for everything it sells, including gold, is to eliminate the middleman, buy direct from suppliers and pass the savings on to customers. Jewelers are following suit as they try to cut costs and compete. Industry experts and executives say the trend has nothing to do with ethics, but that more control of supply makes the ethics debate over dirty gold somewhat easier, because companies are already thinking more deeply about where things come from.

"The overall theme is know your vendors," said David H. Sternblitz, a vice president and the treasurer at Zale Corporation. "Make sure you know who you're dealing with."

Mining and jewelry companies are also realizing that internal codes of conduct or environmental rules are meaningless without independent verification and inspection. Insurance companies and socially conscious investment funds are also beginning to demand standards of conduct that can be assessed by outsiders.

"They want be able to credibly say, 'I am not with stupid,' " said Michael Rae, the president of the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices, a group formed last year by retailers and mining companies. "To avoid being judged by the lowest common denominator of the industry, they need a means by which they can differentiate their practices."

Alternative voices in a deeply conservative industry are also starting to speak up.

Jennifer Horning, an artist and metal worker in San Francisco, is among the founders of a group called Ethical Metalsmiths. In May her group will present a show designed to foster awareness about responsible mining at the annual meeting of the Society of North American Goldsmiths in Chicago. One artist will exhibit a gold charm bracelet hung with tiny handcuffs, guns and coffins; another made a stark metal syringe with gold in the chamber ready for injection.

Companies like greenKarat.com, a Web-based business in Texas, and Seraglia couture in London are also proselytizing the virtues of so-called ethical jewelry.

"Initially it's a harder sell," said Lucy Wills, who founded Seraglia last year to use recycled gold. But Ms. Wills said she takes heart from the sharp growth in consciousness about food and the social and environmental conditions of its production.

"We won the battle with food; we're kind of getting there with clothing," she said. "I think maybe in a few years time people will be thinking more about jewelry too."

Andrew and Johanna Heyduk are already there. The Heyduks, who live in New York City, shopped for responsibly mined gold last year for their wedding bands. They ended up not buying gold at all. When they took their vows in Vermont in October, it was with platinum rings from greenKarat.

But even if responsible, ethical mining is possible, verifying it will be difficult even with the best of intentions, industry experts say. Diamonds, furs and timber all look simple by comparison, because they all come in a discrete form that can be tracked by a paper trail. A specific tree produces a specific two-by-four; a diamond comes from one mine that can be found on a map.

Gold is not like that. It must be purified and smelted, amalgamated and combined into forms that jewelry makers can then use. That means many more steps on the journey from mine to display case, and no easy trail to follow.

Mr. Rae's appointment to the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices in February is seen as a sign of change; he was formerly with the World Wildlife Fund in Australia, working the other side of the issue as an environmentalist. He says certified gold will require an entirely different strategy.

"Instead of a chain of custody, we have gone instead to a chain of confidence," Mr. Rae said. He said that by 2008 the council hopes to have a set of processes and standards with independent third-party verification at every step of the jewelry creation and selling process. Groups like Earthworks and Oxfam are working on a similar time frame to establish a certification process for mining operations.

How much of the ferment is real? Environmentalists and industry insiders are divided: some hopeful, others braced for system that burnishes gold's image without changing anything on the ground.

"It will be proven over time," Ms. Horning at Ethical Metalsmiths said. "But it's the beginning of a dialogue and that is the most important thing to us."

Amnesty International Family Portrait ;)

2006-04-04T15:42:00.000-04:00

Meeting 3/28 Slideshow, Courtesy of the Katrina and Corey Hall!

2006-04-04T13:31:00.000-04:00

http://home.comcast.net/~hallcoreyj/Corey_and_Kate.html

Thanks guys!

Information on North Korean Refugees

2006-04-04T00:53:00.000-04:00

NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES

At our last meeting (on March 28, 2006) Juneyong Hahm, our newly elected Treasurer for next year gave a presentation on the plight of North Koreans, human rights abuses in the country, and their status as refugees in neighboring countries. Here is some pertinent information and relevant links.

URGENT ACTION ALERT

1. 8,000 – 10,000 North Koreans risk their lives by crossing the Tumen River into

China

each year.

2. Once they arrive, most seek shelter and work and send food and money to families in North Korea. Other flee to China to neighboring counties. All must evade Chinese authorities, all are considered refugees under international law.

3. Many flee to foreign diplomatic compounds or trek to neighboring countries such as Vietnam with the help of NGO’s and Christians. Those refugees who interact with South Koreans or Christians, if repatriated, can be treated more harshly and may even be executed by North Korean authorities.

4. Those that make it, register with the UNHCR for refugee status or seek permission to travel directly from the foreign government.

5. 70% of defectors are repatriated back to North Korea to face harsh prisons, torture, and even execution. Most of the remaining outside of China arrive in South Korea.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Take a few minutes to write a letter of appeal on behalf of oppressed North Koreans.

- Write to North Korea and urge them to permit its refugees to live in China and Russia. Request that they allow independent monitoring of foreign aid distribution.

- Write to President Bush and Congress, suggesting that the US should require independent monitoring of foreign aid distribution in NK. Urge that the US NOT remove NK from State Department’s terrorist like until NK returns kidnapped victims from Japan and SK. Urge that we NOT normalize relations with NK until NK abolishes its concentration camps. Request that we push China and Russia to grant NK refugees political asylum status.

Visit Amnesty International to read through the letter writing guide for useful suggestions.

For more information about the situation in North Korea, and to get background for your letter, please visit some of the following sites:

Websites on North Korea Human Rights

Life Funds for North Korea Refugees

www.northkoreanrefugees.com

Citizen’s Alliance for North Korean Human Rights

www.nkhumanrights.or.kr/index_eng_old.html

Chosun Journal:

www.chosunjournal.com

One Free Korea

www.onefreekorea.net/

Helping Hands Korea

www.familycare.org/network/p01.htm

Liberation in North Korea

www.xanga.com/linkorea

North Korea Freedom Coalition

www.nkfreedom.org

US Committee for Human Rights in North Korea:

www.hrnk.org

Sook Ok Lee: A Survivor’s Story:

www.soonoklee.org

Jubilee Campaign:

www.jubileecampaign.org

Rescue the North Korean People – Urgent Action Network:

www.bekkoame.ne.jp/ro/renk/englishhome.htm

CIA Factbook on North Korea:

www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook.geos.kn.html

International and Human Rights Job Resources

2006-04-04T00:37:00.000-04:00

Katrina Shank, Secretary of AI (2005-2006) has compiled this list of human rights job opportunities for your enjoyment! Have fun applying and good luck! Thanks Kat!

International and Human Rights Job Resources

Compiled by the Amnesty International Chapter at Penn State Dickinson School of Law

GENERAL JOB GUIDES & WEBSITES

Sites listing vacancies for international organizations, NGOs, & nonprofits.

- Idealist

Worldwide nonprofit job and internship listings.

Updated daily, highly customizable, highly recommended!

http://www.idealist.org/if/idealist/en/Home/default

- ReliefWeb

International humanitarian job vacancies. Updated daily.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/doc212?OpenForm

- OneWorld.net

For jobs in human rights, environment, and sustainable development worldwide.

http://www.oneworld.net/job/list/professional

- Human Rights Resource Center

http://www.hrusa.org/field/joblinks.shtm

- InterAction

Lists jobs in international development at InterAction and at NGOs.

http://www.interaction.org/jobs/index.html

- Human Rights Jobs (hosted by Boston University Law School)

http://www.humanrightsjobs.com/

- The Human Rights Blog

http://www.humanrightsblog.org/listings/

- Everett Public Service Summer Internships

http://www.everettinternships.org/search/internships.cfm

- International Jobs Center

http://www.internationaljobs.org/

- International Job Vacancies

http://intjobs.org/

INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS/NONPROFITS/NGOs

- Human Rights First

http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/about_us/about_us.htm

- Human Rights Watch

http://www.hrw.org/jobs/

- Amnesty International USA

http://www.amnestyusa.org/about/employment.do

- Amnesty International Worldwide

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/amnesty/jobs/

- Oxfam International

Human Rights Organization, similar to Amnesty International.

http://www.i-grasp.com/fe/tpl_oxfam.asp?newms=hm

- Global Rights

http://www.globalrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wwcd_index_12

- The International Rescue Committee

http://ircjobs.org/jobs1.asp?page_id=6456&published=1

- National Coalition for Haitian Rights

http://www.nchr.org/mnd/internships.htm

- Women’s Coalition for Refugee Women and Children

http://www.womenscommission.org/about/employment/index.shtml

- Institute for Justice

http://www.ij.org/employment/index.html

- Catholic Relief Services

Jobs in international relief and development.

http://www.crs.org/about_us/careers/index.cfm

- CHF International

An organization assisting developing communities worldwide.

http://www.chfhq.org/section/employment

- Institute for Humane Studies

http://www.theihs.org/subcategory.php/43.html?menuid=1

- ACLU

http://www.aclu.org/jobs/index.html

- Institute for Policy Studies Internship

http://www.ips-dc.org/projects/internship.htm

- Center for Economic Policy & Research

http://www.cepr.net/pages/jobs_internships_page.htm

- Vera Institute of Justice

http://www.vera.org/about/about_6.asp

- Inter American Development Bank

http://www.iadb.org/aboutus/V/index.cfm?language=English

- U.S. Agency for International Development

http://www.usaid.gov/careers/

- Inter American Commission on Human Rights

Internship listing.

http://www.cidh.oas.org/intership.eng.htm

UNITED NATIONS JOB SITES

- United Nations Job Bank (Official Site)

https://jobs.un.org

- UNDP Jobs

http://jobs.undp.org/index.cfm

- OHCHR (Human Rights)

http://www.ohchr.org/english/about/vacancies/index.htm

- UNHCR (Refugees)

http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home?page=admin&id=3ba1bdcb7

- WTO

http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/vacan_e/vacan_e.htm

- WHO

http://www.who.int/employment/vacancies/en/

- UNESCO

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=11707&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

- UNIFEM

http://www.unifem.org/about/jobs.php

- FAO

http://www.fao.org/VA/Employ.htm

- UNEP

http://hq.unep.org/vacancies/

- UNFPA

http://www.unfpa.org/about/employment/index.htm

- WFP

http://www.wfp.org/contact_wfp/Vacancies/index.asp?section=8&sub_section=5

- IFAD

http://www.ifad.org/job/index.htm

- IMF

http://www.imf.org/external/np/adm/rec/vacancy.htm

- UNRISD

http://www.unrisd.org/80256B3C005BF3C2/(httpPages)/CF449C99ED103C95C1256E92004B7BD4?OpenDocument&subsection=The+Institute

- International Criminal Court

http://www.icc-cpi.int/php/show.php?id=guidelines

- ITC

http://www.intracen.org/menus/itc.htm

- UNJobs

Lists UN job vacancies, but not a UN-affiliated website.

http://unjobs.org/

ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT JOBS

- World Conservation Union

http://www.iucn.org/en/about/vacancies.htm

- Center for International Environmental Law

http://www.ciel.org

- Environmental Law Institute

http://www2.eli.org/about/employment.htm

- Environmental Defense

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/aboutus.cfm?subnav=careers&linkID=13

- ECO: Environmental Careers Organization

The EPA’s site for their internship listings. (Paid positions.)

http://www.eco.org

- Environmental Careers

http://www.environmentalcareer.com

- Earthworks

http://www.earthworks-jobs.com

- Conservation International

http://www.conservationinternational.org/xp/CIWEB/about/jobs/

- Friends of the Earth

http://www.foe.org/about/jobs/index.html

- GreenBiz Jobs

http://www.greenbiz.com/jobs/

- Green Directory

http://www.greendirectory.net/jobs/

- Sustainable Business Jobs

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/jobs/

A Message from Terra, our VP

2006-03-25T16:03:00.000-05:00

Dear Amnesty International Members or Participants:



As the current letter writing coordinator, I want to address anyone

who is interested in this and in gaining a nomination to this

effect.  Some of the positions will serve as the teaching grounds for

the future of the letter writing campaign.  Letter writing campaigns

are an important part of Amnesty International at its chapter level.

Next year I will be a third year, meaning that it is the last year

that I can create the letters, do the research, conduct the teach-ins

and then send the completed letters to the appropriate heads of

state.  It is a bit of a detailed process.  A lot is accomplished by

sending these letters and it is imperative that we keep accomplishing

this mission.



I am concerned about the future of letter writing at Amnesty

International, and hope that people show an interest in continuing

this effort.  If you are interested in current events,  international

law, and the plights of others than I urge you to come to the meeting

or contact us.  I feel that this would be of particular benefit to

those who want to practice in immigration law, diplomacy, want to

work for an international NGO, plan on taking the Foreign Service

Exam, etc...



To reiterate, any interest in this learning doesn't have to present

an overwhelming burden upon you next year.  I would like to slowly

teach one, two or three others about how to go about the "process" so

that when I am gone we may continue to be a strong chapter for

Amnesty International.





Sincerely,



Terra Girolimon-VP

Urgent Action Success

2006-03-23T15:10:00.001-05:00

20 March 2006

Further Information on UA 58/06 (issued 17 March 2006)
Fear of torture or ill-treatment/incommunicado detention/prisoners
of conscience

TURKMENISTAN:

Dzhumadurdy OVEZOV (m), 54, journalist
Meretmuhammet KHOMMADOV (m), 54, journalist
The Prague office of the US-funded Radio Liberty has reported
that Dzhumadurdy Ovezov and Meretmuhammet Khommadov
were released on 17 March.

The two journalists for Radio Liberty were arrested on 7 March
and held incommunicado at an unknown location. As international
pressure calling for their release grew, the Turkmenistan
authorities reportedly informed the Representative on Freedom of
the Media for the international non-governmental organization, the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE),
that the two were arrested for ''hooliganism'' and sentenced to 15
days' community service. However, there are strong indications
that the two were arrested as a punishment for their peaceful
exercise of the right to freedom of expression, and in order to
prevent them from passing on information about Turkmenistan to
other countries. Before they were released, security officers
reportedly forced Dzhumadurdy Ovezov and Meretmuhammet
Khommadov to sign papers stating that they would stop working
for Radio Liberty.

No further action is required. Amnesty International believes that
international pressure, including from the UA network, played an
important role in securing the release of Dzhumadurdy Ovezov and
Meretmuhammet Khommadov. Thanks to all who sent appeals.
Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
PO Box 1270
Nederland CO 80466-1270
Email: uan@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 303 258 1170
Fax: 303 258 7881

Hip Hop for Human Rights

2006-03-22T23:45:00.000-05:00

What do the following hip hop artists have in common?

Erykah Badu

Gang Starr

Missy Elliott

Jurassic Five

Mos Def
(aka Amina's Boyfriend)

Outkast

They all support the work of Amnesty International! Check out the Music and Human Rights link on the right for more details.

Look for upcoming announcements on the last Amnesty International Event of the Semester!

HIP HOP for HUMAN RIGHTS: A Focus on Blood Diamonds

Meeting Info and Upcoming Elections

2006-03-22T19:43:00.000-05:00

As I mentioned in an earlier email,

We will be electing the new board at NEXT TUESDAY'S MEETING.

If you are interested, please send me a brief statement explaining why you are running for a particular position and what you may contribute to the organization.

Also, June will lead a teach-in on human rights issues/abuses occuring in North Korea.

Again, all positions are open. We have members running for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and will have a new position of Letter Writing Coordinator (working with the President and Vice President).

Katrina and I are also working on refining our last event of the semester. Hip Hop for Human Rights: a Focus on Blood Diamonds.

Peace out,
Amina

'da First Blog!

2006-03-22T19:19:00.000-05:00

Hello All,

So this my first post as the President of Amnesty International here at DSL. (Fancy!)

I'd like to thank APALSA's wonderful and ambitious Secretary, Miss Juneyong Hahm for the blog idea :)

This is a great way for us all to keep in touch, get updates on Urgent Actions, and a place where you can get information on the letters we are writing.

Katrina, our Secretary will also post a list of internships and job opportunities here, and I'm hoping to post up recent Amnesty-related articles here as well.

As members, you can also post comments and reply back to certain posts.

Here are a couple of photographs of your beloved Amnesty Executive Crew! Its been a great year everyone and I'm so proud and honored to have been a part of this group!

Thank you and enjoy da blogspot ;)

Amina