Minutes/Notes
Amnesty International Group #642
11 July 2005
School of the
AIUSA published "Unmatched Power, Unmet Principles: The Human Rights
Dimensions of US Training of Foreign Military and Police Forces" in 2002.
It concluded that "training at the WHINSEC-SOA should be suspended"
pending the the establishment and conclusion of an "independent commission
to investigate the past activities of the SOA and its graduates."
Twin Ports SOA Watch meets on the first Tuesday of every month. They would
welcome AI folks joining them at one of their regular meetings to see how we can
collaborate... or they can come to one of our meetings.
We were asked to let them know which.
Mamun al-Humsi. Mr. al-Humsi is on a hunger strike. Because of diabetes, his health is a particular concern. We need to send letters now to the government and to Mr. al-Humsi. The AI Action Center for Mr. al-Humsi may be found at http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=2379 Let’s everyone of us take the actions recommended by AI at this web site!
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Group #642 hasn’t received any recent communication from the Midwest Office about the October Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights workshop. When we do, we will likely be asked to assist with publicity and finding local housing and hotel rooms.
Group #642 then discussed some local actions we could take in support of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights initiative. Auburn suggested that we could cooperate with the Gabriel Project organization. Construction that is reducing the number of Section 8 houses was discussed.
Death Penalty Action. Travis Powell is our Death Penalty Coordinator. He indicated that an action could be taken at the nearest site of any execution planned. Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights might have an anti-death penalty action which we could cooperate with? It was suggested that one of our student members could work with Travis on this project. There is a photo display that we could find. The Last Meal book is a moving, persuasive action.
Torture. We will be doing some action on torture. Jan Karon suggested some ways we could take action. It could be coordinated with the Holocaust event at the University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD). Funds are available from their Office of Genocide, Torture, and Human Rights. That office is a possible collaboration. We could get a speaker from the Center for Victims of Torture in Minneapolis. There might be films available for showing at the Norshor Theatre. Jan will check into possible films.
Resist, Inc.
Resist is a possible grant source http://www.resistinc.org/
They are a funding organization “seeking out
groups that withstand reactionary government policies, corporate arrogance, and
right-wing fanaticism through organizing, education and action.”
Stop Violence
Against Women.
Cities are now getting and approving resolutions.
The resolutions ask the cities to endorse two international treaties.
One of these treaties is CEDAW. “Ratification
of the women's human rights treaty (called CEDAW - The Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) is high on our agenda.
Passed by over 165 countries, this treaty provides a powerful legal weapon in
the fight for equal rights. Unfortunately, the US has not yet ratified CEDAW.
Prepared by Hal Bertilson
July 13, 2005