Simon Billenness Senior Policy Advisor, Oxfam Boston, MA "We seek to re-empower AI's grassroots members who are our most effective advocates for human rights."

My most inspiring moment as a human rights activist occurred at the 1998 annual shareholder meeting of Mobil Corporation. I brought over to the public microphone Cordelia Kokori, daughter of Frank Kokori, a Nigerian oil union leader and prisoner of conscience. At Cordelia’s urging, the Chairman of Mobil Corporation promised to raise her father’s case directly with the Nigerian regime. Just months later, when Nigeria freed all political prisoners, Frank Kokori was among the first released. This demonstrates the value of Amnesty’s focus on individual prisoners.

In the past decade, the impact of corporations on human rights has grown. Both as an Amnesty volunteer and in my professional capacity, I have helped develop tools with which individuals can hold corporations accountable.

• In 1994, drawing on earlier South Africa legislation, I co-authored the Massachusetts Burma Law, which penalized corporations that supported the Burmese military junta. Over 20 U.S. cities adopted similar laws for Burma, Nigeria, Tibet and East Timor. I later helped defend the law from challenge in the U.S. Supreme Court and at the World Trade Organization.
• In the face of corporate support for repressive regimes in the 1990s, I pioneered the use of shareholder pressure to push companies to adopt human rights policies.

Amnesty's unique strength is you: our active members. For over a decade, I’ve drawn inspiration from coordinating campaigns that combine successfully the work of both professional staff and volunteer leaders.

Please support me and my fellow REFORM candidates. Our platform: focus on the individual victims of human rights abuses, support AIUSA as a grassroots organization, and promote open and accountable decision-making. (http://www.amnesty-volunteer.org/usa/reform)

As AI expands its mission, we on the REFORM slate are committed to focusing on individual victims of human rights abuses, to strengthening AIUSA’s grassroots activism, to maintaining AI’s reputation for impartiality and to promoting responsible, open and accountable Board decision-making. With your support, we will restore the trust of AIUSA members in the Board.

Amnesty Experience and Activities

• Member, 2001-2004, Business & Human Rights Program (BHR) including participation in the following actions:
  • the filing of shareholder resolutions and dialogue with ExxonMobil
  • leading dialogue with Coca-Cola
  • membership education and mobilization
  • developing policy and proposals on the use of AIUSA's stock portfolio for advocacy and dialogue
  • developing AIUSA's relationships with key allies in the social investment community
• Speaker/panelist on business and human rights to several local AIUSA groups and at national and regional AIUSA conferences, including AIUSA AGMs in Providence (2000), Seattle (2002) and New York (2004)
• Member, Amnesty International Group 133, 1994-present
  

Other Relevent Experience

• Oxfam America, Senior Policy Advisor. Resposible for integrating media, consumer, shareholder and public policy advocacy with specific corporations including:
  • successful campaign that led Procter & Gamble in 2003 to start offering Fair Trade Certified coffee products
  • ongoing dialogue with Newmont Mining over the impact of its mining operations on communities in Peru, Ghana, Indonesia and Western Shoshone lands in Nevada
  • ongoing campaign with Yum Brands to help secure fair compensation for tomato pickers in Immokalee, Florida
• Free Burma Coalition, activities including:
  • organize grassroots lobbying of Congress in New England
  • organize campaigns that led to the adoption of Burma-related procurement and investment laws in over 20 cities (including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco) and two States (Massachusetts and New York)
  • organized New England fundraising house party that raised the top amount for the US Campaign for Burma

• Advisor, China Business Principles Working Group
• Chair, Social Action Committee, Arlington Street Church in Boston (Unitarian Universalist)
• Board member, Citizens for Participation on Political Action (CPPAX), 2000-2003
• Board member, US Campaign for Burma, 2003-present
• Member of the Advisory Boards of the Milarepa Fund (1998-2000) and Social Accountability International (1997-2001)

I welcome your questions.Email: , Ph: (617) 596-6158
Please visit my candidate blog: http://simon4amnesty.blogspot.com