Amnesty International sponsors Write for Rights, a global Write-a-Thon and the world's largest human rights event. It will take place at Mac's on Saturday, December 10th from 2-6 p.m.

Each year Amnesty focuses on several cases for the Write-a-Thon. Almost forty thousand letter writers around the world have signed up and you can be one of them.  Participants will write letters to the prisoners and to their governments.  Sample letters and all materials will be provided. We will have light refreshments, snacks and music by Xela. It's an afternoon of fellowship and intent---stop by for a few minutes and be part of the letter writing. Below are some of the political prisoners we will be writing to----you can find all of them and more info at http://www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon/

Liu Xiaobo, recipient of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize, remains imprisoned for seeking for political and legal reforms in China. Charged with "inciting subversion of state power," the prominent scholar and human rights defender was sentenced in December 2009 based on articles he'd written that criticized corruption, censorship and one-party rule. In the articles, he advocated developing a democratic multi-party political system. The court considered this to be "rumor mongering, slander and smear" that exceeded the limits of freedom of expression. The court also cited Charter 08, a proposal Liu co-founded that called for protection of universal human rights and democratic reform in China, as "slanderous" and an attempt to incite the subversion of the current regime. While in prison, Liu Xiaobo was awarded the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless, non-violent struggle for human rights in China. Amnesty International considers Liu Xiaobo to be a prisoner of conscience.

Jean-Claude Roger Mbede is serving three years in prison on charges of "homosexuality," which is a criminal offense in the central African nation of Cameroon. Arrested in March 2011, Jean-Claude Roger Mbede is currently serving his sentence at Kondengui central prison in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, where he is at risk of physical attack and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Amnesty International considers Jean-Claude Roger Mbede to be a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned solely because of his perceived sexual orientation. Discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is endemic in Cameroon. Arrests, prosecutions and trials of LGBT people, or those perceived as such, occur on a regular basis.

Filep Karma is serving 15 years in prison for raising a flag. A prominent advocate for the rights of Indonesia's Papuan population, Filep Karma was arrested for taking part in a peaceful ceremony that included the raising of the Morning Star flag, a symbol of Papuan independence. Filep Karma has experienced serious health problems in prison and has been beaten by guards. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience.

Book List

We Are All Born Free: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Pictures (Hardcover)

By Amnesty International

$8.95

ISBN-13: 9781847801517
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 10/2011

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