Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Miriam fears showing her face after horrendous treatment by soldiers. Agencia Reforma
Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please write a letter to the federal Attorney General.
Start with Dear Attorney General. Describe who you are and what concerns you about the torture Miriam Lpez experienced and how the perpetrators have so far gone unpunished. Urge him to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the torture of Miriam Lpez in February of 2011. Ask him to make sure that the results of the investigation are made public and that those who were responsible for torturing her are brought to justice.
Send your letter to: Jess Murillo Karam Procuradura General de la Repblica Paseo de la Reforma 211-213 Col. Cuauhtmoc, C.P. 06500 Mexico City, Mexico Postage: $1.85 Fax: 011 52 55 5346 0908 Email: ofproc@pgr.gob.mx
(This number is hard to reach. If you are successful and a voice answers, say Fax por favor.)
Please make a copy for: Honourable John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs House of Commons Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Postage: None required Email: john.baird@parl.gc.ca Fax: (613) 996-9880
(At the top of the copy, write something like Please call for justice for Miriam Lpez. Canada must help end torture in Mexico.
What else can I do? On Miriams Facebook page, bit.ly/miriamlopez, click Like and leave a message such as Miriam, remember that you are not alone in this struggle. I am with you. or Courage, Miriam! Your fight can help others. Include your name and country. If you do not have access to Facebook, you may mail a greeting to Miriam on a nonreligious card. You may mention Amnesty International and you may include your return address. Send your greeting to Miriam Lpez Comisin Mexicana de Defensa y Promocin de los Derechos Humanos Tehuantepec 142 Col. Roma Sur, C.P. 06760 Mexico City, Mexico
writeathon.ca/mexico
Everyone has the right tosecurity of person. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property. Articles 3 and 17, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Welcome to the village of Nabi Saleh. About 550 Palestinians live here. As you approach, you notice farmland surrounding the village, where olive trees grow well. And it is blessed with a natural spring. But there is a problem. Israeli settlers moved onto the land in 1977 without permission from the villagers. They established their own settlement called Halamish. The settler population has grown to 1,600 and they are now using the farmland. They also turned the spring into a tourist attraction and will not let the Palestinians access water from it. The Israeli army has established a military base there, as well. Every Friday since 2009 when they lost access to the spring, the villagers have organized non-violent demonstrations. They protest against Israels military occupation and the illegal Israeli settlement of Halamish. The Israeli army responds to the villagers peaceful protests with excessive and unnecessary force.
Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please write a letter to Israels Minister of Defence. Start with Dear Minister. Describe who you are and what concerns you about the intrusion of Israeli settlers and army on Palestinian land. Ask the Minister to stop the excessive and unnecessary force by the Israeli security forces against demonstrators in Nabi Saleh. Urge him to ensure that security officers responsible for the killings of Mustafa Tamimi and Rushdi Tamimi, and for the injury of others in the village, are brought to justice.
Send your letter to: Minister of Defence Moshe Yaalon Ministry of Defence 37 Kaplan Street, Hakirya Tel Aviv 61909, Israel Fax: 011 972 3 691 6940 Email: minister@mod.gov.il Twitter : @bogie_yaalon Postage: $1.85
Please make a copy for: Her Excellency Miriam Ziv Ambassador for Israel 50 O'Connor Street, Suite 1005 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6L2 Postage: $.63 Fax: (613) 567-9878 E-mail: info@ottawa.mfa.gov.il
What else can I do? Support from abroad boosts the spirits of the villagers. Send a letter or a card to them via the co-ordinator of the Nabi Saleh Popular Resistance Committee: Naji Tamimi Nabi Saleh Birzeit/Ramallah Palestine Apart from religious cards, any card is fine. You may mention Amnesty International and you may include your return address. Here is a sample message: We stand by you in dignity and for freedom and justice. Or leave a message of support on the village Facebook page: bit.ly/nabi-saleh
writeathon.ca/opt
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest Article 9, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
RUSSIA:
Meet the Bolotnaya 3. We use that name for them because it was in Moscows Bolotnaya Square that Vladimir Akimenkov, Artiom Saviolov and Mikhail Kosenko were detained during an authorized protest on 6 May 2012. Authorities soon released the Bolotnaya 3, but rearrested them in June 2012. They have been in custody ever since and their imprisonment has badly affected their health. Vladimir Akimenkov is losing his eyesight. Artiom Saviolovs speech impediment is reportedly getting worse in detention. Mikhail Kosenko is not receiving medication he needs regularly. The Bolotnaya 3 have been charged with participating in mass riots. Both Artiom Saviolov and Mikhail Kosenko are also accused of using force against police officers. All three firmly deny the charges. They also deny acting violently or in a disorderly fashion.
Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please write a letter to the Prosecutor General. Start with Dear Prosecutor General. Describe who you are and what concerns you about the continued detention of Vladimir Akimenkov, Artiom Saviolov and Mikhail Kosenko and about the effects on their health. Ask the Prosecutor General to immediately and unconditionally release the three men. Send your letter to: Yurii Yakovlevich Chaika Prosecutor Generals Office ul. B. Dmitrovka, d.15a 125993 Moscow GSP- 3 Russian Federation Postage: $1.85 Please make a copy for: His Excellency Georgy Mamedov Ambassador for the Russian Federation 285 Charlotte Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 8L5 Postage: $.63 Fax: (613) 236-6342 Email: info@rusembassy.ca
What else can I do? Lift the spirits of Vladimir Akimenkov, Artiom Saviolov and Mikhail Kosenko. Send each one a bright card or postcard. Create a short greeting in English. Or translate it into Russian either by asking a Russian speaker for help or using translate.google.com. Address your message to [Insert name of prisoner] Pre-trial detention facility SIZO-2 Butyrka ul. Novoslobodskaya, 45 Moscow 127055, Russian Federation
writeathon.ca/russia
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, opinion and expression. Articles 18 & 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Jabeur Mejri is serving a seven-and-a-half year sentence for creating Facebook posts that expressed his views of religion Private
Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please write a letter to Tunisias president. Start with Your Excellency. Describe who you are and what concerns you about the imprisonment of Jabeur Mejri only for peacefully using his right to freely express his views. Ask the president to release Jabeur Mejri without delay or any conditions on his freedom. Send your letter to: Prsident Moncef Marzouki * Palais Prsidentiel Tunis Tunisie Postage: $1.85 Fax: 011 216 71 744 721 Email: box@pm.gov.tn Please make a copy for: His Excellency Riadh Essid Ambassador for Tunisia 515 OConnor Street Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3P8 Postage : $.63 Fax: (613) 237-7939 Email: etottawa@ipandp.com
* Note of interest: President Marzouki used to head the Tunisian League of Human Rights and was himself a POC in 1994.
What else can I do? Jabeur Mejris family says he is dispirited and is feeling lonely and forgotten. Send him a greeting. Apart from religious cards, any kind of message is fine. You may mention Amnesty International and you may include your return address. Tell him about your community, your family, your activities. Tell him that you are thinking of him on Human Rights Day. Or write this in your own words: I stand in solidarity with you as a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned only for exercising your right to freedom of expression. Mail your message with $1.85 postage to: Jabeur Mejri Prison civile de Mahdia Route de Chiba 5100
Mahdia, Tunisie
writeathon.ca/tunisia
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest Article 9, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Amnesty International has determined that Dr. Tun Aung is a prisoner of conscience, targeted because he is a Muslim community leader. Private
Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please send a letter or fax to the president. Start with Your Excellency. Describe who you are and what concerns you about the continued detention of Dr. Tun Aung. Insist on his release, since he is a prisoner of conscience who has not committed, nor promoted, any violence. Until he is free, you could ask for proper care for his pituitary tumour. You could also request his transfer to Insein prison so that he is able to have regular family visits. Send your letter to President Thein Sein Nay Pyi Taw Republic of the Union of Myanmar Postage: $1.85 Email via online contact form: www.president-office.gov.mm/contact Please send a copy to His Excellency Hau Do Suan Ambassador for Myanmar 336 Island Park Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0A7 Postage: $.63 Fax: (613) 232-6999
What else can I do? Send a greeting to Dr Tun Aungs family. They may be able to share it with him in the future. Mail it to
Dr Tun Aungs family Amnesty International 3-1992 Yonge Street Toronto ON M4S 1Z7 Apart from religious cards, any card is fine. You may mention Amnesty International.
Or you could post a video or photo with your message of support on Dr Tun Aungs tumblr page where his family will see it: myanmar-w4r.tumblr.com. Tell them who you are, where you are writing from, and what action you have taken for Dr Tun Aung.
writeathon.ca/myanmar
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, includinghousing. Article 25, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
NIGERIA:
Disaster struck the large community of Badia East on the edge of Lagos on 23 February 2013. Shocked residents watched bulldozers demolish 266 of their homes. Most were not allowed to even rescue their belongings. A few residents tried to resist but police officers beat them. Lagos state officials had identified the area for slum upgrading in a project funded by the World Bank. The officials had ordered the eviction and police were present to support the demolition. One officer warned If you love your life, move out! No one had given the families, small shop owners and traders advance warning. No one had consulted them. No one had prepared alternate accommodation for them. The anguish has not stopped. Many of the residents are still living in the open or camping in makeshift shelters.
Bimbo Omowole Osobe is 55. Since the demolition, she has slept in the open under a net. Social and Economic Rights Action Center
Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please write to the governor of Lagos State. Start with Your Excellency. Describe who you are and what concerns you about Februarys demolition in Badia East. Ask Governor San to stop all forced evictions. Insist that all residents evicted from their homes in February 2013 receive compensation and alternative housing.
Send your letter to: Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola San Office of the Governor of Lagos State State Government Secretariat Alausa, Ikeja Lagos State, Nigeria Postage: $1.85 Twitter handle: @tundefashola
Suggested tweet: Compensate #BadiaEast residents after home demolitions in Lagos State, #Nigeria. #endforcedevictions
Please make a copy for: His Excellency Ojo Uma Maduekwe High Commissioner for Nigeria 295 Metcalfe Street Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1R9 Postage: $.63 Fax: (613) 236-0529 Email via website: http:// www.nigeriahcottawa.ca/nhc2/index.php/ en/welcome-to-nhc/contact-us
The Badia East residents need to know there is international concern for what has happened to them. Send letters, cards or photos of yourself with one of these messages. Try your hand at writing in Yoruba! 1. We support the Badia East community. 2. Housing is a human right. 3. End forced evictions. A w lhn won ar l orn Bd t omo nyn ni il gbgb E fi pin s k fi ip l nyn jde n il
Add your name and Canada but do not include your full return address. (If you wish to use a return address, you may use the address for Amnesty Internationals office in Toronto: 3-1992 Yonge, Toronto, Canada M4S 1Z7.) Apart from religious cards, any kind of card is fine. You may mention Amnesty International. Mail your message with $1.85 postage to Badia East Technical Committee C/o Social and Economic Rights Action Center Plot 758, Chief Thomas Adeboye Drive Omole Phase 2, Isheri Lagos State, Nigeria
writeathon.ca/nigeria
Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly and association. Article 20, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
I dont want to hide myself. I live openly. It is not easy in Belarus, but I want to show people that I am a person like everybody. With my example I want to show that it is possible to live openly. - Ihar Tsikhanyuk Ihar Tsikhanyuk
Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please write a letter to the General Prosecutor of Belarus. Start with Dear General Prosecutor. Describe who you are and what concerns you about the February 2013 attack on Ihar Tsikhanyuk. Press General Prosecutor Koniuk to investigate the ill-treatment of, and threats against, Ihar Tsikhanyuk by police officers at the October District police station in Hrodna. Insist that those responsible are brought to justice. Send your letter to: Alyaksandr Koniuk Generalnaya Prokuratura ul. Internatsionalnaya 22 220030 Minsk, Belarus Postage: $1.85 Fax: 011 375 17 226 4252 (If someone answers, say Fax.) Email: info@prokuratura.gov.by Please make a copy for: Mr Roman Sobolev Charg dAffaires, Embassy for Belarus 130 Albert Street, Suite 600 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5G4 Postage:$.63 Fax: (613) 233-8500 E-mail: romasobolev@rambler.ru
What else can I do? Send a letter or card to Ihar Tsikhanyuk. Tell him that you are writing from Canada and that you have heard about what happened to him. Add a message of support something like I admire your struggle in such difficult circumstances and wish you success in it! In Belarusian: ! Apart from religious cards, any card is fine. You may put your return address on your envelope but please leave it off the card. You may mention Amnesty International. Send your greeting to: Ihar Tsikhanyuk c/o Amnesty International 3-1992 Yonge Street Toronto ON M4S 1Z7
writeathon.ca/belarus
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest Article 9, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Russian riot police scuffle with protestors in Moscow who oppose government policies. Reuters/Denis Sinyakov
Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please write a letter to President Putin c/o the embassy in Ottawa. Start with Dear President Putin. Describe who you are and what concerns you about the increasing number of attacks on civil society and on the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association. Ask him to get rid of laws that (choose two or three) Re-criminalize libel, Restrict public protests, Broaden the legal denition of treason and espionage to target opponents, Oblige NGOs to register as foreign agents, Make propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations among minors an offence, Criminalize the act of insulting the religious feelings of believers. Tell President Putin that you expect him to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly in Russia.
writeathon.ca/sochi
CANADA:
Indigenous Peoples have the right to make their own decisions about how and when their lands and resources will be used and developed.
This right of free, prior and informed consent, or FPIC, provides a vital safeguard for distinctive cultures and ways of life that have long been marginalized and discriminated against. The right of FPIC is set out in the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in countless rulings and statements from international human rights bodies. It has also been adopted by influential bodies in global investment, including the International Financial Corporation. However, the government of Canada acts as though the right does not exist. This is a significant problem for the realization and protection of human rights because Canada is at the center of a global push to exploit the resources of Indigenous Peoples lands at home and abroad. Canadas Economic Action Plan predicts
that 600 new large-scale resource development projects will get underway across Canada in the next decade. Many will impact the lands and territories of Indigenous Peoples. At the same time, through trade agreements and direct support to corporations, the federal government is promoting rapid expansion of mining, oil and gas, and other extractive industries around the world. Indigenous Peoples in countries like Colombia and Guatemala already experience widespread and brutal violations of their rights. Canadian resource and mining companies have secured government permits to operate in Colombia. When Indigenous Peoples raise concerns, their complaints are ignored. When they express opposition to projects, they are threatened, attacked and sometimes killed. Through the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, the Canadian government is promoting further expansion of these operations without human rights guarantees.
In Guatemala too, a disturbing pattern is emerging of violence and intimidation of human rights defenders who oppose mining in their communities. United Nations experts note that Guatemalan human rights defenders face extremely serious risks when they oppose development projects, including killings and attempts on their lives. Canadian companies are involved in most major mining projects in Guatemala, and receive diplomatic and political support from the Government of Canada. Urge Canada to help safeguard the human rights of Indigenous peoples affected by resource extraction projects at home and abroad. Activate your pens and your keyboards! Please write a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Start with Dear Prime Minister. Describe who you are and what concerns you about how Canadian resource and mining companies encroach on Indigenous lands often without respecting their right to free, prior and informed consent. Ask the federal government to recognize and respect the right to free, prior and informed consent. Send your letter to: Prime Minister Stephen Harper Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Postage: None required Fax: (613) 941-6900 Via website: http://pm.gc.ca/eng/contactpm
writeathon.ca/FPIC