Thursday, August 9, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Please Help!
PLEASE READ, ACT, & FORWARD!!!
To learn about recent Urgent Action successes and updates, go to
http://www.amnestyusa.org/iar/success
For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa18012.pdf
UA: 180/12Issue
Date: 22 June 2012
Country: ColombiaCOLOMBIAN ACTIVISTS RECEIVE DEATH THREATS
On 20 June, human rights defenders received death threats targeting other human rights defenders in Colombia. Members of these organizations are at risk.On 20 June at 4.44 pm an SMS text message was received by the communications team of the Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace (Comision Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz), a human rights organization that supports civilian communities in conflict regions in Colombia. Many of their members have been killed, tortured or forced to flee from their homes by the security forces and paramilitary groups. On the same day, Ayda Quilcue a former leader of the Cauca Department Indigenous Regional Council (Concejo Regional Indígena del Cauca, CRIC) received a death threat via SMS text to her mobile telephone. The messages mentioned other human rights organizations and trade unions, accusing them of being members of guerrilla groups and threatening them with death. Please see overleaf for details of organizations.
The Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace has been receiving protection from the government due to the risks faced as a result of their human rights work. The telephone which received the message is used in the context of their work and has been provided by (and formally belongs to) the National Protection Unit of the Ministry of Interior. The Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace has formally expressed concern on several occasions and requested meetings with the relevant authorities regarding the lack of proper implementation and inadequacy of the protection measures granted.
This death threat against the Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace follows a series of incidents in which members of the organization have been intimidated, harassed, followed and subject to surveillance by unknown individuals.
Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language: - Expressing concern for the members of the organizations mentioned in the death threats and urge the authorities to take appropriate measures to protect them, in strict accordance with their wishes;- Calling on the authorities to order a full and impartial investigation into these death threats and all the previous incidents. This is especially important considering that the mobile phone on which the Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace received the death threat formally belongs to the National Protection Unit. Publish the results and bring those responsible to justice;- Reminding the Colombian authorities to fulfill their obligations regarding the protections of human rights defenders as specified in the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 3 AUGUST 2012 TO:
PresidentSeñor Juan Manuel Santos
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Nariño
Carrera 8 No.7-26, Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 011 57 1 596 0631
Salutation: Dear President Santos/Estimado.
Sr. Presidente Santos
Minister of Interior and Justice
Señor Federico Rengifo Velez
Ministerio Del Interior y De Justicia
Carrera 9a. No. 14-10, Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 011 57 1 599 8961
Salutation: Dear Minister Renjifo /Estimado Sr. Ministro Renjifo
And copies to:Comision Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz
Calle 61A, No. 17-26 (Chapinero),Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 011 57 1 346 3613
Also send copies to:
Ambassador Gabriel Silva LujEmbassy of Colombia
2118 Leroy Place, NWWashington DC 20008
Phone: 1 202 387 8338
Fax: 1 202 232 8643
Email: embassyofcolombia@colombiaemb.org
Please check with the AIUSA Urgent Action Office if sending appeals after the above date.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission campaigns on behalf of civilian communities in conflict regions in Colombia, whose members have been killed, tortured or forced to flee from their homes by the security forces and paramilitary groups. Many of these communities have also been targeted by guerrilla groups.
The Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission has been supporting the cause of the Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities living in and around the Curvarado, Jiguamiando and Cacarica River Basins in the department of Choco. These populations have faced repeated threats carried out by paramilitary forces advancing powerful economic interests. Over the last year the other organizations named above including Ayda Quilcue have received repeated death threats from paramilitary forces as a result of their work in support of the human rights of trade unions, Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities in the departments of Valle de Cauca and Cauca Departments.
Their human rights work with these communities and on important cases of impunity against senior members of the security forces has made them the target of threats and attacks. Over the years they have faced numerous attacks, including an illegal break-in to their office, death threats to its members, attempts of forced disappearance, kidnappings, attempted killings, as well as judicial persecution and defamation campaigns.
During Colombia’s 45-year-old armed conflict, members of human rights organizations, trade unions and other social organizations have often been labeled as guerrilla collaborators or supporters by the security forces and paramilitaries. As a result they are often killed, threatened or subjected to enforced disappearance. Guerrilla groups have also threatened or killed human rights defenders they consider to be siding with the enemy.
Organizations threatened via SMS text message:The Social Research and Action Association (Asociacion de Investigacion y la Accion Social, NOMADESC), Association for the Integral Social Development (Asociacion para el desarrollo social integral, ECATE), Permanent Human Rights Committee (Comite Permanente por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, CPDH), National Movement of Victims of State Crimes (Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado, MOVICE), Trade Union Congress (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, CUT).
Name: Ayda Quilcue (f) and other members of various organizations Issue(s): Death threats, Fear for safety---------------------------------
** POSTAGE RATES **- Please Note that the following postage rate increases will go into effect on January 22
Within the United States:$0.32 - Postcards$0.45 - Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)To Canada:$0.85 - Postcards$0.85 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.) To Mexico:$0.85 - Postcards$0.85 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.) To all other destination countries:$1.05 - Postcards$1.05 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human rights.This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop action date (if applicable).
Thank you for your help with this appeal.
Urgent Action NetworkAmnesty International USA600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th flWashington DC 20003Email: uan@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/uan
Phone: 202.509.8193
Fax: 202.675.8566
To learn about recent Urgent Action successes and updates, go to
http://www.amnestyusa.org/iar/success
For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa18012.pdf
UA: 180/12Issue
Date: 22 June 2012
Country: ColombiaCOLOMBIAN ACTIVISTS RECEIVE DEATH THREATS
On 20 June, human rights defenders received death threats targeting other human rights defenders in Colombia. Members of these organizations are at risk.On 20 June at 4.44 pm an SMS text message was received by the communications team of the Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace (Comision Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz), a human rights organization that supports civilian communities in conflict regions in Colombia. Many of their members have been killed, tortured or forced to flee from their homes by the security forces and paramilitary groups. On the same day, Ayda Quilcue a former leader of the Cauca Department Indigenous Regional Council (Concejo Regional Indígena del Cauca, CRIC) received a death threat via SMS text to her mobile telephone. The messages mentioned other human rights organizations and trade unions, accusing them of being members of guerrilla groups and threatening them with death. Please see overleaf for details of organizations.
The Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace has been receiving protection from the government due to the risks faced as a result of their human rights work. The telephone which received the message is used in the context of their work and has been provided by (and formally belongs to) the National Protection Unit of the Ministry of Interior. The Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace has formally expressed concern on several occasions and requested meetings with the relevant authorities regarding the lack of proper implementation and inadequacy of the protection measures granted.
This death threat against the Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace follows a series of incidents in which members of the organization have been intimidated, harassed, followed and subject to surveillance by unknown individuals.
Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language: - Expressing concern for the members of the organizations mentioned in the death threats and urge the authorities to take appropriate measures to protect them, in strict accordance with their wishes;- Calling on the authorities to order a full and impartial investigation into these death threats and all the previous incidents. This is especially important considering that the mobile phone on which the Inter-Church Commission of Justice and Peace received the death threat formally belongs to the National Protection Unit. Publish the results and bring those responsible to justice;- Reminding the Colombian authorities to fulfill their obligations regarding the protections of human rights defenders as specified in the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 3 AUGUST 2012 TO:
PresidentSeñor Juan Manuel Santos
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Nariño
Carrera 8 No.7-26, Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 011 57 1 596 0631
Salutation: Dear President Santos/Estimado.
Sr. Presidente Santos
Minister of Interior and Justice
Señor Federico Rengifo Velez
Ministerio Del Interior y De Justicia
Carrera 9a. No. 14-10, Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 011 57 1 599 8961
Salutation: Dear Minister Renjifo /Estimado Sr. Ministro Renjifo
And copies to:Comision Intereclesial de Justicia y Paz
Calle 61A, No. 17-26 (Chapinero),Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 011 57 1 346 3613
Also send copies to:
Ambassador Gabriel Silva LujEmbassy of Colombia
2118 Leroy Place, NWWashington DC 20008
Phone: 1 202 387 8338
Fax: 1 202 232 8643
Email: embassyofcolombia@colombiaemb.org
Please check with the AIUSA Urgent Action Office if sending appeals after the above date.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission campaigns on behalf of civilian communities in conflict regions in Colombia, whose members have been killed, tortured or forced to flee from their homes by the security forces and paramilitary groups. Many of these communities have also been targeted by guerrilla groups.
The Inter-Church Justice and Peace Commission has been supporting the cause of the Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities living in and around the Curvarado, Jiguamiando and Cacarica River Basins in the department of Choco. These populations have faced repeated threats carried out by paramilitary forces advancing powerful economic interests. Over the last year the other organizations named above including Ayda Quilcue have received repeated death threats from paramilitary forces as a result of their work in support of the human rights of trade unions, Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities in the departments of Valle de Cauca and Cauca Departments.
Their human rights work with these communities and on important cases of impunity against senior members of the security forces has made them the target of threats and attacks. Over the years they have faced numerous attacks, including an illegal break-in to their office, death threats to its members, attempts of forced disappearance, kidnappings, attempted killings, as well as judicial persecution and defamation campaigns.
During Colombia’s 45-year-old armed conflict, members of human rights organizations, trade unions and other social organizations have often been labeled as guerrilla collaborators or supporters by the security forces and paramilitaries. As a result they are often killed, threatened or subjected to enforced disappearance. Guerrilla groups have also threatened or killed human rights defenders they consider to be siding with the enemy.
Organizations threatened via SMS text message:The Social Research and Action Association (Asociacion de Investigacion y la Accion Social, NOMADESC), Association for the Integral Social Development (Asociacion para el desarrollo social integral, ECATE), Permanent Human Rights Committee (Comite Permanente por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, CPDH), National Movement of Victims of State Crimes (Movimiento Nacional de Víctimas de Crímenes de Estado, MOVICE), Trade Union Congress (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, CUT).
Name: Ayda Quilcue (f) and other members of various organizations Issue(s): Death threats, Fear for safety---------------------------------
** POSTAGE RATES **- Please Note that the following postage rate increases will go into effect on January 22
Within the United States:$0.32 - Postcards$0.45 - Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)To Canada:$0.85 - Postcards$0.85 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.) To Mexico:$0.85 - Postcards$0.85 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.) To all other destination countries:$1.05 - Postcards$1.05 - Airmail Letters and Cards (up to 1 oz.)Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human rights.This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including contact information and stop action date (if applicable).
Thank you for your help with this appeal.
Urgent Action NetworkAmnesty International USA600 Pennsylvania Ave SE 5th flWashington DC 20003Email: uan@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/uan
Phone: 202.509.8193
Fax: 202.675.8566
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
New Places
Leaving tomorrow for a new adventure in Kyiv, Ukraine. I might actually get to do something touristy, although I couldn't convince my co-worker that a trip to Chernobyl was a good idea. So, we shall see where this takes me. Meetings for most of the trip but I plan to enjoy myself on this trip.
Up next, Colombia for grad school, then Tajikistan, then Rwanda. Really excited for the first two, spending three weeks on the outskirts of Kigali in 12 hour work days, not so much.
Adventure!!!
Up next, Colombia for grad school, then Tajikistan, then Rwanda. Really excited for the first two, spending three weeks on the outskirts of Kigali in 12 hour work days, not so much.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Stream
of consciousness.
Feeling more certain and less confident every day. Wishing I could have one day when I didn't question life. When I didn't want to cry about the people my age out on the street begging, or the people who could be my grandparents out on the streets too. When I didn't think about political inequity, violence, and abuses of power.
Wishing I could have everything like I always thought I could, not realizing that there are only so many hours in the day, so many years in a life. Trying to decide what I should sacrifice, which dreams can and cannot come true. Wondering if my fears are unfounded.
Trying to understand why there is so much hate and prejudice in a country founded on ideals of community and unity, flawed as those original founding parties were. Trying to not hate, trying to remember to breathe, to love, to embrace knowledge, learning, friendship, confusion, uncertainty...
Feeling more certain and less confident every day. Wishing I could have one day when I didn't question life. When I didn't want to cry about the people my age out on the street begging, or the people who could be my grandparents out on the streets too. When I didn't think about political inequity, violence, and abuses of power.
Wishing I could have everything like I always thought I could, not realizing that there are only so many hours in the day, so many years in a life. Trying to decide what I should sacrifice, which dreams can and cannot come true. Wondering if my fears are unfounded.
Trying to understand why there is so much hate and prejudice in a country founded on ideals of community and unity, flawed as those original founding parties were. Trying to not hate, trying to remember to breathe, to love, to embrace knowledge, learning, friendship, confusion, uncertainty...
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Weary Traveler
In the last two months I have been out of the country more than 70% of the time. I love to travel but I am exhausted, and I can't imagine trying to keep up this schedule while starting classes again and being maid of honor in an out of state wedding (which requires 3 trips in the next 4 months). But I have to make it work. I just have to think that I'm not going to get to do this much longer (funding cuts and all that fun stuff), so I should do as much as I can while I have these opportunities.
I leave again in a little over a week for Rwanda...
I leave again in a little over a week for Rwanda...
Monday, March 5, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Butterflies
I think no matter how much I travel I will always feel nervous before a trip. It usually kicks in at least a day before I leave. Sigh. I worry about all the worst scenarios something happening to me or people I love when I'm out of town. Mostly I worry about car accidents in countries without emergency medical services. No ambulances + outdated roads + little/no regulation of motor vehicles = not a great combination.
This is going to be the longest trip I've ever taken. Looking forward to returning to Ethiopia, seeing great collegues, and excellent coffee!!
This is going to be the longest trip I've ever taken. Looking forward to returning to Ethiopia, seeing great collegues, and excellent coffee!!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Diet Week 2
Lost 2 pounds last week, which I know is probably water weight, but still I stuck mostly to the diet and exercised 10 of the last 13 days. Woot
I'm actually really enjoying the quarter off from grad school. For the first time in ages, I'm going to be travelling for work and not having to write a paper, or read 5 books while I'm gone. I know that I'll be back at the grindstone before I know it, but for now I'm enjoying more time with the people I love and more time for myself.
I'm actually really enjoying the quarter off from grad school. For the first time in ages, I'm going to be travelling for work and not having to write a paper, or read 5 books while I'm gone. I know that I'll be back at the grindstone before I know it, but for now I'm enjoying more time with the people I love and more time for myself.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Testing my resolve
So glad that most people don't really read this blog. One of the bridesmaids in the wedding I'm MOH in, is driving me fucking crazy already.
1. I paid for her bridesmaid dress. She will pay me back, but I fronted $200 on my credit card which is not a small amount. This is after she made a snotty comment about my purse being so heavy because "I have so much money". I didn't make a big deal about fronting the money, I didn't say anything, I said whatever she wanted to do to reimburse was cool. I was so fucking low key.
2. We (all the maids) discussed the bachelorette party, I thought we had a pretty solid plan, and she had to go to her workout class instead of hanging out, so she missed the serious convo we had about the party with THE BRIDE!
3. I sent out an email, excited about planning, she responds, angry about the planning, the cost, and WTF is going on?!? Granted I should have emailed her, but honestly I forgot that she hadn't been part of the conversation as we had basically talked about wedding stuff all day.
4. I sent an email apologizing, and she said "I thought we were going to plan this together but I guess not" and "I'm not going to be able to be there all weekend", and" I don't drive so my husband will have to drive me"
How the fuck am I supposed to know that at 28 you don't drive? I don't have a car, so I'm taking the fucking miserable bus. How the fuck am I supposed to respond to this? I'm doing what the bride wants because it's her day, it's her event... why does everyone forget that these things are about the people involved and not themselves?! I pledged to be a better person in 2012 and my patience is already being stretched.
1. I paid for her bridesmaid dress. She will pay me back, but I fronted $200 on my credit card which is not a small amount. This is after she made a snotty comment about my purse being so heavy because "I have so much money". I didn't make a big deal about fronting the money, I didn't say anything, I said whatever she wanted to do to reimburse was cool. I was so fucking low key.
2. We (all the maids) discussed the bachelorette party, I thought we had a pretty solid plan, and she had to go to her workout class instead of hanging out, so she missed the serious convo we had about the party with THE BRIDE!
3. I sent out an email, excited about planning, she responds, angry about the planning, the cost, and WTF is going on?!? Granted I should have emailed her, but honestly I forgot that she hadn't been part of the conversation as we had basically talked about wedding stuff all day.
4. I sent an email apologizing, and she said "I thought we were going to plan this together but I guess not" and "I'm not going to be able to be there all weekend", and" I don't drive so my husband will have to drive me"
How the fuck am I supposed to know that at 28 you don't drive? I don't have a car, so I'm taking the fucking miserable bus. How the fuck am I supposed to respond to this? I'm doing what the bride wants because it's her day, it's her event... why does everyone forget that these things are about the people involved and not themselves?! I pledged to be a better person in 2012 and my patience is already being stretched.
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