Wednesday, May 28, 2003

42 Years of Amnesty International QUOTE OF THE DAY "OPEN your newspaper any day of the week and you will find a report from somewhere in the world of someone being imprisoned, tortured or executed because his opinions or religion are unacceptable to his government. There are several million such people in prison-by no means all of them behind the Iron and Bamboo Curtains-and their numbers are growing. The newspaper reader feels a sickening sense of impotence. Yet if these feelings of disgust all over the world could be united into common action, something effective could be done." - - Peter Benenson, Founder of Amnesty International (London Observer, May 28th, 1961) http://www.amnestyusa.org/about/observer.html MAY 28th IN HISTORY: 1830 - - President Andrew (America's 1st Hitler) Jackson's recommendation to forcibly move all Indians west of Mississippi River becomes law (The Removal Act). The plan was later used as a model by South Africa's apartheid leaders. http://www.allthingscherokee.com/Articles/hist_020101_jackson.html 1961 - - Amnesty International founded, in England, by English lawyer Peter Benenson & friends, with notice in the London Observer & the Paris Le Monde. Won the Nobel Peace Prize 1977. http://www.amnesty.org http://www.amnestyUSA.org RHINO HERE: On the birthday of Amnesty International, Rhino directs your attention to AI's efforts in behalf of the people of Iraq, including an opportunity for you to, in just a few minutes, send a letter to the US Government urging them to take immediate measures to enforce law & order in territories under its control, & to prevent further deterioration of humanitarian conditions in Iraq. On this, the week of the 42'd year of AI, Amnesty USA opens its film festival in Los Angeles with a host of excellent dramas and documentaries on human rights themes. For a festival overview, GO TO: http://www.amnestyusa.org/filmfest/ For a list of the films with links to their summaries, GO TO: http://www.amnestyusa.org/filmfest/weho/2003/ Amnesty International On Iraq UN Security Council Misses Opportunity, Must Focus on Human Rights Now 22 May 2003 (New York) As the UN Security Council today adopted a resolution on Iraq with 14 votes to 0, without the participation of Syria, Amnesty International urged the UN body not to lose sight of the need for human rights and justice in that country. Letter to Members of the UN Security Council As crucial evidence about many thousands of people who "disappeared" is being destroyed, amidst a fragile law and order situation, Amnesty International urged the Security Council to focus now on human rights and justice issues and to verifying the human rights and other responsibilities of the occupying powers in Iraq. http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/2003/iraq05222003.html Humanitarian Needs Must Be Met - Security Is Key The health situation in Iraq is critical, with many hospitals unable to accommodate the high number of casualties. As occupying powers, the US/UK forces are obliged to ensure that the population has sufficient water, food, and medical care. Looting and disorder continue in many parts of Iraq, including Baghdad. Amnesty International is calling on the US Government to take immediate measures to enforce law and order and to prevent a further humanitarian disaster in territories under its control. Take Action! Urge for Immediate Measures to Meet Humanitarian Needs of the Iraqi People The health situation in Iraq is critical with many hospitals unable to accommodate the high number of people in need of medical assistance in part, because looted equipment and supplies have not been adequately replenished. Access to potable water continues to be a serious problem across the country, including in Baghdad. Widespread looting and disorder continue in many parts of Iraq. Urge the US Government to take immediate measures to enforce law and order in territories under its control, in accordance with their responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law and to prevent further deterioration in humanitarian conditions in Iraq. Take Action Today's RHINO'S BOTTOM LINE comes from the Monthly Review. Those not familiar with MR will find it a rich resource for progressive information, being a blend of scholarship & activism. This essay provides a well researched history of Iraq, a country which it now seems the U.S. will be deeply involved with for years to come. All Americans would do well to know what we've gotten ourselves into. Written well before the commencement of the Iraq war, this essay is adapted from the book, Behind the Invasion of Iraq, by the Research Unit for Political Economy. Footnotes providing full documentation are included in the book. For more about Monthly Review go to: http://www.monthlyreview.org/aboutmr.htm 7:27:50 AM    comment

RHINO'S BOTTOM LINE - Behind the War on Iraq Behind the War on Iraq by the Research Unit for Political Economy, Monthly Review, May 2003 Three themes stand out in Iraq's history over the last century, in the light of the present U.S. plans to invade and occupy that country. First, the attempt by imperialist powers to dominate Iraq in order to grab its vast oil wealth. In this regard there is hardly a dividing line between oil corporations and their home governments, with the governments undertaking to promote, secure, and militarily protect their oil corporations. Second, the attempt by each imperialist power to exclude others from the prize. Third, the vibrancy of nationalist opposition among the people of Iraq and indeed the entire region to these designs of imperialism. This is manifested at times in mass upsurges and at other times in popular pressure on whomever is in power to demand better terms from the oil companies or even to expropriate them. The following account is limited to Iraq, and it provides only the barest sketch... TO INFORM YOURSELF ON THE HISTORY OF IRAQ, READ THIS ESSAY AT: http://www.monthlyreview.org/0503rupe.htm "RHINO'S BLOG" is the responsibility of Gary Rhine. (rhino@kifaru.com) Feedback, and requests to be added or deleted from the list are encouraged. SEARCH BLOG ARCHIVES / SURF RHINO'S LINKS, AT: http://www.rhinosblog.info RHINO'S OTHER WEB SITES: http://www.dreamcatchers.org (INDIGENOUS ASSISTANCE & INTERCULTURAL DIALOG) http://www.kifaru.com (NATIVE AMERICAN RELATIONS VIDEO DOCUMENTARIES) Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of international copyright law. http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html All copyrights belong to original publisher. 6:41:38 AM    comment

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