FEATURED ARTICLES
- Amnesty International 2004 Annual Report, A.I.
- The Take Back America Conference
- John Kerry on Security and Strength
- History Lesson: GOP Must Stop Bush, by Carl Bernstein, USA Today
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
KNOW YOUR HISTORY - MAY 28th
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 (See the "Quote Of The Day" & the "Know Your History" blurbs), Rhino 1st directs your attention to A.l.'s 2004 Annual Report. Not a pretty picture of our world but one anyone who truly cares about freedom & human rights should read. Here's an excerpted summary & a link to the report.
Armed Groups, Governments Unleash Weapons of Terror, Exacerbating Insecurity Worldwide, Charges Amnesty International on Release of 2004 Annual Report
Amnesty's Global Survey Identifies More Than 175 Armed Groups;
Two-Thirds Committed Human Rights Abuses from Use of Child Soldiers to Killings
(Washington, DC) - Amnesty International today denounced armed groups and governments for unleashing weapons of terror - direct attacks, indiscriminate attacks and torture, including rape - on civilian populations worldwide in what it said was the most sustained attack on human rights in 50 years. In releasing its 2004 global survey of human rights, the organization included its analysis of the role of armed groups, sometimes dubbed "terrorists" by the governments battling them.
..."The 'war on terror' has evolved into a global street brawl with governments and armed groups duking it out and innocent civilians suffering severely," said Dr. William F. Schulz, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA). "Worldwide, armed groups commit atrocities serious enough to be characterized as war crimes or crimes against humanity. At the same time, too many governments have lent a veneer of legitimacy to the actions of armed groups by disregarding human rights, and in some cases, by committing war crimes and crimes against humanity themselves. Whether in the name of anti-terrorism, counter-insurgency or security, the US and other governments have suspended, circumvented or violated the law and weakened the best defense against insecurity and violence: respect for human rights. Locked in a deadly embrace of violence, armed groups and governments are riding roughshod over human rights."...
MORE: http://www.amnestyusa.org/annualreport/index.html
Take Back America Conference
June 2nd through 4th, occurs the progressive conference "Take Back America", in Washington D.C. Co-sponsored by MoveOn.org, includes a Gala Awards Dinner hosted by Arianna Huffington. Featured conference speakers: Gov. Howard Dean, Senator John Edwards (D-NC); House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); George Soros, Elaine Jones, President of the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund; Eliot Spitzer, NY State Attorney General; Rev. James Forbes of the Riverside Church, Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, Rev Jesse Jackson, Sr.; National Organization for Women President Kim Gandy; & many more. The conference includes practical skills training for citizen leaders, organizers & candidates.
MORE ON The Take Back America Conference AT: http://www.ourfuture.org
SEE THE CONFERENCE AGENDA & SPEAKER LIST AT:
http://www.ourfuture.org/projects/national_conference/2004/agenda.cfm Followed on June 5th by The Answer Coalition's "Speak Truth to Power" Rally & March also in D.C.
They're planning for thousands at the White House to say: "Bush and Rumsfeld - Guilty of War Crimes"
More info at: http://www.internationalanswer.org
On Thursday, Senator Kerry offered an in depth speech on his intentions regarding "strength & security." Here's a snippet & a link to the entire address. There's a lot here for we left leaners to feel encouraged about. There are also some red flags. Rhino snorts, "If I'm gonna vote for him, I better listen up."
Remarks of Senator John Kerry on Security and Strength for a New World
As Prepared for Delivery, May 27, 2004, Seattle, WA
Thank you all for being here. Over the next ten days, our nation will come together to honor the bravery and sacrifice of past generations of Americans. On Saturday, in our nation's capital, we will dedicate a memorial to the heroes of the Greatest Generation who won World War II. On Memorial Day, we will salute all those who for more than two centuries made the ultimate sacrifice when America's freedom was on the line. And on June 6th, we will mark the 60th anniversary of D-Day by remembering the brave young men who scaled the cliffs on beaches called Omaha and Utah - and brought the light of liberty from the New World to the Old. To me, and to millions of Americans, the days ahead will be filled with the pride of families, the sadness of loss and a renewed commitment to service. But that is not enough. We must pay tribute. We must hear and heed the lessons of the Greatest Generation. Our leaders then understood that America drew its power not only from the might of weapons, but also from the trust and respect of nations around the globe...
READ THE REST AT: http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2004_0527.html
And finally, Carl Bernstein of Watergate fame writes in USA Today, "among Republicans today, there seems to be scant interest in asking tough questions - or honoring the example of courageous leaders of Congress who, not long ago, stepped forward, setting principle before party, to hold accountable presidents who put their country in peril." An excellent call to American Republicans to save their party & possibly the world.
"SEND THIS ARTICLE TO A REPUBLICAN!"
7:08:12 AM 
|
|
