ABOUT
Amnesty International USA Local Group 361
One effort for justice, plus another...plus...WORKS.
being elected.
wanting an investigation.
wearing a headband.
- Sends thousands of letters urging the end of human rights abuses.
- Alerts our local area to human rights issues around the globe.
‘‘We are ordinary people standing up for humanity and human rights.’’ We speak out for the millions around the globe denied their rights. Connect to three histories of these abuses by clicking on the pictures to the left; and view others in a video appearing elsewhere on this page.
We are volunteers hailing from New York State’s Albany, Greene, Columbia, Rensselaer, and Schenectady Counties. Our funding comes from donations from the general public and our sale of memorabilia. As a local group of Amnesty International, we defend and support the human rights expressed in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other treaties. We work to free prisoners of conscience, end torture and executions, and promote fair trials for political prisoners. We act on information from the international organization’s researchers. Each year, our local group
As our local efforts join with about two million members of Amnesty International (AI) worldwide, millions of fact based communications press for the end of human rights abuses each day. Learn more, including how you could help us from your home or our meeting place with a clilck here.
AI LOCAL GROUP 361 WORKS
A note on our name: The numbers in Local Group, 361 rhyme with the phrase ‘‘We fix one.’’ Coincidentally, our digits ‘3’ ‘6’ ‘1’ emphasize Amnesty International’s beginnings with efforts to help individuals one at a time. Working for one strengthens human rights for all. Our numbers cheer on our efforts. Why not try saying ‘3 - 6- 1 we fix one’? Our website address combines the initials for Amnesty International with the 3-6-1 digits yielding our world wide web address (URL):
www.ai361.org While our group goals appear idealistic, we operate realistically. Facts inform our work. Around the world, the international organization continuously investigates trespasses against basic human rights. The findings are reflected in a steady flow of fact sheets to local groups such as Local Group 361. Those facts spur us to keep working for human rights.
Each member’s work is multiplied by the other members. One example of multiplied efforts -- one member writes a letter based on a fact sheet and copies it several times. These copies go to the group’s other members and one letter becomes twenty (or so) individually signed and mailed letters. These efforts are multiplied again as Amnesty International groups in 150 countries send their correspondence on the same issue. We defend human rights by filling mailbags. You are invited to join us. You may write a letter others send; or, you may send a letter that others have written. We have letters you can print, sign and mail on our Letters webpage.
In addition to letter writing, Group 361 circulates petitions, makes pleas to government officials in our own country to intervene for human rights, and informs our NYS Capital District region of global human rights issues.
Through the years, our group has chosen to devote extra and continuing attention to a specially selected, individual case involving a Prisoner of Conscience, someone who has been imprisoned because of their race, religion, or peaceful expression of beliefs. You may read more on these efforts past and present at our Focus Action Page.
In 2009 the group began exploring yet another focus -- one area of the world: Mexico and Central America. You might see letters reflecting this additional focus on our Letters page.
Locally, we have sponsored speakers, arranged movie and audio opportunities, as well as hosted festive events to support our defense of human rights. At those times, we provide pamphlets, fact sheets and other information from our parent group, Amnesty International. At other times, we write letters, and distribute materials to libraries. Each year, we table at Tulip Fest and Larkfest. Each December, we observe Human Rights Day with publicity, an action or event. Each day, our website pages invite you to connect with Human Rights information and action. You can read more about how we inform our community and website readers on our We Inform page.
Always, we appreciate the support from the local community’s individuals and groups that enable our efforts, as detailed below.
* Funding for Group 361’s work comes from local area residents and groups through donations and the purchase of Amnesty International memorabilia such as tee shirts, buttons, and bumper stickers. Donations are used to cover some of the costs of event hosting, postage and informational materials for public events. [Amnesty International does not accept government funding and remains independent of governmental, economic, or political interests and religious affiliations.]
* Other groups in the area have collaborated with us, multiplying our efforts:
In 2008, the organizations Mayan Hands, The Center for Citizenship, Race, and Ethnicity Studies (CREST) College of St. Rose, and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement co-sponsored our Viva Guatemala! event. Their support graced our efforts with refugee speakers, hand made Mayan goods, a Latin meal, Latin music and an exhibition of native Guatemalan dances.
In 2009, a Teach In on Troy Davis at Albany Law School was possible because of the collaboration of Albany Law School's Amnesty International chapter and the group, New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty.
Watch for our next special event, which will be posted on our Home page.
* Each one who stops at our booths to say hello and/or sign our petitions, attends one of our events, visits our website, or sends one of our letters or postcards -- warms our hearts and strengthens our effort.
As stated in the video below, ‘‘It is in our hands to build another world.’’ Let us build a world of justice and peace.
Thank you for your support.
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VIEW OUR MISSION
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BEGINNINGS: ONE INJUSTICE
A 1960 news article about two Portuguese students raising their wine glasses in a toast to freedom grabbed the attention of British lawyer, Peter Benenson. He was shocked that their toast led to their imprisonment. He responded with his own article in the 1961 issue of The Observer, a London newspaper. The ideas he shared with the world in his article, ‘‘The Forgotten Prisoners’’, were reprinted in newspapers in many countries.
One paragraph in the Observer particularly captured the reader's attention:
‘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 ... The newspaper reader feels a sickening sense of impotence. Yet if these feelings of disgust could be united into common action, something effective could be done. ’
From around the globe, people responded with letters. Many of those letters identified other human rights abuses. As the list of needed actions grew, so did the list of people wanting to act.
By July of 1961, the first international meeting of delegates from seven countries met to create ‘‘...a permanent international movement in defence of freedom of opinion and religion.’’On December 10th, the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the international group lit its first symbolic candle in a London church.
By 1962, this group adopted the name Amnesty International (AI). You may see a video on this history by clicking here.
By the following year, the group had begun a volunteer Research Bureau, multiplying the significance of the organization’s work. Soon after, the United Nations gave AI consultative status, and the Council of Europe and UNESCO followed suit.
The mission of AI was still evolving when, in 1972, it began the first Stop Torture campaign. Other efforts were organized with the 1973 introduction of Urgent Action cases and the Urgent Action network. Read more on how the organization’s mission evolved in this newsletter.
By 1977, AI was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize for having ‘‘contributed to securing the ground for freedom, for justice, and thereby.... peace in the world.’’ The following year, AI won the UN Human Rights prize for ’’outstanding contributions in the field of human rights.’’ By 1985, with about 3,500 groups in 50 countries, AI had written education materials on Human Rights, and further broadened its mission to include refugees.
Today, about two million plus supporters and members further human rights. The organization reports and acts on human rights abuses in about 150 countries. Amnesty International publishes an Annual Report and other reports besides fact sheets. The facts in these publications show the need for action.
A more detailed history of the organization can be found here.
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DEFINING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Amnesty International (AI) works with the mission: ‘‘... To undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of our work to promote all human rights.’’
AI&rquo;s work defines its mission more clearly than words do. To gain an even more comprehensive picture of Amnesty International’s, and Group 361’s, basic structure and principles, read its statute.
- Amnesty International -- global: This page shares Amnesty International’s current efforts and a link to the good news the organization works to achieve.
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights : Adopted by the members of the United Nations on December 10th, 1948, this document contains a standard that Amnesty International desires for all people worldwide. AI also supports human rights standards set down in other internationally recognized documents. Read more on why the document is so important.
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DECEMBER 10th, HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
Each year, Amnesty International’s Local Group 361 in the Capital District region of New York State celebrates three anniversaries on December 10th . On that date, in
1. 1948, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations.
2. 1960, the global organization of Amnesty International began with the lighting of a candle in an English church.
3. 1978, Amnesty International Local Group 361 members signed their group charter.
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The stories behind the photos.
Picture #1 - Aung San Suu Kyii:
She has won the Nobel Peace Prize, but has been under house arrest for her peaceful activities to bring freedom to her country. In the late 1980’s, Group 361 was fortunate to see its efforts rewarded when pro-Democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyii was released after an imprisonment of 19 months under de facto house arrest. At that time, her release represented a very positive development in the human rights situation in Myanmar. In 1990, she became the freely elected prime minister of Burma, Myanmar, but was prevented from taking office by a house arrest. By 2008, Aung San Suu Kyi had been detained for 12 of the past 18 years. In 2009, Group 361 again adopted her as their Focus Action with the Northeast Region of Amnesty International, USA. Check the latest at our Focus Action page.Picture #2 - Dr. Mesfin Woldemariam:
For most of 2007, Group 361 of the Albany, NY region joined A.I.'s entire Northeast Region in working on the case of Dr. Mesfin Woldemariam, one of Ethiopia's most prominent human rights defenders. Dr. Mesfin was jailed after his peaceful participation in protests at Addis Ababa University, where he is a professor of geography. He and the other protestors called for an investigation into irregularities in Ethiopia's 2005 parlimentary elections. At 77 years old, he was held in poor conditions without access to medical treatment for almost eighteen months. Finally, in August 2007, the situation looked bleak as he and his co-defendents were sentenced to death. Then suddenly he was released by the government, vindicating the efforts of thousands who campaigned on his behalf. Amnesty International continues to have a number of concerns about human rights in Ethiopia.
Picture #3 - Leyla Zana:
You Are Invited!
To 'Light'
a Candle in the Darkness
from your home,
or our meeting place.
See [8 Candle Lighting Actions ]‘‘The recognition....of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.’’
~ From the preamble of the The Universal Declaration of Human Rights ~
