Human Rights Calendar
Amnesty International USA Local Group 361
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Each month has a link to Group 361’s Albany, NY, meeting information.
Activities and events are in the pale blue areas.
January 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
This United State’s holiday honors a man who risked his life to inspire a peaceful movement to end racial discrimination. See King’s biography. King’s wife found words that justly honor the day, Martin Luther King, and his work, found here. You may hear King’s own voice and words at the same King Center website.
2010 DEMAND DIGNITY CAMPAIGN: Amnesty International USA’s goal is to have Congress ratify CEDAW this spring. CEDAW is the Convention for the Elimination Against Discrimination for Women. Please continue to send worry dolls to the region’s headquarters. Help AI reach the goal of sending 10,000 to Congress. 10,000 represents the number of women who die each week due to maternal birth complications. See action.
February 2010 Local Group 361 is featuring an Amnesty International video on its home page. Pregnancy is normal and a time of rejoicing for most women in the United States of America. In countries where the majority of women are impoverished, pregnancy endangers their lives. One in eight women will die because of their pregnancy. The video shares the stories of women and pregnancy in Sierra Leone. If you are reading this after February 2010, you may want to see the video from a YouTube page. You may also want to examine Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Feb. 26-Mar. 7, 2010 (it’s one week sandwiched between 2 weekends) .
A solid week of public education and action nationwide on one of AIUSA’s priority campaign issues – abolition of the death penalty. See our Death Penalty page .
February 2010: Another organization arranged for a speaker on Haiti in the area: Father Joseph Philippe is a Haitian Catholic priest visiting the Capital District. Father Joseph founded FONKOZE, Haiti’s largest microcredit organization that has improved the lives of thousands of Haitians, mostly women and children; and the University of Fondwa, Haiti’s only rural university, although 60 % of the people are peasant farmers.
SPEAKING DATES:
1) Tuesday, 2/2 6 pm Potluck supper, followed by presentation at 7 pm at the Pastoral Center, 40 N. Main Ave., Albany
2) Wednesday, 2/3 12:30-1:30pm Bush Memorial of Russell Sage College, Troy & also, Wednesday, 4: 00 p.m. Teach-in at Recital Hall of Performing Arts Center, uptown campus, University at Albany
3) Thursday, 2/4: at 9:30 - 10:30 am and also 11 a.m. - noon, a presentation at Hubbard Interfaith Sanctuary of the College of Saint Rose; and at 4- 5:30 p.m. a teach-in on Haiti at Siena College, Sarazen Hall, Rm 243, Loudonville
5) Friday, 2/5 at 1:30-3 pm Presentation at fair (fundraiser by Skidmore’s student clubs at Skidmore College
6) Saturday, 2/6 at 4 pm Liturgy at St. Clement’s Church, Saratoga Springs
7) Sunday, 2/7 at 8, 9:30, 11:15 am Liturgies at St. Clement’s Church -- Interviews by youths of the parish between liturgies; 5:30 p.m. Liturgy with University Heights students (Medical College, School of Pharmacy, Law School); and 6:30 p.m. Liturgy at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Albany, with College of Saint Rose students
Contact person: Barbara DiTommaso, Director of Commission on Peace and Justice, Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany 40 N. Main Ave. Albany NY 12203-1481 ~ (518) 453-6695 ~ Fax (518) 453-6792 ~ E-mail: barb.ditommaso@rcda.org
February 12 -- Red Hand Day.Have you seen the symbol of the red hands? The hands call for an end of the use of child soldiers. You may link to some more information from here. Amnesty International invites you to visit a webpage on the 12th: Here. You may view a YouTube video on Red Hand Day here.
February, 1987 February has been a pivotal month for the OAS -- The Organization of American States. February dates appear often in its history. The INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION TO PREVENT AND PUNISH TORTURE came into force February, 1987. The group dates back more than 60 years. See the organization’s website from this link.
DEMAND DIGNITY: Amnesty International USA’s goal is to have Congress ratify CEDAW this spring. CEDAW is the Convention for the Elimination Against Discrimination for Women. Please continue to send worry dolls to reach the goal of sending 10,000 to Congress. 10,000 represents the number of women who die each week due to maternal birth complications. See action.
March 28-April 2: In-district Human Rights Lobbying Week (more information to follow)
March 8: International Women’s Day -- women and equality....
Read the day’s history and meaning in the UN webpage titled Women.
See also, UN actions and observances relating to the day.
March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
In South Africa in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid ‘‘pass laws’’. See UN webpage.
April 16, 2010 in New York, NY -- Get On The Bus (GOTB) for Human Rights
Each year, AIUSA Local Group 133 invites others to join them in New York City. Many from the Northeast region gather to meet with representatives, or demonstrate for Human Rights, often speaking out for Prisoners of Conscience. See more.
April 7 World Health Day (WHO)
The right to medical care is stated in the 25th article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. See the United Nations links to actions and concerns on World Health, at their website.
May 8 and 9, 2010 TULIP FEST -- Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Each year, AIUSA Local Group 361 has a presence at the Tulip Fest in Washington Park, Albany, NY. We invite you to stop at our booth. Come to say hello, or take a few moments to learn more about our work, perhaps pick up one of our brochures, or sign a petition in opposition to human rights abuse. Purchases from our selection of Amnesty International tee shirts and other memorabilia help fund our work. Be sure to take time to enjoy the 200,000 tulips. You can learn more about the City of Albany’s annual event here. We look forward to seeing you!
May 3 World’s Press Freedom Day
A day marked by the United Nations in 1993, ‘‘...to inform the public of violations of the right to freedom of expression and as a reminder that many journalists brave death or jail to bring people their daily news.‘‘ Link to more details.
Amnesty International analyzed the recent record of journalists’ deaths and detentions in this May 2, 2009 article.
May 28, 1961 The London Observer published ‘’The Forgotton Prisoners‘‘
British lawyer Peter Benensen’s article on six prisoners, who were guilty only of speaking their mind, began a world movement that became Amnesty International. See the article here.
June 20: World Refugee Day
- Check the refugee situation around the world: UN webpages.
- See a lesson on the issues of refugees atColumbia University’s Compass webpages.
- Hear the stories of refugee children from CNN video of interview: Angelina Jolie.
June 12: World Day Against Child Labor
View two YouTube videos titled World Day Against Child Labor,
- by BetterWorld4YouAndMe playing against a song with words "We are the world...We are the children...."
- from UNICEF, faces, places and personal stories tell hard facts.
July 29, 1951 the United Nations held the Convention for Status of Refugees and Stateless people.
Read the text of the convention's document; and related facts and activities of the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
August 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
The United Nation’s declared the day in 1994.
- Check UN webpages for more information on the issues of the native people in countries around the world, here.
- Read about one group of indigenous people, the Maya, on Group 361’s page.
August 12: International Youth Day
The United Nations declared the day to address youth issues and promote youth participation for human rights. Read more here.
September 8: International Literacy Day
There are now 4 billion literate people in the world today, yet literacy for all is yet to be realized. Throughout the world, there are children and adults unable to read and write. See United Nations Write up. and the Columbia University Compass page’s lesson plan on the inequalities that exist. Click here.
October 10: World Day Against the Death Penalty
Read the 2008 Amnesty International write-up Stop the Death Penalty: The World Decides.
October 17: International Eradication of Poverty Day
In 1987, around 100,000 people gathered in Paris, France to call for an end to poverty.
Since 1992, the call to the end of poverty is an annual event. Read more at this UN webpage.
December -- Join in the annual WRITE-A-THON around the globe.Write for Rights with us. Help AI meet goal of 250, 000 letters sent.
- Read about 2009 annual Global Write-a-thon.
- Locally, contact Carrie at 518-453-0545.
Help ’’write‘‘ wrongs.
December 10: Human Rights Day
On this day, Group 361 observes 3 anniversaries:
1. In 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. See links to UN events on our Home page.
2. In 1961, the global organization of Amnesty International began with the lighting of a candle in a English church.
3. In 1978, Group 361 of the Albany, NY, USA area (members from 5 counties) signed its charter from Amnesty International USA.
Congratulations to Ramsey Clark, former Attorney General of the USA and one of the recipient‘s of the United Nation‘s Human Rights awards December 10, 2008. He founded the organization International Action Center.
In 2009, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the choice for the award’s recipient: ‘‘Thoraya Obaid has been a tireless champion of women’s human and reproductive rights. Throughout her career, she has been fearless in breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. Under her leadership, the United Nations Population Fund has played a major role in promoting maternal health and women's empowerment, and campaigns against female genital mutilation and fistula have achieved global resonance. I congratulate Thoraya Obaid, and I commend the UNA-NCA on their choice.’’
