Amnesty International – Saga Chapter
2nd General Meeting
30 May 2008
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Quote of the Day: A right is not what someone gives you; it’s what no one can take from you. — Ramsey Clark |
Administrative / Organizational Topics
(1) Amnesty International – Saga Chapter OR General Volunteer Group
- paperwork, membership
(2) Group Purpose or Mandate
- To act under the guidelines and purpose of Amnesty International
- To network, socialize, and facilitate discussion with locals and foreigners living in Saga
- To create awareness of national and international issues at the grassroots
- To raise money awareness about and raise funds for AI
(3) Meeting Arrangements
- Date/Place/Time – regular or on an as need basis?
(4) Executive or Planning Committee?
- Meeting Organizer or Facilitator for subsequent meetings
- Possible Positions:
- Secretary, Advertising, Website, Event Coordinator(s). Regular Translator
(5) Group Communication
- Facebook, Yahoo!Groups, E-mail
(6) “ACTION” – Possible Campaigns or Events or Fundraisers
- China – Human Rights Problem Awareness / Earthquake Fundraiser
- “100 Days” Campaign with Amnesty Canada
- “Rollin’ 4 Rights”
- For an afternoon, learn to roll sushi alongside a sushi chef! Learn about the different variations and the secret techniques behind Japanese most sophisticated cuisines!
- “Taste for Justice” (Amnesty Canada) – restaurant sponsorships
- “Rhymin/Rappin for Rights” – held at the hip-hop club in Saga shi, “Watts”
- “Riskin for Rights” – have a marathon of Risk games on a Sat or Sun
- “Run for Rights” (Amnesty Canada) – wear Amnesty paraphernalia while running a race
and/or raise money for Amnesty
- “Write for Rights” – held on a specific day set by Amnesty where many schools have a
“letter-writing marathon”
Today’s Topic: FOCUS on CHINA!
(1) BEIJING OLYMPICS – Olympic Legacy, Human Rights Record (Domestic and Foreign)
– Facts and Statistics
- 10,000 executions take place per year in China, the majority have been wrongly accused
- China is the only country in the world that prosecutes, tortures, and murders Falun Gong practitioners
- Tibet = China has been accused of systematically killing (acts of genocide) Tibetans
- Sudan is China’s largest overseas oil project; China is Sudan’s greatest arms exporter
- China sold $3 million in small arms to Khartoum in 2003; that number reached more than $55 million by 2006.
- China has given $11 million in humanitarian aid to the region, and is providing $90 million in loans for water projects there.
- In Darfur 200,000 have died and 2.5 million have been displaced over the past five years.
- Check out: www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/16/china.olympicgames20082
- in 2001, the International Olympic Committee awarded China with being the 2008 Olympic hosts, UNDER THE CONDITION that China would promise to improve its human rights.
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Chinese Perspective – Thoughts from a Chinese Girl Living in Saga 1) What do you think of the human rights situation in China? Foreign medias sometimes attack on the human rights situation in China, but I think the human rights situation is getting better and better, and I think it is ok. For common Chinese citizens, we think we live in a democratic country, every one has freedom to have speech or do things as they like. Maybe there happened some issues before, but you know, China is a big country, to be the leader is not such an easy thing. 2) Do you think China should still host the Olympics? Of course!!! Any behavior to pretent China from hosting the Olympics is against Olympic spirits. We have confidence as well as competency to make the Olympics successfully. 3) What do you think of China’s connection with others, for example, Tibet, Sudan, etc.? China is a multi-national country—-56 peoples. And Tibet is one part of China, so it is the domestic affair of China. Actually, I do not so care about politics, but I think foreign medias have a lot of misunderstanding towards China. |
(2) CHINA EARTHQUAKE
- “Overnight, China has is no longer the victimizer, but the victim”
- Death toll – 65,000 (May 27, 2008)
- Fundraising event in coordination with creating awareness about the human rights problems
(3) TAKE ACTION – Sign a petition – it takes 2 minutes!! https://www.amnesty.ca/urgentappeal/tibet2008/takeaction.php
http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call-chinese-prime-minister-release-ye-guozhu
http://www.amnesty.or.jp/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=1480
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