Amnesty International USA Group 4 of Seattle

Amnesty International Group 4 will once again have a booth at the Fremont Fair this weekend, June 16-17. Stop by & sign a few petitions, take some literature, buy a t-shirt and/or just say hi!

AI Booth at 2011 Fremont Fair

Fremont Fair website: http://www.fremontfair.org/

Join us for our monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 5, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in the den at the Mosaic Coffee House, 4401 2nd Ave NE. First half hour is letter writing and socializing. Meeting starts at 7 pm.

Topics include:

Syria DieIn Action in May will be noted and follow ups listed

Elaboration on the importance of the May 4, NWIRP “talk” and May 19th “One America Events” that provided an prologue for the currently successful legal actions to decrease racial profiling based on presumption of national origin by Border Patrol and other “authorities” at the Northern Border of WA!

Recognition of June 3rd Tiananmen Square Memorial/rally for human rights in China

June 16/17th Fremont Solstice Fair: sign ups to help on info booth, and types of topics to discuss then/there;
June 23/4: Seattle GLBT-Pride Days – if anyone is interested in participation;
June 24-26th Actions – see
http://blog.amnestyusa.org/americas/why-is-june-torture-awareness-month/ that will link to how to take
phone call action to the White House and will be a resource for the many June 26th events organized;
For Maher Arar and the importance of “The Apology” see, http://www.thenation.com/article/167993/can-obama-say-hes-sorry

Seattle June 26th: Vigil and Dramatic Reading, “International Day in Support of Torture Survivors” – Jackson Federal Building, 2nd Ave and Madison, 6pm to 8pm. Bring a poem or prose statement by a favorate author that expresses your own concern for the issues – the poems and prose pieces will be used by the AIUSA Lobby Delegation to local Congress in early July (Signup for lobby is only via AIUSA online, see lobby delegation). June 26 is sponsored by AIUSA in WA, WSRCAT, among other sponsors. Info: wordheath@gmail.com

The Mosaic Coffee House is a nonprofit coffee house located in Seattle First Church (behind the Dick’s Drive In on 45th Street in the Wallingford Neighborhood). Check for directions, free parking and bus line information at:http://www.mosaiccoffeehouse.org/directions.htm

Facebook page for June meeting at: https://www.facebook.com/events/182271055235510/

Join us on  Tuesday, April 17 from 5:30 – 7 pm for a panel discussion at Seattle City Hall in including Sara Schmidt from AI’s Western Regional office.

Details from Seattle City Hall’s website:

Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell and the Seattle Human Rights Commission to host “Human Rights 101” forum

Seattle – What are human rights? Why do they matter in Seattle? How do human rights protect me? What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? How can I support human rights?

All people are born free and equal with dignity and rights. Each of us have human rights. Join us to learn how those rights are applicable to you, your loved ones, and your community. Learn how human rights protect against all forms of discrimination including racism. Acquire the tools to make a difference in your community and become an advocate for dignity and justice.

WHAT:
Presentation and panel discussion about human rights at the local level.

WHEN:
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Council Chambers, second floor
Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, Seattle 98104

WHO:
Councilmember Bruce A. Harrell
Sara Schmidt, Amnesty International, Western Region Field Organizer
Seattle Human Rights Commission
Seattle Office for Civil Rights

For more information, please contact Felicia Yearwood, Seattle Office for Civil Rights at 206-684-4537 or felicia.yearwood@seattle.gov.

The forum will be available for viewing on the Seattle Channel’s Web site afterward.

Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/286074148135388/

Join us for our monthly meeting on Tuesday,  April 3, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in the den at the Mosaic Coffee House, 4401 2nd Ave NE. First half hour is letter writing and socializing. Meeting starts at 7 pm.

Discussion will report backs Amnesty International USA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) last weekend and planning for upcoming events.

Agenda with links for facilitator Larry Ebersole below:

Amnesty International USA Local Group 4 of Seattle

Monthly Meeting, Tuesday, April 3, 2012: (6: 30 pm to 8:30 pm)

(Where: Mosaic Café in the Wallingford District of Seattle, see www.seattleamnesty.org >)

Agenda: Please DO ADD YOUR Projects or Concerns

6:30 to 7:00 – Letter Writing actions for Individuals at Risk;

7:00 to 7:15 – Introductions – “Please reply to the Question – if you could…what would YOU    do for human rights via events here in Seattle?”

7:15 to 7:40: Gleanings – from the Annual General Meeting from anyone? who participated?

7:40 to 8:10: Core Campaign Updates

-Individuals at Risk: No new updates? from December’s Writeathon; Shi Tao is on-going;

-Death Penalty Abolition/Just Alternatives – March 17^th education event;

http://www.amnestyusa.org/research/reports/death-sentences-and-executions-2011

-Security with Human Rights: on-going focus on Maher Arar “Airplane Apology Actions”http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/campaigns/security-with-human-rights

     [Fyi – new law suit against USA indefinite military detentions http://www.democracynow.org/2012/3/30/headlines#7 ];

-Demand Dignity: Oil and mining corporations are current focus – impacts on populace with focus on Nigeria, India; maybe? USA accountability, too?  http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/campaigns/demand-dignity/hold-corporations-accountable ;

New Report by AIUSA: “Hostile Terrain”: See below –

http://www.amnestyusa.org/research/reports/usa-in-hostile-terrain-human-rights-violations-in-immigration-enforcement-in-the-us-southwest  ;

8:15?: Next Steps? Anyone?

-Want to do a film event? Panel discussion? Or too much energy for now?;

8:25: Announcements:

            -April 17^th: Sara Schmidt  Presents, “Human Rights 101” – 5:30pm to 7:30pm, Seattle City Hall, Council Chambers, 810 Third Ave –   sponsored by Seattle City (governmental) Human Rights Commission & Commission on Disabilities/Civil Rights of City of Seattle (free – open to all! Accessible; ASL interpretation if arranged in advance; Info 206 684-4537, Sara Schmidt, sschmidt@aiusa.org >);

-Two Dinner Party-style events to assist allied immigrant rights groups in Seattle (TBA);

– May NATO Conference in Chicago: AI and AIUSA Letter – http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/news-item/letter-to-president-obama-prime-minister-cameron

-May 15: FYI – International Conscientious Objectors’ Day;

-June:

-Seattle Solstice Fair Info and Outreach Table;

-Seattle & International Day for Torture Victims and Survivors

Summer in Seattle?                                                                           

Resources: http://blog.amnestyusa.org/iar/race-matters/

See www.amnestyusa.org > for all campaign details; reports, news releases;

See www.seattleamnesty.org > for what Group 4 does to advocate for Amnesty Campaigns.

The Mosaic Coffee House is a nonprofit coffee house located in Seattle First Church (behind the Dick’s Drive In on 45th Street in the Wallingford Neighborhood). Check for directions, free parking and bus line information at:http://www.mosaiccoffeehouse.org/directions.htm

Facebook Event for April Meeting: https://www.facebook.com/events/278195422255079/

Join us for our monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 6, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in the den at the Mosaic Coffee House, 4401 2nd Ave NE. First half hour is letter writing and socializing. Meeting starts at 7 pm.

Discussion will likely include upcoming events, including Amnesty International USA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Denver from Mar. 30 – Apr. 1 and an event on Troy Davis: The Human Face of the Death Penalty at the Keystone United Church of Christ (5019 Keystone Place N, Seattle) 5-6:30 pm on Sat. Mar. 17 (details to be posted here soon).

The Mosaic Coffee House is a nonprofit coffee house located in Seattle First Church (behind the Dick’s Drive In on 45th Street in the Wallingford Neighborhood). Check for directions, free parking and bus line information at:http://www.mosaiccoffeehouse.org/directions.htm

Facebook Event for Mar. Meeting: https://www.facebook.com/events/313950601994545/

Join us for our monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 7, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in the den at the Mosaic Coffee House, 4401 2nd Ave NE. First half hour is letter writing and socializing. Meeting starts at 7 pm.

Agenda:

Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, February 07, 2012: Location – Mosaic Café in Wallingford, Seattle (see,www.amnestyseattle.org )

7:15pm to 7:40pm:                Review of January, 2012 Action Events:                    

Jan 11 “Oppose Guantanamo” at Seattle Federal Building

Jan 23^rd Lobby Against Death Penalty and for Just Alternatives –

7:40pm                       Plan Next Actions!  Ideas invited!

8:00pm                       Announcements of upcoming Events & Actions

March 8^th: International Women’s Day – Plan Something? Anyone heard of anything to enjoin?

March 18^th: Special Event On Death Penalty – Details Soon;

March 30 to April 1^st: Annual Amnesty International USA General Meeting, Denver, Colorado.  Subsidy Applications For AIPS – Due By This Friday February 10^th; Western Regional Office subsidies for share hotel rooms – due soon (details on www.amnestyusa.org/agm );

The Mosaic Coffee House is a nonprofit coffee house located in Seattle First Church (behind the Dick’s Drive In on 45th Street in the Wallingford Neighborhood). Check for directions, free parking and bus line information at:http://www.mosaiccoffeehouse.org/directions.htm

Facebook event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/360187403999970/