I’ve been so ebullient since last Tuesday that it’s a hard thump landing on the ground remembering how screwed up the world still is, especially for women.

The BBC reports 15 Afghan schoolgirls had acid shot on their faces from a toy gun by a motorcycle-riding duo outside of a school in Kandahar.  Several of the girls were wearing burkas, which covered their faces, so locals suspect the attack came from terrorists who oppose women’s education.

“I don’t know why they did it,” one 16-year-old girl said. “Kandahar is not safe. But we can’t stay at home, we want an education.”

If you’re as sickened by this news as I am, you can take action by learning more about Afghan girls’ education at the Feminist Majority Foundation and find out what your donations can do to help.

A Burmese blogger/poet has been jailed for writing a poem that contained a hidden message that criticized dictator Senior General Than Shwe. Mr. Saw Wai was sentenced to 2 years for his poem entitled 14th February - it was a Valentines day poem published in a popular magazine back in January.  As it turns out, the first word of each line in the poem spelled out a message not about love : “Power Crazy Senior General Than Shwe”

Condemning the imprisonment of the writer and the blogger, Reporters Without Borders, an advocacy group, said: “The authorities have imposed an extraordinarily severe punishment on Nay Phone Latt just for using the internet. This shocking sentence is meant to terrify those who go online in an attempt to elude the dictatorship’s ubiquitous control of news and information and we call for his immediate release. Saw Wai, for his part, is being made to pay for his impertinence and courage as a committed poet. [TimesOnline]

I often take for granted my freedom of speech, as I get to wake up each day and spout off my opinions on a forum for all to read.   But when I read a story like the one above, I can’t help but see my life in a new light.

Read the rest of this entry »

When NBA stars make headlines off the court, it often involves scandal but this weekend Tracy McGrady received media attention for his amazing work to help raise awareness on the genocide in Darfur. Tracy visited Darfurian refugee camps (along with super-human rights activist, John Prendergast) in Chad last year. His physical and emotional journey is captured in the fabulous documentary, 3 Points.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Tracy and seeing the film this weekend at a private screening at CAA headquarters in LA. Some 200 attended the event last Saturday including actor Emmanuelle Chriqui, the legendary Reggie Miller, and fellow NBA stars Baron Davis and Carl Landry. As well as dozens of young people from high schools across LA.

Tracy is candid about his fears of traveling and camping in Africa and about his confusion of the very complicated situation. What he learns while he is there- and what we learn from the film- is that the children in these refugee camps have strength way beyond their years. And what they need most (in addition to the 3Ps: Peace, Protection and Punishment) is education. And this became Tracy’s call to action.

Read the rest of this entry »

photo by softlad stole my soul

Did you know there’s an international holiday on December 10^th that requires your participation and has nothing to do with hanging decorations or gift shopping? No, it has nothing to do with that other holiday season. It’s International Human Rights Day on December 10^th. You have an opportunity to join with thousands of like-minded people worldwide who are committed to protecting human rights by participating in Amnesty International’s Global Write-a-thon to write letters, postcards and emails on behalf of prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders, and others at risk.  Takepart in this important event and to mark International Human Rights Day.

Even if it’s just the beginning of the end of Guantanamo, what good news! It’s nice to know that even though Obama is focusing on the economy he’s still paying attention to the war and all things related.

From the Huffington Post:

“President-elect Obama’s advisers are quietly crafting a proposal to ship dozens, if not hundreds, of imprisoned terrorism suspects to the United States to face criminal trials, a plan that would make good on his promise to close the Guantanamo Bay prison but could require creation of a controversial new system of justice.”

The article goes on to to classify how all levels of prisoners would be dealt with, with some prisoners needing a new court system that could deal with their entanglement with highly classified issues.

I have to say that this makes me super excited. Even thought it might be slightly controversial and something new, it is something that takes into account people’s rights (something the current administration didn’t seem to care very much about).

Read the rest of this entry »

If you weren’t already feeling good about President-Elect Barack Obama, the below video should change that.  If you were already feeling good about President-Elect Barack Obama than the video below should make you happier.

In the weeks before the election the economy became the main focus but it’s important to remember what else an Obama presidency could and should mean when it comes to torture, genocide, poverty and war:

takepart with Human Rights First and remember that we won the vote and now we have to make that change mean something!

And takepart with our social action for Standard Operating Procedure and learn how you can fight torture

Whether you’re dressed as a zombie John McCain, an Exxon Mobil executive drowning in dollars or a devil (which could look quite similar to a certain Tina Fey character), everyone seems to love to eat candy on Halloween. And, I don’t want to rain on your parade, but Halloween provides yet another opportunity for the Social Action snapshot to promote one more cause for you to consider. A large percentage of commercially sold chocolate (think Nestle, Mars and Hersheys) is made from cacao beans harvested in West Africa by child labor. These kids work under harsh, unethical conditions for very little money. However, consumers can make an easy choice today by buying from only the sweetest chocolate companies (sweet, that is, to labor rights).

takepart Click here for this chocolate list so that you can avoid the most bitter companies and have a truly sweet Halloween!

Unfortunately, the depressing news to save Troy Davis continues. After the Supreme Court chose not to review his case last week, Georgia set his execution date for Oct 27th. However, there is still a chance to stop the execution of a man whose conviction was based on questionable evidence.

takepart Contact the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles today to ask them to reconsider the case and stop the execution.

And takepart to listen to Troy speaking about how grateful he is for this outpouring of love and support.

Related:

Sarah’s Social Action Snapshot

Fortunately, Darfur has been much discussed in the presidential debates, with both candidates expressing genuine concern for the ongoing genocide. Both presidential and vice-presidential candidates have also supported removed their personal assets from Sudan . However, there is much more to be done on the political and humanitarian fronts to end the genocide in Darfur with a new president in the White House. Send a strong message to the new administration about the importance of Darfur by supporting the Genocide Intervention Network’s effort to make Darfur a Day One Priority. takepart Sign today to help them reach their goal of one million postcard signers.

via Cool Hunting - A beautiful animated look at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to end my Monday. Things like this make me think that the world is going to be OK - esp as we move towards November 4th.

takepart with the Human Rights Action Center to help celebrate 60 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Read on:

Sarah’s Social Action Snapshot: Protect Veteran’s Voting Rights

Fair Trade Sports: Get Your Social Justice Kicks

Prop 8 Ads Begin