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: Never In Our Names

Monday Action Items and Open Thread

By Alexa

Happy Monday, amigos! I hope everyone had a peaceful, relaxing weekend. It's been a busy weekend for me but much fun, and as I write this, late on Sunday evening, the thought of Monday morning and facing a jammed calendar and inbox filled with work-related email makes me want to hibernate on the sofa with my daughter, eat popcorn, watch Animal Planet and pretend that Monday will be an easy, stress-free day. You, too?

I try to find a sense of accomplishment in the many small things I can do while I'm on hold, or have a few minutes free to write a letter or sign a petition. Yes, it may seem like a tiny and miniscule gesture, but do you know that Moazzam Begg, a victim of rendition, torture and illegal imprisonment at Guantanamo stated the following upon his release from US custody?

I was beaten and verbally abused in detention. After a few days, the guards asked me, 'Do you know that your name is all over the Internet?'

After that, I was treated better by the guards before being released. The appeals sent by Amnesty members definitely had an effect on my case.

You see, the "little" things we do in collaboration sometimes result in success stories. So join me, if you will, in a Five Minute Activist session.
Elect To End Torture
Please help Elect To End Torture by signing the petition at Human Rights First.

Elect to End Torture 08 is a nonpartisan campaign to make sure that the next President puts an end to policies allowing torture and cruel treatment and adopts a strong national security policy that is consistent with the laws and values of our nation.

Reprieve lists 5 ways for you to help Pull The Plug on Torture Music. I found the idea of "torture music" fascinating and horrifying. Reprieve iists the artists and tracks used to torment the illegally imprisoned at ear-splitting levels and one detainee's account of how effective this simple, yet incredibly cruel method of torture can be.

Act Against Torture lists ten things anyone can do to stop indefinite detention and torture.

The ACLU asks for our help in signing a petition I think we can all agree is a very worthy cause: Tell Congress to reject a new declaration of war and the Bush/Mukasey plan to subvert the Constitution.

Dr. Afia Siddiqui and her three young children are "ghost detainees." Arrested in Pakistan on unsubstantiated "suspicious" financial transfers, Dr. Siddiqui was handed off to the FBI and from there, disappeared. There is no documentation of her status or that of her children.

What is also of grave concern to me is that when she was arrested by Pakistani intelligence authorities she was handed over to American intelligence agencies without being tried in Pakistan, I do not find any rationale in sending her along with her children to other country when there are Pakistani laws to deal with the suspected terrorists. It is known that President Musharraf handed over 600 suspected terrorists to America.

There are reports that in Afghanistan's prison of Bagram there is a woman prison known as Prisoner 650 and that she has been severely tortured. It is also widely suspected that Prisoner 650 is Dr. Afia Siddiqui. This prisoner has reportedly lost her mind due to constant rape and ill treatment.

Darfur
Call for the effective protection of children in Darfur by the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force at Amnesty International.

A generation of Darfuris is growing up in extreme fear and insecurity. Of the four million people affected by the conflict in Darfur, 1.8 million are children under 18.

Of the 2.3 million people who have been displaced, one million are children. Since April 2006, the conflict has created 120,000 newly displaced children.

In February 2008, Sudanese forces and government-backed militias attacked villages in West Darfur. 800 children between the ages of 12 and 18 were left unaccounted for by the attacks.

Visit Eyes On Darfur and tell Congress to Fund Peacekeeping in Darfur. While you're there, why not pick up a copy of the Instant Karma CD? Even if you have one, you probably know someone who doesn't. Amigos, this is one CD I never tire of listening to. Be sure to sign the petition to affirm that as a citizen of the world, you protest the genocide in Darfur. No more. We promised Never Again during Rwanda, and this is a promesa that will take you only a minure or two to honor.

Stop Violence Against Women
Amnesty International has an activist's tool kit to help you educate, empower and help end the despicable practice of abuse against women.

While you're thinking about it, look up at the right sidebar here at NION. See the PayPal link for Alicia's Kids Trust Fund? This site and its proprietor accept no money whatsoever, but we are extremely appreciative of any contributions to the children of Alicia Sears Castillon, a victim of domestic violence, the beloved daughter of NION administrator Zwoof and cherished mother of four beautiful children.

Please keep Betsy Campisi, Georgia Little Shield and our friends at Pretty Bird Woman House in mind, too. Pretty Bird Woman House is a shelter for Native American victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.

What the shelter needs: Pretty Bird Woman House will always be in need of the following items: towels and washcloths, twin and queen size sheets and blankets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, women's hygiene items, diapers of all sizes, baby wipes, first aid kit items, and analgesics such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

The women seem to run through shampoo and diapers the fastest, so it would be helpful when you are considering material donations to prioritize those 2 items.

New or gently used clothing for women and children, as well as all kinds of toys, are always appreciated. For the women's clothing, M-XXL are the most common sizes.

There is also a continuing need for new sweat suits, underwear and bras for women who have been sexually assaulted, since they often must leave their clothes behind at the hospital as part of the evidence gathering process. Last October, a hospital released a woman in only her hospital gown and blanket. Sheesh!

Incredibly, at a time when more and more Americans are either uninsured or struggling with the soaring costs of health care, the Bush administration has drafted a set of regulations that could seriously undermine the ability of American women to get birth control.  As drafted, the Bush regulations extend federal law, allowing more health care institutions like insurance companies, pharmacies, and hospitals to refuse to provide contraceptive services and information. Please sign the petition to protect women's access to birth control at ACLU.

Full post as published by Never In Our Names on August 04, 2008 (boomark / email).