Archive for the ‘Human Rights’ Category

Instead of buying socks this Christmas, why not buy a Christmas gift from the Virtual Gifts catalogue from St Mungo’s – London’s largest charity for homeless people – and buy a present that could actually make a life changing difference to someone who really needs it?

Their Virtual Gifts catalogue contains innovative presents that support a wide range of homeless needs, including health checks, literacy training, toiletries and fresh clothing. There is even the opportunity to provide vet care for dogs (a dog is often a homeless person’s only companion), or even a set of gardening tools, or lunch money so that someone can join one of St. Mungo’s vocational training programmes. Other gifts include -

• Give a dog a home £8
• Safe warm bed, health check and healthy meal £50
• Depression counselling £45
• Literacy training £50
• Keep an outreach team going £150
• Phone call £10
• Health check £15
• Present £20
• Fresh start £25
• 2 weeks lunch £32
• Gardening tool kit £35

St Mungo’s is London’s largest charity for homeless people, offering emergency services to rough sleepers, supporting homeless people in their recovery, and working to prevent homelessness 24 hours per day, 365 days a year and Christmas is no exception. In the last year St Mungo’s helped 450 people off the streets, provided accommodation for 1,400 people every night and helped more than 2,300 clients access work and learning programmes.

So why not help support London’s homeless and order a virtual charity gift from St Mungo’s today? Not only will you be providing essential funds to help those most in need, but you will also receive a thank you card and a voucher that you can personalise and pass on to a friend or family member as a unique and imaginative Christmas gift.

> > Click here to order online at St. Mungos shop

Other top charity gifts

Amnesty International UK has launched a gritty online short film which shows activists preventing a torture victim from any further abuse. The 90 second film, ‘Defy Them’, shows a person being ‘waterboarded’, the method of torture where a captive is repeatedly held underwater whilst wearing a blindfold. This was said to be used in Guantánamo Bay to make the Al Queda prisoners talk and is a truely horrific act.

The film then goes on to reveal the torturers losing control of their hands, as imaginary Amnesty International supporters appear from behind them to stop any more pain being inflicted.

Some viewers may find this film disturbing.

> > Click here to watch ‘Defy ‘Them’ short film

Amnesty International UK Campaigns Director, Tim Hancock, said -

Torture is never justified. No cause ever ‘justifies’ torture. Torture inflicts pain and suffering on its victims, degrades any society that allows it to happen and actually often yields nothing of value to the torturers anyway. We want people to watch this brilliant new film and go away with the feeling that torture is unquestionably wrong, and they can do something to stamp it out. We can all do something to help stop torture, whether it’s signing a petition, sending a letter to our MP or by joining Amnesty International.

The ‘Defy Them’ film was created by Australian advertising agency WCRS, one of several recently produced short films released by Amnesty International to highlight the reality of torture around the world.

> > Click here to sign up to Amnesty International

In Greece, Mr. Theodoros Tenezos is now into the 27th day of his hunger strike. The reason for this hunger strike is to Stop the Cartel who control the entire Greek steel economy. This control has recently seen the high cost of living in Greece cause the closure of many businesses and forced a large number of the Greek population to live below the poverty level.

Mr. Tenezos is a 39 years old businessman, and president of Iron Tenco, a steel retailer in Greece. His company collapsed as a direct result of a refusal by a Greek steel cartel to supply him raw materials without economic reason. His official complaint, submitted nearly 3 years ago, has never been fully investigated by the Greek Competition Commission.

Mr.Tenezos is accusing the Greek government of offering protection to the Greek steel cartel who are currently dominating the Greek economy. The hunger strike is to demand the Greek government fully investigate the steel cartel and completely replace the present committee members that are being sued by him in the criminal courts for illegal practices.

Mr. Tenezos is also demanding the Greek Government and the Greek Competition Commission terminate their protection of the cartels which dominate the Greek economy. This protection has left Greece completely unprotected in the present economic crisis, leaving the Greek people exposed to poverty.

This is the first hunger strike in the world to address the basic structural economic and political problem present in most of the countries.

Greece is currently rated as one of the least efficient economies in the world over last few years according to the listing of Global Competition Review, and considered a ‘Black Hole’ of competitive trading in Europe.

The 10th December 2008 will mark the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In the UDHR, the United Nations stated in clear and simple terms the rights that belong equally to each and everyone of us.

Amnesty International UK campaigns across the world for these rights to be upheld and observed. Since 1961, they have campaigned for thousands of individuals whose human rights have been violated. One such person is Yang Chunlin, who was tortured and imprisoned for simply standing up for the rights of others. Amnesty International is campaigning for his release and to stop the use of torture.

>> You can help by registering your support with Amnesty today.

This weekend sees Amnesty International UK‘s Secret Policeman’s Ball 2008, showing in London’s Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 4th October. Here’s a great clip featuring Russell Brand from last years show -

The show will be broadcast on Channel 4 on following night at 5th 9pm, and will feature some of the most cutting edge comedic and musical talents. The show will also highlight some of Amnesty International’s campaigning activities for human rights all over the world.

This specific edition of the Secret Policeman’s Ball will also mark the start of Amnesty International’s celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December.

> > click here to make a donation to Amnesty International

> > click here to find out more about the work of Amnesty International