Make a difference now. (Amnesty International)

Member Name: Bryn Pearson

Product:	Amnesty International
Date:	24/09/02 (57 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: individuial actions matter

Disadvantages: disturbing

Every now and then a news article will come along that has the power to make most people in this country angry - around the world there are all kinds of injustices, and many of them do make you want to stand up and do something. As an ordinary person, there doesn't seem to be much scope for this. Whatever you might think, you can help to make a difference.

Amnesty International is an organisation that challenges injustice and campaigns for human rights around the globe. It highlights the plight of people imprisonned, tortured and executed because they have said things their government didn't like, of those at the mercy of barbaric laws, of those 'dissapeared' by regeims that don't even bother to enshrine their violence in law.

The Amnesty website gives you full information on who Amnesty is and what it is doing at the moment - news from around the world occupies the front page, and at the end of each news bite are the words 'take action'(click on them to go to a page where you are told what you can do and who you can petition). There are always things that you can do - on the website you will find peitions to sign, email addresses and snail mail addresses for people who can be lobbied. If there is someone specific you can approach in your country or the country where the problem is, its all there. Lobbying is powerful, and it does get results. If you approach your own politicians and try to get them to take interest in worldwide injustice, you can get things done.You can campaign for change. Amnesty has been going for 40 years now, it gets results and you can contribute to that.

The website itself is ok in terms of design and navigation, but not massively easy to get round. Everything you need is there, but not always well labled. You may need to be patient, but its well worth it. There is information in other languages as well (but if you are reading this in English I guess that's of limited interest.)


You may have heard in the news about Aminal Lawal, the woman in Nigeria condemned to be stoned for adultry. If you want to help her and others like her, visit the website now. Just drop by now and then when you have some spare time and see if there is anything you can help with. Your time could save lives.

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