“Call for Justice for victims of Bhopal Gas Disaster in India”

Film Night and Panel Discussion – Bhopali, April 24, 2012 at Lethbridge Public library starting
6.30 pm.

Admission is free

BHOPALI documents the experience of second generation children affected by the Union Carbide gas disaster of 1984 in India, the worst industrial disaster in history, and subsequent contamination of groundwater by Union Carbide Corporation (an American company now owned by Dow Chemical, the second largest chemical company in the world).   Set against the backdrop of vehement protests for the 25th anniversary of the disaster, the Bhopalis continue to fight for justice, proving to be anything but victims.

Thousands were killed and more than 100,000 were affected by the contaminants. 26 years have passed since the disaster, yet the suffering continues and, for the victims, justice has yet to be seen.   Survivors and human rights groups have been campaigning for Dow to address the ongoing health and environmental impacts of the disaster. However, Dow has consistently rejected any responsibility for UCC’s liabilities in Bhopal.

Dow Chemical Company has been granted a contract to provide a decorative fabric wrap to encircle London’s Olympic Stadium during the next year’s Games.  The International Olympic Committee and games’ organizers continue (for now) solidly and uncritically to back Dow as a sponsor, despite harsh criticism from Amnesty and others. India will be partially boycotting the London Games, refusing to send an official delegation to the opening or closing ceremonies. Symbolic yes, but an embarrassment nonetheless for the London organizers and for  Dow Chemical.

For more information about Bhopali check out these websites:

 http://www.bhopalithemovie.com/sign-petition-dow-out-of-olympics/

https://www.change.org/petitions/drop-dow-chemical-as-partners-for-the-london-2012-olympic-games-bhopal

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/university/2012/04/05/jamnesty-calls-olympic-sponsor-ban

http://www.bhopalithemovie.com/about/

Amnesty International Lethbridge invites you to join them on April 11, 2012 for the screening of Mimi Chakarova’s award winning film “The Price of Sex” followed by presentations by Constable Pete Christos, of the Lethbridge Regional Police Service, and Dr. Glenda Bonifacio, a Women and Gender Studies professor at the University of Lethbridge. The event will take place from 6-9pm at the Lethbridge Public Library Main Theatre Gallery.

Human trafficking affects people across the globe, and in Canada. Victims can include women, children and men from foreign countries, who are lured with the promise of work, but are instead forced into prostitution or other unpaid labour, and subjected to physical and psychological abuse, and economic deprivation.
Please join us for an evening dedicated to raising awareness about the realities of human trafficking across the globe and in Canada.
 
Free refreshments will be available at the event.
Admission is free

 Please purchase tickets in advance since there is a limited number.  If you have an question about this event please email Priti @ priti_24@yahoo.com.

Amnesty International Lethbridge Hosts 5th Annual Write for Rights

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY – December 10, 2011

Round Street Cafe – 427 – 5th Street South

December 10, 2011, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Show your support for HUMAN RIGHTS around the globe by joining us to write letters to help prisoners of conscience, human rights defenders under threat, and vulnerable communities facing ongoing abuse of their human rights.

This year we are hoping to write 1000 letters with YOUR HELP as well as the help of community groups and organizations in Lethbridge.

FREE PUBLIC EVENT, please join us in our write-a-thon, enjoy live music, refreshments, door prizes and a silent auction.

We will proved the pens, paper, letter appeals, and stamps!

As well we will be doing a greeting card campaign to give messages of hope to prisoners of conscience.

Thanks to our musicians:  Dale Ketcheson, Collin McInnes, and Floyd Sillito

Thanks to our donors:  Round Street Cafe, Ten Thousand Villages, Two Guys and a Pizza Place, Jasmine Tea Room, Showcase Comics, Napa Auto Parts Coaldale, Naturistas, Conscious Crafter, Darcie Sharp, and Harald.

Community participants hosting their own Write for Rights:

Local bible study group

Curves South

Pemmican Lodge

Black Rock Terrace

Gilbert Paterson Middle School

Winston Churchill High School

Victoria Park High School

OUTreach Southern Alberta Society

If your organization or group is interested in hosting your own Write for Rights please contact Darcie sharpd@telus.net

For more information visit www.amnesty.ca/writeathon

Join our local Amnesty team in the Write for Rights pledge campaign: http://amnesty.akaraisin.com/amnestywriteforrights2011/teamlethbridgeamnesty

A mailbox will be available at Round Street Cafe during the month of December so that you can write letters all month long!

http://ai50.ca/

Eyes on the Middle East: Film Night & Panel Discussion

Lethbridge – Amnesty International Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Public Library invite you to join
them on November 23, 2011 for the screening of Al Jazeera’s “Bahrain: Shouting in the Dark”,
followed by a panel discussion.

The Middle East and North Africa is currently a region where countless numbers of women and
men are working to strengthen and promote human rights for all. This work is done in spite of the
fact that human rights are not widely respected by the governments in the region. The abuses
have grown much worse since the Arab Spring began in December 2010. Since then thousands
have been mercilessly killed by their own governments, militaries, and police services.

The film follows the revolutions of the small island kingdom in the Arabian Gulf where people
fighting for democratic rights broke the barriers of fear, only to find themselves alone and crushed.

Following the screening there will be a panel discussion and a question period for the audience.
Free refreshments will be available at the event.

The panellists include Dr. Trevor Harrison, the chair of the Sociology Department at the University
of Lethbridge; Thabit Alomari, a graduate student in the Anthropology Department who has studied
and lived in the Middle East; and Don Wright, the Regional Development Coordinator for Amnesty
International Canada.

Please join us for an act of solidarity on behalf of all those who have been jailed, murdered, or
disappeared, during their fight for basic human rights during the Arab Spring revolutions.

For more information, please contact Amnesty International Lethbridge at 403-308-4944.

Film screening of Al Jazeera’s “Bahrain: Shouting in the Dark” and a panel
discussion on the Arab Spring

Bring blankets and lawn chairs if you would like.
Please bring pictures of loved ones who have been affected by violence.

For more information, see the newly released report by Native Women’s Association of Canada:
http://www.nwac.ca/sisters-spirit-research-report-2010

or see Amnesty International’s 2009 report on Stolen Sisters:
http://www.amnesty.ca/amnestynews/upload/AMR200122009.pdf

There will be snacks, entertainment, and of course, letters for human rights! We are trying to write the most letters in Canada in one night – we hope you can join us!

Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-12-10

Refreshments will be available all night (Thanks to Round Street Cafe!), as well as crafts and activities for children!

Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-12-06

Refreshments will be available all night (Thanks to Round Street Cafe!), as well as crafts and activities for children!

Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-12-10