Procomicdiva's Place

Free Aung San Suu Kyi

Procomicdiva — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:58:24 GMT

Amnesty International

This past weekend, in the first meeting of its kind to ever take place with a sitting U.S. President, President Obama met with the 10 leaders of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and called for action on human rights issues in Myanmar. More directly, Obama urged Myanmar's prime minister, Thein Sein, to release democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi as well as other political prisoners in Myanmar.

President Obama's support comes at the perfect time. His words add fuel to the fire that Amnesty International supporters started a long time ago. And come December 5-13^th, Myanmar's leaders will see just how brightly our flame can burn.

We're so close! Last year at this time, many people thought that Suu Kyi had no chance at ever being released. Today, we are positive that her release is not only possible, but could happen very soon. But we don't just want Suu Kyi released, we want her free – enjoying all of her human rights.

The more letters we send on behalf of Aung San Suu Kyi, the better chance we have at urging Myanmar's leaders to free Aung San Suu Kyi.

Choose your level of support. Please pledge to write 1, 5, or 10 letters on behalf of Aung San Suu Kyi and this year's other Write-a-thon cases:

<table align="center"><tbody><tr><td width="25"> </td><td height="35"></td><td width="25"> </td></tr><tr><td width="25"> </td><td height="35"></td><td width="25"> </td></tr><tr><td width="25"> </td><td height="35"></td><td width="25"> </td></tr></tbody></table>
Thank you for your support.

– Michael O'Reilly

Give the gift of Human Rights

Procomicdiva — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:06:28 GMT

Give the gift of Human Rights this holiday season and buy gifts from our online store. We have a variety of items for your family and friends – everything from Amnesty International holiday cards, t-shirts and accessories, to unique handmade gifts from around the globe!

Thank you for your support. Every purchase supports Amnesty International's life-saving human rights work.

Cards

Prices vary by item

I nstant Karma CD

or click below for

More musical choices

Kashmir Painted Ornament

Jerusalem Candle of Hope

AI 2010 Wall Calendar

AI Baseball Cap

AI Apparel

Book: Fire in the Soul

Reed Wine Bottle Holder

Stuffed Soccer Ball

Shaping the Future Bracelet

Cotton Dari Journal

More gift ideas

Join the 2009 Global Write-a-thon and write for human rights

Procomicdiva — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:54:35 GMT

1) Write a letter. 2) Save a life.
Who knew that protecting human rights could be so simple?
Join the 2009 Global Write-a-thon and write for human rights!

Dear C J ,

In Nepal, Rita Mahato, a health worker, has received death threats for seeking to protect women from violence.

In Uzbekistan, two human rights defenders, Azam Farmonov and Alisher Karamatov, are jailed for promoting the rights of farmers.

In Ethiopia, Birtukan Mideksa is serving a life sentence for seeking peaceful political change.

These are just a few of the cases of torture, abuse and political imprisonment that Amnesty activists around the world will rally around during the upcoming Global Write-a-thon. In the days surrounding International Human Rights Day -- December 10 -- the world's largest letter writing event will take place.

Our global network of activists, acting independently and in groups of various sizes, will collectively send a tidal wave of letters and postcards on behalf of individuals in danger of severe human rights abuse as a sign of solidarity and a reminder that they are not alone.

Be a part of the Global Write-a-thon event and make a difference in the life of someone who needs you.

We have lots of resources to make your Write-a-thon letters powerful and your events memorable. If you register now, you will receive information about special Write-a-thon offers, exciting tools for promoting your events, and the latest updates about this year's cases.

Please help us spread the word! Reach out to people in your communities, schools, churches, Facebook groups or other social networks.

We want to make this the best Write-a-thon ever! During last year's Global Write-a-thon, more than 7,000 people in the U.S. pledged to write 200,000 letters in support of our cases. Every year, this worldwide event gets bigger and bigger -- and we expect to top all records this time around.

We've seen prisoners freed and lives spared because your letters make things happen! Just last year, Ma Khin Khin Leh, a school teacher in Myanmar and Hana Abdi, a women's rights advocate in Iran, were both released from prison after Write-a-thon letters overwhelmed their respective government offices.

Together, we can bring justice and human rights back to people who need it. Join the Global Write-a-thon today and show the world that when you stand up for human rights, you never stand alone.

Sincerely,

Michael O'Reilly
Program Director
Individuals at Risk Campaign
Amnesty International USA

Two out of three ain’t bad

Procomicdiva — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:02:15 GMT

November 6, 2009

Wins in Washington and Kalamazoo soothe a likely loss in Maine

by Anthony Glassman

Olympia, Wash.--In two out of three LGBT-related issues around the nation in the general election, the pro-gay sides were victorious on November 3.

In Washington, the pro-gay side kept a domestic partner law that conferred most of the state rights of marriage on unmarried, registered couples, beating back a strong challenge by just 2.2 percent of the vote.

The issue has been a contentious one, with anti-gay groups successfully delaying the release of names on the petitions placing the issue on the ballot. They argued that those who had signed the petitions faced threats and recriminations if their names were placed before the public.

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, voters approved adding LGBT people to the city’s antidiscrimination ordinance.

The measure included both sexual orientation and gender identity, adding those terms to the city’s protections for employment, housing and public accommodations. It passed with 7,671 votes, compared to 4,731 against.

Read Full Story

Blood Diamonds

Procomicdiva — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:44:53 GMT

Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Ryan Gosling join protest against diamond mining in war zones

Posted on Monday, February 26, 2007 (EST)
Oscar nominees, actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Ryan Gosling appeared at the Oscars on 25th February wearing red teardrop pins to raise awareness about diamond mining in war zones.

A wedding ring should be about love

Procomicdiva — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:45:52 GMT

Diva Note:This gave me the shudders....coincidence I think not!

Zimbabwean soldiers have seized diamond fields and murdered and tortured miners. This week, international diamond regulators could ban Zimbabwe from the global market. Sign the petition to end Zimbabwe's 'blood diamonds':

Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe has brutally seized control of his country's diamond fields and is using the profits from our precious wedding rings and jewelry to finance a vicious political militia.

The group of countries that regulate the global diamond trade are right now meeting in Namibia to decide whether to suspend Mugabe and stop him selling his blood diamonds on the world market.

We have just 24 hours to persuade these countries to act - let's get a flood of signatures on a petition and deliver it directly to the meeting in Namibia. Sign at the link below and forward this email to anyone who doesn't want our gifts of love to finance hate:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/diamonds_for_love_not_hate

All diamond producing countries know that their profits are dependent on the brand reputation of diamonds, and that increasing awareness of "blood diamonds" threatens that brand. A massive global petition will show them that the diamond-buying public is demanding action.

Zimbabwe's diamonds used to be mined by local people. But in the last several months, Mugabe's thugs have brutally taken over, murdering up to 200 civilians. An international investigation in July found "horrific violence against civilians".

The profits from these blood diamonds are being used to finance a political militia that has already killed thousands of Zimbabweans, and threatens the fragile unity government in the country. Letting Mugabe keep these diamonds could finance a whole new war.

All of us are learning the ways in which our decisions about what we buy and do can affect the lives of our fellow human beings half a world away. An engagement ring should be something given and worn out of love, let's tell diamond regulators to keep it that way:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/diamonds_for_love_not_hate

With hope,

Ricken, Alice, Benjamin, Graziela, Luis, Milena, Paul, Ben, Paula, Pascal and the whole of the Avaaz team

PS:

Once you've taken action, vote for Avaaz on the influential Huffington Post "New Media Game-Changers" poll! http://www.avaaz.org/huffpo (vote 10 for Avaaz as the ultimate game changer)

Sources:

A Human Rights Watch report on the Zimbabwe mines:
http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2009/06/26/diamonds-rough-0

The Kimberley process report:
http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=5303

Articles on the possible ban this week:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8337385.stm

http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-11-02-zim-faces-possible-suspension-from-global-diamond-trade

More from Global Witness, a member of the Kimberley Process:
http://www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/861/en/campaigners_call_for_urgent_action_on_zimbabwe_blo

More on Zimbabwe's political crisis:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6896171.ece

---------------------------------------

Want to support Avaaz? We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money from governments or corporations. Our dedicated online team ensures even the smallest contributions go a long way -- donate here.

ABOUT AVAAZ Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Buenos Aires, and Geneva. Click here to learn more about our largest campaigns. Don't forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace and Bebo pages! You can also follow Avaaz on Twitter!

You are getting this message because you signed "Save Canada's Public Broadcasting" on 2009-03-30 using the email address procomicdiva@shaw.ca. To ensure that Avaaz messages reach your inbox, please add avaaz@avaaz.org to your address book. To change your email address, language settings, or other personal information, click here: https://secure.avaaz.org/act/index.php?r=profile&user=5485c0247b077ef7e0250518a33f8b89&lang=en or simply click here to unsubscribe.

To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write to us via the webform at http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact. You can also call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US) or +55 21 2509 0368 (Brazil). .

VIEW New V-Day Kenya Image Gallery

Procomicdiva — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:42:18 GMT

VIEW New V-Day Kenya Image Gallery

In August, 2009, Eve Ensler and the V-Day team visited the V-Day Safe Houses in Narok and Sakutiek, and the Dolphin Anti-Rape and AIDS Control Outreach program in Nairobi, which V-Day helps fund.

In her Update from Kenya, Eve wrote "I want you to know that this has been a week of miracles. Our time in Kenya revealed that our work is bearing fruit, huge delicious successful fruit...We witnessed Agnes who is now a great leader, Winnie and Duncan deeply empowered and strong, and Mumbi, fierce and kind and inspirational."

World renowned photographer and V-Day activist Paula Allen joined V-Day and documented the incredible trip.

Check out the Kenya Gallery Here >

Read Eve's Complete Update from Kenya Here >

DONATE to V-Day to help our work in Kenya to end FGM >

V-Day Kenya Director Agnes Pareyio To Speak In Cambridge, MA

Agnes Pareyio, V-Day Kenya Director and founder of two V-Day Safe Houses for girls escaping Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya, will take part in a Q&A following the Boston premiere screening of Africa Rising: The Grassroots Movement to End Female Genital Mutilation, a film by Paula Heredia. The Q&A, hosted by Ambassador Swanee Hunt will also feature Kadidia Aoudou Sibide of AMSOPT, Taina Bien-Aime, Executive Director of Equality Now, and FGM survivor Fanta Camera.

WHAT: Boston Premier of Africa Rising: The Grassroots Movement to End Female Genital Mutilation, followed by Q&A with leading FGM activists

WHERE: Weiner Auditorium, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A

WHEN: Monday, November 9, 2009, 6:00pm

For tickets and more information please contact info@equalitynow.org

Watch Eve Ensler Speak at The Women's Conference, Hosted by Maria Shriver

On Tuesday, October 27, V-Day Founder/Artistic Director Eve Ensler spoke at The Women's Conference, the nation's premier forum for women, hosted by California First Lady Maria Shriver. You can view Eve's speech in the opening session at the 1:20:40 mark of the video here >

Benefit V-Day While You Shop!

V-Day has teamed up with Amanda Keidan Jewelry and Unique Swiss Skin Care to offer you the opportunity to benefit V-Day while you shop!

Amanda Keidan Jewelry
The Amanda Keidan V-Day Collection consists of two styles, the V-Day Ring, and the V-Day Necklace. Both styles bear the V-Day symbol, which has come to signify V-Day's global message to end violence against women and girls and to change the story of women. Both pieces come in either gold or silver, and can be adorned with diamonds or rubies. Prices start at $110.

The Amanda Keidan Jewelry V-Day Collection is available exclusively through http://amandakeidan.com/vday.php Amanda Keidan Jewelry obtains diamonds from respected and well-established suppliers that comply completely with U.S retailer requirements.

Unique Swiss Skin Care
V-Day is pleased to join Unique Skins Care Treatment's "Double The Magic" program, where 20% of proceeds from sales of Unique Swiss Skin Care products will benefit V-Day.

The Unique products, including Unique Cleansing Cream, Unique 24-Hour Age Defying Day/Night Cream, Unique Eye, Unique Anti-Age Serum and Unique Renewing Mask, are of exceptional quality, free of parabens, animal ingredients, fragrances and mineral oils and tested clinically, dermatologically and ophtalmologically.

Products are available exclusively online at www.uniquebeauty.org.

This Must Stop Now!

Procomicdiva — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:19:28 GMT

This is so extremely cruel I could not bring myself to post the video, instead I am providing the link to the site to read about it and take action. There you will have the choice to watch or not for better understanding of why this cannot be allowed to continue, or simply trust in me that it is so ans do whatever you can to help. 3seconds of the video was enough for me the sight of these poor animals being banged against the ground and tortured was too much!

When undercover investigators made their way onto Chinese fur farms, they found that many animals are still alive and struggling desperately when workers flip them onto their backs or hang them up by their legs or tails to skin them. When workers on these farms begin to cut the skin and fur from an animal's leg, the free limbs kick and writhe. Workers stomp on the necks and heads of animals who struggle too hard to allow a clean cut.

http://www.peta.org/feat/ChineseFurFarms/index.asp

ONE's Next Top T-shirt

Procomicdiva — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:40:31 GMT

Dear ONE Member,

Right now, ONE has thousands of fair-trade certified, 100% organic African cotton, African-made T-shirts sitting waiting for the perfect design to make them not only a symbol of our work to end global poverty and disease, but a must-have item this holiday season.

So we’re turning to you, ONE’s 2 million members, and asking you to submit a great T-shirt design and help us come up with “ONE’s Next Top T-shirt”. Not the designer type? That’s okay, you can still take a moment and forward this email to the people you know whose talents could bring attention to our cause.

To find out more about the challenge and submit a design, visit:

http://www.one.org/international/tshirt?id=1281-2964580-xdeCDKx&t=3

As a fashion consultant, former model, native of Nigeria, and passionate ONE member, I’m excited to announce this open challenge to find the design for ONE’s new T-shirt. ONE will accept designs until November 3 at 10:00pm GMT, at which point I’ll join multi-platinum recording artist Daughtry, noted designer and “Top Design” judge Jonathan Adler, and a distinguished panel of fashion and design experts to pick the top three T-shirts designs. ONE members will then have a week to vote for their favorite of the final three designs, which will be printed and put on sale in late November.

The person submitting that winning design will have a huge impact on how ONE is seen globally. We look forward to adding their T-shirt to the line of creative ONE merchandise already available in the ONE Store, as well as celebrating her or his contribution as part of the new T-shirt’s launch to ONE members and the general public.

What we wear says a lot about who we are. The 25,000 plain T-shirts already tell a story of commitment to helping countries in Africa and across the developing world trade their way to a better future. The right design has the power to go even further, and spark a global conversation. It starts with “I love your shirt, what does it mean?” and ends with greater awareness of the role we can all play in ending poverty and disease in some of the most vulnerable places on earth.

I hope you’ll help us create ONE’s Next Top T-shirt and prove that great design can make a difference:

http://www.one.org/international/tshirt?id=1281-2964580-xdeCDKx&t=5

Thank you and good luck,

Chalya Shagaya, ONE member

Sting Reveals Magnitude of Child Prostitution in U.S.

Procomicdiva — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:57:39 GMT

By BET.com Staff

Federal and state law enforcement officials say that a recent sting that recovered 52 children and netted some 60 pimps nationwide shows just how enormous and heinous child prostitution is in the United States.

An alleged pimp is arrested by the FBI as part of Operation Cross Country.

In the end, authorities hauled in an astonishing 690 suspects on state and local charges over the three-day operation, according to the FBI.

"Child prostitution continues to be a significant problem in our country, as evidenced by the number of children rescued through the continued efforts of our crimes against children task forces," Kevin Perkins, assistant director of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division, said in a written statement. "There is no work more important than protecting America's children and freeing them from the cycle of victimization."

Operation Cross Country IV involved law-enforcement collaborations in 36 cities across 30 FBI divisions nationwide, all part of the FBI's ongoing Innocence Lost National Initiative. The initiative, conducted with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, was created in 2003. It was designed to end child sex trafficking in the United States. To date, nearly 900 children have been rescued and 500 people convicted, according to the FBI.

Public Option Annie

Procomicdiva — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:32:12 GMT

I thought I would add this as well for an FYI

Comparing Canadian and American Health Care

Sexual violence against women in DR Congo

Procomicdiva — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:09:29 GMT

Sexual violence against women in DR Congo amounts to war crime: UN expert

26 October 2007 – The scale and brutality of the sexual violence currently faced by women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity, an independent United Nations human rights expert has told the General Assembly.

Yakin Ertürk, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, told the Assembly’s Social, Humanitarian and Cultural (Third) Committee yesterday that the international community needs to intervene urgently to stem the widespread sexual violence.

Ms. Ertürk spent 12 days in the DRC in July, speaking to Government officials, UN agency staff, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and many female victims of violence.

She said she found that the perpetrators include armed militiamen, members of the Congolese armed forces, national police officers and, increasingly, civilians.

“The situation is most acute in South Kivu, where non-State armed groups, particularly foreign militia, commit sexual atrocities that are of an unimaginable brutality and aim at the complete physical and psychological destruction of women with implications for the entire society,” she said.

“In many cases, the scale and brutality of the violence amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

The Special Rapporteur said the problem was not confined to the far east, which has been the most unstable and violent part of the DRC in recent years and the scene of mass displacement this year because of renewed clashes between the Government, breakaway sections of the military and armed militia.

In Equateur province, near the centre of the DRC, soldiers and police officers have also carried out systematic reprisals against local civilians, including mass rape.

Ms. Ertürk said a climate of impunity for crimes against women predominated across the country.

“Security and the justice system fall short of addressing the problems of sexual violence and women survivors of rape lack sufficient care. Survivors are often also socially stigmatized and they are systematically denied the compensation to which they are entitled under international and Congolese law.”

Senate Expands Hate Crime Law

Procomicdiva — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:18:02 GMT

By BET.com Staff

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says the move is "a milestone in helping protect Americans from the most heinous bias-motivated violence."

In its 68-29 vote, the Senate ignored right-wing contentions that the hate-crime bill was merely an effort by liberals to stymie criticism about abortion, homosexuality and inappropriate sexual behavior. Attorney General Eric Holder described the measure as "a milestone in helping protect Americans from the most heinous bias-motivated violence." The law would not be used to squash speech about controversial beliefs. "The passage of this legislation will give the Justice Department and our state and local law enforcement partners the tools we need to deter and prosecute these acts of violence," he said in a statement.

Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement, "Too many in our community have been devastated by hate violence. We now can begin the important steps to erasing hate in our country."

While President Bush had threatened to veto such a measure, President Obama has promised to sign the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, named after a gay Wyoming teenager who died after being kidnapped and severely beaten in October 1998, and an African-American man dragged to death in Texas the same year. The bill was added to the $680 billion defense authorization bill.

"Knowing that the president will sign it, unlike his predecessor, has made all the hard work this year to pass it worthwhile," said Judy Shepard, board president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation named for her son. "Hate crimes continue to affect far too many Americans who are simply trying to live their lives honestly, and they need to know that their government will protect them from violence, and provide appropriate justice for victims and their families."

Where’s the Disconnect on Health Care Reform?

Procomicdiva — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:14:38 GMT

Published by Pamela Gentry on Monday, October 26, 2009 at 1:39 am.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Oct. 26, 2009 — A clear majority of Americans support reforming the current health care system by including a public option. If our government is “representative” of the people, why don’t the majority of our lawmakers agree with us?

It appears there could be a link between the amount of money being pumped intothe coffers of some elected officials that’s wooing them to favor the interest of contributors over the interest of their constituents. But that can’t be the only reason.

I’m not saying the health insurance industry is doing anything wrong, they are suppose to lobby for their interest, chat up members of congress and make friends across the aisle, but I take exception if it takes place at the expense of the folks they represent.

Last week the Washington Post/ABC News poll found the public support for a government run option has increased over the last two months (since the August recess town halls) from 52 percent to 57 percent.

While the Post/ABC Poll was a national survey, a similar poll taken by Democracy Corps’ in Maine found an overwhelming majority of Mainers want to see a public option non-profit health insurance.

When looking at the findings by Democracy Corps, 63 percent of those surveyed support a public plan with only 27 percent opposed – you have to wonder where’s the disconnect for these lawmakers.

Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe was the only Republican to vote with the Dems to move the bill from committee, only because it did not have a government-sponsored public option. Her colleague Republican Sen. Susan Collins is on the same page with Snowe and has said she too opposes a government run option.

How Snowe and Collins vote on health care reform could very well determine what kind of bill comes to the president’s desk - but it could also represent a defining vote and determine their political futures.

If the majority of Americans support a public options why don’t they have a majority votes in Congress?

Michael Moore's Action Plan: cont

Procomicdiva — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:48:45 GMT

4. Unionize your workplace so that you and your coworkers have a say in how your business is run. Here's how to do it (more info here). Nothing is more American than democracy, and democracy shouldn't be checked at the door when you enter your workplace. Another way to Americanize your workplace is to turn your business into a worker-owned cooperative. You are not a wage slave. You are a free person, and you giving up eight hours of your life every day to someone else is to be properly compensated and respected.

5. Take care of yourself and your family. Sorry to go all Oprah on you, but she's right: Find a place of peace in your life and make the choice to be around people who are not full of negativity and cynicism. Look for those who nurture and love. Turn off the TV and the Blackberry and go for a 30-minute walk every day. Eat fruits and vegetables and cut down on anything that has sugar, high fructose corn syrup, white flour or too much sodium (salt) in it (and, as Michael Pollan says, "Eat (real) food, not too much, mostly plants"). Get seven hours of sleep each night and take the time to read a book a month. I know this sounds like I've turned into your grandma, but, dammit, take a good hard look at Granny -- she's fit, she's rested and she knows the names of both of her U.S. Senators without having to Google them. We might do well to listen to her. If we don't put our own "oxygen mask" on first (as they say on the airplane), we will be of no use to the rest of the nation in enacting any of this action plan!

I'm sure there are many other ideas you can come up with on how we can build this movement. Get creative. Think outside the politics-as-usual box. BE SUBVERSIVE! Think of that local action no one else has tried. Behave as if your life depended on it. Be bold! Try doing something with reckless abandon. It may just liberate you and your community and your nation.

And when you act, send me your stories, your photos and your video -- and be sure topost your ideas in the comments beneath this letter on my site so they can be shared with millions.

C'mon people -- we can do this! I expect nothing less of all of you, my true and trusted fellow travelers!

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com