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Amnesty International Australia

Campaign newsletter July 08

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Dear friend,

China operates a sophisticated internet censorship regime and it is difficult to know exactly what information Chinese citizens can and can't access. The lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics has seen some previously inaccessible websites in China become wholly or partly accessible.

We have developed a method to test, monitor and report on changes in levels of censorship, to assist in pressuring the Chinese Government to not revert old ways once the Games are over. If you are travelling to China during 2008 you can register to become a Chinese Internet Censorship Index (CICI) tester. This simply involves testing access to specific websites. The sites chosen for testing are ones that a tourist or journalist might access, such as BBC news and flickr. We believe that participating in these tests presents no risk to visitors to China.

Those not travelling to China can also participate by displaying a CICI badge on their Facebook, MySpace, blog or website to help us spread the word.

Join now or get more info

 

In this edition

Help abolish the death penalty

The Indonesian government has resumed executions at an alarming rate, going against the United Nations global moratorium on executions. Call on the Australian Government to use its strong relationship with Indonesia to encourage them to suspend all executions and take steps to abolish the death penalty altogether.

Take action

Shi Tao’s prison birthday

On 25 July Chinese journalist Shi Tao will spend his 40th birthday in prison. He was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in 2005 for sending an email about the anniversary of the crackdown of pro-democracy protestors in Tiananmen Square. We believe Shi Tao is a prisoner of conscience.

Call for Shi Tao’s release now

Latest news and blogs

- Call on League to take stand on Darfur
- Liberia must veto death penalty bill
- Excessive force used against protesters
- Toymakers are sweating

All the latest news

The latest China blogs

See the movie ‘Salute’

The upcoming film 'Salute' illustrates there is no convenient time to protest against injustice. It documents the so-called ‘black power’ protest by athletes at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and looks at the drama that followed in the lives of all three men on the medal dais, including Australian runner Peter Norman.

See a teaser for the film

Join leading human rights thinkers

Mary Kostakidis will be chairing discussions on key human rights issues at this year’s Wolfgang Sievers Human Rights Forum Series being held in Melbourne. Speakers include Barry Jones, Malcolm Fraser and Robert Manne.

Find out more and book tickets

  

Join global day of protest

To mark the 10-day countdown to the Beijing Olympics on 30 July, we will be holding a global, online day of protest against internet censorship in China. All registered websites will display a censorship simulation which will momentarily censor random words on webpages.

Join the protest by registering now

Support comfort women

Thousands of ‘comfort women’ were forced into servitude by the Japanese Government before, during and after World War II. They were subjected to severe human rights violations such as sexual violence, gang rape and forced abortions.

Several governments have passed resolutions calling for the Japanese authorities to accept full responsibility and apologise for the abuses. The Government of the Philippines is currently considering passing a similar resolution. A significant number of Filipino women were enslaved by the Japanese Imperial Army.

Express support for the Philippines resolution

Urge action on Bhopal

More than 23,000 people have died because toxic gases leaked from a chemical plant in Bhopal India in December 1984. Now 24 years later, toxic waste continue to pollute the environment and groundwater placing thousands of lives at risk. Amnesty International believes the Indian Government has failed to provide adequate protection and redress to the people of Bhopal.

Call for adequate action from the Indian Government

Want to write letters?

Thousands of Amnesty International supporters around the world write letters every day to defend human rights. To join the Urgent Action Network and be part of the world-wide emergency response to human right violations, get in touch with your local Action Centre.

We have five cases online that need your help right now. You can download, print and write your own personal letter.

Join the network

Work at Amnesty International

We are currently looking for an Executive Administrator to join the fun and energy of our busy office.

More jobs

More about Amnesty International

You have the power to stop injustice. By becoming a member of Amnesty International Australia for $55 a year, you strengthen our voice to speak out against human rights abuses. You'll also receive a copy of our quarterly Human Rights Defender magazine.

We do not accept support from governments or political organisations for our campaigning work against human rights abuses, only from individuals like you. Please join today.

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