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Amnesty International >> |
Overview
Amnesty International is a
worldwide organization dedicated to the conservation of human rights,
specifically those stated in the Universal Doctrine of Human Rights. The
main purpose of the club is to ensure the safety and well being of all
members of the world who have been or are being persecuted due to race,
religion, creed, conscience, speaking out or writing about contreversial
issues, or standing up to an unfair government.
Brought to Staples High School over 10 years ago by Dr. Jerry Brooker,
the Staples Amnesty International chapter has had a rocky start including
several years of non-existance. In 1999, Stephanie Lee brought Amnsesty
back to Staples with new objectives in mind. After starting the club up, the group has concentrated primarily on the
Children's Rights division of Amnesty this year. Among other things, this
first year of Amnesties return included a guest speaker, Jo Becker, who
is widely regarded as one of the key players in the Human Rights industry.
Why
Support Child Solidiers?
Around the world today, children are increasingly not only war's victims,
but also its combatants. An estimated 300,000 children under the age of
eighteen are currently participating in armed conflicts in more than thirty
different countries on nearly every continent. While most child soldiers
are in their teens, some are as young as seven years old. Here are two
quotes by former child soldier in hopes of convincing people to join the
fight.
"I thought it was like...a movie. But it was real. It was very real. I
was thinking all the while that if you are hit by a bullet, like you see
in the movies, you would just fall down and that's the end. But the experience
of being hit in an encounter is different and very, very painful." - Former
Child Combatant in the Philippines.
"The soldiors made me get in the truck. There were about 20 other boys
in the truck. I cried. That's how they recruit people in Guatemala. I
was 16 years old. I saw them torture and kill one poor prisoner. First
they cut out his eyes with knives. Then they cut him all over his body.
They cut off a hand. They even cut out some internal organs. They did
it carefully and slowly. The wanted the boy to suffer. It to him two days
to die. He was crying the whole time. It was horrible." - Testimony of
former child soldier.
Contact
People
Amnesty International is a new and unique club at staples and is actively
seeking new members. All interested should contact Stephanie Lee (steph58358@aol.com). Or talk to the faculty advisor
Justin Cosell. Officers: Justin Cosell - Faculty Advisor Stephanie Lee -
Co-President Ellie Roesch - Secraetary Allan
Mackiewicz - Treasurer Links:
http://www.aiusa.org (Amnesty
International Web Site)
http://www.hrw.org (Human Rights Watch)
Copyright 1999 Staples Online. No text, graphic or file may be reproduced or copied without the expressed written permission of Staples Online and The Westport School District.
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