This May Be Our Last Chance to Help Seriously Ill Cuban Rights Advocate

New Action:

From Human Rights First: (note: a very special thank you to Elena Steiger for alerting this action on the Yahoo Group)

This May Be Our Last Chance to Help Seriously Ill Cuban Rights Advocate

Click Here to Take Action

http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/PalaciosIII/

Imprisoned Cuban rights advocate Hector Palacios' health has deteriorated significantly. According to reports from his wife, in recent weeks he has suffered from six episodes of cerebral ischemia, an insufficient supply of blood to the brain that could potentially lead to a stroke.

At age 63, Hector Palacios needs your help now more than ever.

Currently serving a 25 year sentence, Hector Palacios has advocated for human rights reforms in Cuba since 1980, and is an independent librarian. Mr. Palacios' health problems have only been aggravated by harsh prison conditions.

In March 2003, Mr. Palacios became one of 75 human rights advocates, independent journalists and librarians who were arrested, tried, and sentenced to up to 28 years in prison. Human Rights First believes that these individuals have been wrongfully imprisoned solely for openly exercising basic rights.

Join us today in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Hector Palacios and all others who have been imprisoned solely for exercising basic human rights in Cuba. To date, fourteen of the original 75 dissidents have been released for medical reasons following international pressure.

Your letters could mean the difference between life and death for Mr. Palacios.

Click Here to Take Action:

http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/campaign/PalaciosIII/

Click here to learn more about human rights defenders in Cuba:

http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/defenders/hrd_cuba/hrd_cuba.htm

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Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this important case.

http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/join-forward.html?domain=human_rights_first&r=fd2ft851Qchm

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Human Rights First at:

http://action.humanrightsfirst.org/human_rights_first/join.html?r=fd2ft851QchmE

Call for Release of Eritrean Journalists

New Action:

From Amnesty USA:

Take Action: Urge Congress to Call for Release of Journalists in Eritrea

Congressmen Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Mark Udall (D-CO) are seeking co-signers on a joint letter from Members of the U.S. House to the President of Eritrea. The letter asks for the release of prisoner of conscience Fessahaye Yohannes and his detained journalist colleagues, and for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Eritrea.

Take Action!
Ask your representative to join in signing the letter.
» ACT NOW
» Read more

Take Action: Send Letters of Support to Human Rights Activists in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Years of conflict have taken their toll on people's lives and human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but activists across the DRC are trying to make positive changes. They are investigating and denouncing human rights abuses, protecting former child soldiers, providing medical and social care for survivors of rape and torture, visiting detention centres, and preparing prosecutions against the perpetrators of abuses. They are playing a key role in peace-building. The efforts of human rights activists deserve greater recognition internationally and from the DRC authorities. An international show of solidarity would offer much needed encouragement and a first line of protection for activists at risk, as well as for the victims they care for.
» ACT NOW

Listen to their Stories

Marie-Dolorose Masika Kafanya is president of Femmes Engagées pour la Promotion de la Santé Intégrale (FEPSI), a women-run independent medical centre. It opened in 2003 and is based in the town of Butembo in the North-Kivu province of eastern DRC.
» Listen to the interview

Murhabazi Namegabe is Director of the Bureau pour le Volontariat au service de l'Enfance et de la Santé (BVES), an NGO that protects marginalized children and promotes children's rights.
» Listen to the interview

Take Action: Release Religious Prisoners of Conscience in Eritrea

Amnesty International continues to be concerned for religous prisoners of conscience in Eritrea. Amnesty Internationl has learned that Demoze Afewerki, chair of the Gideons Bible International section was arrested at the same time as Kidane Weldu, a pastor of the Mulu Wengel ("Full Gospel") evangelical church in Eritrea's capital, Asmara, on March 13. Both men are held incommunicado in the 2nd police station in Asmara and are at risk of torture.
» ACT NOW

Take Action: Call for Investigation into Murder of Khadar Osman Dhabar in Somaliland

Following a peaceful protest up to a hundred Gaboye demonstrators are held incommunicado without charge, either in Hargeisa central prison in the capital of Somaliland or in unauthorized and secret police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detention centers where they are at risk of torture. They had been protesting at the shooting of Khadar Osman Dhabar by a police officer.
» ACT NOW

» MORE ACTIONS ON AFRICA

More Africa News and Reports

• Nigeria: Level of violence against women in the home shockingly high
• Eritrea: Amnesty International appeals for the release of six women prisoners of conscience on the occasion of Eritrean Independence Day
• Burundi: Rwandan asylum seekers should have access to fair and satisfactory refugee determination procedures
• Zimbabwe: Government Continues Pattern of Harassment and Repression of Human Rights Defenders, Charges Amnesty International

» MORE NEWS

Urge your rep. to support Millennium Development Goals

New Action

From CARE:

Thanks to the efforts of CARE supporters like you,
a bipartisan resolution was introduced in the
House of Representatives on May 26 affirming U.S. support for
the U.N. Millennium Development Goals.

Please take a moment today to urge your Representative to sign on!
Just click here: http://my.care.org/campaign/a22020000/wui35b74o7357w3?

Your voice can truly make a difference!

Join Us for Advocacy Day! Registration Deadline June 13th

New Event:

From Save The Children:

Our experience working with children in over 40 countries and here at home teaches us that education can play a transformative role in the lives of young people. I hope that you can join us for a very special event as we carry this message to Capitol Hill. As a Save the Children Action Network member, you are invited to join us in Washington, DC on June 21st and 22nd for our 3rd annual Advocacy Day. The registration deadline is June 13th, so act now to take advantage of this opportunity.

As an Advocacy Day participant you will meet with your elected leaders and share your concern for children in need. This year, we will focus our advocacy efforts on the power of education to provide hope and opportunity to children around the world. Participants will receive training in effective lobbying, meet fellow supporters and Save the Children staff from around the world, and participate in meetings with decision makers in Congress.

The dealine for registration is just one week away, so don't miss this opportunity to give voice to the hopes of millions of children worldwide. Click here to learn more and register today!

Sincerely,

Samantha Salcedo
Manager for Constituent Relations
Save the Children

A message from Brad Pitt (On Behalf of ONE)

New Action:

From The One Campaign:

Dear Friend,

Every single day 30,000 children die from the effects of extreme poverty and it almost never makes the news. Tonight, that's going to be different.

I visited Africa last month with Diane Sawyer to record a "Primetime Live" special, and tonight that program will air at 10pm/9pm Central on ABC. The show is not only about the emergency in Africa, but also about successful projects that are saving people's lives and building new hope in entire communities.

Yesterday the ONE campaign asked all of us to do something that will make a real difference for the people we met in Africa: sign a letter to President Bush asking him to seize the best opportunity we've had in decades to actually end extreme poverty. The ONE letter asks the President to support three bold commitments at the G8 summit of world leaders on July 6th: more and better international assistance, debt cancellation and trade reform.

Last week I signed the ONE letter to President Bush, and since yesterday thousands of you have too. That is an amazing show of support. The ONE campaign has set a goal to get ONE million letter signatures by the upcoming G8 summit on July 6th. We can get half way there by the end of this week if you join with me and sign the ONE letter to President Bush and ask your friends and family to sign as well:

Sign the ONE letter to President Bush.

Thanks, and please tell all your friends to watch the show tonight: 10pm/9pm Central on ABC.

Brad Pitt