Upcoming Events
29th Annual Spaghetti Dinner, Raffle and Silent Auction
Saturday, February 22, 2014 6 PM
Live Oak Senior Center
1777 Capitola Road
Santa Cruz
Saturday, February 22, 2014 6 PM
Live Oak Senior Center
1777 Capitola Road
Santa Cruz
flyer_2014.pdf | |
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About Us
In 1976, a cadre of like-minded Santa Cruz residents formed the fifth local group of Amnesty International USA. Our common bond is a vital interest in human rights world wide. We hold monthly meetings that serve as a focal point for our support activities and provide opportunities for sharing concepts and thoughts with the group.
Visit us on Facebook at Amnesty International USA Local Group 5.
Visit us on Facebook at Amnesty International USA Local Group 5.
Activities
We co-sponsor an annual Human Rights Contest for local area high schools. We support Amnesty International Prisoners of Conscience, and others world wide, with letter writing campaigns, petitions and additional help as needed. We participate in the Human RIghts Fair and local human rights activities in Santa Cruz. We raise funds to support our local group and AIUSA at an annual fundraising spaghetti dinner and raffle.
Letter Writing on Behalf of Prisoners of Conscience
Our recent letter writing efforts for the past two years focused on two AI Prisoners of Conscience in Myanmar (Burma). Student activists Myo Min Zaw and Ko Aye Aung (pictured above), now aged 33 and 34, were arrested on 12 September 1998 for distributing leaflets and organizing student demonstrations in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city. Both men were leading members of the banned All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU). Myo Min Zaw and Ko Aye Aung are serving sentences totalling 52 years and 59 years respectively. They were reportedly tortured during interrogation.
In 2012, both of these people were released from prison. Although we are thrilled for their release, the laws that caused their imprisonment and disallow freedom of speech in Burma are still in force.
In 2012, both of these people were released from prison. Although we are thrilled for their release, the laws that caused their imprisonment and disallow freedom of speech in Burma are still in force.
Letter Writing on Behalf of Maria Isabel Veliz Franco
Maria Isabel Veliz Franco
We also write on behalf of María Isabel Veliz Franco, a woman who was brutally killed in 2001 at the age of 15 in Guatemala City. The state of Guatemala has failed to investigate her death. María Isabel Veliz Franco is one of more than 2500 women and girls killed in Guatemala since 2001.
Monthly Meeting
We meet on the third Tuesday of the month at a member's home. To join us to send letters and sign petitions, and discuss upcoming events and thoughts you want to share, call 831-295-9354.
Human Rights Contest
With the Santa Cruz chapter of the United Nations Association, we sponsor a Human Rights Contest for local area high school students. The contest encourages students to learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by responding to a specific question.
The question for the 2010 Human Rights Contest was, "Why has education been included in the UDHR (Article 26) as a basic human right?"
We offer cash prizes of up to $100 for submissions of essays, poetry, art, and music. This event requires the active participation of high school teachers to be successful.
The picture to the left by Sondra Wildman won the top art award in the 2008 Human Rights Contest. You can read about the 2008 contest at http://www.metrosantacruz.com/metro-santa-cruz/11.26.08/features-0848.html.
The question for the 2010 Human Rights Contest was, "Why has education been included in the UDHR (Article 26) as a basic human right?"
We offer cash prizes of up to $100 for submissions of essays, poetry, art, and music. This event requires the active participation of high school teachers to be successful.
The picture to the left by Sondra Wildman won the top art award in the 2008 Human Rights Contest. You can read about the 2008 contest at http://www.metrosantacruz.com/metro-santa-cruz/11.26.08/features-0848.html.
Santa Cruz Amnesty Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
To raise funds for the Human Rights Contest, letter writing, and fees to attend conferences, we hold an annual Amnesty Spaghetti Dinner. Members donate the spaghetti sauce and pasta for the vegetarian meal. We collect items from local businesses for the meal, a raffle, and silent auction.
Contact Us
If you'd like to join us for meetings or discuss an event, please call 831-295-9354.
We look forward to hearing from you!
We look forward to hearing from you!