Writers join in fight for rights

STANTHORPE locals will be picking up their pens, keyboards, and mobile devices to Write 4 Rights on 19 November, joining people from 143 countries for Amnesty International’s annual letter writing marathon.
Around the world, more than 2.3 million letters were written for last year’s event, on behalf of prisoners of conscience and people at risk for human rights violations, and Stanthorpe Amnesty International group convenors Jeannie Williams and Peter Burton hope the number will be even higher this year.
“The more people from our area who join us on 19 November the more impact we can have,” Ms Williams said.
“It’s always a thrill to connect Stanthorpe into the global Write 4 Rights event, and every year we see such power in writing a letter, sending an email or firing off a social media post.
“Of the dozen people for whom we wrote letters last year, Vladimir Akimenkov in Russia and YormBopha in Cambodia were released from prison following the combined pressure of ordinary individuals from all over the world, while Dr Tun Aung in Burma had his sentence slashed. That is the power our words can have.
“When we send a letter for someone who has been denied justice, not only do we make governments sit up and notice, but we offer that person a glimmer of hope that they have not been forgotten.”
Guests at this year’s Write 4 Rights event can write to governments around the world on behalf of six individuals. These include Chinese woman Liu Ping, imprisoned for six and half years for calling on the Chinese government to fight corruption, and 21-year old student Daniel Quintero, viciously beaten and arrested by the Venezuelan military for attending an anti-government demonstration.
Tea, coffee and snacks provided.
Members of Amnesty International Stanthorpe group are among a growing number of Australians who meet in lounge rooms, cafes, cinemas and local libraries to be informed and active on human rights issues. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month, at 6pm, at Granite Belt Support Services, Short Street. Visit www.amnesty.org.au/write for details.