As an Amnesty International supporter since my university days I’ve signed up to write. Will you?
“Our words have power. That’s the idea behind Write for Rights, Amnesty International’s global letter-writing campaign that happens on or around December 10th (International Human Rights Day).
We’ve been doing it every year for 20 years and today, it’s the world biggest human rights event. From 2,326 letters in 2001 to 4.5 million letters, tweets, emails and more last year, Write for Rights supporters have used the power of their words to unite behind a common purpose – backing people no matter where they are in the world.
Together, we’ve helped transform the lives of more than 100 people over the years, freeing them from torture, harassment, or unjust imprisonment. Write a letter, change a life – including yours.”
Learn more: writeathon.ca
Way back in high school, I learned of the noble work of Amnesty International. Two second cousins of mine in their early 20’s at the time, ended up in an East Germany jail as ‘Political Prisoners’ for trying to escape their communist country via Yugoslavia. (They were caught 50 kms from the border of a “free” country.) Both suffered terribly during their internment with scars on their backs from the beatings. The younger brother, who would later come to Canada to become my brother-in-law, was held for 10 months. The elder brother was kept locked up for 2 years. It was the ardent efforts of Amnesty International that petitioned and paid for their release from behind bars and their transit to West Berlin. A third brother with their mother would only experience freedom from the tyranny of communism when the Berlin Wall came down a dozen years later on November 9th, 1989. Now, decades later, our family continues to appreciate the admirable endeavours of Amnesty International. Thank you, Dr. Adrienne for your post!