Call for all NZers to 'make some noise'

Amnesty International is asking New Zealanders to send letters, faxes and emails to help it protect civilians caught up in two of the world's worst human rights emergencies. They can also support Amnesty International's emergency campaigning work in Dafur and the Middle East conflicts by supporting our annual street appeal, Freedom Week on Thursday 3rd August in Wellington and Friday 4th nationwide.

We want the public to help us stop the killing of civilians in the Israel-Lebanon conflict. At the same time, we are asking all New Zealanders to 'make some noise' to help us protect the thousands of civilians who are being murdered, raped and forced to flee their homes in the Darfur region of Sudan and in neighbouring Chad, said Amnesty International Campaigns Manager Gary Reese.

"This week is Freedom Week in New Zealand: the week in which Amnesty International encourages New Zealanders to stop and think about the freedoms we enjoy, to think of others who are victims of fear, and to contribute to Amnesty International's life-saving work," said Gary Reese.

Collectors will be on the streets in Wellington on Thursday August 3rd and nationwide on Friday 4th. Buskers have also been invited to participate in the annual appeal and they will be 'making some noise' for human rights all around the country alongside our collectors.

"Funds raised during the week will help pay for our work investigating and alerting the world to the horrors taking place in Darfur and Chad, and help pressure the world's governments to take decisive action. The money will further support our work pressuring the Israeli government and Hizbullah to stop targeting civilians," said Gary Reese.

The whole world is watching events in the Middle East, and the devastating impacts on civilians. The tragedy two thousand kilometres to the south, in Darfur and across the border in eastern Chad, however, no longer seem to be in the news.

Amnesty International researchers working along the Sudan/Chad border have uncovered damning evidence that the murder, rape and looting previously confined to Darfur has now spread across the border into neighbouring Chad where an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 civilians have been driven from their land. This spreading crisis has already displaced 2.5 million people from their homes in Dafur and some 285,000 people have died as a consequence of the conflict.

New Zealanders can take action by going to www.amnesty.org.nz

In New Zealand we are asking the public to send letters, faxes and emails to one or more of the temporary members of the UN Security Council with embassies in NZ, to help press the Security Council to take immediate action to protect civilians in Sudan and Chad.

We also want New Zealanders to write to the Israeli and Lebanese Prime Ministers, and the Secretary-General of Hizbullah, urging them to stop targeting civilians and abide by international law.

Details about both actions are on www.amnesty.org.nz.

ENDS

Contact:
Gary Reese, Amnesty International Campaigns Manager
Mb 021 53 52 56
Office (04) 496 9616

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Media Release
For immediate release
2nd August 2006

Call for all NZers to 'make some noise' to protect civilians in Dafur & Middle East Conflicts

Amnesty International is asking New Zealanders to send letters, faxes and emails to help it protect civilians caught up in two of the world's worst human rights emergencies. They can also support Amnesty International's emergency campaigning work in Dafur and the Middle East conflicts by supporting our annual street appeal, Freedom Week on Thursday 3rd August in Wellington and Friday 4th nationwide.

We want the public to help us stop the killing of civilians in the Israel-Lebanon conflict. At the same time, we are asking all New Zealanders to 'make some noise' to help us protect the thousands of civilians who are being murdered, raped and forced to flee their homes in the Darfur region of Sudan and in neighbouring Chad, said Amnesty International Campaigns Manager Gary Reese.

"This week is Freedom Week in New Zealand: the week in which Amnesty International encourages New Zealanders to stop and think about the freedoms we enjoy, to think of others who are victims of fear, and to contribute to Amnesty International's life-saving work," said Gary Reese.

Collectors will be on the streets in Wellington on Thursday August 3rd and nationwide on Friday 4th. Buskers have also been invited to participate in the annual appeal and they will be 'making some noise' for human rights all around the country alongside our collectors.

"Funds raised during the week will help pay for our work investigating and alerting the world to the horrors taking place in Darfur and Chad, and help pressure the world's governments to take decisive action. The money will further support our work pressuring the Israeli government and Hizbullah to stop targeting civilians," said Gary Reese.

The whole world is watching events in the Middle East, and the devastating impacts on civilians. The tragedy two thousand kilometres to the south, in Darfur and across the border in eastern Chad, however, no longer seem to be in the news.

Amnesty International researchers working along the Sudan/Chad border have uncovered damning evidence that the murder, rape and looting previously confined to Darfur has now spread across the border into neighbouring Chad where an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 civilians have been driven from their land. This spreading crisis has already displaced 2.5 million people from their homes in Dafur and some 285,000 people have died as a consequence of the conflict.

New Zealanders can take action by going to www.amnesty.org.nz

In New Zealand we are asking the public to send letters, faxes and emails to one or more of the temporary members of the UN Security Council with embassies in NZ, to help press the Security Council to take immediate action to protect civilians in Sudan and Chad.

We also want New Zealanders to write to the Israeli and Lebanese Prime Ministers, and the Secretary-General of Hizbullah, urging them to stop targeting civilians and abide by international law.

Details about both actions are on www.amnesty.org.nz.

Ends

© Scoop Media