Howdy everybody,

As you've probably noticed, Amnesty International has been MIA this semester. This is due to a series of unfortunate circumstances on my part including an increased course load and over commitment.

 

We need to determine the fate of the organization. 2/3 of the executive board will not be back next year (Erica is graduating and I will be abroad). I think that amnesty has the potential to do a lot of  good on this campus, if the members are willing and able to put the work into it. I can think of several members of Amnesty that would be great leaders for next year. I hope that Amnesty will live on at Albion well after we've all graduated. How does everyone feel about a meeting at 8 PM Wednesday evening? Kellogg Center, in the SEE Lounge. I'll be emailing everyone again with the final time, but we definitely need one more meeting before the year ends.

We have not been entirely absent from campus. As you may or may not have known, Amnesty International was a co-sponsor of the Teach-in for Peace and Justice that occurred a few weeks ago. I hope that many of you had the chance to attend this great event.

However, we still have plenty of money to spend. One of the activities that we budgeted for was a Theme Night. I think that we could still plan and host a low-key theme night on Human Rights in Latin America for this semester. It would involve light advertising, talking with OLA and ISU, and a few professors. We might be able to host a speaker or two from our own campus. The night would include light snacks or appetizers, music, and decorations from the region as well as a speaker on a particular subject or brief history of a certain situation. I think that Dr. Alvaro Leiva would be a great speaker for this event. He is a native of Chile and is quite knowledgeable about human rights violations in latin america. We would culminate the evening by signing petitions or writing letters for a particular sponsored action.

What do you guys think? Are you up for it?

It probably will NOT take too much work, but will be well worth the effort. I know that this is the beginning of crunch time for everybody, but it would be a nice opportunity to relax with your fellow students one evening.

Email ideas, comments, and whether or not you are intersted in helping out or attending the event.

- Sara Ellena
 

We've started to wind down for the end of the semester and have decided not to have any more meetings until next semester, however, we do have a few updates.  We received our items that we purchased from Amnesty last week.  The shipment included movies, buttons, and a comprehensive report on human rights violations in 2004. 

There is a Global Justice Conference on Fair Trade coming up on February 18-21 in Chicago.  If anyone is interested in attending, please take a glance at this document, the shared folder, or email either Sara or Erica.  It's going to be a big deal.

Have a great holiday.

It has been a while since I have contacted the entire distribution list. I wanted to let everybody know the good news about the speaker Amnesty is bringing to campus Thursday, October 21st. The time is tentatively set at 7 PM and will be held in Bobbitt Auditorium (barring any unforeseen complications).

 

Dave Bowman is coming to speak to the Albion College students, faculty, and community. In 2000, Mr. Bowman unofficially adopted several young boys who had survived Sudan's bloody civil war. This experience drove him to help start a project bringing medical aid to the Sudanese people, the "Lost Boys and Girls Memorial Hospital" . Working with Partners in Compassionate Care and Grand Rapids' Cutting Edge Foundation, Bowman and others plan to build a 50-bed hospital in Sudan for the residents of the devastated country. Bowman says they've got 14-thousand of the 100-thousand dollars needed for the "Lost Boys and Girls Memorial Hospital" in Werkok. "We're hoping that the word will get out and that we can get the money in and start building in January or February of next year. Hopefully, by the end of 2006, we would be able to have the dedication of the hospital."  Bowman explains the hospital is a ministry of compassion. "We want the hospital to be able to present the Gospel to those who haven't heard. So, we want to bring healing to their soul, as well as to their bodies."

This will be a great opportunity for everybody to learn more about the horrors that are occurring in Sudan right now. Mr. Bowman will be able to offer us a perspective of the events like no newspaper or news-clip could.

 The Ford Institute has graciously offered their support in bringing Mr. Bowman to Albion. Katie Schook has assisted me immensely with the logistics of bringing Mr. Bowman to our campus, and for this and the Ford Sponsorship, I offer great thanks.

We are going to be advertising this speaker heavily from now 'til next Thursday. We will be distributing flyers for everyone to post around their dorms/academic buildings, so be on the look out. ALSO, I am asking that all students talk with their professors and ask to promote the event in their classes. Professors, please encourage your students to attend this event, it can be applied to countless disciplines. For all students and faculty involved in other clubs, please bring this event up at meetings and encourage members to go.