Chris Michael's Media

November 9th: Make "Never Again" a Reality: STAND Lobby Video for Pledge2Protect

Chris Michael — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:38:56 -0800

This fall, WITNESS has partnered with STAND, student-led division of Genocide Intervention Network, to help its nearly 1,000 high-school and university chapters integrate video to support Pledge2Protect, a campaign focused on passing comprehensive genocide prevention legislation through Congress.

With Pledge On Camera, Hundreds of anti-genocide students from across the country are currently creating personalized videos for each U.S. Senator, which they will screen and hand-deliver in a few days on November 9th as part of the Pledge2Protect conference and the largest lobby day in genocide prevention history. This video is the core video that was added-to by STAND chapters across the country.

Get involved at http://standnow.org

Learn more about Pledge on Camera, the video advocacy aspect of Pledge2Protect and see the full credits for this video at http://hub.witness.org/STAND

Please Pass the Elder Justice Act- A message from Houstonian Norma Bradley

Chris Michael — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:29:43 -0700

Houstonian Norma Bradley shares her request for action to pass the Elder Justice Act.

Every year, an estimated five million older Americans are beaten, ignored or financially exploited, causing illness, suffering and premature death. Yet, elder abuse is not perceived as a national tragedy and collectively there is much silence around the issue.

WITNESS has partnered with the National Council on Aging -- a member of the Elder Justice Coalition -- and elder justice advocates across the country to help break the silence and pass the Elder Justice Act -- pending federal legislation that will help ensure that older Americans do not live in fear of being abused physically, psychologically or
financially. We need your help.

Protecting Older Americans

There is a triad of domestic violence in our country -- child abuse, violence against women and elder abuse. Congress passed legislation to protect children from abuse in 1974 and women from domestic violence in 1994, but it has yet to take the appropriate action to protect older
Americans. With 76 million aging boomers set to retire, this problem is only going to grow. The time to act is now and the starting point from which to begin exists. The Elder Justice Act -- which has been in the hands of Congress since 2002 -- will provide a foundation to prevent, detect, treat, intervene in and prosecute abuse of older Americans.

We can no longer deny our elders the diginity and security they deserve. It’s time to break the silence and speak out against elder abuse. Please join the campaign and urge Congress to
pass the Elder Justice Act now!

Facebook: Online Privacy & Security Tips from Chris Kelly

Chris Michael — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:45:56 -0800

This interview, which was done at Howcast's Youth Summit, is with Chris Kelly, Facebook's Chief Privacy Officer. Chris talks about the privacy features that Facebook currently has, why they're there and how activists that may be concerned about their activity online could use them optimally. Additionally, Chris talks about some of the things Facebook is working on, which we'll work to update those notes on this page and in our blog.

Saudi Arabia: Facebooking a Hunger Strike for 11 Detained Activists

Chris Michael — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:26:17 -0800

In this video interview, Saudi journalist Ebtihal Mubarak discusses how Saudi activists are harnessing online tools to call for justice within Saudi Arabia. Due to oppressive restraints - primarily freedom of expression and assembly - the defense teams and supporters of eleven human rights activists detained in Saudi prisons have called for a hunger strike online - via Facebook.

Of the 11 detained human rights activists, none of them have had formal charges or a trial date. Additionally, 9 are currently in solitary confinement and 10 of them have been detained since February 2, 2007 - 642 days and counting.

Arbitrary detentions, unfair trails, torture and ill-treatment are widespread and generally committed with impunity in Saudi Arabia. Under Saudi law, one can be detained for up to six months (and up to 60 days in solitary confinement) without a formal sentencing or trial.
Once detained, detainees are "commonly the victims of systematic and multiple violations of due process and fair trial rights, including arbitrary arrest and torture and ill-treatment during interrogation,"
according to Human Rights Watch.

Calling for the release - or fair and public trails - of detainees is incredibly restrictive under the absolute monarch. In July 2007, the Mabahith, Saudi secret police, arrested five women who were peacefully demonstrating for the release or trial of their relatives detained for over two years without trial. Operating under oppressive restraints of freedom of expression and assembly, the activists' defense team and supporters have harnessed the power of online tools to amplify their voices and calls for justice.

The Facebook page launched with members from the defense team, family and friends, and within a few days jumped to over 200. The combination of few freedoms to assemble, associate or express oneself publicly with reasonably high internet connectivity and 60% of the population under the age of 30 creates a unique potential to quickly mobilize action online. Word is quickly spreading in online chat rooms, social networks and the blogosphere.

Mubarak provides great insight on the issue and ways in which you can learn more and get involved. We'll be keeping an eye on this innovative campaign and update the links below in the Take Action tab to ensure you can find the latest.

Please help spread the word!

All: Please forward this video and links to your friends and family

Bloggers and vloggers: Please write about this movement and embed this video (or others found here)

WITNESS VAI Video Blog - Chris Michael

Chris Michael — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:01:03 -0700

This is the first video blog from WITNESS' annual Video Advocacy Institute (VAI), which brings together 27 human rights activists for a two-week intensive training on how to incorporate video in their advocacy work.

Learn more at the VAI group page and see the latest videos.

Netsanet Demissie - Speech at the CIVICUS World Assembly

Chris Michael — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:10:13 -0700

This speech of Netsanet Demissie was filmed by a fellow participant at the CIVICUS World Assembly, 18-21 June 2008, in Glasgow, Scotland.
The CIVICUS World Assembly is a forum for international civil society representatives to get together, exchange ideas, experiences and build strategies for a just world.
Netsanet Demissie co-founded the Organization for Social Justice in Ethiopia to foster democracy through education, policy-making and advocacy work, acting as its Chief Executive.
Prior to founding OSJE, he served as Co-director and Editor of the Ethiopian Legal Directory's annual publication. He was an assistant judge in the civil bench for two years. He co-wrote a national civic and ethical education text for students at tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade in Ethiopia.
Netsanet graduated in law from Addis Ababa University and did further studies in Peace and Conflict Transformation at the European University in Austria.
While with OSJE, Netsanet worked on the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) in Ethiopia. He hosted the Secretariat and played a leading role in the NGO network monitoring the contested parliamentary elections of 15 May 2005.
Netsanet Demissie was arrested on November 8 2005 and is charged with outrage against the Constitution and the constitutional order.
He was released on March 28th, 2008.

Mildred Sandi - Speech at the CIVICUS World Assembly

Chris Michael — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:39:40 -0700

This speech of Mildred Sandi was filmed by a fellow participant at the CIVICUS World Assembly, 18-21 June 2008, in Glasgow, Scotland.
The CIVICUS World Assembly is a forum for international civil society representatives to get together, exchange ideas, experiences and build strategies for a just world.
Mildred Sandi is the chair of the Association of NGOs in Zimbabwe.
The National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO) is a non-party political, non-profit making and non-denominational coordinating body of NGOs in Zimbabwe. It was founded in 1962 as a welfare organisation under the name Southern Rhodesia Council of Social Services predominantly for social welfare organisations.

Salil Shetty - Speech at Civicus 2008

Chris Michael — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 09:56:08 -0700

This speech of Salil Shetty was filmed by a fellow participant at the CIVICUS World Assembly, 18-21 June 2008, in Glasgow, Scotland.
The CIVICUS World Assembly is a forum for international civil society representatives to get together, exchange ideas, experiences and build strategies for a just world.

Salil Shetty joined the United Nations in October 2003 as Director of the Millennium Campaign.
The Millennium Campaign informs, inspires and encourages people’s involvement and action for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals. An initiative of the United Nations, the Campaign supports citizens’ efforts to hold their government to account for the Millennium promise.

The Campaign was launched in October 2002, two years after 189 government leaders from the highest political level of almost every country in the world agreed at the September 2000 Millennium Summit to a set of eight time-bound targets that, when achieved, will end extreme poverty across the planet.
Working at both the national and international levels, the ambition of the Campaign is to inspire a global movement to achieve the Goals and eradicate extreme poverty by 2015. Our premise is simple: we are the first generation that can put an end to extreme poverty around the world, and we refuse to miss this opportunity!

Mary Robinson - Speech at the CIVICUS World Assembly

Chris Michael — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:55:49 -0700

This speech of Mary Robinson was filmed by a fellow participant at the CIVICUS World Assembly, 18-21 June 2008, in Glasgow, Scotland.
The CIVICUS World Assembly is a forum for international civil society representatives to get together, exchange ideas, experiences and build strategies for a just world.
Mary Robinson was the first female President of Ireland, serving from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002.
She resigned the presidency four months ahead of the end of her term of office to take up her post in the United Nations. Robinson has been Honorary President of Oxfam International since 2002, she is Chair of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and is also a founding member and Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders. Robinson is also one of the European members of the controversial Trilateral Commission.
She serves on many boards including the GAVI Fund. Robinson’s newest project is Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative, which promotes equitable trade and development, more humane migration policies and better responses to HIV/AIDS in Africa. The organization also promotes women's leadership and supports capacity building and good governance in developing countries.
In 2004, she received Amnesty International's Ambassador of Conscience Award for her work in promoting human rights.

Helena Suarez - Interview at the CIVICUS World Assembly

Chris Michael — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:59:34 -0700

This interview with Helena Suarez was conducted by a fellow participant at the CIVICUS World Assembly, 18-21 June 2008, in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is a growing alliance of trade unions, community groups, faith groups, women and youth organisations, NGOs and other campaigners working together across more than 100 national platforms. GCAP is calling for action from the world’s leaders to meet their promises to end poverty and inequality. In particular, we demand solutions that address the issues of
* Public accountability, just governance and the fulfilment of human rights
* Trade justice
* A major increase in the quantity and quality of aid and financing for development
* Debt cancellation
* Gender equality must also be at the heart of eradicating poverty.

The CIVICUS World Assembly is a forum for international civil society representatives to get together, exchange ideas, experiences and build strategies for a just world.