Due to the opening of the Olympics in China, camping, and other activities, the attendance at Group 48’s August 8, 2008 meeting was unusually small. Nevertheless, eight stalwart Group 48 members and activists made their way to the First Unitarian Church for our meeting. Mary Lou Noble, Jane Kristof, Fatima Kehinstanz, Zack Ferguson, and Tim Upham joined me for our meeting. Due to a previous engagement, Dan Johnson could not facilitate the meeting, so I came off the bench to take on the challenge.
After introductions, Jane Kristof requested to speak first due to commitments at home. There was no objection. In light of the China’s Olympics and the country’s connection to Darfur, Jane suggested that we look at the Team Darfur site, which is organized by Olympic athletes to focus on the tragedy in Darfur. Jane distributed postcards for Group 48’s 60-year old prisoner in Guantanamo, Saifullah Paracha, a Pakistani businessman and philanthropist held in Guantanamo for almost 5 years without charge or trial. The postcard action was addressed to Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey asking that Mr. Paracha be charged and tried or freed and that he be given immediate medical treatment for his health problems.
In regard to Central Africa Regional Action Network (RAN), I asked those attending to contact their member of Congress to co-sponsor H. Res. 1227 introduced by Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Brad Miller condemning sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and calling on the international community to take immediate action to support educational, health and psycho-social programs for the survivors of this violence. As of August 8, 2008, only 31 representatives had signed on as co-sponsors of this legislation. No Oregon representatives had signed on to support this resolution. Please contact your representative at 202 224-3121 and urge them to protect women and children in the Democratic Republic of Congo by co-sponsoring H. Res. 1227.
Joanne Lau, our China RAN Coordinator and co-lead of AIUSA’s China Olympic Campaign team, alerted me beforehand that she could not attend the meeting but sent an action to contact Representative Howard Berman, Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, requesting support for the Global Online Freedom Act. She also sent links to press releases related to Amnesty International’s concerns on China and press freedom at the Beijing Olympics. These press releases can be obtained from the China Country Page at AIUSA’s web site.
Sherry Herbert emailed a sample letter to Representative Berman asking him to co-sponsor HR 275 The Global Online Freedom Act of 2007. This sample letter is available at this Group 48 site. Please take this action, which would make it more difficult for foreign governments to obtain Internet information about dissidents .
Mary Lou Noble, our Central America RAN Coordinator, updated us about the human rights situation in the region and distributed several actions. One action was directed at the President of Honduras requesting action to protect human rights defenders. Honduras has been ordered by the Inter American System of Human Rights to take action to implement measures to protect human rights activists. To date, the orders had not been implemented. Another action was addressed to the President of Guatemala on behalf of human rights defenders who have received death threats.
Cheryl Zechmann discussed Oregon Ballot Initiative 58, which requires English as the language requirement for Oregon schools and English immersion classes for non-English speaking students of every age. The initiative contains specific time limits for students to learn English. Since the right to an education is a human right, Cheryl stated that this initiative has serious human rights implications for non-English speaking populations in our own state. To work against this initiative, contact the Center for Intercultural Organizing.
This discussion concluded the business of meeting, which ended in a record 45 minutes. No treasurer’s report or tabling events were presented but hopefully, these agenda items will be reported at our September 12, 2008 meeting. Hope to see you at our next meeting.
Regards,
Terrie Rodello
Group 48 Member
Oregon State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator
(and Backup Meeting Facilitator)
AIUSA Group 48 
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