Dear Friend of Human Rights
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
&
May Peace and Love & Happiness be With You
Throughout This New Year
From Everyone at Visual Artists Guild
Dear Friend of Human Rights
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
&
May Peace and Love & Happiness be With You
Throughout This New Year
From Everyone at Visual Artists Guild
URGENT ACTION: Please join us
FOR Monday, December 15, 2008
WHAT: Protest China's
detention of Human Rights Activist Liu Xiaobo
WHERE: Pasadena City Council,
100 N. Garfield Ave, Pasadena 91109
WHEN: 6:00 p.m. Monday, December 15, 2008
ACTION: This past Wednesday, December 10, 2008, Mayor Bill Bogaard officiated the first city sponsored celebration of the anniversary of the signing of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. From someone who only discovered this important document a year ago, Mayor Bogaard's Wednesday's statements expressing his support for the Declaration was truly welcomed. However, words without action would mean only empty words. Mayor Bogaard's challenge could not have come at a more appropriate time. As the City of Pasadena was about to celebrate the 60the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of human rights, Liu Xiaobo, one of China’s most prominent human rights activist was arrested in his home in Beijing. His telephone and internet lines were cut, and his personal papers, books and computers were seized. The day before the anniversary, a document called Charter 08 was released to the world. Charter 08 was based on Charter 77, a human rights manifesto, which challenged Soviet rule and was originally signed by about two hundred writers and intellectuals in Czechoslovakia in 1977. One of the signers of Charter 77 was playwright Vaclav Havel who later became the first President of democratic Czechoslovakia after the 1989 "velvet revolution". Charter 08 reiterated many of the rights as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It calls for democratic reform in China and it calls for change in 19 areas, including a new constitution, an independent judiciary, freedom of assembly, election of public officials and stronger guarantees for personal freedoms; it expresses a sense of urgency for the future and destiny of China. The document was signed by more than 300 Chinese intellectuals and human rights activists in China including lawyers, journalists, dissidents, artists and rural leaders, from every corner of the country. One of the signers of Charter 08 was Liu Xiaobo who is also suspected by the government as the initiator of the document. The Mayor who had expressed his support for the rights as set forth in the UDHR, will be challenged to put his words into action.
FOR INFORMATION: Ann Lau, Visual Artists Guild, 310-539-0234, cell 310-433-0697 * * * *
* * * * * Press Conference * * * * For Immediate Release * * * * *
WHAT: Free the China POC 8
8+ cities appealfor the release of 8 prisoners of conscience in China
A one day 24-hour global appeal to ask the Peoples Repubilc of China to release the China POC 8 before the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony of 8-8-08.
WHEN: Tuesday, July 8, 2008
CONTACT: This Press Conference/ Campaign will be conducted concurrently within a
24-hour one day time period at the following cities:
Los Angeles, U. S. A. - Press Conference 3:00 p.m.
Golden Dragon Restaurant ,960 N Broadway, LA Chinatown
Contact Ann Lau - 310-539-0234, 310-433-0697
New York, U.S. A. - Press Conference 12:00 noon
New York City Hall steps - 260 Broadway, NY, NY
Contact: Ann Noonan 646-251-6069
Calgary, Canada - Press Conference 12:00 noon
Consulate of the Peoples Republic of China, 1011 6th Ave SW
Contact: Tom Tong 403-274-9018
Toronto, Candad - Press Conference 11:00 am.
Chinese Canadian National Council, 302 Spadina Rd., Suite 507
Contact: Mr. Cheuk Kwan +1 416 804 1527
Seattle, U.S. A. - Press Conference 6:00 p.m.
Mosaic Coffee House, 4401 2nd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105
Contact: Jane Jin 206-829-8972
Melbourne, Australia - Contact: Anna Noonan +61 2 9333 0919 ifj@ifj-asia.org
Hong Kong - Contact: Lee Cheuk Yan 852-27826111
Boston, U.S.A. - Contact: Chungchi Che 617-966-2575
Berlin, Germany - Video Press Conference YouTube link to video is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35DmnlIJlJU
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS:
Visual Artists Guild (LA, NY, Berlin) * Reporters Without Borders / Reporters Sans Frontieres * Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ * International Federation of Journalists (Asia Pacific) - IFJ * Step It UP * Hong Kong Alliance for Democracy in China * Hong Kong Forum * Laogai Research Foundation * Students for a Free Tibet, NY * New York City Coalition for Darfur * 8-8-08 For Burma * China Peace * Free Church for China * Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement * Movement for Democracy in China (Calgary) * Toronto Association for Democracy in China * Federation for a Democratic China (Canada) * Chinese Democracy & Human Rights Coalition (Seattle, Washington) *
BACKGROUND INFORMATON:
To call upon the government of the Peoples Republic of China to follow the Spirit of the Olympics - the slogan of the Beijing Olympics of One World One Dream - as a symbolic gesture of good will towards sponsors and athletes of the 2008 Olympic Games.by releasing the following 8 individuals:
釋放中國8位良心犯
Huang Qi 黃琦 * Sun Lin孫林 * Qi Chonghuai 齊崇懷* Hu Jia 胡佳
Yang Chunlin 楊春林 * Chen Guangcheng 陳光誠 * Shi Tao 師濤 * Yang Zili楊子立
We extend our sincere gratitude for your meeting with Laogai Research Foundation Executive Director Harry Wu, Chinese democracy advocate Wei Jingsheng, Uyghur American Association President Rebiya Kaddeer, China Aid Association President Bob Fu and activist Sasha Gong before you left for your trip to Asia.
Additionally, your promise to raise human rights issues with President Hu Jintao of the Peoples Republic of China has raised our hopes for a humanitarian reform, which may result as part of the good will associated with the Olympics.
* * * * * Sample letter * * * * * *
Ambassador People's Republic of China
July 8, 2000
Dear Honorable Ambassador ______
In the spirit of the Olympics and its 2008 theme "One World One Dream", this letter is to respectfully
request your support for the release of the
following 8 Prisoners.
Huang Qi
Sun Lin
Qi Chonghuai
Hu Jia
Yang Chunlin
Chen Guangcheng
Shi Tao
Yang Zili.
Your support for the release of these 8 prisoners before the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony on 8-8-08 would be a great symbolic gesture of good will towards the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Releasing these 8 individuals before the opening ceremony on 8-8-08 would also bring great comfort to these 8 individuals' families and it will be a sign of good faith to the world of social and humanitarian societies at large.
We respectfully request your assistance for the above 8 individuals in obtaining their immediate and unconditional release so that they can live in peace with their families and communities.
We request any assistance you may be able to offer so that the Summer Olympics of
8-8-08 will be celebrated as a spectacular effort by your country to build the ideal of "One World One Dream".
Sincerely,
Your name here