humanrightsradio

Encuentro de Activismo

This past September, Amnesty International Field Worker, Crystal Giesbrecht attended Encuentro de Activismo, a gathering of activists in Mexico City.  The Mexican section of Amnesty International sponsored this gathering welcoming delegates from North and South
America.  Some of the delegates were surprised to learn that indigenous peoples in Canada are often under the same kinds of pressures and coersion as indigenous peoples in developing countries when resource extraction plans don't take into account the needs of the people who are living in the midst of this "development".

Write for Rights Amnesty International celebrates Dec 10

Today, Amanda Schleede, Brian Broqueza, and Jim Hutchings discussed the United Nations Universal Declaration on Human Rights 66th anniversary celebration.  The local Amnesty International group will be having a "Write for Rights" event at the Artful Dodger on December 10th with interesting speakers and videos but the main emphasis will be on writing letters in response to "Urgent Actions" identified by Amnesty International Canada.  They talk about the UNDHR, some of the "Urgent Actions" and some success stories.

Violence Against Women: 16 days of Activism

Today Human Rights Radio spoke with Jill Arnot, Executive Director of the Women's Centre at the University of Regina.  We discussed the 25th anniversary of the Montreal massacre at the Ecole Polytechnique and talked about what society, particularly male society, needs to change in its attitudes towards women.

We Remember Mary Pyne

Today on Human Rights Radio, Gord Barnes and Jim Hutchings talk about long time activist and Amnesty International member, Mary Pyne who passed away last week at age 90.  She was a nurse, a pilot, a poet, an activist, and a well-loved member of the community, known for her hard work and dedication.  We touch on just a few of her accomplishments and read some of her poems.

Stop Torture

This week, Gord Barnes and Jim Hutchings talk about Amnesty's "Stop Torture" campaign.  It is a tragic fact that torture is a reality that Amnesty has been dealing with for decades.  Part of our task as Human Rights Activists is to encourage all governments, including our own, to make clear to every faction in the world that Torture, as punishment, or as a means to "enhanced interrogation", is never, ever acceptable.  Every world body needs to be held accountable to make torture an activity that is simply unthinkable as a totally inhumane mode of treating anyone.  It must simply stop.

All Nations Hope Network

Today Human Rights Radio spoke with Margaret Poitras, CEO of All Nations Hope Network.  We found out how this organization got started and how its mission has evolved over the years to provide help for those who need it most.

Ethical Eats

In today's program, Gord Barnes and Jim Hutchings talk with Robbi Humble of the Saskatchewan Council for International Co-operation (SCIC) about a worldwide movement to return to the older traditional methods of providing food for the world's population.  We talked about upcoming speaker, Dr. Vandana Shiva, (check her out on Wikipedia), and we talked about SCIC's new app for iphones and androids...Shoppers who are looking for local natural food suppliers in their area will use this app to find these businesses.  We also talked about Robbi's recent trip to Guatemala.

REACH

On today's Human Rights Radio Show, Jim Hutchings speaks with Dana Folkersen, Executive Director of REACH.  This organization started off focusing on the issue of child hunger but has since broadened its focus to the importance of quality food for quality of life for all ages.

Supporting and Encouraging Aboriginal University Students

A little under two years ago, we spoke with Misty Longman of the Aboriginal Student Centre at the University of Regina, so we decided this would be a good time to revisit this discussion.  We talked about how the centre came about, and how it helps students to overcome the obstacles, large and small, that can get in the way of university education.

Sisters in Spirit

Jim Hutchings and Gordon Barnes talk about the Oct 4th vigil being held at First Nations University of Canada in Regina for Sisters in Spirit.  We were reminded that Amnesty commissioned a special report 10 years ago about the distressing number of indigenous women who are murdered or go missing every year.  Things haven't changed much in 10 years.