The Maze of Injustice

A link to the full report can be found here:

Human Rights Abuse in the USA

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/10/fbi-tracking-device/all/1

Well, I guess this answers the question of whether the FBI is still illegally spying on American citizens.

This week, a California college student named Yasir Afifi found a battery-powered tracking device on his car. His friend thought it was suspicious, and posted a picture of it online. Two days later, the FBI showed up at his house to collect the device that they claimed was "expensive." As Brian Alseth from the ACLU puts it, "It seems very frightening that the FBI have placed a surveillance-tracking device on the car of a 20-year-old American citizen who has done nothing more than being half-Egyptian."

Flood in Pakistan

Photo Credit: journeyfish.com

If you were at the last meeting, you will remember that we decided our first action this year will take the form of a fundraiser to aid victims of the floods in Pakistan. The human rights aspect of the Pakistani crisis is underscored in these articles from the NY Times and the BBC:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/world/asia/24pstan.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10981230

"Nearly five million people have been displaced from the worst flooding ever recorded in Pakistan. Hundreds of thousands are being housed in orderly tented camps set up in army compounds, schools and other public buildings, but thousands more are living on roadsides and canal embankments, spreading out mats under the trees or making shade over the simple rope beds they brought with them.

The town of Sukkur is overflowing with displaced people. On the edge of the town, a group of 15 families with scores of children are camped along the Dadu Canal. Their mood is edgy, and they race in a horde after any vehicle that slows in the hope that it bears food or assistance. One woman showed her fractured arm, the result of a tussle for food.

“People are looting,” said Shad Mohammad, 28, a shopkeeper and father of five, who came here after his town, Ghospur, was flooded 15 days ago. “People run after trucks snatching things. People come, sometimes the government comes, or charities with food. Sometimes you get something, sometimes not.” "

The Genocide Behind Your Smart Phone

Here is an informative Newsweek article about conflict minerals (similar to blood diamonds) that have been sneaking into supply chains for major technology companies in the US. As technology users, we should be concerned about where these materials come from; it seems they often come from Congo, and sometimes the money supports militia operations.

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/16/the-genocide-behind-your-smart-phone.html

Activist in Residence from Ghana - Co-hosted by the Women's and Gender Studies and African and African American Studies Programs

The Women’s and Gender Studies Program and the African and African American Studies Program present Franciska Issaka, an activist, organizer, former elected and appointed government official from Ghana next week. She is the Activist-in-Residence for this fall and also the first speaker part of Dr. Irvine’s Women and World Politics Presidential Dream Course.

She is an inspiring and interesting figure with amazing experience. You can find the event on facebook. Please feel free to email, post, distribute, and encourage everyone to attend these awesome events.

Her schedule is as follow:

September 23 2.30pm Workshop “How To Change the World” lessons learned from everyday activism in Ghana, Traditions Room OMU

September 23 7pm Public Lecture “Realizing Women’s Rights in Africa: The Interface between Cultural and Universal Rights,” Scholars Room OMU

September 25 10am Breakfast “From One Activist To Another” meet and greet Franciska Issaka, a human rights activist from Ghana, Women’s and Gender Studies Lounge PHSC 531

Groovefest Fundraiser April 21st at 10pm

Groovefest Meeting tomorrow 7pm Union Food Court

Hey everyone,

There will be a Groovefest meeting tomorrow, Thursday, April 16th at 7pm in the Union food court. We may move to a classroom if it happens to be loud in there, just text me if you come late and can't find us.

Also, for those of you over 21, don't forget we are having a fundraiser show at the Deli next Tuesday, April 21st at 10pm - JonBear Fourtet, The Whiskey Trio, and Penny Hill solo, $5 at the door, all proceeds go to paying our exorbitant bills.

For those of you who didn't get to make it to the "Peace Not Prejudice" film festival last night, you should check out the video we made, up on our new youtube channel, www.youtube.com/ouamnesty. If I have time I'll post some highlights from Rosa's speech there soon.


See you soon,
Sarah

Handprint Mural for Stop Violence Against Women Campaign

Max, Tom, and Will outside of Second Wind after the April 4th fundraiser.

Updates, Meeting this Wednesday 4/1 8:30pm

Hey Guys,

Just a reminder we'll be having a work meeting for the State Conference this Wednesday, April 1st at 8:30pm at my house (816 S. Lahoma Ave.) to put together the conference materials and chalk the sidewalks for the statewide conference. (Bring your chalk!)

"Don't Look Away" Violence Against Women Panel Discussion
We will be making a short announcement about our State Conference at the panel discussion that is this Thursday, April 2nd at 7pm in the Sandy Bell Gallery of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. It is also likely we will be allowed to have a table, so please try to make it to this event. It will be a really interesting panel and a great opportunity to let people know about our conference.

Web Updates
We've made a lot of progress on the internet! The Groovefest website is up (www.groovefest.org) and both the Amnesty and Groovefest myspace pages got a redesign (www.myspace.com/ouamnesty, www.myspace.com/normangroovefest). Also, there are new pictures up on our flickr site - go check yourselves out! www.flickr.com/ouamnesty

Publicity for State Conference
There are fliers below for both our state conference and our fundraiser concert. We will have printed copies available on Wednesday but feel free to print some out before that and post them anywhere and everywhere. Also, if you frequent any departmental buildings (i.e. political science, honors college, etc) please ask if they would be willing to send out publicity for our event to their mailing list.

Election Results
Congrats to our 2009-2010 Officers, now in training!
President - Anna Przebinda
Vice President - John Best
Treasurer - John Goetzinger, (fall) Katie Knutter
Secretary - Cacie Thomas
Fall Groovefest - Sarah Warmker, Elliot Hale
Spring Groovefest - Katie Baker
Urgent Action Coordinators - Mady Ohs, (fall) Cindy Woods

As always, call/text/email if you need anything!

Sarah

2009 Oklahoma State Conference Flier