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Who We Are Amnesty International is a world wide voluntary activist movement working toward the observance of all human rights and enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international standards. It does so by promoting human rights generally, as well as taking action against specific abuses of human rights. The actions of thousands of individuals give AI the leverage to be the most effective human rights organization in the world. We here at Glenbard West have the mission of promoting the Amnesty Ideals within our own community through the concentrated effort of Students. The Beginning... In 1961 a British lawyer, Peter Benenson, read a newspaper story of two Portuguese students sentenced to seven years in jail. Their crime? They had raised their glasses in a toast to freedom. On May 28 of that year, the London Observer carried a full-page story - an "Appeal for Amnesty. 1961" Benenson asked readers to write letters asking for the release of the students who had been victims of injustice, as well as other "prisoners of conscience." The response was so overwhelming that by the end of that year-long "Appeal for Amnesty, " groups of letter writers had formed in a dozen countries. Amnesty International was born. Today... Since AI was founded in 1961, it has worked on behalf of more than 44,600 prisoner cases, of which 40, 248 are now closed. In 1977, AI wont he Nobel Peace Prize for its human rights work. Today, there are more than 1 million members and supporters in over 140 countries and territories. More than 7,500 AI groups, including local groups, youth or student groups and professional groups, are active in more than 90 countries and territories throughout the world. AI has a large, growing diverse membership. But without your interest, action and support, our work cannot be as powerful. Dedicated activists like you are needed to ensure that all people have their fundamental human rights protect. What We Do Besides the declarations found above, Glenbard West Amnesty has some smaller scale objectives. We currently have done things ranging from work with writing letters and making protests against the civil rights unrest in Guatemala, to helping support the effort to save trees along the Prairie path in Glen Ellyn, to supporting tolerance within our school along side the local Glenbard West sexual orientation rights club, Prism. How You Can Join Simple. Show up for a meeting, or talk to one of they key members. See the members and meetings sections for more information. Home | Contact | Members | Meetings | Links | Projects | Email This
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