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Amnesty International


Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of more than three million people dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights. We are building a world in which every person enjoys rights included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international rights standards. In Canada today we have more than 67,000 members and thousands more active supporters in communities, schools and networks across the country.

 

 


Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of more than three million people dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights. We are building a world in which every person enjoys rights included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international rights standards. In Canada today we have more than 67,000 members and thousands more active supporters in communities, schools and networks across the country.

 

 
Write for Rights


Sunday, December 11, 2011

Amnesty Action Circle members will be available after each morning service to help parishioners sign letters in support of prisoners of conscience.

Each year in December, the Action Circle joins in a worldwide Amnesty International day of action for human rights to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Letters and postcards are prepared for signature and members of the circle are available after each service on the Sunday nearest to the anniversary date to help parishioners join the action. This Amnesty-sponsored global write-a-thon sees communities all over the world send petitions and letters to governments and authorities, and many people have been freed or seen their conditions improve because of it. During this event over 25,000 letters are send each year from Canada alone.

 


Sunday, December 11, 2011

Amnesty Action Circle members will be available after each morning service to help parishioners sign letters in support of prisoners of conscience.

Each year in December, the Action Circle joins in a worldwide Amnesty International day of action for human rights to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Letters and postcards are prepared for signature and members of the circle are available after each service on the Sunday nearest to the anniversary date to help parishioners join the action. This Amnesty-sponsored global write-a-thon sees communities all over the world send petitions and letters to governments and authorities, and many people have been freed or seen their conditions improve because of it. During this event over 25,000 letters are send each year from Canada alone.

 
Ongoing Commitments


Each month one member brings forward an action to the group by preparing a letter and briefly updating us on the case. We focus on individuals who have been wrongly accused, or who have been victims of human rights abuses.

In 2011 we have written letters for individuals who are wrongfully imprisoned in Iran, Bahrain, China and other countries. We sign and mail the letters individually. We also have been involved in writing letters for two ongoing commitments, described below.

HUSEYIN CELIL
The St. James Action Circle is one of a number of groups working to free Huseyin Celil, a Canadian citizen who was detained by the Chinese police and held in solitary confinement since 2006. His wife, Kamila, and four children live in Burlington. Recent news is encouraging, but there is still much to do.

WOZA - WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE ARISE
Formed as a non-violent women's movement with the aim of encouraging women to stand up for their rights and freedoms, WOZA has taken an active stand against the actions of President Mugabe's government. The Action Circle continues to protest their treatment to the Zimbabwe government and to offer support to the members and their families. (Photo: Jenni Williams & Magodonga Mahlangu, leaders of WOZA)

 

 


Each month one member brings forward an action to the group by preparing a letter and briefly updating us on the case. We focus on individuals who have been wrongly accused, or who have been victims of human rights abuses.

In 2011 we have written letters for individuals who are wrongfully imprisoned in Iran, Bahrain, China and other countries. We sign and mail the letters individually. We also have been involved in writing letters for two ongoing commitments, described below.

HUSEYIN CELIL
The St. James Action Circle is one of a number of groups working to free Huseyin Celil, a Canadian citizen who was detained by the Chinese police and held in solitary confinement since 2006. His wife, Kamila, and four children live in Burlington. Recent news is encouraging, but there is still much to do.

WOZA - WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE ARISE
Formed as a non-violent women's movement with the aim of encouraging women to stand up for their rights and freedoms, WOZA has taken an active stand against the actions of President Mugabe's government. The Action Circle continues to protest their treatment to the Zimbabwe government and to offer support to the members and their families. (Photo: Jenni Williams & Magodonga Mahlangu, leaders of WOZA)

 

 
Cities for Life / Against the Death Penalty


View images from 2011 here


People in over a thousand cities across the world join together in calling for an end to the death penalty worldwide.

On November 30 each year, Toronto joins over 1000 other cities around the world to speak out against the death penalty. Cities for Life began on November 30, 2002, the anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in Tuscany, Italy in 1786.

The first Toronto Cities for Life / Against the Death Penalty event was held at St. James' Cathedral in 2007, and was held here again in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.


 


View images from 2011 here


People in over a thousand cities across the world join together in calling for an end to the death penalty worldwide.

On November 30 each year, Toronto joins over 1000 other cities around the world to speak out against the death penalty. Cities for Life began on November 30, 2002, the anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in Tuscany, Italy in 1786.

The first Toronto Cities for Life / Against the Death Penalty event was held at St. James' Cathedral in 2007, and was held here again in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.


 
The St. James' Amnesty International Action Circle

The St. James Amnesty International Action Circle meets monthly. Activities include letter writing, email campaigns, retreat days and discussion and organizing special events at the Cathedral concerning human rights. For more information contact the Parish Office (416-364-7865).

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

Meetings are preceded with the Eucharist in the Lady Chapel at 12:30pm and begin at 1:00pm in the Library at 65 Church Street in the partially completed Cathedral Centre. All are welcome.

Saturday, January 28, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Saturday, June 30, 2012

 
 

Click here to listen to the sermon preached by Sr. Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking. Sr. Helen was the key note preacher at Cities for Life 2010, and also preached at the Cathedral on November 28, 2010.

 

 

Click here to listen to the sermon preached by Sr. Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking. Sr. Helen was the key note preacher at Cities for Life 2010, and also preached at the Cathedral on November 28, 2010.

 

 
Resources