We are looking forward to hearing your views! Submit them here! Remember to submit before September 25!

Already part of APYN? If not, join here now!

Ask your friends to meet with you and answer 5 questions to share your ideas on how the MDGs are working in your country!

5 Questions: Tell us where your country is on the MDGs!

1. What does $US1.25 a day buy you in your hometown?
2. Which MDGs are important to you?
3. Which  human rights in the UDHR are NOT covered by the MDGs?
4. If you were the leader of your country, how would you include human rights in the MDGs?
5. What is one thing you can do to make the MDGs real?

Submit your answers and add your thoughts to amplify young people’s ideas on the MDGs!

When to hold your ‘Meet on MDGs’: Between July 20 and September 25, 2010.

To register your ‘Meet on MDGs’ simply fill out this registration form by September 17, 2010.

Register NOW!

When you have had your ‘Meet on MDGs’ it would be really great if you could fill out the Outcomes Sheet! This will allow your views to be collated with other people’s on the MDGs!

Want to know how your country is going? Check out these links! MDGs monitor and UNDP

Questions and Answers

Q: Do I need to know alot about the MDGs in order to take part?

A: No! This is about you and your friends reflecting on what you think! There are lots of resources and information about the MDGs so you may wish to do some pre-reading, but this is about what you think!

Q: Do I need to register for this?

A: Yes, you need to register and host your Meet on MDGs between July 20, 2010 and 25 September, 2010!

Q:  Is this a public activity?

A: No, this is you asking your friends, people you know, to discuss these issues and then sharing these views. However, if you’d like to run a public activity or event, please contact apyncampaigns@gmail.com

Q: Does this cost anything?

A: No, as you are asking your friends, consider where you’d like to meet, it might be at home, school, work or your favourite hangouts. It doesn’t have to be a ‘big event’ more like a small meeting of your friends. Think about where you normally see your friends, and consider turning the next time you meet them, into a ‘Meet on MDGs’.

Q: Do my responses need to be in English?

A: It’s great if you can provide your answers in your own language and English, however, if this is difficult, please provide in your own language. Perhaps one of your friends might be able to help with translations. If you have problem using the outcomes form, you can always email apyncampaigns@gmail.com with the details of your Meet on MDGs and then the answers to the questions!

Q: Do I need permission to hold a ‘meet on MDGs’?

A: It might be best to ask wherever you decide to meet (eg if you are meeting at home, ask the people you live with, at school or work, whoever you need to ask to use the space etc). Remember though, this isn’t ‘public’ events – you are inviting your friends to participate in these discussions.

Q: How does this activity affect change?

A: Community discussions are the first step to increasing awareness on issues. Every person you speak with about issues that concern you is one more person that may consider the issue you care about.

APYN also wants to collate you and your friends views, with others from around the region, to provide a small insight into young people’s reflection on the MDGs. This is why we ask for your feedback. We can then, depending on the volume of responses, look at different ways to amplify the messages that are coming through from young people around the region about the MDGs. While official country reports have already been prepared and submitted for review of the MDGs, we think that your reflections are important!

Q: Great, I’ve organized and hosted my ‘Meet on MDGs’ and provided the Outcomes Sheet, what can I do now?

A: You can join the MDGs youth campaign team and continue to work on this – and other campaigns related to human rights and poverty.

What are the MDGs?

In 2000, leaders from around the world agreed on 8 development goals to be achieved by 2015. These goals are seen as a framework by which development can be measured. If these goals were to be achieved, world poverty would be halved.

The goals are outlined below:

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women

Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality Rate

Goal 5: Improve maternal health

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

More information on Youth and MDGs

How do the MDGs relate to human rights?

Governments risk failing some of the world’s most impoverished and vulnerable groups unless human rights are put at the centre of efforts to eradicate poverty. The MDGs relate to human rights issues but there is a large divide between the current MDGs framework and international human rights standards.

The world’s most prominent global initiative against poverty, the UN Millennium Development Goals, is largely silent on human rights. The human rights basis for the goals is evident:  universal primary education, promotion of gender equality, improvements in maternal health, to name just a few. But unlike the legal requirements bound in international human rights instruments, progress toward these goals is largely thought to be a matter of goodwill rather than a legal obligation.

For more information, please visit here

Act now: hold a ‘Meet on MDGs’ – what do you and your friends think about MDGs?

Another lively discussion session explored concepts and introductory ideas around this human rights issue.

Preparation for the session was fun too – with participants watching:

• Speaking truth to power: (7mins)
• My sister, my self: (13 minutes)

The introductions were through a voice call, and discussion followed through chat – you can read the transcript of this part of the session here!

Be part of the discussion here:

Next week is our last scheduled Skype School discussion on considering online security and risk. We are looking for more session topics for upcoming Skype School session and would love to hear what you’d be interested in discussing! Add a comment below or email apyncampaigns@gmail.com

Bhopal is not just a human rights tragedy from the last century. It is a human rights travesty today.

Shortly before midnight on 2 December 1984, thousands of tonnes of deadly chemicals leaked from Union Carbide’s pesticide plant in Bhopal, central India. Around half a million people were exposed. Between 7,000 and 10,000 people died in the immediate aftermath and a further 15,000 over the next 20 years.

On 2 December 2009, the people of Bhopal will mark the 25th anniversary of the devastating leak. Amnesty International will act in solidarity with the people of Bhopal and other organisations working to highlight the ongoing human rights impacts of the 1984 leak and to end 25 years of injustice.

As the factory site has not been cleaned up yet, more than 100,000 people in the area continue to suffer from health problems. Efforts to provide rehabilitation – both medical care and measures to address the socio-economic effects of the leak – have fallen far short of what is needed and victims still wait for the adequate compensation. The people of Bhopal have struggled to obtain even basic relief such as clean water. Over the past 25 years, the Indian government has shown its incapacity to deal with the issue as companies involved have evaded accountability and obstructed the efforts of victims to secure reparation.

Take Action now:

What can you do now?

Are you in India?

Join APYN friends at Vigils in India on 2 December 2009 

Join APYN Orkut Group

Are you on Facebook?

Send a message to the Indian PM on Facebook (copy and paste the message below – or write your own!)

Post a Message on Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, on Facebook Fan Page

Sample Message: “Stop 25 years of injustice for the people of Bhopal. Set up the promised Empowered Commission on Bhopal. Clean up & rehabilitate survivors of chemical gas leak! Please meet survivor’s organizations to discuss and agree next steps for rehabilitation of the people and their families who have been affected.  Also, please let us know when and what the next steps for the Empowered Commission will be.  #Bhopal25 www.demanddignity.org ”

Change your status update to:  Dec 2 call for Union Carbide & Indian govt to stop injustice #Bhopal25.

Join the Asia Pacific Youth Network: http://www.facebook.com/#/apyouth?ref=sgm

Are you on Twitter?

Use Twitter HashTags. By posting on your twitter account with the tags #Bhopal 25 or #Demanddignity, you may like to use: Dec 2 call for Union Carbide & Indian govt to stop injustice #Bhopal25.

Bhopal: 25 yrs of Injustice

On 2 December 2009, the people of Bhopal will mark the 25th anniversary of the devastating leak. Amnesty International is joining in solidarity to highlight the ongoing human rights impacts of the 1984 leak. Show your support: Apply the Twibbon. Visit http://twibbon.com/join/Bhopal-25-yrs-of-Injustice for more information.

And… you can sign online petitions :

http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/bhopal-indian-government-must-end-25-years-injustice

http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call-chemical-company-address-legacy-bhopal

Bhopal - Indian government must end 25 years of injustice.

Shortly before midnight on 2 December 1984 thousands of tonnes of deadly chemicals leaked from Union Carbide’s pesticide plant in Bhopal, central India. Around half a million people were exposed. Between 7,000 and 10,000 people died in the immediate aftermath and a further 15,000 over the next 20 years.

On 2 December 2009 the people of Bhopal will mark the 25^th anniversary of the devastating leak. Asia Pacific Youth Network will join Amnesty International to highlight the ongoing human rights impacts of the 1984 leak.

Despite a quarter of a century having passed the factory site has not been cleaned up. More than 100,000 people continue to suffer from health problems, and efforts to provide rehabilitation – both medical care and measures to address the socio-economic effects of the leak – have fallen far short of what is needed. Many of those affected are still waiting for adequate compensation and the full facts of the leak and its impact have never been properly investigated. No-one has ever been held to account for what happened at Bhopal and efforts by survivors’ organizations to use the Indian and US court systems to see justice done and gain adequate redress have so far been unsuccessful.

For 25 years the Indian government has failed the people of Bhopal. Promises have been repeatedly broken and no adequate action has ever been taken to address the impacts of the gas leak. And, while the people of Bhopal have struggled to obtain even basic relief such as clean water, the companies involved have evaded accountability and obstructed the efforts of victims to secure reparation.

Take Action NOW!

Are you in India?

Join APYN friends at Vigils in India on 2 December 2009

Watch this space  and join APYN Orkut Group here

You can also access Orkut through your mobile phone

On Facebook:

Send a message to the Indian PM on Facebook (copy and paste the message below – or write your own!)

Post a Message on Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, on Facebook Fan Page and his 11,799 supporters (as of 16 Sept 09)

Sample Message: “Stop 25 years of injustice for the people of Bhopal. Set up the promised Empowered Commission on Bhopal. Clean up & rehabilitate survivors of chemical gas leak! Please meet survivor’s organizations to discuss and agree next steps for rehabilitation of the people and their families who have been affected.  Also, please let us know when and what the next steps for the Empowered Commission will be.  #Bhopal25 www.demanddignity.org ”

On Twitter:

Use Twitter HashTags. By posting on your twitter account with the tags #Bhopal 25 or #Demanddignity

Sign online petitions here:

Human Rights and Climate Change:

Unless states take prompt, adequate action to address its effects, climate change could become a major threat to the realization of human rights, with those already living in poverty feeling the effects sooner and more acutely.

As global attention turns to the upcoming round of climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December, it is more essential than ever to bring human rights to the table.

Observed and projected changes attributable to climate change include the contraction of snow-covered areas; shrinking of sea ice and melting of polar ice caps; rise of sea levels; increased frequency of hot extremes and heat waves; increase in areas affected by drought; and increased intensity of tropical cyclones.

There is an intrinsic link between such environmental impacts and the ability to realize a range of human rights. State failure to act effectively to curb climate change could result in widespread violations of the right to life, right to health, right to water, right to food, and the right to housing. Acute water shortages and decreased crop yields in the poorer region of the world, to take just two examples, would undermine the rights of millions of people.

State responses to the threat of climate change must ensure that human rights are protected. Strategies for adaptation (preparing for the foreseeable adverse effects of climate change) and mitigation (slowing climate change and reducing its harmful effects) must be firmly rooted in a human rights analysis of the legal obligations of states. Amnesty International believes that the following rights and principles must be an integral part of efforts to address climate change:

• Non-discrimination: The effects of climate change will be felt disproportionately by those who are also vulnerable to human rights abuses because of their poverty, age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or other status. Climate change policies must not discriminate and must ensure protection against discrimination, particularly of the most vulnerable groups.
• Freedom of information: Access to information is critical to addressing climate change. States must promote and facilitate the flow of information on climate change and measures taken to address it. States have a duty to disseminate information about environmental risks.
• Right to active participation: States must conduct adequate and meaningful consultation with affected people, involving them in decision-making on the policies that would shape their lives. States must ensure participation of civil society, including representative of vulnerable groups, in the design of national adaptation and mitigation strategies
• Rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly: The right to peacefully protest against government action or inaction in relation to climate change is a crucial safeguard that must be respected and protected. Individuals must enjoy the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, and must not be persecuted or otherwise harassed for exercising these human rights.
• Accountability and the right to effective remedy: Where states’ actions and omissions in relation to the impacts of climate change result in human rights violations, victims should have access to an effective remedy.

www.amnesty.org

Take action online:

Check out more about the tcktcktck  campaign here: http://tcktcktck.org/

APYN in the Philippines

Asia Pacific Youth Network conducted a series of events and activities  for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 October)…

(((More Human Rights = Less Poverty)))

Here’s some of what happened…

• Over 135 people donated their Facebook status for the day – it’s not too late! Add your name to donate your facebook status to (((Demand Dignity))) … and some friends of twitter donated their status too! The online action was translated into at least five languages too!
• In Quezon City, The Phillippines: Asia Pacific Youth Network activists conducted a series of event in celebration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. APYN says: (((More Human Rights = Less Poverty)))
• In Thailand, (((Voices’ Activism))) with Ploy and three friends of her individual network, who visited Slum Bang Si and joined two activisim groups call “Sor So Arsa” and “Bangkok Metropolitan Youth Council”. Sor So arsa is a volunteer teacher group. Teaching children in Slum is its job.
• In Thailand too, on the 14th of October, students at the Rumrudee International School ((( made their mark))) with View, check out the video here
• In Nepal, there was an essay competition, a public forum in coalition with parliament members and in  partnership with NGOs to recognize World Food Day.
• In Hong Kong, APYN activists hosted their first street event, where young individuals froze in different poses with yellow umbrellas that had ‘Demand Dignity’ slogans on it. The event was also featured on Singtao Daily.
• In New Zealand, APYN activists created a slum -like settlement, with petitions to sign against forced evictions in Cambodia and space to raise voices to Demand Dignity! They had about 120 petitions letters signed and 17 people responded to their questions “What does living with Dignity mean to me?”. They also featured in a major newspaper in NZ!
• In Malaysia, in light of the Diwali Public Holiday, Oct 17 activities will be held on 31^st October, however youth activists still (((Demanded Dignity))) with friends on Oct 17.
• In Australia, and art exhibition held during September amplified over 200 voices, on the 17th activists hosted a Nationwide Flashmob.

Your activities not listed here? Remember to email your updates to share with your friends!

Demand Dignity animation © Amnesty International

Why is climate change a human rights issue?

Unless states take prompt, adequate action to address its effects, climate change could become a major threat to the realization of human rights, with those already living in poverty feeling the effects sooner and more acutely. As global attention turns to the upcoming round of climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December, it is more essential than ever to bring human rights to the table.

(What is happening in Copenhagen?  Why the number 350? )

• Join an event here: Download the APYN logo and take a print out with you!
• Want to create your own event? (when you register include “Asia Pacific Youth Network” and include the ((( ))) amplification symbols, make sure you let email us too!)
• Take action online by signing the pledge here.

The Global Campaign for Climate Action is a broad coalition of civil society organizations calling for an ambitious, fair and binding climate agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009.

TckTckTck is an unprecedented global alliance of civil society organizations, trade unions, faith groups and people like you—all calling for an fair, ambitious, and binding climate change agreement. If enough of us stand up, world leaders will listen.

Human Rights and Climate Change:

Upholding human rights while confronting climate change

Unless states take prompt, adequate action to address its effects, climate change could become a major threat to the realization of human rights, with those already living in poverty feeling the effects sooner and more acutely.

As global attention turns to the upcoming round of climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December, it is more essential than ever to bring human rights to the table.

Observed and projected changes attributable to climate change include the contraction of snow-covered areas; shrinking of sea ice and melting of polar ice caps; rise of sea levels; increased frequency of hot extremes and heat waves; increase in areas affected by drought; and increased intensity of tropical cyclones.

There is an intrinsic link between such environmental impacts and the ability to realize a range of human rights. State failure to act effectively to curb climate change could result in widespread violations of the right to life, right to health, right to water, right to food, and the right to housing. Acute water shortages and decreased crop yields in the poorer region of the world, to take just two examples, would undermine the rights of millions of people.

State responses to the threat of climate change must ensure that human rights are protected. Strategies for adaptation (preparing for the foreseeable adverse effects of climate change) and mitigation (slowing climate change and reducing its harmful effects) must be firmly rooted in a human rights analysis of the legal obligations of states. Amnesty International believes that the following rights and principles must be an integral part of efforts to address climate change:

• Non-discrimination: The effects of climate change will be felt disproportionately by those who are also vulnerable to human rights abuses because of their poverty, age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or other status. Climate change policies must not discriminate and must ensure protection against discrimination, particularly of the most vulnerable groups.
• Freedom of information: Access to information is critical to addressing climate change. States must promote and facilitate the flow of information on climate change and measures taken to address it. States have a duty to disseminate information about environmental risks.
• Right to active participation: States must conduct adequate and meaningful consultation with affected people, involving them in decision-making on the policies that would shape their lives. States must ensure participation of civil society, including representative of vulnerable groups, in the design of national adaptation and mitigation strategies
• Rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly: The right to peacefully protest against government action or inaction in relation to climate change is a crucial safeguard that must be respected and protected. Individuals must enjoy the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas, and must not be persecuted or otherwise harassed for exercising these human rights.
• Accountability and the right to effective remedy: Where states’ actions and omissions in relation to the impacts of climate change result in human rights violations, victims should have access to an effective remedy.