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The Internet was abuzz on Friday with the news. Actor George Clooney was arrested, along with members of Congress and other civil society leaders, while protesting human rights violations in Sudan at a Washington, DC, rally attended by Amnesty International and other NGOs.

But they got the wrong man.

The real suspect? Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who remains at large despite being indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur.

As Sudanese civilians suffer from starvation and indiscriminate bombing attacks, al-Bashir continues on as Sudan’s head of state, leaving war crimes in his wake and travelling the globe with impunity.

No more hiding in plain sight, President al-Bashir.

It’s time to arrest Omar al-Bashir and the three other Sudanese wanted by the International Criminal Court and surrender them to the ICC for trial. Tell the United Nations that as long as war crimes suspects are on the loose, civilians will continue to be at grave risk.

The longer it takes to bring fugitives like al-Bashir to justice, the longer civilians suffer. In Sudan, civilians are under fire as Sudanese Armed Forces — under the leadership of yes, Omar al-Bashir — conduct devastating and indiscriminate bombing raids.

And the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is escalating. Livelihoods have been ruined after years of Sudan’s war-torn chaos, and al-Bashir’s self-imposed blockade on humanitarian aid to the Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile regions puts countless people at risk of hunger or starvation.

Friday’s rally in response to the dire human rights situation in Sudan was inspiring. More than a hundred activists joined George Clooney, congressional human rights champions, and Amnesty’s NGO partners to shine a light on Sudan’s ongoing human rights crisis.

Our message was clear — fugitives from international justice like al-Bashir can no longer be allowed to commit the worst crimes under international law with impunity. They must be brought to justice.

Inaction has proven deadly in a suffering Sudan. But with your help, the next high-profile arrest will be of a criminal fugitive from the ICC, not a Hollywood celebrity.

Join us in calling on the United Nations to step up its efforts to advance peace and justice by providing the necessary support to make the arrest of Omar al-Bashir — and his fellow ICC fugitives — a long-awaited reality.

For justice,

Scott Edwards
Advocacy, Policy and Research
Amnesty International USA

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=6oJCLQPAJiJUG&b=6645049&aid=517387&msource=W1203EAIJ1

U2 frontman Bono responded to the story “The Mystery of Jobs’s Public Giving,” in the NYTimes opinion pages telling readers that Jobs was indeed a generous giver through the Product(RED) campaign.

To the Editor:

As a founder of (Product)RED, I’d like to point out that Apple’s contribution to our fight against AIDS in Africa has been invaluable. Through the sale of (RED) products, Apple has been (RED)’s largest contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — giving tens of millions of dollars that have transformed the lives of more than two million Africans through H.I.V. testing, treatment and counseling. This is serious and significant. And Apple’s involvement has encouraged other companies to step up.

Steve Jobs said when we first approached him about (RED), “There is nothing better than the chance to save lives.”

I’m proud to know him; he’s a poetic fellow, an artist and a businessman. Just because he’s been extremely busy, that doesn’t mean that he and his wife, Laurene, have not been thinking about these things. You don’t have to be a friend of his to know what a private person he is or that he doesn’t do things by halves.

BONO
Dublin, Sept. 1, 2011

The writer, the lead singer of U2, is a co-founder of the advocacy group ONE and (Product)RED. 

Before rocking jam-packed Busch Stadium on Sunday night, Bono met with some honchos from the Danforth Plant Science Center to talk about the intersection of humanitarian and scientific issues.

U2′s frontman met with Dr. William Danforth, chairman of the center; James Carrington, president; and Martin Fregene, a native of Nigeria and director of the center’s BioCassava Plus program.

When he was introduced to Danforth, Bono started off with, “What an honor to meet you, sir…”

Fregene shared details with the rocker about the center’s work to combat hunger by improving the nutritional value and disease resistance of crops. Bono, obviously interested in the idea, asked a variety of questions about the Center’s research in relation to the developing world.

The conversation ended with this observation from Fregene: “Africa needs both technology and social action — we are the technology — you are the social action. We have to work together.”

Source: STLtoday.com

Even though the show is over and the music has probably stopped ringing in your ears by now, we can still carry on the powerful message of respect for human rights and dignity.

During the concert, Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared on the big screen and reminded us that when we raise our voices, our words “are louder than any rock band, than any army, than any rocket fire or fighter jet.”

Now we share our candle –the longstanding symbol of our human rights work – with you. We’re counting on you to keep shining a light for human rights.

When you raise your voice for those who have been silenced, you keep the flame glowing. When you raise your voice for those who have been tortured, disappeared or otherwise abused, you keep the fire burning.

When you take action in support of those who risk their lives to defend human rights, you keep the light shining. Just like Amnesty supporters have done for 50 years.

Right now, someone could use your light.

Su Su Nway is a fellow fighter for human rights. She is serving an 8-and-a-half-years prison sentence in Myanmar. Her only “crime” is participating in peaceful protests.

Help Su Su Nway and other prisoners of conscience by urging Myanmar’s government to free all prisoners of conscience now!

You’re now connected to the world’s largest grassroots human rights movement. Your light and your voice are amplified by millions.

Always remember – if you shine a light for others, then they will never be left in darkness.

Thank You,

Larry Cox

Executive Director
Amnesty International USA

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is showing his love for U2 lead singer Bono.

Rubio tweeted Friday morning that “#U2 & #Bono took time to mention plight of Cuban dissident #Biscet & human rights abuses in #Cuba.”

Oscar Elias Biscet is Cuba’s leading dissident and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush. The singer made the remarks at a U2 concert in Miami.

But it’s not the senator’s first run in with the rock star.

Bono was on Capitol Hill June 21 to meet with lawmakers about issues relating to his advocacy group The One Campaign.

Rubio was one of the lawmakers he met with and Rubio’s office tweeted a picture of the two.

The freshman senator was born to a family of Cuban exiles and often talks about the plight of dissidents.

Source: The Hill