As the Group Coordinator of Amnesty International's Tampa Bay area chapter (Group 240), I have a special respect for the annual Global Write-a-Thon event. This is an occasion for everyone — not just Amnesty members — to spend 90 minutes writing letters to foreign governments about human rights activists who have been denied justice, are in prison, or are in danger because of their admirable activities. A.I. headquarters in New York provides us with the names of the human rights cases they think are the most urgent — this year from Mexico, Gambia, China and Romania, among other places — as well as addresses to write to and a few guidelines. The local chapter provides the stationery, envelopes and stamps. The Tampa area event is just one of thousands that will be carried out throughout the U.S. and over 50 countries worldwide. This year A.I. aims to generate 350,000 letters from the U.S. alone. Testimony from freed prisoners and others make it clear that these letters can save lives.
The event is on Wednesday, Dec. 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. It takes place at the Jan Platt Regional Library, 3910 S. Manhattan Ave. in Tampa. For more information, call 813-767-3107. Everyone welcome!
This article appears in Dec 2-8, 2010.