Human Rights

On August 12 I'm giving a talk at Stanford about how each person has particular gifts that can be used to bring about positive social change. I love the TED Talks podcast because it proves this point so powerfully. In this TED Talk, James Nachtwey - perhaps the greatest war photographer of our time - discusses how "his intention is to record the truth, to document the struggles of humanity, and with this, to wake people up and stir them to action."

Salon.com says, "He's clearly one of those rare characters who focus singularly on their work with a missionary-like sense of purpose."

Watch this video for an inspiring story of commitment and unforgettable photos.

The War in Darfur began five years ago in western Sudan, and today, there is still no end in sight. Hundreds of thousands of people have died from violence and disease, with millions more being displaced from their homes. McCain and Obama have both pledged to pursue peace in Darfur once elected as President.

While on the subject, the two U.S. presidential candidates praised “young people” for their dedication toward curbing the Darfur Genocide. Here is what they have to say:

John McCain
“I am gratified by organizations all over America, young people all over America who have acted to go to our government and other governments to act to stop this genocide. I want to thank all of those people and organizations who have dedicated so much of their time, their effort, their energy, and their funds on behalf of people that they’ve never known and never will know that is suffering the most horrific situation today. I believe that over time, with this kind of support and this kind of effort, that we will end the genocide in Darfur.”

Barack Obama
“When you see a genocide, whether it is in Rwanda, or Bosnia, or in Darfur, that’s a stain on all of us, that’s a stain on our souls … It is very encouraging to see activism based not on self-interest, but on a moral imperative, and it is especially heartening to see young people engage and expressing their idealism through this movement. We can’t say never again and allow it to happen again, and as President of the United States I don’t intend to abandon people or turn a blind eye to slaughter.”

I applaud the many young people who have valiantly committed themselves to the Darfur cause, and the next President of the United States is certainly gratified by some of America's most selfless students. Teenagers and young adults have an influential presence on the Web, across high school and college campuses, and even on Capitol Hill. What role will you play in ending the Darfur Genocide?

Photo courtesy of USA Today.

The Olympics has never just been merely an athletic competition. Ancient Greeks viewed it as a religious ceremony with mythological origins. However, after the games were revived in 1896 in Athens, the Olympics has come to stand for varying concepts such as fame, corporate advertising, nationalism, and independence.

Through wars and turmoil, the games have gone on. However, this year's games have brought about more conflict than ever.

Idealists believed at first that hosting the Olympics in Beijing would bring about numerous changes to the China. The event would strengthen relations between Asia and the western world, promote democracy and human rights, and recognize a growing superpower.

Obviously there have been some benefits. The Chinese government has started a crackdown on Beijing's environmental policies and has poured in billions to clean up the crowded capital.

I was just in Beijing last year, and I remember our taxi-driver explaining to us a new trial concerning motor vehicles. Automobiles were prohibited from driving on specified days, depending on license plate numbers. I hope the air pollution has gotten better since, because it certainly was nothing to brag about back then.

Many also hoped that putting China on the international stage would pressure authorities to relax some of their stringent policies on civil and human rights.

Apparently, many Chinese citizens and activists had the same views.

Unfortunately, this was not the case. From the clashes in Tibet to the arrests of outspoken citizens, the government has not loosened its tight grip, despite international criticism. Outward protest has mounted, with protesters impeding the Olympic torch relay. The flame was extinguished several times and in some areas had to be transported by bus to protect it from demonstrators. Reuters

Now groups are calling for a complete boycott of the games. If the United States and other prominent nations actually refused to attend the games, it would be a slap in the face for the Chinese government. The message would certainly come across- we are condemning your blatant abuse of human rights. However, I fail to see a pragmatic reason in following this route.

No doubt relations between the East and the West would worsen- creating political, social, and economic problems. Also, there would be no further incentive for the Chinese government to improve- they might even crack down harder on Tibet and citizens to “punish” them for causing China’s embarrassment.

Furthermore, groups of Chinese citizens are now hosting “anti-Western” demonstrations in response to the protests against China. Though the government does not condone these actions, the situation is becoming increasingly fragile. Yahoo News Who knows what will crack if countries suddenly decide to boycott?

Some suggest giving China an ultimatum. This is an extremely perilous idea. It is certain that the government will take this in a demeaning way. Ultimately, even if there is change during the Olympics, long-term there is not much hope for stability.

There are ways to spread political messages while still attending the Olympics. For example, when the games were hosted in Nazi Germany, it was quite symbolic when, contrary to Hitler’s belief of a superior Aryan race, 14 medals were won by African-Americans and 13 were won by Jews.

Most importantly, attending the Olympics improves communication and good feelings. Only in this way can the United States ever hope to have an influence on the Chinese government in the future.

Regardless of what some may say, China is pressured to improve under the limelight of the Olympics. Change does not come quickly, especially after centuries of deep-rooted tradition. Certainly, however, things have changed drastically from the days of the Communist Revolution and later the Cultural Revolution. Hopefully, the Olympics will be the first step of many to improving the tensions between China and the West. Who knows? A better relationship will lead to an exchange of ideals and values…but only the future can tell.

The image above is from ChinaChineseInfo.com.

Come participate in the ?Gender and Fair Trade: Women in Developing Nations? summit to be held at the Hobart and William Smith Colleges on November 3. The topic for the conference is the impact of fair trade on women workers in developing nations, and will focus on the following questions:

* How are fair trade and gender interconnected?
* What is the best way to empower women in developing nations, what are some of the ways students can have an impact?
* How can students become involved in fair trade, both in their personal lives and at their colleges or universities?

Furthermore, there will be workshops lead by fellow students that will empower students to strategically discuss these issues with their peers, coordinate an event around fair trade, or organize a campaign to get fair trade products at your campus.

The tentative schedule is provided below. The summit will take place at Albright Auditorium on the HWS campus in Geneva, NY.

9:00- 9:45 Registration and Breakfast
9:45- 10:15 Welcome and Introduction
10:15- 11:15 Keynote Speaker--Marceline White, Executive Director of Americans for Informed Democracy
11:15- 12:00 Workshops
12:00- 1:15 Lunch and Breakout Discussions
1:15- 2:15 Panel Presentation & Q&A
2:15- 3:00 Closing Remarks

The summit will feature a provocative keynote address by Marceline White, AID President and former Deputy Director of the Greater Access to Trade Expansion (GATE) Project funded by USAID's Office of Women and Development. Also on the agenda is a panel discussion with high-profile experts who can inspire interesting discussion about gender and fair trade. Among the confirmed panelists are Edward Kowalewski, professor of International Business at the University at Buffalo and head of international trade and investment for Empire State Development; and Debbie Naybor, organizer of the non-profit group With Both Your Hands, which raises money to start businesses and build schools in Africa.

Finally, sustainable and fair trade breakfast and lunch will be offered to give participants an opportunity to immediately interact with fair trade products. This conference is free for students to attend!

You can register to participate in the summit here or contact sam@aidemocracy.org for more information.