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View an interview with Nazanin Afshin-Jan, founder of Stop Child Executions, featuring footage from Cities For Life 2009 held at St. James' Cathedral.

View an interview with Nazanin Afshin-Jan, founder of Stop Child Executions, featuring footage from Cities For Life 2009 held at St. James' Cathedral.
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 Angela Carroll through 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 Board Room at 152 King Street East.  All are welcome.

Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011

 
Special Events


WRITE FOR RIGHTS
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.


WRITE FOR RIGHTS
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.
Long Term Commitments


The Action Circle has committed to providing help and support for at least a year to two ongoing cases:

HUSEYIN CELIL
Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil, an ethnic Uighur and human rights activist from China, became a Canadian citizen in 2005. During a family visit to Uzbekistan in 2006, he was detained by the Chinese police and has been held in solitary confinement and sentenced to life imprisonment without a fair trial. We are continuing to work on this file, while also offering support to his wife, Kamila and their four children, who live in Burlington. Recent news is encouraging, with extended family being allowed visits for the first time in a year, and news that we are now allowed to send books to relieve the boredom of prison life. The Canadian government continues to urge his release.

WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE ARISE (WOZA)
Our second longterm case is quite different. WOZA, Women of Zimbabwe Arise, was formed as a non-violent women's movement with the aim of encouraging women to stand up for their rights and freedoms and to lobby and advocate on the issues affecting women and their families. WOZA has taken an active stand against the actions of President Mugabe's government, and in response WOZA members have been arbitrarily detained and subjected to harassment and torture. The Action Circle continues to protest their treatment to the Zimbabwe government and to offer support to the members and their families.


The Action Circle has committed to providing help and support for at least a year to two ongoing cases:

HUSEYIN CELIL
Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil, an ethnic Uighur and human rights activist from China, became a Canadian citizen in 2005. During a family visit to Uzbekistan in 2006, he was detained by the Chinese police and has been held in solitary confinement and sentenced to life imprisonment without a fair trial. We are continuing to work on this file, while also offering support to his wife, Kamila and their four children, who live in Burlington. Recent news is encouraging, with extended family being allowed visits for the first time in a year, and news that we are now allowed to send books to relieve the boredom of prison life. The Canadian government continues to urge his release.

WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE ARISE (WOZA)
Our second longterm case is quite different. WOZA, Women of Zimbabwe Arise, was formed as a non-violent women's movement with the aim of encouraging women to stand up for their rights and freedoms and to lobby and advocate on the issues affecting women and their families. WOZA has taken an active stand against the actions of President Mugabe's government, and in response WOZA members have been arbitrarily detained and subjected to harassment and torture. The Action Circle continues to protest their treatment to the Zimbabwe government and to offer support to the members and their families.
Special Events (continued)


CITIES FOR LIFE / AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY

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 and 2009. Keynote speakers in 2009 were Nazanin Afshin-Jam, human rights activist, founder of Stop Child Executions and former Miss World Canada, who was joined by Marina Nemat, author of "Prisoner of Tehran," a memoir of her life as a sixteen-year old inmate of the notorious Evin Prison. Previous speakers have included: Alex Neve, James Lockyer, Jack Layton, Bob Rae, Archbishop Fred Hiltz and Linden MacIntyre.

Future plans include a North American Conference in 2011, bringing together scholars and experts from the world of Human Rights, Ethics and the Law.

View images from 2009 here.
Visit Flickr.com to see more images from 2009.


CITIES FOR LIFE / AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY

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 and 2009. Keynote speakers in 2009 were Nazanin Afshin-Jam, human rights activist, founder of Stop Child Executions and former Miss World Canada, who was joined by Marina Nemat, author of "Prisoner of Tehran," a memoir of her life as a sixteen-year old inmate of the notorious Evin Prison. Previous speakers have included: Alex Neve, James Lockyer, Jack Layton, Bob Rae, Archbishop Fred Hiltz and Linden MacIntyre.

Future plans include a North American Conference in 2011, bringing together scholars and experts from the world of Human Rights, Ethics and the Law.

View images from 2009 here.
Visit Flickr.com to see more images from 2009.
Amnesty International


Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of "ordinary" people who work together to achieve extraordinary results. Each day we stand in solidarity with - and help protect - individuals and communities around the world whose human rights are under attack. We appeal for the violations to stop. We mobilize public pressure to prevent human rights abuses from taking place. And we support Amnesty's campaigns through our financial contributions. Amnesty members come from many different cultures and backgrounds. What unites us is our determination to build a world where all people live in dignity, security and freedom. Amnesty International is recognized by its glowing candle circled in barbed wire. And for good reason. Governments and other groups who attack people's dignity and freedom try to hide their oppression, keep it in the dark. They torture in isolated cells. They make people "disappear." They attempt to impose silence through anonymous threats. Amnesty members - alongside many human rights defenders around the world - shine the light of public attention on these hidden abuses. We expose the truth. We create public pressure to make the abuses stop. We let the authorities know that they are being watched, that we expect them to uphold international human rights standards, and that they will be brought to justice if they commit human rights crimes. The actions of Amnesty members are a beacon of hope for many people who are imprisoned because of their beliefs, for men and women on death row, for the tortured, for those suffering the loss of "disappeared" loved ones, and for people seeking refuge from harm. The glowing candle flame is like the voice of nearly two million Amnesty International members around the world... "We are many and we are here with you. We are speaking out for your safety - and for the safety of us all. We are standing up for your dignity - and the dignity of us all. And we won't give up until all of us can truly live in safety and dignity." Exposing the truth, stopping the violations, offering hope - this is what you can be a part of.


Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of "ordinary" people who work together to achieve extraordinary results. Each day we stand in solidarity with - and help protect - individuals and communities around the world whose human rights are under attack. We appeal for the violations to stop. We mobilize public pressure to prevent human rights abuses from taking place. And we support Amnesty's campaigns through our financial contributions. Amnesty members come from many different cultures and backgrounds. What unites us is our determination to build a world where all people live in dignity, security and freedom. Amnesty International is recognized by its glowing candle circled in barbed wire. And for good reason. Governments and other groups who attack people's dignity and freedom try to hide their oppression, keep it in the dark. They torture in isolated cells. They make people "disappear." They attempt to impose silence through anonymous threats. Amnesty members - alongside many human rights defenders around the world - shine the light of public attention on these hidden abuses. We expose the truth. We create public pressure to make the abuses stop. We let the authorities know that they are being watched, that we expect them to uphold international human rights standards, and that they will be brought to justice if they commit human rights crimes. The actions of Amnesty members are a beacon of hope for many people who are imprisoned because of their beliefs, for men and women on death row, for the tortured, for those suffering the loss of "disappeared" loved ones, and for people seeking refuge from harm. The glowing candle flame is like the voice of nearly two million Amnesty International members around the world... "We are many and we are here with you. We are speaking out for your safety - and for the safety of us all. We are standing up for your dignity - and the dignity of us all. And we won't give up until all of us can truly live in safety and dignity." Exposing the truth, stopping the violations, offering hope - this is what you can be a part of.

Resources