Deseree Stukes ([email protected])
Tue, 20 Oct 1998 09:14:38 -0400
Also, go to the actual article and see a piccie of Bono.
Stars come out to
support human rights
By Paul Cullen
With just a little help from its friends in showbusiness, Amnesty
International is seeking 1 million signatures from Irish people in
support of human rights. The petition, and others from around the world,
will be presented to the United Nations in December, the 50th
anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The campaign was given a high-profile start in Dublin yesterday when
most of U2, along with a slew of other celebrities, signed the petition
on O'Connell Street under the slogan "One million signatures, one
powerful message".
Bono, his eyes hidden behind trademark wraparound sunglasses, did the
talking for the group: "One of the greatest problems in the world is the
cynical idea that the world can't be changed and that politics and
economics are too complicated to deal with. But with Amnesty it's
simple; you can write a postcard and make a gigantic difference to the
life of someone who is in jail or suffering human rights abuses."
Besides, the singer added, he was proud to be part of an organisation
which was founded by another Irishman, Se�n MacBride, and in which so
many other musicians were involved. "It's a cool club to be in," he
concluded.
Globally, Amnesty is hoping to collect 60 million signatures to be
presented in the "World's Biggest Book" to UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi
Annan, on December 10th.
In Ireland, those who have already signed up include the President, Mrs
McAleese, S�amus Heaney, Mick McCarthy, Van Morrison and Brendan
O'Carroll.
They were joined yesterday by Roddy Doyle, Donal Lunny, Paul Brady and
Michelle de Bruin, all of whom turned up on O'Connell Bridge to lend
their support. A visiting Indonesian human rights activist, Wilson bin
Nurtyas, also signed; he was recently released from prison, where he was
tortured with electric shocks.
The director of Amnesty's Irish Section, Ms Mary Lawlor, said the aim
was to send a powerful message to governments that "human rights do
matter".
"Human rights are everyone's business. It doesn't take much to sign up
your name. In some other countries the price of standing up for human
rights is often imprisonment, torture, disappearance or death."
Signature cards are being made available at shops, churches, schools,
businesses and other public places over the coming weeks. Signatures
will also be collected at public events and sports fixtures. The Cabinet
is due to sign the petition this morning.
deseree
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