Archive Page: Past Events (2008–2009)

Talk: Rana Husseini signs her book “Murder in the Name of Honor”

Who

Rana HusseiniJordanian journalist Rana Husseini, who has written extensively about honor killings of women (women killed by male relatives because of a perception of “unchaste” sexual behavior) is on a book tour for her new book Murder in the Name of Honor.

This event is being organized by Suzanne Darweesh, member of local group 141 (Orange). for further details contact here at sdarweesh@aol.com.

What

Rana Husseini presents and signs her book Murder in the Name of Honor: The True Story of One Woman's Heroic Fight Against an Unbelievable Crime.

Feminist and human rights defender, Jordanian Rana Husseini is a leading international investigative journalist, whose reporting has put violence against women on the public agenda around the world. The recipient of numerous awards for bravery in journalism, she is a regular speaker at major international events, including having spoken at the World Organization Against Torture at the 57th Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. She has been interviewed by almost every major international broadcaster from CNN to the BBC.

Book Cover

In this new provocative first hand account, Rana Husseini chronicles the many stories behind cases of so- called honor killings that she has uncovered during years of international investigative reporting. Taking us from the narrow alleys of Old Amman to the war-torn region of Baghdad, from the bustling streets of Derby in the UK to the quiet suburbs of St Louis, USA, Rana uses her journalistic ability to meticulously reconstruct each crime scene, seeking not to shock but to humanize each murder, to help readers understand the multiple contradictions, which allow these horrendous crimes to occur.

Rana’s website | Book website

Where

St. Mark Presbyterian Church
2200 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach, 92660

When

Thursday 5 November 2009, 9:00–11:30 (AM)

How Much

Free!

Map to event location


View Larger Map

Talk and Movie: 1994 Rwanda Genocide

Who

Amnesty International USA Group 178: Irvine, is partnering with Orange County for Darfur, Irvine United Congregational Church, and a host of other organizations on a week-end discussing the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Where

Irvine United Congregational Church
4915 Alton Parkway, Irvine, California 92604 (map)

Movie:

What

Showing of Shake Hands With The Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire
Director: Peter Raymont | Documentary. 2004. Canada. 91 min. English.

In 1994, one man was given the task by the United Nations to ensure that peace was maintained in Rwanda: Canadian General Roméo Dallaire. In 100 nightmarish days, more than 800,000 men, women, and children were brutally murdered. Dallaire was thrown into a country he barely understood, leading ill equipped, untrained troops who did not want to be there.

Roméo Dallaire

Unsupported by U.N. headquarters, they were incapable of stopping the killing. This experience led to Dallaire's own life tragedy as he dealt with the psychological fallout of witnessing a genocide he was powerless to stop. Dallaire condemns top U.N. officials, disloyal Belgian troop commanders, and senior members of the Clinton administration who chose to do nothing as he pleaded for reinforcements and revised rules of engagement, convinced that with a few thousand more troops and a mandate to act, he could have stopped the killings.

In April 2004, on the 10th anniversary of the genocide, Peter Raymont followed Dallaire on his first return trip to Rwanda, revisiting the killing fields that still haunt him.

When

Friday 9 October 2009, 19:00 (7:00 PM)

How Much

Free!

RSVP

RSVP at the event website.

Carl WilkensTalk: An Evening With Carl Wilkens

What

Join us to hear Carl’s personal first-hand account of life for the people of Rwanda as their country collapsed, as well as stories of those who stood up against the killers.

You may remember Carl Wilkens from the documentary Ghosts of Rwanda. Carl Wilkens was the only American to remain in Rwanda when the 1994 genocide started, and through his actions helped save many people from being killed. Read this interview describing his experiences in Rwanda.

I went to the headquarters office and a young secretary I’d become friends with … [told me] the colonel wasn’t in; he was out of town that day, but his assistant [was] eating down in the basement. So I said, “Well, I’ll go to Mark at the other orphanage two blocks away, and I’ll be right back.” [When he] got back, he said, “He’s down [there], but you won’t believe it—the prime minister’s here.” I’m like, “So what’s that mean?” and he’s like, “Ask him.”

I’m like, “Ask him?” It’s like that’s the stupidest thing you could imagine—to ask this guy who is obviously orchestrating the genocide, a key player, and yet I have no other options. … [He’s like], “Just go out in the hallway. He’s in the next office. When he comes out, ask him.” So I went out [into the hallway] … and [a] door opens. Everybody snaps to attention, and here comes [the prime minister] and his little entourage. They’re coming down the hall, and I am, too.

I put my hand out and I said, “Mr. Prime Minister, I’m Carl Wilkins, the director of ADRA.” He stops and he looks at me, and then he takes my hand and shakes it and said, “Yes, I’ve heard about you and your work. How is it?” I said, “Well, honestly, sir, it’s not very good right now. The orphans at Gisimba are surrounded, and I think there’s going to be a massacre, if there hasn’t been already.” He turns around, talks to some of his aides or whatever, [and he turns back to me and] he says, “We’re aware of the situation, and those orphans are going to be safe. I’ll see to it.”

… So I went home and they were safe, and that was just a couple of days later that they were all moved to a safer part of a bad town. It was an incredible reunion as we found all of those orphans moved out.

Carl Wilkens and his wife Teresa have formed a non-profit organization, World Outside My Shoes.

When

Saturday 10 October 2009, 19:00 (7:00 PM)
Reception immediately following program.

How Much

Free!

RSVP

RSVP at the event website.

Map to event location


View Larger Map

Movie Showing: The Reckoning

Who

Amnesty International USA Group 178: Irvine, in conjunction with Orange County for Darfur

What

Showing of The Reckoning (film website | PBS site)

P.O.V. LogoThis is not the album by the Grateful Dead, not the short story by Edith Wharton, not the album by R.E.M., not the movie with Willem Dafoe. This is the celebrated Documentary shown on PBS, an Official Selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, directed by Pamela Yates. The movie talks about the efforts of prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo as he tries to bring perpetrators of human rights crimes to trial before the International Criminal Court.

This event is a collaboration with P.O.V., PBS’ award-winning nonfiction film series.

Without Justice, people will have no respect for each other.

more information on the film…

Where

Irvine Ranch Water District
15600 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine, California 92618-3102

When

Saturday 19 September 2009, 19:00 – 21:00 (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM)

How Much

Free!

An RSVP is appreciated.

Map


View Larger Map

Irvine Ranch Water District neither supports nor endorses the cause nor activities or organizations which use the district’s meeting rooms that are made available as a public service.

The War on Terror… and the Law

Who

Amnesty International, Orange Coast College (see their facebook group) hosts a talk by Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law and Founding Dean School of Law University of California, Irvine.

What

Dean ChereminskyDean Erwin Chemerinsky, a nationally recognized Constitutional scholar, will present “The War on Terror… and the Law” as part of Orange Coast College’s Constitution Week activities.

The public is welcome to attend the 45-minute program, which will be followed by a question-and-answer session by six preselected OCC students.

Chemerinsky directed California’s first public law school opening in 40 years when the UC Irvine Law School welcomed its first class last month.

Before his arrival at UCI, Chemerinsky taught public interest law, legal ethics and political science at Duke University and the University of Southern California School of Law, where he served as a professor for 21 years. He is a graduate of Harvard School of Law and completed undergraduate studies at Northwestern University.

In addition to teaching, he has frequently argued appellate cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals, he has written six books, more than 100 law review articles and is a regular commentator on legal issues for national media.

Event website (on facebook)

Where

Orange Coast College, Robert B. Moore Theater
2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, California 92626-5561

When

Tuesday 15 September 2009, 11:00 – 13:00 (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM)

How Much

Free!

Map


View Larger Map

Genocide Prevention Month: Ghosts of Rwanda

Mass grave in Nyamata

Mass grave in Nyamata, Rwanda

Who

Amnesty International Group 178 (Irvine) and Orange County for Darfur

What

To commemorate Genocide Prevention Month, April 2009, we will host a documentary showing of Frontline: Ghosts of Rwanda.

Where

Irvine United Congregational Church, Plumer Hall
4915 Alton Parkway, Irvine, California 92604 (map and directions)

When

Thursday 16 April 2009
18:30 (6:30 PM) refreshments served 19:00 (7:00 PM) movie starts at exactly 7:00 PM

How Much

Free! (donations always accepted)

Ghosts of Rwanda

A two-hour Frontline documentary

Ghosts of Rwanda excels in pacing and thematic balance. It never overwhelms the viewer with grisly footage of corpses at the expense of the critical issue of world inaction. The sound bites from Bill Clinton and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (then head of the organization’s peacekeeping operations) are as devastating as the footage of bloated bodies floating down a river.
(Sam Allis, Boston Globe)

Please RSVP

Great American Write-In

Great American Write-In attendees

Amnesty International has participated in this event for many years and it is highly recommended. You will find many, many organizations with letter-writing opportunities on a wide variety of social issues. Be a part of the action—select your most important issues after speaking with representatives from a large variety of advocacy groups, and raise your voice by writing! Returning each year to the Write–In, loyal letter–writers have fondly dubbed it “The Conscience of Orange County”.

Do not miss this event and be sure to stop by the Amnesty International table!

See our website for event details.

11th Annual Cesar Chavez Walk and Festival

Who

Come join Aliados con Amnesty International and the United Farm Workers Foundation.

What

A day of festivities and human rights awareness in honor of Cesar Chavez.

Where

Olvera Street (El Pueblo Historic Monument)
125 Paseo de la Plaza, Los Angeles, California 90012

When

Saturday 4 April 2009
10:00 AM

How Much

Free!

If you would like to volunteer or have questions please contact us the Los Angeles Amnesty International office.

In Darfur

non-Amnesty International

In Darfur Lobby Card

Orange County for Darfur and Moving Target Theatre are pleased to present the play In Darfur, a provocative account of three intertwined lives at a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Darfur, Sudan. The story follows:

  • an aid worker’s mission to save and protect lives
  • a journalist’s pursuit to deliver a Page One story
  • and a Darfuri woman’s quest for safety

See the website for performance dates.

You can also try to arrange a showing by contacting Orange County for Darfur.

4Darfur Awareness Concert (14 Mar)

Darfur Concert Poster

Troy Amnesty International High School Group

In conjunction with Valencia, Dana Hills, and Los Alamitos high school groups

And Amnesty International local groups in Orange County

invites you to a concert to benefit Darfur!

See our website for event details.

Second Annual Gender and Justice Conference (6-7 Mar)

non-Amnesty International

Who

Center for Women’s Studies—Vanguard University

What

A two-day conference discussing domestic violence, human trafficking, prostitution, and gender violence related to war.

Where

Vanguard University of Southern California (location)

When

6 and 7 March 2009
Friday 14:00 (2:00 PM) – Saturday 17:00 (5:00 PM)

How Much

Early Registration By February 23: $69
After February 23: $90
One Day Rate: $49
Student with Valid I.D. Card: $35

See here for more information.

Eve of Justice (4 and 5 Mar)

Amnesty International encourages its members to participate in the Eve for Justice candlelight vigils happening throughout California, to support marriage equality for the LGBT community. See our website for events in Orange County:

Costa Mesa 4 March 2009

Long Beach 4 March 2009

Santa Ana 5 March 2009

Never Again? A Refugee from Darfur Speaks (4 Mar)

non-Amnesty International

Who

University Synagogue Tikkun Olam Committee, Jewish World Watch and Irvine United Congregational Church will sponsor a presentation with Adam Abakar, a refugee from Darfur, who will share his riveting and painful odyssey.

What

Presentation and Question and Answer session

Adam Abakar, a native Darfuri, had just completed college in Khartoum, Sudan, when he heard disturbing reports that genocide was being committed in Darfur. He began secretly documenting the atrocities and gathering evidence of his government’s involvement. He was caught by government troops, shot, beaten, and tortured but managed to bring his microchip of photos out of Sudan. He's lost his home, family and country to accomplish his mission. Now he is here in the US sharing his photos and his personal experience to expose the atrocities and bring awareness to the dire situation in Darfur.

Tzivia Schwartz Getzug is the Executive Director of Jewish World Watch, a Los Angeles based non-profit organization dedicated to educating and advocating on issues of genocide and egregious human rights violations, and providing humanitarian relief to survivors of genocide. In 2007, Tzivia went to Chad to bear witness to the genocide and to visit our JewishWorld Watch projects on the ground.

Where

University Synagogue, 3400 Michelson Drive, Irvine, CA 92612 (location)

When

Wednesday 4 March 2009
19:30 – 21:00 (7:30 PM – 9:00 PM)

How Much

Free!

See flyer (.PDF document)

December 10th Human Rights Day Write-a-thon

Official Event listing

Long Beach, California

Who: Amnesty International Group #175 (Long Beach)

What: Write-a-thon to celebrate Human Rights Day and make a difference!

When: Wednesday 10 December 2008, 11:00 to 20:00 (11 A.M. to 8 P.M.)

Where: Zephyr Cafe
340 East 4th Street
Long Beach
(562) 435-7113

We will have Write-a-thon actions as well as holiday cards. Delicious food available for purchase from 11 to 4. From 4 to 8 p.m., the kitchen will close and only drinks and pastries will be available for purchase.

Contact: Norma Edwards e-mail (562) 425-4353

Flyer: Word document or PDF file

Map to location


View Larger Map

Past Events

This archive page shows old event announcements from our calendar page.

2009

2008