Get on the Bus (GOTB) (www.gotb.org) is a full day of human rights activism and education in New York City. The 14th annual GOTB will be held on April 17, 2009. Amnesty International Group 133 (www.amnesty133.org) of Somerville, MA and hundreds of activists from all over the Northeast will take their voices to the streets of NYC to speak out against human rights abuses.
THE ACTIONS FOR GOTB 2009 ARE:
Burma (Myanmar) – GOTB participants will rally in support of the Burmese people in their struggle for democracy and justice, calling upon the Burmese military junta (the SPDC) to stop the crackdown on pro-democracy activists, monks, students, and others, and to release all prisoners of conscience including Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and Activist/comedian Zarganar, who most recently was sentenced to 59 years in prison for criticizing the government’s response to Cyclone Nargis.
Guatemala – GOTB participants will appeal to the Guatemalan government for the protection of families, individuals and activists promoting human rights and environmental protection in the mining areas of Guatemala, who continue to face land exploitation, water contamination, forced evictions, and human rights violations related to gold mining. Participants will also implore the Guatemalan government to respect the community consult process, which legally requires that communities directly affected by the mining industry to be allowed to weigh in regarding mining projects.
Sri Lanka – Due to the grave humanitarian crisis currently threatening the lives of thousands of civilians trapped in the war zone in northeastern Sri Lanka, we have decided to shift the focus of the Sri Lanka action from ongoing impunity for past violations to the urgent need to protect the civilians at risk. We are calling on the Sri Lankan government to protect the civilians at risk in northern Sri Lanka. Those trapped in the war zone should be allowed to leave safely and those unable to leave should immediately be provided with necessary humanitarian aid.
Tibet -- Focusing on the status of human rights in Tibet with a specific emphasis on the case of Dhondup Wangchen, filmmaker of the documentary Leaving Fear Behind who has been held incommunicado since 2008, GOTB participants will call on China to immediately and unconditionally release of Dhondup Wangchen and all those detained for peacefully exercising their rights in the March 2008 demonstrations.
Side Action: Special Focus Case – Fathi el-Jahmi (Libya)
Thanks to everyone for making Get on the Bus 2008 a huge success. Visit www.gotb.org for pictures of last year's event.
Visit www.gotb.org for more information and to get involved.
Get on the Bus is organized by Amnesty International Group 133 in Somerville, MA. Our group holds monthly meetings the 2nd Tuesday of every month at the Northeast Regional Office in Davis Square, 58 Day St., 4th Floor.
