A Just Life

Ban Landmines

Inky — Fri, 21 May 2010 09:57:50 +0000

We need to put pressure on President Obama to sign the Mine Ban Treaty

Please sign the petition and let him know how you feel.

Thanks

Stop GM Crops in Europe

Inky — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:43:15 +0000

Another petition this week!

The EU has now agreed to allow GM crops to be grown in Europe. We need to get 1 million signatures to delay this so that the decision is made on scientific data.

Stand Up For The Elephants

Inky — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:47:57 +0000

Two countries are asking to be made exempt from the world wide ban on ivory trading. This will simply be the thin end of the wedge and, if we allow it to happen, other countries will join in. There’s a lot of money in dead elephants.

One way to help the elephants is to sign the petition that has already got 30,000 signatures. There is no time to waste. The decision will be made sometime next week.

Help Ban The Use of Animals in Circuses

Inky — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:02:36 +0000

DEFRA are currently carrying out a survey on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses.

This is a great opportunity to have this practice banned once and for all.

Death Penalty Proposed for Gay Ugandans

Inky — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:39:26 +0000

Gay Ugandans may be sentenced to death if legislation being debated right now passes.

High level international condemnation has just pushed the President to send the bill for review, but Ugandan allies say only a worldwide outcry could tip Parliamentarians away from discrimination, alarming them with global isolation. Please sign the petition.

Cancel Haiti’s Debt

Inky — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:03:24 +0000

Its just plain stupid and cruel that some governments and banks are still chasing Haiti for its outstanding debts. Debts it has no hope of ever paying off.

Whilst concerned people, like us, are digging deep into their pockets to support this traumatised nation there are people out their still angling for their pound of flesh.

Please sign this petition and let’s all try and give Haitians some hope for the future.

Tenzin Delek Rimpoche

Inky — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:47:49 +0000

“I am not guilty, please appeal for justice for me….call all people together and do everything possible to help me overturn the verdict.”

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a highly revered Tibetan Buddhist lama is serving a life sentence in prison for allegedly “conspiring to cause explosions”. Sentenced to death in 2002 in a closed door trial that failed to meet even the most minimal international legal standards. No credible evidence has ever been found linking him to this crime. Following an international campaign on his behalf, Tenzin Delek’s death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2005.

Please support this call for the case to be re-opened.

A Golf Ball for the Fishes?

Inky — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:29:32 +0000

A new golf ball has been launched by Spanish company AlbusGolf – called the Ecobioball.

This 100% biodegradable ball is safe to use near water (think ocean liner cruises here as well as the local lakes and streams next to your golf course) and is totally non-toxic.

What’s more the fishes will love it as it contains – wait for it – fish food! Miss hit your ball and it will biodegrade within 48 hours letting out a tasty meal for the fish.

Safe to flora and fauna alike.

Government bans 08!! numbers in NHS

Inky — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:49:55 +0000

Do you remember the petition I asked you to sign stopping hospitals making a profit from patients phoning them?

Well we won. Hurrah!

Collective action works.

Read the Government’s response

The Department of Health proposes to ban the use of premium rate numbers by NHS organisations. It has recently consulted on the use of 084 numbers in the NHS. The Department’s response to the consultation was published on 14 September, and is available on its website at: www.dh.gov.uk by typing ‘084 consultation response’ into the search bar.

The Department received approximately 3,000 responses to the consultation exercise; 2,000 from members of the public, a further 1,000 from the NHS, and a small number of responses from industry and other stakeholder organisations.

The consultation demonstrated that there is overwhelming support for the banning of numbers which cost the patient more to call than if they had called a normal geographical number (for example, numbers beginning 01 or 02). As a result of the consultation, the Department intends to amend legislation to stop the use of any telephone numbers which charge patients more to contact the NHS than the equivalent call to a geographical number. This will be enforced through amendments to the GP contract regulations, and the issuing of Directions to NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).

The ban will be enforced as soon as the necessary legislative changes can be made. This will be early next year for GP Practices, but as soon as practically possible for NHS Trusts and PCTs. The Department’s ongoing position on this issue has been that patients should not be expected to pay more than the equivalent cost of calling a geographical number, and, in the meantime, Ministers expect NHS organisations to continue to take this into account.

Amnesty International – Greeting Card Campaign

Inky — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:38:30 +0000

Check out Amnesty’s website for their annual greeting card campaign.

This year my card is going to the peace community of Colombia

The community was created in March 1997 when people living in villages in the municipality of Apartadó, north-western Colombia, pledged not to be drawn into the conflict which has pitted the security forces and paramilitaries against guerrilla groups for more than 40 years. Their stance has met with suspicion and hostility from both sides.

Since then 170 members of the Peace Community have been killed or ‘disappeared’, while others have been threatened or sexually assaulted. Despite repeated orders from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Colombian authorities have failed to take effective action to protect the community, falling short of their obligations under international law.

Download a case sheet for the Peace Community (PDF)

Update: 27 November 2009

On 24 September, the laptop and a USB memory stick belonging to Eduar Lanchero, who is a member of the Peace Community’s human rights commission, were stolen from his house. No other valuable items that where in the house at the time were stolen.

On the morning of 11 October, Eduar Lanchero received a death threat from paramilitaries. Eduar has been followed and threatened repeatedly. He has reportedly been followed by members of Colombia´s Department of Administrative Security (DAS).

During the past months members of the security forces have continued to accuse the members of the community of being guerrilla members. Such accusations may lead members of paramilitary or security forces to justify attacks and threats against the community.

Please continue to take action in support of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó.