The most powerful force on the planet is optimism. That is why the work of Amnesty International is critical. The individual optimism created by writing a letter, post card or email cascades into a great social force which moves governments. In turn, when the weight is lifted from those imprisoned, constrained or oppressed, they can get back to creating a better world. The news of Amnesty's work and their many successes is an inspiration in itself. It's an exponential cascade of world changing.
Tonight you can participate in Amnesty's world changing and have fun! The Ausie chapter of Amnesty launched a Rock 4 Rights music series. It's spread to the US, the first Rock 4 Rights outside AU/NZ is right here in Portland!
Ancient tribal distinctions could be a positive source of identity and pride, could be the starting point for compassion and collaboration. Too often though, they are the source of conflict. Thus is the case in the Darfur region of Sudan where the conflict is also affecting the neighboring CAR and Chad. My experience in Africa has been that there is much less starvation than I thought. It is the result of drought, but more often is the result of displacement and the concentration of refugees beyond the the land's sustainability. In the Darfur, an estimated 2.5 million have been displaced. They are dieing.
Portland Amnesty's Rock 4 Rights is rocking for Amnesty's Darfur programs and for its womens' programs worldwide. The Retrofits, The Young Immortals, The Antecedents and Sexton Blake play - you can check their samples on the Portland Amnesty Myspace. Advance tickets, $10 (cheap!!) are linked off the Myspace. World changing has never been more fun!
Portland Rock 4 Rights Hawthorne Theater 1507 SE 39th all ages $10 advance
