Amnesty International is launching a bus tour, together with partner organisations the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal and the Bhopal Medical Appeal, which will travel throughout Europe for eight weeks starting on 17 October until 2 December – the day of the 25th anniversary.
Monthly Archive for October, 2009
By Colby Goodman, Amnesty International’s Control Arms Campaign
October 7, 2009 – On a day the New York Times exposed more details about Guinean security forces recent use of weapons against thousands of peaceful protestors, Amnesty International participated in what turned out to be an electrified briefing at the United Nations (UN) about preventing the use of arms for serious human rights violations and the need for an Arms Trade Treaty.
Grande finale of the Amnesty International caravan ©Amnesty International
Today was the final day of the caravan. We drove from Bo to Waterloo, a town on the outskirts of Freetown. After a quick radio interview for the musicians, we assembled in the field and prepared for the event.
The hot sun was beaming down on the caravan stage and the crowd was scattered on the outskirts of the field, watching the introductions from a distance. Just when we thought we would collapse from heat exhaustion, the sky started rumbling and the rain poured down.
When it rains in Sierra Leone it really does pour, but it was such sweet relief from the sun that we all stayed outside and relished it. Just as quickly, the rain disappeared, the clouds parted and the show continued. At the end of the event, Brima (Sierra Leone Director) acknowledged all the participants on the caravan and we all went on stage to sing the maternal mortality song.
Ameen speaks in the mosque ©Amnesty International
We split up today and did a number of different things in Bo. This morning, I went to a local radio station with Solomon, the section campaigner and the musicians.
The musicians were interviewed about their involvement in Amnesty International’s campaign on maternal mortality and why they think maternal mortality is an important issue to focus on in Sierra Leone. Solomon was asked questions about Amnesty International, the caravan and the reasons behind the high maternal mortality rates in the country.
Everyone was pleased with the interview and the musicians feel that they have really benefited from being part of the caravan and would like to continue the work in the longer-term.
Showing film in the Kenema government hospital ©Amnesty International
This morning, we went to the Kenema government hospital and showed the Amnesty International film in the maternity ward. During the discussion after the film, people shared a number of their experiences.
One of the women, Jenny N.C. Valli, spoke of the poor road networks and challenge to gain access to the hospital. Some of the surrounding villages are not accessible by car and it can take women two to three days before they are able to reach the hospital. She called for the government to take action on this immediately.
Another woman, Nancy Bambura said that she is a victim of four still births. During her last pregnancy, she started experiencing bleeding and was brought to the hospital from a neighbouring town called Bamakoya by ambulance.
Continue reading ‘People share experiences after watching film in Sierra Leone’
