Humanistan

23/02/2014

Playing For Change is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music. The idea for this project came from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.

15/02/2014

Congratulations to my dear friend, colleague, and brother...

As a former child soldier, Emmanuel chose hope over despair; empathy over indifference, and helping others over succumbing to the evils and traumas of war. In tragedy, he saw opportunity. In music, he found solace and a universal language through which to spread a message of peace, tolerance, justice and human rights; the message that there’s no place for children in war and hostilities.”
- Fatou Bensouda – Chief Prosecutor International Criminal Court. (ICC)

I will be receiving the International Peace Award, the Dresden Prize, in Germany on February 16th. This is an honour.

“As a former child soldier, Emmanuel chose hope over despair; empathy over indifference, and helping others over succumbing to the evils and traumas of war. In tragedy, he saw opportunity. In music, he found solace and a universal language through which to spread a message of peace, tolerance, jus...

07/02/2014

American Indian Movement’s fatal clash with FBI agents led to Peltier’s conviction despite ‘serious concerns’ over fairness

29/01/2014

“Today’s decision by Egypt’s chief prosecutor to refer a number of journalists to trial on alleged terrorism related charges is a major setback for media freedom in Egypt,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

The Egyptian authorities must immediately drop the charges against three journalists from Al Jazeera English who were referred to trial today for allegedly providing assistance or belonging to a banned group engaged in terrorist activities.

22/01/2014

“The increasing use of the death penalty in Iraq will only fuel more violence as many of those executed are often convicted after grossly unfair trials,” said Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme.

Reports have emerged today of 12 secret executions carried out by the Iraqi authorities, bringing the number of prisoners put to death since Sunday to 38.

21/01/2014

The aim of this event is to serve as an invitation to the public and Congress members to "take a stand" and show support for President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel in restoring justice for human rights by closing the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center in a timely and justly manner.

The evening will feature the broadcast of a new version of the music video "We Are America", musical performances by Esperanza, testimonials of inmate family members (pending), remarks from representatives of human rights groups including the ACLU, Amnesty International, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, and a special video message by singer-songwriter-actor-social activist Harry Belafonte.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014 from 7-8:30pm ET at the Theater in Washington, DC. Tickets will be free and can be reserved online at Ticketfly.

Take a stand. Call the US Capitol Switchboard (1-202-224-3121) to connect you to your two US Senators and your Congressional Representative. Tell them: I am your…

21/01/2014

http://playingforchange.com - From the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", comes an incredible rendition of the legendary B...

19/12/2013

The brutal killings in the Central African Republic are creating a cycle of murder and reprisal that threatens to spin out of control. The UN Security Council needs to act quickly to bring this evolving catastrophe to a halt.

(Nairobi) – Christian militias responding to rampant abuses by Muslim armed groups have committed atrocities against Muslim communities in northern Central African Republic, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

14/12/2013

On June 3rd 2013, during the Gezi Park riots, Hakan Yaman's whole life changed...
While walking home from work he was targeted by Turkish authorities and brutally beaten. Show your solidarity with Hakan and help bring those responsible to justice! http://bit.ly/1h6Fs0v

Join in taking action for Hakan Yaman, who was beaten, burned, and left for dead by police in Turkey when he was passing by a public demonstration.

13/12/2013

Disgraceful. U.S. silence about reported strikes such as today's is completely unacceptable. The U.S. needs to acknowledge and immediately investigate all credible reports of unlawful killings.

Local officials say the drone missed its intended target, but killed 15.

09/12/2013

“I was first sprayed by water cannon. Then I was hit in the stomach with a tear gas canister and I fell down. Around five police officers came over and began hitting me repeatedly on the head. One of them put a hard object into my eye and gouged my eye out. By then I was lying down, without moving. I heard one of them say ‘this one is finished, let’s completely finish him off’. They dragged me about 10 to 20 meters and threw me onto a fire. They left and I dragged myself out of the fire.” http://bit.ly/IMczKq

Take action for Hakan here: http://www.amnesty.org/individuals-at-risk On 3 June 2013, Hakan Yaman was walking home from work in Istanbul when he passed a pu...