UPDATE, 11/15/07:

Updated to include Daniel McGowan’s unit # on his mailing address:

Daniel McGowan
#63794-053, Unit I
FCI Sandstone
P.O. Box 1000
Sandstone, MN 55072

Thanks to Jenny for the correction!

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In honor of International Human Rights Day (December 10th), Amnesty International is holding a “Global Write-a-thon” through December 7-10, 2007.

The details:

On or around International Human Rights Day (December 10) activists from around the world write letters on behalf of individuals at risk of human rights abuses. The Global Write-a-thon was initiated by Amnesty International Poland in 2002 and was a huge success. It became a global, annual event that involves tens of thousands of participants from more than thirty countries. The goal is that this intense and concentrated pressure will elicit positive change in the lives of human rights defenders, prisoners of conscience, and other victims of human rights abuses.

Everyone can participate. It’s easy! Follow the 5 simple steps below:

1. Register for the write-a-thon as an individual or as a group. Watch as your pledges help light up the Amnesty candle.

2. Spread the word! Encourage your friends and family to get involved.

3. Check out the write-a-thon resources online starting the week of November 12th. You’ll find everything you need to participate on this site including case sheets, sample letters, a checklist for how to plan an event, and promotional materials. For hard copies, please email us at writeathon [at] aiusa.org

4. Write and mail lots of letters on Dec. 7-10.

5. Report back: Let us know how many letters were sent.

While Amnesty International focuses its efforts on prisoners of conscience who have been jailed for their human rights activities (for example, some of this year’s cases include “a prisoner of conscience from Myanmar, a disappeared student from Chechnya, and a survivor of rape from the Democratic Republic of Congo”), why not organize an event to generate letters of support for jailed animal rights and eco-activists instead of in addition to AI’s suggested targets? Better yet, register your event with Amnesty International and report your letters to the org - tell them that animal rights activists, tree huggers, and other “terra-ists” are important to you, too!

Interestingly, the same day that Amnesty International emailed their announcement of the Global Write-a-thon, Last Chance for Animals (LCA) sent out an action alert urging supporters to “Reach Out to an Animal Activist in Prison!” You can find that email - along with additional resources for AR prisoner support - after the flip.

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Last Chance for Animals - campaigns [at] lcanimal.org
Date: Nov 5, 2007 10:02 PM
Subject: Reach Out to an Animal Activist in Prison! 11/5

Support Animal Activists in Prison

Write to Jonathan Paul & Other Animal Activists in Prison! They need your support. Names and addresses are in box below.

Jonathan Paul, a dedicated activist, reported to prison on Wednesday, October 31 to begin his 51 month sentence. He was arrested almost two years ago and pleaded guilty to burning the Cavel West Slaughterhouse, a horse meat slaughterhouse in Redmond, Oregon in 1997.

Jonathan is one of many animal rights activists now serving time on behalf of their dedication to the animal rights movement.

Jonathan was arrested with 10 other activists connected to the Animal Liberation Front and the Earth Liberation Front as part of the so-called Green Scare.

Jonathan, now an EMT, in an interview with Amy Goodman on Democracy Now, denounced arson as a tactic, but still deeply believes in the animal rights movement he has dedicated his life to.

Jonathan is just beginning his prison term and needs support from activists around the country. Please remember to write to Jonathan and the other animal activists who are serving time in prison (contact information is below). Your letters can provide a lifeline.

It is so important that we don’t forget those who have done amazing work in the animal rights movement.

For the Animals,

Chris DeRose
Founder and President
Last Chance for Animals

Please review the list of “Do’s” & “Don’ts” for writing to prisoners. And please use your common sense, don’t write anything that is likely to get a prisoner in trouble in anyway!

DO: Write on both sides of the paper

DO: Write your address inside on the letter or card

DO: Number the pages of your letter (i.e. 1/4, 2/4, etc.)

DO NOT: Put an address label inside the card or letter

DO NOT: Send stamps, envelopes, blank paper or blank notecards

DO NOT: Send any form of currency

DO NOT: Send photographs larger than 4×6 or polaroids. Make sure content is appropriate

DO NOT: Include paperclips, staples or any extra things inside your letter

DO NOT: Send a card that has glitter or any 3D objects in or on it

DO NOT: Send cards with paper inserts glued in them

DO NOT: Tape your envelope shut

DO NOT: Write “legal mail” on your letter or anything you are implying you are an attorney

REACH OUT TO AN ANIMAL ACTIVIST

Jonathan Paul
#07167-085
FCI Phoenix
Federal Correctional Institution
37910 N 45th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85086

Jonathan’s Codefendents

Daniel McGowan
#63794-053, Unit I
FCI Sandstone
P.O. Box 1000
Sandstone, MN 55072
website: www.supportdaniel.org/

Nathan Block #36359-086
FCI Lompoc
Federal Correctional Institution
3600 Guard Road
Lompoc, CA 93436

Joyanna Zacher #36360-086
FCI Dublin
Federal Correctional Institution
5701 8th St - Camp Parks- Unit E
Dublin, CA 94568

SHAC
www.shac.net/

Jacob Conroy # 93501-011
FCI Victorville Medium 1
Federal Correctional Institution
PO Box 5300
Adelanto, CA 92301
website: www.supportjake.com/

Lauren Gazzola #93497-001
FCI Danbury
Federal Correctional Institution Route #37
Danbury, CT 06811
website: www.supportlauren.com/

Kevin Kjonaas # 93502-011
FCI Sandstone
PO Box 1000
Sandstone, MN 55072
website: www.supportkevin.com/

Joshua Harper #29429-086
FCI Sheridan
Federal Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 5000
Sheridan, OR 97378
website: www.joshharper.org/

Andrew Stepanian #26399-050
FCI Butner Medium II
Federal Correctional Institution
PO Box 1500
Butner, NC 27509

Other Green Scare Prisoners

Eric McDavid X-2972521 4E231A
Sacramento County Main Jail
651 “I” Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
website: supporteric.org/

Last Chance for Animals | 8033 Sunset Blvd. #835 | Los Angeles | CA | 90046

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Additional Resources

Bite Back: Prisoners
directaction.info/prisoners.htm

BreaktheChains.info
breakthechains.info/

The Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
spiritoffreedom.org.uk/

Green is the New Red
www.greenisthenewred.com/blog/

GreenScare.org
greenscare.org/

North American Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
www.ecoprisoners.org/

Prisoner Activist Resource Center
www.prisonactivist.org/

The SHAC 7
www.shac7.com/

Twin Cities Eco-Prisoner Support Committee
ecoprisoners.googlepages.com/

Please crosspost (with links) widely!

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts amnesty international ai lca last chance for animals International Human Rights Day human rights Global Write-a-thon december 10 prisoners of conscience activists oppression war on terra terraists terrorists green scare letter writing campaign events holidays observances environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist Jonathan Paul Cavel West Slaughterhouse Daniel McGowan Nathan Block Joyanna Zacher SHAC SHAC7 Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty Jacob Conroy Lauren Gazzola Kevin Kjonaas Joshua Harper Andrew Stepanian Eric McDavid