Get on the Busfor Human RightsTurns Sweet 16!

Celebrate with Amnesty Group 133 in Manhattan

on April 8, 2011! www.gotb.org

What is Get on the Bus for Human Rights?

Get on the Bus (GOTB) is an annual day of human rights education and action, organized by Amnesty International Local Group 133.

Held each spring in New York City, GOTB brings together high school students, college students, Amnesty local group members, and allies for a day of human rights education and rallying for change.

Think Global, Act Local

AIUSA members organize largest volunteer-run AIUSA event in the country!

Grown from 30 to 1,200 + participants!

Annual proposal process to decide key human rights actions/campaigns.

The First Get on the Bus: “Ken Saro-Wiwa, we will not forget!”

Get on the Bus began in 1996 when a member of AIUSA Group 133 suggested a trip to New York City to visit the United Nations. A second group member recommended demonstrating in front of the Nigerian Consulate to express outrage over the executions of environmental activist/writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine.

On April 19, 1996, 30 members of Group 133 and allies gathered at the Nigerian Consulate to protest against the assassinations of Ken Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues and meet with the Nigerian Consul General. Although the protest was very small, the Consul General was intimidated by the group and the fact that a protest occurred on his door step.

The group also went to the United Nations, and met with staff from the UN Secretary General’s office, as well as Amnesty’s representatives to the United Nations.

A Day in the Life of GOTB 5:30 a.m.

Buses depart from Boston (and regional meeting points e.g., Worcester, Cape Cod, Maine and New Hampshire)

10 - 11 a.m. Arrive in NYC (Cooper Union); NY, NJ, and CT based activists travel via public transportation

11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Speakers Panel: Survivors, key activists, human rights experts

1:30 - 5 p.m. Actions outside consulates, UN Missions, corporate headquarters

5 p.m. Depart for home -- Back in Boston by 11 p.m.

Some GOTB Successes Xu Wenli: ‘99 Chinese Consulate actions; freed in

2002

Tenzin Delek Rinpoche: ‘04, ‘05, ‘06 Chinese Consulate actions; death sentence commuted 2005

Professor Mesfin Woldemariam: ‘06, ‘07 Ethiopian Mission actions; freed Summer 2007

Recent Successes Media Workers in Sri Lanka: ’08, ‘09 ‘10 Sri

Lankan Mission actions, expressed concerns directly to Ambassador; ‘10 Sri Lankan journalist/prisoner of conscience Tissa freed

Burma: ‘08, ‘09, ‘10 UN actions; ‘08 Prisoners of conscience U Win Tin and Ma Khin Khin Leh freed; ‘10 Aung San Suu Kyi freed

to

Get on the Bus 2011: Taking Action to Protect Human Rights

Around the World!

China/Tibet Action Get on the Bus 2011: China, Free Tibetan Filmmaker Dhondup

Wangchen!

Sri Lanka Action Get on the Bus 2011:United Nations, conduct an independent war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka!

Chad/Darfur Action Get on the Bus 2011:Protect Refugees from Darfur and Internally

Displaced Persons!

Indonesia Action Get on the Bus 2011:Free West Papuan Activist/Prisoner of

Conscience Filep Karma!

India Side Action Get on the Bus 2011:Justice for Survivors in Bhopal!

Roles for SACs Familiarize yourself with Get on the Bus and

basics of this year’s event Do outreach to student activists in your region,

(via phone/email/in-person meetings) to: Let activists know about this year’s GOTB Encourage participation Follow-up and answer questions

Help to coordinate regional transportation, if outside the Greater Boston area

Help inspire students to become active participants in GOTB

Opportunities for Students to Get Involved

Works with SACs to coordinate regional transportation and outreach, including phone bank (outside Boston-metro area)

Outreach - monthly tabling, building relationships with affinity groups, raising awareness on campus and in the community

Traditional and Social Media - Contributing to blog, helping with graphic/web design, outreach to newspapers, radio stations, etc.

More Opportunities for Students to Get Involved

GOTB Action Team – Help in planning event as a whole

Action/Rally Planning Teams – Help in planning for a particular action, such as the Tibet action

Day of GOTB - Passing out fliers, engaging passersby leading chants, bringing homemade posters and banners, etc.

Get on the Bus and Raise Your Voice for Human Rights!

Amnesty International Local Group 133 of Somerville, Massachusetts

www.gotb.orghttp://tinyurl.com/facebook-gotb

www.twitter.com/aiusa_gotb gotb@amnesty133.org