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	<title>Comments on: Armchair Activist #24: APPO prisoners at risk of torture</title>
	<link>http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/02/20/armchair-activist-24-appo-prisoners-at-risk-of-torture/</link>
	<description>Feminist, anti-racist, pro-fat, plus whatever else we feel like talking about.</description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:45:22 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: Elisabet</title>
		<link>http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/02/20/armchair-activist-24-appo-prisoners-at-risk-of-torture/#comment-245399</link>
		<dc:creator>Elisabet</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:27:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2007/02/20/armchair-activist-24-appo-prisoners-at-risk-of-torture/#comment-245399</guid>
		<description>Hey, I think it's great that you are doing this armchair activist series of posts. 

A bit of important information is missing that ought to be included with the above action - how to contact the AI Urgent Action office, which you might want to do for a couple of reasons: first, in case you want to respond after the action's "expiration date" (which seems to be missing above as well); or second, if you get a reply to one of your appeals (which amazingly happened to me with the very first letter I wrote for AI, back in 1988!). Sometimes an official will pick only one or two letters to respond to out of dozens or hundreds that were sent, and the reply may contain new information or help AI target its next action on the case, so please let the UA office know of *any* response.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/

Also missing above is the header information which includes the *date* the action was issued (in this case I believe it is Feb 15, 2007).  

Generally Amnesty does not want Urgent Actions posted online, but this one is up on their own website, so maybe this one is ok.
&lt;blockquote&gt;# Can I post the UAs I receive to my personal website or to a group or organisation's web site?

You may do so but only with the prior authorization of the Urgent Action Coordinators. Not all UAs are thought to be appropriate for widespread public distribution and action. Also, Urgent Actions posted online need to conform to a number of website criteria. These criteria are partly intended to monitor and control how many people act on a particular UA. In some cases, an overproduction of appeal letters can be counterproductive and actually put someone at greater risk. Also, virtually all cases have a 'deadline' after which writing letters may present some inaccuracies as available information changes or, again, may even be counterproductive over time.&lt;/blockquote&gt;

There is a very good guide to writing effective letters of appeal available on the Urgent Action website (look on the right sidebar there for the link). In short: be brief, be factual, be polite, be respectful. 
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/


Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human rights.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hey, I think it&#8217;s great that you are doing this armchair activist series of posts. </p>
<p>A bit of important information is missing that ought to be included with the above action - how to contact the AI Urgent Action office, which you might want to do for a couple of reasons: first, in case you want to respond after the action&#8217;s &#8220;expiration date&#8221; (which seems to be missing above as well); or second, if you get a reply to one of your appeals (which amazingly happened to me with the very first letter I wrote for AI, back in 1988!). Sometimes an official will pick only one or two letters to respond to out of dozens or hundreds that were sent, and the reply may contain new information or help AI target its next action on the case, so please let the UA office know of *any* response.<br />
<a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/" rel="nofollow">http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/</a></p>
<p>Also missing above is the header information which includes the *date* the action was issued (in this case I believe it is Feb 15, 2007).  </p>
<p>Generally Amnesty does not want Urgent Actions posted online, but this one is up on their own website, so maybe this one is ok.</p>
<blockquote><p># Can I post the UAs I receive to my personal website or to a group or organisation&#8217;s web site?</p>
<p>You may do so but only with the prior authorization of the Urgent Action Coordinators. Not all UAs are thought to be appropriate for widespread public distribution and action. Also, Urgent Actions posted online need to conform to a number of website criteria. These criteria are partly intended to monitor and control how many people act on a particular UA. In some cases, an overproduction of appeal letters can be counterproductive and actually put someone at greater risk. Also, virtually all cases have a &#8216;deadline&#8217; after which writing letters may present some inaccuracies as available information changes or, again, may even be counterproductive over time.</p></blockquote>
<p>There is a very good guide to writing effective letters of appeal available on the Urgent Action website (look on the right sidebar there for the link). In short: be brief, be factual, be polite, be respectful.<br />
<a href="http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/" rel="nofollow">http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/</a></p>
<p>Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that promotes and defends human rights.</p>
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