November, 13 2009, 11:38am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7413 5566,After hours: +44 7778 472 126,Email:,press@amnesty.org
China: Obama must press China to uphold human rights
President Obama must use his first official visit to China to urge
the authorities to reverse the sharp rise in human rights violations in
the country, Amnesty International has said.
The organisation reminded President Obama in an open letter that he
has a responsibility to publicly push for an improvement in China's
poor human rights record during his scheduled visit to China next week.
LONDON
President Obama must use his first official visit to China to urge
the authorities to reverse the sharp rise in human rights violations in
the country, Amnesty International has said.
The organisation reminded President Obama in an open letter that he
has a responsibility to publicly push for an improvement in China's
poor human rights record during his scheduled visit to China next week.
Thousands of Chinese activists and human rights lawyers continue to
face arbitrary detention, harassment and imprisonment following unfair
trials while the authorities continue to execute more people than the
rest of the world combined.
"The Chinese government has stepped up efforts to silence any
internal criticism or challenge, despite the country's massive economic
growth. President Obama must take this opportunity to show that the US
views human rights as a central plank of its relationship with China,"
said Sam Zarifi,Amnesty International's Asia Pacific Director.
Amnesty International continues to monitor the cases of many
individuals who are being held in administrative detention, including
the "re-education through labour" detention system, where detainees can
be locked up for up to four years without trial.
Torture by law enforcement personnel is endemic, resulting in many prisoners' deaths while in custody.
Human rights lawyers are harassed, intimidated, assaulted, abducted,
forcibly disappeared, placed under surveillance and house arrest and
faced criminal charges for protecting the rights of others.
In the first half of 2009 alone, Amnesty International documented
the cases of at least four human rights lawyers who were threatened
with violence; at least 10 who were prevented from meeting with or
representing their clients in courts, and at least five who were
briefly detained, one for one month, because of their human rights
work.
The announcement this week that authorities had executed eight
Uighurs and one Han Chinese for their alleged role in the July riots
are further proof of the urgent need for the US administration to push
China for an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation of
the events surrounding the July riots.
Uighurs and other ethnic minority and religious groups such as
Tibetans and Falun Gong practitioners continue to be ill treated and
face persecution for their beliefs.
"Despite China adopting a human rights action plan after hosting the
Olympic Games last year its government needs to show the world that it
is serious about meetings its obligations under international human
rights law," said Sam Zarifi.
Amnesty International calls on China to show its commitment to human rights by immediately meeting the following benchmarks:
* Abolition of the "Re-Education through Labour" detention system.
There is a strong domestic call in China for the reform of the system.
In the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, an open letter calling for its
abolition solicited 15,000 signatures.
* A public and independent investigation of the 1989 Tiananmen Square
crackdown against pro-democracy demonstrators. Human rights defenders
and activists face police harassment and surveillance when they press
the authorities to take responsibility for the crackdown in 1989.
* A lifting of all restrictions and obstacles to freedom of worship. Thousands are detained for their religious activities.
* Cessation of the repression of Tibetans and Uighurs and respect for
their ethnic, cultural and religious identity. Tibetans and Uighurs has
been the target of systematic and extensive human rights violations.
These include arbitrary detention, torture, severe restrictions on
freedom of religion and employment discrimination.
It also calls on President Obama to urge China to:
* Release Shi Tao, a journalist who was sentenced to ten years
imprisonment on charges of "illegally providing state secrets to
foreign entities" due to an email he sent to a US-based website. Court
records show that one of the evidence was Shi Tao's account holder
information provided to the police by Internet company Yahoo! Inc.
* Release immediately and unconditionally those detained solely for
engaging in peaceful protest, including support for the Dalai Lama, the
independence of Tibet, or greater autonomy for Tibet.
* Release prisoner of conscience Ablikim Abdiriyim, son of Uighur
activist Reibya Kadeer. He is serving a nine-year sentence in the
Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) on charges of "instigating and
engaging in secessionist activities." There are serious concerns that
he may have confessed under torture. Ablikim Abdiriyim was detained
with his siblings and several family members in May 2006. Their
detention prevented them from meeting with a United States
Congressional delegation on a scheduled visit. His brother Alim
Abdiriyim is also in prison on charges of tax evasion, which may be
politically motivated.
* Ensure lawyers' rights to carry out their legal work without
harassment, intimidation, violence or fear of criminal prosecution.
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.
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Holiday Season Ultimatum From Amazon Workers: Bargain or We Strike!
"If Amazon chooses to ignore us, they’re the ones ruining Christmas for millions of families. We’re not just fighting for a contract; we’re fighting for the future of worker power at Amazon and beyond."
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Workers at a Amazon warehouse and delivery center in New York announced approval of strike authorizations on Friday, giving the retail giant—who have refused to negotiate for months—until Sunday to come to the bargaining table or risk a major work stoppage at the height of the holiday shopping season.
The unions representing Amazon workers at two New York City facilities—the JFK8 warehouse on Staten Island and the DBK4 delivery center in Queens—cited the company's "illegal refusal to recognize their union and negotiate a contract" to address low wages and dangerous working conditions as the reason for the strike authorization.
"We just want what everyone else in America wants—to do our jobs and get paid enough to take care of ourselves and our families. And Amazon isn't letting us do that."
"Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned," said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien in a statement. "We've been clear: Amazon has until December 15 to come to the table and bargain for a contract. If these white-collar criminals want to keep breaking the law, they better get ready for a fight."
The workers are demanding:
- A living wage with fair pay increases.
- Safer working conditions to prevent injuries and fatalities.
- Job security and protection from arbitrary firings.
- Dignity and respect for all employees.
In June, over 5,500 workers at JFK8—who first voted in favor of creating a union in 2022—joined the Teamsters and chartered the Amazon Labor Union (ALU)-IBT Local 1. Despite consolidating their organizing strength with the backing of the Teamsters, Amazon management has dragged their feet on bargaining a first contract, hardly surprising given the company's long-standing hostility to organized labor.
"Amazon's refusal to negotiate is a direct attack on our rights," said Connor Spence, president of ALU-IBT Local 1, on Friday. "If Amazon chooses to ignore us, they’re the ones ruining Christmas for millions of families. We’re not just fighting for a contract; we’re fighting for the future of worker power at Amazon and beyond."
Rank-and-file members said their demands are reasonable, especially as the company—owned by the world's second-richest man, Jeff Bezos—continues to rake in massive profits year after year as one of the world's largest companies.
"We aren't asking for much," said James Saccardo, a worker at JFK8. "We just want what everyone else in America wants—to do our jobs and get paid enough to take care of ourselves and our families. And Amazon isn't letting us do that."
In Queens, where Amazon workers at DBK4—the corporation's largest delivery station in the city—voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike of their own.
"Driving for Amazon is tough," said Luc Rene, a driver who works out of DBK4. "What's even tougher is fighting a mega-corporation that constantly breaks the law and games the system. But we won't give up."
"Every horror story you read about Amazon is true, but worse," said Justine, a warehouse worker in New York in a video produced by More Perfect Union.
BREAKING: Amazon workers in NYC are going on strike right before Christmas — the company's busiest time.
The first unionized Amazon warehouse is going to shut down in a historic walkout.
Workers plan to hit the company where it hurts to win their first union contract. pic.twitter.com/CwnrRWg4be
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A strike at this time of year, the busiest for the retail giant, reports labor correspondent Jessica Burbank for Drop Site News, "would hit them where it hurts. The scale of the strike would be unprecedented, including the major hubs of New York and San Bernadino, California."
According to Burbank:
Amazon now has a workforce of over 700,000, making it the largest employer of warehouse workers in the nation. If a contract is won at these initial 20 bargaining units, it has the potential to impact working conditions for thousands of workers, and inspire union organizing efforts at Amazon facilities across the country.
For Amazon workers who voted to unionize their warehouses in March of 2022, this has been a long time coming. “Thousands of Amazon workers courageously cast their ballots to form a union at JFK8 in Staten Island,” Smalls said in a text. “We shocked the world, we had won against a corporate giant and hoped that step would propel us forward to help create a better workplace.” For years, Amazon stalled on recognizing the union, and has not yet met union representatives at the negotiating table.
Smalls said, “I’m excited to see workers take control, take the next step and move even further down the path to victory when they exercise their right to strike.” He continued, “We celebrated as we inspired thousands of others to hope for the same.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Saturday issued his support for the union workers.
"Amazon delivery drivers and warehouse workers deserve decent wages, benefits and working conditions—and the right to form a union," said Sanders. "I strongly support the thousands of Amazon workers who will go on strike tomorrow if Amazon doesn't end its illegal union busting."
The workers at JFK8 said people could support the union's effort in various ways "at this critical time," including:
- Donate to the Solidarity Fund: Help workers sustain their fight by contributing to the strike fund.
- Show Up on the Picket Line: Join workers at JFK8 to demonstrate solidarity and hold Amazon accountable for their illegal refusal to negotiate a union contract.
- Spread the Word: Use social media and local networks to raise awareness about the workers’ struggle and the importance of their fight for justice at Amazon.
- Contact Elected Officials: Urge representatives to publicly support JFK8 workers and pressure Amazon to negotiate in good faith.
- Sign the Petition: Stand with Amazon workers and demand that Amazon guarantee a safe return to work, free of harassment and retaliatory disciplinary action, to all workers participating in protected collective action.
For his part, former labor secretary and economist Robert Reich said he had no sympathy for the retail giant's refusal to bargain in good faith with the workers who make its business model possible.
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Bernie Sanders talks about the oligarchy
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Since the the victory of President-elect Donald Trump in November, Sanders has been increasingly outspoken about his frustrations over the failure of the Democratic Party to adequately confront the contradictions presented by a party that purports to represent the interests of the working class yet remains so beholden to corporate interests and the wealthy that lavish it with campaign contributions.
In a missive to supporters last month, Sanders bemoaned how "just 150 billionaire families spent nearly $2 billion to get their candidates elected" in this year's elections, which included giving to both major political parties. Such a reality, he said, must be challenged.
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Mr. Siri declined to be interviewed, but said all of his petitions were filed on behalf of clients. Katie Miller, a spokeswoman for Mr. Kennedy, said Mr. Siri has been advising Mr. Kennedy but has not discussed his petitions with any of the health nominees. She added, "Mr. Kennedy has long said that he wants transparency in vaccines and to give people choice."
After the article was published, Siri called it a "typical NYT hit piece plainly written by those lacking basic reading and thinking skills," and posted a series of responses on social media. He wrote in part that "ICAN's petition to the FDA seeks to revoke a particular polio vaccine, IPOL, and only for infants and children and only until a proper trial is conducted, because IPOL was licensed in 1990 by Sanofi based on pediatric trials that, according to FDA, reviewed safety for only three days after injection."
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Asked about RFK Jr.'s anti-vaccine record during a Time "Person of the Year" interview published Thursday, the president-elect said that "we're going to be able to do very serious testing" and certain vaccines could be made unavailable "if I think it's dangerous."
Trump toldNBC News last weekend: "Hey, look, I'm not against vaccines. The polio vaccine is the greatest thing. If somebody told me to get rid of the polio vaccine, they're going to have to work real hard to convince me. I think vaccines are—certain vaccines—are incredible. But maybe some aren't. And if they aren't, we have to find out."
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Ryan Cooper, managing editor at The American Prospect, warned that "they want your kids dead."
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Multiple critics altered Trump's campaign slogan to "Make Polio Great Again."
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) responded with a video on social media:
Without naming anyone, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), a polio survivor, put out a lengthy statement on Friday.
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