By Travis Pillow
The “Never Again” motto has not been taken seriously, and for decades we have overlooked human crises. We have studied, analyzed and added them to our history books, but we have not tried to ease, control or end them.
Genocide, war crimes, social abuses, displaced refugees, rape: unfortunately these tragedies continue, and Human Rights Awareness on Campus strives to educate the public on the human rights violations that are caused by negligence, ignorance and the disconnection between resources and the means of acquiring them.
Concerning domestic issues, we’re raising awareness about the atrocities of the Afghan war and the current health care discourse.
Our theme this year is “Think Globally, Act Locally,” so we are kicking off a campaign to fight sweatshops. We are working closely with UF Amnesty International to initiate a Sweatshop Free Gators campaign that would demand UF acquire merchandise from factories that comply with workers’ rights. We are also involved with Project Downtown, fundraising to provide food to the less fortunate. Recently we have expanded our horizons by developing a committee centered on the National American Cancer Society’s event Relay for Life.
Human Rights Awareness on Campus makes great strides to inform students of human rights violations and what they can do about them. We have gathered and are gathering support to serve humanity, but it is by no means the end of the struggle. We, as members and human beings, must achieve piece globally. Everyone must take part. Speak out!
To ignore world suffering is to become its accomplice, and that is our motto.
For more information on Human Rights Awareness on Campus, join the Facebook group or e-mail us at hrac.uf@gmail.com.
Tags: Monthly Manifesto