Get Involved in Human Rights Awareness Month

I have recently noticed the dramatic drop in interest in politics in my high school. While most of the senior class was enamored with Obama and the thought of having an African-American, let alone a democrat, in office before the election, that same excitement is no longer seen. People have lost an interest in politics and the issues which seemed urget just a month ago.

Therefore, I would like to bring about the issue of Human Rights Awareness Month, sponsored by Causecast

December 10 is International Human Rights Day and I hope everyone will do something to honor the day. 60 years ago, on December 10, the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

However, in the 60 years that the declaration has been in existence, there is still prevalent human rights violations. Tibet, Darfur, Burma, China, and Guantanamo Bay have been sites of blatant human rights violations. While most find themselves helpless in these situations, here are things youth and people of all ages can do to get involved this month.

• Amnesty International is hosting a write-a-thon between December 5-14 and is inviting people around the world to write letters to government officials regarding human rights issues.

  Serj Tankian, System of a Down Singer, shared his support for the write-a-thon on Amnesty International's website:

  "Amnesty International's and its members' strengths have been the realization of the release of prisoners of conscience and the establishment of justice around the world where it is long overdue. The letter writing campaign has been a vital weapon in this regard.

  It has kept hope alive for all those unjustly incarcerated and has also kept extra judicial governments in check, including our own."

• Send in Letters to the Editor to your local newspaper. I've gotten 2 letters published and you wouldn't believe how beneficial this can be.

• Volunteer at a human rights organization from your state. Here is Idaho's site.

• Most high schools and colleges have some sort of human rights club. Form one, join one, or at the minimum, bring some ideas to the leaders of the club about what you'd like to see them do.

Those are just a few ideas of how to get involved with human rights issues this month and I hope that people do something. I'll make it my goal to write a letter to the editor and to take part in Amnesty International's Write-A-Thon.