People in Need

The Road to Tea, Sugar and Chickens

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:07:23 GMT

We met Halema Yeah, wearing her traditional Afghan scarf, sitting on a patio at her house. Halema is 58 years old and had lost her husband more than quarter of a century ago during the Afghan internal fighting. She had no brother and no son, but one daughter who had got married years ago and is now living in a different district. Halema has to try to support herself, not an easy task for a widow in rural parts of Afghanistan, while she is using a relative’s house for shelter. That is why she was selected by the local community elders to receive an additional cash grant within the road reconstruction project implemented by People in Need.

Rehabilitation of the road connecting the Marghzar area�s entrance village of Baiza with all the other thirteen villages was one component of the Food Facility project implemented by People in Need in the mountainous parts of Northern Afghanistan. The European Union funded project focuses on the long-term improvement of agricultural sector productivity and the introduction of alternative income generation activities. It also, however, includes several smaller “cash for work” projects, like the road in Marghzar, intended for temporary employment of local population during the “hunger gap” of the lean period and for rehabilitation of the local infrastructure at the same time.

There were 185 people working on the road in Marghzar, each for 44 days and each making close to 200 dollars for this period. This is big money in Marghzar, where an average family of ten people would have a yearly monetary income of some 900 dollars. Most, as they say, will use it to buy things they do not cultivate in their own fields or on things that will generate further income – tea, sugar, vegetables and maybe an additional sheep for milk and wool.

But apart from those working directly on the road reconstruction, People in Need cannot forget the most vulnerable members of the communities, such as widows, orphans and old people, who have no support from their families and cannot take part in the work. The idea of the cash redistributions stands on the premise that all vulnerable members of the community have an equal right to take part in the project and should share the sense of building their community. Thus, an additional forty people, such as Halema, were selected as beneficiaries of the Marghzar road project to receive the same pay as the workers.

“I know the road is being rehabilitated since my neighbor works there,” Halema told us as we sat down on the patio with her. “But I didn�t realize I will also get some money, since I am an old widow and I cannot work,” she added. As we explain again, she starts to smile. “Really? 8800 Afghani?,” she asks repeatedly and almost immediately prepares a plan what to do for her good with the money. “I will buy some chickens and will keep them. With eggs I can make some income and support myself for a long time,” she says of her intentions, and she thanks us for bringing the good news.

As we say goodbye to Halema and leave her house, we soon come back on the now leveled, but still dusty road of Marghzar. It is still quite bumpy for the not very frequent cars passing by. But certainly a good road to tea, sugar and chickens for Halema and others.

The article was also publish in The Prague Post

Event on Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday held in Prague

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 06:06:37 GMT

PRESS RELEASE: Prague, 19th June 2010 – On Friday 18th June 2010 several dozens of supporters of the Burmese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi gathered in the center of Prague to commemorate her birthday and to condemn her house arrest lasting for the past fifteen years. The organizers of the event, People in Need organization, created a graffiti picture of Suu Kyi on a wall in the city center and invited the public to come and leave a birthday message on the wall. Photos and a short video from the event will be sent to Czech, European and Burmese exile media and to the independent civil society organizations as an expression of the Czech support.

Several important public figures came to hold a short speech at the event. „Aung San Suu Kyi is a fragile woman but for me she is an extraordinary heroine, bigger heroine than many of people that are trying to get into people’s memory in today’s world. I wish her all the best on her birthday and with God’s help she will live to see freedom not only for herself but for all the Burmese people.“ Stated Karel Schwarzenberg, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

Currently the only detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi is a leading figure of fight for democracy in Burma for already several decades. She won a landslide victory in Burmese elections in 1990 as a leader of a political party National League for Demcoracy (NLD). But the results of these elections were never recognized by the Burmese junta and the members of NLD and the democratic opposition are since then persecuted and even imprisoned.

Member of the Czech Parliament Marek Benda and a member of a Czech Parliamentary Caucus for Democracy in Burma has shortly mentioned the upcoming elections in Burma. „The elections which are now being prepared in Burma, have so little in common with elections like those held in our country before 1989.“ He also congratulated to all the people in Burma to become free soon. The legal framework of Burma – new constitution issued by the junta in 2008 and the election laws issue in March 2010 – discriminate the opposition political representatives. For example they do not allow running for the elections of those who are under prosecution or imprisoned which is a tool against Suu Kyi and other imprisoned opposition members. They also do not allow the candidacy of more then 400 000 of Buddhist monks and other members of religious groups.

“What Suu Kyi is doing is a great example and it is a victory of the spirit over the dull power of the regime. I think the Czech Republic is one of the countries which has lived its history, has learnt its lesson and rightly is among those who are trying to help where it is needed…in those places where democracy has not set its roots yet.“ This was the message of Petr Bratsk�, former Member of Parliament and member of a Czech Parliamentary Caucus for Democracy in Burma. Cyril Svoboda, former Minister of Foreign Affairs came to express his congratulations: „Knowing that somewhere in the world there is someone thinking of those who suffer – that is a strong signal of solidarity and it is very important to them.“

A greeting to Suu Kyi was also said by Anna �abatov�, former dissident and chairwoman of the Czech Helsinki Committee. „I admire her for her bravery, patience and persistance… I also admire her as a woman because she has dedicated her personal family life for the struggle for free Burma.“ Ji�� itler, director of the Department of Asia and Pacific from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs brought a message from the other side. „About a month ago I met with the Executive Committee of the NLD and through them a message from Suu Kyi to the Czech Republic was passed. She knows what our country is doing for her and she would like to express her gratitude to the Czech public, the civil society and also to the Czech diplomacy.“

Photos from the event can be found here http://www.clovekvtisni.cz/index2en.php?id=409&id_gallery=131

Similar public gatherings are being held recently in many place around the world such as London, Dublin, New York, Washington, New Delhi, Bangkok, Johannedburg, Makati (Philipines) and others. Even inside Burma small events are organized. An interesting expression of solidarity is a blood donation by young Burmese activists, about 60 of them have donated blood to commemorate Suu Kyi’s birthday.

For more information please contact: Kristina Prunerov�, coordinator of Burmese projects, People in need. cell: 420 777 787 917, mail: kristina.prunerova@clovekvtisni.cz

Press Release: People in Need Will Commemorate the 65th Birthday of Leading Burmese Dissident

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:06:52 GMT

Prague, 15th June 2010: Graffiti wall in the center of Prague at T�nov will be decorated by a large portrait of imprisoned Burmese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from this Friday. People will be able to leave a short note and a birthday wish on the wall as well. Public happening organized by People in Need will be held on Friday June 18, 2010 at 5pm at T�nov, Prague 1 (at the graffiti wall near tram stop T�nov). A photo from the event will be sent to Czech, European and Burmese exile media and also to Suu Kyi as an expression of Czech support. People in Need want to call the attention to the violations of human rights in one of the most severe authoritarian regimes of present time.

Public figures will hold short speeches at this gathering such as MP Marek Benda (member of the Czech parliamentary group for Democracy in Burma), former MP Petr Bratsk�, the director of the Czech Helsinki Council Anna �abatov� and others. In paralel there is a campaign on Facebook where supporters are asked to leave a birthday wish on the Facebook wall of the Czech groups in support of democracy in Burma (Svobodu pro Su �ij!! Svobodu pro Barmu!! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=82234729378&ref=ts)

The leading Burmese dissident is celebrating her sixty-fifth birthday on June 19. For already fifteen years she has been celebrating them under house arrest. Currently the only detained Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi won a landslide victory in Burmese elections in 1990 as a leader of a political party National League for Demcoracy (NLD). But the results of these elections were never recognized by the Burmese junta and the members of NLD and the democratic opposition are since then persecuted and even imprisoned. For this year the junta has announced first elections since 1990 but the rules by which the elections will be organized denied democratic principles and basic rights of citizens.

“It seems that the goal of these elections is to legitimize the military rule since Suu Kyi and more then 2100 of other political prisoners cannot take part. People in Need organization therefore consider the planned elections as non-compliant with international standards of democratic elections and thus non-democratic,” stated Marie Pe�inov�, the head of the Burmese projects of People in Need organization. The legal framework of Burma – new constitution issued by the junta in 2008 and the election laws issue in March 2010 – discriminate the opposition political representatives. For example they do not allow running for the elections of those who are under prosecution or imprisoned which is a tool against Suu Kyi and other imprisoned opposition members. They also do not allow the candidacy of more then 400 000 of Buddhist monks and other members of religious groups.

The international community together with the Czech republic must therefore keep the pressure on the Burmese junta and demand the release of all the political prisoners, start up of a dialogue about the future of the country with Suu Kyi and the representatives of the ethnic groups and stop the violence aimed at the ethnic groups.

The portrait to be created on the wall can be seen here http://postersandprints.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/obey-aung-san-suu-kyi-freedom-to-lead1.jpg.

For more information please contact Kristina Prunerova at kristina.prunerova@clovekvtisni.cz or 420 777 787 917.

Dramatic drop in EU aid for health and education in Sub-Sahara Africa

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 10:06:11 GMT

BRUSSELS – Alliance2015, a coalition of some of Europe’s most authoritative development NGOs urged the European Commission (EC) at a hearing in the European Parliament to show bold and responsible leadership in the preparations towards the UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Alliance2015’s report 2015-Watch: The EU’s Contribution to the Millennium Development Goals. Keeping the Goals Alive, launched at the hearing, expressed concern about alarmingly low EU aid levels for food, health and education, especially to Sub-Sahara Africa. EC aid increased from €7.5 billion in 2005 to €12 billion in 2009, but the percentage of allocations to food decreased from 4% of total funding in 2005 to 1.5% in 2008, basic health from 4.7% (2005) to 1.3% (2008) and basic education from 2.7% (2005) to 1.1% (2008).

SEE ALSO:
Full report (*.pdf)

“These figures are disheartening and require explanation,” said MEP Gay Mitchell, who hosted the hearing. “To reach the MDGs we decided that 20% of aid should be for basic health and education and we reached that target for Asia and Latin America in 2009. In Sub-Saharan Africa especially we need to achieve these targets yet they appear to have plummeted to an all time low of 1.5% for basic health and education combined. I will be asking the Parliament's Development Committee to seek an explanation for this situation.”
The report calculates that if all donors shared the responsibility for education and health equally, the EC would have to increase funding from €605 million (latest figures) to €971 million annually for education and from €460 million (latest figures) to €1.5 billion for health to help close the financing gaps.

“No donor wants to move first, meanwhile the health and education financing gap is hurting the poor”, said Vagn Berthelsen, President of Alliance2015. “We urge the European Union to agree a legally binding target ensuring that 20% of all aid is allocated to basic health and education, and to strongly advocate for an international target at the UN MDG Summit. This way industrialised and developing countries will finally take joint responsibility.”

“The EU as the largest donor must lead by example”, comments Birgit Dederichs-Bains from the German aid organisation Welthungerhilfe. “The Lancet, the European Court of Auditors and even the IMF have published research showing that capacity in health and education is a key problem which aid through General Budget Support does not resolve. This capacity problem needs to be targeted directly. It is also very clear that political space is needed for countercyclical measures to protect the poor and to ensure they have access to basic social services. As the major aid donor the EU should give a strong lead on this in September in New York”

Cash for work projects help vulnerable people in Afghanistan

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:04:17 GMT

People in remote mountainous villages in Afghanistan suffer from local disasters occurring continuously in past years. Seasonal droughts, followed by spring flash floods significantly impact people’s livelihoods and their ability to secure basic needs. People in need has launched 6-months Cash for Work project in Kishendeh district financed by European Commission (ECHO) aiming to bridge the food gap until a new crop will be harvested. More then 2500 most vulnerable people will receive salaries helping them to cover their basic needs while another 32 000 people will indirectly benefit from local infrastructure’s rehabilitation and development.

People with low income will be employed on such projects as rehabilitation and construction of access roads, protection walls, construction of culverts and bridges. Most vulnerable people unable to work will be paid-off through system of benefits built on solidarity-bases. Gull Rahman, PIN’s project manager suggests: “Such approach significantly contributes towards social cohesion within the traditional structures in community”

PIN has already implemented several projects based on Cash for work approach. “Lessons learnt gained from past interventions suggests that such projects are highly effective as well ass positively accepted by community. People receive a job and as a result, they have an infrastructure helping to mitigate the impact of further disasters. Communities are involved in identification of the sub-projects and the fact that it is built by them strengthen the ownership,” said Gul Rahman.

Homo Homini Award went to two arrested Iranian student leaders

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:04:39 GMT

Prague,�13 March, 2010 – Two detained Iranian student leaders Majid Tavakoli and Abdollah Momeni were awarded for the 2009 by Homo Homini Award. Along with the imprisoned Iranian students the organization has symbolically recognized the whole Iranian student movement. The People in Need organization annually bestows the Homo Homini Award on people who have contributed significantly to human rights protection in the World. Two delegates will collect the award at the One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival opening in Prague on March 10.

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"Both recipients have played an important role in the formation of the Iranian student movement that has become crucial in the promotion of freedom of expression and democracy in Iran in the past ten years," said. “Iranian students are traditionally very active in proreform protests. As a result they are exposed to monitoring, whipping and arrest and within the context of post election protests their situation has worsened”.

One of the recipients, Majid Tavakoli, is a student of Amir Kabir University in Teheran. For his effort in human rights protection he was arrested twice in the past, firstly in 2006.. More recently, he was detained after a speech in which he openly criticized the Iranian regime, false imprisonment of demonstrators and other human rights abuses relating to student actions on December 7 in 2009. For his participation in the protests He was sentenced to 8 years in prison in January 2010.

After He was arrested photographs were published of him dressed in hidjab in the semi-official media Fars news and Raja news. He was charged with trying to escape the security forces from a university campus after making his speech dressed as a woman. To all appearances this was done as an attempt to on various internet websites to support him.him. After this a huge campaign started on various internet websites to support him.

The second laureate is Abdollah Momeni, one of the student leaders from 1999 when huge numbers of students protested daily against the abolition of reform newpaper. In the evening of the day when the demonstrations took place, security forces broke into the student campus of Teheran University and beat up the students. Within the next week the riots spread to the streets of Teheran and other towns and became the biggest rising since the Islamic revolution.

Abdollah Momeni worked as a longtime spokesman of the Advar-e Tahkim Vahdat organization which focuses on enforcement of democracy and human rights protection. He was arrested during protests after the election in June 2009 and later sentenced to eight years in prison for his presence at post-election gatherings and activities against national security. According to witness statements, Momeni is subject to abusive treatment in prison.

According to the latest unofficial news Abdollah Momeni was released on bail for five days on March 7 2010. Then he must return to prison. He will probably hear the news that he has won the Homo Homini Award before his return to jail.

FOR THE LIST OF PREVIOUSLY AWARDED CLICK HERE

For more information call:

Marek Svoboda, People in Need's Human Rights Centre head

+420 724 122 111

PIN SUPPORTS COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN THE SOUTH OF IRAQ

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:02:26 GMT

Basra, Iraq, February 22nd� – Through the provision of a grant from the Transition Promotion Program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, PIN supported two local Iraqi NGOs in implementing community projects aimed at promoting cooperation between non-governmental organizations, local authorities and the private sector. PIN helped local NGO with health education projects and it also support building of sport yard with basketball, soccer and volleyball fields in last two month.

A local Iraqi NGO – The Culture of Discussion Association, in conjunction with the Directorate of Health and the Directorate of Education, carried out a project to raise health awareness, and access to health check-ups, in order to eradicate the spread of disease in primary schools in Amarah City, in Missan governorate.

Health screening for more than 3,500 students

The scheme began in November 2009 and ran for forty days. It targeted 30 schools in Amarah City. Health information posters and pamphlets were provided to some 12,000 students and staff. They show how to identify major diseases, their causes, cures and prevention. First grade primary students were provided with basic health kits including soap, a toothbrush and toothpaste. Pre-requisite first-aid materials were provided to school pharmacies in addition to more comprehensive health manuals.

Around 3,500 students received health screenings including dental and eye-care. Neglect of difficulties with sight have been particularly strong among families and it is hoped the scheme will raise awareness of this issue and others beyond the classroom and throughout the local community. The schools’ staff will now continue the initial work of the scheme by incorporating regular lectures about health issues into the curriculum. In cooperation with local authorities, in 2010, the project will be extended to other areas in the governorate.

Soccer tournament in new field
((1))
Another Iraqi NGO - the Iraqi Center of Human Rights Activist (ICHRA) erected a sport yard on the island area of Shatt al Arab in the Basrah governorate. Shatt al Arab, an area 7 km away from Basrah City, currently faces the pressures and repercussions of instability and violence in the region.

This problem is exacerbated by the closing of local schools for up to four months, making Shatt al Arab youth susceptible to higher levels of violence due to lack of resources and idle time.

Building this community center provides local families, particularly the 1900 children of Shatt al Arab as well as youth of the 3rd and 4th districts, with an appropriate outlet to spend their free time without engaging in violent activities. Facilities built include volleyball, soccer and basketball fields.

The project was completed in December 2009 and opening day celebrations occurred on 6 January 2010. Local soccer teams competed in a tournament for the chance to win a trophy while various community members mingled and enjoyed the brand new facilities. Attendance included Mr. Ghanem Abdul Amir Star, member of the Provincial Council in Basrah, Mr. Fadel Yousef Mousa, Vice President of the Municipal Council, and Mr. Hussein al-Asadi, representative of People In Need. Mr. Ghanem Abdul Amir thanked ICHRA for the construction of the sport yard, as well as People in Need for their support and efficiency in implementing a project that directly benefited the needs of the citizens of Shatt al Arab.

People in Need worker reports from Haiti

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:03:39 GMT

As People in Need's Haiti relief coordinator, Kutilov� says it will take years to rebuild Port-au-Prince.� The Czech Republic has contributed 80 million K� ($4.4 million) to relief efforts in Haiti thus far. Private humanitarian organizations have raised about 47 million K�, with the government making up the difference. The Prague-based NGO People in Need (�lov�k v t�sni) has raised 26 million K�.

Reports of civil unrest have grown as relief workers called off search and rescue efforts Jan. 24 and shifted focus to survivor care. Through Jan. 24, the United Nations World Food Program had reached 207,392 people in the capital of Port-au-Prince and 113,313 people elsewhere in the country. One Haitian government minister estimates 150,000 people have died in the capital alone, though the latest official figures are 112,000 dead nationwide. An estimated 1 million people are homeless.

Mark�ta Kutilov� is Haiti relief coordinator for People in Need. She arrived in Haiti Jan. 17 and answered our questions by e-mail Jan. 21.

The Prague Post: How did you enter Haiti? What was the journey like?

Mark�ta Kutilov�: I went by plane with a travel service on a charter flight for tourists to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, from there to Santo Domingo, and then to Port-au-Prince by rented car. The journey was a bit bizarre, because the plane was full of tourists going to enjoy luxury hotels in the Dominican Republic, which is on the same island as Haiti. I could not imagine being a tourist and enjoying my holiday so close to that hell. Overall, the journey was OK, but only because I am used to improvising and making quick decisions.�

TPP: What were your first impressions of Port-au-Prince? Were you able to move freely? What are communications like?

MK: The city is calm, and the people are absolutely lovely, not aggressive at all. The roads in the city are clean, and I can move freely. We have a curfew of 6 p.m., which is when it gets dark. The communication systems are down, and they are being repaired very slowly. Internet is sporadic and to make a phone call takes about half an hour.

TPP: There have been reports of looting and violence in recent days. Have you come across any of this?

MK: The atmosphere in the city and the camps is really calm. No NGOs have faced security problems. Of course, some looting happens, but it is normal after a catastrophe like this. There were some riots close to the airport, where the stress is centered, and from time to time a shop or house is looted, but this is nothing special given the circumstances. In the Czech Republic, it wouldn't be different. I feel absolutely safe.

TPP: Have you been able to transmit aid directly to Haitians yet? What are the logistical difficulties?

MK: We are cooperating with the Irish NGO Concern, which has worked in Haiti since 1994, so I joined them directly. We have already distributed jerry cans and soap, helped construct public latrines and planned food distribution, and we are going to send a medical team from the Czech Republic to work in the camps. To get aid to the people is easy, but getting it into Haiti [in the first place] is difficult. The United Nations is starting to have relief packages, so many NGOs, including us, will deliver these to people.

TPP: Have you seen any presence by the Haitian government or police?

MK: I have seen only two police cars. The government is badly affected and is not operational. This is making all humanitarian efforts much more difficult.

TPP: Where are most people sleeping? Have camps been set up or are most people still wandering the streets?

MK: Most of the people sleep in simple shelters they created from sheets, blankets or clothes, including American and Irish flags. It is estimated there are more than 500 camps in the city with varying levels of security. There is a need to organize camps, make a smaller number of them, but land availability is a huge issue. The government says they will make 14 huge camps, each for about 45,000 people, about five miles outside the city. I am guessing it will be impossible to move that many people. It is essential people have tents within two months, when the rainy season starts.

TPP: Did you see any or hear of any trapped survivors being rescued since your arrival?

MK: There are still around 60 people alive under the Caribbean Supermarket. The efforts to bring them out are enormous. Two days ago, they rescued three people. The people have survived because they have food and drinks in there. They communicate via SMS, but they say the smell from dead bodies around them is literally killing them.

TPP: What are the long-term implications of this disaster? How long will the international community need to stay involved? After the initial needs of food, water and medical attention, what are the highest priorities?

MK: After such a disaster, it is usually a five-year or even longer process. It depends on many factors. Port-au-Prince is near the epicenter, and an earthquake can happen again anytime, so we will have to see if they really want to rebuild the city as it was. Most of the NGOs leave after three of six months; others stay a year. People in Need always tries to make longer-term development projects and stay as long as possible. We would like to, for example, reconstruct schools in Haiti.

TPP: Does the scale of damage resemble anything you have seen before? How big a tragedy does this appear on the ground?

MK: Well, it is pretty much similar to the earthquake in Bam, Iran, in 2003, where I worked for one year following the quake. Bam was destroyed completely; very few buildings remained. Here, the whole city is not destroyed, but Port-au-Prince is huge compared to Bam, so it is much more chaotic. The tsunami also caused massive damage, but there just a strip of land was destroyed; behind it was normal life. In Port-au-Prince, there is no normal life.

This interview was published in The Prague Post on January 27

Czech and Slovak MPs nominated Chinese dissident to the Nobel Peace prize

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:02:31 GMT

Prague, February 3rd, 2010 - Forty Czech and fifty Slovak MPs have nominated Liu Xiaobo - a prominent Chinese human rights activist, writer and university professor - for Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination was also endorsed by ex-president Vaclav Havel and many former Charter 77 spokespersons.

Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to an eleven-year jail term on Christmas Day 2009 because of his pro-democracy writings and his role in the creation of the democratic manifesto Charter 08, which was inspired by the Czechoslovak Charter 77.

Read more: People in Need awarded Liu Xiaobo wit Homo Homini prize�

The official Czech nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize was initiated by Senator Alexandr Vondra, the former Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, who is a former political prisoner and spokesperson for Charter 77. The letter to Nobel Peace Committee stated that:

It is distressing that the criminalization of free speech in the name of state security is still with us. The use of this crude tool must be met with a vigorous international response. And those who, like Liu Xiaobo, choose to live in truth, despite harsh consequences, must be recognized for their courage and their service to humanity. In choosing Liu Xiaobo as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, your Committee will remind the world that the values of human rights and human dignity remain a central part of who we are, despite the real threats from governments that live in fear of their own people. Presentation of the award to Liu Xiaobo will also serve as a timely reminder to those in other nations who also struggle for freedom - also under threat of harassment, violence, and worse - that their efforts are not in vain.

Senator’s Vondra initiative to nominate Liu Xiaobo for the Nobel Peace Prize has met with broad cross-party support from 40 members of the Czech Parliament (Chamber of Deputies and Senate). In addition, the official nomination letter has been signed by two Vice Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies, Ms. Lucie Talmanov� from ODS and Mr. Lubo� Zaor�lek from �SSD and three Vice Presidents of the Czech Senate, Mr. Petr Pithart from KDU-�SL, Ms. Alena Gajd��kov� from �SSD and Mr. Milan �t�ch from �SSD.

The Czech MPs initiative was encouraged and endorsed by numerous Czech Charter 77 signatories. In a letter signed by three of the “keepers of the Charter 77 heritage” and supported by tens of other Charter 77 signatories, Ms. Dana N�mcov� stressed that:

If Mr. Liu becomes a Nobel Laureate, this will be in our opinion a clear signal that universal values, such as respect for human rights, for human dignity and at the same time, the right and responsibility of citizens to demand that their governments uphold them, remain immutable regardless of place and time. These universal values were valid in Czechoslovakia in 1977 when we endorsed the Charter 77 Declaration, and are as valid in China in the 21st century.

In addition, former President Vaclav Havel - one of the initiators and spokespersons of the original Czechoslovak Charter 77 - and a group of prominent international figures have issued an open letter to the Noel Peace Committee calling for Mr. Liu's nomination. Their letter stated that:

In working to promote human rights, political reform, and democratization in China, Liu has made a significant contribution to the values of peace and fraternity among nations that Nobel had in mind when he created the award more than a century ago. Of course, democratization does not automatically guarantee better behavior on the world stage. But it does facilitate a full and rigorous public debate over key questions of a state's foreign and domestic policies. This active and searching conversation, the hallmark of a democratic polity, is the best hope for better decisions by governments, both at home and abroad.

In addition to Bishop Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, ex-president Havel�s open letter to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee was also endorsed by philosopher Andr� Glucksmann; president of Carnegie Corporation Vartan Gregorian; former director of the World Trade Organisation Mike Moore; former foreign minister of the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg and former chairman of the Russian United Democratic party Yabloko Grigory Yavlinsky.

In a coordinated action with their Czech colleagues, large group of Slovak parliamentarians (51 MPs out of 150-member National Council of the Slovak Republic), have sent their own nomination of Liu Xiaobo for Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination letter was co-signed by both former and the current chairmen of the parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Minorities and the Status of Women, J�zsef Ber�nyi and L�szl� Nagy. Also, two former chairmen of the Parliament, Franti�ek Miklo�ko and Pavol Hru�ovsk�, are among the signatories.

Slovak MPs were supported by protagonists of the November 1989 Velvet Revolution in Slovakia, co-founders of the Public Against Violence and of the Hungarian Independent Initiative, by former leaders of student movement in 1989, by former political prisoners, ex-ministers of Slovak government as well as by prominent public intellectuals, artists, academics and civic activists from Slovak NGOs. “We do it because we are convinced human rights are indivisible. We do it as citizens remembering human suffering under totalitarian system as well as resistance of secret church, civic dissent, and environmentalists in Slovakia. We do it as people believing in the power of ideas and of free individuals,” say the civic coordinators from Pontis Foundation, People in Peril Association, Institute for Public Affairs and Conservative Institute of M. R. �tef�nik.

Mr. Jan Tore Sanner, Member of the Parliament of Norway and Vice President of the Norwegian Conservative Party (Høyre), has been inspired by the President Havel’s open letter and has submitted his own nomination of Liu Xiaobo to the Peace Prize. In his nomination letter, Mr. Sanner wrote

“Liu’s personal courage, his principles and his long struggle against an oppressive state places him in a proud line of dedicated human rights activists that embody the spirit of Nobel’s will. In addition, awarding the price to Liu Xiaobo would send a strong signal that no government, no state, may blatantly disregard fundamental human rights such as free speech. Such an award would serve as an immense inspiration to others fighting for freedom and human rights.”

Liu Xiaobo (born December 28, 1955) is a respected intellectual and human rights activist in China. He has been detained, arrested, and sentenced repeatedly for his peaceful political activities, including participation in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Since 2003, he has served as President of the Independent Chinese PEN Center. On Christmas Day 2009, Liu Xiaobo, was condemned to 11 years in prison on the charges of “inciting subversion of state power,” after being detained since December 8, 2008. Mr. Liu is considered to be one of the main drafters of Charter 08, a petition inspired by Czechoslovakia's Charter 77, which called on the Chinese government to adhere to its own laws and constitution, as well as demanding the open election of public officials, freedom of religion and expression, and the abolition of “subversion” laws.

Mr. Liu's human rights work has received international recognition. In 2004, Reporters Without Borders honored Mr. Liu's human rights work by awarding him the Fondation de France Prize as a defender of press freedom. In March 2009, Liu Xiaobo was awarded with the Homo Homini Award by the One World Human Rights Film Festival, organized by the Prague-based Czech NGO People in Need, in honor of his work promoting freedom of speech, democratic principles and human rights.

In December 2009, the Czech Ministry for Foreign Affairs joined United States, Canada, Australia and several EU member states in condemning Liu Xiaobo’s sentence. On January 6, 2010, former Czech president V�clav Havel joined with other communist-era dissidents at the Chinese embassy in Prague to present a petition calling for Mr. Liu's release.

People in Need Launched Appeal for Earthquake Victims in Haiti

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:02:44 GMT

Prague (13 Jan 2010) - The Czech humanitarian organization People in Need launched appeal for earthquake victims in Haiti on Wednesday. The devastating catastrophe may have claimed up to thousands of lives. The money collected will be used by partners from international Alliance 2015 organization for immediate humanitarian aid and for supplying basic needs.

Donations can be made by bank transfer to SOS Haiti account 40954095/0300 (IBAN: CZ04 0300 0000 0000 4095 4095) or by sending a text message DMS SOSHAITI to phone number 87777.

Follow our effort in Haiti

People in Need have earmarked 300,000 crowns from its humanitarian fund for an immediate aid to Haiti. "We expect that number of causalities will rise as more and more information will be coming in and picture of the catastrophe will be more complex. That's why we appreciate any financial help from public. People from our partner organisations have been working on the spot already and therefore People in Need will not set up its own mission in Haiti," said People in Need director Simon Panek.

In Haiti are already present two People in Need's partners from Ireland and Germany. Irish organization Concern has been working in Haiti since 1994, focusing on improving the health of those in need, preventing violence in the slums and fighting HIV and AIDS. It has also experience with post-hurican relief in 2008. Germany based Welthungerhilfe is present in Haiti since 1974 and concentrated on environmental projects.

The earthquake struck at 22.00 GMT (4pm local time) on Tuesday 12th January 2010. The 7.0-magnitude quake hit south of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince is feared to have killed possibly thousands of people across the Caribbean country. Many people are reported missing and tens of thousands of inhabitants have lost their homes.

PIN already allocated 300 000 Kc (11460 eur) from its humanitarian fund Club of friends. People in Need Friends Club has 5500 members. Average monthly contributions are around 300 Kc. Thanks to this financial support can People in Need help immediately crisis situations.

How to donate:
Through Bank account SOS Haiti 4095 4095/0300
By sending a text message "DMS SOSHAITI " to phone number 87777.