Social Movements - petitions

Stop Tainting Our Produce

ecs55@duke.edu — Thu, 03 May 2018 04:31:57 +0000

Planned Parenthood Action Fund

slb117@duke.edu — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 08:17:03 +0000

Description:

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the Planned Parenthood US umbrella organization. Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) is the political advocacy branch of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Planned Parenthood provides healthcare services, especially to people that may not otherwise have access to it, and notably provides birth control and abortion services. PPAF is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to defend people’s autonomy over their own bodies. It consists of both national and regional groups. “Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people” and "the nation’s largest provider of sex education.”

Planned Parenthood Action Fund's website states:

Planned Parenthood was founded over 100 years ago on the revolutionary idea that women have the right to access the information and care they need to live strong, healthy lives. Today, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) fights to protect that right — often in the face of extreme politicians trying to take it away.

www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/our-history

www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/about-us

Goals:

Lindsay Robinson, the NC Director of Public Affairs for the Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic (a regional affiliate) describes the group’s goals as such: “Our mission is ‘care no matter what’ and we want to make sure that women are able to make informed decisions that are best for them about their health and their health access. That is really what we're about in terms of our mission and just being able to provide health care and have access provided to individuals.”

Planned Parenthood’s website describes their mission as follows:

Our Mission

Planned Parenthood aims to provide trusted community health care, inform and educate the community, lead the reproductive health and rights movement, and advance global health.

Our Vision and Values

Planned Parenthood believes in the individual fundamental right of people throughout the world to manage their reproductive health, regardless of income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence. Respect, inclusion and diversity in all aspects of our organization are essential to our well-being. We believe reproductive self-determination must be voluntary and we honor the right to privacy. We further believe that such self-determination enhances quality of life and helps build strong family relationships.

Our Goals

To provide comprehensive reproductive and complementary health care services in settings that preserve and protect the essential privacy and rights of each individual
To advocate public policies that guarantee these rights and ensure access to such services
To provide educational programs that enhance understanding of individual and societal implications of human sexuality
To promote research and the advancement of technology in reproductive health care and encourage understanding of their inherent bioethical, behavioral, and social implications

Historical/Political Context:

In 1916, the original Planned Parenthood began as a way to distribute information about and provide birth control in a time in which that was illegal. Founder Margaret Sanger also worked to research new birth control methods. In 1936, a court ruled “that birth control devices and information would no longer be classified as obscene, and could be legally distributed in New York, Connecticut, and Vermont.” Thirty years later, married couples (only married couples) across the United States were also granted these rights. “In 1956, the first large-scale human trial of the birth control pill was carried out in Puerto Rico.” Fours year later, on May 9, 1960, the FDA approved the sale of the birth control pill. “Within 5 years, 1 out of every 4 married women in the U.S. under the age of 45 had used the pill.” This was a historic step for contraceptive usage, Planned Parenthood, and women and families.

Supreme Court cases throughout the 1960s and 1970s made it so that doctors could give birth control to anyone, regardless of the patient’s marital status. Title X of the Public Health Services Act passed in 1970 and “established public funding for family planning and sex education programs in the U.S. That meant Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health organizations were able to provide birth control and sex education services for more people, especially in low-income communities. To this day, Title X funding is critical to accessing sexual and reproductive health care.” In 1973, the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade affirmed the right to abortion because of one’s right to privacy. During the 1970s, many laws restricting abortion access were ruled against in the courts. However, in 1976, the Hyde Amendment banned the use of federal funding to pay for abortions, except in cases of incest, rape, or if necessary to protect the life of the mother.

Due to the many wins by abortion rights activists in the 1970s, there was strong pushback from anti-abortion rights activists in the 1980s and 1990s. This is the time that the opposition became violent, threatening those involved in providing abortions and following through on those threats of murder, bombings, and arson. Ronald Reagan’s and George H.W. Bush’s administrations were accompanied by a wave of abortion restrictions. “But throughout these difficult times, Planned Parenthood remained steadfast in its commitment to patients and its vision of a world without barriers to sexual and reproductive health care.”

In 1989, “Planned Parenthood Federation of America president Faye Wattleton founded the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, a 501c4 organization, to engage in public education campaigns, grassroots organizing, and legislative and electoral activity.” Planned Parenthood Action Fund was started as a way to focus on politics affecting reproductive health and rights so that Planned Parenthood could continue to operate. Gloria Feldt, the former PPFA president, describes the necessity for PPAF in saying “Our political work is our survival.” Without PPAF, Planned Parenthood could not do the work that it does.

The 1990s brought with them many new types of contraceptives, expanding the options for those seeking birth control. Mifepristone, the “abortion pill,” was approved by the FDA in 2000, providing women more options with regards to abortion methods. The Supreme Court ruling in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt in 2016 declared “that states could not create rules that placed an ‘undue burden’ on people seeking abortion,” which was a big win for women and healthcare.

Currently, Planned Parenthood Action Fund spends a great deal of time fighting the Trump administration’s attempts to defund Planned Parenthood and their Title X funding. Lindsay Robinson, the NC Director of Public Affairs for the Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic (a regional affiliate) describes the difficulty and necessity of their work: “We know funding could be taken away any minute so we have to continually be prepared. I think one of the pros and cons about this job is that you have to constantly be reactive.”

For a more detailed description of the context in which Planned Parenthood has grown, visit: www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/our-history.

For more information about the founding of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, visit: 100years.plannedparenthood.org/#e1976-1996/5.

Structure:

Planned Parenthood has millions of supporters and is comprised of both employees and volunteers of all backgrounds. It has a lot of employees, but also relies heavily on volunteers. The most prominent demographic amongst its supporters is women, however it has members of all genders and is very intersectional. Planned Parenthood’s purpose is to provide service to those that would not otherwise get it, which often includes “people of color, people who live in rural areas, LGBTQ people, people with low incomes, and people without health insurance.” They emphasize that they work for people of “of all races, faiths, genders, and identities.”

Because they understand that their members and supporters come from all different backgrounds, Planned Parenthood has formed official communities within the organization, including Latinos for Planned Parenthood, Planned Parenthood Black Community, Planned Parenthood Global (which involves women internationally), Planned Parenthood Generation Action (which involves college students), and the Clergy Advocacy Board (which involves “faith leaders” from various religious backgrounds and institutions). These communities bring people together to fight for a common goal.

The current president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund is Cecile Richards, a middle-aged white American woman. The current PPAF Board Chair is Urvashi Vaid, a middle-aged, lesbian Indian-American woman. The PPFA executive members include people of varying genders and races, however they are mainly middle-aged.

The organization is arranged hierarchically, much like a traditional company. Planned Parenthood has a board and a whole executive team. The regional affiliates report up to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Each affiliate covers a particular region of the United States, such as the South Atlantic, the Northwest, or a single state. The groups have departments within them, and those departments have leaders and employees who report to that leader. Volunteers support their work.

www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/communities

www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/about-us/ppaf-president

www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/our-leadership

Genealogy:

Margaret Sanger founded Planned Parenthood through a series of efforts that began in 1916. Sanger was a nurse who grew up in New York and witnessed her mother go through eighteen pregnancies. Planned Parenthood began as a way to distribute information about and provide birth control.

From Planned Parenthood:

On October 16, 1916, Sanger — together with her sister Ethel Byrne and activist Fania Mindell — opened the country’s first birth control clinic in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Women lined up down the block to get birth control information and advice from Sanger, Byrne, and Mindell. Nine days later, police raided the clinic and shut it down. All 3 women were charged with crimes related to sharing birth control information. Sanger refused to pay the fine and spent 30 days in jail, where she educated other inmates about birth control. Although the Brownsville clinic was shut down, Sanger went on to travel the country to share her vision — and the Planned Parenthood movement began.
In 1923, Sanger opened the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau in Manhattan to provide birth control devices to women and to collect statistics about the safety and long-term effectiveness of birth control. That same year, Sanger incorporated the American Birth Control League, an ambitious new organization that examined the global impact of population growth, disarmament, and famine. The two organizations eventually merged to become Planned Parenthood® Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA®).
In 1948, Planned Parenthood awarded a small grant to biologists Gregory Pincus, John Rock, and M.C. Chang to conduct research into a birth control pill. Katharine Dexter McCormick, a leader in the suffrage movement and the League of Women Voters, was head of the research process and its primary funder.
While stateside acceptance of Sanger’s vision was slow, global progress was swift. In Bombay, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) was founded at the 3rd International Conference on Planned Parenthood. Margaret Sanger served as its president from 1952-1959. Today, Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the U.S. Member Association to IPPF.
After New York legalized abortion in 1970, a Planned Parenthood health center in Syracuse, NY was the first Planned Parenthood health center to offer abortion services.
In 1987, Planned Parenthood began offering free or low-cost HIV testing in communities around the country.
[In 1989], Planned Parenthood Federation of America president Faye Wattleton founded the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, a 501c4 organization, to engage in public education campaigns, grassroots organizing, and legislative and electoral activity.
In 1996, Planned Parenthood launched www.plannedparenthood.org, which made expert medical and sexual health information easily accessible for everyone. Today, 76 million people reach Planned Parenthood online every year.
In 2005, the first Planned Parenthood affiliate began providing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transgender patients. In 2006, the HPV vaccine was approved, and Planned Parenthood health centers began providing this lifesaving cancer prevention method at health centers across the country.

For an even more detailed description of the history of Planned Parenthood, visit www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/who-we-are/our-history and www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/about-us.

To explore an interactive timeline of Planned Parenthood's 100-year history (at the time it was made) 100years.plannedparenthood.org/.

Campaigns:

Planned Parenthood is constantly working on many projects to fulfill their mission. Their website lays out the issues they are currently focusing on. These include abortion access, attacks on Planned Parenthood, birth control, health care equity, sex education, sexual assault, state attacks, and voting rights.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund: www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/issues

Planned Parenthood Federation of America: www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/newsroom/campaigns

Ideological Composition:

Planned Parenthood is an organization that maintains feminist values. Planned Parenthood’s members and supporters tend to hold liberal beliefs, as the issues they fight for, such as publicly-covered access to healthcare and promoting contraceptive usage, are part of liberal ideology. Additionally, the candidates that Planned Parenthood Action Fund supports are almost always Democrats. However, this does not mean that Planned Parenthood is only liberal or Democratic, as it certainly has supporters from many political backgrounds.

www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/about-us

Communication Strategy:

Internally, the group communicates both in person and online. Externally, Planned Parenthood has an entire communications team and communicates in myriad ways. They utilize social media, press, and mass media, and they give speeches at various events.

Created New Spaces:

The spaces that Planned Parenthood have created are the actual Planned Parenthood clinics and offices. These are physical spaces in which they provide their services and carry out their mission.

Oppositional Forces:

There are many pro-life groups, both religious and secular, that oppose Planned Parenthood because they offer abortion services. Major groups include National Right to Life and Pro-Life Action League. Here is an extensive list of over 85 anti-abortion organizations in the United States.

Planned Parenthood also faces opposition from many parts of the government, particularly the current Trump Administration.

Media Artifacts:

Source: miplannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-worldview/

Source: blogforarizona.net/anti-choicers-are-out-to-replace-planned-parenthood-with-clinics-that-dont-offer-birth-control/

Source: www.istandwithpp.org/defund-defined/how-federal-funding-works-planned-parenthood

Source: www.facebook.com/pg/PlannedParenthood/photos/

"MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 2015/09/29: Participants hold pink Planned Parenthood banner and signs. Activists and directors of Planned Parenthood, NYC, gathered in Foley Square along NYC first lady Chirlane McCray and elected representatives to demonstrate support for the organization. (Photo by Andy Katz/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)" Source: www.glamour.com/story/planned-parenthood-pink-out-day-2017

An abortion rights supporter stands outside of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, DC. Source: www.care2.com/causes/4-significant-court-wins-for-abortion-rights.html?utm_source=news&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=actionfb&utm_content=abortionwin0428

Further Reading:

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

Plannedparenthood.org. (2018). Planned Parenthood | Official Site.

http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/

Plannedparenthoodaction.org. (2018). Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

http://100years.plannedparenthood.org/

Planned Parenthood 100 Years Strong. (2018). Planned Parenthood | 100 Years Strong.

http://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/142

Congress.gov. (2018). S.142 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): Hyde Amendment Codification Act.

Type of Organization:

Tatics Used:

contacting politicians

Hashtags:

#IStandWithPP

#StandWithPP

#WeArePP

#TeenHealth

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Web Exhibit Created By:

Shannon Bonney

Public:

true

Caption:

Refugee Consortium of Kenya

jw489@duke.edu — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 19:15:28 +0000

Description:

Refugee Consortium of Kenya is a national NGO founded on creating and sustaining rights for forced migrants. Specifically, they are focused on three areas of aid; advocacy and policy development; legal and social justice, and communication; research and monitoring. Activist and legal professionals are working in all three of these branches to improve and promote the rights of refugees living in Kenya. RCK is joined by many partners from around the globe all collaborating to find applicable solutions for refugees. Some of these partners including the UNHCR, Austrailian Embassy, Danish Refugee Council and many others. The organization is commonly referred to by refugees as the Haki House or, Right House.

https://uploads.knightlab.com/storymapjs/c6336cbde8f40fcbbf97c1e6f78a5e2...

Goals:

The overarching goal of RCK is to "Promote and protect rights and dignity of refugees, asylum seekers, and other forced migrants" by...

Protecting the basic needs of forced migrants by collaborating with other organizations to provide necessary resources. The main organization RCK works alongside is UNHCR. UNHCR is largely in charge of running the refugee camps in Kenya, such as Dadaab and Kakuma. RCK main goal within refugee camps is to aid individuals who are seeking refugee status by sitting in with them as legal assistance on the Status Determination Process (SDP) interview.
Supporting victims of trafficking in their struggle to regain freedom and establish new lives. RCK fights for individuals who are victims of sex trafficking or smuggling. These are children (under the age of 18) or adults who were kidnaped, transported, and now exploited for the benefit and gain of other. RCK’s goal is to represent these individuals because “stolen people are stolen dreams”.
Helping Stateless person apply and gain citizenship by aiding them through the process and informing them on their rights. The main avenue RCK uses to support refugees is through litigation. RCK lawyers defend not only refugees, but also asylum seekers, and returnees. The lawyers represent them in many situations such as, application for “refugee” status or as an asylum seeker, protecting their rights once status is gained, and if needed representing them to the Refugee Appeals Board (RCK.org, Our Work)

Historical/Political Context:

Refugees have been seeking residency in Kenya since the 1960's, and today there are over half a million refugee's. However the attitude towards refugees in east Africa has not been welcoming. Many locals believe myths about refugee's like; they are fully supported by the UNHCR and other NGO's, or they are wealthy but not contributing to the economy. These myths diminish their reluctance to allow or support refugees in their communities. RCK completed a study, with the support of its sponsors like Danish Refugee Council, to survey and put to rest these myths (Myths and Truths). The main findings were there is an increased demand for refugee financial, community, and government support. Without this support the future for forced migrants is extremely grim.

From 1963 till 1989 nearly 20,000 refugees from Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia sought refuge in Kenya were the government managed them using the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) process. During this time the first sources of “refugee law” came into existence to protect forced migrants’ rights. The main pieces of legislation were established at the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Later the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees was also created. The third and final main piece of international refugee legislation, which was specific to Africa, was the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. All of these conventions created precedents and legislation which RCK uses to represent and stand for refugee’s rights today in Kenya (RCK.org, RAR).

Due to political unrest and civil war in Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and Rwanda the arrival of refugees in Kenya increased from 1990-2007. Roughly 400,000 entered the country, which sparked a demand and creation of four refugee camps that were later combined into two in Kakuma and Dadaab. Updated policy was called for and in 1999 the Kenyan government held a conference with major civil society players to discuss refugee law. RCK was among the groups asked to join this conversation along with other NGOs. As a result the Refugee Bill was created in 2000 and then after adjustments and being passed through parliament was official established in 2006.

Since the 2007/08 general election in Kenya there has been great unrest in the region over displaced individuals. Violence due to the election spread throughout the nation and hundreds were forced to leave their homes and nearly 1,300 displaced people were killed (Fulfilling the Promise Video). Hundreds of Internally Displaced People (IDP's) still live in refugee camps. Since RCK's creation in 1998 they have been advocating for victim of displacement and now also victims of the post-election violence. 2007 to present day is also marked by a great upsurge of terrorism and attacks throughout the country, including in camps. In 2014 a government Directive require all refugees to live inside one of the two refugee camps and limited the number of refugees inside Kenya to 150,000. The government wanted to round up the refugee’s and enforce strict encampment policy. This however, was challenged by movements, including RCK, as a violation to the freedom of movement establish in the Refugee Bill (Neil Wilson) .

Today the Refugee Bill of 2006 is under review because it does not adequately deal with issues of refugee reception, registration and residence. RCK is working to advocate on behalf of refugees and be a voice for them in the process of this review by the National Assembly.

Structure:

The Executive Director of RCK is Eunice Edonga-Githinji, and Senior Program Officer is Leila Murithia Simiyu. Underneath them are numerous Assistants Program Managers for each of the three departments; Legal and Social Justice, Advocacy and Policy Development, and Communications, Research and Monitoring, as well as Institutional Support Development. RCK is run mainly as a top-down organization with the biggest decisions being made by the Executive Director then set into place by the Program Officers below. Within each of the three departments work is delegated among the Program Managers and Officers. However, if one of the lower level staff members has an idea for future plans, the leaders are open, in regional meetings, to discuss and act upon them.

Further details on the specific structure of the organization were not available on the website. During the interview process, which due to his busy schedule and the time difference was done via email, I asked Mr. Andrew Maina about the structure of RCK and the social composition of the group. He referred me to a document on the website which no long has an active link. He failed to get back to me when I inquired further. However, from my understanding of RCK, their work, and their other platforms, it can be assumed most activist working on behalf of RCK are mid to lower class individuals with a passion for giving a voice to the voiceless. As a whole much of the official staff is in their mid-20’s to 50’s. Many are local Kenyans of both sexes; however, others are former refugees from a variety of eastern African countries who now work with the organization to promote rights for future refugees (RCK.org, Our Team) .

Genealogy:

Refugee Consortium of Kenya was founded in 1998 to address the declining refugee situation in Kenya and the wider region. Specifically it was founded to respond to a gap in legal assistance faced by asylum seekers and refugees in Kenya. At the time there were no other organizations that provided legal assistance tailored for refugees and asylum seekers. RCK grew over the next two decades due to the increasing need of refugees and continued to attract professionals and activist who had a passion for human rights.

Since 1998 RCK has made great strides in assisting refugees and asylum seekers. A couple of the main accomplishments are as follows. In 2006 the Refugee Act in Kenya was enacted, greatly because of the lobbying done by RCK. Before RCK was founded there was very little refugee law to govern asylum management in this region. Through continued lobbying the 2012 IDP Act was also later passed. This Act focused on "prevention, protection, and assistance to internally displaced persons and affected communities" (Refworld). In the past twenty years over 10,000 individuals received documentation, resettlement, and other services because of RCK's work. In 2014, the government issued a security law, attempting to find all refugees living in communities and placing them into refugee camps. This was combated by RCK and partnering NGO’s as it was considered a violation to one’s freedom of movement. Today, RCK is currently lobbying to update the Refugee Bill of 2006 to further define and increase refugee rights. Further, they are working in both Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps, and in Nairobi to give legal assistance to forced migrants as well as trauma counseling.

Campaigns:

RCK has three main campaigns. The first and largest is their legal and social justice program. Its aim is to safeguard justice for all forced migrants (refugees, asylum seekers and returnees). RCK does this by offering legal aid services to refugees in a variety of manners. All are listed on their website, I attached the link below, but a few key ones are as follows. They offer legal counseling to refugees during the Refugee Status Determination process and on immigration cases. RCK will sit with refugees during their interview with UNHCR for RSD in camps. Also, if a refugee’s rights are being taken advantage of, RCK will represent them in a court of law pro-bono. RCK provides networking connections to other organizations to guarantee refugees are being provided for in a variety of critical issues. Other ways RCK hopes to ensure justice is through psycho-social counseling for those who have suffered severe traumas during their time as a migrant. This includes providing basic counseling support as well as micro-grants to gender violence survivors. They also create spaces for children to come and cope who have suffered from traumas. To increase community trust they have set up community based counselors who live within the neighborhood and can reference RCK resources when needed (RCK.org, LSJ).

The second of RCK’s campaigns is advocacy and policy development. This campaign is centered around lobbying for policy change to establish an environment where refugees feel they can live freely and with dignity. It encompasses three main areas; policy influence, capacity building, and protection monitoring. Policy influence is done by lobbying the government for more progressive laws which extend the rights of refugees and creating new advocacy tactics. Capacity building includes collaborating with state and non-state organizations to continue to promote the movement of protecting refugees by raising awareness. Finally, protection monitoring entails visits to the most travelled border routes and studying how to improve the protection of migrants then including this information in advocacy strategies RCK.org, APD).

The final campaign is communication, research and monitoring which hopes to find new ways to protect refugees then spread this information. RCK is aiming to influence two groups, the public and policymakers. Some of the main goals of this program are to create new education materials for to distribute, hold meetings within refugee communities about their rights, and do occasional research which will advance their advocacy tactics and interventions (RCK.org, CRM).

Ideological Composition:

Due to the nature of RKC, the desire for opportunity and equality for all refugees, the ideological composition of the members is predominantly liberal. From the organizations strategies, like lobbying the government and their partnership with UNHCR, it is evident they believe in the importance of governments’ role in providing for the people and combating social injustices. Also, RCK strongly believe individuals, including refugees, should have the right to move freely between borders and establish themselves in different communities.

RCK is part of a network of organizations that works to address the needs of persons of concern therefore most of its’ members have progress ideologies. Each organization in this consortium differs slightly in their ideological beliefs but all share the same end goal. Some of these organizations include: the Urban Refugee Protection Network (Kenyan), International Detention Coalition and International Council for Voluntary Agencies (International).

Communication Strategy:

The group largely uses social media to keep its fellow activist and supporters up to date. However within the organization the main communication strategy is through email, and when possible, face-to-face.

Created New Spaces:

One of RCK's main initiatives is taking on court cases to address the rights of refugees. This has created new avenues for change in a different realm, the realm of litigation. As more cases have been resolved in favor of refugee rights it has propelled the discussion and creation of new laws. Now, not only are precedents set in the legal field, but also refugees automatically have more rights immediate rights in Kenya and the surrounding areas.

The organization has also appeared before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) to raise issues of concern to refugees. The ACHPR was created in 1986 as part of the African Union as a quasi-judicial body to "enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa" (African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights). Together with ACHPR, RCK has been able to expand the basic rights of forced migrants and asylum seeks in Kenya. This collaboration has paved the way for increased discussion and a unified desire for human rights, not only in Kenya, but through Africa (Maina Interview).

Incorporated Cultural Forms:

At the core of the Refugee Solidarity Movement is hospitality. Recognizing that other human beings belong on this Earth and sharing ones home country with others. In order to be welcoming, the movement has embraced refugee's cultures. RCK specifically, creates spaces for refugees to connect with fellow individuals from their country of origin (Maina Interview). In the image below a group of refugees and asylum seekers are performing a dance at an RCK event.

Oppositional Forces:

RCK is fighting against powers who do not believe in equal rights for forced migrants. Mainly this includes right wing governments and local communities who are opposed to welcoming new members to the community, or do not believe there are resources to support them. For example, the Kenyan government security demonstrates their xenophobia, with respect to refugees, in their treatment of refugee camps. The government opines that the Dadaab refugee camp has lost its humanitarian character and thus must be shut down. However there has been little proof provided to support such a move (Maina, Interview). Another example of the Kenyan government working against the refugee community is in the Security Bill in 2014. After two attacks claimed by terrorist group Al-Shabaab, the Parliamentary Committee on National Security produced a bill with 21 laws which expand the powers of National Intelligence Services while infringing on refugee rights. Also, with the implementation of this Bill, Kenya would have a refugee-cap at 150,000 people and families could only reside in designated camps (Human Rights Watch).

The principle of burden sharing appears to be limited when providing funds for asylum hosting nations, as resettlement slots continuously dwindle. The provision of funds for refugees appears to be limited for humanitarian assistance and little thought has traditionally been put into prevention building (Maina, Interview). Other forces are increased conflict in the region has contributed to fresh displacement and protracted existing displacement situations, especially in eastern Kenya near the Somalian border. Another forced opposing Refugee Consortium of Kenya is climate change propelled displacement which is on the rise. However, because there are few legal regimes that recognize climate-change-induced-displacement, RCK work to influencing policy is increasingly difficult (VOA News).

Textual Artifacts:

Further Reading:

https://academic.oup.com/jrs/article/25/2/221/1550445

Rose Jaji; Social Technology and Refugee Encampment in Kenya, Journal of Refugee Studies, Volume 25, Issue 2, 1 June 2012, Pages 221–238, https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fer046

https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/12/13/kenya-security-bill-tramples-basic-rights

“Kenya: Security Bill Tramples Basic Rights.” Human Rights Watch, 17 Apr. 2015, www.hrw.org/news/2014/12/13/kenya-security-bill-tramples-basic-rights.

https://www.voanews.com/a/thousands-homeless-as-el-nino-floods-sweep-somalia/302…

Reuters. “Thousands Homeless as El Niño Floods Sweep Somalia.” VOA, VOA, 29 Oct. 2015, www.voanews.com/a/thousands-homeless-as-el-nino-floods-sweep-somalia/3026860.html.

https://theconversation.com/kenyas-harsh-new-security-laws-put-hundreds-of-thous…

Wilson, Neil James. “Kenya's Harsh New Security Laws Put Hundreds of Thousands of Refugees at Risk.” The Conversation, 2 May 2018, theconversation.com/kenyas-harsh-new-security-laws-put-hundreds-of-thousands-of-refugees-at-risk-35789.

https://www.rckkenya.org

“Refugee Consortium of Kenya – Legal and Advocacy Development Center.” Refugee Consortium of Kenya, www.rckkenya.org/.

Type of Organization:

Tatics Used:

Hashtags:

#WithRefugees

#IWelcome

#LikeYouAndMe

#TOGETHERcampaign

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Web Exhibit Created By:

Jillian Wolgemuth

Public:

true

Caption:

Survival International

ns224@duke.edu — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 21:04:42 +0000

Description:

India is like a blanket, one woven with threads of various cultures, languages and people. That is the allure of India. A heterogeneity that is unified; an amalgamation of the modern with the quondam; the co-existence of high rise buildings that mark the skyline and the Banyan Trees with roots that penetrate into the depths of the earth. India is also home to one of the largest populations of tribal people, approximately 8.6% according to the 2011 census. Tribal people in India are called Adivasi. It is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups considered the aboriginal population of India.

“A study from Bastar, Madhya Pradesh shows that tribal women migrate on large proportion in search of jobs. They use migration as a survival strategy to escape out of abject poverty. Thousands of tribal women and young girls migrate from their hinterlands in the tribal areas to urban centers mainly in search of employment. They are new to the city life style and environment and find it difficult to make adjustment with the changed situation and environment. They have to face a number of problems in the cities after the migration. Moreover, the non-tribal in the cities exploits them both financially and sexually. A large majority of migrant tribal women are in the age group of 24 to 47 years and the tribal girls in the age group of 16 to 23 years. They face problems like difficulty of communication in local language, getting accommodation and employment, education of children, local contacts, and adjustment with city life and environment etc. Circular and seasonal migration in India is particularly high among the poor, scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs)”

The Dongria Kondh are a Scheduled Tribe, residing in the Niyamgiri Hills of Odisha, India. They see no allure in capitalism, but venerate the land that feeds them. Orissa is the poorest state in India, with 87% of the Scheduled Tribe living below the poverty line. However, Niyamgiri is rich with flaura and fauna: from fertile soils and flowing rivers to dense forests and varied wildlife. The Dongria Kondh sustain themselves from this land, and revere it for all that it gives them. They worship their god Niyam Raja, who they believe provides them with these resources, and live in harmony with their surroundings.

However, for over the past 10 years former FTSE 100 company Vedanta threatened to displace the Dongria Kondh and destroy the untouched hills of Niyamgiri land in order to extract Bauxite from under them. Vedanta saw lucrative benefits in building a mine, but refused to acknowledge that they would be violating not just the land but the people whom rightfully belonged there. Deleterious effects on the environment, the people and the heritage of the tribal community would ensue.

Survival is a UK based NGO, and they decided to be a voice for the voiceless. To allow, for the first time an indigenous community in India to keep the land that rightfully belonged to them, and thus began their "David and Goliath" fight. Survival’s vision is: A world where tribal peoples are respected as contemporary societies and their human rights protected. While it is Survival’s mission is to help tribal people, their capacity at the time was limited, so they could only take on a certain number of cases at a given time. Survival had been aware of the case of Dongria Kondh for a while, and had found out about them through anthropologist Dr.Felix Padel.

Dr.Felix Padel had been involved with the Dongria for some years, and had a long history with Survival. He asked Survival to help in the resistance against the mine. They would have liked to have gotten involved sooner, but could only do so once they had reached capacity.

Before long, Survival took the case on, and were determined to see how they could support the Dongria. It was incredibly clear how strongly the Dongria wanted to defend their land from this mine, and how united they were in that. Because Vedanta is nominally a UK based company it was easier for Survival to take certain action to draw attention to Vedanta's involvement. Their campaign helped to help amplify the Dongrias’ voice- which is what they believe at Survival of making sure: that tribal people defending their land are heard.

Survival faced many obstacles in their fight for the Dongria. Since the Dongria speak a rare dialect, language posed to be a huge problem. Most of their communication (between Survival and the Dongria) had to be dependent upon Oriya translators. There was also a looming threat and intimidation that Survival faced from Vedanta's goons as well as from the police. Furthermore, the venal Indian bureaucracy made any advances difficult.

Survival also faced another major problem right from the start. How could they make a situation regarding a tribal community- no one had heard of, in a corner of India- no one knew of, taking a stand against a major Mining company- people were unaware of? How were they going to make people care?

Survival was successful in doing this by making the issue at hand became an internationally relevant story. Vedanta was a British mining company, which had rules and regulations it ought to be complying with; the rights of tribal people it ought to be respecting. Survival was soon backed by enormous media support in India and internationally. The Dongria were holding marches, forming road blocks and forming human chains. Survival successfully drew attention to their tactics.

Survival triumphant in showing the Dongria's determination to the world. One of the main reasons Survival attributes to why the campaign was a success was the determination of the Dongria, who where just were not going to allow their mountain to be taken away from them. The pride they have in themselves and land couldn't be taken away.

Survival's work with the Dongria exemplifies the indomitable human spirit, that is unified regardless of class, creed or gender when fighting for what is right. Survival is a UK based organization, with little or no experience in the Indian sub-continent prior to this; with no interactions with Indian people, particularly tribal men and women. Yet, they helped the Dongria's like they were their own, to help them secure rights they never would have otherwise.

In conclusion, understanding the issues faced by tribal men and women is not simply acknowledging them as a people who need our sympathy. It is naïve to think that being given the status of “Scheduled Tribe” by the Indian government offers much protection to them- if any at all- as seen by the Dongria Kondh’s fight against Vedanta. The idea of ST in India is like a rope: at first it seems to be one thing, one entity, until you start teasing the ends, and then it begins to fray. And perhaps this is its most challenging aspect: there’s no one problem, which means there’s no one solution. Factors combine and connect: forces intersect and amplify, and it is these very people who are most affected, yet their troubles and complaints go unheard. Today, more than ever before there is a need for extensive discourse on tribal affairs to stop the exploitation of a people, that are weakened by systemic factors arrayed against them. In his book: Environmental communication and the public sphere, Robert Cox highlights the myriad of channels and conduits through which “Diverse Voices” relay specific needs and challenges in real-time, to the authorities who make decisions. According to him this “landscape of communication” is as varied and multifarious as the ecology of the Galapagos or the Amazon. According to Cox, human communication is in itself a form of symbolic action, and this is rightly so. The spectrum ranges from ordinary citizens to environmental groups to corporations. It is this very discourse that ultimately shapes our beliefs, ethics and actions. However, advocacy must be translated into action. Survival has been successful in achieving just this, and helping the Dongria claim what is rightfully theirs. But the fight is not over. Even today the Dongria continue to be harassed by officials. We cannot stagnate, and cling to victories of the past: because the future is now, and we are accountable.

Goals:

As experts in tribal peoples’ rights Survival fights optimistically to have the rights of the tribal men and women protected. They are radical, visionary and trustworthy.They reject national government money as they believe governments are the main violators of tribal peoples’ rights. Further, they refuse to accept funds from corporations. Integrity is their priority.

The campaign coordinator of Survival Dr. Jo Woodman saw their role as two things.

1) Getting the Dongrias’ voice heard

2) Doing what they could to expose actions of the company that was disrespecting the rights of the Dongria, and help the Dongria in their mission to stop the mine.

Historical/Political Context:

The Attitude of Indian Government

There was a big difference in the attitudes of the State and National government in Odisha and Delhi, towards the Dongria. It was complex in that, there was a close link between the Odisha government's interests and the success of the Mine. The Odisha government was very strongly in favor of the mine going ahead, simply for Economic gains. The Ministry of Environment in Delhi had also green lighted things that under the process shouldn't have been.

However, Minister Jai Ram Ramesh was properly sympathetic, as was Rahul Gandhi -Leader of the largest party in India/ Indian National Congress. Rahul Gandhi went to Niyamgiri and showed his support against the mine. However, it was politically difficult for any of the national players to be "influenced" by international NGO's. Survival had a massive impact from the large number of letters they had sent to Minister Jai Ram Ramesh. There was a significant impact from detailed legal arguments Survial sent in while the court case was going on in the supreme court. While it was obvious that it had had a profound impact, it was important that it didn't look like that- it would've made Minister Ramesh look weak and easily influenced, especially by an international NGO.

The court cases mark an important factor in Survival's battle for the Dongrias. This was because it was the first time that the supreme court's ethical committee recommended strongly, very early on, that this Mine shouldn't be given the go ahead, yet the supreme court overruled its own committee. This had never happened before.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is the current party in power. The BJP was critical of the stance Rahul and Jai Ram Ramesh took. One of the first things the Modi government did was release a report by Intelligence agency that Survival International, Green Peace and Amnesty had, had a measurable negative impact on the GDP citing the Niyamgiri case. This nearly curtailed all of Survival's activities in India- no Survival UK person has been able to get a visa to go to India since.

Survival also made complaints to the OECD. The shareholders in Vedanta were very high profile and very important players in this- the Norwegian government who were shareholders pulled their money out- before involvement of survival. We put pressure on the Church of England and they pulled their money out and that had a very profound effect. I was lobbying some key share holders at the British parliament- there were a lot of different players involved. This was wider than survival.

We used every tactic we could think of, demonstrations, pressure on shareholders by directly lobbying them- the arch bishop of Canterbury- we made sure someone would ask him about Niyamgiri- so that there was public embarrassment for their association. We created a degree of notoriety that anyone associated with the infringement of the rights of the Dongria this was added in. We made sure it was always in the forefront of peoples minds. We did a lot of paralegal work, we made a film, our supporters sent letters, we lobbied UN, UK and Indian government officials.

None of this would've happened without the determination of the Dongria. They saved their mountain, we just helped make their voice louder but the victory was theirs.

Structure:

Survival International is a unified organization. They operate across six country offices which all have charitable/nonprofit status.

The international secretariat is based in London and its board of trustees govern the entire movement. Regional offices are managed by their own boards.

Survival's board members bring great expertise in a variety of different fields, from indigenous rights to journalism, via accountancy and the law.

Survival is funded almost entirely by the general public. Their merchandise and trusts and foundations also contribute to their work. That’s what guarantees our powerful and independent voice.

Genealogy:

“Survival is the global movement for tribal peoples’ rights. We’re the only organization that champions tribal peoples around the world. We help them defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures.”

Survival was founded in 1969 by people who were horrified by the genocide of Amazonian Indians. Initially, they meager to no income, but functioned thanks to the efforts of dedicated volunteers. As they began to publish information, they began to receive support from international forums, including the UN.

Survival has supported numerous people globally, in their fight against the annihilation of tribal people, to give a voice to those who we oft turn an ignorant eye, and deaf ear to. Survival provides tribal communities a platform that allows people- like you and me- to witness the genocidal and structural violence, racism and slavery, and deprivation of human rights, daily. Survival has networks all over the world, with offices in London, Berlin, Madrid, Milan, Paris and San Francisco.

Today they continue to lobby the powerful to help the weak; to defend the lives and lands of people who should have the same rights as those who live in concrete forests.

Campaigns:

https://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes

Ideological Composition:

While Survival in and of itself has no particular ideological composition, they strongly believe in making sure tribal peoples voices are heard and rights protected.

In the case of Dongria's fight against Vedanta, it was not just Survival that helped. There was a heterogeneous mix of people involved. The Dongria at the heart of the group that comprised resistance to Vedanta and are an incredibly strong and united community. Additonally, there were various local and national level activist and NGO's, international level organizations and agencies. Survival lobbied the Indian and UK government and the UN including CERD intensely. CERD finally took it up seriously with the Indian government.

Communication Strategy:

Lobbying

Letters and Petitions

Legal Documents

Oppositional Forces:

Governments that want to dispossess tribal peoples to take their land or resources.

Companies that want to dispossess tribal peoples to take their land or resources.

Military forces wanting to control tribal areas.

Extremist religious organizations wanting to coerce tribal people into conversion

Extremist organizations on the Left and Right.

Media Artifacts:

Dongria Kondh

Further Reading:

http://epc2010.princeton.edu/papers/100159 https://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes https://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/dongria https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khonds

Type of Organization:

Tatics Used:

Web Exhibit Created By:

Nanki Singh

Public:

true

Caption:

Dongria Kondh Resistance

ns224@duke.edu — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 20:50:49 +0000

The Canary Coalition

kmj37@duke.edu — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 23:39:05 +0000

Description:

The Canary Coalition works toward phasing out fossil fuels and nuclear energy in North Carolina, replacing current energy usage and generation in North Carolina with renewable sources like solar, wind, geothermal, tides, and waves. They also work to halt fracking and mountain top coal removal in North Carolina. Their campaigns mainly focus on public health and environmental concerns, which they present to large companies, public officials, and regulatory agencies in hopes of promoting a healthier and more sustainable future.

Goals:

Goals of the Canary Coalition, as stated in their mission statement, include protection of public health and the environment, as well as the creation of a more sustainable future.

Structure:

The Canary Coalition is led by a governing board of dedicated activists. Avram Friedman co-founded The Canary Coalition and is currently the executive director. Under his leadership, the group earned a Clean Air Excellence award from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Genealogy:

Formally created in 2000, The Canary Coalition began with a few people in North Carolina who saw a need for activism and increased public awareness on public health issues like clean air and water. Founding board members include Executive Director Avram Friedman, Chairman Larry Nestler, and poet and author Thomas Raine Crow. They played a major role in the passage of North Carolina Clean Smokestacks Act in 2002.

Campaigns:

North Carolina Clean Smokestacks Act (2002), Campaign for efficient and affordable energy bill , We the People petition Advocating for renewable energy in NC ( NC Climate Solutions Coalition)

Communication Strategy:

Social Media, outreach through events, communication through related groups.

Oppositional Forces:

Big industries, political leaders

Further Reading:

Type of Organization:

Non-profit

grassroots collective

Tatics Used:

alliances

public forums

debates