The Citizen, 2003-08-20, Page 15Basics of
human
rights
We often hear the term 'human
rights' in the news and in
conversation, but we rarely have a
chance to stop and think about what
these words really mean and why
they are so important.
In short, human rights mean that
every person deserves to be treated
with dignity and respect.
Human rights are "indivisible."
They cannot be divided up. To live
in dignity, human beings are entitled
to freedom, security and a decent
standard of living - that is, each and
every person is entitled to the full
range of civil, political, economic,
social, and cultural rights.
The basic ideas of human rights -
such as respect for human life and
human dignity - can be found in
most religions,philosophies and
systems of belief. The development
of human rights has its roots in the
struggles for freedom and equality
everywhere in the world.
To protect their basic rights,
people have demanded that
governments establish international
human rights standards and include
these rights in the laws of their own
country.
Today, international human rights
standards are described in many
important statements of principle,
including the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights. Other
international agreements, such as the
International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights,make these
principles the law.
International human rights
standards and laws describe what
governments must do for the people
in their territory - and what they
must not do to them. A government
or opposition group commits a
human rights violation when they act
against these standards or fail to
ensure that they are met.
Governments are obligated to base
their own laws on international
human rights law and be responsible
for protecting human rights.
Amnesty International's demands
on governments and opposition
groups are based on these same
international human rights standards
and laws. Amnesty International is
an independent worldwide
movement of more than 1.5 million
people dedicated to the protection
and promotion of human rights.
For more than 40 years, Amnesty
International has impartially
researched and exposed specific
violations, then mobilized public
pressure to stop these violations.
The organization is known best for
its work to free prisoners of
conscience, protect refugees, abolish
the death penalty, and end political
killings, "disappearances," torture
and other grave human rights
abuses.
Amnesty's work has evolved and
expanded over the years in response
to new threats to human rights and
new opportunities to protect human
rights. Today, for example, Amnesty
takes action to:
• Oppose the trade in weapons that
are used to carry out human rights
abuses.
• Protect human rights leaders or
tefenders.
• Bring to justice those who are
responsible for human rights
violations.
To learn more about how you can
help with Amnesty's human rights
work, please write to Amnesty
International. 312 Laurier Ave East,
Suite 200. Ottawa, Ontario, KIN
1H9.
- News Canada
Acting out
Sunshine allowed the fun, games and learning to go on
outside last Wednesday for the many young people who
attended the annual Kid’s Korner at Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship. The five-day event is sponsored by the local
Churches. (Sarah Mann photo)
BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE
UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA
Joan Golden - Diaconal Student Minister
Church Office 887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wcl.on.ca
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2003. PAGE 15.
Dangerous
Teach young children to tell
a grown-up when they find
matches and lighters.^-.
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St. Michael's
Roman Catholic Church
254 Drummond St. E„ Blyth
Saturday Night Mass
at 7:00 pm
Father John Johnson, Pastor
357-2435
'Pteaae fote far awtdficfa
Sunday, August 24
Morning Worship Service -10 a.m.
Evening Worship Service - 7:30 p.m.
BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
A
Pastor John Kuperus
Hwy. 4, Blyth 523-9233
Wheelchair accessible
Cornerstone
Bible
Fellowship
Ethel
Communion - 9:45 - 10:30
Family Bible Hour and Sunday School - 11:00 - 12:00
Prayer & Bible Study ~ Tuesday 8 p.m.
Ladies' Time Out - The last Thursday of each month
7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
John 14:6 - Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no
one comes to the Father, but through Me."
Everyone Welcome
Call Pastor Andrew Thursdays or Fridays at 887-6123
£
£
living Water
Christian Tdlamship
"" ™"3
3
August 24: 1 Samuel 24, 26
"Mercy and a
Message for Meanies"
£p ___
| 10:30 a.m. - Contemporary Worship
fe at Blyth Public School, "
corner of King & Mill I
Bq Pastor: Ernest Dow ~ 523-4848 k
j www.tcc.on.ca/~dowfam g
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£?3
Christ-centred, Bible-believing,
Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared
HURON CHAPEL EVANGELICAL
MISSIONARY CHURCH
Auburn - 526-1131
PASTOR DAVE WOOD - 523-4941
Sunday 9:30 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
10:30 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
7:30 p.m. - Evening Worship Servie
Wednesday 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.- Youth
7:15 p.m. - Adult Bible Study
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA
'WefcattcM cguc to eatne cwvtdAcfz witd. cm.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24
11th Sunday after Pentecost
MORNING PRAYER
Trinity, Blyth
9:30 a.m.
The Rev. Tom Wilson, B.A., MDiv. 887-9273
St John's, Brussels
ll:15a.m.
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
Wheelchair accessible
Nursery care available
Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 887-9831
X
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Church
"The Church is not a
Building,
It is People Touching
People"
SUMMER SCHEDULE
Sunday 11:00 am Worship Service
(Junior Church during service)
Phone 523-4875 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 523-4590
Blyth United Church
Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street
Sunday, August 24
Worship Service & Sunday School
11:00 a.m.
Bamboozled
“TVetcrxtM.
Minister: Rev. Dr. Eugen Bannerman
Office: 523-4224
Blyth United Church is a welcoming community of faith.
We celebrate God's presence through worship and study, and through
responding to the needs and gifts of each other.