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As we kick off our Fall Membership Drive, one thing is crystal clear. We cannot wait for a new administration in Washington to solve the world's most pressing human rights emergencies in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Myanmar and Guantánamo Bay. We are the agents of change that will make it happen.

When you join Amnesty International, you are joining a global movement of 2.2 million people that produces extraordinary results. Prisoners of conscience are freed. Torturers are brought to justice. Death sentences are commuted.

And because a generous donor has agreed to match all gifts dollar-for-dollar in September, your gift this month will go twice as far!

Stay granted for Troy Davis!

The U.S. Supreme Court stayed the execution for Troy Davis, originally scheduled for Tuesday evening, until Monday September 29. The court will decide on Monday whether or not to hear Davis' appeal. Last week in the face of overwhelming public outcry the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles shockingly refused to grant clemency.

Mr. Davis' serious claims of innocence, which include the recantation of 7 out of 9 witnesses, have never been heard in court. Further, no murder weapon was found and no physical evidence linked Davis to the crime.

Amnesty International and the NAACP held a rally on Thursday night calling for clemency. Hundreds of supporters attended many wearing T- shirts that proclaimed "I am Troy Davis." Earlier in the day, Amnesty International and others delivered over 20,000 petitions, just a small fraction of the over 200,000 collected from all over the world.

» Urge Georgia's Board of Pardons and Paroles to reconsider clemency for Mr. Davis
» Learn more about Troy Davis
» Read the Amnesty International press release

UN promises for human rights

ABOVE: Bill Gates speaks at the UN General Assembly © TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images © AI

It is urgent that President Bush and other world leaders participating in the UN General Assembly meetings this week in New York fully commit to meeting human rights goals on the agenda.

Despite previous promises made by the UN Security Council and many UN member states to provide enough resources to Darfur, critical equipment is lacking and not even half of the approved troops are on the ground. Every day UN member states delay, more die in Darfur.

All UN member states also pledged to achieve UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) - eight big picture goals aiming to improve social conditions in developing countries - by 2015. Of all the MDGs, the least progress has been made to improve maternal health.