AIKids' Urgent Action
April 2009 AI Kids' Urgent Action
Help Free Environmental Activist in China
Sichuan earthquake devastation © AP/PA Photo/Kyodo News
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THE ISSUE: On May 12, 2008, a large earthquake hit the Sichuan province of China. The earthquake killed almost 70,000 people and destroyed homes, schools, and hospitals. Schools were especially damaged due to poor construction, causing many of them to collapse with children inside.
Tan Zuoren, a well-known environmentalist and writer, was detained by the Chinese police on March 28, 2009. He is being held at Wenjiang Detention facility, where he is at risk of torture. Amnesty International believes that Tan Zuoren was detained because he was planning to release a report about why many school buildings collapsed during the earthquake. The report linked corruption to the poor construction of the buildings. Police questioned Tan Zuoren several times before arresting him. He was also previously harassed by unknown individuals who stole his computer twice.
After the Sichuan earthquake, Chinese authorities initially allowed journalists and human rights activists to enter the earthquake zone for reporting. More recently, journalists have been prevented from entering the affected areas, and human rights activists trying to investigate reasons for the building collapses have been harassed.
KEYWORDS:
ENVIRONMENTALIST: A person who works for the protection of our natural environment and the conservation of resources
CORRUPTION: the use of a position of power or trust for dishonest or illegal gain
CONSERVATION: the act of protecting, preserving and restoring wildlife and other natural resources, such as forests, soil and water
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:
Please write a short, courteous letter to the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. before May 20, 2009. Let him know that you are concerned about Tan Zuoren, and ask for him to be released immediately. Ask the ambassador to make sure that Tan Zuoren is not tortured or ill-treated and that he can see a lawyer and his family. Finally, ask the ambassador to see to it that all human rights defenders in China are able to carry out their peaceful activities without fear of arrest or intimidation.
Addresses for the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S.:
Ambassador Wen Zhong Zhou
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington DC, 20008
Fax: 202-328-2582
Please note
Domestic postage is $0.42 for cards and letters not weighing more than one ounce. Multiple cards may be mailed in one large envelope. Please stop action on this AI Kids’ Urgent Action by May 20, 2009
If You Receive a Response to Your Letter
Please send a copy of the response to:
AIUSA Urgent Action Office
600 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20003 USA
ph: 202-544-0200 x407
fax: 202-675-8566
email: uan@aiusa.org
