Staying In Touch

Zoe Jennings

Staying in touch has never been so easy with the recent creation of an Amnesty International “MySpace” and a “Facebook” group. Both websites focus on online networking, with the latter limited specifically to students, and both have enabled greater communication amongst Amnesty International’s student activists.

“We are attempting to create an Amnesty presence where there was not one before,” says Brian Glasscock, who works with the National Student and Youth Program on both groups. “The Facebook group and MySpace provide a new channel of communication… Not only can we disseminate information but activists can contact us.”

With over 1,300 users, students in the Facebook engage in dialogue about their human rights work with Amnesty. “Have you guys called the White House yet about Darfur?” reminds one Facebook user on the message board. Another user answers a question about job outsourcing. The Facebook group features News Updates, events, and actions. Also connected to Amnesty’s Facebook group is the “400,000 Faces” campaign, a group whose goal is to have 400,000 people join the group on a unique photo spread. Each member’s face will represent one of the estimated 400,000 dead in Darfur. Once the group reaches 400,000, user pictures of each member will be printed out, 100 per page, and spread on a gym floor, to dramatically illustrate the magnitude of the death and suffering in Darfur. The picture of the photo spread will then sent to influential leaders.

Featuring the Amnesty promotional video, MySpace is a barrage of information and color. Viewers can peruse Amnesty’s campaigns, movies, music, and human rights heroes (including both Martin Luther King Jr. and “office staff”) as well as learn about the organization in general. Site administrators post “blogs” to keep members up to date. “Friends” include Amnesty-supported bands, like the Postal Service and the Jaguares, and campaigns like Make Some Noise and Save Darfur.

“Get involved and speak your mind,” urges Glasscock. “Meet like-minded students, share your tips, discuss human rights… and invite your friends.”

Zoe Jennings attends Hall-Dale High School, in Maine. She will graduate in 2008.