Human Rights Day

Today is Human Rights Day: The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on this day in 1948.

This year’s Human Rights Day Theme – Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials: "In this period of turbulence and unpredictability, where many feel a growing sense of insecurity, disaffection and alienation, the theme of Human Rights Day is to reaffirm the values of human rights and show that they remain a winning proposition for humanity."

"When we protect the most vulnerable, when we refuse to look away, when we speak up for the institutions that speak up for us, we keep human rights alive." ~António Guterres

Agenda:

1. Journal queries

2. Choose next steps

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans

4. Take the human rights pledge

1. Journal queries:

This week of advent my theme is "Striving to find unity and peace with all the people of the world".

What areas of human rights work are calling to me now?
What are possible next steps?

2. Choose next steps:

My biggest contribution right now is with the Peace and Justice committee - discernment with the Gaza Genocide minute, and with immigrant rights. Here is what I am committed to--

1. I will learn more about environmental rights as human rights; introduce education and action on human rights into my Quaker earth care efforts; also learn more about the parts of the world that are most affected by climate change, and the human implications (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chad, Haiti, Kenya...)
   
2. I will write more about being an advocate for compassionate immigration policies to address the unequal burdens of a warming planet and affirming the dignity of those most affected. As the climate crisis intensifies, more families are forced to migrate simply to survive. In this way, immigration is deeply tied to environmental justice: those who contribute the least to climate change often suffer its worst consequences.
3. I will attend an Interfaith Immigrant Witness and Candlelight Vigil next Tuesday, and stand in witness for human rights, compassion, and welcome. 
4. I will take on selling, ordering, and distributing more signs that say: Immigrants Make Our Communities Stronger.

3. Proaction and reciprocity plans:

On Wednesdays I often journal a bit about the future, and my dreams and goals: What GREAT things do I want to accomplish? How will I serve people? How will I use my talents? How will I stretch myself? How can I become an “island of excellence”? What is essential?

Then I try to define achievable, meaningful goals and prioritize the goals and tasks with the greatest long-term impact.

This next week I hope to:

1. Begin to visualize steps I want to take this winter to advocate against the climate and biodiversity loss crisis.
2. Prepare for Worship sharing, "Our Garden, Our Earth": Sunday, December 14 - 12:45. Carol will help me lead worship sharing with our (pared down) queries.
3. Write more about being an advocate for compassionate immigration policies to address the unequal burdens of a warming planet and affirming the dignity of those most affected, and learn more about the parts of the world that are most affected by climate change, and the human implications (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chad, Haiti, Kenya...). 
4. I will attend an Interfaith Immigrant Witness and Candlelight Vigil next Tuesday, and stand in witness for human rights, compassion, and welcome.

4. Take the human rights pledge:

Your commitment to human rights:
I will respect your rights regardless of who you are. I will uphold your rights even when I disagree with you.

When anyone's human rights are denied, everyone's rights are undermined, so I will STAND UP.

I will raise my voice. I will take action. I will use my rights to stand up for your rights.

TAKE THE PLEDGE