Rights & Freedoms / ACTION

The War on Terror is mutating into a form of militarized globalization. The cosmopolitan language of the old corporate globalization (hypocritical as it might have been) has mutated into the vocabulary of martial law: 'tough choices', 'urgent measures' and 'perilous threats to our way of life'. Democracy is beside the point, compliance is what counts. But the case for social justice demands political space and democratic rights. Without such freedoms a challenge to the status quo is impossible. So resistance to the draconian measures of the national security state should be at the top of the democratic agenda.

Resisting Surveillance
The authorities are keeping an eye on everyone but there are a brave few who are keeping an eye on the authorities.

Electronic Frontier Foundation – digital freedom advocates. 454 Shotwell Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, US. tel: +1 415 436-9333 email:information@eff.org web: www.eff.org

Watching Them, Watching Us – monitors the closed-circuit TV industry.
email: cctv@spy.org.uk
web: www.spy.org.uk

Freedom of Information and Privacy Association – defends privacy rights. 103-1093 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6H 1E2, Canada. tel: +1 604 739 9788 web: http://fipa.bc.ca

Resisting Discrimination
Refugees and migrants, particularly from Muslim backgrounds, are becoming ‘collateral damage’ in the War against Terror. In times of crisis there are those who remember that ‘an injury to one is an injury to all’.

People for the American Way – organizes to support tolerance and diversity. tel: +1 202 467 4999 or 1 800 326 7329. email: pfaw@pfaw.org web: www.pfaw.org

Arab-American Anti-Defamation League – stands up for Arab peoples in the US. 4201 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20008. tel: +1 202 244 2990 email: adc@adc.org web: www.adc.org

Institute of Race Relations – publishes Race and Class journal. 2-6 Leeke St, London WC1X 9HS, England.
tel: +44 20 7278 0623
email: info@irr.org.uk
web: http://www.irr.org.uk/

United Against Racism – Europe-wide clearing house for anti-racist activity. Postbus 413, NL-1000 AK Amsterdam, Netherlands. email: info@unitedagainstracism.org
web: www.unitedagainstracism.org

Resisting Arbitrary Detention
The right to a fair and open trial is a cherished freedom. But without a militant defence it is easily eroded.

Civil Liberties Organization Nigeria – fights detention and harassment of political dissidents. tel: +234 15 840288 fax: +234 15 876876

Liberty – mainstream British civil rights organization. 21 Tabard St, London SE1 4LA. tel: +44 20 7403 3888. email: info@liberty-human-rights.org.uk web: www.liberty-human-rights.org

Canadian Civil Liberties Association – main Canadian civil liberties organization. Suite 200 Bloor St, Toronto, Ont M5S 1X4. tel: +1 416 363 0321 email: mail@ccla.org web:www.ccla.org

Center for Constitutional Rights – key organization in the defence of US security detainees. 666 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10012. tel: +1 212 614 6464 email: info@ccr-ny.org web: www.ccr-ny.org

Civil Rights Network – Australian-based national organization exposing the erosion of civil liberties. email: info@civilrightsnewtwork.org web: www.civilrightsnewtwork.org

Fair Go for David – group supporting Australian citizen David Hicks, held without charge at Guantanamo. PO Box 364, Prospect East, SA 5082, Australia. email: fairgofordavid@internode.on.net web: www.fairgofordavid.org

Resisting Militarism
The imposition of will by military might through invasion, occupation or terrorism can never be democratic. War usually solves nothing and resistance to militarism is a crucial duty.

Peaceful Tomorrows – organization founded by family members of those killed on 11 September 2001. PO Box 1818, Peter Stuyvesant Station, New York, NY 10009, US. tel: +1 212 598 0970 email: membership@peacefultomorrows.org web: www.peacefultomorrows.org

Not in Our Name – group organized to speak out against military aggression, unlawful detention and police-state restrictions. PO Box 20221, Greeley Square Station, New York, NY 10001-0006. tel: +1 212 760-1722 email: info@notinourname.net web: www.notinourname.net

Resisting Secrecy
It is said that the greatest government secret is what is secret and what is not secret. Secret government is by definition unaccountable. The fight for open government has gained added urgency.

Statewatch – monitors state secrets and shenanigans particularly in the European Union and promotes human rights and openness. PO Box 1516, London N16 0EW, England. tel: +44 20 8802 1882 email: office@statewatch.org web: www.statewatch.org

Transparency International – international NGO advocating for openness. Alt Moabit 96 - 10559 Berlin, Germany. tel: +49 30 343 8200 email: ti@transparency.org

Resisting Censorship
Without open and free media and communication our ‘liberties’ are a joke.

Asian Human Rights Commission – particular interest in violations of the freedoms of speech and religion. 19/F, Go-Up Commercial Building, 998 Canton Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. tel: +852 2698 6339 email: info@ahrck.org web: www.ahrck.org

Article 19 – international group that works with organizations in numerous countries to promote freedom of expression. tel: +44 20 7278 9292 email: info@article19.org web:www.article19.org

Centre for Media Freedom, Middle East and North Africa – based in London, protects journalists and fights censorship in Middle East/North Africa. 17 Harold Road, London N8 7DE, England. tel: +44 20 8341 4025 email: info@cmfmena.org web: www.cmfmena.org

Rigoberta Menchu rallies slum dwellers outside Guatemala City. Indigenous activists in Guatemala have a valiant history of resisting military occupation of their land. Photo: Steve Lewis / Still Pictures