Colin's Causes http://www.amnesty.org/ Amnesty International (AI) is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights. AI’s vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. See Colin wish AI Happy Birthday http://firthessence.net/movies/where_you_live1.html   (launch in external player)       http://www.oxfam.org.uk/about_us/mission.htm Oxfam's Purpose Oxfam works with others to overcome poverty and suffering. Who are we? We are an independent organisation, registered as a charity, affiliated to Oxfam International, with partners, volunteers, supporters and staff of many nationalities – part of a global movement to build a just and safer world. What do we do? We are a catalyst for overcoming poverty. To achieve the greatest impact, we work on three inter-linking fronts: Saving lives by responding swiftly to provide aid, support and protection during emergencies Developing programmes and solutions that empower people to work their way out of poverty Campaigning to achieve lasting change Fair Trade and the Make Trade Fair Campaign The Fair Trade movement has been one of the most powerful responses to the problems facing commodity producers. It gives consumers an opportunity to use their purchasing power to tilt the balance, however slightly, in favour of the poor. But Fair Trade alone can't address the crisis faced by the millions of small-scale farmers and producers whose livelihoods are threatened by low commodity prices and unfair competion from rich countries. But what can you do? Surely it's beyond your control? Wrong. You can buy Fair Trade products. And you can add your voice to the Big Noise. Sign the petition    http://www.maketradefair.com/en/index.php?file=dumped_join.htm     artwork by Farmer's Daughter www.progreso.org.uk Progreso is run for the coffee growers. They own a share of Progreso, so they profit directly from the success of the business. It is their coffee sold in their café. They also receive a guaranteed fair price for the coffee they supply. Progreso coffee bars are the antithesis of the global corporate coffee chain, with better product and real heart. Read about Colin's involment in Progreso http://www.firthessence.net/Independent160705a.html 3 pages http://www.firth.com/articles/05sunherald_619.html     The biggest ever anti-poverty movement came together under the banner of Make Poverty History in 2005. In 2007, the fight against poverty continues. Take action now to pressure politicians and decision makers to help make poverty history. http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/ Every 3 seconds a child dies unnecessarily of extreme poverty.  These deaths are all avoidable! Watch the "click" video http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/video/ The U.S. Campaign   http://one.org/     http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/ The Refugee Council is the largest organisation in the UK working with asylum seekers and refugees. We not only give direct help and support, but also work with asylum seekers and refugees to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed. We believe asylum seekers and refugees should be treated with understanding and respect. Our services aim to reflect this and include: giving advice and support to asylum seekers and refugees to help them rebuild their lives working with refugee community organisations, helping them grow and serve their communities caring for separated children to help them feel safe and supported in the UK offering training and employment courses to enable asylum seekers and refugees to use their skills and qualifications campaigning and lobbying for refugees’ voices to be heard in the UK and abroad keeping them high on the political agenda and discussed in the media producing authoritative information on refugee issues worldwide, including reports, statistics and analysis Actor Colin Firth, MP's Neil Gerrard and Dr Evan Harris outside Parliament, as actors, MP's and religious leaders joined the Refugee Council in condemning the Government's plans to extend the practice of detaining asylum seekers. Firth, Gerrard and Harris are entangled in a paper chain outside the Houses of Parliament. Made from 800 pledges of support that have been linked together the chain represents each asylum seeker curently in detention in the UK. Colin talks about Asylum Seekers http://www.colinfirth24-7.com/Support_Projects/sp_human_rights_server.html Read about Colin's condemnation and successful intervention of the deportation of a Congolese National http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article2308458.ece   http://www.survival-international.org/ Survival is the only international organisation supporting tribal peoples worldwide. It was founded in 1969 after an article by Norman Lewis in the UK's Sunday Times highlighted the massacres, land thefts and genocide taking place in Brazilian Amazonia. Like many modern atrocities, the racist oppression of Brazil's Indians took place in the name of 'economic growth'. Today, Survival has supporters in 82 countries. It works for tribal peoples' rights in three complementary ways: education, advocacy and campaigns. We also offer tribal people themselves a platform to address the world. We work closely with local indigenous organisations, and focus on tribal peoples who have the most to lose, usually those most recently in contact with the outside world. We believe that public opinion is the most effective force for change. Its power will make it harder, and eventually impossible, for governments and companies to oppress tribal peoples.     continued on page 2