US Human Rights Network

In our attempt to maintain you informed and up to date in regards to the Human face of Hurricane Gustav, the US Human Rights Network has compilednews and information on its webpage. We also have established a virtual bulletin board in which is being updated frequently. If you would like to submit something, please email our webmistress at salternor@ushrnetwork.org
Volunteer Human Rights Monitors needed in

• TENNESSEE: Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville
• ALABAMA: Orange Beach
• LOUISIANA: Alexandria, Shreveport
• TEXAS: Dallas, San Antonio, Austin
• GEORGIA: Atlanta
• ARKANSAS: Fort Chaffee
• MISSISSIPPI: Jackson.

If interested please call 404 588 9761 or email info@ushrnetwork.org

Evacuation of Gulf Coast Not Good Enough

(statement released by the USHRN)
ATLANTA, Sept. 2 -- As Gustav slams into the Gulf Coast, President George W. Bush, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director Dave Paulison, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindaland New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin are taking their bows for avoiding another horrific Katrina spectacle. The US Human Rights Network believes that the evacuation of nearly two million people to dryer land is only a preliminary step in ensuring its responsibilities.
When the lines of people without cars, dependent on FEMA's new evacuation system, stretched a mile and a half around the rail and bus terminal in downtown New Orleans, officials gave up entering evacuees' names into FEMA's new electronic
tracking system. As a result, no one knows who boarded those evacuation buses and trains and where they went. The resulting separation of families and disregard for their rights is unfortunately too reminiscent of Katrina.
And once again, the needs of the people of New Orleans and the broader Gulf Coast region are ignored while, by its own admission, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) is behind its 2011 schedule for completing 84% of its work on the levee system. While billions a day are squandered on war, the $14.8 billion allocated to the ACE will still not guarantee protection. And, so, flooding from Gustav is expected to destroy what little housing has been available since Katrina.
READ FULL STATEMENT

Help ensure that the rights of Internally Displaced People are respected and protected! Download USHRN Talking Points.
We encourage organizations and individuals to write letters to the editor, contact your local media, write articles, etc. Please take a look at the USHRN Talking Points: Hold the US Accountable: Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)- Human Rights Campaign

What is difference between an "evacuee and an Internally Displaced Person?
An evacuee is a civilian removed from their place of residence by government direction or decree for reasons of personal security or the requirements of a declared emergency or military situation. While an internally displaced person (IDP) is someone who has been forced to leave their home for reasons such as religious or political persecution, war or natural disaster, but has not crossed an international border. Do you have more questions? Download our FAQ's and be sure to distribute them to your lists.