Move to Amend identified synergies at Human Rights Conference
Move to Amend (MTA) was a participant in a US Human Rights Network event. The 2015 Human Rights Biennial conference was held in Austin, Texas on December 10th through December 13th. I interviewed David Cobb, co-founder of Move to Amend, 2004 Green Party Presidential candidate, and peoples lawyer about the event.
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David Cobb said that Move to Amend is a participant in the US Human Rights conference to make a difference. He points out that the United States does not have the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) codified into its laws. “Sadly the United States Constitution is a property rights document,” Cobb said. “It is not a Human Right’s document. We don’t have a right to clean air or clean water. We don’t have a right to healthcare. We don’t have a right to education.”
Cobb said that Move to Amend is at the conference to network and build relationships with people who want to create a peaceful, just, democratic, and ecologically sustainable society. He said it was a tremendous success.
David Cobb said that there were several synergies identified between various social justice organizations in attendance. Move to Amend conducted a panel titled “Abolish Corporate Constitutional Rights & Create Human Rights”. The panelists, all members of the MTA coalition and leadership team, were
- David Cobb, co-founder Move To Amend
- George Friday, Bill of Rights Defense Committee
- Egberto Willies, activist, author, & radio show host, Coffee Party USA
The panel was split into too groups. One concentrated on immediate synergies between Move to Amend and other organizations. The second panel was more aspirational.
“Another group went into what it would look like if we started a process to build a movement to make human rights central in the United States Constitution,” Cobb said. “What would that look like if we actually had a constitutionally guaranteed and protected right to a clean and healthy environment, a right to education, a right to adequate healthcare, shelter, and clothing — you know, human needs actually codified within the Constitution. That was a very successful session.”
David Cobb is very encouraged with the direction the movement is taking. He thinks in the aggregate it goes beyond the tenet of MTA. Of course that should be the case as it is an all encompassing organization of organizations intent on elevating human rights for all.
The US Human Rights Network (USHRN) is a national network of organizations and individuals working to strengthen a human rights movement and culture within the United States led by the people most directly impacted by human rights violations. They work to secure dignity and justice for all.
USHRN works to realize human rights by:
- Engaging, connecting and mobilizing communities, Peoples, workers, and diverse sectors across issue areas, constituencies, and regions to uphold and defend human rights and hold government accountable;
- Building the capacity and leadership of grassroots groups and individuals to effectively apply the human rights framework in developing strategy and making long-term structural shifts to achieve justice;
- Raising the visibility of local human rights concerns and activism to shape the public discourse locally, nationally, and internationally; and
- Facilitating effective collective action to secure the structural change needed to fully realize human rights.
Move to Amend is a non-partisan, broad coalition of organizations and individuals, who share common values, working together to end corporate personhood and demand real democracy. We welcome all organizations and individuals who embrace these values to join us:
- Accountability and responsibility, both personally and organizationally
- Transparency
- Community
- Movement building
- Dedication to Move to Amend mission, goals and tactics
- Commitment to anti-oppression within ourselves, communities, work places, policies, and representation
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