An Open Letter to All Poets for Peace & Human Rights

Dear Friends,

It has been some time since I have written to you and I apologize for the lack of communication.  I have been very busy changing my life to prepare for our work as poets for human rights.  I am no longer editing Poetix, some of you may be familiar with the Southern California poetry magazine that was co-founded with Mifanwy Kaiser, G. Murray Thomas and myself. As much as I loved being involved with this venture it was time to move on. I had physically moved from California about two years ago and maintained my strong ties. But I realized if we are to fulfill our mission with Poets for Human Rights, I needed to dedicate myself to it. 

This is our first issue of Rope, the newsletter for Poets for Human Rights and we hope you enjoy. Stazja and myself are here to help you put on your own readings for December 10 and look forward in the near future to create an International Human Rights Poetry Festival.

But for now, put an event on in your community.  Give your fellow poets a rallying point for their work and their soul.  Contact Stazja and tell her about your event or ask for help if you need it. We realize that December 10 is just around the corner, but if we work swiftly and with great energy we can put together a great series of events around the world and lay the foundation for our future.  The countdown has begun, the world is in great need of a massive poetry transfusion!

Every day I read about various human rights violations and in my heart I know we can make a better world.  It is my great hope that we as poets lead the way to a new and better civilization. We must count on each other to do so. There are many groups and activities that are also engaged in this mission.  One of them is Youth for Human Rights (I am one of their Ambassadors).  They have just produced a series of PSA's for each of the points of the UDHR (Universal Declaration for Human Rights.  They are absolutely incredible. Click here. 

Banner Time

If you would like to add a Poets for Human Rights banner to your web site we have two different styles for you.

Poetic Traditions

In 1998, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2001 as the "United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations" to foster tolerance, respect and cooperation among peoples. To further this aim, Rattapallax Press together with the United Nations Society of Writers, presented a series of literary programs around the world. A poetry evening at the United Nations is one of over 200 poetry readings in over 100 cities worldwide. 

I was most honored to be part of the success of this endeavor working with my good friend Ram Devineni.  In many ways it was a poetic awakening especially in parts of the world hard hit with oppression where some brave souls pioneered the vision and opened their hearts and doors to poetry.  I remember my friend Igor writing to me after the reading in Belgrade coincidentally the same day that Slobodan Milosevic, the butcher of Belgrade was arrested.  Igor was filled with joy as he wrote to me: "Happy Birthday! You are right this stuff (poetry) really heals!"  My eyes instantly filled with tears.  I will never forget those moments as I prayed into my computer that those first years readings would come off.  I don't think I slept much for the previous four months communicating with poets and coordinators all over the world.

It is now 2006 and the world cries even louder for the type of healing we as poets can bring.  Our words bring sustenance and relief, they are succor to the oppressed and give them hope and they are weapons of poetic destruction to those who would shut the lights of the world forever.  December 10, is International Human Rights Day. Alert the world that each of us have very precious rights!  Let us not be deceived a minute longer. 

Human Rights Poetry Contests

Poets for Human Rights is sponsoring two poetry contests: Anita McAndrews Award Poetry Contest and Alexander Popoff Youth Award Poetry Contest.  The first prize for each contest is $100.  Entries are coming in from around the world, from as far away as Bangladesh, Indonesia and India. The deadline for both contests is November 15, 2006. There is still time to send in your entries. NOTE: The Youth Poetry contest deadline has been extended to November 30, 2006.

Anita McAndrews Award Poetry Contest Guidelines:

1. Poems must relate to human rights.  Familiarity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is recommended. Click here for a copy.

2.  Submissions may be in any form, any length up to three letter-sized pages.

3.  Previously published poems are accepted, if rights have reverted back to the author. 

4. $1 reading fee per poem, in US Dollars.

5.  Each poem must be typed on a separate sheet of paper, minimum 10 or 12 point font.

6.  Include a cover sheet with name, address, telephone number, email address, poem titles, and permission to publish.

7.  Submissions must be postmarked by November 15, 2006.

Mail submissions to:

Submissions can be sent by email, followed up with reading fee payment by mail.  Email submissions to stazja@verizon.net 

Alexander Popoff Youth Award Poetry Contest Guidelines

The winning poem will be read at the International Human Rights Day event in Clearwater, Florida on Sunday, December 10, 2006. 

1. Poems must relate to human rights.  Familiarity with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is recommended.  Click here to obtain an abridged copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to view video enactments of each of the thirty articles. 

2.  Enter your poems by emailing them to stazja@verizon.net.  Include “Youth poetry contest” in the subject line. 

3.  Include the following information:

A written statement that you give permission to have your poem read or published 

4.  The deadline for receiving entries is November 15, 2005. 

5.  The length of each poem is limited to one printed page.  Please do not use fancy fonts, colors or graphic decorations. 

6.  For questions or more information, contact Stazja McFadyen at stazja@verizon.net.

International Human Rights Day

International Human Rights Day is Sunday, December 10, 2006.  We encourage each of you to hold a reading in your area for the occasion.  

• A student in Malaysia who is organizing a reading at the International School of Kuala Lumpur. 

• In Houston, Ken Jones has lined up approximately 30 poets for his reading at the Artery art house, and has arranged for a video, to be aired later. 

• Send news about your event.

Poets for Peace Web

No the site is not lost.  I have managed to recover all the poetry of this monument to peace and in ensuing months I will be rebuilding it.  Please be patient as this will take some doing.  The Poets for Human Rights Site will also be coming alive during this time period.

• Poets for Human Rights

• PforHR Discussion Group

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Youth for Human Rights

• Artists for Human Rights