With just a little help from its friends in showbusiness, Amnesty International is seeking 1 million signatures from Irish people in support of human rights. The petition, and others from around the world, will be presented to the United Nations in December, the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The campaign was given a high-profile start in Dublin yesterday when most of U2, along with a slew of other celebrities, signed the petition on O'Connell Street under the slogan "One million signatures, one powerful message".
Bono, his eyes hidden behind trademark wraparound sunglasses, did the talking for the group: "One of the greatest problems in the world is the cynical idea that the world can't be changed and that politics and economics are too complicated to deal with. But with Amnesty it's simple; you can write a postcard and make a gigantic difference to the life of someone who is in jail or suffering human rights abuses."
Besides, the singer added, he was proud to be part of an organisation which was founded by another Irishman, Sean MacBride, and in which so many other musicians were involved. "It's a cool club to be in," he concluded.
Globally, Amnesty is hoping to collect 60 million signatures to be presented in the "World's Biggest Book" to UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, on December 10th.
In Ireland, those who have already signed up include the President, Mrs McAleese, Seamus Heaney, Mick McCarthy, Van Morrison and Brendan O'Carroll.
They were joined yesterday by Roddy Doyle, Donal Lunny, Paul Brady and Michelle de Bruin, all of whom turned up on O'Connell Bridge to lend their support. A visiting Indonesian human rights activist, Wilson bin Nurtyas, also signed; he was recently released from prison, where he was tortured with electric shocks.
The director of Amnesty's Irish Section, Ms Mary Lawlor, said the aim was to send a powerful message to governments that "human rights do matter".
"Human rights are everyone's business. It doesn't take much to sign up your name. In some other countries the price of standing up for human rights is often imprisonment, torture, disappearance or death."
Signature cards are being made available at shops, churches, schools, businesses and other public places over the coming weeks. Signatures will also be collected at public events and sports fixtures. The Cabinet is due to sign the petition this morning.
