Another Reminder from NRCAT

From the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT):

When Scott Brown was elected to be a Senator from Massachusetts after publicly declaring his support for torture, we all thought it was an aberration. On Tuesday, November 2nd, however, we face the possibility of electing not just one, but many new supporters of torture to the U.S. Congress. This would be a catastrophe. YOU CAN help prevent it by going to the polls on Tuesday and casting your ballot for an anti-torture Congress. Your vote alone, however, will not be enough. Please encourage your friends, family, neighbors, and members of your congregation to go the polls as well. Share with them the NRCAT Action Fund Congressional Vote Scorecard which rates all current Members of Congress with respect to their record on torture. Make sure that you check out our Voter Guides to see if we’ve produced one for your state or district. You can make a difference – together we can still elect an anti-torture Congress.Thank you for your help – get out and vote to end torture!

Help Make Torture an Issue for Candidates

From the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT):

Please help us ensure that your friends, neighbors, and others in your state do not step into the polling booth without first considering their candidates' stance on torture. Here's what you can do:

• Attend campaign events and question candidates on torture.
  
• Encourage your friends and neighbors to vote based on candidates' positions on torture.
  
• Arrange for a delegation from your faith group or community to meet with candidates.
  
• Speak to reporters about torture.
  

To help you with these efforts, the NRCAT Action Fund has created a bird-dogging packet that provides advice on how to raise torture as an important topic during this campaign season.

Please, in October, as the crucial November elections approach, use the information and materials in this packet to help ensure that we elect a Congress that opposes torture.

We need your to help elect an anti-torture Congress! Please look through this packet and then take steps to put your candidates on record. Thank you!

National Religious Campaign Against Torture

In today's fast-paced technological age, 20 minutes is a very long time. However, there is a 20-minute video produced by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture that is very well worth the time it will take you to view it. Click here to see the video and to find other information related to the campaign against torture.

Reminder: June 26 - International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

LCWR Justice and Peace Alert:

June is Torture Awareness Month

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) has been calling for a Commission of Inquiry into US sponsored torture post-9/11. A report issued June 7 by Physicians for Human Rights, confirms the need for a Commission of Inquiry. NRCAT also requests sending postcards to Congress asking for a guarantee that ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) has access to detainees held by the United States. Although President Obama issued an executive order to this effect, the guarantee needs to be codified. Further information about both of these actions, as well as a short video, can be found on NRCAT's website: www.nrcat.org <http://www.nrcat.org/> . (On June 26, 1987, the UN Convention AgainstTorture and other Cruel, Inhumane, or Degrading Treatment of Punishment, came into effect. Information about this year's UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture can be found by going to http://www.un.org/events/torture. )

U.S.-Sponsored Torture: A Call for a Commission of Inquiry

NRCAT (National Religious Coalition Against Torture) is seeking signers to a letter calling for a Commission of Inquiry into U.S.-sponsored policies and practices on torture. They hope for many signatures this week. Click here to read the text of the Call for a Commission of Inquiry and to sign the letter, should you desire to do so.