PARTICIPATING IN DEMOCRACY

Students from HHS's Amnesty International chapter met with US Representative Paul Hodes and staff from the offices of US Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu to ask them to help solve the crisis in Darfur, Sudan. Helen Jack, class of 2008, writes:

"Since the conflict in Sudan began, 2.5 million Darfuris have been driven from their homes. That is twice the population of New Hampshire. Amnesty wants the US to pressure the government of Sudan to allow UN peacekeepers to operate freely. Congressman Hodes seemed extremely glad that high school students were bringing the conflict in Darfur to his attention, and he agreed to send Amnesty's letter to the State Department. Staff for Senators Gregg and Sununu promised to bring the issue to the Senators' attention, and HHS Amnesty plans to continue to pressure the offices. The offices were forced to acknowledge that the conflict in Darfur is important to the people of New Hampshire, their constituents."

Diksha Gautham, Becky Turkington, Olivia Jovine, Julia Murdza and Helen Jack made up the delegation. Later Helen was appointed the Amnesty International Legislative Coordinator for New Hampshire. She will be overseeing all Amnesty communication with NH elected officials, training Amnesty groups statewide on how to lobby, and leading lobby delegations over the next few years.