1.2 Why Should I Care

Question 1

Irene Khan

Answer 1

• Secretary General of Amnesty International
• “There can be no peace without justice and respect for human rights. I passionately believe the power of human rights as a set of global values to bring our fractured and divided world together. Around the world human rights activists are giving hope to millions of people - women, Indigenous people, the poor and the marginalized - in their struggle for equality and dignity.”

Question 2

we are all part of connected systems

Answer 2

decisions that one person makes may and can affect the whole group

Question 3

Mohandas Gandhi

Answer 3

• Indian lawyer
• anti colonial nationalist
• “be the change you want to see in the world.”

Question 4

bystander effect

Answer 4

• the probability of whether an individual will or will not offer help to a victim based on the number of people present
• phenomenon indicates a person is less likely to take responsibility or take action if there are other people around - making an assumption that “someone else” is responsible, or has already taken care of it, or if no one else has made to movement to act, then the situation is not really a problem at all

Question 5

theories about conforming? why do people conform?

Answer 5

1. large groups
2. private vs. public
3. unanimity
4. status in group
5. difficult task
6. self-esteem

Question 6

Revered Desmond Tutu

Answer 6

“if you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor”

Question 7

Lieutenant-General The Honourable Romeo Dallaire

Answer 7

“Avoiding involvement because ‘someone else will take care of it’ is a feeble excuse. The choice to be unwilling to get involved does have consequences. Whether you are aware of it or not, your actions and inactions cause a ripple effect”

“now is the time to take up the cause of the advancement of human rights for all and the moment is yours to gasp”

Question 8

social media

Answer 8

• particular has been an immense part of the current calls for social action
• placed the tools for change at our disposal, allowing us, as invidiviuals to raise awareness among our family, friends, and community (both local and global) to bring forth communities

Question 9

social activism

Answer 9

defined as taking action to affect social change

Question 10

Bill Moyer’s 4 types of social activism

Answer 10

1. citizen
2. reformer
3. rebel
4. change agent

Question 11

citizen

Answer 11

• upholds widely held vision of the democratic, good society
• demonstrates ordinary ppl support social change
• gives the movement legitimacy
• makes it harder for authorities to discredit the movement
• reduces potential for violent attitudes and actions within the movement

Question 12

reformer

Answer 12

• transmits movement analyses and goals to authorities
• performs parliamentary and legal efforts–lobbying
• acts as a watchdog to ensure the new laws and policies are actually funded and carried out
• mobilizes movement opposition to conservative backlash efforts

Question 13

rebel

Answer 13

• puts issues on the social and political agenda through dramatic, nonviolent, actions
• dramatically illustrates social issues
• shows how institutions and official authorities violate public trust by causing and perpetuating critical social problems
• forces society to face its problems
• promotes democracy

Question 14

change agent

Answer 14

• supports involvement of large #s for ppl in the process of addressing social problems
• promotes new social and political majority consensus favouring + solutions
• promotes democratic principles and human values
• supports the development of coalitions
• counters the actions of the authorities
• moves society from reform to social change by promoting a paradigm shift