Well if you haven’t or you didn’t click on the Amnesty banner we ran, you deserve to be shot – and to hell with your human rights.
There may be those who argue (quite legitimately) that ‘human rights’ privileges only those who have no regard for human rights (murderers, thieves, terrorists, incarcerated former dictators, game show hosts) and that in doing so disqualifies a true and wider definition of freedom (the freedom to enforce a lawful and safe environment so we can all go about our lives in peace rather than be confined to a life of wanton terror) but spare a thought for those decent folks it actually benefits: those imprisoned for writing an email, for speaking out, for avenging an injustice, for listening to music.
Yup, all paradoxes of ‘human rights’ aside, Amnesty International is still a wondrous thing, and what makes it all the more wondrous this week is that Amnesty International is handing out literally thousands of free survival packs in the form of a special edition CD, ‘Music For Human Rights’.
Not available in stores, the CD is being offered as a premium for new youth members. So you can’t buy it in the shops, you have to join Amnesty International to get it.
Who’s on it? Radiohead, Coldplay, Beth Orton, Aimee Mann, Ryan Adams, Badly Drawn Boy, 1 Giant Leap, David Gray and Revboy. Who’s Revboy? Well, that’s a closely guarded secret, but from this camp it sounds like it could be anyone from Wayne Coyne to Frank Black doing that bizarre Lou Reed/Iggy Pop impression. However, we are assured that it’s a veritable ‘supergroup’ of premium artists. And what an excellent track they provide. And if you thought it was worth joining for this track alone, then check out the interactive video/rom gamey thing from Fischerspooner, ‘Maypop’ included as ‘enhanced’ material. What better way to suggest it’s ‘now your turn’ than by getting all ‘interactive’ on us? Marvellous, remarkable and truly imaginative stuff.
The world is a terrible place, but for just over 39 minutes it can seem a whole lot better with this.
Sign up pronto now. But remember. Amnesty International is not just for Christmas, it’s for life……