Dear member of the Albinism Community:
It is unprecedented for NOAH leadership to communicate with you in this way. However, this situation is dire and we believe you would want us to let you know. We write to advise you of disturbing human rights violations against people with albinism in Tanzania that call out for action by the world wide albinism community.
Tanzania is in East Africa. Recent reports published by BBC News tell of the murders of persons with albinism, including children, on the orders of witchdoctors peddling the belief that potions made from the legs, hair, hands, and blood of people with albinism can make a person rich.
People with albinism are being savagely hunted for their body parts. Official numbers say that 28 persons with albinism have been brutally murdered in the last 18 months. Sources within the albinism community there say the number of murders is much higher - perhaps closer to 60. The youngest victim so far is a 7 month old baby.
There is also evidence now that this practice is spreading beyond the borders of Tanzania. Two persons with albinism were brutally murdered in Kenya, and even more shocking there was a recent arrest of a man in The Democratic Republic of The Congo. The man was arrested because he was found to be transporting the head of a person with albinism. He told police he was bringing it to sell to a businessman, and that he was going to be paid by weight.
Into this crisis, an organization called "The Under The Same Sun Fund" enters.
The Under The Same Sun Fund is a Canadian nonprofit organization headed up by Peter Ash. Peter is a person with albinism, who is also a business leader and member of NOAH.
The Under The Same Sun team will travel with Rick Guidotti of Positive Exposure to Tanzania on a mission of mercy and education in October. They want to see how they can be of help to the albinism community there.
The Executive Committee of NOAH fully supports Mr. Guidotti, Mr. Ash and Under the Same Sun in their efforts and ask that you read the following information from Under the Same Sun and consider lending your support by reading and signing the online petition.
Your small gesture of support will make a difference. Please help today.
NOAH Executive Committee
Under the Same Sun Fund
"Our People" - persons with albinism in Tanzania are suffering and we need to do whatever we can to help. All of the details of the project are explained on the Under the Same Sun website:
www.underthesamesun.com
After you have taken a few moments to understand the issues I am asking you to DO TWO SIMPLE THINGS to help those living in fear of this unspeakable evil in Tanzania.
1. Please sign the petition on the website.
2. Email as many people as possible and ask them to do the same - sign the petition. Email everyone you can think of.
When we are in Tanzania during the week of October 21st it is likely that the team will meet with senior government officials, possibly the president of the country. When the team meets with such officials they want to be able to hand them a copy of a petition with thousands of names from around the world - imploring their government to convict the killers and provide protection to people with albinism.
So, please, take a moment now - go to the website - sign the petition and then email as many people as possible asking them to do the same! People you know from other countries are great as well. We want to show that people from around the world are deeply concerned.
Thank you for acting on behalf of Our People - our brothers and sisters with albinism,
Peter Ash
Under the Same Sun Fund
www.underthesamesun.com, www.positiveexposure.org, www.albinism.org
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