With the speed
of light CAHRO will be moving into the new millennium. Actually, with a 28.8 modem speed and an upcoming web site. For those of you who haven't heard CAHRO is putting together a web site to serve as an information
clearinghouse on human relations issues and other related topics. As CAHRO looks to the future and possible expansion of our programs, this web site will serve as a virtual expansion of our office resource on human relations
issues. Individuals, human relations organizations and commissions can get on the web and browse through our files on hate crimes, strategies on creating networks, online CAHRO news, events, articles, and model programs dealing
with hate crimes and other resources. It will also contain links to other relevant sites and information on other groups working around issues of human rights and civil rights, both within California and nationwide.
As more and more organizations and individuals are logging on to the net and utilizing its unlimited resources or simply to avoid being left behind in the stone age, we realize that the world wide web is key to our work of
disseminating information and outreach into our many communities. True to our purpose of outreaching into communities with limited resources, like outlying rural areas and counties outside of the larger metropolitan counties,
the web site will allow those groups within these outlying areas instant access to any information we may have pertaining to human relations.
But beyond providing information to our existing networks, non-profits organizations,
and commissions, it will be design to serve as a resource to individuals and victims of hate violence who may not know what to do following incidents of hate violence. We have in the past relied on our existing networks to
provide the crucial information and assistance to the individuals within their communities; however now with the web site, those individuals within those networks and communities outside of them will be able to get information
through our site.
Our web site is currently being organized and designed by our Website Coordinator Khanh Ngo, and should be up and running by late August. If anybody has any suggestions or would like to
provide links and information to our site, please email us at cahro@earthlink.net or fax us at (415) 543-9743. On the other hand if you would like to donate software, programs or other computer equipment, please
feel free to do so.
Since our web site is not currently on line and in our attempt to satisfy your insatiable appetite for immediate information on human rights issues, we have surfed the web and found a few sites among many
which we suggest you should check out.
ACLU Freedom network - www.aclu.org
is probably one of the most comprehensive , easy-to-browse civil rights sites out there. This site provides information on civil rights and human relations legislation, as well as issue-oriented and group- (minority groups, etc) oriented topical information. There are articles and briefs on different topics such as strategies on curbing police brutality, creating civilian review boards etc. You don't have time to surf the whole site? They also have search capability, where you can type in the topic you want and you're off.
CAVNET-Communities Against Violence Network - www.cavnet.org. This site's claim to fame is that it is an "interactive guide to countless top-notch anti-violence resources. The information provided
pertains to violence within all sectors (domestic violence to gay bashing and countless others) and within all minority groups and other affected groups, almost all of which is submitted by individuals or organizations. Since
all this information is submitted by visitors of the site, you get a wide variety of perspectives and opinions on the different issues.
Human Rights Campaign-HRC - www.hrc.org. The Human Rights Campaign
is the site of the largest national gay and lesbian political organization. This organization works to advance the rights of gays, lesbians, and transgendered communities all over the US. Within this, you will find
information on HIV/AIDS issues, rights issues, and more. You can also add to their database by submitting your reports of discrimination. If you want to get more involve, you can go to their Take Action
page and support their lobbying team by writing and sending letters to your favorite politicians. It's all there, just click that mouse and browse.
Political Ecology Group - PEG - www.igc.org/peg
. PEG is a multi-racial, environmental justice organization based in San Francisco that incorporates environmental justice issues with racism, sexism, homophobia and corporate power. If you're interested in finding out
more about PEG and their great work you should definitely check out the site. There are articles and FAQs (frequently asked questions) on topics like the "greening of hate" - racism within environmental movements, campaign
information and strategies on organizing. Another great feature of this site is that it is a multi-lingual site--Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese!
These are just a few of the many human and civil rights sites out
there, with plenty more to browse through if you have the time. You should definitely check some of them out. There are also a growing number of hate group sites on the web, 250 hate sites and counting. In
this day and age, non-profits and other groups committed to issues of civil/human rights and progressive politics in general should consider creating their own sites or at least sharing their information by either posting on other
existing sites or provide those sites with some sort of contact information and description of your organization and purpose. The reason for this is because with the growing number of people learning to use computers,
especially within public schools, there are going to be more people and children cruising the web and more possibilities of them coming across one of these hate sites. We should work to counter these hate groups and their
misinformation by educating ourselves and those who work in the field by sharing information and working in networks and coalitions, while continually educating the masses. FIGHT IGNORANCE WITH EDUCATION!
