Newsletter Archive

STF Events: 2023-2024

Meeting With Congress

May 28, 2024: STFers from Animo Venice, New Roads, Santa Monica and Wildwood High Schools met with Congressman Ted Lieu to deliver over 1,000 petition signatures demanding Congress protects the right to seek asylum. STFers asked Congressman Lieu what they can do to support his work to protect migrants experiencing human rights violations at the southern border.

“Congressman Lieu mentioned it was his first time hearing about the CBP One app using discriminatory facial recognition technology and that he would look into it. In response to our question about next steps we should take as students, he advised us to continue what we’re doing and to contact more congressional representatives in Los Angeles,” STF leader Sophie from New Roads School shared.

Meanwhile, Carlsbad STFers had an in-person meeting with a district representative after speaking with Congressman Levin over the phone a few weeks ago. They delivered nearly 500 petition signatures and addressed Levin’s remarks from their previous call.

STF co-president Yousha stated, “We addressed issues like partisan compromise and the insubstantiality of the Dignity Act. District Representative, Salome Tash, was very receptive to our demands and we appreciated the open dialogue that the office provided. We were encouraged to reach out to Congressman Levin and his office again going forward, which I think will be a great opportunity for our chapter in the future!”

In total, STF chapters have collected 2,688 petition signatures and continue their outreach to Congress to end the use of deadly deterrence policies.

STFers in Action: Season Finale

As the academic year is ending, STFers wrap up busy season engaging their peers in this year’s Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights Action Plan. Continue reading to see what STFers are doing to educate their campuses.

Declaring Our Human Rights

On  April 23, 2024, Santa Monica STFers hosted the Declaring Our Human Rights tent event. Together, they got 240 peers to sign a petition to protect asylum seekers and 100 students to take the human rights education survey.

Human Rights and the Climate Crisis

April 19-29, 2024: STFers from Corona Del Mar, New Roads, Sierra Canyon and Woodside HS spread climate awareness on their campus by pushing schools to transition to 100% renewable energy, pledging for environmental sustainability, hosting various competitions and educating peers with an experiential tent event.

Human Rights on the Southern Border

April 24-26, 2024: STFers collect more petition signatures to fight deadly deterrence policies. Thacher STFers will be sending their petition signatures by mail to Congresswoman Julia Brownley, while Animo Venice will be joining Da Vinci, New Roads, Santa Monica and Wildwood HS in hand-delivering petitions to Congressman Ted Lieu at the end of the month.

STF Leader Spotlight: Maya W.

18 California children argued in U.S. District Court that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discounts the value of children’s lives and the safety harms they’re already suffering will get worse as the climate continues to warm.

STF leader, Maya W., is one of the 18 plaintiffs asking for the Court’s help in stopping EPA from continuing to allow life-threatening levels of fossil fuel climate pollution and phase out fossil fuel pollution no later than 2050. Continue reading to learn more about Maya’s experience at STF and her role in the Gensis v. EPA California lawsuit.

STF Team: Why did you join STF?

Maya: I joined in August 2020 at the start of my freshman year. I was very shy and introverted, and I had no idea how to use my voice to create change in my community. I’ve grown so much as a leader in the last four years thanks to STF.

STF Team: You are one of 18 plaintiffs for the Genesis v. EPA federal lawsuit. Describe your experience so far.

Maya: The process has been very educational. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of federal court proceedings. I’ve never felt as empowered as an activist as when I heard our attorney, Julia Olson, present our argument. As a young person, it is slightly disheartening to see the lengths to which agencies and administrations will go to silence our concerns regarding the climate crisis. It’s unfortunate that the only way that we can get our government to listen to us is by suing them. That being said, I have hope that the court will rule in favor of protecting the constitutional rights of children to life and equal protection of the law.

STF Team: What accomplishments as a part of STF are you most proud of?

Maya: My proudest STF moment was getting my school district to transition to 100% renewable energy after years of campaigning and collecting petition signatures. It was a long process, and it took a couple of generations of STF leaders, but we finally made it happen last year! I’m also looking forward to delivering the petition signatures that my school collected to Congressman Ted Lieu later this month to urge him to oppose deadly deterrence policies.

STF Team: What are some of your greatest takeaways from STF so far?

Maya: I’m so much more secure in my public speaking and how to interact with elected officials and people in power in order to make change happen. Leadership is about giving others the space and encouragement they need to make a difference in their communities. Leadership is a never-ending learning process, but I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside my chapter these last few years and do some cool things for human rights.

Sharing Our Brilliance

Photos by Anushka Malhotra and Gabbi McArtor

April 30, 2024: Attendees at the 2024 HRW Voices for Justice Dinner are motivated to stand for human rights after hearing from HRW’s Executive Director Tirana Hassan; Director of Middle East and North Africa Lama Fakih; Managing Director of Digital Investigations Lab Sam Dubberley; Director of US Program Tanya Greene and a musical performance by Billy Valentine.

The evening started with a private meet and greet with Directors Tanya Greene and Sam Dubberley, where STF students and teachers learned more about domestic issues, U.S. policies abroad, and ways that human rights are violated around the world.

Aiming to continue these conversations, STFers hosted a private reception and engaged with dinner guests to spread their knowledge about this year’s Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights Action Plan. Attendees also signed petitions to protect asylum seekers and made pledges to vote for human rights in the upcoming 2024 general election.

Calling on Congress

April 25, 2024: Carlsbad STFers became the first chapter to speak with their Congressional representative to discuss plans to protect asylum seekers. Carlsbad is in San Diego County, which is now the top border region for migrant arrivals.

After persevering with his scheduler, Carlsbad STFers set up a phone call with Congressman Mike Levin, where he focused on the Dignity Act, a piece of legislation he has drafted to improve the immigration process. STFers steered the conversation back to deadly deterrence policies like Operation Lone Star, Title 8 and the CBP One App.

STF co-president Yousha stated, “Our biggest issue is that the systems on the border do not make room for asylum seekers. The Dignity Act is not changing those systems which are fundamentally broken.”

Congressman Mike Levin responded by asking STFers to highlight their concerns with the Dignity Act and send their input to his staff.

Next month, STF leaders plan on going to Levin’s office in person to deliver their collection of more than 500 petition signatures against deadly deterrence policies.

Spring Into Action

April 15 – April 19, 2024: It’s busy season for STFers as they spring into action! STFers at Alain Leroy Locke, Canyon, Carlsbad, Carson, Da Vinci and Palisades Charter High Schools hosted lunch walkabouts, school-wide lessons, simulations, trivia games and tent events to spread knowledge about this year’s Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights Action Plan.

Scroll to see photos of their events:

STF Leader Spotlight: Jonmathew C.

Please meet Jonmathew C., STF leader at Animo Venice Charter High School. Continue reading to learn about Jonmathew’s goals for the chapter as they continue engaging in this year’s Action Plan.

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Name: Jonmathew C.

Chapter: Animo Venice Charter HS

Graduation Year: 2025

STF Title: President

STF Member Since: Fall 2022

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STF Team: Why did you join STF at your school?

Jonmathew: The club already had a big presence at our school. Hearing what they were doing on the southern border and climate activism made me want to join. The biggest reason was that while other clubs talked about these issues, STF actually took action by making petitions, protesting and holding events that people could attend.

STF Team: What accomplishments are you most proud of since joining STF?

Jonmathew: My proudest moment was counting 117 petition signatures for the border crisis and seeing how many people actually cared. When you take the time to talk to someone and learn how the issue affects them personally, you are not just sharing facts but telling them a story.

STF Team: What are your goals for the next couple of months?

Jonmathew: Our main goal is to get as many signatures as possible for the southern border petitions. We are going to host a film screening and present in several classrooms to show students how dangerous it is to cross the southern border. We want to show people that the entire journey is too dangerous, and we can prevent thousands of deaths with our advocacy.

STF Team: What are some of your greatest takeaways from STF so far? What leadership skills have you gained?

Jonmathew: STF has taught me how to bring people together. Before this, I was not a very strong leader. STF has taught me how to communicate better. It has also made me very strict on timelines especially when it comes to emailing teachers, hosting events, etc. I have really learned how to be open with people. To be a leader, you have to involve everyone in your chapter.

Justice in the Classroom

As the end of the year approaches, STFers are hosting their final on campus events for the Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights Action Plan.

Keep an eye out for more upcoming events!

The Real Death Valley Film Screening

Environmental Justice in Los Angeles

As Earth Sizzles, Climate Ed Simmers

In 2021, the Human Rights Watch Student Task Force at Palisades Charter High School successfully urged the school’s Board of Directors to adopt their resolution to incorporate climate curriculum in all courses. The students’ assertion is that the world they are graduating into already has climate change baked in. To be prepared for this future, students need to understand the consequences of a changing climate. Government policies, international relations, human rights, changing economies, green careers, the role of the arts and more need be integrated in cross-curricular pathways.

Passing the resolution was only the first step. Students have continued to push to fulfill the resolution’s goals. In a March faculty meeting, students presented a Google website where teachers can create an archive of units and lessons ready for use. The website will also serve as a platform for innovation and collaboration. The initiative is largely driven by the insistence of students.

STF Leader Spotlight: Zanea A.

Please meet Zanea A., STF leader at Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad, India. After learning about STF from a friend in Los Angeles, Aga Khan Academy became the first international STF chapter, and first in India. Continue reading to see how Zanea and the Aga Khan Chapter have engaged in this year’s Action Plan from across the world.

STF Team: What is it like to be an STF chapter in India? What kind of barriers or challenges have you faced?

Zanea: It is thrilling because you don’t often see these clubs in India. Mostly people lead community service clubs rather than something that engages social activism. Mostly the barriers are teachers disagreeing about issues, but my team and I got through it.

STF Team: What accomplishments as a part of STF are you most proud of?

Zanea: Setting up the club because it provided us a platform to speak up against issues while helping us organize different events on issues that are important to us. Even though these are small steps we are building up towards something huge. The coordinator of AKA is helping us organize a conference.

STF Team: More than 10% of the school responded to the Declaring Our Human Rights Student Survey in the fall. How do you plan to continue educating your campus about human rights?

Zanea: Next fall, we will host a conference where students decide whether to take action against a humanitarian crisis. We will also bring in a guest speaker and plan service ideas for the local community. The conference will be open to 11 high schools.

STF Team: What are some of your greatest takeaways from STF so far? What leadership skills have you gained?

Zanea: Teamwork is something I have learned. Leadership is about growing together, not just taking charge. Cooperating with others. People often disagree, but when you learn how to respect others opinion you learn how to view the world from a different perspective. I have become more open-minded since being in STF.. I have become more open-minded since being in STF.

STF Classroom Takeovers

February 29-March 14, 2024: Taking advantage of the fact that students spend most of their time in class, STFers at Carson, Francis W. Parker and Santa Monica High Schools hosted in-class presentations, film screenings and simulations as a way to educate their campus communities about this year’s Action Plan.

Scroll to see photos of their events:

What Do Human Rights Organizations Have To Do With Climate?

March 6, 2024: A group of STF leaders met with HRW’s Richard Pearshouse, Director of Environment and Human Rights, for a special meet and greet. When answering the question, “what do human rights organizations have to do with climate?”, Richard explained there is a lot of overlap between environmental issues and human rights issues, highlighting the role young people play in combating the global climate crisis.

“The gap between what the government is doing and what the government should be doing is hugely important in the climate space. In this case, the moral clarity of youth and student protestors is something that gives me an enormous amount of hope over the last few years. The youth have come to the same conclusion that this is not working. Data has not changed and it hasn’t changed for 30-40 years. We are not having the political response from governments that we need to. In many countries, youth and others are protesting and making those basic claims,” said Richard.

During the event, Richard also shared examples of HRW’s work to protect individual communities and environmental activists, and took questions from the audience about how STFers can create careers from their advocacy.

STF Leader Spotlight: Varun V.

Please meet Varun V., STF leader at Carlsbad High School. Continue reading to see how Varun seized an opportunity to speak with Congressman Mike Levin and learn about the chapter’s future plans for the Human Rights on the Southern Border Action Plan.

STF Team: Why did you decide to launch STF in your senior year?

Varun: HRW is an international organization that I cite in my speeches all the time, so it was an opportunity to work with people that do things that we look up to as young aspiring political activists. I just knew STF was something I wanted to do so I got involved.

STF Team: Can you tell us about Congressman Mike Levin’s visit to Carlsbad HS? How did you take advantage of this opportunity?

Varun: Mike Levin came to our campus to talk to an AP Government class. Yousha (our co-president) and I got selected to ask him questions. Yousha asked about his thoughts on the Southern Border crisis and I followed up with a question relating to a piece of legislation he is drafting focused on the U.S.-Mexico border. We were able to chat with him afterwards and have been in touch with his office since.

STF Team: What are your chapter’s next steps for Southern Border advocacy?

Varun: Our future plans involve collecting petition signatures and delivering these to Mike Levin. We will also be hosting a tent event in April to educate our campus about the human rights abuses immigrants face on the border.

STF Team: What are some of your greatest takeaways from STF so far?

Varun: STF has opened my eyes on the Southern Border crisis and other issues. It has taught me the value of collaborating with people and chapters who are working towards our same goal. Through leadership meetings, I get to learn from their perspectives and learn their different methods of achieving our shared advocacy goals. STF allows me to build my own leadership style while learning from others despite living in different areas and having different opinions on issues.

Engaging Our Communities

February 12-22, 2024: Kicking off the new year with a bang, STFers at Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy, Animo Venice Charter HS, Carson HS, Cypress College, Hamilton HS, and New Roads School hosted film screenings, club fairs, and table events to engage their campus communities in our Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights Action Plan.

Scroll to see photos of their events:

Making Real World Change

February 3, 2024: “There are no walls between the things you’re personally passionate about, you’re professionally interested in and you’re academically interested in. You can use the knowledge you learn in the classroom to make real world change… That’s the cool thing about things like Student Task Force, you all are making real world change, but you’re also doing it in this academic setting… And that’s what I hope you all take away from your experience with this, is that you can make change now, today, tomorrow if you put your mind to it,” Amanda Alampi, HRW Director of Campaigns and Public Engagement, said to inspire the 67 participants at STF’s Winter Leadership Workshop.

Amanda spoke about Human Rights Watch’s #StudentsNotProducts campaign and gave advice on how to get to get decision-makers to listen to advocates.

Before Amanda’s presentation, STFers shared accomplishments from their fall activities including a chapter in Carlsbad that spoke with their Congressman about deadly deterrence policies when he stopped by their history class and the leaders in Taiwan who introduced STF to delegates from multiple Asian nations at a Model UN conference. Hear more from STF chapters during the chapter recap (1:52-11:09)

Workshop attendees also broke into groups to strategize ways to get to decision-makers related to their “Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights” Action Plan themes, as well as worked on improving strategies related to recruitment, events, on-campus meetings, and leadership development.

Scroll to watch the recording and see photos of the event:

STF Leader Spotlight: Dani R.

Meet Dani R., STF Leader at Canyon High School and one of 18 young activists participating in the youth-led  Genesis B. v. Environmental Protection Agency Lawsuit, a California lawsuit accusing the EPA of failing to protect young people by allowing the release of dangerous levels of greenhouse gases.

STF Team: Why did you join STF?

Dani: I joined my freshman year because there were so many people in STF helping with prominent social issues that affect the world. Since then, I’ve been given opportunities that other people don’t get to do. This whole experience has been rewarding because I know I am helping others.

STF Team: What made you agree to join the Genesis B. v. EPA lawsuit?

Dani: I wanted to be a part of the lawsuit because of the effects climate change has had on my own community and issues that have personally impacted me and my friends including mudslides, water contamination, high levels of humidity and illnesses from mosquitoes.

STF Team: What is your role in the case?

Dani: I am a plaintiff in the case, so I will be sharing my personal experiences of how climate change has impacted my life. It is going to be a long process and a commitment that can take up to two years, but to me it is worth it knowing that it will inspire future generations to act on these issues.

STF Team: What are some of your greatest takeaways from STF so far?

Dani: I’ve learned that teamwork inspires other people to make change. The people I’ve met through advocacy, bringing awareness and knowing my voice can be heard has brought an intrinsic motivation for me to do more. Overall, STF creates a community that empowers others to use their voice.

Save the Date: Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 Winter Leadership Workshop

STF leaders review the action plans in breakout groups at STF’s 2023 Fall Leadership Workshop.
Photo by Anushka Malhotra

Please join us for STF’s 2024 Winter Leadership Workshop on Saturday, January 27 from 10:00-12:15pm PT.

You can attend in person at our Los Angeles office OR virtually via Zoom. In person space is limited, so please RSVP today with your preferred method of participation. Regardless of how you join, you will actively contribute to discussions and engage with other STFers at the workshop.

Important Information:
Who: STF students, teachers, alumni and special guests
When: Saturday, January 27, 2024, 10:00-12:15pm PT (1:00-3:15pm ET)
Where: In person at our Los Angeles location OR virtually (RSVP with your preferred option and we’ll send you the address or Zoom link)

STF Leaders Spotlight: Clementine C.

Please meet Clementine C., STF leader at Palisades Charter High School and the 2023 recipient of HRE USA’s Youth in Action Award.

STF Team: When did you first join STF and how did you learn about it?

Clementine: I joined as a freshman in Fall 2020, having educated myself on social justice issues during the pandemic. When we returned to campus, I learned about the chapter’s solar proposal. I wanted to be a part of that and because of STF’s Executive Director, Pam Bruns. Pam was amazing at recognizing youth voices and she believed in me before I believed in myself.

STF Team: What is one of your favorite moments from STF?

Clementine: The first event I helped organize was a climate-focused tent event. Our chapter put up multiple tents in the quad and a bunch of classes came through. I really enjoyed educating people on environmental justice and giving students the opportunity to learn about something so important. Climate advocacy is a passion of mine, so being able to share that with other high schoolers was a huge moment for me.

STF Team: What leadership skills have you gained from being a part of STF?

Clementine: I have gained confidence in myself and I am now able to say “I am capable.” I learned how to advocate for myself, which was something I struggled with at the beginning of high school. I also improved my public speaking and learned how to speak to people in positions of authority.

STF Team: Congratulations, you were recently selected to win HRE USA’s Youth in Action Award! Can you tell me more about this award and what it means to you to be an activist?

Clementine: HRE USA created this brand new award to recognize young people doing human rights advocacy. This award means a lot. Being recognized nationally for human rights advocacy is really incredible because it hasn’t been easy. It has involved a lot of pushing through expectations of what young people can achieve. A big part of this work is uplifting young people and showing them that they can have an impact.

Watch the video below to learn more about Clementine’s story:

Sierra Canyon STF’s Schoolwide Teach-In

December 15, 2023: In collaboration with all 58 advisory classes, STFers at Sierra Canyon School round off Human Rights Day celebrations by hosting a teach-in to educate their campus community about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Audiences watched an informative video introducing them to human rights and competed in a poster making contest. Each advisory class was assigned an article of the UDHR and had to make a poster explaining the article. Most participants put in a lot of effort and made it a real competition. The winning advisories won donuts! 

STFers Celebrate Human Rights Day

December 5 – December 13: STFers continue celebrations for Human Rights Day with another week filled with events hosted at Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad, Centennial HS, Corona Del Mar HS, Cypress Community College, Da Vinci Schools, Francis W. Parker School, Harvard Westlake School, Santa Monica HS and Van Nuys HS.

Scroll to see photos of their events:

‘Earth Needs Our Help’: California Kids Sue EPA Over Climate Pollution

Editor’s Note: Read STF leaders Maya W. and Dani R.’s statements in the full complaint. 
 

December 11, 2023, NPR: Eighteen California children are suing the Environmental Protection Agency, claiming it violated their constitutional rights by failing to protect them from the effects of climate change.

The federal lawsuit is called Genesis B. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency. According to the lawsuit, the lead plaintiff “Genesis B.” is a 17-year-old Long Beach, California resident whose parents can’t afford air conditioning as the number of extreme heat days increases.

The other plaintiffs range in age from 8 to 17. For each plaintiff, the lawsuit mentions ways that climate change is affecting their lives now, such as wildfires and flooding that have damaged landscapes near them and forced them to evacuate their homes or cancel activities.

“Time is slipping away, and the impact of the climate crisis is already hitting us directly. We are running from wildfires, being displaced by floods, panicking in hot classrooms during another heat wave,” 15-year-old plaintiff Noah said.

The California federal case claims the EPA violated the children’s constitutional rights by allowing carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels to warm the climate. It notes the agency’s 2009 finding that carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is a public health threat, and children are the most vulnerable.

“There is one federal agency explicitly tasked with keeping the air clean and controlling pollution to protect the health of every child and the welfare of a nation—the EPA,” said Julia Olson, chief legal counsel for Our Children’s Trust in the statement. “The agency has done the opposite when it comes to climate pollution, and it’s time the EPA is held accountable by our courts for violating the U.S. Constitution.”…

Read the full article online.

Counting Down to Human Rights Day

November 15 – December 5: Empowering their peers and implementing this year’s Action Plan, STFers from Animo Venice Charter HS, Canyon HS, Carlsbad HS, Los Osos HS, Palisades Charter HS, and Wildwood School hosted simulations, film screenings, trivia games and petition signing tables.

Scroll to see photos of their events:

STFers in Action: Declaring Our Human Rights

November 2-11, 2023: STFers at Sierra Canyon School, Taipei American School, and Wildwood School educated their campuses on creating safe pathways for migration to the U.S. and investigated their classmates’ foundational knowledge on human rights.

Scroll to see their events:

STF Leader Spotlight: Wesley C.

To help STFers get to know each other, the STF Team is launching a new monthly spotlight. Please continue reading to meet Wesley C. from Alain LeRoy Locke College Preparatory Academy.

STF Team: What made you want to become an STF leader?

Wesley: My main goal in life is to help people. I can help people learn and educate them about human rights by helping them notice [human rights] violations. As a STF leader, I give that knowledge to people in my class and in the school. I am adamant about educating people.

STF Team: Before joining STF, did you learn about human rights anywhere?

Wesley: No, actually none before this. I did research on my own, but was never taught in school.

STF Team: Which Action Plan(s) do you want to tackle?

Wesley: I would like to focus on Declaring Our Human Rights and Human Rights and the Climate Crisis. I am learning a lot about the climate crisis in my environmental science class. Not only do the things we do on land affect us, but it affects the water, the air, the trees, the earth, the animals. Climate change is something we need to tackle right now.

STF Team: What are you most proud of so far since joining STF?

Wesley: Before this year, I was a super shy kid, but now I get up in front of everyone every Wednesday to teach about the [STF] Action Plan. I am getting over my fears of public speaking.

STF Team: Is there anything that you want people to know about you?

Wesley: That I am driven, creative, and I’m going to bring a lot of change.

Animo Venice STFers Receive GirlsBuild $2,000 Grant

We are delighted to share that the STF leaders at Animo Venice Charter High School were one out of 60 groups across the U.S. awarded a grant from GirlsBuild Project, which encourages students to use technology to lead a civic engagement project that impacts their community.

The Animo Venice chapter will use the $2,000 grant to promote #StudentsNotProducts and advocate for digital privacy and data security. Working with students, parents, and teachers across their campus, the team will build a website, run a social media campaign, educate their peers, and speak to congressional representatives to demand data protection laws.

STF Co-Vice President, Danna H., was inspired to apply for this grant when she learned that many students were unaware of how EdTech companies use children’s data and violated their human right to privacy.

“I feel very excited because I’ve never won something this extreme and I hope with this money it will help us move forward with our plan of helping #StudentsNotProducts,” said Danna.

Congratulations Animo Venice STFers!

The STF Team: Kristin, Gabbi, Amanda, and Anushka

Pali Students Join Global Climate Strike Rally

September 15, 2023, Circling the News: Palisades Charter High School students stood up for the Earth and the environment on Friday, September 15, holding a Youth Climate Rally adjacent to the Village Green.

“We refuse not to act,” protest leader Carter Yean said to the crowd. “This situation terrifies me. It should terrify every single one of you! Because it is our future. And we are here to take it back!”

The demonstration for climate justice, also held a year ago at the same location, was aligned with Fridays for Future strikes around the world.

More than 50 students, a few residents and members of the PaliHi marching band left the high school after school let out, and walked up Radcliffe Avenue to Swarthmore Avenue, which was closed off for a half-block at Sunset Boulevard.

Students lined up along Sunset, holding various hand-drawn signs that received many approving honks and thumbs-up from passing motorists.

“Save Her [Mother Earth], Before It’s Too Late,” Pali Ambassador Heaven Martin’s sign read. Other signs included “Your Planet Needs Your Help,” “I’m Sure Dinosaurs Thot They Had Time Too,” “Make Humanity Sustainable,” “Planet Over Profits,” “Eat Plants, Plant Trees.”

Meanwhile, Pali Green Club president Eva Engel, Pali’s HRW Student Task Force co-president Clementine Causse and others used a megaphone to channel everyone’s energy and lead them in chants to the beat of Pali’s drum section. These chants included:

• “No more coal, no more oil! Keep your climate in the soil!”
• “What do we want?” “Climate justice!” “When do we want it?” “Now!”
• “Climate change is not a lie, Do not let our planet die!”
• “We’re youth united, We’re not going to be defeated!”

Engel told Circling the News, “Our planet is under attack. We’re going to stand up and fight back.”

And they are not simply demonstrating. In fact, since 2021, students have been actively working at Pali to increase energy efficiency on campus, transition to renewable energy and introduce climate education across curriculum.

Read the complete Circling the News article by student Chaz Plager online. 

Building Our Action Plan: Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights

September 9, 2023: Human Rights Watch Student Task Force (STF) leaders, teachers and guest speakers joined and kicked off this year’s Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights Action Plan at STF’s hybrid Fall Leadership Workshop (Click to watch the workshop online).

“Human rights are universal, and when we raise our collective voices together on issues, we are louder and we can make an impact,” shared Katherine La Puente, HRW’s Children’s Rights Division Coordinator. Katherine opened the workshop with education on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and held a lively Q&A about Human Rights Watch’s work to defend the rights of people around the world.

Workshop attendees also heard from LA-based youth climate activist and community organizer, Sim Bilal, who inspired students to build coalitions and harness their power as young changemakers. “We are running out of time, we can see this actively impacting us, and the people that have the power to actually have an impact and make change don’t care. But you will find that you have far more allies than people who are against you,” Sim said on maintaining energy in the face of pushback.

Motivated by their guest speakers, participants took a deep dive into the key themes in this year’s Action Plan. In breakout groups, STFers discussed which themes would resonate best within their communities and brainstormed advocacy events to host on campus this fall. Key themes include:

1. Declaring Our Human Rights
2. Human Rights and the Climate Crisis
3. Human Rights on the Southern Border
4. #StudentsNotProducts

As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, STF remains committed to building a foundation of human rights knowledge to fulfill our roles as strong advocates of the world.

Eager to see how you raise your voices for human rights this year!
The STF Team: Pam, Kristin, Gabbi, Amanda, and Anushka

https://www.youtube.com/embed/e-_4ZPDzZj0?feature=oembedClick to watch the full hybrid workshop, 1:17:23

Save the Date: STF Fall Leadership Workshop

Please join us for STF’s 2023 Fall Leadership Workshop on Saturday, September 9 from 10:00-12:15pm PT, where we will launch our “Celebrating 75 Years of Human Rights” Action Plan. (Details about our fall advocacy will be shared soon!)

You can attend in person at our Los Angeles office OR virtually via Zoom. In person space is limited, so please RSVP today with your preferred method of participation. Regardless of how you join, you will actively contribute to discussions and engage with other STFers at the workshop.

Important Information:
Who: STF students, teachers, alumni and special guests
When: Saturday, September 9, 2023, 10:00-12:15pm PT (1:00-3:15pm ET)
Where: In person at our Los Angeles location OR virtually (RSVP with your preferred option and we’ll send you the address or Zoom link)
Mark your calendars and RSVP today!

Eager to kickoff this year with you,
The STF Team: Kristin, Gabbi, Amanda and Anushka