Write to the Economist and let them know what you think
The Economist magazine recently published two controversial articles criticizing Amnesty International for broadening its mandate to include economic and social rights and questioning -among many other things- the legal nature of these rights and the States' legal obligations towards the well being of its population. Write to the editors of the magazine and let them know what you think.
The Economist is a news publication specialized in international affaires and edited in London with an average circulation of one million copies a week.
After consulting with the International Secretariat of Amnesty in London, we want to invite you to read:
(i) the leading article of The Economist from the March 24th–30th issue;
(ii) a letter of response prepared by the ESCR-Net's Secretariat and;
(iii) the response we received back from the magazine's Deputy Editor in which economic, social and cultural rights are described as dressed up demands "for more state intervention in the legalistic language of rights."
Click in the corresponding link to access each document. You can also access them at the bottom of this page.
It would be interesting to hear your opinions and we particularly encourage you to write to The Economist (address below). If you do so, please share your responses with ESCR-Net participants writing to inescr@yahoogroups.com
We believe it is important to generate this debate since unfortunately The Economist’s opinion has remarkable influence among political and business leaders and represents the stance of many governments, academics and general public.
Amnesty has built a website with their own response and that of many other concerned organizations and individuals. We also encourage you to visit it at: http://web.amnesty.org/pages/economist-response-index-eng
The Economist address:
Edward Lucas Edward
Lucas@economist.com
Deputy Editor, International Section Central and Eastern Europe Correspondent
The Economist 25 St James St London SW1A 1HG