Members of Amnesty International will spend a week of action highlighting human rights issues for the ISU community.

From April 1 to 7, the local chapter of the organization will disseminate information and encourage students to take a role in advocating human rights.

“We’re hoping to convey a message of tolerance and goodwill,” said Jonathan Mullin, president of the ISU chapter of Amnesty International.

“We will be having information available on how to become an active member or how to do your part from the comfort of your home or via e-mail,” said Mullin, junior in biochemistry.

The group will distribute information from a table near the West Student Office Space in the Memorial Union.

“We want to raise awareness on campus of human rights issues,” said Karina Zidon, secretary and urgent action coordinator of the local chapter of Amnesty International.

Issues the group focuses on include the death penalty in Russia, how the environment and human rights are tied together and an Ethiopian doctor who has been placed in jail for helping victims of human-rights abuse, Mullin said.

“Students may have a very active role in action,” Mullin said.

“Signing a letter may not seem like much, but when you realize that people all over the world are also signing similar letters, the effect is large.”

Amnesty International would like students to sign letters as well.

“It changes people’s lives and even the future actions of governments,” Mullin said. “Students may take pride in knowing that by signing a letter they may very well have saved someone’s life.”

Wednesday night, Amnesty International is sponsoring an evening of music at the Boheme. The concert will feature a number of bands.

“We will have information about Amnesty available. During set changes, we will explain more about what we as a group do and how others can help,” Mullin said.

Thursday, there will be a refugee camp set up outside the library.

Saturday is the Amnesty International state conference.

“Our refugee camp will focus on the condition of refugees worldwide,” Mullin said. “While our focus is not on the Afghan refugees, they’re certainly on our list of priorities.”

Zidon, senior in linguistics, said the group usually has students stop by because they’ve heard of Amnesty International, but aren’t sure what the group does.

“Everyone has 10 minutes to pass between classes,” Mullin said.

“I encourage everyone to take two of those minutes and save a life.”