Spend time Saturday and celebrate human rights

Something extraordinary makes Saturday, Dec. 10, a day to mark and remember. In 1948, following the end of World War II, all member nations of the United Nations created and signed the" Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and set aside Dec. 10 as the day to commemorate this milestone. Out of the trauma of war, these leaders realized the importance of committing themselves and their governments to the protection and promotion of human rights.

These rights, defined as "those rights which are inherent in our nature and without which we cannot live as human beings," include civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights.

This Saturday , the 57th year of this declaration, provides an opportunity for each one of us to celebrate successes in securing these rights for people here and around the world. It is also a time to rededicate ourselves to continued efforts to bring respect, equality, cooperation, and understanding between individuals and among nations.

Please take time to consider what you can do to promote human rights locally and around the globe. We have community members who need food, shelter, employment, health care, and education. In what ways can we adjust our lifestyle choices to create more respect and equality? How can we reduce our consumption of resources and be more responsible about shopping for the holidays? And how can each of us influence policies and laws that affect basic human rights? The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force can provide contact information regarding local issues. For more information on national and international organizations working toward these human rights, do a quick internet search for "international human rights day."

MARY TOLAND

Sagle

Bonner County Human

Rights Task Force