NI: Snow Patrol back Amnesty campaign for Darfur

Snow Patrol are backing a new Amnesty International campaign to bring justice to the war-torn Darfur region of southern Sudan.

This Northern Ireland rockers are providing the soundtrack to a new Amnesty online video campaign for justice in Darfur. Amnesty International wants to bring war criminals to justice for the mass rape of thousands of Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights by the government-backed Janjaweed militias during the conflict in Darfur.

After watching the video online, people can click to send an e-card Sudan's minister for justice.

The music used is a specially-recorded Snow Patrol cover of the John Lennon track 'Isolation'. This is the latest initiative in Amnesty’s "Make Some Noise" campaign, a global music venture which aims to engage people through music to stand up for human rights.

First introduced to Amnesty International by way of U2, Snow Patrol were immediately drawn to the idea of harnessing the power of music for human rights.

As frontman Gary Lightbody says,

"I support Amnesty because we have lived our whole lives in freedom - music is a good way of bringing awareness to people without ramming it down their throats because it is something everyone can relate to."

"Amnesty is not regarded as politics or religion or anything like that. It’s basically helping people whose basic human rights are being denied…it’s like helping people who can’t help themselves."

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland programme director said:

"Snow Patrol have been fantastic supporters of Amnesty and we are grateful that they have been so active in challenging human rights abuses throughout the world.

"The video itself is powerful stuff. Anybody who watches it can’t fail to be moved by the testimonies of Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights who suffered raped as a weapon of war. While the world waits for justice, the perpetrators continue to rape and kill with impunity in Darfur. This is a simple way for people to take action to stop the abuses."

The online video also features Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle, famous for his roles in Crash and Hotel Rwanda. The video action is now live at http://noise.amnesty.org .