Dear Colleague,

I am writing to solicit your assistance in our annual search for the Oak Human Rights Fellow, which is targeted this year for someone working in the area of THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

I have copied the announcement below. You can also access it at: http://www.colby.edu/oak .

Each year, we host a human rights professional doing on-the-ground work at some level of personal risk and organize a lecture series around his or her area of expertise. The purpose of the fellowship is to offer activists a respite from their work and spend a semester as a scholar-in-residence at the College, exposing campus community to the issues surrounding the human rights issues on which the Fellow works.

In conducting our annual search, we rely heavily on nominations from NGOs, academics, journalists, and human rights lawyers, since these are the people most likely to know of the work of on-the-ground professionals.

We would like your assistance in disseminating the announcement. Feel free to nominate a suitable candidate or forward the announcement to anyone in the field who could help us. The deadline for applications is January 13, 2006.

Whatever assistance you might provide would be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get back to me. Thank you in advance.

Ken Rodman
Director, Oak Institute
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OAK HUMAN RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP AT COLBY COLLEGE

2006 FOCUS: HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights at Colby College is soliciting nominations and applications for the Oak Human Rights Fellowship for the Fall of 2006.

The Oak Fellowship provides an opportunity for prominent practitioners in international human rights to take a sabbatical leave from their work and spend a semester (September - December 2006) as a scholar-in-residence at Colby College. This provides the Fellow time for reflection, research, writing, and teaching. Following the period of the award, it is expected that the Fellow will return to his or her human rights work.

For the fall of 2006, the Oak Institute seeks a human rights practitioner working on environmental issues that affect the rights of individuals and communities. Possible areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: exposing or mobilizing against environmental dangers to human health, preserving ecosystems on which traditional communities depend, environmental justice, indigenous rights and the environment, rehabilitation and compensation for environmental damages, and the application of rights-based approaches to environmental protection.

We especially encourage applications from those who are currently or were recently involved in "on-the-ground" work at some level of personal risk. The Oak Fellow's responsibilities include: teaching an informal course on the human rights issue on which the Fellow works, participation in a lecture series or symposium in the Fellow's area of expertise, and becoming part of the intellectual life of the campus, particularly with our students.

The Fellow will receive a $32,000 stipend and College fringe benefits, including round-trip transportation from the Fellow's home site, housing, the use of a car, and meals on campus. The Fellow will also receive research support, including office space, a computer, library facilities, and a student research assistant.

Nominations and applications should be sent to:
Kenneth A. Rodman, Director or
Kate O'Halloran, Associate Director
Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights
5319 Mayflower Hill
Colby College, Waterville ME 04901
Email: oakhr@colby.edu, Phone: 207-859-5310, Fax: 207-859-5229

Completed applications must arrive no later than January 13, 2006.
Final selections should be announced by April 30, 2006.

More information, including application, is available on the Institute's website at:
http://www.colby.edu/oak

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Prof. Kenneth A. Rodman
Department of Government
5310 Mayflower Hill Drive
Colby College
Waterville, ME 04901
phone: (207) 859-5310
fax: (207) 859-5229