The Progressives' Handbook

You're not alone if you find the ongoing abuse of human rights linked to the ''war on terror'' intolerable; a number of web sites have been set up specifically to provide information and opportunities for positive activism in the area.

You're not alone if you find the ongoing abuse of human rights linked to the ''war on terror'' intolerable; a number of web sites have been set up specifically to provide information and opportunities for positive activism in the area.

• "War Crimes Watch (www.warcrimeswatch.org)

  Dedicated to helping ''Americans probe our government's responsibility for war crimes and our own responsibility for halting them,'' this site offers in-depth coverage and a collection of articles on topics ranging from Torture & Prisoner Abuse to Illegal Aggression. Other sections of the WCW site explore how to stop war crimes, such as reinvigorating ''the paralyzed institutions that are supposed to impose law and democracy on government,'' and undermining ''the Bush administration's power to commit war crimes by withdrawing popular and institutional cooperation and support.'' A must-visit.

• Human Rights First (www.humanrightsfirst.org)

  HRF is a comprehensive site focused on ''advancing justice, human dignity, and respect for the rule of law.'' Its International Justice and the ICC section offers everything from media alerts to white papers on contemporary human rights challenges, plus opportunities to Take Action. HRW offers four email newsletters covering topics such as ''persecuted human rights advocates'' and ''the impact of U.S. national security law and policy on civil liberties and human rights.''

• School of the Americas Watch (www.soaw.org)

  The US Army School of the Americas was set up in 1946 to train Latin American soldiers, and its graduates have been linked to atrocities ever since. As SOA Watch notes: ''Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, 'disappeared,' massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins.'' SOA Watch offers background on the school (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001), a slew of fact sheets, organizing packets and multi-media resources.

• Cage Prisoners (www.cageprisoners.com)

  Dedicated to raising ''awareness of the plight of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and other detainees held as part of the War on Terror,'' Cage Prisoners offers links to the latest related news and articles, a multi-media corner, a mailing list, tips on current Campaigns and Events and a comprehensive How to Help page.