Some human rights and other news links and thoughts

Black Lives Matter! Be Anti-Racist, Anti-Sexist, and Actively Inclusive in ALL Areas.
The Climate Crisis is real, urgent and existential!

The Pandemic is Real, and Vaccinations save lives. Stay safe - wash your hands, practice social distancing and wear a face mask in public, and follow informed medical advice - and be considerate towards those at risk or in situations of vulnerability (including economic) while the COVID-19 pandemic is a problem.

Some mostly human rights (including significant, relevant links in other fields - such as geopolitics, democracy, or authoritarianism) links (note: the source of news items [but not reference links] is in brackets after each item - normal rules around abbreviations will apply, and abbreviations are listed at the end of this post; links behind hard paywalls have a [$]; also, comments by me are in purple). 

Note: CONTENT WARNING - some of this content is about upsetting, disturbing or triggering events & attitudes. Seek competent help - including professional - if you need it. Content shown in green (which may be only part of a news story) is about what is generally considered “good news”, but personal history may still make such events triggering. Reader caution is recommended.

• on the CLIMATE CRISIS (noting the UNFCCC) and ENVIRONMENT (noting multiple  international agreements): 
• taking care of trees so they can take care of us (ABC) - see also this personal story about a tree (ABC);   a disappearing lake (ABC) in Europe;   heatwaves in Europe are devastating for the vulnerable (HRW);   more than a century of media warnings of climate change have been ignored ... (TC);   “why we need to combine disease surveillance and climate modelling to pre-empt future pandemics” (TC);   Australia’s probably most ethical bank will stop offering loans for fossil fuel cars in 2025 (TG);   how our food chains are under threat (TND);   loss of habitat is leading to more human-elephant conflicts in India (DW);  
  
  
• climate / environmental issues have occurred in:   Congo River basin (WP [$]),   African forests (ACSS),   gravity energy storage (YT),   China (hydropower) (TG); 
  
  
• on the COVID-19 PANDEMIC (noting WHO advice, Article 12 of the ICESCR, and public emergency provisions of the ICCPR and the ICESCR) and other health matters: 
• why we know (TC) the lab leak conspiracy fantasy was wrong, and COVID came from a live animal market, as orthodoxy said all the way along;   “police and military on the streets at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns traumatised refugees and asylum seekers who had fled war-torn countries and didn't understand what was happening, an inquiry has been told” (SBS);   the long term brain damage of COVID (The Japan Times);   an outbreak in Tibet has left thousands of touring occupiers stranded (TG);  
   
  
• on Rashist  Putin and his cronies’ ILLEGAL (it is contrary to Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter  and international law [and the 1928 Pact of Paris which was successfully used in post-WW2 trials], and possibly includes conduct contrary to the "laws" of war and international humanitarian law (IHL)) INVASION of UKRAINE: 
• on the nuclear (weapons and power) situations:   Russia has rejected calls for a DMZ around a nuclear power plant that is being shelled (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists), but has agreed to the resumption of inspections (TND);  Russia has now changed its tune on using nuclear weapons to “only in an emergency” ... and what constitutes an emergency to Putin? (R);  
  
• on human rights in the region and globally:   “butterfly mines” are being used - and pose considerable risk to civilians, especially children (F24);  a review of legal protections for civilians in war zones (Lieber Institute, West Point);   a call for richer nations to help developing nations purchase grain (UN);  
  
• inside Russia:   how Russia is dodging sanctions (DW);  
• internationally:   Kosovo has stopped importing and started rationing energy (TG);   Hungary’s staggeringly blatant racist Prime Minister has put Hungary at risk by becoming a mouthpiece/sock puppet for Russia (DW);   the grain export deal is being attributed to diplomacy (UN);    
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• China is attempting to “redefine the power balance in the Taiwan Strait” (DW) as a US Congressional delegation follows the recent visit by the US Speaker (TG) - leading to more military action by China (F24). See also this examination of “pushing back” against China’s attempt to establish a “new normal” (WotR);   likely economic indicators before China takes military action against Taiwan (CSIS);   an invasion could also affect Taiwan’s neighbours (Lowy);  
  
• the WHO “has suggested that racism (news24) is behind a lack of international attention being paid to the plight of civilians in Ethiopia’s war-shattered (AJ) Tigray region”;   a call for NATO troops to stabilise Bosnia-Herzegovina (this harks back to previous peace treaties, so isn’t as bad as it sounds) (WotR);   tensions continue to grow over Ethiopia’s dam on the river Nile (news24);   “amid energy crisis, EU plans to help gas-rich Mozambique boost security” (meaning it is about self interest, not decency, it would seem) (VoA);   a call to resolve the Lebanon-Israeli maritime border dispute (ICG);   “Timor-Leste warns it will work with China if Australia insists on pumping Timor Sea gas to Darwin” (Australia's behaviour over that matter has been utterly contemptible, and thus I have to say I understand Timor Leste’s position on this) (TG);   North Korea has rejected aid as a basis for denuclearisation (ABC);  
  
  
• noting particularly Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter, the 1928 Pact of Paris used in post-WW2 trials, the "laws" of war and IHL and Article 20 of the ICCPR on WAR / CONFLICT:   a call for the USA to rethink how it trains foreign militaries (LFB);   modelling shows that “even a relatively small nuclear war would create a worldwide food crisis lasting at least a decade in which hundreds of millions would starve” (TC);   work to restore the Iran deal is continuing (F24);   as appeals are made to allow humanitarian work to continue (UN), Israel’s deliberately crushing policy towards Gaza (HRW);  
  
  
• incidents / action of concern in/regarding:   Mali/Ivory Coast (VoA);
   
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring), MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE and MISCONDUCT: 
• an examination of why Pakistan has not realised its potential (DW);   Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is now threatening to cause a total collapse of that nation’s health system (UN);   WA's corrections department has sent private information about prisoners to “the wrong email list” ... (ABC);  
  
• the effects of the USA investing in dehumanisation and domination (M);    the FBI has warned of a spike in death threats after the legal search of former US POTUS45’s Florida home in a resort (CNN) - and some of POTUS45’s devotees who took part in the attempted insurrection are now attempting to profit from their crimes (AP);   a legal analysis of classification and declassification (LFB);  
  
• grave (ABC) concerns (TND) over, and calls for investigations of (TG), the former (TC) PM being secretly (TG) sworn into three Ministerial (TND) positions (TG) which led to clashes over the COVID roll out where the military followed the then-PM instead of the democratically responsible publicly known Minister (news.com.au) - including the exposure of how fragile our conventions are (which I have been saying for decades) (TND). See also this (TG), this (TG), this (TG), this (AIM), and this analysis (AIM);   
• allegations that organised crime has infiltrated the NDIS (BT) have led to commitments for action (ABC), but also show the need to rebuild trust and involve advocates (TC);  
  
  
• concerns around past/current/potential corruption/misgovernance in   Qld (ABC);
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• globally:   the instability in Iraq appears to be moving in to Kurdistan (F24);   “‘immensely bleak’ future for Afghanistan unless massive human rights reversal” (UN);   a criticism of western governments, beginning with “the imposition of neoliberalism as the theology of state has created a world-wide orthodoxy of government. Political leaders fear excommunication, or worse” (PnI);   the paradox of saying what is needed to be elected vs. saying what is needed to get a mandate (RR);   how to address disinformation (TC);   a call to support democracy in Asia (FH);   demographic tensions over voting in Kashmir (this applies in many areas, but I consider people genuinely living in an area should have the right to vote AND that Indigenous people have protections and additional measures such as commissioners, voices to parliament, etc - it’s not just a vote or not vote scenario) (DW);  
  
  
• in Australia:   less than 1,000 of the 3.5 million claims for flood damage are being subjected to criminal investigation (out of fewer than 30,000 that were deemed suspicious - and no results on those investigations yet) (ABC);   the challenges (TG) which need to be faced in order to create a genuinely universal Medicare that doesn’t leave the vulnerable unable to afford health care (TG) (see also this example (TG) ) - and the possibility that nurses may provide part of the solution (TG);   the cashless welfare card left one woman having to beg for permission to buy a bra (news.com.au);   a call for fewer bears to detoxify the bearpit that is Parliamentary politics (SMH);   a cost-benefit questioning of a conversion to driverless trains (TC);   a suggestion for reforming social security, including "that it should be focused on the people getting it, not the governments providing it" (TND);   hostility has driven out a commissioner who was working on fixing problems with buildings in NSW (TG);  
  
  
• suppression of dissent / media in   Saudi Arabia (SBS),   Nicaragua (TG);
  democracy is also at risk in   South Sudan (ST),   PNG (TC),   Brazil (HRW); 
  
  
• on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC): 
• peacekeeping has resumed in Mali (F24) - but without German troops (AP), and with doubts (AN) and a call by Mali for a UN meeting over “French aggression” (which is allegedly spying, violation of sovereignty, and support for religious extremists [the first one is possible, given most nations have intelligence agencies, the 2^nd may be subject to interpretation but could be valid, but I have doubts over the 3^rd - and France has denied that accusation (F24)) (news24);   a consideration of conditions for so they help people not despots (CSIS);   the long lasting and devastating effects of surviving a mass shooting on a child victim-survivor (CNN);   one tech company is taking action to address casteism (TRF);   Israel has raided Palestinian human rights groups (TG) that were wrongly described (HRW);  
   
• human rights are at risk or abuses have occurred in:   Bahrain (HRW),   Australia-Afghanistan (TG),   Israel (HRW),   Indonesia (HRW),   Eritrea-Ethiopia (TEA),   Mali (Barrons),   USA (TG);
  
  
• violence in:   Montenegro (ABC),   Israel (ABC),   Syria, from Israel (AJ),   Thailand (CNN),   Afghanistan (F24),   South Sudan (TEA);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   an atrocity alert for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon;  
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:   a new online ID system in the UK is shutting refugees and trafficking survivors out (TRF);  
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   the experience of one young transwoman (SMH);   Canadian police have now admitted their mistakes in being duped by a transphobic SWATting complaint (but not for their transphobic behaviour at that time) (Star);   “‘social contagion’ isn’t causing kids & teens to become transgender” (Scary Mommy);   more transphobic hate attacks on children (M) - including by a school (7news);   a former female rugby players has transitioned to male and called for sport to be inclusive (TRF);   an act of solidarity after a homophobic notice was posted in legal offices (TA);   Vietnam has adopted the global standards for LGBT health, thereby agreeing that being LGBT is NOT a mental illness (TRF);  
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   a call (with a very powerful opening paragraph) for the Australian War Museum to stop fantasising that the border wars didn’t happen;   “this is not just the “time to listen to the Voice and act”. It is the time to tell the powers-that-be what sort of Australia we want” (AIM);   a personal story of undoing the damage of the Stolen Generations (ABC);   Queensland is starting its treaty process with truth telling (TG), and more on talk-focused approach to Treaty in my home state (NIT);   Bellingcat is asking “why did a major European security firm train white supremacists (again)?” (B);   a supermarket chain has apologised after an incident of racial profiling (PerthNow);   a call for Indigenous policies to be made by Indigenous people to overcome the endemic failure of continuing colonial thinking (TC);   white supremacist racism in schools in one US state (M);  
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    more violent misogyny by the extremists in control of Afghanistan;   US social media abusers are stigmatising abortion access in Australia (MN);   the massive scale of sexual harassment - and assaults also occur - in regional areas & industries (ABC);   a Qld police deputy commissioner has resigned after admitting to an unbelievably offensive comment - and with an inane request for people to still trust the police who he has just shown cannot be trusted (ABC);  
  
  
• noting the laws listed here, the conventions listed here, and principles discussed here, here, here, here, and here, on the RIGHTS OF ANIMALS:   after the 2019-20 megafires in Australia, spending on wildlife recovery was less than 8% of what was needed (TC);   a call for the removal of shark nets on the grounds that they are ineffective, harm other marine life, and other alternatives are available (TG);   
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   NDIS crime/fraud issues addressed above;   South Australia has appointed Australia’s first autism Minister (SBS);   the challenges and experiences of professional work when blind (law.com);   
  
  
• noting Articles 6 (1), 7, and 8 (see here) of the ICESCR,   Article 5 (e) (i) (ii) (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Article 11 (1) (a - c) of the CEDAW,   and   Article 27 (1) of the CRPD on WORK and FAVOURABLE WORK CONDITIONS:   “Indonesian workers on UK farm ‘at risk of debt bondage’” (TG);   a critique of personality testing in job interviews (TC);   ongoing disruption of the retail industry (news.com.au);   
  
  
• noting Article 6 (1) of the ICCPR,   Article 11 of the ICESCR,   Article 5 (e) (iii) (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Article 14 (2) (h) of the CEDAW,   Article 27 (3) of the CRC,   Article 28 of the CRPD,   and   Article 20 of the DRIP on FOOD, CLOTHING, and HOUSING:    “Australian rental homes colder and more damp than WHO safety standards” (there are probably also grounds for concern over excessive heat, I suspect) (TG) - see also this (TC);   research - funded on  the basis that results be made available free of charge to poorer nations - has improved photosynthesis in soya plants and increased yields by 25% (the benefits of this need to go into quality of life, not larger populations) (TG);   
   
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
• floods in Yemen (DW) and France (F24);   bushfires in France (F24) and Europe (TG);   fire in a church in Egypt (TG);   an explosion at a market in Armenia (AJ);   megadrought in the USA (TG) and drought in China (ABC);   multiple crises in the Horn of Africa (UN);   increased aid for flood recovery in Yemen (UN);   thunderstorms in Europe (TG);  
   
• a tool for tracking disinformation on a social media platform is being removed (ABC);  
  

(Should you elect to write to your elected representatives or others on these matters, it may be useful to familiarise yourself with the links shown in blue - or to at least refer to them. Don't forget to CHECK whether your nation has RATIFIED the treaty concerned.)

Abbreviations:   Aeon Magazine - Aeon;   Africa Centre for Strategic Studies - ACSS;   Africa News - AN;   Al Jazeera - AJ;   Amnesty International - AI;   Associated Press - AP;   Australian Broadcasting Corporation - ABC;   Australian Independent Media Network - AIMN;   Bellingcat (B);   Bloomberg - BB;   Brisbane Times - BT;   British Broadcasting Commission - BBC;   Cable News network - CNN;   Centre for Strategic and International Studies - CSIS;   Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ;   Crikey - C [$];   Dabanga Sudan - DS;   Deutsche Welle - DW;   European Union - EU;   Forbes - F;   Foreign Policy - FP;   France 24 - F24;   Freedom House - FH;   Genocide Watch - GW;   Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect - GCR2P;   Human Rights Law Centre - HRLC;   Human Rights Watch - HRW;   International Crisis Group - ICG;   Lawfare Blog - LFB;   Lowy Institute - The Interpreter - Lowy;   Medium - M;   Mirage News - MN;   National Indigenous Times - NIT;   New York Times - NYT [$];   News24;   Pearls and Irritations - PnI;   Political Violence at a Glance - PVG;   Politico - P;   Premium Times Nigeria - PT;   Radio France International - rfi;   Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE);   Reuters - R;   Robert Reich - RR;   (Bruce) Schneier - Sch;   Special Broadcasting Service - SBS;   Star Observer - Star;   Sudan Tribune - ST;   Sydney Morning Herald - SMH;   The Age - TA;   The Big Smoke (TBS);   The East African - TEA;   The Guardian - TG;   The Monthly - TM;   The New Daily - TND;   The Saturday Paper - TSP;   The Shot - TS;   Thomson Reuters Foundation - TRF;   United Nations - UN;   Voice of America - VoA;   War on the Rocks - WotR;   Washington Post - WP [$];   Yahoo News - Yahoo; YouTube - YT;