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, wear a face mask in public if prudent to do so, and follow informed medical advice.

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): 
• climate change exacerbates hate speech (TND);   a critique of our suicidal economic course (M);   concern about our lack of focus (TG);   refitting our (Australia's) power distribution network will cost billions - which raises questions as to why, despite decades of forewarning, this situation was allowed to develop (ABC);   “Australia urged to adopt 75% emissions reduction target by 2035 if it is to reach net zero” (TG) - but also “Victoria pledges nation’s most ambitious renewable energy storage targets” (TG);   a suggestion to cut down plastic production in Europe to ease energy consumption during the crisis caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine (DW);   a large corporation has yielded to shareholder pressure and will include climate sensitivity statements in its reports (ACCR) - and a major shareholder will support a change to climate aware Board members in another company (TG);   the worst coal powered power station in my home state will be closed a decade early (TG);   a call for more organic farming (TG);   “more than 1,700 environmental activists [have been] murdered in the past decade” (TG);   a review of how my home state has done better than the others at cutting emissions (TC);   “companies [are] using carbon credits to ‘cover their tracks’, says iron ore billionaire ... Andrew Forrest urges businesses to aim for ‘real zero’ to reduce environmental impact” (TG);   “Victoria’s Dja Dja Wurrung people have launched a foray into renewable energy, setting out ground rules for the industry to gain Traditional Owner blessing on Djandak (Country)” (NIT);   the Arctic (TG) and Southern (TC) Oceans are heating more rapidly than others (TG);  
  
  
• climate / environmental issues have occurred in:   the Amazon forest (DW),   DRC (AP),   central banks (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: 
• mandatory isolation has now been ended (TND);   the pandemic may have changed people’s personalities (no kidding Einstein) (TG);  
  
  
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
  
• tropical storms in eastern Canada (TND),   south eastern USA (CNN),   the Philippines (TND),   Cuba (TG),  USA (TG) - see also here (TND),   and a general comment (UN);   
  
• a migrant carrying shipwreck has killed dozens in the eastern Mediterranean (F24);   Ebola in Uganda (AN) - see also here (DW), and Sudan (DW);   a building collapse in Kenya (AP);   the drought in Somalia (Nation Africa); 
  
  
• 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 military matters:   an interview gives good insight into what is happening now (YT) - see also this analysis (Lowy);   the so-called referenda in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory are illegal (other commentary suggests they are an excuse Putin can use to justify using nuclear weapons - which is something I suspect Ukraine will ignore) (UN), and now Russia has illegally (DW) annexed sections of eastern Ukraine as Ukraine applies for NATO membership (TND) - which is where an article I read and cannot find arguing that the West must continue to respond with prudence becomes so applicable: giving Ukraine NATO membership means war with Putin, and that could lead to nuclear war using strategic weapons;  
  
• on the nuclear (weapons and power) situations:   the USA has increased monitoring and surveillance (P);  
• on human rights in the region and globally:   more mass burial sites have been found (ABC);  
• inside Russia:   resistance to partial mobilisation has been sometimes violent (TG), but there there are concerns over mass arrests of protestors (UN) and Russians are continuing to flee (TC);  a consideration of the possible removal - or behind the scenes rendering him ineffective - of Putin (TG);   
• internationally:   an opinion that Chinese Chairman Xi has influenced Russian president Putin’s recent decisions more than military setback (DW);   Edward Snowdon has been given Russian citizenship (TG);   major (DW) sabotage (TG) of a gas pipeline from Russia;    Ukraine and Taiwan are building their ties (DW);   “Black Sea exports ramp up, bringing confidence to global commerce and food to most vulnerable” (UN);   a crisis in Tunisia caused by the war (UN);  
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• North Korea has launched a ballistic missile ahead of a visit to South Korea by the USA’s Vice-President (R);    “critics underestimate the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations because they overlook peacekeepers’ ability to enforce nonviolent solutions to communal disputes” (PVG);   the G5 Sahel group is rethinking CVE strategy after Mali withdrew (AN);   the global south are (validly, IMO) questioning the world’s claimed multilateral solidarity (AP) as Chad calls for a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council (AN);  Afghanistan  is at risk of collapse (UN);   
  
  
• 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:   the risks of high altitude nuclear blasts - especially on the satellites we have become so dependent on (WotR);   Eritrean military forces are building up (AP) north of Tigray - see also this examination of the obstacles to peace (The New Humanitarian);   a call to extend Yemen’s truce (UN) - see also this (ICG);  
   
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring), MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE, MISCONDUCT and THREATS TO DEMOCRACY/FREEDOM: 
  
• articles on the recent hack of a phone company   here (advice on protecting self) (TG),   here (criticism of communication approach that was used) (TC),   here (company at fault) (TND) - see also this (on simplicity of hack) (TND),   here (possible class action and other fallout) (TG) - see also here (TG),   here (those affected can now change details without having to wait until damage down) (TG),   here (a reminder that the customers are the victims, not the company) (TG),   here (a reminder that no-one can delete anything completely off the internet, so the alleged claims by someone that they’re the hacker and they’ve deleted the data are meaningless) (TC),   here (companies could be forced to delete data) (or could use one way access servers),   here (calls to stop hoarding/commercialising data) (TND),   here (on Medicare numbers) (TC),   here (company will pay for new passports) (TND),   police are acting to protect the IDs of victims (TG),   outrage at the lack of help from the company (TG),  - and for context, see these  lists of past hacks (this data retention was imposed as part of the anti-terrorism measures insisted on by our government - despite the warnings of IT experts. So the IT experts were RIGHT, and, IMO, government also shares in the responsibility);    
• and in a parallel from overseas, covert CIA websites “could have been found by an amateur” (TG);   
  
• the massive damage done by the Morrison government to the separation of church and state in Australia (TC);   why a writer has started using the term “christian fascism” instead of “christian nationalism” (M);   “have enriched the already rich, deepened inequality, empowered banks and financiers, turned houses into financial assets and humans into consumers whose behaviour is to be manipulated with monetary policy. And the rise of a new fascism in Europe seems to be the result of that” (in my experience, the first home owners grant seemed to buy a lot of votes  ... ) (TND);   an exposition on the legal issues around the rejection of former POTUS45's legal claims (YT) - which also parallels the rejection of a claim for compensation by a wrongly jailed refugee here (TG) (in the case of the refugee, the consequences were dire: in the case of #45, they weren't; this may be a case of equal justice if we compare the two, but it is also inequitous);  
  
  
• concerns around past/current/potential corruption/misgovernance in   South Africa (TRF);
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• globally:   the why and how of reform of civilian oversight of military and military action in Colombia to save lives (ICG);   Germany, unlike the UK, will aid its citizens with heating costs (TG);  
  
  
• in Australia:   a The Guardian exclusive reports that “Defence officials call for ‘deep reform’ to counter perceptions of inaction on Brereton inquiry” (TG);  
  
  
• democracy is also at risk in   Belarus (HRW),   Chad (AN),   Brazil (HRW) - see also this (TC) and this (F24); 
  
  
• on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC): 
• protests at the killing of a woman by so-called “morality”  “police” over not wearing a hijab are continuing in Iran (F24) - and are significantly different to previous protests (TC), with Iran trying to blame others (DW) and pressure celebrities (TG), but supporting protests overseas (F24). See also this, on sanctions by the USA over the failure toi restart the nuclear deal (AJ);   religious tensions in the English midlands (F24);   “Australian soldier alleges torture survival course involved simulated child rape and left him with PTSD” (this is not the first time egregious abuses by Australia’s military during training have been raised - I can recall concerns, although not so evil, back in the 1980s) (TG);   mass transphobic, misogynistic, and toxic masculinity abuse of thousands of school students in the USA (TG);   Zimbabweans forced out of South Africa are “struggling to rebuild their lives” (news24);   an anti-LGBTIQA+ neochristian with a penchant for tactics that apparently border on violent extremism has started attacking Christians (M);   an article on bigotry against atheists (M);   “‘disturbing trends’ in reprisals against those cooperating with the UN continues” (UN);  
  
• “can the most common test For narcissism help fight bigotry?” (M);  
   
• human rights are at risk or abuses have occurred in:   Cameroon (HA),   Tasmania (ABC),   UAE (DW),   Tanzania (news24),   Mexico (HRW);
  
  
• violence in:   a mass school shooting in Russia (TG),   Ethiopia/Tigray (ST),   Kurdistan from Iran (DW),   South Sudan (UN),   Burkina Faso (The Star [Kenya]),   Afghanistan (UN);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   after nearly two centuries of trial and almost half a century after the Cambodian genocide, one of the genocidaires’ sentence has been upheld (GW);   “the long-delayed trial of 11 men accused of responsibility for the 2009 Guinean security forces’ massacre of more than 150 peaceful demonstrators and the rape of scores of women in a stadium” is about to commence (although those abuses were heinous, remember that people are innocent until proven guilty) (HRW);   an atrocity alert for Venezuela, Guinea and Democratic Republic of the Congo (GCR2P);  
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   Cuba has overwhelmingly approved same sex/gender marriage and LGBT adoption (R);   Qld police are slowly inching towards an apology and will not march in Brisbane Pride in uniform before an apology has been made (Star);   “LGBTQ-friendly schools ranking defies Poland’s rights crackdown” (Openly news);   an article on inclusive Christians (M);   “right-wing bloodlust is going to get people killed” (M);  
  more LGBTIQA+ issues:   Nigeria (TRF),   Serbia (Spiegel International);
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   the death of a young introverted compliant black man in the USA at the hands of police and paramedics was because of sedative they gave him  (NBC News);   more concerning evidence from the NT enquiry into the police killing of a young Indigenous man - note that no findings have been made, and I do not know whether or not any challenge has been made (ABC), and one officer has been stood down from the enquiry to ensure fairness by providing them a defence (TG) and the coroner will decide whether systemic racism will be included (the whole exercise is meaningless if it isn't, IMO) (HRLC);   “First Nations children account for 84% of Queensland youth detainees put in solitary confinement” (TG);   “the Anzac cloak has shielded the Australian War Memorial from criticism. Its recognition of frontier violence is long overdue” (TG);   “little progress combating systemic racism against people of African descent” (UN);   changing the name of a hospital away from an Indigenous word to that of a foreign monarch shows the potential weakness of a Voice to Parliament in comparison to Treaty (NIT);   “IP laws needed to protect Indigenous native foods knowledge from exploitation” (NIT);   the discrimination against Roma in Europe (Minority Rights Group);  
  more racism issues:   Australia (HRLC);
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    lessons from Argentina’s female-led police stations in reducing domestic violence (Shorthand Stories);   “the election of Italy’s fascist-adjacent [leader] is a public reminder that women can be just as awful as men” (TG);   “São Tomé and Príncipe makes tangible gains for women in politics” (The Sierra Leone Telegraph);   egregious sexism / misogyny (TND) in Australia's Antarctic bases has led to a promise of change (TND) (that makes me think I did well when the company I worked for lost a bid to do work there);  
  
  
• noting the laws listed here, the conventions listed here, and principles discussed here, here, here, here, and here, on the RIGHTS OF ANIMALS:   New Zealand has banned live animal exports (which I thought they had already done) (TG);  
  
  
• noting Article 17 of the ICCPR,   Article 16 of the CRC,   Article 22 of the CRPD,   and   Article 12 (1) of the DRIP on PRIVACY:   a call for a facial recognition technology law (HRLC);  
  
  
• noting Article 7 of the ICCPR,   and   the CAT on TORTURE:   a Syrian refugee in Lebanon appears to have been tortured to death (HRW);   
  
  
• noting Articles 2 (1) (also noting this, this, this, and this), 3, 7, 14 (see here and here), 15, 16, and 26 of the ICCPR,   Articles 3, 5 (a), and 6 (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Articles 2, 12 (2), 37, 39, and 40 of the CRC,   Articles 5, 12, 13, and 14 of the CRPD,   and   Articles 1 - 2, 7 (2), 8 (2) (c), 9 - 10, 12 (2), 20 (2), 27, and 40 of the DRIP on the JUDICIARY / JUSTICE SYSTEM:   an expert’s article confirms the concerns I had about “no body, no parole” laws (TC);   
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   an article on the Special Olympics and the importance of being able to participate (DW);   an opinion that “autistics should be the only ones assessing For autism” (this has a lot of merit) (M);   “the new chair of the National Disability Insurance Agency, Kurt Fearnley, has said the scheme won’t succeed unless participants trust the organisation and “see themselves” in it” (TG);   a call for the inclusion of ADHD in the NDIS, but on a person-focused basis (TC);   
  
  
• 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:   “Queensland lab at the centre of DNA testing failures allegedly beset by workplace conflicts” (TG);   the WHO and ILO “have launched two publications which aim to prevent negative work situations and cultures while also offering mental health protection and support for employees” (UN);   the need for better protection of apprentices (TG);   
  
  
• 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:    rents are driving the unaffordability of Australian housing (TG);  
  
  
• noting Article 9 of the ICESCR,   Article 5 (e) (iv) (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Articles 11 (1) (e), 13 (a), and 14 (2) (c) of the CEDAW,    Article 26 of the CRC,   Article 28 (2) of the CRPD,   Article 21 of the DRIP,   and   ILO conventions on SOCIAL SECURITY:   social security “recipients [are] skipping medication, meals and hot showers due to [the] cost of living” (TG);   
   
• “‘there is great strength in vulnerability’: Grace Tame’s surprising, irreverent memoir has a message of hope” (TC);  
  

(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:   Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project - ACLED;   Aeon Magazine - Aeon;   Africa Centre for Strategic Studies - ACSS;   Africa News - AN;   Al Jazeera - AJ;   Amnesty International - AI;   Associated Press - AP;   Australian Associated Press - AAP;   Australian Broadcasting Corporation - ABC;   Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility - ACCR;   Australian Independent Media Network - AIMN;   Australian Unions - AU;   Barrons;   Bellingcat (B);   Bloomberg - BB;   Brisbane Times - BT;   British Broadcasting Commission - BBC;   Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - BAS;   Cable News Network - CNN;   Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - CBC;   Centre for Strategic and International Studies - CSIS;   Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ;   the (US) Council on Foreign Relations (CFR);   Crikey - C [$];   Dabanga Sudan - DS;   Deutsche Welle - DW;   European Union - EU;   Forbes - F;   Foreign Policy - FP;   France 24 - F24;   Freedom House - FH;   Genocide Watch - GW;   Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect - GCR2P;   HumAngle - HA;   Human Rights Law Centre - HRLC;   Human Rights Watch - HRW;   Independent Australia - IA;   International Crisis Group - ICG;   Lawfare Blog - LFB;   Lowy Institute - The Interpreter - Lowy;   mainstream media - MSM;   Medium - M;   Michael West (news media platform) - MW;   Mirage News - MN;   Nation Africa - NA;   National Indigenous Times - NIT;   New York Times - NYT [$];   News24;   North Africa Post - NAP;   Out in Perth - OiP;   Pearls and Irritations - PnI;   Political Violence at a Glance - PVG;   Politico - P;   Premium Times Nigeria - PT;   Q News - QN;   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 National Tribune - tNT;   The New Daily - TND;   The Saturday Paper - TSP;   The Shot - TS;   Thomson Reuters Foundation - TRF;   United Nations - UN;   Voice of America - VoA;   Wall Street Journal - WSJ [$];   War on the Rocks - WotR;   Washington Post - WP [$];   Yahoo News - Yahoo; YouTube - YT;