Some human rights and other news links and thoughts

Black Lives Matter! Be Anti-Racist, Anti-Sexist, and Actively Inclusive in ALL Areas.
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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): 
• the impacts of nuclear testing (DW);   “the end of coal-fired power is in sight, even with private interests holding out” (TC);   PFAS is being found in umbilical blood (TND);   a call to shift funding from fossils to EVs (TND);   a call for action to address the threat of heatwaves (UN);   “businesses lobby for carbon tariffs as Labor says Australia is ‘back in the game’ on climate” (TG);   “what new job titles do cities need to tackle climate change?” (CT);   concerns over possible influence on factsheets (even if not true, the perception of possible influence renders the publications of less value) (TG);   cyclones are causing EV batteries to combust and re1combust (TND);   “740,000km of fishing line and 14 billion hooks ... is lost at sea each year” (TC);   the problem of nuclear waste in Australia (TG);  
  
  
• climate / environmental issues have occurred in:   Australia (TG),   New Zealand (DW),   Bangladesh (CT),   Murray-Darling basin (TG),   the Amazon basin (DW); 
  
  
• 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: 
• “doing away with COVID isolation rules means increased isolation and risks for people with disability” (TC);   China’s extreme version of COVID zero is leading to despair, damage, and protests (CNN);  
  
  
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
  
• an explosion at a petrol station has killed ten people in Ireland (CNN);   drought in Kenya (CNN);   the Ebola outbreak in Uganda (TG) - trials of a vaccine will start soon (R);   a warning against foreign military becoming involved in Haiti (TG), which is experiencing cholera and security crises (UN), but the USA has promised aid - including to police (F24) as the UN warns “‘catastrophic’ hunger recorded in Haiti for first time” (UN);   weeks without power after hurricane damage in Puerto Rica (TG);   a cyclone in Nicaragua (CNN);   a The Guardian exclusive reports that “the manufacturer of one of only two cholera vaccines for use in humanitarian emergencies is to halt production at the end of this year, just as the world faces an “unprecedented” series of deadly outbreaks” (TG);   a mine explosion in Türkiye (The New Arab);   floods in Nigeria (NA) and South Sudan (rfi);  
  
  
• 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:   the bridge between Crimea and Russia has been seriously damaged (TND) and closed, which will disrupt part of Russia’s logistical supplies (most of the preliminary media comments are not, IMO, sensible: the best assessment is this one, from Twitter) - and has led to a widely (UN) condemned (TND) retaliation against civilians (TC), plans to hold Putin to account (DW), a mass exodus from Crimea (F24) and provision of air defence systems and continued military gains by Ukraine (TG) (Ukraine could actually recover all territory occupied by Russia since 2014 - if we ignore possible escalation responses);   Belarus claims to have deployed its troops with Russia’s (TND);   calls (UN) for a possibly unlikely (TC) political solution;   a consideration of whether Putin being removed would end the war (based on past such removals, not necessarily) (WotR);   sanctions are limiting Russia’s military resupply (CNN);   a CNN exclusive reports that private funding of satellite technology for Ukraine has become untenable, and a request for government funding to take over has been requested (how can something so crucial be left to the generosity of individuals?) (CNN);  
  
• on the nuclear (weapons and power) situations:   another warning on the risk of nuclear war (M) - and a toning down the rhetoric by the USA ... (TG) - see also this assessment (Lowy); 
  
• on human rights in the region and globally:   the Red Cross is not being allowed access to PoWs (DW); 
  
• internationally:   Russia’s influence in Asia is dying, but that creates opportunities to establish constructive roles (WotR);   an analysis of what could happen in the world (WotR);   Estonia is rejecting Ukrainian refugees (DW);   “France says Iranian drone transfers to Russia would violate U.N. nuclear deal resolution” (R);   a Russian has been arrested in Norway for possibly spying (ABC);  
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• claims of tactical nuclear drills in North Korea (F24), and an opinion that North Korea’s recent actions may be as a result of observing what is happening in Russia (DW);   concerns that the USA will soon have to address two nuclear superpowers at the same time (TG);   “China’s support for ruling parties undermines its ability to be an impartial arbiter of conflict resolution in the Horn of Africa and highlights China’s use of mediation to pursue its geostrategic interests” (ACSS);  
   
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring), MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE, MISCONDUCT and THREATS TO DEMOCRACY/FREEDOM: 
• “China: Xi Jinping’s third term will mean dwindling freedom for 1.4 billion people” - and other nations (FH);   
•  revelations that former POTUS45 ordered records moved after a warrant was issued (TG);  
• “in the wake of last month’s massive Optus privacy breach, Digital Rights Watch Australia has warned that voter information kept by political parties – which is exempted from the Privacy Act – is at risk of a future damaging data breach” (TG), and privacy commissioners are considering the case for compensation (TND) ... and we've now got the next data breach underway (we desperately need pre-emptive, risk-based requirements for management of data) (ABC) - and also a data breach of the AFP (ABC);  
• “the crisis gripping Australia’s juvenile justice centres” (TG);   “‘devastating’ outcomes for woman abused by police officer husband after IBAC failures” (TG);   legal battles are preventing corruption probes in my home state (ABC);   
• a criticism of the gonzo economic “theory” of trickle down economics (TG - RR);  
  
  
• concerns around past/current/potential corruption/misgovernance in   UK (TG);
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• globally:   “America, Britain, Russia and China are killing themselves, all in their own way” (TND);   an examination of the effects of political anger on social bonds (PVG);   a consideration of the issue of trust in governments ahead of the imminent financial crisis (TND);   a reconciliation deal has paved the way for elections in Palestine (CNN);   some progress towards democracy in Sudan (DS);   a critique of accountability and transparency in Nigeria (HA);  
  
  
• in Australia:   the chair of the ABC Board, appointed by the previous neoliberal nitwits, appears to be out of touch (SMH);   a consideration of the possible free speech impacts of MPs taking legal action for defamation (the genuine right of human beings in public office to be protected from egregious abuse also needs to be considered - particularly as such abuse is a barrier to women and members of minority groups standing for office) (TG);   why we need oppositions, and why the neolibs are failing at that (TC);   thoughts on how to stop public funding of political ads (TC);   calls for better handling of complaints against police in my home state (TG);   poverty in Australia, during increased costs of living (TG);   “almost 200,000 robodebt cases to be wiped as Albanese government condemns ‘shameful’ scheme” (TG);   “a majority of Australians support expanding the use of public hearings under a national anti-corruption commission ... beyond the “exceptional circumstances” benchmark set by the government” (TG);   a legal challenge to anti-protect laws enacted by NSW is underway (TG);   an examination of “equity in education” (TC);   “working from home is a proletariat revolution” (TND);   students are trying to survive on insufficient support (TG);   powerful criticism of the proposed Stage 3 tax cuts (TG);  
  
  
• suppression of dissent / media in   Iran (ABC),   Türkiye (TG),   Uganda (AP);
  democracy is also at risk in   Chad (DW); 
  
  
• on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC): 
• on the protests in Iran against the killing of a young woman by so-called “morality”  “police”:   a fourth week of protests is gathering momentum (TC);   consideration of possible flow-on (F24) from Iran’s violent and vindictive repression (DW) to the possible reactivation of the nuclear deal (F24);   consideration of the protests showing the grip of fear the regime in Iran had may have been broken (CNN);   an opinion on why this is different to previous protests (M);   an assessment of how this has become a “national uprising” (CNN);   Iranian security forces are arresting children in schools - and trying to be covert about being security forces (TG);   gunshots and explosions have been heard (TG);   a caution that change in Iran may require the military to change sides (TC), but a senior figure has called for change in the hijab laws (TG);   an opinion that these protests are a struggle for self-determination (DW);   “at least 23 children have been killed by security forces in Iran” (YT - AI);   an article on three key women (TG);  
  
• “for the traumatised Australian children escaping Syrian detention camps, help here will be life-changing” (TC);   the “tragic Thai massacre raises issues of mental health, drug use and gun control ahead of next year’s election” in that nation (the article raises concerns over the “Buddhist stoicism” often shown) (TC);   how a violently Islamophobic US former soldier was transformed and even became Muslim (CNN);   staggering abuses in our aged care homes (TG) - see also this, from the UK (TG);   despite the sentiments of this priest on action against poverty - and his actions are admirable, addressing the systemic causes and ensuring proper official responses rather than hit and miss access to charity is ESSENTIAL (DW);   a notorious conspiracy fantasist has been ordered to pay his victims - the families of victims of a school mass shooting - A$1.5 billion (TND) - see also this (TG);   inappropriate aspects to a memorial event in Bali (TG);   “the harassment campaign against Boston Children's shows how fascist violence is crowdsourced online” (Substack - “Public Notice”);  
   
• human rights are at risk or abuses have occurred in:   Canada (TG),   Australia (TG),   police globally (AI),   Azerbaijan (HRW),   Germany (DW),   Tunisia (The New Arab);
  
  
• violence in:   the West Bank (CNN),   Jerusalem (TG),   USA (TG),   Mali (AJ);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   an atrocity alert for Ukraine, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique (GCR2P);   a “letter to member states on atrocity prevention priorities at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly’s 77^th session” (GCR2P);  
  
  
• noting Article 19 of the ICCPR on FREEDOM of POLITICAL EXPRESSION:   “five Hong Kong teenagers sentenced in first security case involving minors” (the judge showed some leniency) (CNN);  
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   more transphobia in the neoliberal nitwits (Star);   severe homophobia at cismale sporting clubs (SMH);   my home state’s “208 LGBTQ+ suicides [in the last decade] to be outlined for the first time in new report” (I agree that the number is likely to be an underestimate - especially because of police shortcomings/bigotry) (TG);  
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   our anti-discrimination laws were not designed with systemic racism in mind (SBS);   more extreme racism amongst conservative MPs (their mindset is still focused on assimilation - i.e., cultural genocide at the least) (TG);   racism in European sport (TG);   an Indigenous Senator “wants action on treaty and truth before campaigning for Indigenous voice” (TG);   “pride turning public perception for Pilbara town once described as a “war zone”” (NIT);   stolen artefacts have been returned to Nigeria (CNN);  
  more racism issues:   NT (ABC);
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    “investing in girls is investing in our common future” (UN);   “Australian women are more educated than men, but gender divides remain at work” (TC);   the new sexist division of healthcare in the USA (TG);   the UK's “Home Office threatens to send heavily pregnant [and “distressed”] rape survivor to Rwanda” (TG);  
  more sexism issues:   Poland (HRW);
  
  
• noting the laws listed here, the conventions listed here, and principles discussed here, here, here, here, and here, on the RIGHTS OF ANIMALS:   a nuanced examination of depression amongst vegetarians - which is NOT related to nutrition, but may be linked to issues such as better perception, guilt over animal abuse, and “social ostracism” (TND);   the benefits of pets (TG);   a mass whale stranding in New Zealand (TG);  
  
  
• 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:   concerns over ongoing abuses in my home state’s prisons (TG);   “Northern Territory to become first Australian jurisdiction to raise age of criminal responsibility” (NIT);   
  
  
• noting the CRC on CHILDREN:   “US stops funding some militaries using child soldiers ... but 4 countries recruiting children will still receive US military aid” (HRW);  
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   “the constant abuse and harassment from non-disabled people isn’t changing – in fact it’s getting even worse” (TG);  
  

(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 [$];   Dabanga Sudan - DS;   Deutsche Welle - DW;   European Union - EU;   Forbes - F;   Foreign Policy - FP;   France 24 - F24;   Freedom House - FH;   Genocide Watch - GW;   Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect - GCR2P;   HumAngle - HmA;   Human Rights Law Centre - HRLC;   Human Rights Watch - HRW;   Independent Australia - IA;   International Crisis Group - ICG;   Lawfare Blog - LFB;   Lowy Institute - The Interpreter - Lowy;   mainstream media - MSM;   Medium - M;   Michael West (news media platform) - MW;   Mirage News - MN;   Nation Africa - NA;   National Indigenous Times - NIT;   New York Times - NYT [$];   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;   Quartz - Q;   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 Sentry - TS;   The Shot - TS;   Thomson Reuters Foundation Context - CT;   United Nations - UN;   Voice of America - VoA;   Wall Street Journal - WSJ [$];   War on the Rocks - WotR;   Washington Post - WP [$];   Yahoo News - Yahoo; YouTube - YT;