Some human rights and other news links [Note: Content Warning - reader discretion is advised!] and thoughts - Saturday 5th November, 2022

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): 
• “the Nile Delta isn’t ready for climate change” (Quartz);   Greta Thunberg will skip the greenwashing event COP27 in Egypt (TG);    greenwashing of a major sporting event in West Asia (F24);   DNA evidence shows “humans’ famed ability to adapt our behaviour and develop new tools and techniques has not always been enough to survive when times have grown tough” (TC);   an expert still has hope (TG);   “in Iraq's Babylon, age-old building techniques heal climate scars” (CT);   a reminder (UN) that human rights (including conflict and displacement issues (UN) ) are at the heart of the climate change debate (UN);   to solve the climate crisis, we have to stop using energy (M) - see also this (by me) (M);   “climate change much deadlier than cancer in some places, UNDP data shows” (UN);   an archaeological warning of what happens after climate change (TG);  
  
• a warning koalas are facing extinction (ABC);   asbestos risks in Laos and Vietnam (APHEDA);   “the EU should stop exporting its plastic waste” (HRW);   “‘it’s greenwash’: most home compostable plastics don’t work, says study” (TG);   “Brazil supreme court ruling to reactivate Amazon Fund gives hope in fight to save rainforest” (TG);   trees can talk (YT);  
  
• climate / environmental issues have occurred in:   an Australian supermarket chain (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: 
• the next COVID variants of concern (TND);   the next COVID wave is starting in SA (ABC);  
  
  
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
  
• famine in Somalia (ABC);   100 people have been killed in a crowd event in South Korea (DW) - see also “crowd crushes: how disasters like Itaewon happen, how can they be prevented, and the ‘stampede’ myth” (TG);   a pedestrian bridge collapse has killed over 100 people in India (SBS);   “floods are natural, but human decisions make disasters” (TC);   a plea for help in dealing with the consequences of a violent extremist attack in Somalia (TEA);   “Haiti: ‘Triple threat’ of cholera, malnutrition and violence puts young lives at risk” (UN) - but see also this, on people not wanting a foreign military “intervention” (invasion?) (UN), and cholera in Lebanon (UN);   aid deliveries and problems in the eastern DRC (UN);   growing hunger in South Sudan (UN);  
  
• public health risks are increasing in devastated areas of Pakistan (UN);   some flood victims in my home state have had their trauma compounded by being evicted (TG), and crayfish are reportedly walking out of flooded rivers because of lack of oxygen (TG). Businesses will get aid (which is something less developed nations aren’t able to provide) (TG), but in NSW “older, disabled and pregnant residents of Lismore were left behind in ... flood response ... a new report has found” (TC);  
  
  
• 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:   citizen-spotters are again warning - like the Air Raid Wardens in WW2 - of air attacks by phone, but this time of drone attacks, and by an app (TG);   Western satellite technology is giving Ukraine an edge in the battle of the drones (F24);   “Russia recruiting Afghan special forces who fought with US to fight in Ukraine” (TG);  
  
• on human rights in the region and globally:   “Ukraine faces ‘winter humanitarian crisis’ with energy grid on the brink” (TG);  grain shipments are still on hold as a result of Russian intransigence (UN) ... until a change of heart by Russia (UN);  
  
• inside Russia:   the experience of the families of Russians who have refused to fight in the illegal invasion of Ukraine (DW);  
• internationally:   Russia has suspended the grain expert deal (TG);   a consideration of the possibility that Russia could collapse (TC);   
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• lockdowns and the extremes of a zero-COVID policy, a declining economy, and growing authoritarianism and hostility are causing more ex-pats to leave China (ABC);    Australia has finally separated from the USA enough to cease actively blocking the proposed ban on nuclear weapons, but not enough to support the treaty (TND);   China is unhappy at closer military ties between Australia and the USA (a few Australians have concerns as well, given the potential for the USA to elect unstable leaders) (TND) - see also this (ABC);   growing tensions between Rwanda and DRC over rebels in east DRC (AJ) - and Uganda (Monitor), with questions about Kenyan involvement (TEA);  
  
• 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:   “peace talks on Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict [have been] extended” ([US] ABC News) ... and a treaty has been signed (UN);   “US blames Russia's Wagner Group for worsening security situation in Mali” (MSN);   a North Korean missile has landed in South Korean waters (TG), leading to a tit-for-tat retaliation (TND) - and anther caused concern in Japan (TND), followed by mass formations of military aircraft near borders (ABC);  
• incidents / action of concern in/regarding:   Yemen (UN);
   
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring), MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE, MISCONDUCT and THREATS TO DEMOCRACY/FREEDOM: 
• the former US Vice-President has condemned the attack on the US Speaker’s husband from a right wing conspiracy fantasist while former POTUS45 - whose rhetoric probably caused the attack - remains silent (ABC) - see also this (M), this (TG), this (M), this vile behaviour (TG), this (TG), and more here on the vile conspiracy fantasist comment by the Twit (TG), and the former VP has also blamed #45 for the attempted insurrection (TG);   “a former US Capitol Police officer has been convicted of obstructing an FBI investigation into the” 6^th January, 2021 attempted insurrection (TND);  
  
• on cyber issues:   concerns about ID requirements for an online age-verification system (TG);   increasing cyber attacks on businesses (TG);   
• Qatar is continuing to try to sportswash its human rights abuses by making utterly absurd claims (ABC);  
  
• the human face (TND) of the Robodebt debacle - see also this assessment of the failings of that plot (TC);   “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, legal and human rights organisations are reiterating calls for a new independent body to investigate allegations of police misconduct in light of research that has found public trust in Victoria Police has hit a new low after countless scandals” (HRLC);   more on police attempting to intimidate environmental activists in multiple states (TG);   more thought control in China (TG);   a The Guardian exclusive reports that a UK “Tory-linked lobbying firm agreed to help swing DRC election, leak suggests”;   a massive fine from a UK court for a company convicted of bribery in Africa (TG);  
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• globally:   India is tightening its grip on social media (DW);   Brazil has rejected trumpism (TG), but after concerns the trump-lite loser may have been preparing to do a #45 (TND), he spoke and his Chief of Staff conceded (TG) as a judge orders his supporters to cease their disruption (TG) - see also this, on the challenges to be addressed (HRW);   “civil society faces an uphill struggle to defend democracy” (PVG);   US President “Biden accuses oil companies of ‘war profiteering’ and threatens windfall tax” (TG);   an attempted assassination in Pakistan (TND);   protection against online disinformation (UN);    “gatekeepers have deliberately sought to keep the working [people] in their place to shore up their position” (M);  
  
  
• in Australia:   growing demand for food aid (TG);   children and young people are commuting thefts to get food (TC);   “the pandemic and a rising cost of living have changed Australians’ eating habits for the worse, with fresh food abandoned for takeaway” (TND);   “Australia can make energy a shared commodity” (TG);   the high cost of Australia's incarceration rates - which are higher than three decades ago, despite a drop in major crime (TG);  
  
  
• suppression of dissent / media in:   Australia (TC),   Sudan (ST),   Egypt (F24);
  democracy is also at risk in:   Burkina Faso (Barrons); 
  
  
• 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:   “Iran [is] withholding [the] bodies of slain protesters from families” (F24);   Iran’s ultra-conservative, misogynistic “Revolutionary” Guard has threatened to will stop the protests today (F24);   in an act of solidarity, a protest song by an arrested protestor has been performed by a major world music group (TG);   public trials will be held of those arrested (will they be genuine, or show?) (TG);   “sustaining the fight for women’s rights in Iran as repression tightens” (PVG);   Iran is trying to intimidate Iranians outside of Iran (ABC);  
  
• why (ABC) society needs to move beyond fat shaming (ABC);   an anti-trans group is showing the intersectionality of hate by hooking up with the Sultan of Brunei (QN);   a surge in hate speech (TG) (extremists are back (TG)) and deplorable actions (Axios)  - see also this (TG) - after the sale of Twitter;   the struggle to survive on low social security (TG);   concerns about the potential for violent extremism in the so-called “incel” movement (TG);   the need for aged-friendly cities (TC);   a reminder that an alcoholic animal-abusing event also comes with domestic violence (TC);   the death of a North Korean defector to South Korea has highlighted the problem of hate and discrimination (DW);   “Australia ordered to negotiate with 122 Indonesians wrongly held in adult jails when they were children” (TG);   affirmative action is at risk of being the next target of the USA’s ultra-reactionary (using centuries out of date “values”, based on the precedents used) Supreme Court (TG);   “MRG urges the African Union to put in place positive measures to ensure that no one [in indigenous communities and minorities] is left behind” (MRG);   “MRG denounces the situation faced by black and other marginalized persons with disabilities” in Brazil (MRG);   businesses have misappropriated the resistance-based notion of self care to evade taking responsibility (Australian Unions);   discrimination on the basis of accent (Sutton Trust);   the ICC will allow a flawed investigation into human rights abuses in Afghanistan to resume (HRW);  
   
• human rights are at risk or abuses have occurred in:   Burma (HRW),   South Africa (TG);
  
  
• violence in:   Somalia (DW),   Gaza Strip/Israel (ABC),   Ecuador (ICG),   UK (BBC) - see also this (BBC);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   Australia is supporting the genocidaires in Burma (ABC);   an atrocity alert has been issued for Somalia, Ukraine and calling for justice for past atrocities (GCR2P);  
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:   growing hardline attitudes in one US border town (TG);   “child asylum seekers say UK officials pressed them to lie about their age” (TG);   “UN refugee chief urges stronger action to end ‘legal limbo’ of statelessness” (UN);  
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   “Australian Press Council condemns SMH column on same-sex relationship” (my experience of the APC is that it is hit and miss - they've allowed transphobia in the past, so I would choose not to use them, but this result is a small set off for the past - it is also relevant that the article was months ago, so these wheels do not necessarily turn quickly) (TG);   religious blindness on homophobia (M);   Australia’s national government is proposing to add protection for TGD and intersex people to existing laws, but (a) it needs to happen, and (b) it needs better inclusion of Intersex people (JE);   the lethality of hate has been shown by the death by suicide of a young gay couple in Armenia (QN);   “the [neo]christian right is winning its war on LGBTQ people” (M);   the treatment of LGBTIQA+ students at private Qld schools has led to a review of their accreditation (the same should happen elsewhere) (TG);   allies have stood up for trans (Q News) and LGBTIQA+ (M) people;   legal action has been launched against my home state’s police over a past incident of transphobia (TG);   in a long foreseen outcome of hate, “stories about cisgender women being harassed because they “look trans” have become increasingly common” (M);  
  
• CW: provocative nudity - this sort of utter stupidity, contrary to the author’s opinion, IMO does nothing for those TGD people who want to live normal lives and don’t want to be spectacles - this spectacle fails as satire and fuels transphobes by focusing on external genitalia (M);  
  more LGBTIQA+ issues:  Malaysia (Focus Malaysia);
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   
• the PM has attributed the daylight killing of an Indigenous child walking home after school to racism - NOTE: this matter is now subject to legal process, and while this comment and others like it are VITAL to addressing racism in Australia, it also risks compromising the trial of the person(s) alleged to have committed this crime (TND) - vigils have been held for the victim (TND), and see also this, on the wrong place absurdity (SMH), and this, on the brave family of the killed child acting to force Australia to face up to its racism (TND);    
• an ex of a police officer who shot and killed an Indigenous man has told a coronial inquest she “wasn’t surprised”, as the officer had “talked about killing” (TG) - and other concerning behaviour has been reported (TG) as the coronial inquest focuses on that police organisation’s “culture” (ABC);   
•  “racialised” language used by a senior Qld police officer (TG);   dangerous flaws in NSW’s attempts to deal with coercive control (TG);   my home state has stepped in after a company backed out of sponsoring a national sporting team after concerns were raised about the company’s connections with a vile racist (TG);   racist emails to an Indigenous sports presenter have been referred to police (TG);   an attempt to ban racism in Tunisia was ground breaking but flawed (MRG);   safety concerns will prevent Indigenous people being part of a sports enquiry into racism (ABC);   violent ethnic clashes in Sudan (UN);  
  more racism issues:   France’s Parliament (F24),   WA (NIT),   Sweden (UN);
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    “how motherhood as we currently structure it condemns women to a lifelong economic penalty” (ABC);   “men have a 'powerful role' in stopping violence against women and it starts with 'calling out their mates'” (ABC);   a “woman who was raped and abused killed herself after being wrongly identified as [an] offender” by Qld police (TG) - see also this (TG);   legal action against US police alleges they failed to prevent a death from domestic violence (ABC);
  
  
• noting the laws listed here, the conventions listed here, and principles discussed here, here, here, here, and here, on the RIGHTS OF ANIMALS:   “human exceptionalism imposes horrible costs on other animals” (Aeon);  
  
  
• 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:   sports clubs in NSW will continue to use facial recognition with limited controls (TG);   the problems associated with video doorbells (CT); 
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   “persons affected by leprosy excluded from conversations around disability” (UN);  
  
  
• 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:   a farmers’ union has been established in Timor Leste (APHEDA);   in a blow to the neoliberals who savaged society over the last few decades, while “employers say Labor’s new industrial relations bill threatens the economy Denmark tells a different story” (TC);   
  
  
• 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 house prices are falling, to the distress of the wannabe-rich-and-elite and the delight of those who see houses as a place for homes (TND);   a homelessness crisis in the USA (TG);   
   
• Australians are “celebrating” (in a very commercialised way) Hallowe'en at the wrong time of the year (SBS);   
• another call to replace BMI (TG) - and some common sense (more specifically: objective assessment of evidence) on the absurdities being promulgated about child obesity (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;   Context - CT;   the (US) Council on Foreign Relations (CFR);   Crikey - C [$];   Dabanga Sudan - DS;   Deutsche Welle - DW;   European Union - EU;   Forbes - F;   Foreign Policy - FP;   France 24 - F24;   Freedom House - FH;   Genocide Watch - GW;   Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect - GCR2P;   HumAngle - HmA;   Human Rights Law Centre - HRLC;   Human Rights Watch - HRW;   Independent Australia - IA;   International Crisis Group - ICG;   Just Equal - JE;   Lawfare Blog - LFB;   Lowy Institute - The Interpreter - Lowy;   mainstream media - MSM;   Medium - M;   Michael West (news media platform) - MW;   Minority Rights Group - MRG;   Mirage News - MN;   Nation Africa - NA;   National Indigenous Times - NIT;   New York Times - NYT [$];   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;   Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA;   United Nations - UN;   Voice of America - VoA;   Wall Street Journal - WSJ [$];   War on the Rocks - WotR;   Washington Post - WP [$];   Yahoo News - Yahoo; YouTube - YT;