Some human rights and other news links [Note: Content Warning - reader discretion is advised!] and thoughts - Saturday 12th 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): 
• “a technologically advanced society is choosing to destroy itself. It’s both fascinating [not to me!] and horrifying to watch” (TC);    the last eight years were the hottest ever (TG);   the issue of rich nations needing to compensate poor nations will be on the agenda at COP27 (TND);   a preview of COP27 (TND);   “UN chief’s disturbing ‘suicide pact’ warning as the world on ‘highway to climate hell’” (TND);   a warning of “terminal” loss of sea ice in the Arctic leading to a catastrophic rise in sea levels (TG);   “applying cultural archaeological insight to contemporary water management issues” (AWA News);   “UN experts demand [a] crackdown on greenwashing of net zero pledges” (TG);   an opinion that protestors should “not be nice” (maybe ... it gets attention, but it doesn’t necessarily change decision makers’ minds - and they should NOT be violent) (TG);   developing nations will need US$2 trillion a year to cope with the climate crisis (TG);   an explainer on why climate change brings both worse droughts and worse floods (YT [PBS]);   some young people are not having children (UN);  
  
• on COP27:   daily updates from the UN here, here, here, and here;   young people’s call for action (UN);   environmental rights defenders (FH);   the masterclass in not taking collective action (Lowy);   and a review of what happened (or not) to COP26 pledges (DW);  
  
• “Indigenous protesters in Peru have released more than 100 tourists they held on a riverboat in protest at earlier oil spills in the country's Amazon region” (DW);   “forest regeneration that earned multimillion-dollar carbon credits resulted in fewer trees” (TG);   although protecting 30% of the natural world is admirable, we also need to also protect city fauna and flora (TC);   the soft plastic recycling scheme has been suspended without warning, as plastics accumulated without anyone being let know (ABC);   outdoor counselling (ABC);  
  
• climate / environmental issues have also occurred in:   Cameroon (DW),   Nile River (F24),   India (EVs) (ABC);
  
  
• 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: 
• a staggering revelation that our so-called COVIDsafe data was sent to a data mining company (TG);   more (TND) on our imminent fourth wave (ABC);  
  
  
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
  
• the drought in Kenya has killed hundreds of animals (F24);   a plane crash in Tanzania (TG);   a “call for greater support to prevent famine in Horn of Africa” (UN);   “mass displacements in eastern DR Congo threaten young lives” (UN);   cholera in Malawi (NA);  
  
• on the floods in Australia:   blackwater and wastewater are causing fish deaths (and this happens in other floods as well [see the warnings of disease after, for instance, the Pakistan floods], but the scale here is unprecedented here) (TG);   three towns are receiving air drops of food after being cut off (which poorer nations cannot do) (TG);   insurers are not offering insurance near flood-affected areas (ABC);  
  
  
• 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:   Russia is reportedly shooting its own soldiers (deserters and cowards have often been punished, including killed, in war: the scale of this might indicate a larger than usual morale problem, though ... ) (TND);   hundreds of recruits have been killed through incompetence (TG);   Russia is shifting to a winter defence strategy (ABC), and has withdrawn from a key city (TND);  
  
• on the nuclear (weapons and power) situations:   suspicions that the Russian navy has developed a nuclear powered torpedo (CNN); 
  
• inside Russia:   mandatory patriotism classes (DW);  
• internationally:   a warning of “Ukraine fatigue” if Ukraine continues to refuse to talk (TG);   Russia’s “informal” military is colluding with Sudan to exploit gold resources (rfi);   
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• an examination of North Korea’s latest flurry of missile attacks (TC);   an opinion that the real reason the USA is shifting nuclear-capable bombers from Guam to Australia is that Guam is within range of missiles from China (Lowy);   on why some women are leaving China (ABC);   not having learned from what happened to Saddam Hussein, Iran is blathering on about having developed a hypersonic cruise missile ... (R);  
  
• 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:   violent extremist attacks, on on a migrant centre in the UK (DW), and one on a donut shop in the USA (over drag queens!) (M);   the USA has “warned” Australia not to join anti-nuclear weapons treaties (**** off, USA, it's OUR choice - not your!!!) (TG);   peace talks in Ethiopia have been extended, and are now covering disarmament and aid (AP);   further growth in tensions between Rwanda and DRC (F24);  
   
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring), MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE, MISCONDUCT and THREATS TO DEMOCRACY/FREEDOM: 
• as one scammer from a previous hack pleads guilty (TG), a warning of ransom demands for victims of the latest super cyber-hack (TND), why health data is a target (ABC), details of widespread scamming attacks (TND) and official advice on data security (ACSC) - see also this (TG), and, after being appalled by what his daughter had to hand over in a rental application, the outgoing ACCC deputy chair warns Australians to “think twice” before handing their data to private companies (TND) - see also this (TND). Meanwhile, tech companies whinge (TG) about proposed fines - and we need better than that!!! (ABC) - while the Russian (TND) hackers have a strategy of deliberate cruelty (TND);   
• a hacking attack stole millions from French-speaking Africa (Q);  
  
• criticism of the former government’s “sports rorts” scheme by a report they commissioned at the time, and only partly released (TG);   a warning (TND) to the former PM not to release any more Cabinet secrets;   a gambling company has been fined A$120 million for breaching safe gambling obligations (TND);  
• concerns around past/current/potential corruption/misgovernance also in   Australia (TG),   Australian economy (TG);
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• globally:   a questioning of what civilisation is (I didn’t agree with any of the definitions used: for me, “civilisation” is the use of sedentary cultivation [as opposed to gather-hunter cultures] to foster more intensive human occupation, an attempting to do so with decency, and in a way that takes advantage of human skills that can now be accessed by having surplus food and other resources) (M);   an examination of the connection between democracy and social media (TC);   Israel has moved to the hardline far right (ICG), to the fear of Palestinians (DW);   the right was always as it now is obviously appearing to be (M);   anti-junta marches are continuing in Sudan (DS);  
  
• a warning of a “dangerous [political] climate in the USA by former US President Obama” (F24);   a senior Russian figure has admitted to interfering in the current US elections (so has Putin to past interference, but the origin of this goes back decades to US interference) (TND);   an assessment of the risk of civil war in the USA (if it happens, will be more of a guerilla campaign) (TG);   some US companies are reducing their support for conspiracy fantasists (PVG);   assessments of the results so far here (TC), here (TC), here (TG),
  
• in Australia:   a criticism of a conservative media empire’s actions and purpose (TC);   the struggle to pay increasing school costs is leading to disadvantaged students falling behind (TG);  praise for the current government standing up to bullying interests (TND);   the “(almost) overwhelming mess” left by the previous national neolib nitwit government (TND);   “big business needs to be cured of its addiction to low wages” (TA);   yet another call for a windfall tax - this one specifically calls for more of the courage that has already been shown (TG);   our referendum laws will be updated (TG);  
  
• suppression of dissent / media in   Egypt (HRW),   Somalia (VoA),   Mali (VoA),   Senegal (AN);
  democracy is also at risk in   Nigeria (The [Nigerian] Guardian); 
  
  
• 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:   an examination finds the resistance to change may be immovable (YT);  
  
• “like racism and sexism, ‘povertyism’ should be illegal” (UN);   two interesting videos, here and here, on part of the history of slavery in Scotland (YT);   “you can’t fight patriarchy without fighting transphobia: reproductive rights, women’s rights, and transgender rights are not competing for causes — they are one and the same” (M);   fatphobia never works (M);   a criticism of those leaving a social media platform (M);   an Australian detailed in Iraq over a business dispute is at risk of death (TND);   “children of African descent ‘not considered children at all’, rights experts charge” (UN);   gravely disturbing Islamophobia has been alleged at a school in my home state (TG);   an examination of facial surveillance (CT);  
  
• human rights are at risk or abuses have also occurred in:   Türkiye (UN),   Hong Kong (TG),   Libya (possible justice?) (UN),   FIFA (TG) - and Qatar (ABC), see also here and here (Cards of Qatar),   Chad (HA)
  
• violence in:   Afghanistan (UN),   Africa (UN);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   an atrocity alert for Ethiopia, Burma, and Yemen (GCR2P);  
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:   Italy is accepting some child refugees but keeping others at sea (F24) - so France has done her human rights duty and accepted them (F24);  
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   more on the rabidly irrational and extremists anti-LGBTIQA+ of neochristians in the USA (M);   “transphobia has never been about science” (M);   more homophobic rubbish from Qatar damages not only that small-minded nation's credibility but also FIFA for giving them the World Cup in the first place (TG);   a warning to NSW police NOT to be heavy handed during World Pride (Star);   transphobic doctors (M);   the gutless BB+C is hiding its transphobia (M);  
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   “how refugees, migrants and Indigenous communities are moving beyond mainstream media’s ‘deficit lens’ - which is essential to claim belonging” (TC);   a former senior Qld police officer has revealed the racism that drove him out (I know others who left police for that and similar reasons) (TG);   the remains of 18 Indigenous people have been returned by British museums (TG);   another Indigenous death in custody (TG);   a company that was ordered to apologise after destroying a sacred site a year ago has not done so (SBS);  
  more racism issues:   Europe (discrimination against the Roma) (MRG);
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    a need to tweak one aspect of a bill aiming at reducing sexual harassment and discrimination (TND);   the blatant misogyny of men interacting with powerful women (TG);   rather than being a “war on men”, feminism is actually good for men (TG);  
  more sexism issues:   a conservative mainstream newspaper (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:   the challenges of trying to find alternatives to the jury system (TC);  
  
  
• noting the CRC on CHILDREN:   bullying can lead to home schooling (TC);  
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   hyperverbal autists (M);   a language guide to avoiding ableism (University of the Fraser  Valley);   
  
  
• 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:   the Netflix film "Enola Holmes II" is entertaining, but also reference the matchgirls strike of 1888, led, in part, by Sarah Chapman (all links Wikipedia);   the problem of “management entrenchment” (TC);   privacy risks in workplace EAP schemes (ABC);  
  
  
• 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:    “Australia’s rental housing is a national disgrace – and improving it will combat the energy crisis” (TG) - see also this (and when do buyers get called to account for wanting more for less?) (ABC);   another attempt to informally even the power imbalance between renters and landlords (these have been tried before, and generally shut down by legal action) (TG);   food shortages in Australia (SBS);  
  

(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 [$];   War on the Rocks - WotR;   Washington Post - WP [$];   Wikipedia - WP;   Yahoo News - Yahoo; YouTube - YT;