Some human rights and other news links [Note: Content Warning - reader discretion is advised!] and thoughts Saturday, 4th February 2023

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. For anyone distressed by anything in this post, or for any other reason considering seeking support, resources are available in Australia here, here, and here. In other nations, you will have to do an Internet search using terms such as “mental health support - <your nation>” (which, for instance, may lead to this, this, and this, in the USA, or this, this, and this, in France [biased towards English-language - my apologies]).

• “sleeping late isn’t a sign of laziness. Stop the circadian-rhythm shaming ... Your daily sleep-wake schedule, called your chronotype, appears to be mostly genetic” (TG);   disaster capitalism (JW) - see also this (RR), this (IA) but this (TC), this (TG), this (TND), and, on a more positive note, this (Bill Mitchell);   female political leaders (Lowy);   “the privacy implications of biometrics and [a] look at some recent lawsuits challenging its use” (CT);   “learning from Ghana’s multistakeholder approach to cyber security” (ACSS);   the contrast between ancient and modern scepticism (Aeon);   Cold War era brainwashing in Japan (Aeon);  
  
• on the CLIMATE CRISIS (noting the UNFCCC) and ENVIRONMENT (noting multiple  international agreements): 
• the floods in New Zealand show the (TC) need (TC) for preparation for the climate crisis (TC);   “plant toxin hailed as ‘new weapon’ in antibiotic war against bacteria” (TG);   “emissions divide now greater within countries than between them” (TG);   an environmental activist was killed by police in the USA (Star);   a promise by US President Biden has been broken to allow drilling for oil in Alaska (TG);   legal action by four Indonesians against a European company over the climate crisis (AJ) - and by 14,000 Nigerians (TG);   calls for windfall taxes as one fossil makes an “obscene” profit (TG);   elderly climate crisis activists have said they would rather die in jail than aged care (TG);   “Rwandan man powers entire community with hydroelectric energy” (MG);  
  
• climate / environmental issues have also occurred in:   Queensland (deforestation) (TC),   USA (good news) (NIT),   wetlands (UN),   ACT (EV incentives) (TG),   solar farms (help wildlife) (TC),   ozone layer (harm from rocket fuel) (TC);
  
  
• 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: 
• next (TC) stages (TC) of management;  
  
  
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
  
• a global food crisis is affecting nearly a billion people (World Food Programme);   floods in New Zealand (TG) and Australia (TG);   a mass drowning and a fatal bus accident on the same day in Pakistan (TG);   cyclone in Madagascar (AJ);   drought in Ethiopia (NA);   bushfires in Qld (TG);   the current global bird flu outbreak continues to be a major risk (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 military matters:   Russia could regain the initiative (TG);   
• on the nuclear (weapons and power) situations:   “US accuses Russia of violating key nuclear arms control treaty” (TG);  
• on human rights in the region and globally:   the war is “taking a heavy toll on animals and the environment” (F24); 
  
• internationally:   Türkiye would accept Finland into NATO without Sweden (F24);   Belorussia’s president has visited Zimbabwe (VoA) as Russia extends its influence in Africa (BB) - see also this (NPR);   
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• “Kiribati to return to Pacific Islands Forum at vital moment for regional diplomacy” (TG);   in shades of this, perhaps, a Chinese (TG) spy (ABC) balloon is crossing the USA, leading to postponement of a high level visit from the USA to China (TG);   Chad will open an embassy in Israel (AA);   after a 30 year absence, the USA is reopening an Embassy in the Solomon Islands (TG);  
  
• 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 new measurement of conflict severity (surprisingly, Ukraine is in the 2nd rank, but worsening) (ACLED);   explosions at an Iranian weapons factory have been blamed on a drone attack (TG);   a commentary on how to avoid another war between Armenia and Azerbaijan (ICG);   as China invades Taiwanese airspace yet again (ABC), and the Philippines gives the USA greater military access (F24), a warning (from a military person) that China could use the lessons of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to bring war to Asia - see a similar sentiment from a political figure here (TG) ... but we will keep raising human rights issues despite threats (TG);   as talks resume (ST), “peace in South Sudan hinges on local accountability, landmark Peacebuilding Commission meeting hears” (UN);   Eritrean troops are still in Ethiopia (TEA) - see also this (PVG);   in the resurging (TG) violence between Israel and Palestine, Israel has violently punished the families (F24) of a man who attacked Israelis and made air attacks against Gaza (TG), and there are strong indications peace is not likely (TC) - see also this, on Saudi support (UN), and this, on a leadership transition in Palestine (ICG);   weapons being sent from Iran to Yemen have been intercepted and seized (AJ);  
  
• incidents / action of concern in/regarding:   Pakistan (TG),   Iran/Syria (F24),   Ethiopia (not Tigray) (DW);
   
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring), MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE, MISCONDUCT and THREATS TO DEMOCRACY/FREEDOM: 
• a backgrounder on a developing POTUS45 spy scandal (SubStack - Timothy Snyder) - other scandal are becoming apparent, including that the GOP knew in 2016 that #45 was probably being paid by Russia (TG);   evidence is suggesting a cover up of the RoboDebt scandal (TSP) - and “RoboDebt victims' details released to media in bid to deter them from speaking out, royal commission told” (ABC);   concerns about inadequacies in a proposed whistleblower bill in Australia (TG) - see also this (HRLC);   after a decade of neolib misrule, Australia’s standing on corruption is improving (TC);   half a million Africans are killed each year by fake medicines (UN);  
  
• concerns around past/current/potential corruption/misgovernance also in   Ukraine (TND),   USA (Yahoo),   USA (P),   USA (TS),   NSW (TG);
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• globally:   calls for Tunisia’s president-turned-despot to step down (Middle East Monitor) after record low vote turnout (TG);   the crisis in Peru is continuing (AJ);   protestors in France are concerned about the threat to social justice of proposed changes (F24);   insecurity in Africa has increased over the last decade (Q), but see also “Africa’s 2023 Elections: Democratic Resiliency in the Face of Trials” (ACSS);   an attempt to restrict protests in the UK has been rejected in the House of Lords (TG);   an explainer on so-called “short selling”, including the potential for public benefit (TC);   tensions after the murder of a lawyer in eSwatini (AriseNews);  “spite” from Republicans in the USA (TG);  
  
• in Australia:   as violent white supremacist divides become apparent (TG), questions over the delays (ABC) in taking action over violence in an inland city - see also this (TG), this (ABC), and this (NIT);   the Voice will receive the support of key leaders (TG) - but see this pointing out that the problem is not being listened to (TG) ... and there is a possibility that, if the referendum on the Voice succeeds, constitutional recognition of Australia’s Indigenous people in the Constitution could occur (ABC);   a deliberately malicious and divisive call for a voice-type recognition of immigrants has been comprehensively rejected by immigrants (TG);   a court has found a media platform defamed a former soldier (TG);   the biggest spender didn’t win the last Federal election (TC);   increasing medical demand has been ignored for a decade (curiously similar to the length of national neolib governance ... ) (TND);   the deeply flawed “My” Health Record system may be revamped (hopefully by someone with basic UI skills and a commitment to managing privacy) (TG);   “ASIO warned its terror definitions are encouraging extremism” (SBS);  
  
• suppression of dissent / media in   Rwanda (TG);
  democracy is also at risk in   Iraq (UN),   Nigeria (NA),; 
  
  
• on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC):
  
• imitation grenades have been sent to new members of the US Congress (TG);    another (TG) probably (M) racist (TG) beating (F24) death (TG) by US police has happened, leading to strong reactions (F24) , but this time the (black) police officers have been charged and the police unit disbanded (F24) - but see this (TG), this (M), this (TG),   this (TG), this (SubStack - Mary L Trump), this assessment of a killing of a restrained prisoner in 2017 (YT - NYT) ... and police in another US state have charged over beating a homeless person (TG) killed a man cleaning his grandmothers apartment (TG), and killed a double amputee (TG) ... no wonder a US city spent US$121 million on payouts for police misconduct last year (Gothamist) ... (my thoughts here);   social media wrongly identified a house for care of young people as a half-way house and led to threats (TG);   some of those who have been disappeared in Cameroon are later being found dead (MG);   a call for an investigation into possible war crimes by Russian mercenaries in Mali (AJ);  
  
• human rights are at risk or abuses have also occurred in:   Iran (TG),   FIFA - again (TG);
  
• violence in:   Pakistan (TG),   Burkina Faso (TEA),   CAR (Russian mercenaries) (TG);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   Australia has finally imposed sanctions against the genocidaires in Burma (TG), although more sanctions are recommended (ABC) - see also this call to deny the junta legitimacy (UN);   an atrocity alert for Ukraine, Ethiopia and Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (GCR2P);  
  more genocide / mass atrocity issues:   mass expulsions (PVG),   Nigeria (UN);
  
  
• noting Article 6 (4) (5) (6) of the ICCPR,   this, and this on the DEATH PENALTY:  Under MBS, Saudi Arabia has almost doubled its rate of executions (TG);  
  
• noting Article 7 of the ICCPR,   and   the CAT on TORTURE:   _ ;  
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:   Canada has ignored coercion from China and will accept 10,000 Uyghur refugees (TG);  
  more refugee issues:   Germany (DW);
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   “on biphobia & homophobia in LGBTQ spaces” (M);   Finland sets another progressive example (EuroNews), while conservative US politicians see killing trans kids as a political win ... (Huffington Post);  
  more LGBTIQA+ issues:   Russia (again) (DW),   Catholic schools - yet again, and despite pope Francis’s comments (TG),   Uganda (DW),   sport (Star),   USA (AP);
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   as a staggeringly unprofessional and racist email by the prison director comes to light (ABC), the “Victorian coroner refers prison contractor to prosecutors over death in custody of Veronica Nelson” (NIT) - see also this on the powerful condemnation by the Coroner (TG), and also this (TG);   better legal support for Rom victims of discrimination (MRG);  
  more racism issues:   Tanzania (AA);
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    rape and death threats have been made against an MP who spoke out against a notorious, violent misogynist (TG);   “self-care is important – but we shouldn’t mistake it for feminist action ... as long as there is a big gap between the women who have the most freedoms, and those with the least, our work as feminists is not over” (TG);   one of John Howard’s evil attacks on the Family Court will be rolled back (TND);   Equatorial Guinea has its first female Prime Minister (R);  
  more sexism issues:   NSW (TG),   Vic (mostly good news, but some lessons) (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:   Australia’s prison population is increasingly people held on remand (TG);   a call for Qld to urgently use evidence-based solutions against youth crime (ABC) - see also this (NIT);   
  
  
• noting the CRC on CHILDREN:   legal action over child abuse in Victorian schools (TG) - for those who need (TG) support, see here;   in a measure supporting common sense and decency, “Italy’s top court has ruled that children are under no obligation to see their grandparents if they do not wish to do so” (TG);   
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   “Disability Royal Commission urged to recommend a Charter of Human Rights” (HRLC);
  
  
• 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:   yet more vicious union busting in the USA (TG);   burnout (TND);   
  
  
• 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:    “we can reduce homelessness if we follow the science on what works” (New Scientist);   

(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;   All Africa - AA;   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;   Climate Change News - CCN;   Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ;   Context - CT;   the (US) Council on Foreign Relations (CFR);   Crikey - C [$];   Dabanga Sudan - DS;   Deutsche Welle - DW;   European Union - EU;   Forbes - F;   Foreign Policy - FP;   France 24 - F24;   Freedom House - FH;   Genocide Watch - GW;   Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect - GCR2P;   Globe Echo - GE;   HumAngle - HmA;   Human Rights Law Centre - HRLC;   Human Rights Watch - HRW;   Independent Australia - IA;   International Crisis Group - ICG;   Jessica Wildfire (Substack) - JW;   Just Equal - JE;   Lawfare Blog - LFB;   Lowy Institute - The Interpreter - Lowy;   Mail & Guardian - MG;   mainstream media - MSM;   Medium - M;   Michael West (news media platform) - MW;   Minority Rights Group - MRG;   Mirage News - MN;   Nation Africa - NA;   National Indigenous Television - NITV;   National Indigenous Times - NIT;   New York Times - NYT [$];   News24;   North Africa Post - NAP;   Openly - Op;   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);   Religion News Service - RNS;   Responsible Statecraft - RS;   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 (Nigerian) Guardian - TG-N;   The Monthly - TM;   The National Tribune - tNT;   The New Daily - TND;   The Saturday Paper - TSP;   The Sentry - TS;   The Shot - TS;   Timothy Snyder - 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.

Note: news sources are never perfectly accurate or good - for instance, some have been transphobic (which is why I may, for instance, cancel email subscriptions), but may be good in other areas (e.g., racism) - and attributes may vary depending on region and over time. I do NOT provide an unqualified endorsement of ANY of the media sources I use.

Finally, remember: in general, we need to be more human being rather than human doing.