Some human rights and other news links [Note: Content Warning - reader discretion is advised!] and thoughts - Saturday 25th 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. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that linked articles may contains names and/or images of deceased people. 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]).

• a reminder that people have differences of personality such as extraversions. vs. introversion, and thus cope differently with situations (Psychology Today);   oligarchs run both russia and the USA (TG);   “the website that wants you to kill yourself — and won’t die” (Mother Jones);   “all US extremist mass killings in 2022 linked to far right” (Axios);   “today’s climate activist ‘criminals’ are tomorrow’s heroes: silencing them in court is immoral” (TG);   compassion fatigue (DW);   “‘gender trolling’ is curbing women’s rights – and making money for digital platforms ... Online hate has become a tool of the right and a lucrative business. It’s driving women out of public life, putting democracy and human rights at risk” (TG);   “why the right wing is obsessed with (our) kids ... hate is a social construction” (M);   “NSW police criticised for ‘outrageous’ midnight arrest of student who protested at RBA” (TG);   “advocates criticise Victoria’s decision to allocate affordable housing by ballot rather than need” (TG);   “what coverage of Nicola Bulley, Emma Pattison and Brianna Ghey tells us about an out-of-control media” (TG);   a philosophical opinion that “we humans have reached a dead end” because of our economic and digital obsessions (F24);   a nuanced examination of the problem of predators for developed and developing nations (TC);   AI is not trusted (TC);  
  
• on the CLIMATE CRISIS (noting the UNFCCC) and ENVIRONMENT (noting multiple  international agreements): 
• “exposure to traffic pollution proven to impair brain function” (TND);   “Australia’s big emitters could cut CO2 by 90% by 2050 without offsets” (TG);   “Australia at risk of electricity supply shortages as renewable projects lag behind coal plant closures” (TG);   cold weather in the Mediterranean is causing a shortage of salad crops (whether this is due to climate change or not, it is a foretaste of what will become more common) (TG) as France faces an unprecedented dry spell (F24);   “stronger El Niño events may speed up irreversible melting of Antarctic ice” (TG);   Italy is facing another drought - and Venice’s famed canals have dried (TG);   “experts confront CSIRO for gas industry infiltration, greenwashing fossil fuels” (MW);   recycling companies are warned to recycle or be regulated (TG);   electric bikes to clean air in Benin (TG);   “Australia to make area the size of Germany a marine park in Southern Ocean” (TG);   another mass fish kill in NSW (TG);   “carbon offsets are discouraging actual decarbonisation” (YT);   car pollution kills more Australians than traffic accidents (TG);   lack of connection is limiting renewable input (TG) - see also this (Renew Economy) and this egregious regressive proposal (TND);   climate migration has already begun in the USA (TG);   products claimed to be biofuels in the USA are not (TG);  
  
• climate / environmental issues have also occurred in:   Tanzania (rfi);
  
  
• 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: 
• long COVID shouldn’t be dismissed as a psychological problem (TC);   “we can learn a lot about long COVID from years of diagnosing and treating chronic fatigue syndrome” (TC);  
  
  
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
  
• on the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria:   although some survivors have been found (DW), most efforts are shifting (TND) from rescue to humanitarian (TG) aid (F24);   another (TND) earthquake (TG);   possible impacts on governance (TC);   1.5 million are homeless (UN) - one city is empty after a third earthquake (ABC);   as a third border crossing opens to let more aid in (UN), the Assad regime is trying to score a propaganda win off social media lies (DW);   Rohingya refuges are sending aid (TG);  Türkiye is trying to suppress criticism (TG);   a powerful display using red balloons (ABC);  
  
• storms in NSW (TND) as a flooded home buyback scheme in Qld helps offset past incompetent governance (TC) - see also this (ABC), and aid is being offered to help businesses in the Kimberley recover from floods (NIT) - and questions are asked about building in landslide zones in New Zealand (TC) where some people are still “uncontactable” (ABC);   “neighbours swim across river to rescue woman from [a] house fire” (ABC);   floods in Brazil (F24);   a cyclone is approaching Mauritius and Madagascar (R);   the global risk of bushfires (TND);   a grassfire in Vic (TND) - see also here (ABC);   donor fatigue concerns about aid to Somalia (VoA);   an open cut coal mine has partially collapsed in (Inner) Mongolia (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:   Ukraine needs (TG) ammunition (DW);   one year retrospectives here (F24), here (F24), here (ABC), here (TG), here (PVG), here (HRW), here (DW), here (TND), and here (TC);   russia’s army is falling out with russia’s mercenaries (TG);   a reminder that peace depends on the Ukrainian people (TC);   some of the technical and logistical problems involved in providing advanced fighter jets to Ukraine (TG);  
  
• on the nuclear (weapons and power) situations:   russia has said (TG) it will (TND) stop complying with the New Start nuclear weapons control treaty ... that it isn’t complying with anyway (eye roll) (TG);  
• on human rights in the region and globally:   the propaganda war against Ukrainian refugees (DW);  the NEED for prosecution of atrocity crimes (Lowy);   military and civilian Ukrainians are facing a mental health crisis (F24);  
  
• internationally:   grave concerns and warnings (TND) to China about possible supply of military aid to russia;   as russia’s economy appears to be coping with sanctions (DW),some insights on how Russians cope with and get around sanctions (M);   France says russia must be defeated but not crushed (the defeat needs to ensure Russia - or, perhaps more specifically Putin - learns not to do this again, but without making Russia desperate enough to try anything - such as nuclear weapons) (F24);   US President Biden has (TND) visited (TG) Ukraine (TG);   “Chinese peace plan for Ukraine greeted cautiously by the west” (TG) and has qualified support from Ukraine (TND) - see also here (TND);  
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• “more than a dozen killed in Israel's 'deadliest attack' on Syrian capital Damascus” (F24);   North Korea is firing missiles again (DW) to demonstrate its ability to launch a nuclear attack (TG);   an opinion that “Cold War 2.0 will be a race for semiconductors, not arms” (TG);   “Israel condemns expulsion of its diplomat from African Union summit” (F24);  
  
• 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:   “top UN officials call on parties to swiftly reduce ‘ominous’ surge in Israeli-Palestinian violence ” (UN) as “Israeli troops kill 10 in West Bank raid” (TG) - and more than a hundred have been wounded (ABC);  
   
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring), MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE, MISCONDUCT and THREATS TO DEMOCRACY/FREEDOM: 
• an in-depth analysis of the Dominion Voting Machines v. Fox News legal case (Teri Kanefield) - see also this (TG);   calls for the MSM to stop publishing excerpts from the private diary of an alleged sexual assault victim that were provided to POLICE as EVIDENCE (there is at least one police officer who, IMO, needs o be sacked and then charged) (TND);   the personal impact of the RoboDebt cover-up (TG);   yet another data breach (TND);   a whistleblower is fighting a retaliatory (my word) punishment (ABC);   the UK’s queen consort has supported anti-Semitism, misogyny and racism - time for Australia to become a republic (TND);  
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY, SOVEREIGNTY, AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• globally:   “upcoming local elections represent a “significant opportunity” to advance the peace and political process in the Central African Republic” (UN);   “Germany's ageing bureaucracy risks undermining ambitions” (DW);   “African Union vows 'zero tolerance' for coups as two-day summit ends” (F24);   China can muddle its meddling (Lowy);   russia’s anti-democratic meddling in Africa (ACSS) - see also this (The Economist);   “Presidential candidates sign peace pact before Nigeria election” (AJ);   “Gallup poll on LGBTQ Americans suggests GOP is shooting itself in the foot” (MSNBC);  
  
• in Australia:   the weakening of Australian sovereignty (TND);   a correction of RBA claims on inequality points out that low taxation hurts everyone (TND);   ASIO’s threat assessment includes success against a “hive” of spies and warnings of domestic violent extremism (TND) - see also this assessment of legal protections (TC);   discrimination in security checks (TC);   defence is allowing in psychologically inappropriate candidates (TG);   “‘an economic fairytale’: Australia’s inflation being driven by company profits and not wages, analysis finds” (TG) - see also this (TND);   as use of superannuation for trivialities is criticised (TG), the neolibs prepare to defend super perks for the ultra wealthy (TND);   “inability to cool homes in summer heat making almost 90% of Centrelink recipients ill” (TG);   the right wing of the neoliberal party in my home state is trying to get rid of the leaders (TA) who say policies are not going to change ... (TG) - although one neoliberal has evolved out of the “tough on crime” rubbish (TG);  
  
• on the proposed Voice to the Parliament in Australia:  a reminder that “long before the Voice vote, the Australian Aboriginal Progressive Association called for parliamentary representation” (and I also favoured this concept when I came across it decades ago: the problem is, Australia has become more and more blatantly racist in recent decades, starting with John Howard and the abolition of ATSIC and Howard’s sock puppet Pauline Hanson, and it is now a case of “what can be done to get the first toe in the door for change?”) (TC);   the range of opinions in Indigenous communities (TC);   the Voice is NOT a radical change (TC);   a personal story (TG);   more egregious racist nonsense from the neoliberals (TND);  
  
• suppression of dissent / media in   Ethiopia (VoA),   Tunisia (F24),   an Australian University (TG);
  democracy is also at risk in   Zimbabwe (news24); 
  
  
• on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC):  
  
• “UN torture prevention body cancels visit to Australia after access to facilities blocked” - “Rwanda is the only other country to have had a visit cancelled” (TG) as “the Queensland government will begin charging children with criminal offences for breaching bail conditions – a move that advocates say will cause a human rights emergency in the state’s buckling youth detention system” (TG) - see also this (TG), this (TG), and this (TG);   “Seattle becomes first US city to ban caste discrimination” (AJ) - see also this (TG);   “rebel attacks trigger rising mental health concerns in DR Congo” (The New Humanitarian);  
  
• human rights are at risk or abuses have also occurred in:   Israel (UN),   Kenya (The Star);
  
• violence in:   Mali (UN),   Nigeria (AJ),   Burkina Faso (Voice of Nigeria),   DRC (F24),   France (TG),   USA (TND),   Northern Ireland (TG),   Somaliland (The Defence Post),   Somalia (The Defence Post);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   an atrocity alert for Ukraine, Central African Republic and Nicaragua;   
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:   Australia (ABC);
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   digital targetting of LGBTIQA+ people in West Asia and northern Africa (HRW) - see also this (YT - HRW) and this (HRW);   “Meta has profited from over 200 ads using the anti-LGBTQ “groomer” slur, even though the platform claims it prohibits the term” (Iron Wynch) - see also this (TG);   Vic Police have sacked a homophobe (Star);    bystanders became accessories by doing nothing while a vicious attack on transwomen was taking place (QN);   a major US newspaper has discredited itself by trying to argue that reporting along the lines of that used to justify eugenics, sexism/misogyny, racism/white supremacism was defensible (TG) - see also this (SF Gate), and this (Pride Source);   hate vandalism as World Pride gets under way in NSW (QN);   far right extremists have committed a physically violent attack against an LGBTIQA+ event (QN);  
  more LGBTIQA+ issues:   allies (M),   South Korea (good news) (HRW),;
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   “Yuin traditional knowledge holders lead largest cultural camp in living memory on NSW Far South Coast” (ABC);   one sided historical markers (TC);   an Irish college will return stolen human remains (TG);    a kelp water carrier has been returned to Tasmania’s Indigenous people (NIT);   racial profiling in responsible drinking courses (TG);  
  more racism issues:   Tunisia (rfi);
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    a sporting club in Europe is aiming to reduce sexual harassment, based in part on programmes elsewhere (DW);   a sexual assault by a female fan (TG);  
  more sexism issues:   Afghanistan (TG),   Afghanistan (ICG),   Somalia (UN);
• 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 large shopping chain is about to attack shoppers’ privacy (TND) - see also this (TG);   concerns over a compulsory medical records system in my home state (TG);    
  
  
• noting the CRC on CHILDREN:   “former child safety officer believes she could have saved [two children] if not for a high caseload” (ABC);  
  
  
• 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 vast majority of companies taking part in the world’s largest trial of a four-day week have opted to continue with the new working pattern, in a result hailed as evidence that it could work across the UK economy” (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:    “solving Australia's homelessness crisis needs more than housing. Compassion is essential too” (ABC);   calls for more national funding to address the national housing crisis (ABC);   
   
• [CW: mild language] an opinion on “how the Friedman Doctrine leads to the en****tification of all things” (Tech Dirt);   “Mozilla finds safety labels on Google Play aren’t accurate” (The Register);  
  

(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 ^TP ;   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 ^TP ;   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 [$];   Dabanga Sudan - DS;   Deutsche Welle - DW;   European Union - EU;   Forbes - F;   Foreign Policy - FP;   France 24 - F24 ^TP ;   Freedom House - FH;   Genocide Watch - GW;   Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect - GCR2P;   Globe Echo - GE;   HumAngle - HmA;   Human Rights Law Centre - HRLC;   Human Rights Watch - HRW;   Independent Australia - IA;   International Crisis Group - ICG;   Jessica Wildfire (Substack) - JW;   Just Equal - JE;   Lawfare Blog - LFB;   Lowy Institute - The Interpreter - Lowy;   Mail & Guardian - MG;   mainstream media - MSM;   Medium - M;   Michael West (news media platform) - MW;   Middle East Eye - MEE;   Minority Rights Group - MRG;   Mirage News - MN;   Nation Africa - NA;   National Indigenous Television - NITV;   National Indigenous Times - NIT;   Nature Magazine - Nature;   New York Times - NYT [$] ^TP ;   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 Conversation - TC ^TP ;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 [$];   War on the Rocks - WotR;   Washington Post - WP [$] ^TP ;   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. Sources with evidence of being transphobic may be marked with a ^TP .

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