Saturday, 18 March 2023

Some human rights and other news links [Note: Content Warning - includes links to reports on CSA this week, and on bigotry/hate, violence/abuse/war. Reader discretion is advised!] and thoughts - Saturday 18th March, 2023

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]).  

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).

  • neolib conservatives are showing every sign of subjecting the Voice to the Parliament process to the same vitriolic hate that they have used elsewhere - e.g., on the Equal Marriage plebiscite. Their actions, hearts and minds are, IMO, evil. There have, however, been some significant actions in support of decency.
  • another warning of the risk of civil war in Israel (TG);   the ICC has (DW) issued (TND) an arrest (TG) warrant for putin - see also this (TG) (this is not likely to lead to detention and a trial, but it a powerful statement supporting rule of law and decency);   the son of Uganda’s dictator is showing violent imperialistic ambitions (AP);   rising global homophobia is an attack on democracy (SS);   an HONEST depiction of what Drag Time Story Hour really looks like (The Advocate) - and NONE of those arrested this week for allegedly being predators is a drag queen (QN);   “Tennessee Senate passes bill that legally erases trans people” (The Pink News);   more concerning attempted religious influence on politics (TG);   the abuse of history (American Historical Association);   “fascism’s easy. But democracy and civilization? They’re hard work” (M);   “governments must do more to protect human rights defenders ... Officials in many countries “vilify and target” human rights defenders instead of recognizing the crucial work they do to help build fairer societies, a UN-appointed independent expert said” (UN);   the term “culture wars” is being misused (social media);   as is entirely predictable, “[US] republicans [end the] investigation into [POTUS45] profiting off the [US] presidency” (SS);   on dismantling the anti-vaxx INDUSTRY (Nature);   US President Biden will sign an Executive Order requiring background checks before buying guns (BBC);  
    “Australia’s welfare system puts disadvantaged at risk, inquiry told ... Mutual obligation system subjects some participants to ‘punitive conditions’, commonwealth ombudsman says” (TG) - see also links on RoboDebt below;   “AI can fool voice recognition used to verify identity by Centrelink and Australian tax office” (TG);   the problem (HRW) of digital dehumanisation (HRW);   a tech company has laid off the “team that taught employees how to make AI tools responsibly” (The Verge);  
    an investigation reports hunger-stricken families in Madagascar ARE selling children for food (this investigation was into previous claims of this happening, which were and still are denied by the government) (F24);  
  • on the CLIMATE CRISIS (noting the UNFCCC) and ENVIRONMENT (noting multiple  international agreements): 
  • on the COVID-19 AND OTHER PANDEMICS (noting WHO advice, Article 12 of the ICESCR, and public emergency provisions of the ICCPR and the ICESCR) and other health matters: 
    • “research suggests COVID, chronic fatigue have similar effect on brains” (TA);   “55 countries face a health worker crunch linked to COVID-19” (UN);  

  • on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
    •  the Syria-Türkiye earthquake survivors still need humanitarian and recovery assistance (UN);   a record breaking (R) cyclone (F24) has hit Malawi (TG) and Mozambique (AJ) - see also this (TG);   floods have peaked in Qld (TND), but will continue (TND);   a ferry has sunk in Gabon (AJ);   a snakebite crisis in India, where it is discounted as a poor people’s problem (DW);   bushfires in NSW (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 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
    • “US, France cautiously welcome renewal of Iran-Saudi diplomatic relations” (F24) - which may lead to peace in Yemen (F24);   “why Arab dictators are rushing to rehabilitate Syria's Assad” (MEE);  
      “Xi Jinping vows to oppose Taiwan ‘pro-independence’ influences as third term begins” (TG), but will contact leaders of Ukraine and russia soon (TND);   an examination of China’s growing influence in South America - the use of direct Presidential contact to bypass instruments of governance is particularly concerning (YT) - and West Asia (DW) - see also here (DW) and here (TC), and “Hong Kong exiles try to preserve culture and press freedom” (DW);   more (TG) bans (TG) on a Chinese owned social media platform;   China, russia and Iran are demonstrating naval power (ABC);  
    • 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:    “Israeli soldiers shoot dead three Palestinian gunmen in West Bank” (F24) as soldiers are criticised but not punished for allowing a settler rampage (MEE);   “North Korea fires cruise missiles as US-South Korean military drills begin” (TG);   “SIPRI: US arms exports skyrocket, while China's nosedive” (DW) - and Qatar, not Ukraine, is the worlds biggest importer (MEE);  
    • 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: 
    • an autopsy has revealed US police killed a protestor when their hands were raised (NPR);   the scandal (TG) of the BBC backing conservatism governance that conflicts with agreed international obligations and silencing (ABC) one of its staff for point that out continues to grow (F24);   “poisonings in Iran increase distrust of the regime” (DW);   the economic and financial problems following from Tunisia’s leader advocating for hate and imposing autocracy may lead to defaults (BB);   South Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog has cleared that nation’s President of any wrongdoing, but a police investigation is still continuing (AJ);   a bank (F24) collapse (TND) in the USA - see also this (TG);   still no compensation a year after the collapse of a funeral company catering to Indigenous people (TG);   “Australian Ethical offloads [a specific company’s] shares over development threat to koala population” - the company states it is complying with official scientific advice (TG);   a The Guardian exclusive reports that Qld police are investigating a whistleblower’s allegations of abuse of children by police - see also this (TG);   “rape charges dropped against ... man after police search found to be illegal” [CW - the material found by the illegal search is disturbing] (TG);   in the overturning of a manifestly wrong sentence of a climate crisis protestors/defender of human existence, it was revealed NSW police used a “false factual basis” - in words normal people understand, a lie about an ambulance being blocked (ABC);   another major hack - of a financial institution (ABC);   
    • as the USA moves to finally repeal the war authorisation (MEE), twenty year reflections on the failures of the 2003 invasion of Iraq here (DW), here (MEE), and here (TC) - and a comment on social media pointed out that a lot of the blatant dishonesty found in today’s politics can be traced to the blatant lies associated with the invasion - and, on that, an example of the lies of transphobes (M);  
    • concerns around past/current/potential corruption/misgovernance also in   Australia (TG),   Australia (TND),   the neolib sabotaged NBN (TND),   Qld (ABC);

  • on DEMOCRACY, SOVEREIGNTY, AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
    • globally:   a detailed examination of proposed US laws targetting prosecutors (Teri Kanefield);   an examination of some types of cyber-attacks that can endanger energy security, and what to do about them (M);   the political crisis (ST) in South Sudan is growing (TEA);   “discussions are taking place between civilian and military parties to the framework agreement to end the political process and appoint a prime minister as soon as possible” (ST);   “the persistence of cults of personality in African governance” (ACSS);   Tunisia has been designated a repressed state (MEE);  voter registration problems in Zimbabwe (New Zimbabwe);   more (TND) on the forcing through (TG) of contested (TG) changes to pension laws in France;  
    • in Australia:   defence cannot meet disaster relief needs (TND);  
      • on the proposed Voice to the Parliament in Australia:   the NDIS (TG) threatening (TND) neolibs have demanded to see legal advice on the Voice (TG) - and “conservatives raising doubts about the proposed wording of the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament have been accused of acting like “white saviours”, finding flaws with the proposal “just to stay in the spotlight” ” (TG) - see also this, on the “‘relentless scare campaign’ waged by opponents of Indigenous voice ... and [a call for] on the government to “reassure” voters by endorsing the voice co-design report” (TG);   why the Voice is still needed despite having Indigenous Parliamentarians (TC);  
      • on RoboDebt:   “RoboWars over Robodebt: The Coalition’s debt to the Australian people”  (TBS) - and “royal commission exposes robodebt as ethically indefensible policy targeting vulnerable people” (TC);   a “mathematical law called Jensen’s inequality shows the Robodebt algorithm should have generated not only debts, but also credits” (TC) - and see also this, on the obvious and fundamental flaws it was built on (TC);  
      • on AUKUS:  as the staggering scale of cost (TG) is announced (TND), “paying for AUKUS? Spending like Europe means taxing like Europe” (TND) - see also this, on the decision making (TND), this, on the impacts including the destruction of neolib myths (TND), and this criticism (TC);   a detailed examination and criticism here (MW);   a warning that a future US administration could reverse this decisions (ABC);   a commentary that the issue of sovereignty has already been long gone (TG);   the subs could be detectable by the time we've got them (TC), but the Minister has questioned the appropriateness of that attitude on the basis of risk/certainty (TG);   as China continues to be critical (TND) and may launch its only anti-AUKUS alliance (probably with russia) (Forbes) - see also this critique (TC), claims AUKUS uses a loophole to bypass (TG) the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but see this counter assessment (TC);   the problem of nuclear waste (TC);   if they gain power, the neolibs would use AUKUS to gut the NDIS (TND);  

    • suppression of opposition / dissent / media in   Russia (DW),   Senegal (Urdu Point);
      democracy is also at risk in   Nigeria (Arise TV)      ; 

  • on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC):  
    • calls for children to be taught about the harms of online misogyny (how this is done would be crucial) (TG);   “recognising sexual and gender-based violence as an open source researcher” (B);   CSA committed by other children (TC) - see also this, on the life long impact of CSA (TC);   “UN-appointed independent rights experts on [burma] have urged social media companies to do more to resist the military junta’s “online campaign of terror”” (UN);   “too many nations failing to investigate torture cases” (UN) - but see also this (TND);   criticism of sportswashing by Saudi Arabia (TG);   the protests in Iran have largely petered out, but are still continuing (F24);  
    • human rights are at risk or abuses have also occurred in:   Bhutan (HRW),   Germany (DW),   Rwanda-world business (DW),   Malaysia (Global Voices);
    • violence in:   Somalia (TRT World),

    • noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   an atrocity alert for DR Congo, Afghanistan and burma (GCR2P);  
      more genocide / mass atrocity issues:   North Korea (GW);

    • noting Article 7 of the ICCPR,   and   the CAT on TORTURE:   “South Africa must swiftly set up a watchdog mechanism to examine prisons, detention centres, and other facilities, UN independent experts on torture prevention said ... citing “entrenched” ill treatment” (UN) - and also see Israel (MEE) and Iran (ABC);  

    • noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:   five refugees have drowned off Türkiye (AJ);   in a pleasing and surprising change of stance, over 1,400 refugees have been rescued by Italy’s navy and coast guard (ABC); 
      more refugee issues:   Nepal-Bhutan (HRW),   DRC (UN);

    • noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   an “Intersex runner ... [is] fighting for everyone's right to compete in sport” (ABC);   an unfair dismissal case has been won in Italy (Star);   the grotesque panic defence in the USA (M);   the accreditation of so-called independent (which includes religious) schools in Qld will be reviewed (QN);  
      more LGBTIQA+ issues:   Uganda (QN),   Sydney (Star),   an Australian religious university (SMH);

    • noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   a summary of recent events in an enquiry into the killing of an Indigenous man by NT police (ABC);   “Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Health, Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, made history ... by being the first Indigenous Australian woman to deliver Australia’s National Statement to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women” (NIT);   “almost $1 million in clean energy grants available for Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations” (NIT);   “Narungga Nation receive Native Title determination, cultural loss compensation” (NIT);   [CW: disturbing details] “‘A Mississippi lynching in 2022’: Family of Black man ... seeks fed probe” (Raw Story);  
      more racism issues:   evictions and homeless deaths (TG),   Germany (MEE),   Tunisia (Punch Nigeria);

    • noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    “the rigorous care I received while pregnant ceased after birth – right when I needed it most” (TG);   how one national women’s team forced change for the better against misogyny (DW);   “Sydney police officer pleads guilty to stalking woman” (the report states this includes misuse of police resources) (TG);   “new data shows 1 in 3 women have experienced physical violence and sexual violence remains stubbornly persistent” (TC);  
      more sexism issues:   digital technology (UN),   North Korea (HRW);
    • noting the laws listed here, the conventions listed here, and principles discussed here, here, here, here, and here, on the RIGHTS OF ANIMALS:   how to improve animal welfare (becoming Vegan also helps) (TC);   the brain differences of anxious dogs are similar to those of anxious humans (C);   environmental and welfare concerns around intensive animal farming to met carnist demands (DW);   

    • noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   “suggesting NDIS cuts to pay for expensive submarines is the latest attack on disabled people” (TG);  

    • 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:   more support for a four day working week (Scientific American);   “impossible workloads” for school cleaners in NSW (TG);   junior doctors in hospitals are suing over unpaid overtime (ABC);   South Korea has reversed a counterproductive idea (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:    the rental struggle continues (ABC);   “sure, prices have fallen, but we have a decade of absurd growth to undo to make housing affordable” (TG);   personal experience: “unstable housing has held me back all my life – Australia needs a genuine safety net” (TG);   
       
  • a critique of anti-depressants (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:   Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA;   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 [now too forceful, IMO, on IP, cookies etc] ;   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;   Renew Economy - RE;   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 Defence Post - TDP;   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 .

Assumptions / basis 

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following: 

  • this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header; 
  • I expect readers to take positive action on at least some of these stories - e.g., write to elected representatives, where that is possible. 

Possible flaws 

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

  • there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan  Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”; 
  • I could be wrong in my views or commentary - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.

 If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.

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


 

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