Some human rights and other news links [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on bigotry/hate, violence/abuse/war. Reader discretion is advised!] and thoughts - Saturday 1st April, 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).

• this week has seen a move to bring a past despot in the USA to justice - and his devotees, as the problems of hate and bigotry continue to be laid bare, along with the role of a media mogul. The world continues to struggle with issues by failing to deal with (or even acknowledge) psychological aspect - especially regarding the consequences of actions to address those issues.
• in a great and unprecedented move for justice, and noting that the principle of innocent until proven guilty still applies, the former US president #45 has been indicted (importantly, given that person’s history of rabble rousing - culminating in the attempted  coup in the USA on 6^thJanuary, 2020, his devotees must be kept calm) - see here (TND), here (TG), here (DW), here (TC), here (TG), here (TG), here (RR), here (F24), this on irony (The Grio), here (his lawyers will defend the case vigorously) (SBS), and here (ABC);   “holding world leaders like [POTUS45] accountable is democratic” (Time);   a review of the status of judicial accountability for the attempted 2020 US insurrection shows almost one thousand have been charged, of whom 600 are guilty, 1 acquitted, and 15% - compared to 8% of the general population - are in military or law enforcement (NPR);   life expectancy in the USA has fallen as warned a decade ago by scientists - “two years difference in life expectancy probably comes from the fact that firearms are so available in the United States” (NPR);         “reducing inequality could see world population fall to 6 billion” (New Scientist);   the UK’s “illegal migration bill could topple [the] world refugee system, lawmakers told” (TG);   the problem of bias in AI recruitment programmes (TG) as “more than 1,000 artificial intelligence experts, researchers and backers have joined a call for an immediate pause on the creation of “giant” AIs for at least six months, so the capabilities and dangers of systems such as GPT-4 can be properly studied and mitigated” (TG), and “the problem with artificial intelligence? It’s neither artificial nor intelligent” (TG) - but see also this, on the practical limits (and possibilities) of brain-computer links (Nature);   “the former US president Barack Obama has suggested that Rupert Murdoch’s media empire has led to greater polarisation in western societies through news coverage designed to “make people angry and resentful”” (TG) - a respected Indigenous Elder was removed (TND) from providing the Welcome to Country the event Obama was speaking at for allegedly (TG) being difficult because she asked (weeks ago) for a support person and to be allowed to provide a gift!;         after more violence from her supporters (including a motorcycle running down a politician), a notorious transhater linked to white supremacist fascists has left New Zealand without speaking (TG) - see this criticism of the hater (Star), also this on the links between forms of bigotries (TBS) and “the intersection of [right wing extremism/fascism] and transphobia” - which, as that article notes, we have warned of previously - including in my email in January requesting cancellation of the transhater’s visa (M), this summary / commentary / overview (M), this editorial criticism (LA Times) of transhate/transgenocide (M) laws, and this call for better legal protection in Australia (TG) and this message of support for trans people from a Christian Minister;         a vile LGBTIQA+ hate message of social media has drawn widespread condemnation - see here (which is truly surprising - and possibly questionable, given that person’s past displays of hate) (TG), here (TND), here (SBS), and here (ABC) - and the victim has asked for improved protection of LGBTIQA+ people (TG);
  more links in LGBTIQA+ section below;         one US state is proposing to pay bigotted vigilantes a bounty ... (The Intercept), but another has another hero who has vetoed a hate bill (Gay Times);   “‘dystopian’ surveillance ‘disproportionately targets young, female and minority workers’” (TG);   US police have accessed an AI database of facial images constructed without consent nearly one million times (BBC);   a whistleblower will face trial (TG);  
  
• on the CLIMATE CRISIS (noting the UNFCCC) and ENVIRONMENT (noting multiple  international agreements): 
• “the UN General Assembly will seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on countries’ obligations to address climate change, following the adoption by consensus of a resolution” (UN);   another article on the need to rethink where we build (TC);   resolution of the issue of e-fuels has allowed Germany and the EU to reach an agreement on the phase out of combustion vehicles (F24);   a consideration of how we would be acting if the climate crisis was being treated as an emergency shows we would end fossil fuels and implement four other measures (Current Affairs);   environmentally tragic bushfires in the NT (TG);   a deep ocean systems is at risk of collapse (TND) - see also here (TC), here (ABC);   a legal case against France and Switzerland over the climate crisis (F24);   “traffic noise pushes up your blood pressure and risk of stroke” (TND);   “ACTU: Coal-to-renewables transition needs to be ‘with workers, not to workers’” (TND);  
  after ten years of neoliberals trying to destroy the human species' future, a climate agreement has been reached in Australia, including a cap on emissions (TG) - see here (TC), here (TC), here (TND), here (TG), here (TND), here (TND), and here (TC), here (TG), but also this (TG), this criticism (TND) of the targets as inadequate (TG) and this opinion that “climate groups are too afraid to push for change against ‘ecocidal’ government” (TG);   psychological barriers to dealing with the climate crisis (M);  
  
• climate / environmental issues have also occurred in:   wave energy (ABC),   salmon fishing in Tasmania (ABC),   humour (TG),   silvopasture (Aeon); 
  
  
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
• tornadoes in the USA (TND) - see also here (ABC), here (DW), here (TND), here (TG);   cyclones in Vanuatu (AJ) as the death toll from Cyclone Freddy in Malawi passes 1,000 (AJ);   landslides in Ecuador (AJ);   measles cases are increasing globally (ABC) - see also here (TC);   Marburg virus disease outbreaks in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania (UN);   bushfires in central Australia (ABC);   another train derailment in the USA (ABC);   an appeal for aid to enable Mozambique to care for DRC refugees (VoA);   dozens of people have died (F24) when the covering over a large stair well collapsed in India (TG);   mobile maternity clinics in drought-hit Somalia (TEA);   cholera in Africa (UN);   “ILO calls for fresh support as job losses grip post-quake Türkiye and Syria” (UN);  
• dozens of detainees have died at a migrant detention centre in Mexico (AJ) - see also here (TND), here (TG), here (UN), and here (it may be mass murder) (TG) and here (F24);  
  
  
• 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: 
• the battleground of language (TC);   the ICC warrant will limit putin’s ambitions for domination (Newsweek);   “‘Vulkan files’ leak reveals Putin’s global and domestic cyberwarfare tactics” (TG) - see also “cyberwarfare leaks show Russian army is adopting mindset of secret police” (TG);  
  
• on military matters:   the USA is sending downgraded weaponry to Ukraine to minimise the chance of a war with russia (DW);   an analysis and prediction of likely events (ABC);  
  
• on the nuclear (weapons and power) situations:   in a long expected move, Russia has announced (DW) it will store (TG) nuclear weapons in Belarus (I consider the references to Belarus being a nuclear hostage inappropriate, as Belarus has long been a willing russian sock puppet), but actual actions suggest long timelines before realisation (TG), and it is contrary to a joint pledge made with China (BB) - see also here (TND);   “the USA has stopped sharing information about its strategic nuclear stockpile with Russia in response to Moscow’s decision last month to suspend its participation in a treaty that limits the deployment of atomic warheads” (P);  
  
• on human rights in the region and globally:   concerns over human rights abuse also include some Ukrainians (YT - DW);  a The Guardian exclusive reports that Ukrainian women and children refugees are at increasing risk of sexual exploitation;   more on the abduction of Ukrainian children by russia (DW);   a growing list of nations say they will arrest putin if he visits or flies over their territory (Yahoo);  amid suggestions of a new tribunal for the purpose of trying russia’s crimes (ICG), concerns (HRW) the existing human rights system is unfit for purpose (AI);  
  
• inside russia:   russia has pardoned over 5,000 convicted (some of appalling crimes) criminals after fighting in Ukraine (F24);  “putin prepares Russia for ‘forever war’ with west as Ukraine invasion stalls” (most of the latest installment of the Russian-Chechen war occurred under putin - 18 out of 26 years, so putin has form on this) (TG);   
• internationally:   Lithuania (ABC);   “Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark struck a deal to run their 200+ advanced fighter jets as a single fleet, creating a new headache for Russia” (Yahoo);   a speculation as to whether the USA and China could together bring peace (DW);   Ukraine may be trying to capitalise on weaknesses in the Russia-China relationship (Business Insider);   “Türkiye's parliament ratifies Finland's application to join NATO” (F24);   
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• China’s political influence is spreading in the Pacific, at the expense of Taiwanese allies (F24) ... but Taiwan has gained an ally in Europe (AJ);   “China spent [US]$240bn (£195bn) bailing out countries struggling under their belt and road initiative debts between 2008 and 2021, new data shows” (TG);   China’s food insecurity problem (Lowy);   “predictions about the BRICS countries as the fastest growing economies haven't quite panned out. Instead, the alliance is now offering a diplomatic forum and development financing, outside of the Western mainstream” (DW);   Russia has arrested a US journalist (ABC) - see also here (SBS), here (DW), here (TND), and here (TG);   Japan has tried to bully Australia over LPG, including threatening that changes could lead to war by strengthening russia and china (and why has Japan not had enough common sense to start moving towards renewables and source diversification?) (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:   “Russia accuses Azerbaijan of violating ceasefire agreement with Armenia” (F24);   conditions in eastern DRC have severely deteriorated (UN) - see also here (DW);   Palestinians need better protection (UN);   in a worrying sign, “Uganda's 'first son' vows to send troops to defend” Russia (TEA);  
  
• incidents / action of concern in/regarding:   Yemen-Saudi Arabia-USA (TG);
   
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring), MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE, MISCONDUCT and THREATS TO DEMOCRACY/FREEDOM: 
• yet another mass gun shooting at a school in the USA - see here (TND), here (TG), here (F24), here (TG), here (TND), here (TG), and here, which covers significant aspects about the shooter (Yahoo), as does this (TG),  this, on the police not acting on a tip off (TG), and here, on the decades of violence (AJ);          black children are more likely to be sexually abused in the form of strip searches by UK police (TG) - see also here (M), and this, on a police officer charged with assault of a child (not tried, so presumption of innocence applies) (Nottingham Post);   “former Sydney prison officer sentenced to 23 years in jail for sexually assaulting inmates” (ABC);   “how Zimbabwe uses gold smuggling to evade sanctions choke” (AJ) - see also this (AA);   concerns over legal stays in cases against catholic clergy accused of child abuse (TG);   yet another financial cyber hack (TND) ... and of course it is worse than first admitted (TG) ... and another hack (ABC);   a social media post shows banks function best when regulated;   “mental health is not an individual matter, but a political one” (Aeon);  
  
• concerns around past/current/potential corruption/misgovernance also in   Guatemala (UN);
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY, SOVEREIGNTY, AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• in France:   as France’s president says they “will not yield to violence” (F24) - but France’s Prime Minister agrees to talks (F24) - and hundreds are arrested and hundreds more are injured (F24) - some seriously (F24), “use of force signals ‘crisis of authority’ as France’s pension battle turns to unrest” (F24);   protests have also occurred over water management by agriculture (F24);   an article on the notorious French police unit accused of brutality (F24) - and allegations of sexual assault by police (F24);   a comparison points out France’s pension system is better than many others (DW), but small towns feel abandoned (F24);   
• Israel appeared to have stepped back from the precipice of ending democracy (F24) (although some think it hasn’t been a democracy for some time (TG)) - but see also this (TG), this (TG), this (AJ), and this (TC) and this (TG), which show the crisis is continuing, and this (MEE) and “Israel’s long war between the generals and extremists is not going away” (MEE) ... talks between government and opposition have commenced (MEE);  
• globally:   in an indictment of gullible and/or incompetent media, “[POTUS45] lives rent-free in [US residents]’ heads” (TG);  “Botswana’s president discusses good governance, democracy” (Penn Today);   “Sudanese factions tackle forming single army in transition talks” (VoA), but the new government must be inclusive of all (ST);   as a call is made to address writing a constitution (Radio Tamazuj), South Sudan’s President breaks the peace deal by appointing a head of the military (R);   the importance of radio broadcasts in Africa (AP);   the human cost of disinformation in Nigeria (InkStick), where the election result is being disputed (VoA);   more on the political right’s extremism in the USA (M);   a summit on democracy in Africa will be held in Zambia (NA);   the “[African Union] expresses ‘deep concern’ over violence in Kenya during protests” (TEA);   reclaiming the finances of a violent extremist organisation in Somalia (ACSS);   “Scotland gets a Muslim leader in a moment of extraordinary change for British politics” (TC);  
  
• in Australia:   the struggles of sole parents (TG);   “one million people are living below the poverty line in NSW ... the figure includes one in seven children” (TG);   an enquiry will be held into the FoI system (TG);   “Daniel Andrews’ media-free trip tells us something about China – and a lot more about journalists and the premier” (TG);   an assessment that the Greens have come of age (TC);   a former Governor of the RBA has criticised our neoliberal influences by saying we need fairer policies (ABC);   the complicated state of security / secrecy laws (TG);  
  
• on the proposed Voice to the Parliament in Australia:   a summary/overview (TC);   concerns of some Indigenous people are being drowned out (TG);   this could reopen conversations about becoming a republic (TC);   “former High Court justice ... backs Voice to Parliament details” (ABC);   “government puts social media giants on notice over misinformation and hate speech during voice referendum” (TG);   South Australia has established a Voice to Parliament (NIT) - see also here (SBS);   the leader (NIT) of the neoliberals is going down the path of past evils (TND) - see also here (SBS);   on the next step: Treaty (SBS) - see also this;   an interesting interview (3KND);   the COVID19 pandemic was an example of where Voice can help (TG);  
  
• suppression of opposition / dissent / media in   Hong Kong (TG),   Bangladesh (TG),   Burkina Faso (HRW);
  democracy is also at risk in   burma (ICG),   Indonesia (TC); 
  
  
• on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC):  
  
• a shortage of housing for DV survivors in Qld (TG);   a complaint against a social media platform over hate content will proceed (TG);   “EU money facilitated migrant torture, sex slavery in Libya” (The Straits Times);   the owner of The Guardian has apologised for its links to slavery (TG) - leading to this call (TG);   anti-hate laws in Qld and Tas will include capturing fascist gestures (TG) and LGBTIQA+ hate (QN) - see also this (ABC);   more on the egregious damage done to children in Australia’s abominable asylum seeker detention system (TC);   “South Korean report highlights torture and deaths in North Korean detentions” (ABC) - see also this (UN);   still grossly inadequate justice for the Bhopal victims (Chemistry World);   “three key reasons why you should never view, download or share photos or videos of children being assaulted” (aren’t those reasons obvious??? Do we really have to tell people not to do that?!!!!) (TC);  
  
• human rights are at risk or abuses have also occurred in:   eastern DRC (F24),   Ethiopia (TNH),   patents (Nature),   Tunisia (news24),   El Salvador (UN),   Syria (UN)
  
• violence in:   Sudan (ST),   Gulf of Guinea (AJ);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   an atrocity alert for Libya, North Korea and Ethiopia (GCR2P);  
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:   more refugees have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea (TG);  
  more refugee issues:   the Americas (UN);
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   a deep analysis of transphobic thinking in a supposed to be progressive party in my home state (Several Problems Press);   “I had two options – die or find a way to live as a transgender man” (TG);   “‘the reporting process was more traumatising than the assault itself’: LGBTQ+ survivors on accessing support after sexual violence” - especially if police were involved (and trans people were the LEAST likely to be perpetrators) (TC);   LGBTIQA+ kids are taking action in support of trans kids (TruthOut);   “Nebraska lawmaker with trans son tells GOP colleagues she's done with them in righteous speech” (LGBT Nation);   “Matthew Shepard's father shares warning about anti-trans hate” (Pink News);   a sistagirl’s story (ABC) - and see also this story (SBS);  
  more LGBTIQA+ issues:   sport (QN),   Egypt (DW),   workplaces (Harvard Business Review);
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   name discrimination (ABC);   “alarm over decision to exclude Queensland police from Indigenous truth-telling inquiry Human rights commissioner says given role in ‘brutal colonisation’, it is ‘fundamentally important’ police participate in inquiry” (TG);   “Victorian government apologises to Yoorrook Justice Commission amid delays to Indigenous truth-telling inquiry” (ABC);   moves to increase Indigenous leadership in renewable energy (NIT);   the catholic church has rejected the so-called "doctrine of discovery" that has been used for centuries to justify white supremacist colonisation (AP);   a US church is seeking millions in compensation from a far right wing hate group in the USA after the church won a vandalism case (V);   a black US police police officer was racially profiled (Kansas City Star);   “land returned to Eastern Maar people in Victoria’s first native title decision in a decade” (TG);   discrimination against Roma and Sinti is increasing in Germany (DW);   “what happened to the Senate inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women?” (TC);   “telehealth has much to offer First Nations people. But technical glitches and a lack of rapport can get in the way” (TC);   “Queensland police First Nations advisory group member quits after shooting death of” a young Indigenous man (NIT);   the need for improved health care - including cultural / traditional (3KND);  
  more racism issues:   sport - yet again (TG) (also here (ABC)) - but see also this (NIT),   Qld (TG) - see also this (NIT);
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    good developments in women’s sport in the Philippines (ABC);   a magistrate in my home state who made an appalling comment to a rape victim has resigned (ABC);   Afghan girls are seeking to get around bans via the Internet (R);   menstrual leave in one French suburb (F24);   “OHCHR  
•   over arrests of activists speaking up for women and girls” (UN);  
  
• noting the laws listed here, the conventions listed here, and principles discussed here, here, here, here, and here, on the RIGHTS OF ANIMALS and other forms of life:   fish can sense other fish’s fear (AP);   concerns over techniques used in abattoirs (TG);   evidence of varying personalities of cats (TG);   in a blow to those IPOCs who have tried to dismiss evidence of plant feelings, a news article reports “attention plant killers: new research shows your plants could be silently screaming at you” (TC);  
  more rights of animal, plant, and other forms of life issues:   the film industry (TC);
  
  
• 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:   concerns that France is using a future sporting event as an excuse to introduce surveillance (F24);  
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   after a major mistake gave media wrong access, a major sporting organisation will maintain disabled access (ABC);   improved diversity in my home state's water industry (AWA);   a disability advocate has been honoured with a statue (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 growing work from home movement (SMH);   a reasonable (TG) request (TND) for a pay (SBS) rise (TG) is being fought against (TG) by companies which already have excessive (Business Insider) profit;   anti-strike provisions in the UK could breach human rights obligations (TC);  
  more work issues:   the gig economy (CT); 
  
  
• 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:    a social housing fund has been adopted, but may have crucial shortcomings (ABC) - see also this, on  another family forced to live in tents (SBS);   mature recommendations on addressing the housing crisis (TND);  
  more food, clothing and housing issues:   Australia (TG); 
   
• a proposal to deal with bullying by creating a collaborative atmosphere (this is better than the sympathy for the abuser rubbish of recent decades, but, given so many past failures, I remain wary) (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:   3KND radio - 3KND;   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 ^TP ;   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 New Humanitarian - TNH;   The Saturday Paper - TSP;   The Sentry - TS;   The Shot - TS;   Timothy Snyder - TS;   Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA;   United Nations - UN;   Vice - V;   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.
  

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