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 17th June,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.
Vote Yes for the Voice in Australia.
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).

• the growing awareness of the importance of accountability, and commensurate actions,are being offset by the actions of evil, power-greedy patriarchal despots;
  
  
• on ISSUES OF MAJOR GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE and/or ACROSS MULTIPLE CATEGORIES: 
• the NEED for accountability, not forgiveness, to prevent future recurrence of problems - US focused, but the principle applies elsewhere as well (Heather Cox Richardson);   as an urgent warning is issued of a growing risk of mass atrocities in Darfur, Sudan (GCR2P), “developmental deficits and consequent fragility are themselves risk factors and potential triggers for mass atrocity crimes, especially when combined with other factors” (GCR2P) - making this clearly unfortunate (DW);   a team is aiming to change the practice in the USA of citing slave cases (such as the so-called “insane delusion rule”, developed for someone wanting to free his slaves) as “good law” (NPR);     
  
• the UN Secretary-General has said “social justice must be the foundation for the changing world of work” (UN);  
  
• “nine out of 10 people are biased against women, says ‘alarming’ UN report”  (TG) - see also this consideration of what has happened after MeToo (MJ);   a Reuters special report on “how torture [and] INACTION underpin UAE's thriving sex trafficking industry” (R);   “anti-trans politicians are following the n___ playbook” (JC);   a member of the family of of a gay man murdered in a hate crime - who were demonised and resisted in their decades long quest for justice by local homophobic police - has said “my brother Scott Johnson’s killer is finally behind bars. But there are others still at large. It’s time for the deaths of dozens of other gay men to be investigated and solved” (TG);  
  
• “the Politico-Media Complex has turned ‘balance’ into an outrage machine, putting the Voice at risk ... Consensus and respect are hard to monetise – but perhaps we can take back the power to redefine our world from the algorithms” (TG);         “the triumph of the Border-Industrial Complex” (JC);  “if Trump dismantles American democracy, Australia faces an existential question” (TG);   
• “UN chief calls for new era of social media integrity in bid to stem misinformation” (UN);         the ILO says one in every 10 children works - instead of going to school (UN);         “Netherlands, Canada take Syria to International Court of Justice over torture claims” (F24);   “the UN tribunal prosecuting decades-old war crimes in Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia is moving closer to completion” (UN);   Sweden has cowardly caved in to Türkiye’s craven oppression-based demand and will extradite a Kurdish activist (F24);   West African fishers have staged a massive protest “over poor pay and working conditions in one of the world’s most dangerous jobs ... [and accused] the EU fleet [of using] unsustainable practices, and urged the EU commission to listen to NGOs and investigate” (TG);
  
  
• on FAR RIGHT (AND LEFT) WING EXTREMISM AND HATE:  
• trans people and their families are fleeing genocidal states in the USA (ABC News) - actually they have been fleeing for some time, complete with underground railways and fund raising, but it is significant that mainstream media is now describing this for what it is: fleeing genocide, even if some (transphobic?) genocide organisations aren’t - some, at least, are: see here [Lemkin Institute, November, 2022] and here [Lemkin Institute, May, 2023]);   trans resistance in the worst US state (Huffington Post);   “a new report has found trans women do not have any advantages over any other women, when competing in elite sport, if existing rules are followed” (PN);         in a reminder that accountability can occur, in Argentina “transgender women testify in trial of those alleged to have tortured them” (SBS);         female sports players had to expose themselves (wording as a result of not having an adults only filter) to doctors prior to a world to prove they were female (TG);  
• a personal experience article: “I saw Israel’s ‘final solution to the Palestinian problem’ in Lebanon 41 years ago, and I see it again today” (JC);  
  
• in the USA, “hate groups’ political influence growing: Southern Poverty Law Center” (Minnesota Reformer via JC);   also in the USA, “hateopia: the great migration of racists to the south. The unannounced second secession of the confederacy” (M) - and a reminder of one of the many ways the US south set about immediately undermining laws against slavery (M);   after paying a nearly US$1 billion penalty, a conservative far right media outlet is continuing down its same unbalanced path (TG) - see also this (MJ);         the former 45^th president and others (TG) of the USA have been charged (TK) under (TK) US federal laws (TC), with his subsequent rhetoric creating fears of violence (TG) - see also here (F24), here (TND), here (TC), and here (TG), this opinion of what #45 should also have been charged with (JC), the need for the current US President to be careful (TC), this editorial on the threat to US democracy posed by former potus45 (LM), this on “the tyranny of Whataboutism” (M), and this critique and criticism of reporting, which includes “Unfortunately, framing the issue in those ways is both misleading and wrong. The actual test is this: Do the leaders of the Republican Party care enough about the rule of law, American democracy, and the oath they took to uphold and defend the Constitution, to tell the truth about the indictments being brought against [former potus45]? The answer, at least so far, is emphatically “no”” (MLT);   a reminder that “the psychiatrist who warned us that [#45] would unleash violence was absolutely right” (Mother Jones), and an interview with a historian who predicted #45 (TG);
  
  
• on the CLIMATE CRISIS (noting the UNFCCC) and ENVIRONMENT (noting multiple  international agreements): 
• the possible benefit of a sense of awe (TC);   we are moving back into an El Niño cycle, with risks of droughts and bushfires and extreme weather generally  - see here (climate.gov), here (ABC), here (R), here (ABC), here (F24), and here (Bureau of Meteorology);   “over two billion people could be exposed to extreme heat by 2100” (LM);   “Iran and Afghanistan dispute Helmand water rights as climate change deepens crisis” (F24);   fungi could help with managing carbon emissions (GNN);   a fossil company INFILTRATED a climate action conference (LM);   conflict over water resources is increasing (JC);   “The preservation of at least 20 - 25% diverse habitat in each square kilometre in human-modified lands is required to maintain the functional integrity of human-modified ecosystems and the terrestrial benefits humans get from nature – such as pollination and water quality regulation. At least 50 - 60% of natural ecosystem area, both terrestrial and marine (up to 80%) must be maintained to minimize harm to future generations, thus highlighting the need for restoration of natural areas” (Nature);   “it’s not the job of children to fix the climate crisis. We must show them grown-ups are leading the way” (TG);   “Indigenous knowledge is increasingly valued, but to fully respect it we need to decolonise science” (TC);  
  
• climate / environmental issues have also occurred in:   compost (TC),   forests in France (LM),   bushfire smoke (JC),   Germany (good news) (JC),   Cameroon (LM),   Antarctica (TC),   moths (are also pollinators) (Wired),   misplaced priorities (TC),   urban waterway restoration (TC),   wood heaters (TC),   fossil fuels (UN);
  
  
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter) including COVID-19 AND OTHER PANDEMICS: 
•  globally, humanitarian groups cannot keep up with demand owing to insufficient donations (F24) - food aid to 200,000 Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip will be stopped (JC), as may aid to 2½ million people in Syria (UN) ... but 180,000 people affected by the Kakhovka Dam collapse will receive aid ... (UN) - and the catastrophic need for aid in Haiti remains ignored (UN);         a cyclone is approaching South Asia (TG);         a volcanic eruption in the Philippines has forced thousands to evacuate (TG);   bushfires in Canada (LM);         landmines in Somalia (UN);         a bus crash in NSW has killed at least ten people who were guests at a wedding (TND), a traffic accident in Canada killed fifteen (TG), and a boat capsize has killed over 100 wedding guests in Nigeria (NYT);   four young Indigenous siblings survived (TG) six weeks in the Amazonian jungle after a plane crash (F24) killed their mother and other adults;   a highway bridge in the USA has collapsed after an oil tanker fire (F24);   a partial building collapse in the USA (AP);  
  
  
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring) and other democracy-threatening CRIMES, MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE, MISCONDUCT and other THREATS TO DEMOCRACY/FREEDOM including GREED: 
• concerns that French police are receiving life threatening training (LM);   a damning report into police in one US city (MJ);         in Australia, “the PwC scandal rolls on, bringing to light more awkward situations and potential conflicts” (ABC) - see also links in democracy and governance section;         “Federal police have been asked to investigate whether contempt of court was committed by the leaking of sensitive documents possibly in relation to ...'s criminal trial” (ABC) as the “Finance Minister ... has described media reports of ...’ leaked text messages are the “most egregious abuse of privacy I’ve ever seen”” (I agree with that assessment) (TND) - with support (TG) from some (TND) Libs, a call for an AFP investigation by a media platform (TG), and a call for media reform (TND);         russian hackers have claimed they committed a cyberattack on an Australian company (ABC), and Chinese hackers have breached hundreds of networks (F24);      more on identity theft (ABC);  
• concerns around past/current/potential  corruption/crimes/misgovernance/malfeasance/misconduct/threats to democracy or freedom, incl. greed, also in:   NSW (ABC),   Nigeria (AN);
  
  
• 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: 
• seismic records support the occurrence of an explosion when the Kakhovka Dam was destroyed (NPR), which is continuing to have devastating effects - including on agriculture (DW) and water supplies (UN);  a russian disinformation campaign has been uncovered (F24);  
  
• on military matters:   Ukraine’s counterattack is under way (TND) and is meeting significant resistance (TG) - see also here (F24) and here (TG);   NATO has confirmed Ukrainian pilots are being trained to fly F16 fighter jets (TG);  
  
• on the nuclear (weapons and power) situations:   “the UN atomic watchdog has said it needs wider access around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to check “a significant discrepancy” in water level data at the breached Kakhovka dam used for cooling the plant’s reactors” (TG);  russia is “on track” with its plans to move tactical nuclear weapons to Belorussia (SBS) - see also here (R), here (AJ), and this call by Poland for a response (BB), and, as China and other nations strengthen their nuclear arsenals (AJ), a call for a new approach to arms control (this suggestion is to give up on trying to prevent proliferation, and encourage “responsible” control ... that might be necessary for russia, but prevention should still be the goal elsewhere, IMO) (Foreign Affairs);  
  
• on human rights in the region and globally:   the area mined by russia in Ukraine is larger than some European nations (LM);  the loss of some cultural heritage sites as a result of the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam (DW); 
  
• internationally:   attempts by South Africa to foster peace are tainted by its ties to russia (F24);   Switzerland is rethinking its neutrality (DW);
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• “US seeks to expand developing world’s influence at United Nations” (WP);   “US ready to rejoin UNESCO and pay off arrears, six years after leaving” (LM) - see also here, on the why (F24);   a call for South Korea to refocus on multilateral diplomacy (Lowy);   Kazakhstan is widening its international connections beyond russia (Lowy);   the case for recognising Palestine (TC) as China supports Palestine and offers to mediate between Palestine and Israel (JC);   “expanding the Women, Peace and Security agenda to the next frontier – space” (Lowy);   “ten years of the Yaoundé Protocol: reflections on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea” (ACSS);   Iran is talking with the USA (JC);  
• 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:  
  the conflict in Sudan - which has spread to the west of that nation (F24) and killed over 1,000 civilians in Darfur (DS) (and the Governor of Darfur, after he criticised the violence (UN)) - has created and is worsening a humanitarian crisis (DW), including ethnic attacks that may be war crimes (UN) and problems for refugees fleeing to Egypt (NPR);   the differing involvement of russia and China in the Sudan conflict (JC) as Kenya tries talking directly to the opposing generals (TEA);   the AU has warned that “if this war does not stop immediately, the Sudanese state will totally collapse” (news24);         one million people have been displaced by the violence in eastern DRC in the last six months (UN);         a review of drones vs. jets (DW);  
  
• incidents / action of concern in/regarding:   peacekeeping in Mali (TDP); 
• violence in:   DRC (F24),   eastern DRC (TG-N),   Somalia (AN),   Mali (LM),   France (ABC),   Palestine - by Israel (JC),   UK (TG),   Japan (F24),   Kenya (news 24);
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY, SOVEREIGNTY, AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• globally:   “the US Supreme Court handed down a historic and somewhat unexpected ruling that upheld both the Voting Rights Act and election science” (Union of Concerned Scientists blog), but the decision may not be as much of a win as it seems (M);         “how the EU plans to regulate AI” (DW);      multinational companies’ tax dodging (TND);         kidnappers are harming agriculture in Nigeria (bbc);   “most Senegalese don't want three-term presidents” (news 24);   “South Sudan’s sluggish peace deal and unsteady road to elections” (AP);  
• in Australia:   a review of the possibility of a Universal Basic Income in Australia (SBS);   a campaign is beginning to lower the voting age (which I support) (ABC);   an examination of economic policy dogma (TND) - see also this similar examination of productivity (TC);   a Parliamentary enquiry has been told “with climate change leading to more and more severe natural disasters, the “concurrent pressure … will place an unsustainable pressure on our ability to perform our primary role, the military defence of Australia’s national interest” ” (TG);   a call for equity in education, as disadvantaged schools cannot help disadvantaged students adequately (TC);   an enquiry reports that the use of consultants has a negative impact on the capability development of the public service (I agree with that, based on changes I saw as a result of privatisation in the 1990s) (TC);  
• on the proposed Voice to the Parliament in Australia:   “Australians’ support for Indigenous voice steady with 60% in favour, Essential poll finds” (TG) - but poll results depend on who is asked (TC), and the Yes campaign is talking to people, not pollsters (TG);   “NT land councils unite to issue historic declaration supporting the Voice and constitutional recognition” (NIT);   “the Indigenous Australians minister ... has launched a stinging attack on opponents of the voice referendum, accusing the no campaign of “importing American-style [former potus45] politics” and seeking to divide Australians” (TG);   “Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians ... says an Indigenous Voice to Parliament can help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian” (NIT);  
  
• protests in:   Iran (DW);
  suppression of opposition / dissent / media in:   Senegal (LM),   Zimbabwe (VoA),   russia (DW),   Egypt (NYT),   China/Poland (TG);
  assessment of democracy or risks/issues in:   Bangladesh (Lowy) - see also here (DW);
  
  
• on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC):
  
• an Australian government “minister said the “central point” about how a sexual assault allegation in the workplace had been mishandled, was being missed. “What really worries me … is if you are a young woman looking at the way this has unravelled … you would really think twice about making a complaint”” (TG);    criticism of an Israeli plan as “permanent apartheid in Palestine” (JC);   an investigation into alleged war crimes has collapsed over fears of tainted (SMH) evidence and will be replaced (TG) by new investigations;   a “former SAS captain and Liberal MP ... has expressed his relief at [a former SAS soldier] losing his defamation trial, saying the courage of former colleagues in giving evidence against the Victoria Cross winner had "rescued" the elite regiment ... “In the end, it's a simple question of morality. It's right versus wrong. It's the rule of law versus the rule of the jungle”” (ABC);   Albinism Awareness Day (UN);   a possible cure for endometriosis (Nature);   people are being disappeared in Ethiopia (AA);   in another surprise decision, in the USA “SCOTUS just upheld the civil rights of millions of disabled and ageing people” (MJ);   street harassment and responses (TC);   incivility and the need to deal with it - and how to do so (TC);  
  
• human rights are at risk or abuses have also occurred or actions have been taken to support human rights in:   sportswashing (DW),   rebels in eastern DRC (AJ),   UAE (JC);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   an atrocity alert for Ukraine, Ethiopia and Syria (GCR2P);
  
  
• noting Article 6 (4) (5) (6) of the ICCPR,   this, and this on the DEATH PENALTY:   Florida will commit its fourth legal murder this year - this one of someone who is not mentally fit (MJ); 
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:   a The Guardian exclusive reports that “Australia to transport last asylum seekers off Nauru within weeks” (TG);   scores are dead and HUNDREDS are missing after a refugee (TG) ship sinks off Greece (LM) - see also here (UN), here (F24), here (TND), and here (TG);  
  more refugee issues:   Libya (news 24),   EU-Tunisia (DW),   West Asia and North Africa (R),   East Africa (VoA);
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQA+ PEOPLE:   a personal experience article: “repressing my bisexuality made me vulnerable to abuse” (M);   parents have rejected a religious schools homophobic requirements (SBS);   a republican in the USA has tried to hide their homophobia under the “no divisiveness” trope (LGBT Nation);   a country singer has held to his inclusiveness principles (NBC);   “Peru’s new ombudsman makes homophobic comments” (Washington Blade);  
  more LGBTIQA+ issues/stories:   UK (TG),   UK (good news) (PN),   pro-LGBTIQA+ cartoons (YT),   russia (LM),   UK (The Independent),  Qld. (good news) (QN),   Pakistan (F24);
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   “reunification of First Nations children with their parents is largely overlooked in child and family welfare practice” (TC);   “fear of child removal, poverty, coercive control and low awareness of traumatic brain injury related to family violence can all impact on when and how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women access health care and support services” (TC);   a call for more offensive place names (e.g., Murdering Creek, Butcher’s Creek) in so-called Australia to be changed (TG);   “Land Councils say they weren't fully consulted on the NT government's agriculture strategy” (ABC);   “there is concern from both the farming and First Nations communities as Western Australia prepares for new Aboriginal cultural heritage legislation to come into effect” (NIT);   the experience of multiple forced separations (TC);   the need for solar power in remote Indigenous communities (TC);         a video in the USA calling for the Indian Child Welfare Act there to be maintained (YT) ... which it has (MJ);   “Black Americans lose years of their life to everyday discrimination” (Vox);   “why stand-your-ground laws keep protecting racist, white people” (M);   a reminder that racism in the USA is NOT only in the south (M);         “official report: Palestinian-Israelis pay higher interest rates on loans in Israel” (MEE via JC);  
  more racism issues:   sport (TC),   fashion (NIT);
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    “new WA abortion laws designed to make access to terminations easier” (ABC);   “tackling pervasive sexism in Australian science requires money, leadership and time ... Before we analysed our system, I was convinced that childcare during fieldwork was one of our biggest stumbling blocks for gender equity because of the trouble I had had earlier in my career, but fieldwork wasn’t one of the most important issues. We found that making sure that women attended meetings and launched workshops — so the community could see them as intellectual leaders — was more important” (Nature);   “NSW Police officers need more training to deal with domestic violence cases, report finds” (ABC);   a conservative Senator has been expelled from his party and asked to leave Parliament after several women complained after sexual abuse by him - see here (written before a backlash pressured the original complainant into withdrawing her complaint - but that led to the subsequent additional complaints, which supported the truth of the original, courageous complaint) (NIT), here, on the impact that abuses and doubts have on other victims of sexual assault/abuse (TG), here (TG), and here for a political view (TC);  
  more sexism issues:   UK (TC),   drought and desertification (UN);
  
  
• noting the laws listed here, the conventions listed here, and principles discussed here, here, here, here, and here, on ANIMALS and the RIGHTS OF ANIMALS and other forms of life:   an updated and revised edition of the book “Animal Liberation” has been published (TC);   serial animal abuse in Qld (TG);   “plants respond to touch sending different signals through their cells” (GNN);
  
  
• 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:   “former high court judge Michael Kirby [is] among experts calling for a criminal cases review commission in Australia ... [a recent reversal of a conviction after decades of effort is] ‘not a rare case’” (TG) - see also this (ABC);   a series will be launched soon showing the innovations and inventions of Australia's Indigenous people over tens of thousands of years (TND) - see also this (TC);
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   “a “cascade of crises” is putting global progress towards ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in danger” (UN);
  
  
• 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:   “need a mental health day but worried about admitting it? You’re not alone” (TC);   “Australian CEOs pocket 15% pay rises as average worker wages fail to match cost-of-living increases” (TG);   “it’s time for [Australia] to consider a shake-up of misguided industrial policy” (Lowy);  
  more work issues:   Zimbabwe (New Zimbabwe);
  
  
• 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 call for decades of neglect in provision of affordable housing to be reversed in my home state as homelessness increases (TG);   in NSW, “there are growing calls to regulate the personal information real estate agents can request from potential tenants, with renters asked to hand over 12 months’ worth of bank statements, their personal social media profiles and in one case, whether they had prominent tattoos” (TG);   “Labor guarantees minimum $500m each year for housing in bid to win Greens support” (TG);   the loathsome wannabe rich elites are revelling (TND);   a critique of what a national housing and homelessness strategy needs (TC);  
  more food, clothing and housing issues:   tiny homes in WA (being fixed is an important difference) (ABC) - but see also this less positive story from Qld (ABC);
  
  
• noting Article 9 of the ICESCR,   Article 5 (e) (iv) (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Articles 11 (1) (e), 13 (a), and 14 (2) (c) of the CEDAW,    Article 26 of the CRC,   Article 28 (2) of the CRPD,   Article 21 of the DRIP,   and   ILO conventions on SOCIAL SECURITY:   “East Asia’s low welfare spending model fails to tackle inequality. A historical reliance on family has allowed governments to put the economic onus on those who can least afford it” (Lowy);  
  

(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 above - or to at least refer to them. Don't forget to CHECK whether your nation has RATIFIED the treaty concerned.)

Abbreviations:   3KND radio - 3KND;   Aeon Magazine - Aeon;   Africa Centre for Strategic Studies - ACSS;   Africa News - AN;   Al Jazeera - AJ;   All Africa - AA;   Amnesty International - AI;   Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project - ACLED;   Associated Press - AP;   Australian Associated Press - AAP;   Australian Broadcasting Corporation - ABC ^TP ;   Australian Independent Media Network - AIMN;   Australian Unions - AU;   Barrons;   Bellingcat (B);   Bloomberg - BB;   British Broadcasting Commission - bbc ^TP ;   Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - CBC;   Centre for Strategic and International Studies - CSIS;   Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ;   Context - CT;   the (US) Council on Foreign Relations (CFR);   Crikey - C [$];   Dabanga Sudan - DS;   Deutsche Welle - DW;   European Union - EU;   Forbes - F;   Foreign Policy - FP;   France 24 - F24 ^TP ;   Freedom House - FH;   Genocide Watch - GW;   Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect - GCR2P;   Good News Network - GNN;   HumAngle - HmA;   Human Rights Law Centre - HRLC;   Human Rights Watch - HRW;   Independent Australia - IA;   International Crisis Group - ICG;   Jessica Wildfire (Substack) - JW;   Juan Cole Informed Comment - JC;   Just Equal - JE;   Lawfare Blog - LFB;   Le Monde - LM;   LGBT Nation;   Lowy Institute - The Interpreter - Lowy;   Mail & Guardian - MG;   mainstream media - MSM;   Mary L Trump - MLT;   Medium - M;   Michael West (news media platform) - MW;   Middle East Eye - MEE;   Minority Rights Group - MRG;   Mother Jones - MJ;   Nation Africa - NA;   National Indigenous Television - NITV;   National Indigenous Times - NIT;   Nature Magazine - Nature;   NBC News - NBC;   News24;   Pearls and Irritations - PnI;   Pink News - PN;   Political Violence at a Glance - PVG;   Politico - P;   Premium Times Nigeria - PT;   ProPublica - PP;   Q News - QN;   Quartz - Q;   Radio France International - rfi;   Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE);   Raw Story - RS;   Renew Economy - RE;    Reuters - R;   Robert Reich - RR;   (Bruce) Schneier - Sch;   Special Broadcasting Service - SBS;   Star Observer - Star;   Sudan Tribune - ST;   Sydney Morning Herald - SMH;   Teri Kanefield - TK;   The Age - TA ^TP ;   The Big Smoke (TBS);   The Conversation - TC ^TP ;   The Defence Post - TDP;   The East African - TEA;   The Guardian - TG;   The (Nigerian) Guardian - TG-N;   The Hindu - TH;   The Monthly - TM;   The New Daily - TND;   The New Humanitarian - TNH;   The Saturday Paper - TSP;   The Sentry - TS;   The Shot - TS;   Timothy Snyder - TS;   Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA;   United Nations - UN;   Vice - V;   Voice of America - VoA;   Wall Street Journal - WSJ [$];   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.