From the news on: human rights [Note: Content Warning - links to reports on bigotry/hate, CSA, violence/abuse/war. Reader discretion is advised]

Note: CONTENT WARNING - some of this content is about upsetting, disturbing or triggering events & attitudes. Seek competent help - including professional - if you need it. 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]), or perhaps try https://www.befrienders.org/. 

From the news on human rights: 

an examination and identification of what is needed to improve court experience for sexual assault victims   https://theconversation.com/does-australia-need-dedicated-sexual-assault-courts-215708   

• “Dr Kaz Ross on Bannon, Gaza, fascists & freedom” - Yeah Nah Pasaran!   “This week we're joined by returning guest Dr Kaz Ross to talk about the far-Right response to the war on Gaza, as well as Melbourne n___s (we hate Melbourne n___s) and the vestiges of the Cooker movement.”   Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/yeah-nah-pasaran/id1529396490?i=1000632770640   or at   https://www.3cr.org.au/yeahnahpasaran/episode/dr-kaz-ross-bannon-gaza-fascists-freedom   The discussion on countering far right extremism made the weak actions of the court - which were emphasised by the attacks on minorities outside the court reported at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-27/neo-____-hiker-attack-thomas-sewell-jacob-hersant/103031582 even more unfathomable  

• “Episode 26: Samuel Emonet - Expert Voices on Atrocity Prevention”   “In this episode, we sat down with Samuel Emonet, Executive Director of Justice Rapid Response. During the episode Samuel shares how Justice Rapid Response supports investigations into grave violations of international law. Samuel explains Justice Rapid Response's methodology in deploying experts with a wide array of specialized skills to aid in investigating and documenting crimes and how they uphold their core tenets of utilizing a victim-centered approach. He also shares how his own professional journey led him to realize the role played by international justice in achieving sustainable peace and the importance of working on justice objectives as early as possible in conflict settings.”   Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/expert-voices-on-atrocity-prevention/id1550368126?i=1000632830584   

 

• “A Black Tiktoker Went Viral after Retelling A Horrifying Confession He Heard From an Ageing White Ex-Firefighter”   https://www.theroot.com/a-black-tiktoker-went-viral-after-retelling-a-horrifyin-1850973264   

• “Mandatory sentencing laws questioned as Indigenous man serves his time for murder he didn't commit”   https://nit.com.au/28-10-2023/8367/indigenous-man-serves-his-time-for-murder-he-didnt-do   
  

• “Mr King yelled 'I can't breathe' before he died. There was no global outcry”   https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-31/i-cant-breathe-mr-king-four-corners/103035218   
  

 

• “Recognizing the Roma Holocaust”   https://jewishcurrents.org/recognizing-the-roma-holocaust   “In his recent book Rain of Ash, historian Ari Joskowicz examines the evolving relationships between Jews and Roma in the struggle for justice”    

• “Two Russian soldiers have been arrested on suspicion of killing a family of nine, including two young children, in their home in the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian town of Volnovakha.”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/31/russian-soldiers-accused-of-killing-family-of-nine-in-ukraine   

• “Catholic church loses landmark case over tactics that shield it from Australian abuse claims”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/01/catholic-church-loses-landmark-case-death-of-paedophile-priests-historical-abuse-cases   leading to   “A High Court case gives one woman a green light to sue the Catholic Church — and hope to thousands of sexual abuse survivors”   https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-01/high-court-case-woman-sue-catholic-church-hope-survivors-abuse/103048494  
  

• “‘Terrifying’: Victorian prison officers put spit hood on a child held at an adult facility”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/01/terrifying-victorian-prison-officers-put-spit-hood-on-a-child-held-at-an-adult-facility  
  

• The updated Victorian Government “LGBTIQA+ inclusive language guide”   https://www.vic.gov.au/inclusive-language-guide   “This guide explains how to use language respectfully and inclusively when working with and referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer, questioning and asexual people. It's for Victorian public sector employees”   guide is at (as a PDF) https://www.vic.gov.au/inclusive-language-guide   

• “More news and Fringe roundup” - Out of the Pan  “More news and Fringe roundup”   Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/out-of-the-pan/id312435652?i=1000632958882   or at   https://www.3cr.org.au/outofthepan/episode/more-news-and-fringe-roundup   
  

• “How one of the 'bloke-iest' companies in Australia is smashing the gender pay gap”   https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-30/companies-reducing-gender-pay-gap-before-mandatory-reporting/103013608   
  

 

• “Age discrimination complaints on NDIS age cap taken to the United Nations”   https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-31/ndis-age-cap-complaint-united-nations/103013742   
  

• “Teacher seeks reimbursement from [airline company] over broken wheelchair, ongoing costs”   https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-31/virgin-airline-wheelchair-damage-broken-compensation/103010472   note: many airline companies seem to have this problem, so I would be wary in focusing on just this company ... in fact    “Disabled man drags himself off plane after Air Canada fails to offer wheelchair”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/30/air-canada-wheelchair-disabled-man-drag-himself-off-flight   “Airline was forced to apologize to Rodney Hodgins who flew to Las Vegas with his wife to celebrate their anniversary in August”   I consider that whole airline needs to take the focus off profits a smidgeon and put some focus into how to be decent - which is what all anti-discrimination laws and advocacy are about ...
  

 

• “When Police Raid A Newspaper for No Reason”   https://youtu.be/-CX1aJRUzPY?si=eMmSXoGbOaKk-aUI   

• “Microsoft accused of damaging Guardian’s reputation with AI-generated poll”   https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/oct/31/microsoft-accused-of-damaging-guardians-reputation-with-ai-generated-poll   
  

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;

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 - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
  

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

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Remember: we need to be more human being rather than human doing, and all misgendering is an act of active transphobia/transmisia that puts trans+ lives at risk.