HUMAN RIGHTS: RESPECTING DIVERSITY

MOVING Video for Global LGBT Equality: Going All Out

2011-10-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

All Out

2011-10-31T08:07:00.002-07:00

For those of you who are in the "human rights for all" mindset, check out ALL OUT. This is a great site where opinions can be voiced, petitions can be signed, and people can become proactive in the fight against discrimination. I've also added a more recent posting with a video about the organization...

Thanks,

Terry

http://www.allout.org/

Failed or Failing States

2011-06-20T17:10:00.004-07:00

In a recent article of Foreign Policy Magazine, a series of photos were taken with captions which listed a number of countries (63 I believe) that are on the verge of, or on the road to failing. What does this mean exactly? Much of what is listed deals with issues of poverty related to war, human rights, corruption, distribution of wealth, and health and education.

These states that are failing aren't doing so due only to internal problems, but also because of the external factors which are influencing their growth and development. The developed world is part of the problem: we use resources, manipulate markets, ignore policies, occupy territories, restructure social programs, and cast a shadow of blame when countries cannot get out of the debt loads they carry.

As sad as some of the stories are, there are also some success stories interwoven. It is a fascinating look at our world.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/20/postcards_from_hell_2011?page=0%2C39#.

UN Resolution Passes

2011-06-20T08:33:00.002-07:00

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/06/17/un-passes-gay-rights-resolution/

The Right Way to Do Things

2011-05-23T00:51:00.004-07:00

We are in a very interesting yet disturbing period in history. Life is leaning to the right, pivoting on the side of economic growth, religious fundamentalism, and conservative social policy. Globally, we are more concerned with trade deficits than with human development; more in touch with an irrational interest in the evils of those people who fall outside of the norms, than in the creation of human connection and the acceptance of diversity.

Globally, there is much to be concerned about. Certain African nations are becoming more concerned with the targeting of sexual minorities, women, and children, in an effort to superstitiously rid themselves of poverty, corruption, disease, and famine. Education, healthcare and science have taken a back seat to witchcraft and scapegoating.

Europe is becoming increasingly Xenophobic, paying lip service to a more unified community, while reducing immigration and excluding those who are undesirable; tougher policies are ensuring that the European Community is not at risk of progressive multiculturalism.

In our own backyard, a new era of conservatism is upon us. Canada has never really known (from what I know) a government so right on the scale that we can actually hear our voices being taken away from us. This country has long shown itself to be a progressive entity even in times of hardline world trends. But alas, we have succumbed to the pressures of a new world order, forged years ago by G. Bush as a way to make certain that fear and paranoia prevail.

Stephen Harper will create a new Canada, made up of a Science Minister who does not believe in evolution, a Health Minister who will privatize healthcare and profit from the illness of others, and an Education Minister who will opt to put a balanced budget ahead of literacy and an enlightened future generation. Mr Harper has already done away with development funding , and is monitoring our speech online, and although won't admit it, is planning to deny women sexual/reproductive rights, reserve marriage for "traditional" partnerships, and put more and more funding into Draconian law enforcement measures and bigger prisons.

We are in a changing world, one which has forgotten the mistakes of the past, and is downplaying our mutual responsibilities to one another...humans have the capacity for great developments and progress, but as history shows, we also have the capacity for great destruction. Although I would like to have faith in the former, I realistically predict the latter.

Welcome to the Dark Ages Uganda!!!

2011-02-03T09:30:00.003-08:00

As ridiculous as it seems, some countries are regressing. Rest In Peace Mr. David Kato, may your death be a catalyst for change.

Please cut and past the link, it speaks for itself:

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/110127/uganda-gay-rights-activist-brutally-killed

UN Restores Sexual Orientation Reference To Violence Measure

2010-12-22T05:42:00.002-08:00

The United States has successfully persuaded the United Nations to include "sexual orientation" as a category of vulnerable populations whose targeted killings the world body condemns.

Controversy broke out after African and Arab states successfully stripped the resolution of a reference to killings for reasons of "sexual orientation," which was included along with killings for racial, national, ethnic, religious, or linguistic reasons, and killings of refugees, indigenous people, and other groups.
(http://www.rferl.org/content/un_sexual_orientation_gays_lesbians_transgender_violence/2255644.html)

It is reassuring to see the UN stepping-up and acknowledging the rights of minority groups, no matter how controversial the subject matter. There has been a polarization in the past few years when it comes to "sexual orientation" rights. While some countries, such as those in Latin America are passing same sex marriage and civil unions, other countries are condemning their gay citizens through lengthy prison sentences and execution.

Each of us is born with a unique set of identities: ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, etc., and as Hilary Clinton sums it up, "no one should be killed for who they are."

Sri Lankan Tamils

2010-08-29T09:09:00.002-07:00

A boatload of around 490 Tamils arrived in Vancouver 2 weeks ago. Since that time, I've been reading editorials and "closed-minded" opinions about how "they" should be sent back. I'm really at a loss as to why so many people are against this group.

Is it because they are "terrorists"? I've seen that term overused. Lest we forget where that fear mongering attitude came from...I'll give you a hint, the president before Obama. Tamils do not equal Tamil Tigers. This brings back memories of post-911 which saw a backlash against all Arabs because of a similar call (and even Sikhs because some less educated segments of society didn't know the difference).

Is it because of the money that it will cost tax payers? That is ridiculous. We seem to have no problem with our government spending 100s of millions of dollars to buy new weapons of war, but when it comes to humanitarian spending, we forget that there are individuals involved.

Is it because we in Canada are scared of losing our "culture"? Well our culture has evolved continuously since the French and English decided to exploit local populations so that they could get the upper hand on the beaver trade. Canada has since that time, became a country of immigrants, refugees; people looking for a better life. Canada has redefined itself on a number of occasions and we seem to forget that.

The redefining I see at the moment is a Canada I do not want to live in. It is a place of intolerance, fear, petty worry over the economic bottom-line, no concern about others; a country being changed not by immigrants, but by apathy and complacency.

I spent 1.5 years in Sri Lanka during the war. Try putting yourself in the shoes of a Tamil who is constantly being targeted by the government because of your ethnicity. Try being a post-war Tamil who is still being targeted by that same government who has no concern for individual rights, who sees all Tamils as terrorists, and continues to detain people without due process. Lock them away, and throw away the key...wouldn't you be looking for a better life as well?

A request I have, is that before we begin labelling and judging people we know nothing about, we each need to make the effort to learn more, get informed, be open to another side. Statements such as "so called human rights abuses", or "these terrorists", do not bode well for a society that has been progressive and a world leader on issues related to humanitarianism. It makes me feel as though Canada has lost its way and would rather have a balanced budget than to remember its compassion.

Nigeria's Child Witches

2010-08-29T09:01:00.002-07:00

Just when I thought there couldn't possibly be any more stories which define humans as "ludicrously-regressive", this article about Nigeria's witch hunt has appeared. Children are being targetted as witches, as evildoers, as scapegoats in order to advance the power of religion and superstition.

"The devil's children are "identified" by powerful religious leaders at extremist churches where Christianity and traditional beliefs have combined to produce a deep-rooted belief in, and fear of, witchcraft.The priests spread the message that child-witches bring destruction, disease and death to their families. And they say that, once possessed, children can cast spells and contaminate others. The religious leaders offer help to the families whose children are named as witches, but at a price. The churches run exorcism, or "deliverance", evenings where the pastors attempt to drive out the evil spirits. Only they have the power to cleanse the child of evil spirits, they say. The exorcism costs the families up to a year's income."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/3407882/Child-witches-of-Nigeria-seek-refuge.html

Pride in Vancouver

2010-07-22T11:59:00.006-07:00

In only a few days Vancouver Pride Week begins. Many people have been asking why we still need Pride, the parade, etc, when the GLBT community has "equality" in Canada (including marriage). With the approach of the celebration, I challenge people to forget about petty politics, stop complaining about liquor prices, go beyond the parties and the glamour, and reflect and somehow get involved in "the meaning of Pride". Attend a social justice event, find a queer arts space, volunteer for something that you feel passionate about, and take a stand against homophobia.

Just because elements of "equality" are written into law does not mean that suddenly the communities across this country accept them, or respect the people for whom these legal entities are created. Some Canadians do not realize that this is not a completely peaceful, live-and-let-live country where everyone accepts and respects eachother regardless of the identities we each have (either visible or invisible). This is apparent from the recent increase in gay bashings in the westend, and Vancouver's recent distinction as one of the top cities in Canada for hate-crimes (based on religion, culture, race, and sexual orientation).

Relatively speaking, Canada may be progressively ahead of other countries, both in legal and societal terms, but we have to stop believing that the world of Canada is becoming more progressive, that social divides do not exist, and that our multicultural framework is alive and well. By sitting back and thinking things are and will always be good is just plain foolish.

The present minority conservative government keeps showing its true colours when it cuts funding to human rights groups (or any group that disagrees with its policies), when it takes the same-sex piece our of the immigration guide, and when it works behind the scenes guaranteeing privilege to certain organizations which have religious or "family values" mandates. Stand up, show the government that the GLBT community is not just a passing phase, show your community that your serious about your rights, and show those who try to make you feel less of yourself through their verbal or physical attacks that you are stronger than them...Take Pride!

Terry

The Story Of Human Rights

2010-02-04T11:50:00.001-08:00

A basic lesson in Human Rights. Simple but effective.

US Military: Modern Weapons, Neolithic Mindsets

2010-02-04T11:06:00.003-08:00

While Obama tries to further the plight of "gays in the military" in order (in my opinion) to bring the USA into the 21st century, his push for a repeal on the ban is being met with resistance and a slow bureaucratic process.

"Amid criticism from opponents of the ban that the Pentagon was moving too slowly, (Defence Secretary) Mr Gates warned against rushing through a change to the law without gauging the views of service members and their families. The Department of Defence is the biggest, most complex, organisation in the world. Our military culture is one of our greatest strengths but it's also a strong culture,'' he said."(http://www.smh.com.au/world/powell-does-aboutface-on-gays-in-us-military-20100204-ngae.html)

My response to that is...why is Mr Gates worried about views of service members and families? and so what if there is a strong culture. It's time to start respecting all rights, and not worrying about treading on some peoples' toes because they don't agree that a certain element of the population is worthy of equal treatment. GROW UP AMERICA!!! Start putting "rights policy" into practice and although it may not happen overnight, society will catch up at some point.

FC Abroad: New Ugandan bill unleashes a witchhunt that could see gays executed

2009-11-26T12:01:00.000-08:00

FC Abroad: New Ugandan bill unleashes a witchhunt that could see gays executed

Zimbabwe-Now What?

2009-11-08T11:07:00.002-08:00

Robert Mugabe just keeps getting caught-out, this time with his fingers in diamond mining. The Kimberly Process", a joint initiative (goverments, industries, civil society) to curb the trade of conflict diamonds will decide this week if it will suspend Zimbabwe's certification.

"Canadian Ian Smillie was one of the architects of the Kimberley Process set up seven years ago to try to end trade in conflict diamonds. He resigned earlier this year because he said the organization had failed to act against Zimbabwe over what he and some non-governmental organizations say are many gross human-rights abuses at the Chiadzwa diamond fields...Several informal miners at the diamond fields said the Zimbabwe army used helicopter gunships in an operation to take control of the Chiadzwa diamond field in the Marange district of eastern Manicaland last year. They said that many poverty stricken people digging for diamonds were shot and wounded and that an unknown number were killed. Others said they had been beaten and chased away by security forces." http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-11-03-voa49.cfm

The funny thing about Zimbabwe and Robert Mugabe is that he has managed to get away with abuses which have been ongoing for a couple of decades. Every new crisis brings a moderate slap on the hand (at most) and he has somehow managed to convince other African states and other investment partners to support him...or has he been able to find leverage points with other parties to ensure that if he goes down, he won't do it alone?

Somalia: At Least it Keeps Human Rights Groups Busy

2009-11-06T08:43:00.006-08:00

The latest news comes out of Somalia where an "adulterer" has been stoned to death. If that isn't bad enough, his pregnant girlfriend has been spared UNTIL she gives birth, at which point she will also be stoned to death and the child given to her family to take care of...

"Meanwhile, President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has accused al-Shabab of spoiling the image of Islam by killing people and harassing women."Their actions have nothing to do with Islam," said the moderate Islamist during a ceremony at which he nominated a new administration for the capital, Mogadishu." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8347216.stm

Of course this has nothing to do with Islam...since when do any acts which harm, torture, or marginalize people have anything to do with any religion? Humans have learned to harness power and corruption to meet their own needs, sad but true.

The Far Western Reaches of China

2009-10-16T10:27:00.003-07:00

Last year's violent ethnic protests in the city of Urumqi resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people and injuries in the thousands. The Chinese government has dealt with this situation the way it always deals with ethnic issues within its borders: through suppression, censorship, (mis-)trial, and the eventual execution of a few scapegoats:

"On October 12, the Urumqi Intermediate People's Court tried seven men and sentenced six to death and one to life imprisonment. On October 14, another 14 men were tried and sentenced. Six received the death penalty, three of them with a two-year reprieve, while others were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. All the trials took place without prior public notification and were conducted in less than a day." http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/10/15/china-xinjiang-trials-deny-justice

I do not condone violence or violent protest, but I do empathize with situations which bring anger, frustration, and helplessness to a head. China, please don't blame the people, don't put them to death, don't set examples...find a process which allows for non-violent protest, freedom of speech, and legal processes which ensure fair and just treatment of those convicted.

Dead Can Dance - The Host Of Seraphim

2009-10-16T10:01:00.001-07:00

October 17 is End Poverty Day...one of my favourite clips that reminds me of what's still happening around the world is from the movie "Baraka".

On this rainy Friday morning, I only need to go out my front door and see people sleeping in doorways and at bus shelters to remind me that poverty is at the local level as well.

Happy thoughts for the start of the weekend.

Sri Lanka on my mind...for all the wrong reasons.

2009-09-05T00:03:00.003-07:00

Once again, Sri Lanka has done it...used it's Draconian politics to convict another journalist who is exercising his right to free speech.

"A High Court in Sri Lanka sentenced journalist Jayaprakash Sittampalam (JS) Tissainayagam to 20 years rigorous imprisonment on Monday, for writing and publishing articles that criticized the government's treatment of Sri Lankan Tamil civilians affected by the war. The court said the articles caused "racial hatred" and promoted terrorism." http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/sri-lanka-jails-journalist-20-years-exercising-right-freedom-expression-20090901

The Sri Lankan government has not only done a good job of convincing the world that the war is over, it's held on to its "terrorism" laws which allows it to do what it wants to those who are not convinced of its claim to peace...shame on a country that has so much potential but so little interest in its people.

Delhi Ruling Rules!

2009-07-02T09:51:00.005-07:00

Delhi's High Court ruled that the law outlawing homosexual acts was discriminatory and a "violation of fundamental rights". The court said that a statute in Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which defines homosexual acts as "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" and made them illegal, was an "antithesis of the right to equality". http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8129836.stm

In a country of over 1 billion, this ruling, in my opinion, will set a precedent for dialogue on sexual rights, de-stigmatization, and HIV/STI related issues throughout India and in the South/South East Asian region in general.

This decision will not go unchallenged, nor will it be an easy road ahead for advocates who continue to fight for the cause...but as a first step I'm sure it has created hope, along with a feeling that there is at least some political and legal will to advance the rights of people marginalized because of their sexuality.

USA Okay, Lithuania Nay

2009-06-18T18:26:00.003-07:00

After coming out of the Bush era, Obama has begun paving the way for an American society that is finally beginning to acknowledge same-sex couples:

"The presidential memorandum signed by Mr. Obama allows same-sex partners of U. S. civil-service employees to be added to the government's long-term-care insurance program. Gay and lesbian civil servants can also use their sick leave to care for an ill domestic partner or non-biological, non-adopted children. Same-sex partners of U. S. foreign-service employees will be able to use government medical facilities and be eligible for medical evacuations from overseas posts. Extending equal benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees is "the right thing to do," Mr. Obama said at a late-afternoon signing ceremony. "As Americans, we are all affected when our promises of equality go unfulfilled." http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=1708559

On the other side of the planet in the European Baltic country of Lithuania, gay persons will have to keep fighting just for the right to be treated with dignity.

"The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, approved a bill Tuesday that bans gay speech in schools..The bill prohibits schools from discussing being gay and bans any reference to homosexuality where it might be viewed by children. The amendment denies the right to freedom of expression and deprives students access to the support and protection they may need...The bill bans information that “agitates for homosexual, bisexual relations or polygamy,” calling such information detrimental to youth. Critics said the bill's broad language effectively bans any discussion of homosexuality except in a negative context, effectively legislating homophobia. Lithuania has signed up to these international humanitarian declarations but it is now defying them. It wants the rights of EU and UN membership, but not the responsibilities. Lithuania has no right to belong to European institutions if it violates their human rights principles."http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4026&MediaType=1&Category=24

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have...the ludicrous nature of the world in which we live.

Sri Lankan "Bloodbath"

2009-05-12T16:35:00.002-07:00

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Volunteers dug mass graves in the marshes of Sri Lanka's northern war zone Monday as they buried hundreds of civilians killed in artillery attacks that the U.N. characterized as a "bloodbath."

A doctor in the war zone said as many as 1,000 civilians may have been killed in two days of shelling that marked some of the worst violence in this Indian Ocean island nation since the civil war flared up again more than three years ago.

With the civilian death toll skyrocketing, the Tamil Tiger rebels and a coalition of international human rights groups separately called for the U.N. Security Council to urgently hold talks on the conflict. But with several nations protesting such talks, that seemed unlikely.

The government and the separatist rebels both denied responsibility for the artillery attacks that struck the tiny sliver of northeast coast still held by the rebels in two waves. The worst barrage pounded the area, which holds an estimated 50,000 trapped civilians, from Saturday night until Sunday morning, health officials said.

Another attack hit the area overnight Sunday, landing in a newly demarcated "safe zone" where the government had urged civilians to gather, according to Dr. V. Shanmugarajah, who works at a makeshift hospital in the area.

A total of 430 ethnic Tamil civilians, including 106 children, were either brought to the hospital for burial or died at the facility, he said. More than 1,300 wounded came to the hospital as well, he said. But, he said, the death toll was likely far higher because many of those killed would have been buried in the bunkers where they were slain, and many of the gravely wounded never made it to the hospital for treatment. "There were many who died without medical attention," Shanmugarajah said. "Seeing the number of wounded, and from what the people tell me, I estimate the death toll to be around 1,000."

Volunteers dug mass graves in the marsh near the hospital, putting 50 to 60 bodies in each pit, he said. One of the hospital's nurses was killed along with his family as they sheltered from the onslaught in a trench that was then filled with soil and turned into their grave, he said. "The U.N. has consistently warned against the bloodbath scenario as we've watched the steady increase in civilian deaths over the last few months," U.N. spokesman Gordon Weiss said. "The large-scale killing of civilians over the weekend, including the deaths of more than 100 children, shows that that bloodbath has become a reality."

In Washington, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly expressed deep concern.
"We think that there's an unacceptably high level of civilian casualties," he told reporters. The hospital in the war zone was so overwhelmed that many of those wounded in Saturday's barrage had still not been treated Monday morning. Every time Shanmugarajah left the operating room, he was mobbed by those seeking treatment, he said. "The hospital death rate is increasing, but we are helpless," he said.

People were begging the doctors to send them away on a Red Cross ship that comes every few days to evacuate the wounded, saying they could not bear the shelling anymore, he said.
Reports of the fighting are difficult to verify because the government bars journalists and aid workers from the war zone.

U.N. figures compiled last month showed that nearly 6,500 civilians had been killed in three months this year as the government drove the separatist rebels from their northern strongholds and vowed to end the war.

Selvarasa Pathmanathan, a top rebel official, appealed to the international community and the Security Council to take up the war "as a matter of urgency," according to a statement posted on the rebel-linked Web site TamilNet.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other rights groups called on Japan, the largest international donor to Sri Lanka, to press the U.N. to urgently address the war, and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called for discussions to be held at all levels of the U.N. on the plight of the civilians. "No one can be in any doubt that this is an issue that deserves the international community's attention," Miliband told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York. Sri Lanka is not on the Security Council agenda because Russia, China, Japan and Vietnam consider the fighting an internal matter.

The rebels, listed as a terror group by the U.S. and the EU, blamed the artillery assaults on the government, with Pathmanathan calling them "a deliberate massacre of Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan armed forces. "Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe denied the government was responsible for any artillery attacks and claimed health officials in the area were under pressure from the rebels to lie. "We have consciously avoided firing into the areas where civilians are forcibly held by the LTTE," he said, referring to the rebels by the acronym of their formal name, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Rights groups have accused the government of bombing and shelling the war zone despite pledges to stop using heavy weapons, and accuse the rebels of holding civilians as human shields and shooting at many who tried to flee. The government has brushed off international calls for a humanitarian truce, saying any pause in the fighting would give the rebels time to regroup and prolong a war that has already lasted more than a quarter century.
___
Associated Press writers Krishan Francis and Bharatha Mallawarachi contributed to this report from Colombo and Edith Lederer contributed from the United Nations.

Global Economics and Earth Day: We Just Don't Get It!

2009-04-22T10:28:00.003-07:00

It's Earth Day today, a time when we are supposed to appreciate our environment, and do things that save rather than destroy the planet. I commend those who are actively involved in all endeavours associated with Earth Day, and admire the commitment of people who make Earth Day an everyday event...

With that being said, I find it laughable that we have global "leaders" who will on one hand talk about the need to save our planet, but on the other, encourage people to continue their consumer habits in order to support "positive" growth. This global economic framework is no longer valid!!!!!!!! It is, simply put, a model built on greed...Growth is monetary and quantitative, we need to focus on a development model which supports qualitative aspects associated with social and environmental betterment.

The Current Economic Growth and Greed model:

-allows places like Dubai to build out of control in order to guarantee that the rich are kept luxuriously ignorant of its unsustainable future...a shopping mall with a ski resort (in a city that hits 50 degrees in the summer)?!...Housing developments built on man-made islands in the shape of the world (by the way they're sinking and because of the dredging, have completed altered the aquatic ecosystems in the area)?!

-gives Beijing the right to tear down long-established Hutong (cultural) communities to make way for progress in the form of sports facilities and shopping malls...industry is also running rampant under its new economic policies (the sky is permantly grey from the pollution)!

-helps support sub-Saharan Africa's downward spiral into poverty from which it can never hope to recover (and due to this poverty, gives no choice to people but to actively degrade their environments further).

-supplies status and wealth to followers, who as loyal subjects are sometimes afforded the freedom to marginalize and suppress others in order to further support the model.

The list goes on, and I will stop my rant there before I begin on my own country (tar sands in northern Alberta???).

Happy Earth Day everyone!

T

2009-02-25T21:42:00.001-08:00

Better Late Than Never

2009-02-25T21:36:00.002-08:00

I forgot to post this note on February 20th...that day marked "The (first) World Day for Social Justice" as proclaimed by the UN General Assembly.

As recognized by the World Summit, social development aims at social justice, solidarity, harmony and equality within and among countries and social justice, equality and equity constitute the fundamental values of all societies. To achieve “a society for all” governments made a commitment to the creation of a framework for action to promote social justice at national, regional and international levels. They also pledged to promote the equitable distribution of income and greater access to resources through equity and equality and opportunity for all. The governments recognized as well that economic growth should promote equity and social justice and that “a society for all” must be based on social justice and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
http://un.org/esa/socdev/social/intldays/IntlJustice/

Something to Be Positive About

2009-02-25T21:31:00.001-08:00

Johanna Sigurdardottir, named as Iceland's prime minister on Sunday, is the first openly lesbian head of government in Europe, if not the world - at least in modern times. The 66-year-old's appointment as an interim leader, until elections in May, is seen by many as a milestone for the gay and lesbian movement.

Up until now, if a gay man or woman has been prime minister, they have done their best to conceal the fact. In Iceland itself, however, the new prime minister's sexual orientation appears to be causing less excitement than it is abroad.

What is really historic about this new cabinet, says Skuli Helgeson, the general secretary of Ms Sigurardottir's Social Democratic Alliance, is not the fact that its leader is a lesbian, but that for the first time in Icelandic history it boasts an equal number of men and women.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7862804.stm

UN Addresses Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

2009-01-09T07:58:00.008-08:00

Courtesy IGLHRC:
(New York, December 11, 2008) - As the world celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the UN General Assembly will hear a statement in mid-December endorsed by more than 50 countries across the globe calling for an end to rights abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity. A coalition of international human rights organizations today urged all the world's nations to support the statement in affirmation of the UDHR's basic promise: that human rights apply to everyone.

Nations on four continents are coordinating the statement, including: Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, France, Gabon, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway. The reading of the statement will be the first time the General Assembly has formally addressed rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

"In 1948 the world's nations set forth the promise of human rights, but six decades later, the promise is unfulfilled for many," said Linda Baumann of Namibia, a board member of Pan Africa ILGA, a coalition of over 60 African lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups. "The unprecedented African support for this statement sends a message that abuses against LGBT people are unacceptable anywhere, ever."

The statement is non-binding, and reaffirms existing protections for human rights in international law. It builds on a previous joint statement supported by 54 countries, which Norway delivered at the UN Human Rights Council in 2006.

"Universal means universal, and there are no exceptions," said Boris Dittrich of the Netherlands, advocacy director of Human Rights Watch's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights program. "The UN must speak forcefully against violence and prejudice, because there is no room for half measures where human rights are concerned."

The draft statement condemns violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization, and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also condemns killings and executions, torture, arbitrary arrest, and deprivation of economic, social, and cultural rights on those grounds.

"Today, dozens of countries still criminalize consensual homosexual conduct, laws that are often relics of colonial rule," said Grace Poore of Malaysia, who works with the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. "This statement shows a growing global consensus that such abusive laws have outlived their time."

The statement also builds on a long record of UN action to defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. In its 1994 decision in Toonen v. Australia, the UN Human Rights Committee - the body that interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), one of the UN's core human rights treaties - held that human rights law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. Since then, the United Nations' human rights mechanisms have condemned violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, including killings, torture, rape, violence, disappearances, and discrimination in many areas of life. UN treaty bodies have called on states to end discrimination in law and policy.

Other international bodies have also opposed violence and discrimination against LGBT people, including the Council of Europe and the European Union. In 2008, all 34 member countries of the Organization of American States unanimously approved a declaration affirming that human rights protections extend to sexual orientation and gender identity.

"Latin American governments are helping lead the way as champions of equality and supporters of this statement," said Gloria Careaga Perez of Mexico, co-secretary general of ILGA. "Today a global movement supports the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, and those voices will not be denied."

So far, 55 countries have signed onto the General Assembly statement, including: Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Chile, Ecuador, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uruguay, and Venezuela. All 27 member states of the European Union are also signatories.

"It is a great achievement that this initiative has made it to the level of the General Assembly," said Louis-Georges Tin of France, president of the International Committee for IDAHO (International Day against Homophobia), a network of activists and groups campaigning for decriminalization of homosexual conduct. "It shows our common struggles are successful and should be reinforced."

"This statement has found support from states and civil society in every region of the world," said Kim Vance of Canada, co-director of ARC International. "In December a simple message will rise from the General Assembly: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is truly universal."

The coalition of international human rights organizations that issued this statement include: Amnesty International; ARC International; Center for Women's Global Leadership; COC Netherlands; Global Rights; Human Rights Watch; IDAHO Committee; International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC); International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association (ILGA); and Public Services International.

(New York, December 19, 2008) - In a powerful victory for the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 66 nations at the UN General Assembly yesterday supported a groundbreaking statement confirming that international human rights protections include sexual orientation and gender identity. It is the first time that a statement condemning rights abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people has been presented in the General Assembly.

The statement drew unprecedented support from five continents, including six African nations. Argentina read the statement before the General Assembly. A cross-regional group of states coordinated the drafting of the statement, also including Brazil, Croatia, France, Gabon, Japan, the Netherlands, and Norway.

The 66 countries reaffirmed "the principle of non-discrimination, which requires that human rights apply equally to every human being regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity." They stated they are "deeply concerned by violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms based on sexual orientation or gender identity," and said that "violence, harassment, discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization and prejudice are directed against persons in all countries in the world because of sexual orientation or gender identity."

The statement condemned killings, torture, arbitrary arrest, and "deprivation of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to health." The participating countries urged all nations to "promote and protect human rights of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity," and to end all criminal penalties against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

According to calculations by ILGA (the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association) and other organizations, more than six dozen countries still have laws against consensual sex between adults of the same sex. The majority of these laws were left behind by colonial rulers (http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2008/12/17/alien-legacy-0 ). The UN Human Rights Committee, which interprets the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a core UN treaty, held in a historic 1994 decision that such laws are rights violations - and that human rights law forbids discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Another Human Rights Day-What Does that Mean?

2008-12-08T13:34:00.003-08:00

"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) turns 60 on 10 December 2008. On Human Rights Day 2007, the United Nations Secretary General launched a year-long UN system-wide advocacy campaign to mark this important milestone. The initiative celebrates the Declaration and the promise that has made this document so enduring: “Dignity and justice for all of us”."
(http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/60UDHRIntroduction.aspx)

So where do I see the world at this point? Last year at this time I would have been a cynic, but I believe that with the Obama election in the U.S., the world can begin thinking again, thinking about the grey areas that Bush denied people from exploring. The black and white of the "for us or against us" mentality created the enemy-ally, terror-peace, religious-secular dichotomies that shifted the thinking of many nations. With black and white politics came the polarization of states, the allowance of heads of state to marginalize people, and disregard for negotiation, compromise, and ultimately understanding. Obama brings critical thinking and discussion to both America and to the world. I really hope that this will create a trickle affect which will begin to unravel the "evil politics" of an ignorant "republican regime".

With that being said, my cynicism remains in the background; no matter the optimism created, there are still human rights violations committed on a daily basis in every part of the world. You just need to read my previous story taken from Somalia to see what still goes on. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is indeed a vision of where we should be, it will probably never happen, because the declaration is just a set of principles which are difficult to enforce in both legal and societal arenas. It is however still a vision we can strive towards!!!

Disturbing Situation in Somalia

2008-11-27T07:32:00.002-08:00

The following story speaks for itself...

Contrary to earlier news reports, the girl stoned to death in Somalia...was 13, not 23, Amnesty International can reveal.

Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow was killed on Monday, 27 October, by a group of 50 men who stoned her to death in a stadium in the southern port of Kismayu, in front of around 1,000 spectators.
Some of the Somali journalists who had reported she was 23 have told Amnesty International that this age was based upon a judgement of her age from her physical appearance.

She was accused of adultery in breach of Islamic law but, her father and other sources told Amnesty International that she had in fact been raped by three men, and had attempted to report this rape to the al-Shabab militia who control Kismayo, and it was this act that resulted in her being accused of adultery and detained. None of men she accused of rape were arrested.

“This was not justice, nor was it an execution. This child suffered a horrendous death at the behest of the armed opposition groups who currently control Kismayo,” said David Copeman, Amnesty International's Somalia Campaigner. http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/somalia-girl-stoned-was-child-13-20081031

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

2008-10-16T09:19:00.002-07:00

October 17th- "The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, when the General Assembly designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries - a need that has become a development priority." http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/poverty/

"...Poverty may be defined as a human condition characterized by sustained or chronic deprivation of the resources, capabilities, choices, security and power necessary for the enjoyment of an adequate standard of living and other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights" (United Nations Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights, 2001)

We often see poverty as the root cause of social problems, but by digging deeper, we can see that it is symptomatic of the underlying factors which stop individuals from feeling safe and secure: discrimination, conflict, lack of access to proper food and water sources, displacement, etc.

World Food Day

2008-10-16T09:01:00.004-07:00

October 16th- "World Food Day provides an occasion to once again highlight the plight of 923 million undernourished people in the world. Most of them live in rural areas where their main source of income is the agricultural sector. Global warming and the biofuel boom are now threatening to push the number of hungry even higher in the decades to come." http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/

In the past year there has been a lot of media attention given to the international food crisis/food security. For me, it comes down to economics; the basic food needs of all people on the planet can still be met, but we opt to grow crops to feed our cars rather than our people, and we raise the price of staples like rice and other grains, costing them beyond the means of low-income/no-income earners. Food is life, it should not be considered a privilege to have access to food, it should be a basic right.

Human Rights in Canada - Another Election

2008-09-01T10:33:00.004-07:00

Another Canadian federal election is about to be called and this time, along with the regular rhetoric, it is important for us as the voting public to listen deeply to the fundamental belief systems that are driving this next campaign. Mr. Harper's conservatives (basically the Alberta Reform party brought to the national level) are, in my opinion, trying to align themselves more fully with the Bush(ian) mentality (that will hopefully die back south of the border with a democratic takeover this autumn). We live in a country defined by secular politics but being driven by a christian agenda which could prove to be to the detriment of our rational, fair, and peaceful state.

Everyday I read blogs written by right-wing activists across Canada who want to bring back a moral code of years past and to refresh "family values" by putting an end to non-white and non-christian immigration, by re-criminalizing homosexuality, and giving the nation the right to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body. These voices have been supported by a government which has restructured the immigration system, wants to revisit same-sex marriage, and would like to see abortion made illegal.

The dreaded t-word (terrorism) has been used to such a level that global and national policies have made fear mongering and paranoid discussions societal pasttimes. The threat of terrorism has allowed this nation to undermine individual human rights in order to maintain collective security. How many people really know what Al-Qaeda is, understand the history of funadamentalism, or realize that many of those on the most-wanted list today were actually, at one point, trained or put into power by the US government? We go on blindly creating scapegoats in order to rationalize the judgements and condemnations we pass on to other people we know nothing about.

Canada has joined the propaganda bandwagon; we have neglected our duties in regard to international development, the environment, and human rights in order to put more resources into campaigns which are dividing us nationally and globally into "allies and enemies". We have the resources to understand issues, to critically assess the policies of our leaders, and to help guide the progress of Canada, but we often choose to steer ourselves towards complacency, and to justify our behaviour through a mis-guided belief that we have "come too far" to undo all of the things we've built up.

"[W]e who live in fortunate lands where we have inherited good things, are prone to accept good things,are prone to accept freedom, the most important of these good things, with an indifference which is the greatest threat to its continuance"
(Lester B. Pearson)

"The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing" (Edmund Burke)

World Refugee Day 2008

2008-06-21T01:30:00.003-07:00

June 20, 2008 is World Refugee Day:

The refugee challenge in the 21st century is changing rapidly. People are forced to flee their homes for increasingly complicated and interlinked reasons. Some 40 million people worldwide are already uprooted by violence and persecution, and it is likely that the future will see more people on the run as a growing number of push factors compound one another to create conditions for further forced displacement. http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/events?id=3e7f46e04

The refugee "crisis" is on the rise, and it's not just due to war and famine, it's about people who are marginalized, segregated, and unable to create livelihoods for themselves and their families. World Refugee Day is about reflecting on what we as priviledged people have, and learning how to empathize with those who struggle on a daily basis to feel safe and secure.

World Refugee Day for me is also about appreciating those people who have created homes in Canada, the UK, the USA, etc and have become advocates for human rights and dignity, and who have learned to value peace and contribute positively to their new countries.

T

State of the world's human rights 2008

2008-06-12T19:05:00.001-07:00

Why haven't we learned from all the mistakes of the past!!!???

Gambia- A Human Rights Disaster Zone

2008-06-03T13:52:00.003-07:00

President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia has declared war on homosexuals:

He promised "stricter laws than Iran" on homosexuality and said he would "cut off the head" of any gay person found in The Gambia. This comes at a time when the country is set to be the host nation of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7416536.stm

As a devout muslim, and as someone trying to hold on to power in a developing nation, Mr. Jammeh is using scapegoating means in an attempt to show his strength as a leader...it is through these means however, that he is showing himself to be unfit to be in the presidential position.

Throughout history "leaders" have used fear as a way to further marginalize the already marginalized, have created genocidal campaigns to do away with the "enemies within", and have appealed to the lowest common denominators within their countries to further their causes. History repeats too often and we are not learning from our mistakes. National leaders have a responsibility to treat every individual within their countries with respect and dignity regardless of how they may feel about their religions, lifestyles, etc. Mr. Jammeh is really just a coward who cannot face his own inabilities, and in turn masks them by bullying the weak.

T

Most Homophobic Place on the Earth?

2008-04-24T12:30:00.002-07:00

And the winner is (according to Time Magazine): JAMAICA!

Gone are the days of Bob Marley's "One Love" and images of a Caribbean paradise filled with reggae's gentle rhythms.

Those have been replaced by lyrics advocating violence to homosexuals, religious views that create hate in the minds of the already marginalized, and a number of recent murders of gay men/women and attacks on human rights activists.

"Reggae's anti-gay rhetoric has seeped into the country's politics. Jamaica's major political parties have passed some of the world's toughest antisodomy laws and regularly incorporate homophobic music in their campaigns. "The view that results," says Jamaican human-rights lawyer Philip Dayle, "is that a homosexual isn't just an undesirable but an unapprehended criminal."http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1182991,00.html

There is a bit of a silver lining within all of this; some of Jamaica's artists have signed the "reggae compassionate act" (a campaign begun by 'Stop Murder Music') which has "succeeded in convincing some of the most notoriously homophobic figures in reggae and dancehall music to stop singing violently anti-gay lyrics..." This is not necessarily out of the goodness of their hearts, but due to cancellations and loss of revenue these artists have faced...it's a start. http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1650585,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-bottom

T

World Health Day

2008-04-15T08:13:00.002-07:00

April 7th was World Health Day...whoops, sort of missed it, better late than never I guess.

I've posted a link below for an organization that has some pretty interesting stuff on HIV/AIDS and sexual health in general.

AVERT is an international AIDS charity; I really like the variety of media it uses to educate, to question our perceptions of HIV/AIDS, and to help us understand the issues faced by positive persons dealing with discrimination and stigma. It uses narratives, quotes, videos, quizzes, photos, editorials, etc, to really get various points across.

T

http://www.avert.org/

Absence Makes the Mind Grow Stronger?

2008-04-01T16:43:00.009-07:00

Hi everyone, I know I've been away for some time, just trying to re-adjust to life back in Canada.
I hope this absence hasn't been viewed as a sign that I've lost interest in my thinking on human rights. On the contrary, since coming back to Vancouver, I've been hypersensitive to what's going on and"mildly" appalled at the thinking that occupies the minds of people living in this comfortable and relatively carefree environment (based on my middle-class perspective).

Random Thoughts:

We are at a point in human history when it is becoming increasingly important to know the names of cast members on a reality tv program, to try and gain 15 minutes of fame by outdoing 5th graders on basic knowledge questions, and to read mindless tabloids which make us feel better about ourselves at the expense of a celebrity's misery. Why do we do everything in our power to merely be entertained, to stop expanding our minds, and to stop questioning?

A polarity is growing between the religious right, the atheistic right, and the cause searching left (perhaps I fit into one of these categories); our inability to find common ground and to moderate our thinking in all cases is leading to a conflict brought on by a list of details occupying our "righteous" minds. We don't really want to find truths, we want to believe in our versions of them, and even uphold them when the fallacies are discovered.

It is said that the world is getting smaller in this age of globalized communication, transportation, trade, etc, but the paradox is that we are losing our connection to one another, and losing the ability to build and support relationships; we fill ourselves up with information which is usable in the here and now and we disregard meaning. Perhaps it is a coping mechanism for the increased bits of data we receive each day, but it seems detrimental to the "rational nature" of our species. Discussion, dialogue, and philosophical debate bring us closer to an understanding of ourselves, and to eachother, but we are learning to disregard those methods at the expense of newer and faster systems.

And my point is:

Fundamentally, it is stated, that each person in the world wants one thing...to be valued as a human being, and to be treated with respect and with dignity. It sounds like pretty simple stuff, so how is it that we have gotten to a point where a human life is a commodity which can be thrown away, sacrificed, given less value than another commodified life, or simply ignored? We value image, we ascribe status, and we forget to connect with the fundamental reality which lies behind that which our minds have created.

December 10- Human Rights Day

2007-12-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

"Today, poverty prevails as the gravest human rights challenge in the world. Combating poverty, deprivation and exclusion is not a matter of charity, and it does not depend on how rich a country is. By tackling poverty as a matter of human rights obligation, the world will have a better chance of abolishing this scourge in our lifetime...Poverty eradication is an achievable goal."

Louise Arbour UN High Commissioner for Human Rights http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/2006/

The reason I use the above quote coincides with Louise Arbour's visit to Sri Lanka in September. Her report to the UN looked at human rights violations which relate to the upturn in the conflict, the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), LTTE tactics, etc.

From the standpoint of someone who is trying to help people regain their livelihoods, this is sometimes seen as a pointless task. Just as many of the initiatives we are working on begin to uplift communities out of poverty and fears about their futures and their security, another attack occurs, a bomb explodes, people are forced back into subsistence, hoping that peace will come to their areas once again.

The government of Sri Lanka does not accept Louise Arbour's report, nor will it accept the UN's invitation to act as a monitoring body within the country. Last week over 1000 Tamils in Colombo were arrested following two bombings in the city. No just cause was given, most of the people have been released, and the government still justifies its actions.

Happy Human Rights Day Sri Lanka

Living with... and speaking out HIV/AIDS Stigma

2007-12-01T07:05:00.001-08:00

Just a short video which looks at the problems faced by those living with HIV/AIDS.

World AIDS Day

2007-12-01T05:25:00.000-08:00

December 1st is World AIDS Day, a day to become more aware of HIV/AIDS, to actively take part in an AIDS Day event, or to pass on some knowledge you may have about HIV/AIDS.

At present, there are an estimated 33 million people worldwide living with HIV; The number of AIDS related deaths is at around 6 000 people per day. Although much of the problem is due to funding, inability for the poor to buy antiretrovirals, and lack of education in some regions of the world, it is my belief that the root cause is from the stigma which is still attached to the disease. The resulting discrimination makes it difficult for those infected to seek help and feel supported.

"Stigma can lead to discrimination and other violations of human rights which affect the well-being of people living with HIV in fundamental ways. In countries all over the world, there are well-documented cases of people living with HIV being denied the right to health-care, education, and freedom of movement, among others."
http://www.aidsportal.org/overlay_details.aspx?nex=50

Country specific policies don't help matters. Uganda's homophobic regulations do not allow programs which could help cut-down on HIV transmission, the USA believes its "abstinence" program is the way to go, and will not fund any programs which promote condom use, and countries such as China try and sweep the problem under the carpet (although forecasters state that China's HIV potential is at around 50 000 000 people).

Remembrance Day

2007-11-10T19:52:00.000-08:00

"Remembrance Day (Australia, Canada, United Kingdom), also known as Poppy Day (Malta and South Africa) and Armistice Day (France, New Zealand, and many other Commonwealth countries; and the original name of the day internationally) is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and civilians in times of war specifically since the First World War. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day

I have always believed that there is absolutely NO justification for war. Remembrance Day for me is not so much about the sacrifices made by those during periods of war, but more as an overall reminder of its futility. We continue to make the same mistakes, we sensationalize it, we celebrate it: country invasions, genocide, ethnic cleansing, terrorism, and the list goes on...what have we really learned?

We put billions of dollars into military spending each year at the expense of health care, education, and fundamental rights and security. Destroying lives seems more a priority than saving them.

Pakistan- On the Verge

2007-11-10T19:34:00.001-08:00

Musharraf has declared a state of emergency, has suspended the constitution, and has ousted members of the supreme court (replacing them with his own supporters).

The military rule in place is denying fundamental rights to its citizenry, including a crackdown on human rights activists, the media, the the legal sector, and political opponents.

"On the pretext of fighting militants, General Musharraf has mounted a coup against Pakistan’s civil society." Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/11/04/pakist17241.htm

UN Day

2007-10-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

United Nations Day was declared in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly to be 24 October, the anniversary of the coming into force of the Charter of the United Nations. United Nations Day is to be devoted to making known to peoples of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations Organization. United Nations Day is part of United Nations week, which runs from October 20th to October 26th.

The United Nations has been taking a bit of a beating over recent years. Some feel it is too bureaucratic, others feel it has outlived its utility, but I believe that even with the challenges it faces, the UN has come to symbolize the ideals for a fair and just world. It's not easy being an organization which has a membership of 6 billion!

the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (and the accompanying 30 articles) is well worth a read, giving us a reminder that each human is unique, "valid", and deserving of respect. http://www.hrweb.org/legal/udhr.html

"Out" and About!

2007-09-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

I officially came-out to my colleagues and to much of the NGO community in Colombo, Sri Lanka, through an article I wrote on being a gay ex-pat. This country still has laws against homosexuality; so does that also make me officially "illegal"?

I was hesitant to come-out because of those laws and because of my fear of an aggressive reaction, but it was really quite easy. My workmates listened to me intently, asked to read my article, and then asked me questions about gay issues that I thought were only known to a "secret" community. My rights were in tact, I was treated with respect, and I didn't feel in the least bit threatened. I realize that my colleagues are educated, work in the NGO sector, are in positions to uphold humanitarian principles, and represent a miniscule portion of the Sri Lankan population, but this gave me hope that things have the potential for change.

With that being said, however, I had to reflect on other parts of the world that are dealing with the aggression and intolerance that I had feared. Geoff, my partner, read an article about Uganda's regression on GLBT rights, quoting a piece from the Minister of "Ethics and Integrity". With a name like that, it must be in a position to uphold all that is good and righteous in the country. I searched for more information on this and found a couple of other articles that looked at other parts of Africa, namely Nigeria, and Cameroon. Wow, this world really has a long way to go!!! http://direland.typepad.com/direland/

Guantanamo Bay- America: the world's most powerful hypocrisy

2007-09-09T05:17:00.000-07:00

What is going on in Guantanamo, or rather why is it still going on? Although prisoners have been returning to their home countries (16 Saudis two days ago), there has been no suggestion of fairness to those held without trial, some for up to 6 years.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7008453034

The sixth amendment states: "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixth_Amendment_to_the_United%20_States_Constitution

Amnesty International: Signature spot commercial ad

2007-09-09T04:49:00.001-07:00

This is the same video that was posted earlier in the year but had a problem so this is a re-post. T

Saudi Arabia- No Rights for Guest Workers

2007-08-26T09:12:00.000-07:00

Living in Sri Lanka not only allows me to learn about human rights issues taking place here, it also opens my eyes to the abuse faced by many Sri Lankan guest workers abroad. There has been a lot of news recently about a young women on death row in Saudi Arabia because of accusations of her killing a child under her care. Rizana Nafeek was only 17 when she went to Saudi Arabia, faking her documents to allow her to work abroad. The story of the child's death has become controversial in that it has uncovered unjust processes which allow Saudi authorities to arrest, detain, and pass judgement on guest workers.

It also has brought to light many other cases of abuse faced by workers from other countries such as Indonesia. "Nour Miyati, an Indonesian domestic worker, sustained serious injuries and lost her fingers due to gangrene in 2005 after her employer locked her up, physically and verbally abused her and deprived her of food. She then faced a countercharge of making false accusations against her employer, and was sentenced to 79 lashes". http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/08/17/saudia16699.htm

http://hrw.org/doc/?t=mideast&c=saudia

Indonesia: A Step in the Right Direction

2007-07-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

There are many people in prisons around the world who are there because do not agree with, or do not believe (in) the governments that are in place to "serve the people". In many countries, people take for granted their rights and privileges to criticize governments; they do it because they can, but more importantly, because that criticism is a powerful process which has the potential to shape more "just" and egalitarian societies.

"On July 17, 2007 Indonesia’s Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional articles 154 and 155 of Indonesia’s Criminal Code, commonly known as the “hate sowing” (Haatzai Artikelen) offenses. Articles 154 and 155 criminalized “public expression of feelings of hostility, hatred or contempt toward the government” and prohibited “the expression of such feelings or views through the public media.” The articles specified prison terms of up to seven years for violations. Left over from the Dutch colonial administration, these offenses were often used by the government to restrict peaceful criticism of the government. Political opponents, critics, students, and human rights defenders have been targeted and silenced under the laws". http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/07/19/indone16428.htm

The Maldives- Paradise Lost?

2007-07-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

While living in Colombo, Sri Lanka I took a short one hour flight to Male, the capital of a seemingly perfect country. The coral islands, the white sand beaches, and the turquoise waters indicated a place that is free from worry. When I visited one of the many tourist islands, I thought that this was paradise, but at the same time, it was surreal in a sense, not indicating to me the reality of the country.

The reality in fact, is a government that suppresses opposition, creates prisoners of conscience, censures the media, and disallows religious freedom. It's a paradoxical reality which needs attention drawn to it.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/By_Country/Maldives/page.do?id=1011195&n1=3&n2=30&n3=945

June 20th- World Refugee Day

2007-06-19T20:37:00.000-07:00

Take a moment today to learn about the plight of millions of refugees around the world, and to reflect on what it would be like to be forced out of your home, displaced to an unfamiliar place, and face fears associated with personal safety, and food insecurity.

"Some 40 million people worldwide are already uprooted by violence and persecution, and it is likely that the future will see more people on the run as a growing number of push factors compound one another to create conditions for further forced displacement." http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/events?id=3e7f46e04

Chad Refugee Camp (from bbc.co.uk)

Amnesty International

2007-06-18T08:23:00.001-07:00

My friend Bruno from Portugal put me onto this video. It is very thought-provoking. Bruno is also working on a write-up on AI which I will be posting soon. PLEASE NOTE: THE VIDEO IS NO LONGER WORKING SO I'VE RE-POSTED IT IN SEP. 07

Beijing 2008- The Olympic Spirit?

2007-06-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that China has never rated well on the "human rights" scale. When Beijing was awarded the 2008 Summer Olympics, it started to "clean" itself up at the expense of the people that have lived there for generations (aka- forced evictions) . Developmental and gentrification projects have displaced people from their homes and have created an artificial environment, with a widening gap between the rich and the poor.

I have visited Beijing 4 times over the past 3 years and have found it shocking to see at what lengths the city will go to in order to try to convince the international community of its integrity and Olympic spirit.

http://hrw.org/campaigns/china/beijing08/

From Blood Diamonds to the Trial of Charles Taylor

2007-06-05T10:30:00.000-07:00

The trial began two days ago for Charles Taylor, a man accused of instigating atrocities during Sierra Leone's decade long civil war. To this point he has refused to show up for the proceedings.

"The global, human-rights advocacy organization Human Rights Watch notes that Taylor, who served as Liberia's president until 2003, "is being tried on 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international law committed during Sierra Leone's conflict." Taylor's alleged crimes include "murdering and mutilating civilians, using women and girls as sex slaves, and abducting both adults and children and making them perform forced labor or become fighters." http://standardtimespress.net/cgi-bin/artman/publish/article_1377.shtml

Michael Stipe of R.E.M. Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma

2007-06-02T10:26:00.001-07:00

Myanmar is a country in trouble. I'm not a big fan of celebrity endorsements, but Michael Stipes is one person that I trust. You don't have to believe that Aung San Suu Kyi will be a good leader, you just have to believe that the process that imprisoned her, and has extended her sentence is wrong.

Zimbabwe: A Country in Crisis

2007-06-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

"The political and economic crises in Zimbabwe are worsening at an alarming rate. The policies, corruption and repressive governance of President Robert Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF party are directly responsible for the severe economic slide, growing public discontent and international isolation of the country. In April 2006, inflation officially topped 1,000 per cent, helped by the decision to print $230 million worth of Zimbabwean currency to pay international debts and sustain operations. Unemployment is over 85 per cent, poverty over 90 per cent, and foreign reserves are almost depleted. Over four million persons are in desperate need of food. HIV/AIDS and malnutrition kill thousands every month. The government-sponsored 2005 “Operation Murambatsvina” to clear urban slums forcibly deprived more than 18 per cent of the population of homes or livelihoods and badly damaged the informal sector, the lifeline for many urban poor."http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=1233&l=1&gclid=CL-QjebgvYwCFQQ4TQodIXEvVw

I visited friends in Zimbabwe in 1991 and found it to be a success story for Africa. My friends warned me to not be too optimistic. Robert Mugabe was in charge of the country then and he still is today. I was told to watch and keep up with the goings on in the country, because it would change for the worse- those friends were right!

How has Robert Mugabe managed to stay in power since 1980? He led the fight against the white dominated government of Rhodesia and helped establish Zimbabwe and black rule. Since that point however, his human rights record has been on a continuous slide downwards. His condemnation of the gay community, his "land reforms", and his zero tolerance of any opposition in the country has led to a country in crisis.

The LTTE (aka Tamil Tigers) of Sri Lanka- Freedom Fighters or Terrorists?

2007-06-02T08:05:00.001-07:00

I've been living in Sri Lanka just over half a year now and have actually felt the deterioration of human rights in this country. Many colleagues who have been here for years say it is the worst period they've ever experienced in the country.

The government claims that the LTTE is a terrorist group, but the LTTE claims that they are fighting for a Tamil homeland due to oppression by the Sinhalese majority. I don't want to choose sides, but I do want to add some points to ponder:

-The LTTE is still involved in recruitment of child soldiers
-The government is censoring the media
-There are hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the east due to the conflict
-There are muslim IDPs living north of Colombo forced out of Jaffna in the north by the LTTE, and are still living as displaced persons after 17 years
-Sri Lanka has increase its military spending
-The present government and the LTTE "seem" to have no intention of returning to peace negotiations
-Foreigners, specifically humanitarian workers, are being treated with suspicion by political parties and as such are being treated as scapegoats by the government
-The LTTE wants a Tamil homeland, but only for those of higher castes. They are not interested in the rights of Tamils from the tea plantations or from the east.

For more information on Sri Lankan news visit: http://www.lankapage.com

In Your Eyes Only Sadness

2007-06-02T04:05:00.001-07:00

You have all heard about Darfur, but what do you know about it? http://www.darfurgenocide.org/

What Ever Happened to East Timor???

2007-06-02T02:30:00.000-07:00

"East Timor's road to independence - achieved on 20 May 2002 - was long and traumatic.
The people of the first new nation of the century suffered some of the worst atrocities of modern times. An independent report has said at least 100,000 Timorese died as a result of Indonesia's 25-year occupation, which ended in 1999."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1508119.stm

The end of the occupation did not spell peace for the country though. Even recently there has been ongoing unrest, killings, and people forced to move into refugee camps. With the May 2007 presidential election of Jose Ramos Horta (1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for his "work towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor"), will there be a brighter future for this small nation?

Being Gay is Not Okay

2007-06-02T02:23:00.000-07:00

Just when you think things are on track in the world, when countries are beginning to recognize that people with different sexual orientations are not evil and are "real" people, along comes Poland with it's "terrible twins" and their ban against all things gay, Iran with torture and execution of gay men, the US and it's evangelical right, and the pope (don't need to say more on that). There are many more countries that I could add to the list, but I'll let you check the link below for some sad truths.

http://direland.typepad.com/direland/

When I attended Colombo Pride last week I realized how far we still have to go, and no matter how many people are trying to stop the queer community from moving ahead, there are those that are pushing ahead and trying to create "equality for all" (see www.equal-ground.org).