This brilliant little cartoon by Kevin Kallaugher in this week's number of "The Economist" sums up the "land rush" (or, more accurately, seabed rush) that's on to claim mineral rights at the North Pole. See this article from "The Guardian" for good background on what's going on here, and this from Reuters. Also, there's an […]
There is no sleep for the weary eyed young workers of Japan, as a new generation struggles to enter into the job market and leave life in the lower class behind. While the struggle of a young and aspiring professional, or labor, is nothing new, the true gap of classes in Japan is reveling its […]
Eight military personnel were charged with the murder of 24 Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha. After an IED attack on a convoy killed one Marine, troops from Kilo company went on a house-to-house excursion that ended tragically. Three of the troops in the Haditha case had their charges dropped by Lt. Gen James […]
No matter what you say, or what you do, it all leaves a mark on the children around you. A child who witnesses violence and war, is forever scared by what they see. A child who hears nothing but negative, cannot erase the voice that says, “you can't”. But the child who witnesses peace and […]
Any time that a child spends in a refuge camp, isn't ideal, and is usually ripe for children's rights violations. However many children in refugee camps around the world, know no other life outside the camps, and Somalian children in Kenya are no exception. The question is, when and how can they leave life in […]
The jury in the U.S. District Court in Miami has handed out guilty charges against Jose Padilla on three counts; providing material support for Islamist terrorist groups and conspiring to murder, kidnap and maim people in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Bosnia and other countries from 1993 to 2001. Jose Padilla was detained at Chicago's O’Hare airport after […]
“When a woman is not educated, all the nation is in danger, because it is the woman who gives the basic education to the children.”-Arthur Omar Kayumba, 16, a member of DRC's Children's Parliament (Children's Parliament’ Sets High Bar in Congo) Children are giving out legal advise and harsh warnings to others, including adults, in […]
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has issued a report assessing accountability and reconciliation regarding violations of humanitarian law committed in Northern Uganda. The report, Making Peace Our Own: Victims Perceptions of Accountability, Reconciliation, and Transitional Justice in Northern Uganda, highlights interviews from 1,725 victims of the 20-year war in the troubled African […]
First of all, I have to apologize for being off the airwaves for so long. We closed on a new apartment on Friday and that's got all sorts of busy work associated with it , and I've been decompressing a little since. Plus, I had a print article on sustainability at airports that I was […]
The central government in Somalia has reacted angrily against a report by the U.S. based Human Rights Watch that alleges the Somali government is complicit in violations of humanitarian law and crimes against humanity in ongoing conflicts there. The report cites a counter-insurgency campaign launched by Somali and Ethiopian troops, who launched bombing campaigns in […]
Last week I wrote the post, Toys that will make you sick, about the recall of imported toys from China, due to led paint. Over the weekend, Cheung Shu-hung, the co-owner of Lee Der Industrial Co., the company that manufactured recalled Mattel toys, hung himself in one of the company warehouses. Cheung's apparent best friend […]
A right of passage into manhood or a dangerous abusive practice, that is killing many innocent boys? In Africa the debate has grown heavy in recent months, after the UN recommended male circumcision as a form of HIV/AIDS prevention. But for many the rite of passage is done in a rather primitive manner, and has […]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report detailing violations of humanitarian law and the laws of war committed by both sides in the ongoing conflict in Somalia. The group said Ethiopian and Somalian troops routinely and indiscriminately bomb heavily populated civilian neighborhoods in an effort to root out insurgents, who themselves deploy among civilian populations. […]
On Sunday Washington, D.C. saw a new form of political statement and advocacy, as one local group of concerned citizens and activists took to the football pitch. Amid the midday summer sun the DC Fight Trafficking and Modern Slavery Meet Up group took on the Washington Soccer Society in a “Free to Play” soccer match. […]
At the UN, youth stress efforts to promote development, as on Friday, August 10th, some 200 plus young people from around the world began celebrations for International Youth Day. This year's theme is "Be seen, be heard: youth participation for development." Other events where held around the world to honor and encourage the young people, […]