Human Rights

By Kristine Beckerle, Finberg Fellow | ( Human Rights Watch) | – – Every year, the United Nations secretary-general releases a “list of shame” of government forces and armed groups that have committed grave violations against children during armed conflict. This year, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen was listed for the first time, identified […]

National Security State

Trumping Terrorism with Torture?

contributors

By Rebecca Gordon | (Informed Comment) | – – Why do Republican candidates for the presidency keep promising to commit war crimes? GOP standard-bearer Donald Trump guarantees he’ll torture terrorists and “take out their families.” When he was still in the race, Ted Cruz offered to carpet bomb ISIS (and anyone else in their vicinity) […]

censorship

Does billionaire-funded lawsuit against Gawker create playbook for punishing press?

contributors

By Clay Calvert | (The Conversation) | – – Word last week that Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel bankrolled wrestler Hulk Hogan’s invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against Gawker added a wrinkle to a case already featuring colorful characters and a US$140 million jury verdict. At a sensational and personal level, the story highlights the animus between PayPal […]

Displaced and Refugees

UN Overwhelmed: Climate & Conflict have created 60 mn Refugees, Half of them Children

contributors

By Baher Kamal | (Inter Press Service) | – – ROME, May 20 2016 (IPS) – “We cannot keep jumping from crisis to crisis. We have to invest in long-term development that helps people cope with shocks so that they can continue to grow enough food for their communities and not require emergency aid.” With […]

Bill of Rights

Snowden on Torture Report: “When the CIA destroys s.th., it’s never a Mistake”

contributors

TeleSur | — After the CIA inspector general admitted it destroyed a 6,700 page report on torture, the famed whistleblower said the CIA does not destroy by “accident.” Edward Snowden commented this week on the CIA inspector general office’s “mistaken” destruction of its only copy of a top secret torture report: ““When the CIA destroys […]

Displaced and Refugees

Saudi bombing, Rebel Shelling leave 7 Million in Yemen Food Insecure

contributors

By Tharanga Yakupitiyage | (Inter Press Service) | – – John Ging, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs briefs journalists on his recent trip to Yemen. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas John Ging, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs briefs journalists on his recent trip to Yemen. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas UNITED NATIONS, May […]

Displaced and Refugees

Give Syria’s Survivors a Voice

contributors

By Hadeel al-Shalchi | ( Human Rights Watch ) | – – Twelve days ago Fatema Qaitani, a 35-year-old mother of four, was sitting in a tent teaching her daughter how to read when her life was changed forever. Fatema’s tent, one of many that sprang up in a camp for displaced Syrians on the […]

Human Rights

Yemen: Saudis Using US Cluster Munitions

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – End Production, Transfer of These Banned Weapons (Washington, DC) – Saudi Arabia has used US-made cluster munitions near civilian areas in Yemen, leaving behind unexploded submunitions, Human Rights Watch said today. The United States should cease its production and transfer of cluster munitions to conform with the widely accepted […]

Republican Party

Trumping Terrorism with Torture?

contributors

By Rebecca Gordon | (Informed Comment) | – – Why do Republican candidates for the presidency keep promising to commit war crimes? Donald Trump guarantees he’ll torture terrorists and “take out their families.” Ted Cruz offers to carpet bomb ISIS (and anyone else in their vicinity) to oblivion. Even kindly pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson—when pressed […]