Post No. 1,593 - In this week’s news

Black Lives Matter!

Stay safe - wash your hands, practice social distancing, and follow informed medical advice - and be considerate towards those at risk or in situations of vulnerability (including economic) while the COVID-19 pandemic is a problem.

This is a new, very cut down series of posts based on some observations on matters that struck a personal note: unlike the former “Gnwmythr’s News”, it is not trying to convey key events.

Content Warning: the linked articles and their descriptions here may be about violence, abuse, hate, and other problems.

 

This week on the Protests in the USA and associated protests/issues elsewhere:
   a call to expel police unions from the (“organised”) labour movement;   yet another utterly unforgiveable murder of a black many by police in the USA - the police officer has now been charged with murder, leading to unconscionable reactions;;   commentary on the chemical weapon “tear gas” - which, when used by police, is excepted from the chemical weapons in warfare treaty . . . ;   an “autonomous zone” in one US city;   more US politicians are calling for police reform;   a comparison of 202 and 1968;   research shows that perceived irrelevance/illegitimacy of the state and experience of oppression are the main factors contributing to violence in protests;   a backgrounder on Juneteenth;
   in Australia:   demands for investigation of police violence against an Indigenous person;   measures to keep BLM protestors safe appear - so far - to have worked;   a reminder of the times that protests have led to real progress;   white supremacism in Australian “security” forces;
   internationally:   more, mostly peaceful (and violence by and caused by police), protests in the UK - where one protestor took a far right extremist to safety;   concerns that racism increased the death toll from a residential building fire in the UK three years ago;   a reminder that Haiti banned slavery before the UK did;
   “police”:   continued use by police of “chokeholds” despite statements that such would stop;   black Americans disproportionately die from taser attacks by US police;   #45 (!) has signed an Executive Order improving police accountability . . . ;   an examination of the legal basis (in my nation - Australia) for suing police;   examples of police abuses and brutality;   in a move that parallels war crimes, police are targeting street medics;   lessons for US police from European policing;
   suggestions/recommended actions / noteworthy responses:   actions and the need for more anti-racist actions in the world of science, which has a racist history/basis;   the UN Human Rights Council will investigate US racism and police brutality;   a resource toolkit for advocacy “in restricted spaces”;   as calls are made for reparations in the USA, a major global insurance company will start making some restitution for past slavery;   moves to outlaw “no knock” warrants;   one US city will finally force police to FOCUS ON EVIDENCE by banning so-called predictive policing;
   analysis/commentary:   toppling statues enriches history;
   #45:   has been feeding China propaganda opportunities with his unmitigated stupidity;   threatened dissenters at his rally;   a prosecutor has refused to leave after being told by press release that he was “stepping down” (oh dear . . . );
   joining the protests have been:   a review around the world;   Europe;   New Zealand.

In This Week’s News:   a soft drug can cause harm to foetuses (it can also trigger mental health problems in others; I still consider it should be decriminalised, but that is to (a) allow it be treated as a medical problem, (b) avoid the double harm of a criminal record also, and (c) enable better use of police and judicial resources);   humidity (water vapour) can be used to recharge batteries;   Australia’s neoliberal masters will, in their infinite stupidity, begin coercing people into “hard” courses . . . ;   HIV appears to be mutating in PNG;   the PROBLEMS (“tone deaf”) of mindfulness;   a criticism of neuroscientific view of emotions;   thoughtful reflections on Africa’s 2020 thus far;   a Reuters exclusive reports on browser cyber-risks.

In the Environmental Arena, where we have been fighting World War III for some time now:   “cash payments to cut poverty in Indonesian villages help forests too”;   solar panels have helped change residents of an Indian village from poachers to conservationists;    poor training and other basic, avoidable errors are plaguing solar plants;  concerns about an unusually coloured mining blast near a town;   a zoo and activists have collaborated on a sea sanctuary for dolphins;   concerns that dispersal of flying foxes will be used despite that being specifically identified as a harmful practice;   recommendations for better management of wetlands in my home state include better consultation with Indigenous people;   “planting non-native trees accelerates the release of carbon back into the atmosphere”;   abandoned oil wells are leaking methane;   the effect of “old smoke”;   the build-up of nondegradable artificial chemicals;   a Reuters exclusive reports internal annoyance at pressure to do more on the environment;   my nation has more climate deniers than elsewhere in the world - which makes us, in my opinion, stupid as a nation;   opposition to a mine in PNG;   a backgrounder on the European Green Deal;   claims of green tape delays are wrong;   “fighting fire with fire: Botswana adopts Indigenous Australians’ ancient burning tradition”;   a coal mine in Bangladesh is threatening the world’s largest mangrove;   matching reforestation projects and investors.
   other environmental matters have occurred in:   Israel;   Siberia;   burma;   UK (good news);   Australia.

On Human and Animal Rights:
   the upcoming ASEAN conference could finally discuss the Rohingya genocide;   the concept of universal jurisdiction is making progress in Germany against two Syrians;
   China has sentenced a drug smuggler to death;   a US tech company is acting as a willing agent of Chinese oppression;
   a skin condition makes this woman’s heritage unclear;   a call for community solutions to justice rather than punitive policing;   police in an Australian state have been targeting Indigenous people for strip searches;   French police are targeting Arab and Black children as young as ten;   an investigation into the recent destruction of Indigenous sites is underway;   a victory for the Indigenous Batwa in the DR Congo;   WA has finally ended the jailing of people for unpaid fines;   African communities in my home state are being empowered;
   a reminder that modern slavery exists;
   claims that police in one Australian state are politically motivated;   lack of diversity in the film industry - and a somewhat clueless comment;   police racism in Israel;
   a call for nations to prioritise ratification of the ILO’s anti-harassment convention;   this video about historical sexism in the USSR has some pertinent comments for now;
   the US Supreme Court has upheld workplace protection for LGBT people, but murders of trans women are still happening;
   “disgusting” disability discrimination in a US sports event;   lack of protection is preventing the airing of evidence at the disability Royal Commission;
   a reminder that refugees are a “talent pool”;   1% of the world’s population is now forcibly displaced - and of those, 40% are children, many unaccompanied;   a notorious über-conservative neoliberal government minister has been threatened with contempt of court over protracted delays in complying with court orders;
   Australia’s win on plain packaging laws has opened the way for other nations;
   burma’s internet shutdown is putting lives at risk;
   yet another comment that the obvious solution of giving the homeless a home is a good thing - and a super fund is now investing in social housing;
   privacy and ethical concerns about allowing police to access the DNA of family members of possible suspects;   facial surveillance is being trialled without prior discussion or adequate (any?) safeguards;   another warning about #45 manipulating posts on social media;
   anti-Semitism in the UK;
   a social media platform has removed 30,000 government propaganda accounts;   in an utterly stunning move, a notorious social media platform has actually finally removed some of #45’s hate speech. 

Racism/caste based matters (good and bad) have occurred in:   Nepal (murders);   Guatemala;   Chile;
Trafficking/slavery/Child Abuse matters (good and bad) have occurred in:   USA;   UK (good news);   Thailand;   Europe;
LGBTIQ+ matters (including internalised homophobia/transphobia) (good and bad) have occurred in:   Australia;   a murder by Egypt;   Poland;
Sexism (including internalised sexism), misogyny/misandry and domestic violence matters (good and bad) have occurred in:   Universities;   Kyrgyzstan;   France;   Nepal;   Sierra Leone;
other Freedom of the Press / Expression matters (good and bad) have occurred in:   the Philippines;   Russia;   Russia’s internet;   Malta;   Ghana;  and
Other human and animal rights matters (good and bad) have occurred in:   Georgia;   Jamaica.

Risks or occurrences of Atrocities, Mass Violence and/or War(s) this week in:   Niger;   Israel (from Gaza);   Taiwan airspace/mainland China;   Nigeria;   Nigeria;   Libya;   children, armed conflict, and Yemen;   Sudan;   failure to investigate a suspected war crime in Somalia;   a call for a war crimes tribunal in Libya;   Israel;   Cameroon;   Kenya;   Libya;   Mali;   DR Congo;   mercenaries in Libya;   South Sudan;   Zimbabwe;   the Philippines;   the USA;
and   appallingly, Saudi Arabia has been dropped from a list of child abusers;   a journalist has told of his experience with the US military covering up the murder of colleagues - which, concerningly, hasn’t been mentioned in this matter;   an Israeli soldier saved a Palestinian from a group of Israeli thugs, who are now being investigated;   more reflections on the 15^th anniversary of R2P as new elections increase the “Friends of R2P” to almost half of the UN Security Council (I cannot find the profiles mentioned);   the USA may withhold aid to force Jordan to extradite an alleged violent extremist;   analysis of the response to the UN Secretary-General’s call for ceasefire (there was some success, and circumstances undermined some desired responses);   suggestions on how to achieve peace in burma.
other atrocity matters have occurred in:   Mauritania.

In the Democracy, Governance, Politics, Public Ethics, and Society arena:   #45 has claimed he would go is he lost the election . . . (the problem here is whether he would believe the result, or deny it);   major  ethical  problems  in  one  party in my home state (with broader implications) have been addressed with one sacking, three  resignations and a warning against retaliation - so far, and more action to come (see here on the privacy exemptions [for public interest] which covered this);   a government minister in my home state has been removed (again) for unacceptable “conduct and commentary”, and the matter referred to IBAC and police;   the story of a Hong Kong protestor who is seeking asylum;   an SBS exclusive raises questions about one Australian state’s actions on multiculturalism;   after the first coup-free year in the modern era (2018), a review of the risks of a coup this year;   suggestions to address the problems in northern Iraq;   the problems with our “corrupted” unemployment statistics;   in yet another surprise, the US Supreme Court has backed the “dreamers” - people who entered the USA as illegal immigrants while they were children - against the evil #45;   criticism of the neoliberals attempts to weaken political donation laws in my nation;   Australia’s neoliberal national government is actively attacking philosophy, humanities, arts and other thinking-based degrees;   four Mozambique policeman who murdered a poll observer have been jailed;   an opinion that China’s crackdown in Hong Kong is a sign of weakness at home.

On Disasters this week:   a fuel truck explosion in China has killed 18 people;   drought in Zimbabwe;   a swine fever outbreak in Nigeria.

On Humanitarian Aid:   Africa is set to get debt relief from China.
other humanitarian matters have occurred in:   UK.

Internationally:   doubts about the specifics of a UK offer of citizenship to Hong Kong residents;   Israeli guards have attacked a diplomat;   as vows are made to defend the justice system, threats against a judge have been linked to incitement by that nation’s PM, currently being tried for alleged corruption;   protests over a plan to build a homeless shelter on  a Muslim burial site;   at least 20 dead in a clash - using rods and stones - between Indian and Chinese soldiers on the India-Tibet border;   poverty in Italy had decreased before the pandemic (no data since then);   North Korea has carried out its threat and further increased tensions by destroying a liaison office with South Korea - and simultaneously given their leader’s sister an increased profile (possible succession planning?);   the growing tensions between Australia and China have possibly included more Chinese cyber-attacks than usual (Australian departments routinely fail on cyber-preparedness);   suggestions on what to do about the growing tensions around Ethiopia’s dam on the River Nile;   the UN nuclear organisation (IAEA) has passed its first criticism of Iran since 2012;   a Reuters exclusive reports that Europe is now working with the USA on “reform” of the WHO, rather than protecting it;   a call for human rights to be a priority in upcoming China-EU talks;   possible moves towards democracy in Malaysia;   India and Diego Garcia;   Cambodia’s balancing act;
on Israel’s intended annexation of the West Bank:   another warning about the consequences of Israel annexing the West Bank, which “would create a 21^st Century apartheid”;   a bible-based warning from Europe;   Jordan and Saudi Arabia are talking (!).

In Africa:   past corruption in South Sudan - which is continuing to inch towards peace;   Turkey will be investigated for alleged violations of the Libyan arms embargo - and Russian jets have also been active;   concerns over a judge’s forced retirement in Malawi;   a judge in DR Congo was murdered;   Uganda will use virtual elections in 2021;   progress on political reform in Central African Republic;   calls for peaceful protests in Uganda.

On the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus (there are other novel coronaviruses) (seven major risks to watch here, and seven sins of thought to avoid here):
a reminder that more pandemics will happen;   lessons from history;   navigating “extreme uncertainty and urgency” to make evidence-based decision;

   medical aspects:   the background and evidence shows: 1 m of distance gives 82% reduction of the risk of transmission, with a “doubling of protection” for every extra metre, but face masks give 85% protection, eye protection 75% protection, and hand washing is still essential;   a clarification: it is racism, not race, that kills;   the mental health impact from the lockdown;   the devastating impact of the virus on lungs;   the USA has withdrawn an emergency use approval for an anti-malarial drug (note this recent article: concerns over vetting of data);   hundreds of medical practices are at risk of collapse;   the ongoing physical and cognitive problems of recovered COVID-19 patients;   mutations of the virus;   hopes for large numbers of vaccines;

   Human Rights Aspects (crisis . . . running summary of impacts on elections here):   impact on Rohingya refugees;   a multicultural campaign against elder abuse;      the young are being hit hard by unemployment;   racism in Australia has stopped us using refugee doctors to help the fight against the pandemic (even the British relented enough to accept the help of Polish pilots during the Blitz);   the looming “housing-welfare time bomb”;   school closure in Afghanistan are increasing misogyny;   the need for green (off-grid) energy sources;   erosion of workers’ rights;
   also including
   housing problems in:   USA;
   work / workers’ rights problems in:   Cambodia;   USA;
   more opportunistic surveillance in:   Kuwait and Bahrain;
   increased opportunistic repression/oppression / reduction of democracy in:   Algeria;   Zambia;

   Australia:   support for Indigenous people in my home state;   business owners are pleading for an extension of support;   the potential future problems of “open slather” construction projects;   major privacy concerns over how restaurants manage personal data;   performance problems with the contact tracing app were known from the start;   Australian states may begin charging people for quarantine costs (if they travelled before the pandemic, this is utterly immoral and unconscionable . . . if they travelled afterwards, it is arguable - this is the sort of policy that should be told to people beforehand, so they can make informed choices. If not, it is abusive);

   Internationally:   the utterly unbelievable health charges in the USA;   Yemen;   a lockdown and mass testing in one Chinese city for a major outbreak;   USA;   Germany and France have reopened their borders;   sports concerns;   uncertainty in Israel;   concerns Russia has reopened too early - for political reasons;   US airlines may ban passengers who don’t wear masks;   jails in Brazil;   violent enforcement of the lockdown in Peru;   Kashmir, which is experiencing a double lockdown;   the “weakest link” of actions against the pandemic in Pakistan are the discriminated against street cleaners;   a call for Singapore to maintain its “social compact”;   a breaking of the laissez-faire ranks in Sweden;   moves to boost the economy in Indonesia;   refugee camps in Somalia;

   Africa:   an inter-religious organisation in Liberia is supporting training of health teams;   multiple problems in Mali;   starvation in Zimbabwe;   some lockdown conditions will be eased to limit the economic harm;   a medical supplies platform;   soldiers have died of lack of supplies in South Sudan;   DR Congo;   Guinea-Bissau;   resurgence of the pandemic in Egypt;

   Globally:   humanitarian financing is failing;

   Stupidity:   Tanzania.

And finally . . . Black Lives Matter!