Category Archives: human rights

ASIA/SINGAPORE – The Mufti of Singapore to the Archbishop: “the massacre in Lahore is against Islam”

Singapore – The terrorist attack in Lahore, which targeted civilians indiscriminately, “is not only against Islamic teachings, but it is also an attack against all humanity”: is what the Muslim leader in Singapore, mufti Mohamed Fatris Bakaram said in a letter of condolence sent to the island’s Catholic Archbishop, Mgr. William Goh.The letter, sent to Fides, condemned the criminal act which killed 73 people and over 300 were injured in Lahore on Easter Sunday: “We strongly condemn the attack in Lahore and express our deepest condolences to the families of all the victims. We must join together to tell our clear horror of such acts of inhumanity”. The mufti specifies that “it is unjustifiable to attack another human being just because they have a different faith”, recalling that the attack was “an act of inhumanity and an affront to the people who believe in the values of compassion and peaceful coexistence”. This is “a serious error towards peace and inter-religious harmony, promoted by Islam”.On the same day the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore condemned the acts of violence committed in the name of Islam around the world, including attacks in Istanbul, Jakarta, in Syria, in Ankara, Brussels, as well as in Lahore. “We are saddened and outraged by such cruelty”, the Council said. “Along with all Muslims and all the inhabitants of Singapore, we express closeness and solidarity to the families of all the victims of these senseless tragedies” wrote the Council in a statement.

Source: ASIA/SINGAPORE – The Mufti of Singapore to the Archbishop: “the massacre in Lahore is against Islam”

Ebola no longer poses global risk, says WHO | News | DW.COM | 29.03.2016

{The very non-health related desire to say everything is OK now, is the same reaction that caused WHO and its member nations to urge calm and under-react to Ebola – which gave Ebola all the time it needed to outstrip several nation’s ability to fight it. Immediate “economic” concerns that drive this behavior may well be the leading cause of the pandemic that kills millions!}

Chan stressed that the three worst affected countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – remain vulnerable to Ebola flare-ups, including an ongoing cluster of cases in Guinea, which has left five people dead.But the UN’s health agency said all original chains of virus transmission have now ended.Chan said the “risk of international spread is now low, and…countries currently have the capacity to respond rapidly to new virus emergences.”Her statement brings to an end a nearly 20-month emergency that started in Guinea in late 2013, saw 28,638 cases emerge and 11,300 deaths.

Source: Ebola no longer poses global risk, says WHO | News | DW.COM | 29.03.2016

Israelis rally around soldier filmed executing injured Palestinian | The Electronic Intifada

The new video shows the shooter “shaking hands with far-right activist Baruch Marzel” while al-Sharif’s body is removed from the scene, according to Haaretz. The US-born Marzel, a former leader of the violent group Kach, is notorious for fomenting attacks on Palestinians. Kach was outlawed by Israel after one of its members, the US-born medical doctor Baruch Goldstein, gunned down 29 Palestinians at Hebron’s Ibrahimi mosque in 1994. The video provides visible evidence of the close relationship between the Israeli army and the violent settlers it supports and protects.

Source: Israelis rally around soldier filmed executing injured Palestinian | The Electronic Intifada

New Finnish Forestry Act could mean the end of Sami reindeer herding – Intercontinental Cry

Sámi Culture Under Threat There is an urgent need to ensure that Metsähallitus and others are prevented from undermining present or future opportunities for the Sámi to practice and foster their culture. The new Act needs to include clauses that provide a protective zone and mechanisms for the Sámi to safeguard their cultural practices. These are missing from the existing legal proposal leaving both Indigenous Sámi leaders and Arctic scientists concerned about the proposed new reforms. “Sámi reindeer herding and the Sámi way of life are in danger of disappearing if the new Forestry Act legislation passes in the Finnish Parliament. In this case we will have few opportunities to influence the decision making over our lands. Rather, our territories will be controlled by market economy values,” says Jouni Lukkari, President of the Finnish Section of the Sámi Council.

Source: New Finnish Forestry Act could mean the end of Sami reindeer herding – Intercontinental Cry

Local Muslim group makes anti-extremist videos – Radio Sweden | Sveriges Radio

In an effort to counter jihadist propaganda a local association in the Stockholm area has produced two videos for young Muslims. For nearly a year, the “Islamiska förbundet i Järva” (the Islamic association in Järva) has received funding from a the national Inheritance Fund, which supports non-profit efforts for young people in Sweden. The Islamiska förbundet’s anti-radicalization project called WAANO has now released two videos, intended to be shown in schools and spread on social media. Each makes arguments, one directed towards men and the other towards women, against traveling to fight for extremists in other countries.

Source: Local Muslim group makes anti-extremist videos – Radio Sweden | Sveriges Radio

To Save The Economy, We Have To Break Its One Sacred Rule | {He is right/wrong – “progress” or more, bigger, and more is the trap, is it not?}

The rule of GDP growth may seem sacred, but it is not. As quickly as we created it, we can pull it apart. And pull it apart we must—it’s time for the giant stone heads to roll. There are already movements in this direction. A number of states and countries have adopted much more sensible alternatives, like the Genuine Progress Indicator, which seek to promote human and environmental well-being. There are many others we might consider, and it doesn’t much matter which we choose—indeed, each city or country could pick a different measure, or no measure at all. The important thing is that we shake off the tyranny of GDP growth and open up a creative, democratic conversation about what kind of world we want to live in.

Source: To Save The Economy, We Have To Break Its One Sacred Rule | Co.Exist | ideas + impact

Israeli Education Minister: Even if the soldier made a mistake of judgment, he is not a murderer – PNN

Liberman, in addition to Education Minister and Jewish Home leader, Naftali Bennett, both attack B’Tselem Human Rights group for publishing the video. Immediately following the release of th e video on Thursday, politicians rushed to “dance to B’Tselem’s fiddle,” Bennett told Israel Radio on Sunday morning, referring to the human rights group that released the video of the killing, Jpost reported. Bennett said that “even if the soldier made a mistake of judgment he was not a murderer.” He said that the possibility of the soldier being tried for murder “demonstrated the total loss of proportions in the matter and he would act to ensure that the soldier would receive a just trial.” When asked about the execution,  El-Or Azarya, the medic soldier who murdered Abdul-Fattah Al-Sharif said that he “did the right thing at the right time.”

Source: Israeli Education Minister: Even if the soldier made a mistake of judgment, he is not a murderer – PNN

Water crisis in Marathwada worsens as 7 dams dry up – Times of India

{A shift of 5% of total water for agriculture in India can mean famine conditions and will pull down India’s resources significantly – do not know at present how drop in this state will affect overall needs}

A top bureaucrat said, “Last year, only one dam had reached zero level. This time, there are seven of them, so we are forced to lift water from the dead stock, which will not last long.” Marathwada has 11 big dams in all. The Jaikwadi one is the largest, with an irrigation potential of 2.37 lakh hectares and storage capacity of 2,171 million cubic litres. The other dams at zero level are Majalgaon, Manjara, Lower Terna, Manar, Siddheshwar and Sina-Kolegaon.

Source: Water crisis in Marathwada worsens as 7 dams dry up – Times of India

Terror Attacks Cast Light on Belgian Identity Crisis – SPIEGEL ONLINE – “Spiegel joins ISIS in attacking Belgium and promoting German takeover?”

Fears seem to be greater in Germany about Belgium’s nuclear power plants than in the country itself. Belgians tend to get used to things, that’s the habit. They tend to respond in ways similar to Françoise Georis, who opened up her Bio, dis-moi organic supermarket directly across the street from Tihange, because this type of store didn’t exist within a 15 kilometer radius of the nuclear power plant. She says she’s pleased to have plant workers among her customers, since “not everyone has their heart in the job that they do.” In general, she says, her customers are more afraid of genetically modified food than they are of radioactivity. Speaking a week before the terrorist attacks, she said she hardly even notices the nuclear power plant — and that’s the case for most here.

Source: Terror Attacks Cast Light on Belgian Identity Crisis – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Egypt police kill members of gang linked to Regeni murder – The Local

The interior ministry said in a statement that it has shared its findings with Italy, which was helping investigate the abduction and murder of the Cambridge University graduate whose mutilated body was found in Cairo in January. The ministry also released photographs of Regeni’s passport, university identification cards and a wallet. The manner of Regeni’s abduction and killing provoked accusations in Italy of Egyptian police involvement, something Cairo had strongly denied. Regeni, 28, had been researching labour movements in Egypt, a sensitive topic, and had written articles critical of the government under a pen name. The incident threatened relations between Egypt and Italy, a strong supporter of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi whose security services have been accused of abusing dissidents. The ministry had announced earlier on Thursday that police had killed four members of a criminal gang that had kidnapped and robbed foreigners in Cairo in a shootout, without mentioning Regeni.

Source: Egypt police kill members of gang linked to Regeni murder – The Local