Category Archives: human rights

Glyphosate – IARC got it right, EFSA got it from Monsanto | Jennifer Sass’s Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC

The EFSA report is based on findings of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment – the BfR – which received a first draft of the science directly from the Glyphosate Task Force (GTF), whose members include Monsanto and Syngenta and other agrochemical corporations. EFSA describes its process as standard procedure to have the agrochemical company supply the scientific information to the Member state (Germany and Croatia in this case), whose report then goes to EFSA to make a final evaluation.The Guardian reported on how compromised the process was: “BfR officials explained that due to the quantity of evidence they did not have the time to report the original studies in detail, but instead based their evaluation on descriptions provided by the agrochemical industry. But those descriptions also contained the industry’s assessment of the reliability and interpretation of each study, which involves exactly the kinds of choice-laden decisions described earlier… this falls well short of what most people would understand as an independent review.”So, we know that Monsanto and other companies provided their own assessment of the scientific evidence, much of it industry-sponsored unpublished studies, and then handed that pig off to Germany for some lipstick.

Source: Glyphosate – IARC got it right, EFSA got it from Monsanto | Jennifer Sass’s Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC

Myanmar leaders to meet Suu Kyi this week | News | DW.COM | 30.11.2015

Suu Kyi has reportedly met Parliament Speaker Shwe Mann and other important powerbrokers several times since the election.November’s election was a landmark vote for many reasons. Since 2011, Myanmar – which used to be known as Burma – has transitioned towards democracy following more than five decades of military rule.Although her party won 1990 general electionf, the military ignored the result and Suu Kyi was kept under house arrest for almost 15 years.Despite fears that the military may once again ignore the NLD’s win, both Thein Sein and General Hlaing have congratulated Suu Kyi on the poll victory and promised to respect the result.

Source: Myanmar leaders to meet Suu Kyi this week | News | DW.COM | 30.11.2015

US scientists, activists call for global ban on ‘designer babies’ gene modification – ABC News 

{Please don’t do Josef Mengele proud!}

The Centre for Genetics and Society (CGS) and the activist group Friends of the Earth issued the report a day before a major international meeting in Washington to discuss the ethical and policy issues surrounding the technology.A technological innovation that can strategically edit out specific stretches of DNA could ultimately lead to the genetic modification of children, and should be halted before it starts being used, they argued.”Like so many powerful new technologies, gene editing holds potential for both great benefit and great harm,” an open letter published by the groups said.”The implementation of heritable human genetic modification — often referred to as the creation of ‘genetically modified humans’ or ‘designer babies’ — could irrevocably alter the nature of the human species and society.”Gene editing may hold some promise for somatic gene therapy (aimed at treating impaired tissues in a fully formed person).”However, there is no medical justification for modifying human embryos or gametes in an effort to alter the genes of a future child.”

Source: US scientists, activists call for global ban on ‘designer babies’ gene modification – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Former DIA Intelligence Chief Discusses Development of IS – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Flynn: First we went to Afghanistan, where al-Qaida was based. Then we went into Iraq. Instead of asking ourselves why the phenomenon of terror occurred, we were looking for locations. This is a major lesson we must learn in order not to make the same mistakes again.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: The Islamic State wouldn’t be where it is now without the fall of Baghdad. Do you regret …

Flynn: … yes, absolutely …

SPIEGEL ONLINE: … the Iraq war?

Flynn: It was huge error. As brutal as Saddam Hussein was, it was a mistake to just eliminate him. The same is true for Moammar Gadhafi and for Libya, which is now a failed state. The historic lesson is that it was a strategic failure to go into Iraq. History will not be and should not be kind with that decision.

Source: Former US Intelligence Chief Discusses Development of IS – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Donald Trump Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Repeating Debunked NJ 9/11 Claim: “I’m Not Going To Take It Back”: Gothamist

Donald Trump’s hateful, dangerous rhetoric is finally catching up with him: according to Reuters, Trump’s support among Republicans has dropped 12 points in the last week, his biggest decline since July. They credit that drop to Trump’s much-debunked NJ 9/11 cheering story and his disgusting impression of a NY Times reporter with a disability. But if you think being called out by every credible news source in the country is enough to make Trump change his tune, you don’t know Trump. AP Trump repeated his story that “thousands and thousands of people [in NJ] were cheering as that building was coming down” on 9/11 on Meet The Press this morning. “I saw it on television,” Trump said. “And so did many other people and many people saw it in person. I have hundreds of phone calls to the Trump organization saying we saw it. It was dancing in the streets. Why would I take it back, I’m not going to take it back.” Host Chuck Todd pushed back hard though, rightfully calling him out on his bullshitting: “There were three of four different reports that month in New Jersey that said it was a myth. That it was a false rumor. FBI. You name it,” Todd said. Check out the rest of the exchange, via Raw Story. “Just because somebody repeats something doesn’t make it true,” Todd argued. “I don’t mean I had two calls, Chuck,” Trump interrupted. “People were saying they lived in Jersey.” “People were saying!” Todd shot back. “If I said, ‘Well, people have said Mr. Trump’s not worth $10 billion, and people were saying,’ you would say that’s crazy. You wouldn’t make a business deal based on retweets and based on hearsay.” “You’re running for president of the United States,” he continued. “Your words matter. Truthfulness matters. Fact-based stuff matters.” “Take it easy, Chuck, just play cool,” Trump quipped. “This is people in this country that love our country that saw this by the hundreds they’re calling and they’re tweeting.” “I have a very good memory. I saw it somewhere on television many years ago and I never forgot it. And it was on television too.” Trump continued to push the point, arguing that if it happened somewhere…then it could have happened here? Uh, why not? Seriously, I think that’s his argument: “You have a huge Muslim population, between Patterson and different places and Jersey City, an unbelievable large population. If they’re going to be doing it at soccer games, if they’re going to be doing it all around the world, it was being done,” Trump said. “When the Trade Center came down, it was done all around the world. And you know that because that has been reported very strongly. Why wouldn’t it have taken place?” MTV dug up what is believed to be the television footage Trump was referring to, taken from a documentary called Fight For Your Rights: Aftermath of Terror, which first aired on MTV on Nov. 17, 2001. It all seems to rest on the eyewitness account of then-high school senior Emily Acevedo, who went on to say, “Everyone that was out there, they were only 13 or 14 at most. They were kids. They didn’t know what they were doing.” There’s a pretty huge difference between a handful of dumb kids and “thousands and thousands” of Muslims. Trump knows what he’s saying, he knows why he’s saying it, and he will never apologize. He’s not even a real sociopath, just a professional used car salesman with a bad tan and a preternatural ability to say anything that will keep him in the spotlight. Thankfully, those latest poll numbers show that even his so-called base of supporters are starting to tire of someone who openly mocks people with disabilities and then blatantly, obviously, unmistakably lies about it.

Source: Donald Trump Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Repeating Debunked NJ 9/11 Claim: “I’m Not Going To Take It Back”: Gothamist

Duty of state govts to ban cow slaughter: Union minister Jyoti – The Times of India

“Intolerance is a issue that was created with political motive to malign us ahead of the Bihar poll. It was pre- planned and that is why you can’t see any protest after the results are out,” Jyoti told PTI. Jyoti, who is Union minister of state for food processing industries, said that it was the neutral votes that made all the difference in the Bihar poll. “It is the 5-10 per cent neutral votes that made the difference in Bihar. After coming to power at the Centre, we have won several states. I give my best wishes to Nitish Kumarji,” Jyoti said. On writers returning their awards in protest against ‘intolerance’, she said, “I have immense respect for the writers, but awards should not have been returned.” “Awards are not just a token of honour. But it is an honour from the entire country. So if you are returning the award then you are dishonouring the country. “If it is due to an issue, then it was there earlier too during the Sikh riots and Bhagalpur riots. Politics should not have been brought into it. There has been politics regarding this thing (returning of awards),” she said. Jyoti said that the Dadri lynching was a case of law and order failure on the part of the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh. “This incident should not have happened. It is a law and order problem, which is a state subject. If the state had taken action, then such situation wouldn’t have happened. Instead of taking action, they are blaming us,” she said.

Source: Duty of state govts to ban cow slaughter: Union minister Jyoti – The Times of India

Eco-protesters delay German environment minister Hendrick′s train to Paris | News | DW.COM | 28.11.2015

As Hendrick’s train pulled into Frankfurt station on Saturday en route to the French capital, protesters chained themselves to the railway tracks, police said.Others descended by ropes onto the train, which stopped in Europe’s financial capital en route from Berlin where Germany’s environment minister and her 30-strong entourage had boarded.Hendricks and her team were traveling to Paris for the global climate change conference which gets underway on Monday.German journalist Harriett Wolf tweeted that as the demonstrators had refused to come down, officers had no choice but to climb onto the train’s roof.

Source: Eco-protesters delay German environment minister Hendrick′s train to Paris | News | DW.COM | 28.11.2015

IOF stormed into Youth Against Settlements Center in Hebron | PNN

Yesterday evening, Israeli occupation forces arrested two activists from the local activist group Youth Against Settlement (YAS) in Hebron. Illegal settlers, under the protection of the IOF, closed the YAS center, the Soumud house, trapping everyone inside.According to the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), the IOF stormed the house in the evening around 7 pm, and arrested 16-year old Ahmad al-Azzeh, accusing him of ‘having a knife’.Ahmad Al-azzeh being arrested by the IOF. Photo by: Youth Against SettlementsIsraeli soldiers also arrested Issa Amro, the YAS coordinator, under the accusation of ‘disturbing the soldiers’ and ‘hiding a terrorist in his house’. Issa Amro was detained in a bathroom for more than four hours, with his hands cuffed behind his back and blindfolded. He was interrogated for long periods of time, as stated by ISM.Issa Amro being arrested by the IOF. Photo by: Youth Against SettlementsWhereas Issa Amro was released after more than 5 and a half hours, Ahmad al-Azzeh’s arrest was extended for another 4 days. He has been arrested merely on a soldier’s accusation of ‘seeing him with a knife’. “This ridiculous allegation is clearly a means to intimidate the whole group and on the long run force them to leave the area”, the ISM reported on their website.After the arrest, settlers from the nearby illegal settlement approached the Soumud house, protesting and demanding Israeli occupation forces to close it immediately, as stated by the ISM. Groups of settlers have been outside the center the whole evening, and even brought mattresses to sleep in front of the house’s door the whole night.Everyone there, thus, was trapped inside without a possibility to leave. The whole time, Israeli soldiers present in large numbers allowed the settlers to do as they pleased, without ever intervening. A group of about 30 settlers camped outside the Soumud house, thus laying a siege to it and forcing everyone inside to spent the night there. As of Saturday, 28th November 10:30am, settlers are still outside the center, according to ISM.

Source: IOF stormed into Youth Against Settlements Center in Hebron | PNN

During Planned Parenthood Shooting, Fear and Chaos at Shopping Center – The New York Times

After arrest: “People poured out. Among them was Ms. Schilter, the woman at the grocery store. Her boyfriend, Jackson Ricker, 18, placed his arms around her waist and his chin on her shoulder and noted that Ms. Schilter had witnessed a different shooting a few weeks earlier when a heavily armed man shot and killed a bicyclist and two women in the downtown. “The first time she cried,” said Mr. Ricker, looking at his dry-eyed girlfriend. “She’s a veteran now.”

Source: During Planned Parenthood Shooting, Fear and Chaos at Shopping Center – The New York Times

Garrett Swasey, Officer Killed in Colorado, Is Recalled for Courage and Faith – The New York Times

Garrett Swasey, 44, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs police officer who was shot and killed while responding to a shooting at a Planned Parenthood office, was described by his fellow church members and friends as a courageous man and loving father who drew strength and inspiration from his Christian faith.Continue reading the main storyRELATED COVERAGE3 Are Dead in Colorado Springs Shootout at Planned Parenthood CenterNOV. 27, 2015video Gunfire Exchange in Colorado SpringsNOV. 27, 2015slideshow Gunfire at a Colorado Planned Parenthood ClinicNOV. 27, 2015He was married, with two young children, and had been on the campus police force for six years. He also spent seven years as a co-pastor at Hope Chapel in Colorado Springs. “Here’s a guy who worked full time as a police officer, and then gave a great amount of time to his local church and didn’t get a dime for it,” said Scott Dontanville, a co-pastor who knew Officer Swasey for 15 years. “He did it because it was the thing that he felt he needed to do.”

Source: Garrett Swasey, Officer Killed in Colorado, Is Recalled for Courage and Faith – The New York Times