Category Archives: human rights

Israel authorizes police to ‘seal off’ Arab parts of Jerusalem

{Israel creating Palestinian Ghettos!?!}

The Israeli premier has reportedly authorized police to seal off parts of East Jerusalem as part of ‘aggressive steps’ against violence. US Secretary of State Kerry said he would arrive in the region ‘soon’ to mediate.

Source: Israel authorizes police to ‘seal off’ Arab parts of Jerusalem

Is the New “Female Viagra” Really Just a Roofie? | Dame Magazine

There is something very 19th century about this diagnosis.And now the attitude is we can fix this, we’ll give you a pill. It’s so Western and male-driven, where the whole point of sex is to get to the finish line, which has traditionally been about the male ejaculation. Viagra is the No. 1 prescribed medication of all time. Pfizer has made so much money. They’re so invested in this way of looking at the issue. So why wouldn’t a drug company want to find the “pink Viagra?”One of my fears about Addyi is that women are going to take it, and because the efficacy rates are poor they’re going to feel like a failure. And those women who have serious issues around physical pain such as vaginismus, or sexual abuse, or post-traumatic stress, or a history with orgasmic dysfunction are going to take this drug instead of getting sex therapy or good treatment for the actual psychological issue that might be underlying some of the greater problems.There are real physical issues such as age-related issues of menopause—but many women might be pulling away from sex with their partner because they sense something is wrong in the relationship, such as betrayal or abuse.Women are very intuitive so sometimes our bodies know before our heads know what is going on in our relationship. Women exist in their bodies in a different way than men because we have to let someone in, physically, emotionally, sexually. We will protect ourselves if we sense that there’s any danger whatsoever. Often sex shuts down long before the relationship is over.

Source: Is the New “Female Viagra” Really Just a Roofie? | Dame Magazine

Jen Manion: When White Liberals (and Black Elites) Make Things Worse – Guernica / A Magazine of Art & Politics

Well-meaning reformers and elites often failed at their stated aims of justice and equality for African Americans because they refused to confront the racist ideologies that informed and justified enslavement. Moving toward an abstract ideal of “freedom” from slavery, prison, mass incarceration without tackling head-on longstanding stereotypes and assumptions about racial difference—chiefly, the criminalization of blackness—will only ever lead to partial inclusions. Understanding of the insidious and profoundly historic role of language—and silence—in justifying the expansion of punishment and the criminalization of an entire class of people is vital if we are ever going to confront this injustice and truly embrace the democratic promise of freedom and justice for all.

Source: Jen Manion: When White Liberals (and Black Elites) Make Things Worse – Guernica / A Magazine of Art & Politics

Black Votes Don’t Matter | Dame Magazine

These in-your-face racist moves are meant to keep power in hands of the few. The DMV closures are taken right from the pages from the Jim Crow–era White segregationists, who closed schools, pools, and other services to prevent integration. These latest proposed closures are indicative of a wholesale divestment in services for those the GOP consider to be working against their agenda.These racists are not subtle—they are not even trying to be covert. Their arrogance makes them believe that they are above the law and entitled to do whatever their rotten hearts desire. 









The GOP has maintained that voter ID laws are necessary to prevent fraud. You know, to keep dead people and so-called “illegal aliens” from voting, to keep people from voting in more than one place, or voting where they don’t live, or voting multiple times in the same election, or providing false information to election officials. Never mind that these fears tend to be over-exaggerated. In 2014, Justin Levitt, a professor with Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, produced a comprehensive study on voter fraud and only found 31 credible instances of voter fraud out of 1 billion ballots cast.Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has denied the racial implications of the DMV closures. But history has shown us how ubiquitous these practices are, from poll taxes to literacy tests.  If it walks like a racist, talks like a racist, and disenfranchises like a racist, well then race matters.

Source: Black Votes Don’t Matter | Dame Magazine

Black councilman tased by police in city where Sandra Bland was arrested – LA Times

{Police – most – are better than this. They and their chiefs better take the ones who have a “thing” about authority that exceed human rights and common sense – in hand and boot them out or things will just get much worse. How about a people code, instead of the blue code?}

 

One witness said Miller was tased while he was on his knees with his hands at his side. The encounter began when police stopped to question several of Miller’s fraternity brothers gathered outside his house Thursday. When Miller attempted to intervene, police ordered him to step back, then tased and arrested him for reportedly interfering with police duties and resisting arrest.

Source: Black councilman tased by police in city where Sandra Bland was arrested – LA Times

Electoral Commission to ban ‘Niqab’ wearing women from voting – Daily News Egypt

Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC) will ban women from wearing the ‘Niqab’ (face covering) while casting their ballots, state-run media Al-Ahram reported on Thursday. According to SEC’s official spokesperson, there will be rigorous identity check in polling stations during the upcoming parliamentary elections, and women’s faces must be revealed to controllers or else they will be prevented from voting. Meanwhile, a number of female candidates are running in the elections wearing the ‘Niqab’, notably members of the Salafist Al-Nour Party, amid wide media criticism and claims that women candidates of the party do not “appear in the media”. Cairo University administration had also this month banned faculty members from wearing the ‘Niqab’ while lecturing. Cairo University President Gaber Nassar said the decision aims to increase the level of communication between students and their instructors, and to improve the educational process at the university.

Source: Electoral Commission to ban ‘Niqab’ wearing women from voting – Daily News Egypt

Execution of Palestinian Fadi Alloun, 19, in Occupied East Jerusalem Causes Nation-wide Outrage · Global Voices

A video showing the murder of Fadi Alloun, a 19-year-old Palestinian man, who was shot dead by Israeli police in Musrara neighborhood, beside Jerusalem’s Old City, is sending shock waves around the world as clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians escalated over the past three weeks. According to witnesses, Alloun was being followed by around 70 Israeli Jewish settlers surrounded by the Israeli police on October 4. Moments later, we hear the mob yelling at the police ‘it’s a terrorist, shoot him!’ and ‘don’t wait! Shoot him!’ followed by his execution. Alloun is not seen as posing any threat in the video, being surrounded by numerous armed men, and the settlers are seen rejoicing in his death, repeating ‘yes! yes!’ and ‘son of a bitch’.

Source: Execution of Palestinian Fadi Alloun, 19, in Occupied East Jerusalem Causes Nation-wide Outrage · Global Voices

Singer Julio Iglesias boycotts Donald Trump venues over Mexican comments | News | DW.COM | 08.10.2015

Veteran singer Julio Iglesias has joined the celebrity-backed Latino reaction to presidential candidate Donald Trump’s comments on Mexican immigrants. Trump suggested in June that Mexican immigrants to the United States were “rapists” well-versed in drugs and crime.

Source: Singer Julio Iglesias boycotts Donald Trump venues over Mexican comments | News | DW.COM | 08.10.2015

Rupert Murdoch says sorry for ‘real black President’ tweet – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

“Ben and Candy Carson terrific. What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide? And much else,” Mr Murdoch tweeted.The message was retweeted 1,400 times and mentioned 1,200 times amid an outpouring of anger on the internet.Mr Murdoch later took to Twitter again saying: “Apologies! No offence meant. Personally find both men charming.”

Source: Rupert Murdoch says sorry for ‘real black President’ tweet – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Anti-austerity march draws 80,000 protesters to Belgium′s streets | News | DW.COM | 07.10.2015

More than 80,000 people on Wednesday took to the streets of Brussels to protest austerity measures implemented during the first year of the center-right coalition government’s tenure.The protest marks the second of its size within a year, with the last one occurring in November 2014.Three of Belgium’s main unions joined the protests on a common platform that renounced policies implemented by the center-right government under the leadership of Prime Minister Charles Michel.

Source: Anti-austerity march draws 80,000 protesters to Belgium′s streets | News | DW.COM | 07.10.2015