Category Archives: human rights

125 Photos From Last Night’s Massive Traffic-Blocking Ferguson Protest In NYC: Gothamist

You don’t need a weather man to know which way the wind in blowing!

Several thousand protesters dispersed across the city to shut down access to the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges, the entrances to the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, and portions of the FDR and West Side Highways, venting their rage at a grand jury’s decision not to indict Missouri police officer Darren Wilson in the slaying of 18-year-old Michael Brown. “I had hope, I still had hope in our county and in our legal system,” 18-year-old Barnard student Stephanie Rothermel said as she marched down Flatbush Avenue. “But I guess that’s a stupid thing to have.”

via 125 Photos From Last Night’s Massive Traffic-Blocking Ferguson Protest In NYC: Gothamist.

Filipino Farmers Protest Government Research on Genetically Modified Rice | Inter Press Service

Considered by Filipinos as the eighth wonder of the world, the 2,000-year-old Ifugao Rice Terraces represent the country’s rich rice heritage, which some say will be at stake once the golden rice is approved.

The protesting farmers also delivered to the BPI, which is responsible for the development of plant industries and crop production and protection, an ‘extraordinary opposition’ petition against any extension, renewal or issuance of a new bio-safety permit for further field testing, feeding trials or commercialisation of golden rice.

via Filipino Farmers Protest Government Research on Genetically Modified Rice | Inter Press Service.

BBC News – Underwear protest: Mexican farmers take to the streets

Mexican farmers have held a demonstration in their underwear to protest against alleged abuse of power by three former state governors.

The group would like to see former Veracruz governors, Dante Delgado, Patricio Chirinos and Miguel Aleman brought to trial for what they claim to be violations of civil rights.

via BBC News – Underwear protest: Mexican farmers take to the streets.

CENSORED NEWS: Zapatistas Welcome Caravan, Families of Ayotzinapa’s 43 disappeared

The Words of the General Command of the EZLN, presented by Subcomandante Insurgente Moisés, concluding the event with the caravan of the families of the disappeared and students of Ayotzinapa, in the caracol of Oventik, November 15, 2014.

via CENSORED NEWS: Zapatistas Welcome Caravan, Families of Ayotzinapa’s 43 disappeared.

Police blocks French couple from riding donkey across Bosporus | Nation | Daily Sabah

David Verchot and Morgane Lefevre arrived at Istanbul’s Bosporus Bridge on Thursday to cross to the city’s European side from the Asian side on their way to France. However, bridge police stopped the couple mounting a mule and a donkey, to the amazement of Verchot and Lefevre who argued with police officers.

via Police blocks French couple from riding donkey across Bosporus | Nation | Daily Sabah.

Humans of Amsterdam | ”I have been working in the social sector for more…

”I have been working in the social sector for more than twenty years. I am very blessed that I get to work with people. I run a program that teaches teachers how to give quality education with a modern twist. Here in Nicaragua there is a traditional approach to education but we are trying to change that. We encourage children to think critical and to ask questions. I believe by giving children good education you are not only investing in their future but also in the next generations to come. Just because you are born poor doesn’t mean you don’t have a future. You just sometimes need an extra push.”

Nicaragua – Diriamba

via Humans of Amsterdam | ”I have been working in the social sector for more….

Avaaz – Stand with the Maasai

Urgent update: Tanzania’s government is tearing up the promise we helped the Maasai win. Before they meet their Prime Minister to defend their sacred land, let’s hit 2 million signers!

We are elders of the Maasai from Tanzania, one of Africa’s oldest tribes. The government has just announced that it plans to kick thousands of our families off our lands so that wealthy tourists can use them to shoot lions and leopards. The evictions are to begin immediately.

Last year, when word first leaked about this plan, almost one million Avaaz members rallied to our aid. Your attention and the storm it created forced the government to deny the plan, and set them back months. But the President has waited for international attention to die down, and now he’s revived his plan to take our land. We need your help again, urgently.

President Kikwete may not care about us, but he has shown he’ll respond to global media and public pressure — to all of you! We may only have hours. Please stand with us to protect our land, our people and our world’s most majestic animals and tell everyone, before it is too late. This is our last hope.

— The Maasai community of Ngorongoro District

via Avaaz – Stand with the Maasai.

Mexico’s Undead Rise Up | Inter Press Service

After Marcos disappeared into the night, the assembled then heard a disembodied voice address them: “Good dawn, compañeras and compañeros. My name is Galeano, Subcomandante Insurgente Galeano. Does anybody else respond to this name?”

In response, hundreds of voices affirmed, “Yes, we are all Galeano!” And so Galeano came back to life collectively, in all of those assembled.

And now 43 disappeared student teachers have multiplied into thousands demanding justice from the state and greater autonomy for local communities, which are already building alternative healthcare, education, justice, and governmental systems. A general strike is scheduled for the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution on November 20th.

In Mexico’s unraveling, there is an opportunity for the rest of the world to witness—and support—the emergence of more direct and collective forms of democracy. As the now “deceased” Marcos said: “They wanted to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds.”

via Mexico’s Undead Rise Up | Inter Press Service.