Category Archives: human rights

Indigenous Resistance: In the news today: Navajo Times

Why does Navajo Times have this article, ‘Groundbreaking, Hawaiian blessing for telescope’ — instead of an article about the Native Hawaiian protest over the telescope desecrating the sacred mountain Mauna Kea?

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2014/10/native-hawaiians-protest-telescope-on.html

I was looking at Navajo Times to see if they covered the Dine’ women who were featured in Rolling Stone and on Democracy Now at Flood Wall Street in New York. I don’t see anything about Navajos at Flood Wall Street or the Climate March in New York. But I do see that Navajo Times has a non-Indian reporter covering the Longest Walk and prison camp, ‘Hwéeldi at 150.’

Why is this? There are so many unemployed Navajo and Native American reporters, why does Navajo Times continue to employ non-Indian reporters? Besides the ethics of this, it is a violation of Navajo Preference in Employment law.

The Dine’ women at Flood Wall Street and the Climate March in New York in September took a bold stand against the dirty coal industry and the violators in their homeland: Peabody Coal and dirty coal-fired power plants.

Is Navajo Times censoring the fact that the Navajo Generating Station, on the Navajo Nation, is one of the top polluters in the world? It is easy to fill a newspaper with political turmoil, a good way to distract readers from what is really happening as a result of the dirty coal power plants on the Navajo Nation.

via Indigenous Resistance: In the news today: Navajo Times.

Dozens hurt in Aqsa clashes as Israeli police ‘force Muslims out’ | Maan News Agency

JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Clashes broke out early Wednesday at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli police officers, leaving dozens hurt, sources said.

Security guards at the mosque told Ma’an that Israeli forces stormed the compound at 7:30 a.m. ahead of expected visits by right-wing Israelis on the occasion of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, or the Feast of the Tabernacles.

Israeli forces forcibly removed worshipers, attacking some of them with clubs, the guards said.

Some Muslim worshipers clashed with Israeli officers in the compound before managing to take refuge inside the mosque.

As worshipers threw stones, soldiers fired tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber bullets, injuring dozens of Palestinians, Al-Aqsa Mosque director Sheikh Omar al-Kiswani said.

Some of the stun grenades were fired into the Al-Aqsa Mosque itself, causing a fire to break out, and fire fighters were not immediately allowed access to the area, al-Kiswani added.

“The compound is almost empty of Muslim worshipers, while Israeli forces allowed herds of extremists to storm it and move freely,” he said.

Witnesses said that eventually Israeli forces succeeded in forcefully removing Palestinians from the compound, besides those who had taken refuge in the mosque itself.

Instead, they closed the doors of the mosque and locked them with chains, trapping worshipers inside, the witnesses said.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld tweeted about the incident, saying “masked Arabs” threw “stones/blocks/iron bars” at Israeli forces near the Moroccan gate.

Three police officers were lightly injured, Rosenfeld said.

Since Tuesday morning, Israeli forces have restricted access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, only allowing Palestinian worshipers aged 60 and up to enter. Elderly men and women have had to leave their identity cards with the police officers at the entrances of the compound.

Photos provided by the Israeli police show officers at the Al-Aqsa compound on Oct. 8, 2014

New entrance for non-Muslims

Israeli army radio announced earlier this week that the ministry of tourism was working on a plan to allow Jews to enter the Al-Aqsa compound through the Cotton Merchants Gate, in addition to the Moroccan Gate which is already used as an entrance for non-Muslims.

The announcement was greeted with harsh backlash from Palestinians.

The Palestinian legal counselor of Jerusalem affairs, Ahmad Ruwaidi, said that the Islamic endowment department in charge of the mosque compound has received no notice of any such plan.

Ruwaidi said the announcement was “unacceptable,” calling Palestinian religious sites a “red line” and saying the move would harm the peace process.

Taleb Abu Arar, a Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset, also said in a statement that opening an additional gate for Jews to enter the Al-Aqsa compound was the equivalent of opening a “gate to war.”

PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi also weighed in, saying: “Israel is creating a new reality at the expense of Palestinians, their religious rights, sites, and historical identity.”

“They are violating the sanctity of religious sites without consequences, which completely terminates possibilities for peace and will ultimately drag the whole region into disastrous clashes,” Ashrawi said in a statement.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque is sensitive for Palestinians due to its status as the third holiest site in Islam and its location in the heart of the Old City of Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem.

Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its “eternal, undivided capital,” but the international community sees East Jerusalem as Palestinian territory and the capital of a future Palestinian state.

The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, referred to by Jews as the Temple Mount, is also the holiest site in Judaism.

But mainstream Jewish leaders forbid Jews from entering, for fear they would profane the inner sanctum of the Second Temple they believe was once located at the site.

Right-wing Jews, however, often visit the compound under armed guard by Israeli forces, leading to regular clashes with Palestinian worshipers.

via Dozens hurt in Aqsa clashes as Israeli police ‘force Muslims out’ | Maan News Agency.

Just because they can because the government lets them and protects them! Israeli settlers take over 25 homes in E.Jerusalem: residents | News , Middle East | THE DAILY STAR

Mohammed al-Khayat, whose family owns three apartments in one Silwan building, told AFP settlers had broken the locks on empty properties and then changed them.

A police spokeswoman said clashes flared later when one Palestinian man tried to get into one of the buildings.

She said the properties belonged to settlers, who had presented documents proving they had purchased them.

Elad, a hardline settler organisation that seeks to increase Jewish settlement in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, told AFP that a company called Kendall Finance had purchased the properties.

But Mohammed Dahla, a lawyer representing the Palestinian owners, said they denied selling them.

A spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, quoted by news agency Wafa, slammed “the occupation by settlers of buildings in Silwan close to the Al-Aqsa mosque.”

Silwan, an Arab neighbourhood were a few hundred hardcore settlers live, is often the scene of violence between the two sides, or between young Palestinians and police.

via Israeli settlers take over 25 homes in E.Jerusalem: residents | News , Middle East | THE DAILY STAR.

Migrant deaths crossing Mediterranean top 3,000 in 2014 – BBC News

Just saying – there do not seem to be any emergency meetings being called for as in the current ebola outbreak, or pledges of millions of dollars to prevent future deaths.

More than 3,000 migrants have died crossing the Mediterranean this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

In a report published on Monday, the IOM said the 3,072 deaths made Europe the most dangerous destination for “irregular” migrants.

The organisation said that some experts placed the toll three times as high.

This year’s total is more than double the previous peak in 2011, and exceeds last year’s estimate over four times.

Since January, 4,077 migrant deaths have occurred worldwide with 75% of fatalities happening in Europe.

via Migrant deaths crossing Mediterranean top 3,000 in 2014 – BBC News.

Human resistance to malaria varies depending on location, study finds – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Humans have evolved different defences against malaria depending on where they live, scientists have found.

About half the world’s population is exposed to the disease, which kills more than 500,000 people each year.

A study, conducted over 10 years across 11 countries, looked for specific mutations known as markers in genes that result in resistance against malaria in almost 12,000 people.

Laboratory head at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Dr Ivo Mueller, said the study found there is a close evolutionary interplay between malaria and human populations.

“It is a complex interaction between the parasite and the human genome,” he said.

“Part of this study was done in Papua New Guinea, but most of these mutations that we found are actually not found in Papua New Guinea because people there never acquired these mutations.

via Human resistance to malaria varies depending on location, study finds – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).

Israel bans Muslims from Ibrahimi Mosque beginning Tuesday | Maan News Agency

For the second time in less than a week, Israeli authorities will ban Muslim worshipers from entering Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque beginning Tuesday, Sept. 30 in preparation for the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur on Oct. 4.

An official at the mosque told Ma’an via email that the mosque would be completely closed to Muslim worshipers, while “Jewish settlers” would be allowed free access.

The Israeli authorities closed the mosque to Muslim worshipers last Thursday and Friday on the occasion of the Jewish New Year as well.

Restrictions on Palestinian movement across the West Bank are frequently put in place during major Jewish holidays, ostensibly for security reasons.

Hebron specifically is a frequent site of tensions due to the presence of 500 Israeli settlers in the Old City, many of whom have illegally occupied Palestinian houses and forcibly removed the original inhabitants. They are protected by thousands of Israeli forces.

In 1994, an Israeli settler opened fire on Muslim worshipers in the Ibrahimi Mosque, killing 29 and injuring more than 100 Palestinians.

More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.

via Israel bans Muslims from Ibrahimi Mosque beginning Tuesday | Maan News Agency.

Catalans defy Spanish government and call independence vote | World news | The Guardian

“Catalonia has the right to decide its political future,” said Mas. “We know that democracy is the most civilised way to resolve difficulties between nations.” The 9 November referendum would see two questions put to Catalans: whether Catalonia should be a state and, if so, whether it should be an independent state.

The central government has repeatedly insisted that any regional vote on independence would be illegal, pointing out that the country’s 1978 constitution means major questions must be put to all Spaniards and that only they can call a referendum. Barcelona, in turn, asserts that the non-binding nature of its regional vote allows it to take place within the legal confines of the constitution.

via Catalans defy Spanish government and call independence vote | World news | The Guardian.

Random Punishment – Just Because They Can! Israel closes Jenin checkpoint for Jewish holiday | Maan News Agency

Random Punishment – Just Because They Can!

Israel closed the al-Jalama checkpoint on Thursday for the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana, the governor of Jenin said.

Ibrahim Ramadan told Ma’an that the closure starts Thursday and the checkpoint will be closed both ways for two days.

Ramadan said officials are trying to overturn the decision, which will affect Palestinian workers who use the checkpoint to enter Israel.

via Israel closes Jenin checkpoint for Jewish holiday | Maan News Agency.

I support union but this is totally irresponsible! LAS VEGAS: Nurses stage Ebola ‘die-in’ on Las Vegas Strip | Health & Science | NewsObserver.com

U.S. hospitals aren’t ready for an Ebola outbreak, according to nurses who staged a “die-in” Wednesday outside a Las Vegas Strip resort where they were holding a union convention.

Many protesters in the crowd of about 1,000 who attended the Planet Nurse convention wore bright red T-shirts and suits resembling hazardous-materials gear as they streamed through the Planet Hollywood casino floor before crossing Las Vegas Boulevard to the Bellagio resort.

via LAS VEGAS: Nurses stage Ebola ‘die-in’ on Las Vegas Strip | Health & Science | NewsObserver.com.

Electronic Village: Taser Death: Daniel Satre (Ballston Spa, NY)

It happened again! This time an unarmed man was electrocuted by 50,000 volts from each of the taser guns used on him by some or all of the six unidentified Ballston Spa (NY) police officers called to his home on Saturday, September 20, 2014.

The police officers were coming to arrest 43-old Daniel Satre for ‘disorderly conduct’. I’m not a lawyer … but, I’m fairly certain that the death penalty is not the legal penalty for ‘disorderly conduct’. Again, we see a case of overzealous police officers using their not-quite-lethal taser guns when they feel the slightest bit of disrespect from a citizen.

via Electronic Village: Taser Death: Daniel Satre (Ballston Spa, NY).

(I guess no one except relatives cares and that news organizations and people figure “tough luck” you got killed because “you” were not cooperative with police – which is an excuse for “oops” killing someone. Nothing will be done, I expect, until some 5-year old, white girl from a “good” family is killed for having a tantrum in a school, or someone famous or an elected official is killed for being disrespectful and not following “order.” )