illustration (photo: The Platform)

Nebraska – unmanned aircraft or drones, not just the monopolyThe government’s or military. Human rights activists (HAM), environmental, and journalists, are now beginning to adopt drone appears, to uncover violations.

As proclaimed Voice of America onFriday (3/2/2012), a site called Future Journalism Project highlight the adoption of these drones. This site also reveals an experimental laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are investigating the possibility to conduct drone journalism, that is to fly a camera with a global positioning device to the news moments for video recording.

Andrew Stobo Sniderman, co-founder of the Genocide Intervention Network has recently published an article entitled Drones for Human Rights, in The New York Times, believes the drone can be used to take a lot of information fromthe conflict areas, such as Syria or the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo .

“We can imagine some situations where this tool can be used to retrieve detailed information about something that happened,for example, when the government killed a large number of its own citizens,” said Sniderman.

“Technology can be used for good or bad. And we all suggest that human rights groups shouldseriously consider using this newtechnology to help document a violation. Human rights groups have always done this. Question is whether we can use the drones to do this is even better,”he said.

Sniderman said the video footage of air containing the human rights violations are taken by unmanned aircraft, andnot obtainable by other means, can make the response more effectively with the situation occurs.

During the past regime of the Soviet Union the United States had a stressed relationship with the Soviet Union because of the core differences between communism and capitalism.  But as each new president is ushered in it seems relations between the United States and Russia are strengthening.  Originally under the transitional government run by Boris Yeltsin the Russian Federation was generally hostile towards the United States during the Kosovo war.  Although the US supported their rapid and aggressive industrialization the reforms caused many damaging affects to the economy.   Relations worsened when Bush withdrew the Anti-ballistic Missile treaty.  And Russia also opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq.  The united states also believe that under Putin the government was becoming authoritarian and non-democratic.   Particularly the human rights violations in Chechnya and alleged murder of members of the press as well as political dissidents.  One of the biggest problems between the two countries is the US plan to place missiles in Poland.  Vladimir Putin and President Bush had two other at odds issue the Iranian nuclear program and the repositioning of Russian missiles.  Both accounts were seemingly harmless Russian backing of programs that the United States slightly dramatized causing uproar.  Under President Obama and Medvedev the tone of relations is much more hospitable.  The most recent treaty between the two countries was about a common interest of reducing the stockpile of nuclear weapons.  On March 24, 2010 the New START treaty was signed reducing the number of nuclear war heads both countries would stockpile to 1,500

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1. What is ACTA?
2. Why you should be concerned?
3. What will happen if ACTA passes?
4. How can you help fighting ACTA?

What is ACTA?ACTA is short for Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. It’s an agreement between developing countries, that would standardize intellectual property rights enforcement. In simple terms laws in those countries for intellectual property would be the same. So far US, Japan, part of EU, some other Asian countries has signed this agreement.Why you should be concerned?Although ACTA might seem an agreement that standardizes intellectual property rights, but it’s actually a dangerous agreement. The most worrying part is that it’s being passed without any knowledge given to the public. Also methods it suggests to enforce intellectual property rights are breaking on human rights. What that means, your Internet Service Provider(ISP) would be forced to track your traffic, that is what websites you visit, what kind of things you download and upload. They would watch your activity on-line all the time. What you would lose is privacy right. Your ISP could be forced to give information about your activity without warranty if you were suspected to infringe copyrights. Besides this governments and corporations could close down websites that they deem dangerous for their reputation under pretext of copyright infringement, simply media censorship.           Beside these dangers, there’s also a chance at loss of lives. This agreement makes it harder to produce generic medicine under pretext of copyright infringement.  That is not only would pharmaceutical companies could monopolize the market, but they also could make their own prices, in effect making it hard if not impossible to buy medicine for poor people.What will happen if ACTA passes?

First of all it would start with massive surveillance of Internet, in effect you’d lose all the little privacy you have. After that of course Internet would become  corporations controlled, that would make it impossible to talk against corporations and governments. In effect it would kill off net neutrality and free speech under pretext of copyright infringement. Second stage would be monopolization of medicine production, whilst setting their own price. This would make it much harder to get medicine to people in need as I said before. However the biggest concern is unnecessary and hurtful surveillance and killing of privacy. All in all most of the world would become one big Police state. How can you help fighting ACTA?There’s couple of things you can do to fight ACTA. First of all you could sign these two petitions:

1. Petition against ACTA for EU.
2. Petition against ACTA for EU second one.

If you’re from US you should sign this petition too.Petition for US against ACTA.

Second part would be passive protest. I’ll include a poster that talks about the passive protest.

Beside this you should inform your friends, family, relatives anyone you know about ACTA. Because this agreement is being done in a total secret, you should inform more people, so that we could have more supporters that could help us fight against oppression that this agreement possess.
If you want to read about ACTA in more detail use this link, it provides the overview of ACTA.Overview of ACTA.

I am enclosing this with image that pretty much sums up ACTA.

Apple’s fanatics in China crowding outside the shops to manage one of their latest “toys”.

If there was someone who thought that the Chinese people are quiet and peaceful ones, they were wrong. It proves me this as I read on the latest news that tell us that Apple Corporation have had to postpone their sales of their new Iphone 4S in different cities of China, because they fear there could be serious troubles and incidents among the crowds eager to get one of these new Apple “toys”.

This is what a spokesman from Apple stated when they said that they had to stop their sales in shops in Sonlitun as thousands of Apple’s fanatics in the Asiatic country crowded outside these outlets. 

There were also illegal sellers who wanted to get few of them to resell them outside these shops.

Therefore, and for the time being, Apple have decided not to distribute it in China. They say that if anyone wants to buy one, they will have to do it through China Unicom. 

I won’t say anything against Apple Corporation, because I love their products, although, I can’t afford them and I have to be contented with using their competitors. I have also grieved Steve Job’s death. But honestly going mad for a new telephone is way too much. 

As far as I know, and if things haven’t changed a bit over there, in China, which makes up half the world population, a vast majority of their population live in sheer poverty, even though, China is foreseen as a new financial power.

There exists a Chinese mafia whose main business is to establish illegal sweatshops with their own workers in many Western countries. In these sweatshops, their workers work on clothes and items that are always sold in all the shops they also establish in every city to attract Western shoppers for their cheapest prices. If their clothes and other items are very cheap, it is because these workers don’t enjoy a limited working time. As I have seen around, these shops open early in the morning and they will be the last ones to close. They work seven days a week and the year round. For them, bank holidays or annual holidays seem not to exist nor paid sick leave, maternity leave or retirement pensions. Therefore, we aren’t going to be surprised why their products are so competitive everywhere else. Mind you, they aren’t good quality either.

The latest Amnesty International report on China’s Respect for Human Rights was pathetic. But no worries if Apple Corporation can manage to sell few millions of their newest product and those Chinese can manage too to get one of those, they will be happy enough!  

The popularity of instant messaging such as MSN messenger and web cam friendly services such as Skype have also grown considerably over the past few years and make communication via the internet increasingly multifaceted.Dubbed the ‘information highway’, the internet is an invaluable tool when considering the right to learn. A seemingly never ending stream of information, the internet is not only a great learning resource but also allows people to study remotely for degrees and modules. News websites play an integral role in the production of up to date information online. A recent survey in America revealed that – for the first time ever – people were more likely to get their news online as opposed to traditional printed newspapers. The internet is now hot on the heels of television as the world’s main news source. Aside from elements that support basic human rights, there are also plenty of benefits from using the internet as well.

The first of which is the ability to save money and compare prices; something that is extremely difficult today when shopping on the high street. The boom in price comparison websites that allow you to compare life insurance, health cover, car hire and everything in between has seen consumers collectively save millions of pounds over the past few years. The success of sites such as Ebay have also encouraged consumers to get a good deal as well as provided a platform for users to sell their own things in a controlled and safe environment. Finally if it weren’t for the internet, thousands – if not millions – of people and their businesses would see a massive dent in profits and possibly be out of work altogether. Professions such as web developers, SEO experts and online marketers have all been forged around the growing need for the internet and allow a plethora of people worldwide to make a living within a sector that is fast becoming a modern day human right.

Apart from human rights preservation, this commission is also responsible in handling individual complaints pertaining to any form of discrimination. Considering these functions, the Commission is then considered as the most significant independent body in the government of Australia.Being an Independent Constitutional BodyRegarded as the most significant independent nation human rights institution of Australia, the Commission also aims to educate every Australian citizen about the value of human rights. Moreover, it is also obliged to conduct proper investigations on relevant cases to come up with the best resolution to every complaint raised by an individual. In line with its obligation to defend human rights, the Commission makes sure that no one is being discriminated by someone. Being an independent constitutional body, the Commission allocates its own budget and takes care of its own expenses. Considering this aspect of being a sovereign body, the Commission is then capable of conducting necessary investigation on any valid complaint against any agency of the local government, including the federal government itself when necessary. Any issue where there is suspected violation on human rights, either on international obligations or federal legislation are properly scrutinized. In line with issues on unlawful discrimination, the Commission also conducts necessary examinations that would lead them to a better solution to eradicate such prejudice. However, every complaint that is already beyond the Commission’s capacity to resolve will be concluded.

This means that the complainant may need to set up necessary proceedings in the court, either in the Federal Magistrates Court or the Federal Court of Australia. Aside from the Commission, Australia also has several institutions and non-government organizations that facilitate in upholding and protecting human rights in the country. Similar to the Commission, these independent institutions also promote anti-discrimination acts, which denote that anyone in Australia has the right to obtain equal privileges. All are for the respect and preservation of the human rights possessed by every individual dwelling in Australia. While these human rights commissions and institutions are independent statutory bodies, they never fail to collaborate with the Australian government and confer with them regularly.The Role of Prime MinisterBeing the head of the Federal Government of Australia, the Prime Minister-currently Julia Gillard of the Labor Party-is obliged by the constitution to exercise her power to protect the citizens within the boundaries, Australian or not. The Prime Minister oversees what’s happening within her jurisdiction. Although, the criminal laws of the state government are more affecting, there is a clear distinction between the roles of state and territory government and the federal. This year’s Australian Federal Election will play a great role in placing the next person who will become the next Prime Minister.

This job falls approximately completely on the ceremoniously permitted Practitioner who, having ascertained to his specialized training, and calling is entrusted by altruism with this real basic duty. In this aptitude, he may correspond with either the private or State, group or exclusive. Anymore, to association of human right arranging, other tactics for concentrated act in this ambience contains commonality (Court) appearance network with troubled worldwide congressional and non-Governmental body. While the rooms of court serve to ventilate established envelope of human being privileges assault, responsibility for the accomplishment of these privileges and motionless the Court instructions, misleading with the decision-making arm of agency. It is not in hesitation that the lawful business boasts of more association proprietor and Bureaucratic arranging holder than any other business. The area of Law teacher in the observance advancement and advancement of human privileges aluminum only be trivialized at our individual threat. As a Researcher and Teacher, he occupies a single situation’s which authorizes him to authority and chart not only the assumption and outlook of his student, but the culture at large.

The lawyer role at the room of court is ameliorated by the revoke of the Laws bound Law tutors from individual legal practice. Legal typical is produced by his country. His idea and views of the troubles of the altruism is chiefly prejudiced by the element of his education. Only some of the University run unlike graduate or undergraduate course in human privileges. The topic of human privileges at greatest compete to advance with other bodies in the legitimate Law program. The stalemate in the lawful trained body which ranged its climax at the 1993 Bi-Annual meeting in Rivers State, harbor Harcourt and which climax into the development of lawful Practitioners (alteration) ruling No. 21 of 1992 that supposedly vests the body of Benches with the control to manage the saloon has terrified into bewilderment the area and area of the USA Bar arranging. It is adapted at this area to abstract on the assumption of this thesis.

My hypothesis was assembled on the indisputable basis that the legal typical is inextricably welded to the apprehension of civil privileges. This means that the apprehension of exclusive rights losses or achievements impetus in family member to the consciousness and boycotting, or selfishness and timidity of the trial lawyer. The trial lawyer, in this bearings, is any human being who has been called to the saloon and involves Corporate Lawyer-Politicians, Lawyers, Appraises, Lawyers in ministry of Justice, Law Teachers, Lawyers in ministry of fairness, and other department of the social or association Services and of course, individual Practitioners.

The case concerned a case in Sweden in which two tenants installed a satellite dish in breach of the terms of their tenancy. The Landlord evicted them following a dispute over the dish; The Landlord had ordered the removing of the satellite dish and they had refused.The judges at the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Swedish government has failed in the ‘positive obligations’ to protect the tenants’ right to receive information. It was found that satellite dishes come under the remit of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights:Article 10: Freedom of expression- Everyone has the the basic right to hold and communicate beliefs freely, even if they’re unpopular. This includes expression through speaking in public and through demonstrations plus leaflets, newspapers or on the on the web. Individuals have the right to obtain opinions andinformation. At the moment, in the UK you have the statutory right to erect your satellite broadband or even satellite TV dish on your house providing that:-1. You own it 2. Your house isn’t positioned in a “designated area” (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), within National Parks such as the Broads, within conservation areas or World Heritage sites). 3. There aren’t any restrictive covenants in the deeds or lease of the property that expressly prevent satellite antennas. Satellite dishes commonly are considered ‘Permitted Development’ and therefore don’t require planning consent in areas that aren’t within a conservation area, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or World Heritage site.

The new “Human Rights at Home” direction has apparently angered Ministers who believe it’s an illogical restriction on Government attempts to protect conservation area that would be blighted by the big metal dishes.Grant Shapps, the housing minister, explained that the Human Rights Act threatened to drive “a horse and cart through planning laws and also tenancy agreements”.

The Code of Practice: Monitoring at Work gives guidance on how to avoid employees calling in the lawyers over breaching the provisions of the DPA. The Code provides that before such monitoring is introduced, an impact assessment must be carried out to determine what (if any) monitoring is justified by the benefits of that monitoring. Under the DPA, any CCTV monitoring must normally be open and backed by fulfilling reasons.The assessment should consider targeting the monitoring only at the areas of particular risk, confining it to areas where people’s expectations of privacy would be low, using video and audio monitoring separately – cases where the use of both to be justified becomes rare. Its operation should only be where deemed necessary rather than continuous – although continuous monitoring may be justified where security is at risk. Finally, whether comparable benefits can be obtained by less intrusive methods and what adverse impact it may have on workers. In making the assessment it is advisable for the employer to consult trade unions/employee representatives. If the monitoring is introduced to enforce certain rules and standards, the employer must ensure that the workers are aware of and understand them.According to one employment lawyer, the use of CCTV to monitor the actions of employees has potential implications in respect of the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA).

If the surveillance is excessive, the implications may vary depending on whether the employer is a public or private body or individual. If the employer is a private organisation or company, then direct reliance on HRA is not possible. Nevertheless, all contracts of employment contain an implied term that employers will not – without reasonable and proper cause – conduct themselves in a manner likely to destroy or seriously damage the relationship of trust between themselves and employees. Yet, it is doubtful that CCTV cameras in obvious places in the workplace would violate this implied term.On the other hand, an employer in a public body has an obligation to respect workers right to private life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (as enacted by HRA). However, this right is a qualified right which means that it may be interfered with for a legitimate purpose in accordance with law and is necessary in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

The interference must be proportionate in achieving its aim. An example of disproportionate use may arguably be where cameras are put in toilets or changing rooms.Ultimately, it should be borne in mind that despite the points outlined there is very little scope to impede employers making recordings. Placement and retention of footage must be in accordance with regulations under DPA. As this is a relatively recent development in the law, there are very few decided cases (the DPA does not apply to individuals’ private or household purposes). Assistance for employees comes from either expressing direct concerns to the employer which is the easiest way to resolve the situation or from a union if the worker is a member. Any personal data collected must be stored securely. Also, regard should be had to the fact that anyone who is captured on CCTV will have a right of access to that footage under the DPA.

Image by US Mission Geneva via Flickr

She said the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that amnesty for perpetrators of war crimes and violations of human rights – and according to the Gulf initiative for the transfer of presidential power in Yemen – contrary to international law.

Pillay explained in a statement it followed closely the events in Yemen, and the ongoing debate on the amnesty law will be submitted to parliament soon.

She added that the international law and United Nations policy and are clear in this regard, is not allowed if the amnesty prevents the prosecution of persons can be held criminally responsible for international crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, genocide and gross violations of human rights.

She noted that she believes – based on the information gathered – some of these crimes were committed in Yemen during the period in which amnesty was being examined, and confirmed that this amnesty would be a violation of the obligations of Yemen’s international human rights obligations.

And stressed the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the right of victims to justice and truth, justice and compensation, and the need for any legislation that respects the principle of equality before the law, and should not be any discrimination between individuals loyal to the government and those who oppose it.

And refused to Rupert Colville, spokesman for Pillay, in Geneva, to go into more details, or permit the names of people could face charges.

Pillay has been blamed in the earlier Yemeni government forces in the use of live ammunition against unarmed protesters.

A source in the government – which discussed the draft law last week – that will ensure that the current amnesty, as amnesty is widely Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his aides and supporters.

Saleh had occurred during November in Riyadh on Gulf initiative, which provided for the stepping down after the early presidential elections scheduled for February 21 next, in return for being his relatives, and immunity.
 

Source: Agencies