#humanrightsviolations — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #humanrightsviolations, aggregated by home.social.
-
Siamak Mofidi, 17 anni, e Soroush Enayati, 16, di Takab, sono stati arrestati dalle forze di sicurezza il 5 settembre e trasferiti in un luogo sconosciuto a Teheran per essere interrogati. Arrestati nelle loro abitazioni senza mandato, sono privati dell’avvocato e dei contatti con le famiglie. Ignote accuse e luogo di detenzione.
#SiamakMofidi #SoroushEnayati #ChildRights #Iran #HumanRightsViolations
https://www.en-hrana.org/siamak-mofidi-and-soroush-enayati-two-teenagers-arrested-in-takab/ -
Siamak Mofidi, 17 anni, e Soroush Enayati, 16, di Takab, sono stati arrestati dalle forze di sicurezza il 5 settembre e trasferiti in un luogo sconosciuto a Teheran per essere interrogati. Arrestati nelle loro abitazioni senza mandato, sono privati dell’avvocato e dei contatti con le famiglie. Ignote accuse e luogo di detenzione.
#SiamakMofidi #SoroushEnayati #ChildRights #Iran #HumanRightsViolations
https://www.en-hrana.org/siamak-mofidi-and-soroush-enayati-two-teenagers-arrested-in-takab/ -
Siamak Mofidi, 17 anni, e Soroush Enayati, 16, di Takab, sono stati arrestati dalle forze di sicurezza il 5 settembre e trasferiti in un luogo sconosciuto a Teheran per essere interrogati. Arrestati nelle loro abitazioni senza mandato, sono privati dell’avvocato e dei contatti con le famiglie. Ignote accuse e luogo di detenzione.
#SiamakMofidi #SoroushEnayati #ChildRights #Iran #HumanRightsViolations
https://www.en-hrana.org/siamak-mofidi-and-soroush-enayati-two-teenagers-arrested-in-takab/ -
Is #corruption and forced #bribery also a problem where you live?
Do public officials or local leaders ever demand bribes before helping people access services or get things done?
WHY #UGANDA ?
#gorvenance #humanrightsviolations #civalEngagement #leadership #SpeakUpNow
-
Mehdi Shafakhah, attivista che da anni sostiene i bambini lavoratori e promuove l’istruzione nelle comunità più svantaggiate, è stato condannato dal Tribunale Rivoluzionario di Teheran a 2 anni e 3 mesi di carcere. Le accuse includono «propaganda contro lo Stato» e «insulto alla Guida Suprema». Arrestato il 12 maggio 2026, era stato rilasciato su cauzione a giugno dopo gli interrogatori.
#MehdiShafakhah #Teheran #Iran #StopRepression #HumanRightsViolations
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/09/article-25-2 -
RE: https://infosec.exchange/@AmmarSpaces/116323351434977384
It's been a while I talked about Andri Yunus case, but... let's just say, we got more bullshit to handle.
The main intelectual of this case, never apprehended.
And the executor, they appealed, and of course, it was granted. They received a reduced sentence and were not dismissed from their military service. The military court is very efficient, isn't it?
You can just search up "Andrie Yunus" on your social media for source. I am too tired with world bs.
#indonesiaNews #Indonesia #activism #activistsindanger #humanrightsviolations #humanrights #AndriYunus
#Kontras -
“Terrorizing Our City”: #ICE Targets Immigrants in #DanburyCT , Including at School #BusStops
#DemocracyNow
September 04, 2026"We go to Danbury, #Connecticut, where residents held a mass #demonstration this week to protest recent immigration arrests and to support the city’s #immigrant community. Danbury, like many other communities across the United States, has been the target of a spike in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, including local reports of ICE arresting parents at school bus stops.
" 'We really have been describing it as the administration terrorizing our city, because that is what it felt like. The streets were empty. Kids stayed home from practice. Kids stayed home from school,' says Juliana Soares, the lead organizer for Danbury Unites for Immigrants. 'Masked agents often would shut down the street to just abduct people. … They just do a gross display of force and intimidation in a grocery store parking lot, where they’re just walking around, kind of hunting their next target.' "
Read / watch / listen:
https://www.democracynow.org/2026/9/4/danbury_ct_ice_crackdown_resistance#ViewerSupportedNews #USPol #ICESucks #DefundICE #DefundDHS #ICETerrorists #ICEAreTheRealTerrorists #HumanRightsViolations #DanburyUnitesForImmigrants
-
#Immigrant Held at #DelaneyDetentionCenter Has Died, Officials Say
The mayor of Newark identified the dead man as #EdwinJovannyLopezCornejo. The #NewJersey center has been the focus of intense scrutiny for its treatment of detainees.
By Ana Ley, Tracey Tully and Mark Bonamo, Aug. 3, 2026,
"A #Salvadoran immigrant who was being held at a troubled federal detention center in Newark died during the weekend, according to the city’s mayor and Senator Andy Kim.
"Federal officials confirmed the death of the man, who was being held at the detention center, Delaney Hall, to Mr. Kim’s office, according to the senator’s spokeswoman. Ras Baraka, the city’s mayor, identified the detainee as #EdwinJovannyLopezCornejo.
" 'In less than a year, yet another family is forced to endure the unimaginable loss of a loved one while in custody at Delaney Hall,' Mr. Baraka said in a statement.
In December, #JeanWilsonBrutus, 41, died after a medical emergency, federal officials said at the time. Delaney Hall was reopened last year to accommodate President Trump’s expanding immigration crackdown."Officials with the Department of Homeland Security and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which oversee Delaney Hall, did not immediately respond to questions about Mr. #LopezCornejo’s death. A spokeswoman for the Newark Department of Public Safety directed inquiries to the Justice Department, which did not immediately respond.
"Katey Sabo, a spokeswoman for Mr. Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, said that officials at the ICE field office in Newark confirmed Monday to the senator’s office that a Delaney Hall detainee had died in federal custody.
"Gov. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey condemned the man’s death and expressed support for his family while demanding answers from the federal government about what happened.
'My administration is working with our congressional delegation to gather all the facts surrounding this death,' Ms. Sherrill said. 'This tragedy is another painful reminder of why Delaney Hall should be closed.' "
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/nyregion/ice-detention-center-death-delaney-hall-nj.htmlArchived version:
https://archive.ph/LohXx#DefundICE #AbolishICE #DefundCBP #DetentionCenters #HumanRightsViolations #DepartmentOfHomelandInsecurity
-
I detenuti della Sezione 2 del carcere di Ghezel Hesar hanno sospeso lo sciopero iniziato il 13 luglio dopo la promessa delle autorità di fermare temporaneamente le esecuzioni per reati di droga in attesa del riesame dei casi. I prigionieri avvertono però che la protesta potrà riprendere se gli impegni, già disattesi nel 2025, non saranno rispettati.
#GhezelHesarPrison #Iran #HungerStrike #StopExecutionsInIran #HumanRightsViolations
https://www.en-hrana.org/ghezel-hesar-prisoners-end-strike-following-officials-promise-to-halt-executions/ -
⚠️ Dal 13 luglio i detenuti del Reparto 2 del carcere di Ghezel Hesar sono in sciopero della fame contro le condanne a morte. Il 26 luglio circa 140 detenuti sono stati trasferiti, lasciando nel reparto quasi solo i condannati a morte. I prigionieri chiedono di fermare le esecuzioni fino alla riforma della legge antidroga. Alcuni si sono cuciti le labbra in segno di protesta. #GhezelHesarPrison #Iran #HungerStrike #StopExecutionsInIran #HumanRightsViolations
https://iranwire.com/en/news/155554-ghezel-hesar-prison-hunger-strike-enters-15th-day-over-death-sentences/ -
🥀 Il governo iraniano ha messo a morte in pubblico Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani, 23 anni, e Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi, 29 anni, arrestati durante le proteste antigovernative. Resta sconosciuta la sorte del terzo imputato, Alireza Sepahi: le autorità non hanno fornito alcuna informazione sul suo destino.
#AmirhosseinSafari #AbolfazlSepahi #AlirezaSepahi #StopExecutionsInIran #Iran #StopRepression #HumanRightsViolations #CrimesAgainstHumanityInIran
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/07/article-167 -
🥀 Il governo iraniano ha messo a morte in pubblico Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani, 23 anni, e Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi, 29 anni, arrestati durante le proteste antigovernative. Resta sconosciuta la sorte del terzo imputato, Alireza Sepahi: le autorità non hanno fornito alcuna informazione sul suo destino.
#AmirhosseinSafari #AbolfazlSepahi #AlirezaSepahi #StopExecutionsInIran #Iran #StopRepression #HumanRightsViolations #CrimesAgainstHumanityInIran
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/07/article-167 -
🥀 Il governo iraniano ha messo a morte in pubblico Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani, 23 anni, e Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi, 29 anni, arrestati durante le proteste antigovernative. Resta sconosciuta la sorte del terzo imputato, Alireza Sepahi: le autorità non hanno fornito alcuna informazione sul suo destino.
#AmirhosseinSafari #AbolfazlSepahi #AlirezaSepahi #StopExecutionsInIran #Iran #StopRepression #HumanRightsViolations #CrimesAgainstHumanityInIran
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/07/article-167 -
🥀 Il governo iraniano ha messo a morte in pubblico Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani, 23 anni, e Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi, 29 anni, arrestati durante le proteste antigovernative. Resta sconosciuta la sorte del terzo imputato, Alireza Sepahi: le autorità non hanno fornito alcuna informazione sul suo destino.
#AmirhosseinSafari #AbolfazlSepahi #AlirezaSepahi #StopExecutionsInIran #Iran #StopRepression #HumanRightsViolations #CrimesAgainstHumanityInIran
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/07/article-167 -
🥀 Il governo iraniano ha messo a morte in pubblico Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani, 23 anni, e Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi, 29 anni, arrestati durante le proteste antigovernative. Resta sconosciuta la sorte del terzo imputato, Alireza Sepahi: le autorità non hanno fornito alcuna informazione sul suo destino.
#AmirhosseinSafari #AbolfazlSepahi #AlirezaSepahi #StopExecutionsInIran #Iran #StopRepression #HumanRightsViolations #CrimesAgainstHumanityInIran
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/07/article-167 -
È entrato nel quinto giorno lo sciopero della fame dei detenuti dell’Unità 2 del carcere di Ghezel Hesar, iniziato dopo il trasferimento di sei prigionieri in isolamento in vista dell’esecuzione. Le condizioni di diversi detenuti stanno peggiorando, ma hanno annunciato che continueranno la protesta, chiedendo ai media e alle organizzazioni per i diritti umani di dare voce al loro appello.
#GhezelHesarPrison #Iran #HungerStrike #StopExecutionsInIran #HumanRightsViolations
https://en.iranhrs.org/ghezel-hesar-hunger-strike-enters-fifth-day-of-protests/ -
⚠️ Craig e Lindsay Foreman, la coppia britannica detenuta a Evin, continuano lo sciopero della fame per protestare contro il diniego di cure mediche, farmaci essenziali e contatti telefonici con i familiari. Secondo HRANA, Lindsay ha perso oltre 14 kg e Craig circa 16 kg. Arrestati nel gennaio 2025 a Kerman, sono stati condannati a 10 anni di carcere per “spionaggio”.
#CraigForeman #LindsayForeman #hungerStrike #EvinPrison #Iran #HumanRightsViolations
https://www.en-hrana.org/ongoing-hunger-strike-latest-update-on-british-couple-lindsay-and-craig-foreman-in-prison/ -
L’avvocata iraniana Elham Zeraatpisheh è stata condannata a 6 anni di carcere dal Tribunale rivoluzionario di Shiraz. In base alla legge iraniana sconterà 5 anni, oltre alla revoca del passaporto e a un divieto di viaggio di 2 anni. Arrestata il 4 maggio 2026 mentre svolgeva il proprio lavoro, è da tempo nel mirino delle autorità per la difesa di casi politici e per il suo impegno nei diritti umani.
#ElhamZeraatpisheh #Shiraz #Iran #LawyersAtRisk #HumanRightsViolations
https://defendlawyers.wordpress.com/2026/07/04/iran-fars-rights-lawyer-elham-zeratpisheh-sentenced-to-6-years-in-jail/ -
In Iran, le sopravvissute alla repressione di Shiraz del 2009 raccontano l’esistenza di centri di detenzione segreti dove donne e ragazze sarebbero state sottoposte a violenze sessuali sistematiche, sparizioni forzate e minacce. Il rapporto identifica presunti responsabili e funzionari che avrebbero garantito anni di impunità.
#Shiraz #Iran #HumanRightsViolations #StopRepression #StopViolenceAgainstWomen
https://iran-hrm.com/2026/07/01/sexual-violence-32278/ -
La poetessa iraniana Farnaz Jafarzadegan è stata condannata a una pena detentiva con braccialetto elettronico e a due anni di divieto di espatrio. Tra le prove contro di lei figurano anche poesie e scritti letterari. Arrestata il 15 gennaio 2026 a Shiraz, continua a essere perseguitata per il suo impegno civile e culturale.
#FarnazJafarzadegan #Shiraz #Iran #HumanRightsViolations #StopRepression
https://iranwire.com/en/news/153597-iranian-poet-farnaz-jafarzadegan-sentenced-to-prison-electronic-monitoring-and-travel-ban/ -
#OnThisDayInHistory: May 28, 1830, #AndrewJackson Signs #IndianRemovalAct
by Levi Rickert May 28, 2026
"On this day in 1830 — 196 years ago — President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law.
"The Act created a process that allowed the president to exchange lands west of the Mississippi River for the homelands of Native tribes in the eastern United States. In return, tribes were promised financial assistance, supplies for relocation, and the guarantee that they could live on their new lands under the protection of the United States government “forever.”
"In practice, however, the Indian Removal Act became a tool of #coercion and #dispossession. Under Jackson and his supporters, #NativeNations were pressured, bribed, and forced into signing #RemovalTreaties that stripped them of their ancestral territories across the Southeast.
"By the end of his presidency, Jackson had signed nearly 70 removal treaties, leading to the forced relocation of approximately 50,000 #NativeAmericans to what was then called #IndianTerritory, in present-day #Oklahoma. Entire nations were uprooted from lands they had inhabited for generations and pushed into unfamiliar territory designated by the federal government.
"The policy culminated in the Trail of Tears — one of the darkest chapters in American history. Thousands of Native people died from disease, #starvation, and exposure during the forced marches west, including nearly one-quarter of the #CherokeeNation.
"Because of his central role in Native removal and the suffering it caused, many Native Americans remember Jackson as the '#IndianKiller' president and continue to oppose efforts to honor him, including his image remaining on the twenty-dollar bill."
#USHistory #USPol #Genocide #TrailOfTears #NativeAmericans #NativeAmericanHistory #ForcedRelocation #HumanRightsViolations
-
#XavierBecerra Pushed to Inflate a Black Man’s IQ to Execute Him as California AG
By Akela Lacy
https://theintercept.com/2026/05/19/xavier-becerra-california-governor-death-penalty/
cc: @rmblaber1956
-
In Iran l’avvocata Bahar Sahraeian, membro dell’Ordine degli Avvocati di Fars a Shiraz, è stata arrestata mentre svolgeva il proprio lavoro presso il tribunale rivoluzionario della città e trasferita nel carcere di Adelabad. Il suo arresto rappresenta una grave violazione del diritto alla difesa indipendente ed è parte della repressione contro avvocati e difensori dei diritti umani in Iran.
#BaharSahraeian #Shiraz #Iran #LawyersAtRisk #HumanRightsViolations
https://defendlawyers.wordpress.com/2026/05/17/iran-human-rights-lawyer-bahar-sahraian-arrested-in-shiraz/ -
Iran: arrestata a Shiraz l’avvocata e attivista Elham Zeraatpisheh. Fermata il 4 maggio, è stata trasferita in un luogo sconosciuto. Nessuna informazione su accuse o detenzione. Era già stata arrestata durante le proteste “Donna, Vita, Libertà” nel 2022.
#Elham Zeraatpisheh #Shiraz #Iran #HumanRightsViolations #HumanRightsDefender
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/05/article-26 -
L’avvocata e difensora dei diritti umani Astareh Ansari è stata arrestata a Shiraz dopo un’irruzione delle forze di sicurezza nella sua abitazione. Gli agenti hanno fatto irruzione nella casa di famiglia la sera del 3 maggio 2026, portandola via senza presentare alcun mandato. Il silenzio forzato degli avvocati è un attacco diretto ai diritti fondamentali.
#AstarehAnsari #Shiraz #Iran #HumanRightsViolations #HumanRightsDefender
https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/05/article-22 -
Quattro cittadine — Negin Azad, Kamelia Nazari, Saghar Ghodrat e Ghazal Ghodrat — arrestate durante le proteste di gennaio a Shiraz, sono state rilasciate a fine marzo 2026 dal carcere di Adelabad, ma restano sotto sorveglianza con braccialetto elettronico. La pena, inizialmente di cinque anni, è stata ridotta in appello a due anni da scontare fuori dal carcere.
#NeginAzad #KameliaNazari #SagharGhodrat #GhazalGhodrat #Shiraz #Iran #HumanRightsViolations
https://www.en-hrana.org/report-on-the-arrest-of-four-female-protesters-during-the-january-protests/ -
Il 9 aprile Sara Sepehri, cittadina baha’i, è stata arrestata e portata in un luogo sconosciuto. Perquisite la sua casa e quella della madre, con confisca di effetti personali e dispositivi elettronici. Nessuna informazione su accuse o detenzione. Cresce la pressione sulla comunità baha’i in Iran.
#SaraSepehri #Bahai #Shiraz #Iran #HumanRightsViolations
https://www.en-hrana.org/bahai-citizen-sara-sepehri-arrested-in-shiraz/ -
Due sorelle, Saghar e Ghazal Ghodat, arrestate a Shiraz dalle forze di sicurezza, sono detenute nel carcere di Adelabad. Cresce la preoccupazione per il peggioramento delle loro condizioni fisiche e psicologiche.
#SagharGhodat #GhazalGhodat #AdelabadPrison #Shiraz #Iran #HumanRightsViolations -
@fabio Also due to these regulations I cannot buy antibiotic ointment when the Czech regime is depriving me of healthcare when I have an infected eczema and am afraid it will produce sepsis and I die, because antibiotic ointment ran out and when I call a dermatologist and tell I need it urgently she gives me an appointment 4 months (!!!) in the future!
In a corrupt developing 3rd world dictatorship Cambodia it is possible to buy antibiotic ointments without prescription and also dermatologist wait there is only 7-10 days, not 4 months.
I feel
e x t r e m e l y s t r o n g c o n t e m p t
towards the Czech regime.
#healthdeprivation #deprivation #czech #czechia #czechregime #czechrepublic #failedstate #contempt #regulations #overregulation #bureaucracy #overbureaucratization #healthcaresystem #healthcare #antibiotic #prescription #otc #overthecounter #ointment #eczema #infection #infected #sepsis #death #lethal #dangerous #danger #hazard #risk #eu #deathbybureaucracy #deathbyregulation #kafkaesque #humanrights #humanrightsviolation #humanrightsviolations #righttohealth #humanrighttohealth #basichumanrighttohealth
-
(CZ, DE🇩🇪 , KM🇰🇭 below) Mocking me that "I feel extremely strong contempt towards everything", when it's a lie and I feel extremely strong contempt mostly towards perpetrators of genocides, murders, abductions, robberies, and abuses of human rights. That's what a person wrote and added that I am also author of Links (or Ronja? I don't remember). I already blocked them.
Někdo se mi posmíval, že „cítím extrémně silné opovržení vůči všemu“, když je to lež a já cítím extrémně silné opovržení většinou proti pachatelům genocidy, vražd, únosů, loupeží a porušování lidských práv. To napsal jeden člověk a dodal, že jsem také autorem Linksu (nebo Ronji? si nepamatuju). Už jsem toho člověka zablokoval.
Jemand hat mich verspotten mich, dass ich angeblicht "extrem starke Verachtung gegen allem fühle", was eine Lüge ist. Ich fühle extrem starke Verachtung genen den Tätern von Völkermorden, Morden, Entführungen, Rauben und Menschenrechtsverletzungen. Das schrieb jemand und fügte hinzu, ich sei auch der Autor von Links (oder Ronja? Ich erinnere mich nicht.) Ich habe die Person schon blockiert.
ចំអកខ្ញុំថា "ខ្ញុំមានអារម្មណ៍មើលងាយយ៉ាងខ្លាំងចំពោះអ្វីៗទាំងអស់" ខណៈពេលវាការកុហក ហើយខ្ញុំមានអារម្មណ៍មើលងាយយ៉ាងខ្លាំងភាគច្រើនចំពោះ ជនល្មើសនៃការប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍ ឃាតកម្ម ការចាប់ពង្រត់ ប្លន់ និងការរំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស។ គេក៏បានសរសេរ ថាខ្ញុំក៏ជាអ្នកនិពន្ធនៃ Links (ឫ Ronja? ខ្ញុំមិនចាំទេ។) ខ្ញុំបានប្លុកចោលមនុស្សនោះរួចហើយ។
#links #ronja #genocide #genocida #contempt #opovržení #murder #vražda #vraždy #abduction #únos #únosy #humanrights #lidskápráva #humanrightsviolation #porušovánílidskýchpráv #pošlapávánílidskýchpráv #humanrightsviolations #links2gang #twibright #twibrightlinks #twibrightronja #links2 #genozid #Völkermord #Verachtung #Mord #Entführung #Menschenrechtverletzung #Menschenrechtverletzungen #raub #អំពើប្រល័យពូជសាសន៍ #ការមើលងាយ #ឃាតកម្ម #ការចាប់ពង្រត់ #សិទ្ធិមនុស្ស #ការរំលោភសិទ្ធិមនុស្ស
-
Daily Times - Latest Pakistan News, World, Business, Sports, Lifestyle [Unofficial] @[email protected] ·UN alarms over Kashmir human rights after Pahalgam incident
-
How communities in #SacrificeZones suffer environmental injustices in #Mexico, #Chile, #Nigeria and #Indonesia (analysis)
Daniela Sepulveda and Angélica Arellano, 9 Apr 2025
"Across continents, 'sacrifice zones' resemble wounds carved deep into the fabric of our planet. These are regions where ecosystems and livelihoods have been ravaged by fossil fuel and other industries that promise progress but leave devastation in their wake. These are places where big business and transnational corporations are contaminating the rivers, darkening the skies, and making the soil barren; where the toll of development is paid in human suffering and ecological destruction.
"What unites these 'sacrifice zones' is the shared story of areas where prosperity for the few is built on the suffering of many, and where communities fight to mend the fractures inflicted upon their land, health and dignity.
"Here are four case studies highlighting the experiences of communities and civil society organizations collaborating with us in the Coalition for Human Rights in Development’s Community Resource Exchange.
"In the #TulaTepejiApaxco region, where the #Toltec plains once supported rich #biodiversity and #CulturalHeritage, the water and air are now saturated with pollution. This devastated landscape was declared both in 1975 and again in 2005 by the U.N. as one of the most polluted places on Earth, marking it as an #EnvironmentalDisaster zone. Since the early 20th century, the arrival of #CementPlants, #refineries, #ChemicalFactories, a #coal-fired power plant and #LimeKilns has transformed the region. Backed by all levels of government, these industries have destroyed the area’s ecological balance and ruined the health of its people, poisoning the water, air and soil with #ToxicWaste.
"Prominent among these polluters are cement giants like #Holcim, #CEMEX, #CementosFortaleza and #Clarimex, whose operations release harmful gases that exacerbate the region’s environmental and public health crises. One of the epicenters of this environmental catastrophe is the #TulaRiver, which receives 150,000 liters (nearly 40,000 gallons) of untreated wastewater every second from Mexico City and the Valley of Mexico. These 'black waters' are teeming with industrial and hospital waste plus sewage, overwhelming the river and its tributaries.
"The #EndhóDam, originally built to support local #agriculture, has become a toxic dumping ground, poisoning thousands of people who rely on wells for drinking water. Despite decades of warnings, local and national governments have allowed this contamination to persist. The poisoned waters have killed fish, flooded the land with toxic sludge, and led to a surge in cancer, leukemia, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases among the 15,000 inhabitants living along its banks. In 2021, a devastating flood related to the overflowing Tula River left 17 dead and displaced thousands, a stark reminder of the ongoing risks of government inaction.
"The region now faces a massive public health crisis, and the recent declaration by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to designate the area as an ecological restoration zone is a necessary but overdue step. This declaration covers municipalities such as #Atitalaquia,TepejiDelRío, #Tepetitlán and Tlahuelilpan, where 498 businesses have been identified as generators of hazardous waste, including 14 that produce hydrocarbons. The study, based on a water, air and soil analysis, could mark the beginning of recovery if it is implemented with urgency and seriousness.
"Over the years, organizations like #RedDeConcienciaAmbiental '#QueremosVivir' have resisted, bringing visibility to the devastation and fighting to halt deforestation and continued pollution. In the words of one of the leaders of Queremos Vivir ('We want to live'), 'There needs to be a legal solution, because it’s that urgent. We believe there is still a way to reverse it, and we have time to show the newly elected president #ClaudiaSheinbaum the dire situation we’re in.'
"Their demands include a reduction in the water flow of the Tula River through holistic water management solutions, and government accountability for decades of environmental neglect, calling for reparations for both industrial pollution and the catastrophic 2021 floods.
"While they welcome Sheinbaum’s promises to clean the river and launch a circular economy project, they emphasize that meaningful environmental justice must not be delayed any longer. After stating the communities’ demands through tears, the Queremos Vivir leader said, 'Are we really just going to be destined to be a sacrifice zone? The damage is so severe, the degradation we are in, that if we don’t protect it, don’t defend it, then what are we going to do?' "
#SEZs #Antofagasta #Nigeria #Indonesia #HumanRights #HumanRightsFreeZone #CorporateColonialism
#Exploitation #RaceToTheBottom
#HumanRightsViolations
#Pollution #EnvironmentalDegradation
#EconomicSacrificZones
#ForcedRelocation #ForcedDisplacement #TraditionalLifestyles #AirIsLife #WaterIsLife #EnvironmentalRacism #Exploitation -
#SEZs in #India: Balancing Economic Growth and #Environmental Concerns
July 27, 2024
"Picture this: vast stretches of industrial land buzzing with activity, modern factories producing goods for global markets, and thousands of job opportunities emerging overnight. This is the promise of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in India. But behind this gleaming facade lies a complex web of environmental challenges and social concerns that demand our attention. SEZs represent one of India’s most ambitious economic policies, designed to accelerate industrial growth and boost exports, yet they often come at a significant cost to the environment and local communities.
[...]
"[T]he rapid expansion of SEZs has raised significant environmental red flags. The most pressing concern is land acquisition, which often involves converting fertile agricultural land into industrial zones. This conversion not only reduces the country’s agricultural capacity but also disrupts local ecosystems and biodiversity.
"The establishment of SEZs typically requires large tracts of land – sometimes spanning thousands of acres. Much of this land is acquired from agricultural areas, leading to the displacement of farming communities who have depended on these lands for generations. For instance, the proposed #RaigadSEZ in #Maharashtra would have required over 14,000 hectares of #agricultural land, leading to massive #protests from local farmers.
"The conversion of agricultural land to #IndustrialUse has long-term implications for #FoodSecurity. As India’s population continues to grow, the loss of productive #farmland could exacerbate food shortage issues in the future. Moreover, agricultural land often has better soil quality and water retention capacity compared to industrial land, making this conversion environmentally costly.
"Industrial activities within SEZs generate various forms of #pollution. Air pollution from #manufacturing processes, water #contamination from industrial effluents, and #SoilDegradation from chemical usage are common problems. The concentration of industries in SEZs can create pollution hotspots that affect air and water quality in surrounding areas.
"#WaterScarcity is another critical issue. SEZs require substantial water resources for industrial processes, often competing with local communities for this precious resource. In water-stressed regions, this competition can lead to conflicts and further environmental degradation.
Human rights and social displacement"The human cost of SEZ development cannot be overlooked. Land acquisition for SEZs often involves displacing local communities, particularly small farmers and agricultural workers. These communities frequently receive inadequate compensation and struggle to find alternative livelihoods.
"The displacement process can be traumatic for local communities who have strong cultural and emotional ties to their land. Traditional occupations like #farming, #fishing, and #SmallScaleTrading are disrupted, forcing people to adapt to entirely new economic realities. The promised employment opportunities in SEZs often don’t materialize for displaced communities, as they may lack the required skills for industrial jobs.
"Women in these communities face particular challenges, as they often have limited access to alternative employment opportunities and may lose traditional income sources like kitchen gardening or small-scale agricultural activities. The social fabric of rural communities can be severely disrupted, leading to increased poverty and social inequality."
#HumanRights #HumanRightsFreeZone #CorporateColonialism
#IMFLoanSharks #Exploitation #WorldBank #RaceToTheBottom
#HumanRightsViolations
#Pollution #EnvironmentalDegradation
#EconomicSacrificZones
#ForcedRelocation #ForcedDisplacement #TraditionalLifestyles #EnvironmentalRacism #Exploitation
#CorporateColonialism -
The #environmental burdens of #SpecialEconomicZones on the coastal and marine #environment: A remote sensing assessment in #Myanmar
Thiri Shwesin Aung, Indra Overland, Roman Vakulchuk, Yanhua Xie
November 2022"Special economic zones (#SEZs) are unusual parts of the world economy in terms of law, institutions, and economic functions (Chaisse and Dimitropoulos 2021). SEZs are geographically delimited areas created to facilitate industrial activities through fiscal and regulatory incentives and infrastructure support (UNCTAD 2019). Such zones carve out jurisdiction as a subset of the overall state jurisdiction for the purposes of enacting different laws and regulations that are more trade and investment friendly (Zeng 2021). Since the year 2000, SEZs have mushroomed in developing countries to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), accelerate industrialization and create jobs (Aiyer 2017). There are 5400 SEZs in 147 economies around the world. Asia is home to three quarters of them (UNIDO 2015). They have been a core element of the economic development strategy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and currently all ASEAN member states have SEZs (Aggarwal 2022).
"As part of an export-oriented development strategy, the zones commonly include industrial mega-areas that accommodate large-scale infrastructure, deep-sea ports, logistical infrastructure for oil and gas, hotels and tourism, and industrial complexes (Aggarwal 2022). They are primarily defined by a specific regulatory regime and a dedicated governance mechanism designed to relieve customs and tariffs and reduce the burden on businesses from permits, licenses, employment laws, and land access. In return, host governments expect investors to create positive spillover effects, such as facilitating innovation, boosting employment, raising exports, and diversifying the economy. The global experience of SEZs have been mixed, with some countries achieving successful economic outcomes, while others struggle to overcome market failures, institutional constraints, and social and environmental costs (Aggarwal 2022; Zeng 2021).
"The lax regulatory regimes of SEZs often raise concerns about environmental, social, and #HumanRights standards, as well as possible conflicts over #LandRights (Brussevich 2020). Several SEZs have failed to yield the expected economic benefits while having severe adverse impacts on the environment and local communities (Adunbi 2019; Aritenang and Chandramidi 2020; Chaisse and Ji 2020). On the other hand, while SEZs can be hotspots for environmental #mismanagement, they can also provide opportunities for implementing environmental policies specifically designed to regulate industries within the zones. Also, certain environmental advantages may ensue from the introduction of foreign financial resources and environmental technologies that are otherwise not readily available (Richardson 2004).
"However, according to the 'race to the bottom' literature, most SEZs have a net negative impact on the environment and local communities (Richardson 2004; UNIDO 2015; ZENG and DOUGLAS, 2012).
"Despite this contradiction, existing studies focusing on the direct and indirect impacts of SEZs have been rare (#WorldBank, 2017). Particularly, the magnitude and intensity of SEZ impacts on the environment remain understudied.
SEZs tend to be located in remote regions. As such, SEZ-related information and data are generally scarce, making it difficult to assess the environmental consequences of such zones. Many SEZs are also located in countries where there is limited scope for independent environmental assessment due to #authoritarian rule, #corruption, and/or #secrecy surrounding deals with foreign investors. Recent improvements in access to satellite data and computing platforms for machine learning have greatly improved the ability to comprehensively assess SEZs in any location in the world in near real time (Ali et al., 2020; Jensen et al., 2019). This article demonstrates how these technologies can be applied to provide evidence related to the environmental impacts of SEZs. The method is tried out on the Kyaukpyu SEZ in Myanmar. Myanmar is an authoritarian country and the #KyaukpyuSEZ is a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative (#BRI) located in an inaccessible part of #Myanmar. This is precisely the type of case where independent access can be limited and a remote sensing approach can be useful."From 2010 onwards, Myanmar was navigating its economic transformation and a partial loosening of military rule. SEZ development was prioritized as a critical element of the country's industrialization (Oxfam 2017). The three most notable ongoing SEZ projects are the Kyaukpyu SEZ in the rural but strategically important Rakhine State, which is also the largest SEZ in Myanmar, the Thilawa SEZ on the outskirts of Myanmar's former capital Yangon, and the Dawei SEZ in the Tanintharyi Region. Tanintharyi is a long narrow southern territory of Myanmar bordering the Andaman Sea to the west and Thailand to the east.
"Although they are expected to encourage economic growth and reduce poverty, all three SEZ projects continue to face local opposition, particularly the Kyaukpyu and Dawei SEZs. The International Commission of Jurists (2017) has reported that SEZs in Myanmar are linked to human rights violations and environmental abuses (Donateo 2017). Although Myanmar's SEZ law adopted in 2014 reaffirms the applicability of environmental regulations to SEZ development, it does not clearly delineate responsibilities between developers and the state (DICA 2014). The law also does not conform with international human rights standards (MCRB 2018)."
Read more:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352938522001173#RaceToTheBottom #HumanRightsViolations #Pollution #EnvironmentalDegradation #EconomicSacrificZones #ForcedRelocation #ForcedDisplacement #HumanRightsViolations #EnvironmentalDegradation #IndigenousPeoples #ForestPeoples #SaveTheForests #Exploitation #CorporateColonialism
-
Supporters rally for #ProPalestinian #protesters arrested in #PortlandME
Aysia Reed,WGME
Thu, July 10th 2025PORTLAND, Maine (WGME) -- "The #MaineCoalitionForPalestine held a rally on Thursday outside of the Cumberland County Courthouse ahead of the criminal court arraignment of pro-Palestinian protesters who were arrested in Portland in May.
"Twenty protesters, ages 22 through 87, were arrested in May for blocking Commercial Street.
"Ten of those protesters were arraigned on Thursday morning while the remaining 10 will be arraigned later this month.
"The Maine Coalition for Palestine says they were bringing attention to the #genocide in #Gaza.
"The protesters were charged with class E misdemeanors for obstructing a public way.
"One of the people taken away in handcuffs was #BobSchaible, who's in his 80s [87 to be exact].
"He says this was his first time being arrested and said he would do it all over again to inspire action to get humanitarian aid to Gaza.
" 'Congress has to take a stand. We want the Portland people, more of them, to know what is happening,' Schaible said.
"Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights Chair Abby Fuller helped organize the protest in May.
" 'We have written our congressional representatives, we've called them, we've held rallies in the streets, we've done all kinds of things -- everything we can think of. And our government has not changed its policy of support for Israel,' Fuller said.
"Fuller was also arrested and charged with obstructing a public way."
#MaineResists #FreePalestine
#BibiIsAWarCriminal #IsraeliWarCrimes
#GazaGenocide #SilencingDissent #TrafficInterference #CriminalizingProtest #MainePol #Maine #HumanRightsViolations #HumanRights
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong -
#ProPalestinian activists rally outside #PortlandME courthouse to support fellow #protesters
Morgan Womack, Portland Press Herald, Maine
Thu, July 10, 2025Jul. 10—"A group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the #CumberlandCountyCourthouse on Thursday morning ahead of a court hearing for their peers who were arrested at a protest in May.
"More than a dozen people rallied with signs and a #PalestinianFlag as 10 people — half of the group that was previously arrested — awaited their arraignments. During their hearings, they each pleaded not guilty to one count of #obstructing a public way. The rest of the group will appear in court at a later date, the protesters said.
"Jamila Levasseur, 70, of #WaldoME, was one of the 20 people arrested in Portland on May 21 after police accused them of blocking the intersection of Commercial and Pearl streets near the U.S. Custom House. She said at the time that she'd be arrested as many times as necessary to bring attention to the widespread #starvation and ongoing #Israeli airstrikes in #Gaza.
"When appearing at the stand, Levasseur told District Court Judge Jed French that she was 'protesting against #genocide in #Gaza' before entering her not-guilty plea. She referenced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu's recent talks with President Donald #Trump, recognizing their joint strikes on #Iran and discussing plans for a 60-day #ceasefire that would halt Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.
" 'Those are the #WarCriminals,' Levasseur said. 'We're not criminals.'
"Levasseur said she couldn't have anticipated that the war would still be going on 21 months after it began. She said she's thankful that a group of attorneys stepped forward to represent the protesters for free, and that the May demonstration in the Old Port attracted a new, larger crowd of supporters.
" 'More and more people are waking up, learning what's going on, horrified, and want to do something,' Levasseur said. 'The people we were arrested with, I didn't even know them all when we were arrested. ... It's not the usual suspects. It's just more ordinary people.'
"Levasseur and #AbigailFuller, 65, of Portland, were also arrested at a February 2024 protest on Franklin Street for obstructing a public way. Their charges in those cases have since been dropped.
"Fuller, who is also a lecturer at the University of Southern Maine, said she felt supported by the group of people outside the courthouse while walking into her arraignment. She pleaded not guilty and also told the judge she was protesting genocide when she was arrested.
" 'It feels good to be starting the process,' Fuller said. 'The Maine courts system takes a really long time, often, to get through, but this is the first step.'
"Fuller said she appreciates seeing new faces at protests, especially as airstrikes and shootings in the #GazaStrip continue, killing people attempting to receive #HumanitarianAid.
" 'Unfortunately, Palestinian deaths are not on the front pages of the newspaper anymore,' Fuller said. 'So, we're trying to keep that in the public eye.' "
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pro-palestinian-activists-rally-outside-224800107.html
#MaineResists #FreePalestine #BibiIsAWarCriminal #IsraeliWarCrimes #GazaGenocide #SilencingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #MainePol #Maine #HumanRightsViolations #HumanRights #HumanRightsAreNeverWrong
-
#Hungary passes constitutional amendment to ban #LGBTQ+ public events, seen as a major blow to rights
By JUSTIN SPIKE
April 15, 2025BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — "Hungary’s parliament on Monday passed an amendment to the constitution that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities, a decision that legal scholars and critics call another step toward #authoritarianism by the populist government.
"The amendment, which required a two-thirds vote, passed along party lines with 140 votes for and 21 against. It was proposed by the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition led by populist Prime Minister #ViktorOrbán.
"Ahead of the vote — the final step for the amendment — opposition politicians and other #protesters attempted to #blockade the entrance to a parliament parking garage. #Police physically removed demonstrators, who had used zip ties to bind themselves together.
"The amendment declares that children’s rights to moral, physical and spiritual development supersede any right other than the right to life, including that to peacefully assemble. Hungary’s contentious 'child protection' legislation prohibits the 'depiction or promotion' of #homosexuality to minors aged under 18.
"The amendment codifies a law fast-tracked through parliament in March that bans public events held by LGBTQ+ communities, including the popular #PrideEvent in #Budapest that draws thousands annually."
#HungaryPol #AntiGBLTQ #AntiGBLTQLaws #Fascism #Authoritarianism #CharacteristicsOfFascism #HumanRightsViolations #GBLTQErasure
#OrbanIsPutinsPuppet #PrideParades -
Marco Rubio's hunt for "#AntiChristian bias" is creeping #theocracy
In a new war on federal workers, State Department employees are told to snitch on people with #Pride flags
By Amanda Marcotte
Published April 15, 2025 6:00AM (EDT)Excerpt: "Unsurprisingly, a deeper read of the cable shows that 'anti-Christian bias' is the cover story propped up to justify Rubio's actual assault on freedom of religion at State. He's giving Christian nationalists at the agency a tool to harass and even Rpurge people who don't share their #FarRight beliefs. The definitions of 'anti-Christian bias' throughout add up to outrage that conservative Christians are expected to treat people who believe differently with fairness and decency.
"For instance, the memo asks for reports of 'mistreatment for opposing displays of flags, banners or other paraphernalia,' specifically during Joe Biden's administration. It doesn't take a doctorate in bureaucratese to interpret this. Rubio is seeking stories where conservative Christians were told to mind their own business after objecting to a colleague putting up a #PrideFlag, a #BlackLivesMatter sign or perhaps a religious knickknack from a #NonChristian faith. This might be more comprehensible if, say, any Christians had being told they couldn't wear a cross or have a picture of Jesus on their desk. Instead, what Rubio is suggesting is that Christians have [the right to] prevent other people from having the freedom to express views and positions they dislike — and that it amounts to 'bias' if they can't control what others do or say. "
Read more:
https://www.salon.com/2025/04/15/marco-rubios-hunt-for-anti-christmas-bias-is-creeping-theocracy/#ChristianNationalism #USPol #ChristoFascism #ChurchAndState #AntiGBLTQ #CharacteristicsOfFascism #HeritageFoundation #Project2025 #ChristianCoalition #MoralityPolice #HumanRightsViolations #GBLTQErasure #TrumpIsPutinsPuppet #TrumpRegime
-
#HongKong: #Article23 law used to ‘normalize’ #repression one year since enactment
Just one year after its passage, Hong Kong’s Article 23 law has further squeezed people’s freedoms and enabled authorities to intensify their #crackdown on peaceful #activism in the city and beyond, #AmnestyInternational said.
" 'Over the past year, Article 23 has been used to entrench a ‘new normal’ of systematic repression of dissent, criminalizing peaceful acts in increasingly absurd ways,' said Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks.
" 'People have been targeted and harshly punished for the clothes they wear as well as the things they #say and #write, or for minor acts of #protest, intensifying the #ClimateIOfFear that already pervaded Hong Kong. #FreedomOfExpression has never been under greater attack.'
People convicted and jailed for peaceful expression"The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (known as Article 23) took effect on 23 March 2024. Amnesty International’s analysis shows that 16 people have since been arrested for sedition under Article 23. Five of them were officially charged under the law, and the other 11 were released without charge. None of those arrested is accused of engaging in violence, while the authorities have accused two of them of #inciting violence without yet disclosing any details.
"Three of the charged individuals – after facing around three months’ pre-trial detention – were convicted for, respectively, wearing a T-shirt and #mask printed with protest slogans; #criticizing the government #online; and writing protest #slogans on bus seats. They were sentenced to between 10 and 14 months in prison.
"The remaining two charged people have been held in detention awaiting trial since November 2024 and January 2025, respectively. They are accused of publishing '#seditious' posts on social media platforms.
Article 23 entrenches denial of bail
"The presumption against bail in national security cases, originally imposed by the #Beijing-enacted #NationalSecurityLaw (#NSL), has now been extended to offences under Article 23. Among the five individuals charged under Article 23, the two who applied for bail had their applications denied because the magistrate believed they may 'continue to commit acts endangering national security' – the same reasoning used to deny bail to others prosecuted under the NSL, including newspaper founder #JimmyLai and opposition politicians.
"The remaining 11 individuals arrested under Article 23 are variously accused of publishing 'seditious' posts, commemorating the 1989 #Tiananmen crackdown and spreading 'disinformation'. Despite having been released by the police without official charge, they remain at risk of prosecution at any time because Article 23 does not impose a time limit on bringing criminal charges.
" 'Article 23 has been wielded by the Hong Kong government as a tool to suppress critical voices with the ultimate aim of eradicating them. Alongside the #NSL, it has handed the authorities virtually unchecked power to arrest and jail anybody criticizing the government. The result is a Hong Kong where people are forced to second-guess what they say and write, and even what they wear,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'The now default use of pre-trial #detention and refusal of bail are alarming examples of how Article 23 has been used to reinforce the repressive tools first introduced under the NSL.”
‘#NationalSecurity’ as a trump card overriding established laws"Article 23 has also been weaponized to impose additional punitive measures against dissidents already serving sentences. Under the existing Prison Rules, last amended in 2014, prisoners with good conduct were eligible for early release after serving two-thirds of their sentences. However, according to new rules set by Article 23, the prison authorities can waive this practice if the release would be 'contrary to the interests of national security'.
"Notably, at least two jailed activists have been denied early release, despite the fact that they were not convicted under Article 23 and had already begun serving their sentences before its enactment.
"One of the activists – who was convicted of incitement to wound, a charge unrelated to any national security legislation – was barred from early release despite Article 23 expressly stating that the new rules apply only to prisoners convicted of offences endangering national security.
" '#Retroactively denying early release based on vague national security justifications undermines legal certainty and due process. The government’s failure to comply with the very text that it drafted further raises serious concerns about the arbitrary application of Article 23,' Sarah Brooks said.
Extraterritorial application against #overseas #activists"The worrying impact of Article 23 on human rights is not restricted to Hong Kong. Authorities have invoked Article 23’s extraterritorial scope to penalize a total of 13 Hong Kong activists residing overseas, including in the #UK, the #US, #Canada and #Australia. These penalties have included the cancellation of passports, suspension of lawyer licenses, removal from company directorships and prohibition of financial transactions, restricting a range of #HumanRights such as their freedom of movement, right to privacy and right to work.
"These measures have been imposed alongside arrest warrants issued under the NSL, each carrying a HK$1 million (US$128,700) bounty, for these 13 individuals and six other overseas activists.
" 'By sanctioning activists overseas, the Hong Kong government is attempting to extend its #DraconianLaws beyond its borders to target potentially anyone, anywhere. The situation has resulted in a chilling effect on individuals who persist in exercising their freedom of expression, even after departing from the city. The international community cannot afford to ignore Article 23’s intended extraterritorial reach,' Sarah Brooks said.
" 'We urge the Hong Kong and Chinese governments to immediately repeal Article 23, the NSL and any other legislation which violates international human rights laws and standards. We also call on other governments to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of #Hongkongers, in particular those actively defending human rights, within their jurisdictions.
" 'The rising risk of transnational repression, which Amnesty has documented and which is explicitly tied to Hong Kong’s national security legislation, demands a response by governments worldwide. As a start, that means denouncing incidents of transnational repression and pursuing accountability for criminal acts targeting activists and others in the country of residence.'
Background
"On 19 March 2024, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council unanimously voted to pass the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance based on Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution.
"The law, which took effect on 23 March 2024, introduced China’s definition of 'national security' and 'state secrets', together with other broadly defined offences which further restricted freedom of expression and the right to protest. It also replaced a widely used #colonial-era #sedition law with its own provisions on sedition which now expressly cover acts or speech which do not incite violence. The maximum prison sentence for sedition was increased from two to seven years, or up to 10 years if involving 'collusion with an external force'.
"Amnesty International submitted an analysis of its proposals to the government during the consultation period, concluding that the offences and changes to investigatory powers are contrary to Hong Kong’s human rights obligations. After the law was passed, Amnesty International issued a briefing paper providing an in-depth analysis of the effects of the law on both Chinese and non-Chinese individuals, in particular via its purported extraterritorial application."
Source:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/03/hong-kong-article-23-law-used-to-normalize-repression-one-year-since-enactment/
#AntiProtestLaws #AntiProtestLaws #CriminalizingDissent #CriminalizingProtest #HumanRightsViolations #BigBrother #NeverForgetTiananmen -
Causing major harms through development projects
"World Bank-funded projects have also continually been found to be in direct, serious violation of international human rights standards. Major recurring issues include mass evictions and the forced displacement of peoples and communities for major infrastructure and agricultural projects (see Observer Spring 2015), violations of the rights of indigenous and forest peoples, targeting of human rights defenders, triggering local food insecurity, and serious labour rights violations, such as child and forced labour reportedly being used in Bank-funded projects (see Observer Winter 2016). The IFC has also been shown on several occasions to have invested in companies that avoid or evade taxes (see Observer Autumn 2016). More recently, the Bank has also acknowledged that its projects can create an environment that can foster gender-based violence, including sexual abuse and the spread of HIV/AIDS (see Observer Spring 2017).
"To safeguard against risks like these, the World Bank launched its revised Environmental and Social Framework in 2018, although it applies only to its project lending and not to its DPF.
"Many in civil society remain unconvinced that the safeguards are fit for purpose if the Bank is to deliver on its mandate to implement policies that benefit the poorest, especially as the Bank is set to focus on more complex and difficult environments from 2018."
#ForcedRelocation #ForcedDisplacement #HumanRightsViolations #EnvironmentalDegradation #IndigenousPeoples #ForestPeoples #SaveTheForests #Exploitation #CorporateColonialism
#IMFLoanSharks #WorldBank #GenderBasedViolence #ManCamps -
How #corporate #SLAPP lawsuits endanger our rights and the #planet
by Chris Greenberg
25 April 2023"Hope creates the conditions for #ClimateAction. And climate action nurtures hope. Just as hope and action have a reinforcing relationship, so do fear and silence.
"The #polluting #corporations who put #profits over people and the planet know this and they use their resources to intimidate, to instill fear, and ultimately to silence the people directly impacted by their short-sighted, extractive greed.
"#SLAPPs, a type of abusive lawsuit, are a key tool used by corporate power to suppress #FreeSpeech and people power. These cynical lawsuits can force non-profit organizations like #Greenpeace International to divert precious resources away from campaigning for a more just and sustainable society. Perhaps even worse, SLAPPs can intimidate targets from challenging powerful corporations in the future.
"Every SLAPP, regardless of the defendant, is an attack on everyone who believes in the power of free speech and the right to #PeacefulProtest. No one should be bullied for speaking up on behalf of people and the planet.
"But CorporateBullies beware!
"In a massive win for free speech, a US federal court recently dismissed a seven-year lawsuit brought by #ResoluteForestryProducts against a number of Greenpeace staff members and entities, including #GreenpeaceInternational and #GreenpeaceUSA. The #Canadian #logging company sued the Greenpeace defendants for CA $100 million in an attempt to silence and bankrupt them, after criticism of its #unsustainable #forestry practices.
"Let’s take a closer look at SLAPPs so you can recognize them when you see them:
"What does #SLAPP stand for? SLAPP stands for '#StrategicLawsuitAgainstPublicParticipation '. These lawsuits are used by #corporations attempting to diminish or even stop public participation in civil society. SLAPPs often lack any kind of merit, and don’t need to result in a legal victory to achieve the outcome desired by corporate bullies.
"SLAPPs waste time and cause financial and sometimes #PsychologicalHarm to targeted individuals and organisations who have to hire #lawyers and engage in costly #LegalBattles, sometimes to the point of facing bankruptcy. These lawsuits attempt to silence free speech and limit peaceful #dissent by using litigation as a tool for deterring non-violent protest and even documenting and bearing witness."
#DigitalFreeSpeech #DirectAction #Fascism #CriminalizingDissent #WaterProtectors #ForestDefenders #EnvironmentalActivists #ClimateActivists #ClimateJustice #SilencingDissent #CorporateColonialism #EcoActivists #Censorship #HumanRightsViolations #Article20 #RightToProtest #SlowMarch #BigOilAndGas