Wars of Law

Lieutenant General David Morrison, Chief of the Australian army,...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:14:32 +0100

Lieutenant General David Morrison, Chief of the Australian army, taking a stand against sexism which makes a joke of anyone that thinks that standing up for women makes them any less of a man.

- “a band of brothers and sisters”

aljazeera: In Pictures: ‘Occupy Kenya’ | Kenya’s highly paid...

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 08:42:11 +0100

aljazeera:

In Pictures: ‘Occupy Kenya’ | Kenya’s highly paid politicians caused outrage by giving themselves another pay raise, but have since settled on a deal.

Click here to view the slideshow.

"When Nexus first began we were reassured it was only about people who had criminal convictions in..."

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:05:37 +0100

“

When Nexus first began we were reassured it was only about people who had criminal convictions in this country or in their home countries and who were very high risk.

What we are seeing now is that they are targeting all crimes and low level criminality. This is going to stop victims coming forward in the black and ethnic minority communities because they fear they will be targeted by Nexus. If you have a woman suffering domestic violence in a household of overstayers she is not going to come forward.

This is totally going to mess up local policing and any trust communities have in the police.

”

- Rita Chadha, chief executive of the Refugee and Migrant Forum of East London, speaking to the Guardian about Operation Nexus

nevver: Tell the truth I hope this graph isn’t true

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 00:55:51 +0100

nevver:

Tell the truth

I hope this graph isn’t true

shortformblog: breakingnews: Susan Rice to be appointed...

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:54:48 +0100

shortformblog:

breakingnews:

Susan Rice to be appointed national security adviser

NBC News: Susan Rice will replace Tom Donilon as national security adviser, the White House is expected to announce Wednesday.

Rice, currently the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, will be formally introduced in her new role by President Barack Obama at 2 p.m. ET. A White House official says Samantha Power, a former special assistant to the president on the National Security Council, will be nominated to replace Susan Rice as the U.N. ambassador.

Photo: Susan Rice (Spencer Platt / Getty Images file photo)

Worth noting is that this position doesn’t require confirmation by the Senate, which prevents a knock-down-drag-out fight over her nomination over the whole Benghazi thing. This news was first reported back in March, but is now looking pretty close to official.

Apparently Susan Rice is very much disliked on the Security Council due to her abrasive approach. Samantha Power though…we’re a long way from John Bolton (who, ironically, is reputed to be much more genial)

inothernews: Protestors clash with Turkish riot police in...

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 22:14:06 +0100

inothernews:

Protestors clash with Turkish riot police in Istanbul, June 3, 2013, during a demonstration. Turkish police began pulling out of Istanbul’s iconic Taksim Square after a second day of violent clashes between protesters and police. What began as a protest over a controversial development project have broadened into a show of defiance against the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party, or AKP. (Photo: Bulent Kilic / AFP - Getty Images via NBC News)

"In the Bronx, 15-year-old Sarah Rivera was shot in the leg as she pushed a baby carriage away from..."

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:01:22 +0100

“In the Bronx, 15-year-old Sarah Rivera was shot in the leg as she pushed a baby carriage away from the sound of gunfire. “Everybody started running, so I went to grab the carriage,” she told the Daily News. The baby’s father—a stranger—tied his shirt around her leg as a tourniquet”

- One of the 25 people injured by gunfire in Manhattan this past weekend. In another incident, a stray bullet from a gang shooting paralysed and 11 year old girl.

humanrightswatch: A graffiti image in Tripoli of a female...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:38:40 +0100

humanrightswatch:

A graffiti image in Tripoli of a female Libyan revolutionary. Libyan women played a crucial role in the protests that began in Benghazi in February 2011 and sparked the uprising that eventually toppled Gaddafi.

© 2012 Samer Muscati/Human Rights Watch

Africa closes ranks to condemn ICC on Kenya cases

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:38:15 +0100

Africa closes ranks to condemn ICC on Kenya cases:

ADDIS ABABA, May 27 – African leaders prepared Monday to pass a resolution urging the International Criminal Court to end crimes against humanity cases against Kenya’s top leaders at The Hague and refer them back to their home country.
After lavish celebrations to mark its 50th anniversary on Saturday, the 54-member African Union was set to come together to condemn International Criminal Court (ICC) trials against one of its own, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, and his vice president.

“We will be approving this morning what the ministers have proposed, definitely,” AU security commissioner Ramtane Lamamra told AFP, referring to a draft resolution agreed Friday by foreign ministers.

The resolution calls for the ICC to refer back to Kenya the cases against Kenyatta and Vice President William Ruto.

Kenyatta and Ruto, elected in March, both face a crimes against humanity trials in The Hague for their alleged roles in orchestrating deadly violence after previous elections in 2007 that left 1,100 people dead.

African leaders will call for the “termination of the ICC process… jurisdictions in Kenya will have to take care of the situation,” Lamamra said.

“Africa is committed to fighting impunity, but fighting impunity is not exclusive through the ICC,” he said.

The proposal would have no legal impact on ICC proceedings if passed, but would significantly boost Kenyatta’s standing on the continent.

“Heads of state will support what the ministers have proposed,” Lamamra added, speaking on the sidelines of the meeting at AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, where leaders are expected to endorse the proposal before they close their two-day summit later Monday.

Leaders have also been discussing conflict on the continent, including in volatile eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Islamist threats in Somalia, Mali and the Sahel region, and wider global security concerns.

“African security is inextricably linked to international security,” Lamamra said.

Today’s AU is the successor of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), established in 1963 in the heady days when independence from colonial rule was sweeping the continent.

This is going well

nueva-bordena: hermionejg: fishingboatproceeds: synanthropic: ...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:24:08 +0100

nueva-bordena:

hermionejg:

fishingboatproceeds:

synanthropic:

ezranetvibes:

dimantez4ever:

TODAY IN TURKEY

this is absolutely bone-chilling

Holy shit.

If you don’t know what’s going on.

what a photo. Christ.

[Photo of a HUGE crowd, probably thousands of people, marching down the street, right towards cops in riot gear and a police truck.]

Photo

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:59:57 +0100

fotojournalismus: Protests in Istanbul 1. An activist wearing...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:58:41 +0100

fotojournalismus:

Protests in Istanbul

1. An activist wearing a gas mask stands in a cloud of tear gas as police used water cannons and irritant agents to disperse demonstrators at Taksim Square in Istanbul, on May 31, 2013. (Sedat Suna/EPA)

2. Protestors clash with Turkish riot policemen during a protest against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park on May 31, 2013, in Taksim quarter of Istanbul. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images)

3.A young Turkish woman gestures in front of a water cannon spraying her, Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, June 1, 2013. (AP)

4. Protestors set up fires, barricades, and battle Turkish police through clouds of tear gas on May 31, 2013 in Istanbul. (Scott Peterson/Getty Images)

5. Stores on Istiklal street have been damaged on June 1, 2013, during a protest against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park, in Taksim Square in Istanbul. (Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images)

6. Protesters clash with riot police near Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul on June 1, 2013. (AP)

7. Riot police use tear gas to disperse the crowd during an anti-government protest in Istanbul June 1, 2013. (Murad Sezer/Reuters)

8. A man plants a tree in Istiklal street on June 1, 2013, during a protest against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park, in Taksim Square in Istanbul. (Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images)

9. A protestor holds a placard that reads “Chemical Tayyip” during clashes with riot police in a protest against the demolition of Taksim Gezi Park, in Taksim Square in Istanbul, on May 31, 2013. (Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images)

10. Protestors clash with riot police between Taksim and Besiktas in Istanbul, on June 1, 2013. (Gurcan Ozturk/AFP/Getty Images)

fotojournalismus: People relax in Gezi Park as smoke billows in...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 15:28:08 +0100

fotojournalismus:

People relax in Gezi Park as smoke billows in the background following violent protests against the government in Istanbul on June 1, 2013.

[Credit : Yunus Emre Caylak/Demotix/Corbis]

So bizarre

cathartictumbleweed: fuckyeahfeminists: beeishappy: Stephen...

Thu, 30 May 2013 13:49:26 +0100

cathartictumbleweed:

fuckyeahfeminists:

beeishappy:

Stephen Colbert salutes UVA’s Class of 2013 Followed by this.

<3

Oh, I love him so

Yup!

United we stand, divided we fall, Save UK Justice

Thu, 30 May 2013 13:29:17 +0100

United we stand, divided we fall, Save UK Justice:

The consultation document (it is misnamed as it is not a consultation in the sense that anyone would understand that term) suggests defence lawyers spend too much time on their cases. It implies all our clients are guilty and that we are colluding with them to prolong trials for our own financial benefit. It actually discourages defence lawyers from raising legal arguments that would prolong the case but which might assist the defendant to get a not guilty verdict. It punishes us for having a trial by reducing our fees for every day after the first three. Imagine any other group of workers being subjected to such terms!

—- Mark George QC

dynamicafrica: Staff at Uganda’s leading privately owned...

Mon, 27 May 2013 15:42:08 +0100

dynamicafrica:

Staff at Uganda’s leading privately owned newspaper, Daily Monitor, protest against a police raid of their offices on Monday.

The raid came after the newspaper published a letter, purportedly written by army General David Sejusa, calling for an investigation into allegations that those opposed to President Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, succeeding him risk being killed. Mr Museveni, in power since 1986, is due to step down in 2016.

Related story.

Truth to power

typicalugandan: Female boda boda cyclist rides route where few...

Sun, 26 May 2013 22:49:00 +0100

typicalugandan:

Female boda boda cyclist rides route where few women dare: Determined. Ms Matilda Igama, a mother of seven, has been a boda boda cyclist in Adjumani for two years.

It is unusual to spot a female boda boda rider in Madi Sub-region, which covers the two districts of Moyo and Adjumani. Passengers first hesitate and some stare in disbelief when Ms Matilda Igama calls out to them to sit on her motorbike.

Ms Igama has made history by taking a bold decision to take on the business of riding a motorcycle for commercial gain, making her the “first ever female boda-boda rider” in the sub-region.

She clocked two years in the business last month and is vowing to continue doing the same. She was previously dealing in retail business in Adjumani Town but decided to cross over to transporting passengers at a fee. (Full story at Daily Monitor)

(via US rendition: every suspected flight mapped) I think I...

Wed, 22 May 2013 21:50:00 +0100

(via US rendition: every suspected flight mapped)

I think I might have helped a bit with this

hippiebythesea: boozepoop: ashleymater: Tippi Benjamine...

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:32:42 +0100

hippiebythesea:

boozepoop:

ashleymater:

Tippi Benjamine Okanti Degré, daughter of French wildlife photographers Alain Degré and Sylvie Robert, was born in Namibia. During her childhood she befriended many wild animals, including a 28-year old elephant called Abu and a leopard nicknamed J&B. She was embraced by the Bushmen and the Himba tribespeople of the Kalahari, who taught her how to survive on roots and berries, as well as how to speak their language.

Learn more

This will be my daughter.

A tiny Tarzan!

humanrightswatch: El Salvador: Authorize Abortion for Woman at...

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:35:16 +0100

humanrightswatch:

El Salvador: Authorize Abortion for Woman at Risk of Dying

President Mauricio Funes of El Salvador should ensure that a woman who faces substantial risk of death if her pregnancy continues can obtain an abortion without criminal penalty.

The woman, “Beatriz,” a pseudonym to protect her identity, suffers from serious health problems, according to medical reports from her doctors, and is pregnant with an anencephalic fetus with no chance of surviving infancy. Forcing her to continue the pregnancy violates her fundamental human rights, including the rights to life and to health.

Three separate sonograms carried out by the National Maternity Hospital on March 12 and 21, 2013, have shown that “Beatriz,” a 22-year-old mother of one, is pregnant with an anencephalic fetus. An infant born with this disorder lacks a cerebrum, a part of the brain, which almost always leads to death within hours or days of birth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, Beatriz’s doctors fear she may suffer hemorrhaging, severe pre-eclampsia, a condition that is a leading cause of maternal death, and potential kidney failure due to her pre-existing medical conditions, including Lupus, an auto-immune disease.

On March 22, lawyers for the National Maternity Hospital (Hospital Nacional Especializado de Maternidad) requested permission from the government to perform an abortion in her case, because her doctors believe there was a “strong probability of maternal death” and the fetus was not viable.

El Salvador has a total ban on abortion without exception, putting Beatriz and any doctor performing an abortion at risk of prosecution.

Read more.

Photo: El Salvador’s President Mauricio Funes addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York, New York on September 23, 2011. © 2011 Reuters