If you would like to serve on the Saint Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission, neither gender nor residence will prevent you from serving.
The Saint Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission desperately needs members. The original guidelines restricted the number of people who could serve, as well as who could serve according to protected class status. While some people may not agree with the changes, the Commission cannot function without human beings of any race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic class, ability or disability, etc..
People in many regions of Central Minnesota experience human rights abuses, every day, and no one is speaking out for them. Gay boys are getting beat up in Milaca, immigrants are getting harassed in a church in Cold Spring, and the list goes on. The Human Rights Commission needs to hear your voice.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
If Corporations Can Be Tried in Court as Individuals...
Then they can also be tried for human rights abuses and genocide. On February 28, the US Supreme Court will determine whether or not US and global corporations can be held liable for genocide and other violations of international law.
The court case--Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum (aka "Shell")--involves a class action lawsuit filed by the Ogoni people of southern Nigeria, who claim that Shell committed human rights abuses in cooperation with the Nigerian government to terrorize the Ogoni off of their land in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Kudos to The Guardian for covering this story.
The court case--Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum (aka "Shell")--involves a class action lawsuit filed by the Ogoni people of southern Nigeria, who claim that Shell committed human rights abuses in cooperation with the Nigerian government to terrorize the Ogoni off of their land in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
Kudos to The Guardian for covering this story.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
The State of Bullying in Minnesota
Students have the right to receive an education in a safe environment. This is a human right.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Minnesota receives the lowest marks for the lack of scope and definition in its state anti-bullying legislation.
Minnesota sets the record for the SHORTEST anti-bullying law in the nation--at 37 words. Here is the text:
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Minnesota receives the lowest marks for the lack of scope and definition in its state anti-bullying legislation.
Minnesota sets the record for the SHORTEST anti-bullying law in the nation--at 37 words. Here is the text:
121A.0695 SCHOOL BOARD POLICY; PROHIBITING INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING.
Each school board shall adopt a written policy prohibiting intimidation and bullying of any student. The policy shall address intimidation and bullying in all forms, including, but not limited to, electronic forms and forms involving Internet use.
History: 1Sp2005 c 5 art 2 s 28; 2007 c 53 s 1
This policy does not define bullying, nor does it state that the bullying policy must address protected classes defined by the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
To help address the issue, Governor Dayton has created the Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying. Members of the task force and their affiliations include:
- Brenda Cassellius, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Education
- Kevin Lindsey, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Rights
- Willie Bridges, Senior Planning Manager, Hennepin County Attorney’s Office
- Vangie Castro, Youth Education Program Manager, Rochester Public Schools
- Phil Duran, Legal Director, OutFront Minnesota
- Alana Friedman, Teacher
- Julie Hertzog, Director, PACER National Bullying Prevention Center
- Lyn Mitchell, Co-Founder, AMAZE
- Jacob Reitan, Founder, Equality Ride
- Walter Roberts, Councilor, Minnesota State University, Mankato
- Dr. Thomas Scott, Pediatrician
- Senator Scott Dibble
- Representative Jim Davnie
- Two Republican legislators have been invited and are yet to be announced by leadership
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The White House Consumer Data Privacy Act
The Obama Administration has unveiled the first draft of the White House Consumer Data Privacy Act, which will give consumers more control over how their personal information is displayed and used online. This is the first draft of the online rights of consumers that companies must recognize:
-- Individual Control: Consumers have a right to exercise control over what personal data organizations collect from them and how they use it.
-- Individual Control: Consumers have a right to exercise control over what personal data organizations collect from them and how they use it.
- Transparency: Consumers have a right to easily understandable information about privacy and security practices.
- Respect for Context: Consumers have a right to expect that organizations will collect, use, and disclose personal data in ways that are consistent with the context in which consumers provide the data.
- Security: Consumers have a right to secure and responsible handling of personal data.
- Access and Accuracy: Consumers have a right to access and correct personal data in usable formats, in a manner that is appropriate to the sensitivity of the data and the risk of adverse consequences to consumers if the data are inaccurate.
- Focused Collection: Consumers have a right to reasonable limits on the personal data that companies collect and retain.
- Accountability: Consumers have a right to have personal data handled by companies with appropriate measures in place to assure they adhere to the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Is Castration a Human Rights Violation?
Doctors in Germany still practice surgical castration of sex offenders, a practice which a human rights report identifies as "degrading". The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) acknowledges that it is rarely used but questions its effectiveness and whether each patient's consent is freely obtained. The Czech Republic, where the operation is used slightly more frequently, is the only other EU state to continue with the procedure.
The German doctors claim that surgical castration prevents chronic sex offenders from committing sex offenses; 46% of those who do not have the surgery continue the inappropriate behavior.
What this article does not do is provide a German definition of "sex offender". In the United States, the "sex offender" usually corresponds with "child molester", and so an American reading this report might agree wholeheartedly with the German decision to castrate.
The German doctors claim that surgical castration prevents chronic sex offenders from committing sex offenses; 46% of those who do not have the surgery continue the inappropriate behavior.
What this article does not do is provide a German definition of "sex offender". In the United States, the "sex offender" usually corresponds with "child molester", and so an American reading this report might agree wholeheartedly with the German decision to castrate.
No More Affirmative Action at Public Colleges and Universities?
The Supreme Court is going to deliberate over whether or not "race-conscious" admissions will remain legal at public colleges and universities.
Will this cause a reduction in the admission of African-American and Latino students? Will it drive school districts to have higher academic expectations of all students? Or will it cause some school districts with large African-American and Latino student populations to give up and steer even fewer of their students to college preparatory courses and college admissions, as Jonathan Kozol already notes ala Shame of the Nation?
Will this cause a reduction in the admission of African-American and Latino students? Will it drive school districts to have higher academic expectations of all students? Or will it cause some school districts with large African-American and Latino student populations to give up and steer even fewer of their students to college preparatory courses and college admissions, as Jonathan Kozol already notes ala Shame of the Nation?
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Is Down Syndrome on the Decline Due to Prenatal Testing?
A new prenatal blood test can tell pregnant women as early as ten weeks into pregnancy if their fetus may have Down Syndrome.
The number of Down Syndrome babies has been shrinking over the past two decades, for various reasons. At the same time, more services exist for children with Down Syndrome to grow up and lead relatively independent lives.
What percentage of parents decide to abort their fetus if they learn that it has certain disorders through prenatal testing? If abortion is not the reason for the decline in Down Syndrome babies, is it possible that those who have someone with Down Syndrome in their family decide not to have children? The odds of having a baby with Down Syndrome increases as a woman gets older. Pregnant women 35 years old and up are given prenatal exams not only to determine whether or not the fetus has Down Syndrome, but also to see whether or not the fetus is alive, as older women are more likely to have miscarriages.
In some countries, pregnant women who go for prenatal exams are not told the sex of the fetus, for fear that they will abort one that is female. It would be irresponsible for doctors not to tell potential mothers that their baby-to-be has a disorder that will require special care, as arrangements for services take time. If a pregnant woman has no support network to help look after an infant with special needs, will she be more likely to abort the fetus? As the number of single mothers increases, this may be something to investigate.
The number of Down Syndrome babies has been shrinking over the past two decades, for various reasons. At the same time, more services exist for children with Down Syndrome to grow up and lead relatively independent lives.
What percentage of parents decide to abort their fetus if they learn that it has certain disorders through prenatal testing? If abortion is not the reason for the decline in Down Syndrome babies, is it possible that those who have someone with Down Syndrome in their family decide not to have children? The odds of having a baby with Down Syndrome increases as a woman gets older. Pregnant women 35 years old and up are given prenatal exams not only to determine whether or not the fetus has Down Syndrome, but also to see whether or not the fetus is alive, as older women are more likely to have miscarriages.
In some countries, pregnant women who go for prenatal exams are not told the sex of the fetus, for fear that they will abort one that is female. It would be irresponsible for doctors not to tell potential mothers that their baby-to-be has a disorder that will require special care, as arrangements for services take time. If a pregnant woman has no support network to help look after an infant with special needs, will she be more likely to abort the fetus? As the number of single mothers increases, this may be something to investigate.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
NYPD Monitored Muslim Students
The New York Police Department monitored Muslim students at colleges and universities all over the Northeast.
The police recorded whether or not the Muslim students belonged to Muslim student associations (identified as "MSAs"), how many times the students prayed each day, and where they traveled off campus. The police were most concerned with travel to conferences involving Muslim scholars who may have anti-Western views, as well as outdoor activities that could be interpreted as "terrorist training". The NYPD built their secret programs with help from the CIA, and monitored Muslim students from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania colleges and universities without informing the institutions.
While police reports revealed no wrongdoing, students who discovered their names in the police reports are worried that this will affect their employment opportunities, security clearances for research opportunities, and any possible air travel. Whether or not the NYPD overstepped the boundaries of authority is being investigated.
The police recorded whether or not the Muslim students belonged to Muslim student associations (identified as "MSAs"), how many times the students prayed each day, and where they traveled off campus. The police were most concerned with travel to conferences involving Muslim scholars who may have anti-Western views, as well as outdoor activities that could be interpreted as "terrorist training". The NYPD built their secret programs with help from the CIA, and monitored Muslim students from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania colleges and universities without informing the institutions.
While police reports revealed no wrongdoing, students who discovered their names in the police reports are worried that this will affect their employment opportunities, security clearances for research opportunities, and any possible air travel. Whether or not the NYPD overstepped the boundaries of authority is being investigated.
Friday, February 17, 2012
February is Black History Month
This year's Black History Month theme is "Black Women in American Culture and History".
For a list of future and past themes, click here.
Facebook Page!
The Saint Cloud Regional Human Rights Commission has started a Facebook page. Please feel free to "like", post, and comment about human rights issues that affect us all.
The Human Rights Update blog will remain as active as ever, so keep reading here as well!
The Human Rights Update blog will remain as active as ever, so keep reading here as well!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Work Will Set You Free
"Perhaps the most debilitating consequence of the euro zone’s economic downturn and its debt-driven austerity crusade has been the soaring rate of youth unemployment. Spain’s jobless rate for people ages 16 to 24 is approaching 50 percent. Greece’s is 48 percent, and Portugal’s and Italy’s, 30 percent. Here in Britain, the rate is 22.3 percent, the highest since such data began being collected in 1992. (The comparable rate for Americans is 18 percent.)" ("For London Youth, Down and Out is a Way of Life, New York Times, February 16, 2012).
Eighteen percent unemployment for American youths 16 to 24 still is nothing to brag about. In Minnesota, the number of unemployed youths 16 to 24 is above the national average, at 21.1 percent.
What happens when you have long term unemployment of youth? A decrease in tax revenue. An increase in crime. A heightened need for social services. Anger. Despair. The potential for youth to give up certain freedoms and rights, or overlook the freedoms and rights of others, in exchange for their salvation. The potential to bond over perceived racial supremacy, under the delusion that people of other races have taken their jobs and destroyed their country.
Eighteen percent unemployment for American youths 16 to 24 still is nothing to brag about. In Minnesota, the number of unemployed youths 16 to 24 is above the national average, at 21.1 percent.
What happens when you have long term unemployment of youth? A decrease in tax revenue. An increase in crime. A heightened need for social services. Anger. Despair. The potential for youth to give up certain freedoms and rights, or overlook the freedoms and rights of others, in exchange for their salvation. The potential to bond over perceived racial supremacy, under the delusion that people of other races have taken their jobs and destroyed their country.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Obama Stands Up to China and Gets Slapped Down
Obama gets slammed for human rights abuses by CounterPunch.
So seriously, China has never committed human rights abuses? Does TIBET ring a bell? What about all of their political prisoners, including the famous Ai Wei Wei case? What about slave labor in the sweltering iPad factories? What about the Chinese government having the right to drown entire villages for hydroelectric dam projects and moving people into new "housing", often substandard compared to what they had before?
Obama is the same man who met with the Dalai Lama, even though the Chinese asked him not to do so.
So seriously, China has never committed human rights abuses? Does TIBET ring a bell? What about all of their political prisoners, including the famous Ai Wei Wei case? What about slave labor in the sweltering iPad factories? What about the Chinese government having the right to drown entire villages for hydroelectric dam projects and moving people into new "housing", often substandard compared to what they had before?
Obama is the same man who met with the Dalai Lama, even though the Chinese asked him not to do so.
He's Not in Prison for Being Queer
LGBT news magazine The Advocate made the claim that Barack Obama would like us to forget Bradley Manning, whom Advocate writer Victoria Brownworth called "the first openly gay political prisoner" and also "the most dangerous man in America".
The Advocate is treading some pretty dangerous waters here, in implying that:
1. Bradley Manning could have been imprisoned due to his gender identity (not the case);
2. Bradley Manning should not be in a military prison, or tried by a military tribunal, for his crime (he was an enlisted man when he leaked military documents to Wikileaks);
3. Frustration over how the military addressed his gender identity is legitimate justification to commit treason (Manning expressed the discrimination he faced as a gay servicemember as the reason he leaked documents).
According to Brownworth, Manning's treatment in the Fort Leavenworth military prison is similar to what prisoners in Guantanamo Bay are getting, and that it violates the Geneva Convention. Instead of fighting for the human rights of all prisoners in military detention, however, Brownworth makes a distinction--that Manning should receive different treatment because he is a US citizen. She does not understand that he was not a free citizen at the time of his incarceration--he was an enlisted man, and thus subject to military law as well as the US Constitution and federal law.
The question is--do Manning's actions make him a terrorist? Do his actions make him a threat to national security, or military security? The question is not whether he should receive special treatment due to his queer American status.
The Advocate is treading some pretty dangerous waters here, in implying that:
1. Bradley Manning could have been imprisoned due to his gender identity (not the case);
2. Bradley Manning should not be in a military prison, or tried by a military tribunal, for his crime (he was an enlisted man when he leaked military documents to Wikileaks);
3. Frustration over how the military addressed his gender identity is legitimate justification to commit treason (Manning expressed the discrimination he faced as a gay servicemember as the reason he leaked documents).
According to Brownworth, Manning's treatment in the Fort Leavenworth military prison is similar to what prisoners in Guantanamo Bay are getting, and that it violates the Geneva Convention. Instead of fighting for the human rights of all prisoners in military detention, however, Brownworth makes a distinction--that Manning should receive different treatment because he is a US citizen. She does not understand that he was not a free citizen at the time of his incarceration--he was an enlisted man, and thus subject to military law as well as the US Constitution and federal law.
The question is--do Manning's actions make him a terrorist? Do his actions make him a threat to national security, or military security? The question is not whether he should receive special treatment due to his queer American status.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Israel Must Provide More Housing for Palestinians
According to a recent United Nations Human Rights report, "Israel's policies violate right to housing and need urgent revision".
To make a long story short...
Any Jewish person who immigrates to Israel automatically receives a place to live from the Israeli government, as well as a stipend.
A Palestinian person born and raised in Israel, or a Palestinian person living in the Occupied Territories, might have lost their home at least once due to military interventions approved by the Israeli government. A significant percentage of Palestinians inside and outside of Israel have a difficult time finding new housing, because no new housing is being built for Palestinians.
Bedouins born and raised in Israel, as well as Bedouins who are born and raised in the Occupied Territories, are being forced to "choose sides". As nomadic people, Bedouins often traveled in and out of Israel and the Occupied Territories--but no more. Bedouins living in Occupied Territories are forced to settle in substandard housing developments or camps similar to refugee camps.
A Palestinian may have paperwork to prove that a house belongs to him or her, but the Israeli government can overturn this at any time if they decide to alter the flexible borders between Occupied Territory and Israel.
A Palestinian home can be bulldozed in the Occupied Territories, and a Palestinian can be evicted from an apartment in Jerusalem, to make room for Jewish settlers.
That is a long story short, but feel free to read the document.
To make a long story short...
Any Jewish person who immigrates to Israel automatically receives a place to live from the Israeli government, as well as a stipend.
A Palestinian person born and raised in Israel, or a Palestinian person living in the Occupied Territories, might have lost their home at least once due to military interventions approved by the Israeli government. A significant percentage of Palestinians inside and outside of Israel have a difficult time finding new housing, because no new housing is being built for Palestinians.
Bedouins born and raised in Israel, as well as Bedouins who are born and raised in the Occupied Territories, are being forced to "choose sides". As nomadic people, Bedouins often traveled in and out of Israel and the Occupied Territories--but no more. Bedouins living in Occupied Territories are forced to settle in substandard housing developments or camps similar to refugee camps.
A Palestinian may have paperwork to prove that a house belongs to him or her, but the Israeli government can overturn this at any time if they decide to alter the flexible borders between Occupied Territory and Israel.
A Palestinian home can be bulldozed in the Occupied Territories, and a Palestinian can be evicted from an apartment in Jerusalem, to make room for Jewish settlers.
That is a long story short, but feel free to read the document.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Semper Heil
U.S. Marines in Afghanistan pose with Nazi symbol.
Even more shameful is that the official United States Marines blog is not addressing the issue.
What do the Marines have to do with human rights, you might ask?
Why does a Nazi symbol still have so much power?
It is not the role of the Marines to defend white supremacy, or white Americans, but all Americans.
The only flag that the Marines should defend is the red white and blue Stars and Stripes.
A Nazi symbol still has so much power because people around the world still use it to define their identity and express hatred for others. In many European countries, production of Nazi symbols, flags, and publications is illegal. Ironically, in the United States, Nazi and white supremacist publishing is alive and well, although under the radar.
White supremacy and Nazism in the US Marine Corps is not new...a 2008 article reveals that there is a neo-Nazi cell in the Marine Corps, and that those Nazis among them have more loyalty to their gang than to the US flag.
Meanwhile, the official United States Marines blog is highlighting African-American Marines who fought during World War Two. African-Americans were considered racially inferior by the Nazis, our enemies at the time. They were also considered racially inferior by many white Marines, but good enough to fight, and so served in segregated units.
Our military leaders cannot look away while their troops bond together in racism, anti-Semitism, and homophobia. They certainly cannot support it, either. As the United States continues to have a military presence around the world, it must show that it is not corrupted by the true poison of our enemies--fear and hatred for those not considered "white" or "Christian". That is never what the US flag stood for.
Even more shameful is that the official United States Marines blog is not addressing the issue.
What do the Marines have to do with human rights, you might ask?
Why does a Nazi symbol still have so much power?
It is not the role of the Marines to defend white supremacy, or white Americans, but all Americans.
The only flag that the Marines should defend is the red white and blue Stars and Stripes.
A Nazi symbol still has so much power because people around the world still use it to define their identity and express hatred for others. In many European countries, production of Nazi symbols, flags, and publications is illegal. Ironically, in the United States, Nazi and white supremacist publishing is alive and well, although under the radar.
White supremacy and Nazism in the US Marine Corps is not new...a 2008 article reveals that there is a neo-Nazi cell in the Marine Corps, and that those Nazis among them have more loyalty to their gang than to the US flag.
Meanwhile, the official United States Marines blog is highlighting African-American Marines who fought during World War Two. African-Americans were considered racially inferior by the Nazis, our enemies at the time. They were also considered racially inferior by many white Marines, but good enough to fight, and so served in segregated units.
Our military leaders cannot look away while their troops bond together in racism, anti-Semitism, and homophobia. They certainly cannot support it, either. As the United States continues to have a military presence around the world, it must show that it is not corrupted by the true poison of our enemies--fear and hatred for those not considered "white" or "Christian". That is never what the US flag stood for.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Prop 8 Ruling Overturned in California
Today the 9th Circuit Court upheld a lower court ruling that overturned California's ban on gay marriage, Proposition 8. USA Today's "Faith & Reason" section is providing a run down of comments on this event from leaders of different religious groups.
It is no wonder that there are people in Minnesota who want to add an amendment to the Minnesota state constitution that would define marriage as a heterosexual union. To date, here is the state of same-sex relationships in the United States:
2Same-sex marriage laws in California are complicated; please see the article on Same-sex marriage in California
It is no wonder that there are people in Minnesota who want to add an amendment to the Minnesota state constitution that would define marriage as a heterosexual union. To date, here is the state of same-sex relationships in the United States:
Laws regarding same-sex partnership in the United States
Same-sex marriage1
Unions granting rights similar to marriage1,2
Legislation granting limited/enumerated rights1
Same-sex marriages performed elsewhere recognized1
No specific prohibition or recognition of same-sex marriages or unions
Statute bans same-sex marriage
Constitution bans same-sex marriage
Constitution bans same-sex marriage and other kinds of same-sex unions
1May include recent laws or court decisions which have created legal recognition of same-sex relationships, but which have not entered into effect yet.2Same-sex marriage laws in California are complicated; please see the article on Same-sex marriage in California
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