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noodlenuts · 5 years ago

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As we all cope with the stress of the current Coronavirus pandemic and all of its attendant unknowns, I thought that it would be a good time to share one of my favourite enduring true stories from a previous time of turmoil - one which, in this case, brought two animals together in a most beautiful and unexpected way. "Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship" (2006), by Isabella and Craig Hatkoff and Paula Kahumbu, with images by Peter Greste, tells the amazing story of baby hippo Owen, separated from his mother and stranded when the horrendous tsunami of 2004 hit Kenya. Upon his rescue and transfer to an animal sanctuary, lovely Owen decided that the only animal worthy of taking his mummy's place was ... 130-year-old tortoise Mzee!! And so began the most unlikely and wonderful of mutual adoration societies. A poignant reminder to look for solace in each otherin difficult times, no matter our surface differences, this book has a longer text suitable to school-aged kids, but was very much enjoyed by my preschooler nieces when we read it, thanks to the gorgeous photographs. ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ #noodlenutsclassickidlit #owenandmzee #isabellahatkoff #craighatkoff #paulakahumbu #petergreste #unlikelyanimalfriends #unlikelyfriends #unlikelyfriendships #unlikelyanimalfriendships #hippo #babyhippo #tortoise #aldabratortoise #hallerpark #tsunami #montessoriathome #montessorikids #animalstories #homeschool #scienceforkids #readinglist #homeeducation https://www.instagram.com/p/B9xFc9bHi96/?igshid=1j037ihfjecw9

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khalilhumam · 4 years ago

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Detention of Chinese-Australian TV presenter Cheng Lei by China called out as ‘hostage diplomacy’

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/detention-of-chinese-australian-tv-presenter-cheng-lei-by-china-called-out-as-hostage-diplomacy/

Detention of Chinese-Australian TV presenter Cheng Lei by China called out as ‘hostage diplomacy’

China Global Television Network business anchor held without charge

Cheng Lei in Lisbon, Portugal at Web Summit 2019 – Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach, courtesy Web Summit Flickr account (CC BY 2.0)

The detention of journalist and television presenter Cheng Lei in China has sparked fears of another instance of so-called ‘hostage diplomacy’. She is an Australian citizen. She has apparently been held in residential detention for more than two weeks according to the Australian government. Australian diplomats were able to make video link contact with her on 27 August. As Cheng has not been formally arrested but is under “residential surveillance at a designated location”, the Australian authorities currently take a soft diplomacy approach by providing assistance and support to Cheng and her family. Cheng is the anchor for a business program on State television’s China Global Television Network (CGTN), and is regarded as someone who did not cross political boundaries in her reporting. No reasons have been given for her arrest. She had written on her Facebook page in March about COVID-19 cover-ups in Wuhan. This may not be the reason for her arrest given the timeframe. Human Right Watch's executive director Kenneth Roth commented on Twitter:

The Chinese government won't even explain why it detained this Australian television presenter, leaving us to conclude that Cheng Lei's detention is simply the latest example of Beijing's “hostage diplomacy.” https://t.co/n52SLcgec7 pic.twitter.com/c7S0rQKHCR — Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) September 2, 2020

Australian journalist Peter Greste, who spent 440 days in jail in Egypt in relation to his work with Al Jazeera, believes that she may be a political pawn:

This is deeply troubling. If @ChengLeiCGTN has committed a crime, #China should charge her and deal with her swiftly and transparently. If not, they should let her go. Anything less looks like she’s being used as a political or diplomatic hostage. @4JournoFreedom #auspol https://t.co/TC0Ji07SzW — Peter Greste (@PeterGreste) September 1, 2020

Media colleagues from around the world have taken to social media and other online platforms to highlight Cheng's plight. Journalist and academic Tony Walker has called for urgent action at The Conversation:

When it seemed relations between Australia and China could not get much worse, the detention of an Australian citizen working for Chinese state television risks a further deterioration. …Canberra should be doing all it can to ensure she is released from “residential surveillance” as soon as possible.

This follows the lack of success in using of quiet diplomacy to gain the release of Yang Hengjun in China or Kylie Moore-Gilbert in Iran. This latest development happens at a time of deteriorating relations between the Australian and Chinese governments, which has seen growing restrictions on imports by China. This follows Australia’s call for an independent inquiry into the origins of coronavirus. Apparently, Cheng’s profile has been removed fro the CGTN website. Veteran BBC journalist tweeted a widespread concern about the actions of the Chinese state:

The Australian-Chinese news presenter Cheng Lei (@ChengLeiCGTN) has vanished from China Global TV’s screens, & her profile has been wiped from CGTN’s website. The Australian govt says she’s been arrested. Why? It’s disturbing that people can just disappear like this in China. — John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) September 1, 2020

Indian journalist Abhijit Majumber aired similar concerns:

Cheng Lei, Australian TV host, detained in China. Must admit I don’t understand China’s strategy of taking on everybody on multiple fronts. But maybe it is part of a well-thought-out plan. https://t.co/jsauz1uJfQ — Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) September 1, 2020

Artist Marionne Van Katwijk has a suggestion of her own as to the Chinese government's strategy:

Former ambassador to China says situation surrounding detained journalist Cheng Lei is ‘extremely sensitive’ Yeah, China is sending that message again…domination of the world the end game? #auspol https://t.co/FW7HdVJa75 —

marionne van katwijk (@venture2ART) September 1, 2020

Global Voices also talked to Chinese-Australian activist Badiucao and asked his opinion about the Cheng Lei’s detention:

The arrest of Cheng Lei comes as a surprise, but the message is very clear: if we, the CCP, do not hesitate to arrest journalists who work for our own propaganda news agency, you better be careful when you cover China. There is also another chilling message: regardless of your current citizenship, if you were born in China, you are still property of China. This is why I am afraid Cheng Lei might not be the last case like that, we already witnessed it with Yang Hengjun. Clearly this is a sign of desperation on the side of Xi Jinping who wants to reign in the media, having in mind the role it played in the fall of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s. What is interesting is that in this climate of high tension in Sino-Australian relations, the Australian government is reaching a “can’t do this anymore” turning point that is unprecedented. The Australian government is offering special visas to Hong Kong students, it is also commissioning a research on academic freedom in Australia in regard to Chinese pressure. There are also discussions about following the US in the ban of Tik Tok and WeChat social media platforms. But as of now, the message for us activists born in China and living abroad remains the same: we are potential hostages and each of us is facing the same danger as met by Cheng Lei, even if she was actually working to promote China’s official line.

< p class='gv-rss-footer'>Written by Kevin Rennie

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kidsviral-blog · 6 years ago

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Here Are 11 Awesome Wins For Human Rights Over The Past Year

New Post has been published on https://kidsviral.info/here-are-11-awesome-wins-for-human-rights-over-the-past-year/

Here Are 11 Awesome Wins For Human Rights Over The Past Year

The world seems like a pretty horrible place right now, but don’t lose heart. Amnesty International’s annual survey of human rights contains some sunny spots from last year and the start of this year.

Amnesty International has released its annual report on the state of human rights around the world, and most of it makes for pretty somber reading.

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Andrea Comas / Reuters

Amnesty International activists in Madrid protest against Spain’s new security law in Madrid on Nov. 25, 2014. The banner reads “- human rights.”

First, the bad news…

Of the 160 countries that Amnesty assessed, it found that 119 had restricted freedom of expression without a solid reason, 93 had conducted unfair legal trials, 78 had laws that in effect banned consensual gay sex, and 28 banned abortion under any circumstances.

But the report also includes some straight-up human rights wins. Below are 11 of our favorites from last year and this year so far.

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s3.amazonaws.com

1. This month, Egyptian authorities freed Peter Greste, one of three Al Jazeera journalists imprisoned for over a year on charges of spreading false news. His colleagues, Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, have been released on bail but face a retrial.

Free in Cyprus! Feels sweet. Peter back online for first time in 400+ days. Special thanks to Mike 4 nursing twitter

— PeterGreste (@Peter Greste)

2. Last month, 53 Cuban political prisoners were also released, just after the U.S. and the socialist island announced they would be renewing diplomatic ties.

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Stringer / Reuters

Two released dissidents hold the Cuban national flag during a march in Havana on Jan. 11.

3. In women’s rights victories, Morocco’s parliament voted last January to repeal a law that allowed men who raped girls under 18 to escape punishment by marrying their victims. A similar loophole was also removed from a draft law in Mozambique.

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Stringer / Reuters

Moroccan women protest in Rabat in June 2014 after Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane advised them to stay at home and look after their families.

4. Also, Chile decided in June it would allow abortion in some cases, such as those where the pregnancy puts the woman’s life in danger.

Chile, which has some of the world’s most restrictive anti-abortion laws, has announced it will legalise abortion in 3 circumstances: (1/3)

— MissEllieMae (@Ellie Mae O’Hagan)

5. When it came to knowing more about what governments get up to, a U.S. Senate committee’s report on CIA torture in December exposed a brutal Bush-era program that involved both the U.S. and some European countries.

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

CIA Director John Brennan speaks during a news conference on Dec. 11.

6. Also, the U.K. was forced in June to reveal a secret policy justifying the mass surveillance of every Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google user in the country. Wonder if that includes this guy…

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Jon Super / AP

Britain’s Prince Harry takes a photograph with a mobile phone in July 2014.

7. Moving on to LGBT wins, India’s Supreme Court in April granted legal recognition for transgender people, who can now state that they belong to a neutral third gender that is neither male nor female.

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Anindito Mukherjee / Reuters

Celebrations in Delhi in April after India’s Supreme Court recognized a third gender.

8. Also, Serbia’s capital held its first gay pride march since marchers were attacked in 2010. Win!

â˜€ Sunny day for human rights in Serbia! â˜€#Pride #Prajd #BelgradePride2014 @BelgradePride

— Stanwik (@Stanwik)

9. And finally, a proposed law in Uganda that banned the “promotion of homosexuality” was struck down in August. Homosexuality itself remains illegal in Uganda.

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Rebecca Vassie / AP

A Ugandan man during an annual LGBT Pride celebrations in the town of Entebbe in Aug. 2014.

10. In yet another kind of win, Royal Dutch Shell agreed last month to pay a rural Nigerian community $84 million, as compensation for two oil spills in 2008 and 2009. The payment settled a lawsuit brought against Shell in U.K.

RT @LeighDay_Law: #Shell agrees Â£55m compensation deal for Niger Delta communityhttp://t.co/UUUXGFC2YD #Nigeria

— LeighDay_Law (@Leigh Day)

11. And in Cambodia, a UN-backed tribunal in August convicted two top leaders in the vicious 1975–79 Khmer Rouge dictatorship of crimes against humanity and sentenced them to life in prison. They were the first senior Khmer Rouge figures held accountable.

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Pring Samrang / Reuters

A tourist visits the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, which chronicles the Khmer Rouge’s murders, in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, on Jan 21.

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/shyamanthaasokan/all-we-do-is-win-win-win

#amnesty-international #human rights

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