September 2016 Newsletter

Welcome to this edition of the Peace/Justice action email!

In this newsletter there are two areas of actions.  One concerns South Sudan with a couple of long-term-oriented actions to help its leaders change their calculus that has led to one of the worst humanitarian disasters today.

The second area of action is focused on the appalling working conditions suffered by many around the world, specifically in this case the factory conditions in Bangladesh.

 


STOP ARMS TO SOUTH SUDAN / STOP CORRUPT LEADERS

After the initial euphoria of being the world’s newest country in 2011, South Sudan quickly descended into a horrific quagmire by the end of 2013.  The primary actors were President Kiir (and his Dinka tribe) versus Vice President Machar (and his Nuer tribe) although there are around 60 tribes.  Prior to 2011 they fought together against the government of Sudan (though with many skirmishes against each other).

When they gained independence, placing Machar as VP was supposed to give each tribe a place of positive influence in shaping the new country.  The reality turned out deadly instead in 2013.  By 2014 there were at least 50,000 dead (it is grimly telling that no one even remotely kept track of approximate figures [APF], and could easily be 300,000 now) and by now over two million have fled the area.  Several cease-fires have been made and broken.

Two actions can be taken to help reduce the violence and help change the overall calculus.  The first one focuses on stopping the flow of weapons.  The second action has arisen from a two-year investigation that revealed how both President Kiir and Riek Machar have personally siphoned millions of dollars from the very conflict they have been perpetuating.

Take Action #1:
Stop Weapons to South Sudan [Human Rights Watch]

Take Action #2:
Hold Corrupt South Sudanese Leaders Accountable [Enough Project]

Background:
One Million People Flee South Sudan [Globe&Mail]
South Sudan Leaders Pocket Millions from the Conflict They Continue [Washington Post]

 

 


NESTLÉ & BAT: COMPENSATE VICTIMS OF BANGLADESH FIRE!

Earlier this month at least 39 workers died in a fire that ripped through a factory in Bangladesh. The facility manufactured packaging for Nestlé and British American Tobacco (BAT).

It is the worst industrial accident in Bangladesh since the Rana Plaza building collapse in 2013, where over a thousand workers perished.  This newsletter joined a petition calling on action which eventually resulted in the  Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety Accord.  This accord was signed by global unions and international apparel brands, and created a new inspection system for fire and building safety with a degree of transparency previously unknown in the industry. Another initiative, the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, was led mostly by American brands.

While those have been good steps, there are still far too many factories and other conditions which remain with no or poorly enforced regulations and transparency.  The following action can help bolster the efforts to expand such safety procedures and laws.

Take Action:
Support Victims of Bangladesh Factories

Background:
Tampaco Fire [Sep. 15; Dhaka Tribune]
Fatal Fire – Still Too Many Poor Inspections [HRW]

 

 

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=== FOLLOW-UP TO PREVIOUS ACTIONS AND ARTICLES ===
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Chad’s Ex-Dictator Convicted of Atrocities

In the last newsletter we highlighted some of the convictions that had occurred.  Just as the newsletter was being sent out, one more name can be added to the list, Chad’s former President,  Hissène Habré.  He was found guilty of rape, war crimes, torture and crimes against humanity by the Extraordinary African Chambers in the Senegalese court system.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/30/chads-ex-dictator-convicted-atrocities
Bolivia Enacts New Gender Identity Law

Signed into law in May, this measure allows people to change the gender listed on official documents. The author says it means that “Bolivia joins Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia as the only four nations in the deeply Catholic region to recognize the needs of transsexual and transgender citizens in this way.”  While the article also indicates that the law has met significant resistance, and implicit is a legacy of much pain, behind the headline there exists amazing courage that hopefully will prevail.
A Surprising Move from a ‘macho’ President

 

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=== ARTICLES OF INTEREST ===
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Good News: Polio to be Eliminated Globally This Year

The World Health Organization (WHO) is hopeful that polio will be eradicated this year.  It will take another 3 years of no polio cases before that claim can be verified.  The only other disease to have been eradicated is smallpox.  The last frontier for polio has been Pakistan and Afghanistan, where health officials are often threatened – examples of tremendous courage and perseverance.  Muslim imams have also been helpful in dispelling the notion that the program was some form of Western conspiracy.
http://www.irinnews.org/news/2016/08/05/polio-be-wiped-out-globally-year-who

 

Issues with “Countering Extreme Terrorism”

Developing some form of global consensus and response to the ongoing ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks can seem a reasonable step to take, and a recent UN document is a marker in that direction.  But some argue that the term “Countering Extreme Terrorism” (CVE) is not defined well enough, and the results are already troubling.

One problem is that if you take a “whole of society” approach (promote employment, education, alleviate poverty, etc.) for CVE, that programs well-suited for those basic aims sometimes modify their goals to include CVE.  Yet when not well defined it may reduce their original success without reducing extremism.  Secondly if it is a battle of ideas, then what ideology should be promoted to take its place – there is little consensus among global partners, and much in partners’ actions that contradict any given concept.  And so on – there are several examples given.

This is not to suggest that the endeavour be dropped; only that it be carefully and continually scrutinized and adjusted.  “Gradual reform” among nations may be the best aim possible, which if so, reinforces that we will be in this for the long-haul.
http://www.irinnews.org/analysis/2016/08/10/does-countering-violent-extremism-work

 

Monsanto: Who to Protest Against Now?

Monsanto, the U.S.-based agricultural (seed and related pesticide) company, has just been bought out by the German company Bayer, subject to various regulatory approvals.  Monsanto had come to symbolize much of what was wrong with giant agri-business.  For years around the globe, farmers, environmentalists and academics have vehemently protested against such Monsanto actions as forcing framers to buy both their seed and pesticides;  or their high rate of sung farmers for “using” their seeds even when they were blown onto their fields from  someone else’s fields, etc. [see articles below for examples].

Monsanto has been the arch-type villain [though The Modern Farmer suggests that much of Monsanto’s problems stem from (a) not recognizing the almost difference-in-kind between a patent for say software (something that can be disputed but is on an unremarkable entity) versus a seed (which is more akin to water, earth, life-itself, almost sacred and possibly spiritual); and (b) some of the worst PR on volatile issues.  Read the comment section of the article to get a good sense of the back-and-forth of even this contention].

The bigger issue, however, involves the implications for a shrinking global agri-business.  See the Vox article for the troubling terrain.
Worrisome Monsanto buy-out [Vox]
Colombian Farmers’ Revolt Tied to Agri-business [2013; Global Research]

April Newsletter

Welcome to the April 29, 2013 edition of this Peace&Justice action email!

This issue provides two actions related to Darfur as well as one related to media distortion and an action concerning life patents and the giant multinational Monsanto.  I have decided to have a separate email for the Mental Health issue, which should be sent in two weeks.

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Pour la traduction française: cliqueter ici; et cliqueter alors le bouton de traduction sur la page Web.
Para la traducción española: clic aquí; y entonces hace clic en el botón de traducción en la página web.

 

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DARFUR: TELL U.S. TO SELECT NEW SUDAN ENVOY

The overall situation in Darfur has not changed significantly.  While a recent Doha Conference resulted in over $3 billion pledged for Darfur reconstruction, it is partly a charade given Sudan itself pledged over $2 billion while bombing Darfur citizens.  Apart from that, little can be done until peace and stability exists, something that is no closer.  On the broader scene the Nuba region of Sudan continues to be bombarded and starved.  And within the last couple of days a new rebel offensive has started in a previously relatively untouched area of Northern Kordofan, and also closer to Khartoum.  For more details see Darfur Current Status (UntilAll).

There are two actions in this newsletter.  The first one calls on the U.S. to fill the position of Special Envoy for Sudan which has been vacant since the end of 2012.  As noted in a background article, some groups are critical of the rumored front runner, on the basis that his policies are likely to resemble too closely perceived past failed policies.  While the eventual solution for Sudan must be a political solution embraced by all of Sudan’s stakeholders, and while some feel U.S. involvement primarily skews results in U.S. favour, the stance of this newsletter is that a Special Envoy under Sudan’s current dynamics is a better option than not having one, at least if the second action below (Sudan Peace and Accountability Act), becomes more clearly some of the guiding principles (this newsletter and the above link have previously outlined some of the complexities and conflicting U.S. priorities).

Tell Obama to Fill Position for Special Envoy to Sudan (open to all):
http://www2.americanprogress.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=250

Background:
Genocide scholars’ questions go unanswered; then Envoy resigns
Front Runner for Envoy Position Criticized

 

 

 

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DARFUR / SUDAN: TELL CONGRESS MEMBER TO SUPPORT SUDAN PEACE ACT

The second Darfur / Sudan action involves U.S. citizens, who can tell their members of Congress to support the Sudan Peace, Security and Accountability Act, introduced with bipartisan support.

Take action (U.S citizens only):
http://www2.americanprogress.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=266

Background:
Sudan Peace, Security, and Accountability Act of 2013

 

 

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TELL FOX NEWS HATEFUL MESSAGES MUST BE DEALT WITH

The Boston Marathon bombings were a terrible tragedy.  And while it did bring out wonderful acts of courage and humanity, it also brought out a repulsive act.  Fox News commentator Erik Rush tweeted the words “Yes, they’re evil. Let’s kill them all.” In his tweet, “them” referred to Muslims, and it was tweeted to his nearly 40,000 followers.  If you find this going well beyond the line of any journalist licence, then please consider taking the following action:

Tell FOX News to Drop Erik Rush: (You can edit the message depending on your TV habits):
http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5550/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=13742&tag=foxrushb1

 

 

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TELL E.U. COUNTRIES TO STAND UP TO MONSANTO

One of the disturbing but largely hidden trends being tested over the last few years relates to companies trying to obtain patents, oversimplified, to what are in essence life building blocks, whether genes or seeds.  It is yet another area where ethics and laws are struggling to catch-up to technology, and more importantly to the influence that such large multi-nationals can exert on politics.  In this instance companies like Monsanto have found loopholes in European law to have exclusive rights over conventional seeds (such as everyday vegetables and fruits like cucumber, broccoli and melons).  Such loopholes need to be shut before they set a dangerous global precedent.

The action below is from Avaaz, and is close to reaching 2 million signatures. Such broad implication issues like this one require a giant outcry to help support the needed outcomes.  So please consider signing the petition and try to get it over 2 million:

Tell the EU Patent Organization to Fix Patent Laws:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/monsanto_vs_mother_earth_loc/?byVEqab&v=23909

 

 

 

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=== FOLLOW-UP TO PREVIOUS ISSUES ===
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UN (and US) Approves Arms Trade Treaty; Plus Further on NRA Dialogue

On April 2, the US joined 153 other nations in approving the Global Arms Trade Treaty. That said, for the U.S. to ratify it, it must be passed by its Senate by a super majority.   This is deemed unlikely due to the influence the NRA has on the Senate.  So for US citizens, stay tuned for the rhetoric to heat up again.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/02/us-arms-treaty-un-idUSBRE9310MN20130402

You may recall my attempt in a previous newsletter to try to understand the opposition of the NRA to the Treaty (see: http://untilall.org/uwaa-120.htm).  I did it primarily out of my core principle of dialogue (bumbling as I am at it) – to truly attempt to engage with the stance that seemed so utterly foreign.  And I did find a thin “sliver” of contact – that a person could genuinely connect the dots in a moral way according to all their underlying framings, that would indicate that signing the Treaty was wrong.  It centered around the need to track items.

And before going farther, I would love to continue the personal exploration with anyone via the blog link at the top, unwieldy as blogs are.

But as it currently stands for me, I find that the NRA has shut off dialogue.  It has entered a harmful world of self-righteousness, where its answers and framing are the only true ones, and under no circumstances can it yield even one inch.  Every counter view is a slippery slope, which is part of cascading slippery slopes which always lead to a single family left defenceless in the face of an armed crazed person, or armed tyrannical government or oppressive UN world force.  I find that logic incredulous.  Again I do remain open to mistaken perceptions on my part, but until persuaded otherwise I must be clear the danger and harm I see in the current NRA dynamics.

Somewhat  aside, the following link shows 12 NRA ads over time, showing it going from a government-friendly organization primarily for hunters (actually simply suggesting that belonging to a rifle club is a good way to gain a skill and have fun), to a complete fear-based stance – a fear not only of who lurks in society but to a government and its institutions (FBI, etc.) who you leave open to coming after you if the NRA is not supported, for only it is the true guardian of the Second Amendment.  Now I did find a bit of a sleight of hand going on – for instance from 1920 until now there is a higher proportion of people who lock their doors.  That is, times do change and there is more fear than before at that level.  Plus the rapid changes of today are very loosely linked to a rise in fear.  But neither of those examples fully explains the dramatic shift of the ads.
NRA Ads from 1920 to the present

 

Tunisia: Latest Trend in country that started Arab Spring

Michael Ayari talks to RTCI about the rise of Salafism in the country and the “challenges of the new Tunisia”.
ICG Report: Salafism in Tunisia (YouTube clip)

 

 

 

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=== ARTICLES OF INTEREST ===
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Guatemala Genocide Trial a Landmark . . . And Then Was Scrapped

The trial of former de facto head of Guatemala, Efraín Ríos Montt, on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity, is a landmark achievement in the fight for justice in Guatemala and is a testament to the courage and tenacity of Guatemala’s victims and human rights groups.
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/19/guatemala-genocide-trial-landmark

However, the trial had been in process for a month when on April 18, a separate court annulled the entire case.  Seen as “beyond logic and due process” one can only hope that for the sake of all those who testified and all for whom they represent, as well as for any sense of justice, that a successful appeal will occur.  Here is a short and longer version of the current situation:
Amnesty International article
LA Times more in-depth article

 

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Missed an action email?  An archive is kept at: www.UntilAll.org/archives.htm.