Human Rights

A Victory for Ehren Watada -- and for Freedom of the Press

by Sarah Olson — November 26, 2007 - 11:00am
  • Topics: Journalism, Iraq, Defend the Press, Human Rights

    • Army First Lieutenant Ehren Watada saw his case move one step closer to resolution earlier this month when a federal court issued a preliminary injunction against a second court martial. The Army's prosecution of the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq has been in legal limbo since a February court martial ended abruptly when the military judge threw out a stipulation agreement and declared a mistrial.

    Deadly Cowboys

    by Bob Burton — November 25, 2007 - 5:49am

    Blackwater USA is a private military contractor facing a federal U.S. grand jury investigation for the shooting of Iraqi citizens. The company recently hit the headlines after its personnel opened fire on Iraqi civilians in September, killing 17.

    Main Source: 
    Washington Post, November 20, 2007

    A Preview of "Stop-Loss": A Film by Kimberly Peirce

    by Judith Siers-Poisson — November 19, 2007 - 4:29pm
  • Topics: Iraq, Arts / Culture, Ethics, Human Rights, Politics, U.S. Government, War / Peace

    • On Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Hollywood came to Madison, Wisconsin. Paramount Pictures sponsored a free pre-release screening of "Stop-Loss," which is due to hit theaters nationwide on March 28, 2008. (It will be released in the U.K. on April 18, 2008.) Writer and director Kimberly Peirce, best known for directing "Boys Don't Cry," was in attendance and took part in an extended questions and answer session after the screening.

    Olympic Sponsors Go for the Green (Forget Darfur and Tibet)

    by Diane Farsetta — November 16, 2007 - 6:46pm

    Human rights, environmental, health and labor campaigns around the Beijing 2008 Olympics that seek to change China's behavior are increasingly targeting Olympic sponsors.

    Main Source: 
    Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), November 15, 2007

    Featured Participatory Project: Record Whether Your Senator Voted to Confirm Bush's A.G. Pick

    by Conor Kenny — November 14, 2007 - 9:56am

    Michael Mukasey was confirmed as the Attorney General of the United States by the Senate last week in a contentious 53-40 vote.

    Main Source: 
    Congresspedia

    Torturing Evidence in Iraq

    by Diane Farsetta — November 12, 2007 - 4:19pm

    According to a "privately contracted interrogator working for American forces in Iraq, near the Iranian border," U.S. intelligence activities in Iraq are skewed to find incriminating evidence against Iran. Micah Brose told The Observer that U.S. officials "push a lot for us to establish a link with Iran. They have pre-categories for us to go through, and by the sheer volume of categories there's clearly a lot more for Iran than there is for other stuff.

    Main Source: 
    The Observer (UK), November 11, 2007

    Blackwater's Repositioning, Real and Imagined

    by Diane Farsetta — October 31, 2007 - 5:04pm

    As investigations into its shootings of Iraqi civilians continue, the private military contractor Blackwater USA is softening its public image. "The company's roughneck logo — a bear's paw print in a red crosshairs, under lettering that looks to have been ripped from a fifth of Jim Beam — has undergone a publicity-conscious, corporate scrubbing," reports Paul Von Zielbauer.

    Main Source: 
    New York Times, October 22, 2007

    NATO Considers Joining the Media War

    by Diane Farsetta — October 31, 2007 - 3:21pm

    "At the end of a two-day informal meeting of defence ministers in the Netherlands, NATO's secretary general reiterated ...

    Main Source: 
    The Canadian Press, October 25, 2007

    Some Refugees Are More Equal Than Others

    by Sheldon Rampton — October 30, 2007 - 12:38pm

    Iraqi refugees in SyriaAs fires rage in southern California, the U.S. media devoted extensive coverage to the refugees displaced by the disaster and even to the fate of horses and other farm animals.

    Main Source: 
    LinkTV, October 29, 2007
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