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Human Rights Today: 3-13-09

by John Richardson on March 13, 2009

Today’s update of human rights events around the world.

GAZA: US Gaza Aid Tied to Recognition of Israel

gazawoman t Human Rights Today: 3 13 09Some $900 million pledged by the United States to the Palestinians will be withdrawn if the expected Palestinian Authority coalition government between Fatah and Hamas does not recognize Israel’s right to exist, Western and Israeli diplomats said Wednesday.  Common Dreams

CANADA: Ban Bush From Canada for War Crimes

Canadian flagA lawyers’ group has asked the RCMP to bar former U.S. president George W. Bush from entering Canada, citing torture and war crimes committed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  Common Dreams

TUNISIA: Revolving Door Shows Intolerance for Dissent

Tunisian flagThe Tunisian government released a long-serving political prisoner only to re-arrest him a few weeks later solely for expressing his political views to the media, Human Rights Watch said today.  Human Rights Watch

US: Cluster Bomb Exports Banned

American flagLegislation signed into law on March 11, 2009 by President Obama will make permanent a ban on nearly all cluster bomb exports by the United States, Human Rights Watch said today. The United States should review its stance on joining the international treaty prohibiting cluster munitions in light of this action, Human Rights Watch said.  Human Rights Watch

CHINA: Putting a Face to Internet Censorship

Chinese flagI wasn’t going to post again today, but I was just reading Erica’s post, and I went to Daily Kos to check out the comments. One commenter was of the opinion that free speech is just an American construct, and others responded that freedom of expression and information are acutally guaranteed in Article 19 of the UDHR and also in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, of which China is a signatory. That’s good to know, but that level of discussion can make it easy to forget about the actual human cost of governments respecting those human rights, and corporations not standing up for them.  Amnesty USA

PERU: Spying on Social Movements

Peruvian flagBusiness Track, a private security firm, was engaged in spying on non-governmental organisations, environmental activists, social movements and opposition groups in Peru, sources in the police, prosecutor’s office and courts investigating the case told IPS.  IPS

ZIMBABWE: Roy Bennett walks out of prison after spending a month in jail

Zimbabwe FlagMDC National Treasurer and Deputy Agriculture Minister – designate, Hon. Roy Bennett who was yesterday granted a US$5 000 bail was this morning released from Mutare Prison.  This is Zimbabwe

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Wal-Mart Looking for Redemption

by Rob Kellogg on October 25, 2008

thumbs upjpg 150x150 Wal Mart Looking for Redemption

The poster child of anti-labor business practices has just launched a new mandate for its global suppliers to adhere to stricter ethical standards. The company made the announcement Wednesday in Beijing at its first “sustainability summit.” China is home to some of the world’s most lax labor and environmental regulations and it is for this reason – along with cheap labor costs – why companies like Wal-Mart consider the country the “go-to” source of goods for its stores.

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The company plans to launch the new supplier agreement in January which would include contract provisions to allow for outside audits of specific social and environmental criteria, including a ban on child and forced labor and pay below the local minimum wage.

But many are still highly skeptical. For example, on Thursday the AP reported that Wal-Mart closed an auto repair center in Canada where workers had recently voted to organize. The closure comes after an arbitrator in Quebec had imposed a labor contract on the facility in August. The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union called the closure an “attack” on all Wal-Mart workers. This act follows a store closure by the company in Jonquiere, Quebec in 2005 after workers there agreed to unionize. The union has a Canada Supreme Court case pending over whether those workers’ rights were violated.

In the U.S., Wal-Mart has been one of the most aggressive companies in opposing a bill called the Employee Free Choice Act before the U.S. Congress that would allow labor organizations to unionize workplaces without secret ballot elections.

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