The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report warns that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, driving more extreme weather and posing serious threats to lives, ecosystems, and economies. In 2024, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on …
Thousands of tribals in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district are on the run after they were allegedly attacked by the local administration and upper caste landlords. On April 19, 2007, tribals in Ghateha village, bordering Uttar Pradesh, were evicted from the over 400-hectare (ha) forestland by a large contingent of police …
>> US publications like The Washington Post and National Geographic are increasing their offerings of "green' content, hoping to attract readers and advertising revenues from manufacturers and retailers who are suddenly walking the earth-friendly path. The National Geographic Society has also rolled out a new site: Green.National Geographic.com. That site …
shakuntala, 60, of Chamarpura village in Moradabad district in Uttar Pradesh continues to carry her traditional occupation of manual scavenging. She has no other alternative. On March 18, 2007, the National Human Rights Commission (nhrc) came down heavily on non-compliant states to adopt the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction …
pakistan president Pervez Musharraf recently suspended chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on allegations of misconduct and misuse of authority. Lawyers, opposition parties, human rights activists and some judges condemned the suspension effected on March 6, 2007, calling it unconstitutional and a blow to the independence of the judiciary. The Supreme …
On March 28, 2007, West Bengal's chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee announced that the state had scrapped the proposal to build a special economic zone in the state's Nandigram block in East Midnapur district and took responsibility for the March 14 police firing (see
A report by human rights watchdog Amnesty International released on March 29, unveils the sinister role that global Internet service providers have played in China to help the government curb freedom of expression. The report, "Undermining Freedom of Expression in China: The role of Yahoo!, Microsoft and Google', says these …
On March 14, 2006, about 3,000 police personnel forced their way into West Bengal's Nandigram block, injuring and killing many villagers. Villages in the block, in East Midnapur district, have been resisting the state government's plan to set up a special economic zone (sez) in the area. The official death …
the massacre at Nandigram came as a shock to most. In retrospect, though, it needn't have. cpi(m)'s unrelenting drive to industrialise and urbanise West Bengal has had the makings of a disaster for some time now
Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, a documentary by Rory Kennedy, shows that torture in Iraq's infamous prison cannot be written off as excesses by over-belligerent soldiers. Culpability trickled upward all the way to Washington, it shows. The film focuses on the way people assigned as prison guards at Abu Ghraib so …
Did all the human rights groups and journalists who investigated the Salwa Judum-Naxalite conflict raging in Chhattisgarh for over two years get it wrong? The state-backed anti-Naxalite tribal militia isn't responsible for the forcible displacement of thousands of people in Dantewada district. It hasn't looted and pillaged villages, burnt homes …
The World Diamond Council has expressed concerns over reports that rough diamonds from Zimbabwe are being smuggled into South Africa for sale into the world market under fraudulent
Hindu religion generally considers life forms as sacred and it has developed sanctity by association, such as the swan, eagle and bull that serve as vehicles for the major deities such as the Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, respectively. Some animals such as the Hanuman langur, cobra and elephant are sacred …
This World Disasters Report focuses on how women, the elderly, minorities and people with disabilities are discriminated against in disasters. It says aid agencies and governments should make more effort to avoid discrimination in their relief and recovery programmes.
The Manual on the Right to Water and Sanitation is designed to assist policy makers and practitioners in implementing the right to water and sanitation. This publication addresses the vital need to clarify how human rights can be practically realised in the water and sanitation sector. The manual demonstrates that …
Building another world, announced banners festooned near the entrance of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. "Yahan mela laga hai kya? (is there a carnival underway here?),' the auto-rickshaw driver asked, as I asked him to stop his vehicles near one of the banners. No, this is the Indian Social Forum (isf), I …
www.sweatshopwatch.org Chinese checker Since the elimination of global garment and textile quotas on January 1, 2005, analysts have predicted that China will dominate global garment production. However, the question emerges: are Chinese workers "winning' or how much are multinational corporations profiting at their expenses? What are working conditions and wages …
the Justice B P Jeevan Reddy Report reviewing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (afspa), 1958, has recommended repealing the act. But, it has also said that parts of the act be included in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (ulp), 1967, which is applicable across the country. The five-member committee …
Militia minors The state of terror Errabore relief camp, Dantewada, September 2, 2006: Ramesh carries a .303 rifle. He’s not sure of his age. “Maybe 16,” he says doubtfully, and adds that he hasn’t really shot anyone yet. The teenager has had only a week’s combat training at the police …
