RightsBase

human rights news & views

Irish peace activist’s conviction overturned

On 29 January 2003, Mary Kelly, a 50 year-old Irish nurse, climbed a fence in broad daylight at Shannon airport in the west of the Republic of Ireland and 'disarmed' a US Navy warplane with an axe. "Fully aware of the consequences" — up to 10 years' imprisonment — the mother-of-four 'smashed' the plane's nose-cone […]

Ireland in breach of Torture Convention: Shannonwatch

Shannonwatch is a non-governmental organisation established to monitor the use of an Irish civilian airport by foreign military. These plane-spotting peace and human rights activists conduct "continuous monitoring of all military flights and rendition-linked flights in and out of Shannon [Airport] and through Irish airspace," many of them occurring in the dead of night. Shannonwatch […]

Unnatural disasters

Tonight's post will be brief — just a quote — in honour of the victims of the Christchurch earthquake (pictured) and all who suffered in the recent floods and fires in Australia.  These all may have been caused by climate change. "All across the world, in every kind of environment and region known to man […]

Nexus between environmental degradation & human rights

I write to you from Australia, where an area bigger than Germany and France combined is under water. Filthy, noxious water and mud. Three-quarters of Queensland has been declared a disaster zone – that’s a disaster twice the size of Texas. In a small town called Grantham, west of Brisbane, buildings were not so much filled […]

No peace without peacemakers

In his "powerful, personal statement on radical confrontation with contemporary society," US Jesuit priest Daniel Berrigan wrote in 1971:  “We have assumed the name of peacemakers, but we have been, by and large, unwilling to pay any significant price. And because we want the peace with half a heart and half a life and will, […]

Brad Manning’s treatment inhuman and illegal

US psychologists concerned about the treatment of alleged Wikileaker 23 year-old Bradley Manning have written an open letter to the US Secretary of Defense.  They describe the conditions in which he has been held since July 2010: "in solitary confinement  … in his cell for approximately 23 hours a day, a cell approximately 6 feet […]

A choice between race and rights

On Human Rights Day this year, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission continued its tradition of hosting an oration in Melbourne.  This year's guest speaker was award-winning journalist, author and political and social commentator David Marr and his topic: "Does Australia really give a damn about rights?" In a delightful coincidence, Federation Square […]

Nonviolent pacifists hooded and convicted

Five peace activists were convicted this week of trespass and property damage by a US federal court jury. All aged over 60, the defendants now face prison sentences of up to 10 years. They are: Sacred Heart Sister Anne Montgomery (83), Jesuit priests Bill Bischel (81) and Steve Kelly (60), Jonah House community member Susan […]

Global Day of Listening to Afghans: 18-19 December

Open letter from Afghan Youth to our World Leaders Dear Mr Obama, Mrs Clinton, Mr Petraeus, Mr Rasmussen and all our world leaders, We are Afghans and we ask the world to listen. Like you, we couldn't live without the love of our family and friends. We were hurt by your criticism of Mr Karzai […]

Burma’s election a sham, or worse

Tomorrow's election in Burma will have very little to do with democracy.  Human Rights Watch says: "Only two parties will field candidates for almost every open seat: the military-backed party and the pro-military former Burmese socialist party. Political parties not aligned with the military report that they’re being prevented from campaigning. … Opposition to military […]