Stories of Human Abuse and Human being in wretched plight all around the World

UN confirms massive oil pollution in Niger Delta The UN shows evidence of the devastating impact of oil pollution on people in the Delta © Kadir van Lohuizen/NOOR Shell's systemic failure to address oil spills for many years is addressed in the report © Kadir van Lohuizen/NOOR 4 August 2011 The oil company Shell has had a disastrous impact on the human rights of the people living in the Niger Delta in Nigeria, said Amnesty International, responding to a UN report on the effects of oil pollution in Ogoniland in the Delta region. The report from the United Nations Environment Programme is the first of its kind in Nigeria and based on two years of in-depth scientific research. It found that oil contamination is widespread and severe, and that people in the Niger Delta have been exposed for decades. “This report proves Shell has had a terrible impact in Nigeria, but has got away with...

20 April 2011 Media discouraged from reporting on tsunami, earthquake fallout, says CPJ Hiro Ugaya in tsunami-destroyed Noda Mura village, which received scant media attention Freelancers in Japan says they and foreign and online media have been actively excluded from reporting on the nuclear threat and other calamities resulting from the earthquake and tsunami, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Last week, the Japanese government upped the danger rating for the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station to its highest level. According to CPJ, it is not clear if the government or Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which runs the plant, withheld the extent of the risk. "The local media's habitual allegiance to officials who arrange press conferences and companies that buy advertising makes it hard to tell, and freelancers who are eager to probe deeper say their questions have been suppressed," said CPJ. Take author and freelancer Takashi Ue...

Tsunami hits north-eastern Japan after massive quake source : BBC Tsunami hits north-eastern Japan after massive quake A massive earthquake has hit the north-east of Japan, triggering a tsunami that has caused extensive damage. Japanese television showed cars, ships and even buildings being swept away by a vast wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake. The quake has sparked fires in several areas including Tokyo, and numerous casualties are feared. It struck about 250 miles (400km) from the capital at a depth of 20 miles. There have been powerful aftershocks. The tremor hit at 1446 local time (0546 GMT). Seismologists say it is one of the largest earthquakes to hit Japan for many years. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx At the scene Roland Buerk BBC News, Tokyo When the earthquake hit, buildings in Tokyo swayed. Walking was like crossing the deck of a ship at sea. People poured down from their...

Stand in solidarity. Demand an end to the crackdown in Egypt. Clashes erupted with organized groups of pro-government supporters attacking protesters in Cairo and across Egypt. © Nasser Nouri When violence broke out in Tahrir Square an anti-Mubarak protester interviewed on TV said, “The difference between us and animals is that we have dignity.” Protesters are demanding change but their right to do so peacefully is not being respected. They have been the target of violent attacks by pro-government supporters, while Egyptian authorities have failed to...

Ciudad Juarez's drug war death toll hits 3,000 This year's death toll from drug-related violence in the north Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez has reached 3,000 - 10 times the figure recorded in 2007. A total of 7,386 people have been killed in Ciudad Juarez in the The grim milestone was reached after two murders on Tuesday, the Chihuahua state attorney-general's office said. Last year, 2,763 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez, 1,140 more than in 2008. More than 30,000 people have died across Mexico since President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against the drug cartels in 2006. Northern states have seen much of the violence, with cartels fighting each other for control of the lucrative drug smuggling routes to the US. Exodus Arturo Sandoval, a spokesman for Chihuahua's attorney-general, announced on Tuesday that, with two weeks left in 2010, 3,000 murders had been recorded in Ciudad Juarez, a city of 1.3 million ...

Blasphemy trials in Pakistan reveal a broken justice system By Karin Brulliard and Shaiq Hussain Washington Post Foreign Service Friday, December 10 KULLUWAL, PAKISTAN - With its single dirt road, friendly residents and abundance of drowsing donkeys, this village hardly seems a hotbed of religious radicalism. Nevertheless, four years ago, dozens of angry townspeople marched and chanted, "Death to the blasphemer!" Their demands were answered. Two years later, court records show, a teenaged Muslim named Muhammad Shafique was sentenced to hang for cursing the Prophet Muhammad and tossing pages of the Koran onto "cow dung and urine." Today, an air of regret permeates Kulluwal. Shafique's accusers fled town, and their relatives now say the allegations were lies. Many residents call the case a setup fueled by political and personal rivalries. But as Shafique waits on death row, his appeal stuck in Pakistan's glacial courts, no one is quite sure what...

9 December 2010 Afghan law has done little for women - UN report By Bilal Sarwary BBC News, Kabul Things have improved little for many women, the report says Millions of Afghan women continue to suffer from violence and harmful practices despite a new law aimed at curbing such abuse, the UN says. In a new report , the UN spoke to women and men across the country, including officials and religious leaders. The report paints a bleak picture of life for Afghan women in urban and rural areas among all ethnic groups. Women still face "honour killings" and forced marriages nine years after the Taliban were ousted, it said. The report blames insecurity and poverty caused by three decades of war, but it also says the government is not doing enough to protect women's rights. A law was introduced last year to eliminate violence against women...

December 2010: Take Action Source : Amnesty International A 38-year old labour activist, Su Su Nway , is serving a sentence of eight and a half years in a remote prison in Myanmar because she put up an anti-government banner in Yangon. In Mexico, Father Alejandro Solalinde Guerra , is being intimidated by gangs and officials for providing a safe refuge to migrants who are exploited by criminals. A woman in Senegal, Khady Bassène , is still waiting for justice and to find out what happened to her husband who disappeared in 1999. These are ordinary people involved in extraordinary struggles and we don’t want to forget them. Write for Rights That’s why we participate in Write for Rights . Every year around Internatio...

TRIPURA HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATION ( THRO) A few days ago (from 20 Nov to 2 Dec.2010), I had visited a North Eastern State Tripura, in India. I looked for any news regarding Human Rights Violation or involving Human Rights activities. I talked to many people, but no one can shed light on this topics. I asked even a Sub-divisional Magistrate. There was no clue to be mentioned about human rights violation. People seemed peaceful and happy. My search was not finished and finally I came to know an organization through some of my close friends. The name of the Organisation is TRIPURA HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATION ( THRO). I went to the office and met with general secretary, Mr. Purusuttam Roy Burman. An influential, powerful and intellectual man. A lawyer in profession. He provided me some reports and told me in brief the present state of human Rights in Tripura. I have been pleased by the action the organization took earlier. Thank you. The organisation has some upcoming p...