Category Archives: Human rights

Powerful new testimonies from Black American veterans of the corporate media

Helena · 12:27 pm · 06/29/2020 · Black Lives Matter, Human rights, Media, U.S. history

The sustained outpouring of #BlackLivesMatter and related pro-justice activism right across the United States has been pushing important– and in most cases, long-overdue– change at many levels. One level is that of “high-end corporate media”, where just in the past week I have read three very moving essays by Black-American writers  who have seemingly felt … Continue reading Powerful new testimonies from Black American veterans of the corporate media →

New piece on Syria & how the Washington ‘Blob’ still works to punish it

Helena · 9:04 pm · 12/19/2019 · Human rights, Syria, Transitional Justice, U.S. policy, War-crimes courts

Earlier today, I published a new piece over at Medium, on how both wings of the bellophilic Washington “blob” are still working to punish and isolate the Syrian government, rather than providing real support to the peace/reform negotiations that have been (creakingly) underway in Geneva since October 30. (By “both wings”, I mean leaderships of … Continue reading New piece on Syria & how the Washington ‘Blob’ still works to punish it →

What do Paul Wolfowitz, Dan Kurtzer, Aaron Miller, and Prince Andrew have in common?

Helena · 8:26 pm · 11/26/2019 · Human rights, International law, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, U.S. policy

These four  privileged older white guys have all sought (and been granted) exposure in the corporate media recently. Paul Wolfowitz, one of the prime architects and advocates of the 2003 invasion of Iraq, was given this fine platform on the NYT’s opinion page in order to criticize Pres. Trump’s recent decision to withdraw (or late, … Continue reading What do Paul Wolfowitz, Dan Kurtzer, Aaron Miller, and Prince Andrew have in common? →

Bob Bernstein and Human Rights Watch: A Mixed Record

Helena · 7:39 pm · 05/31/2019 · Human rights orgs

Washington DC, May 28 — Robert Bernstein, the founder of Human Rights Watch (HRW) and a pioneering leader of the publishing company Random House, died earlier this week, aged 96. His passing provides a good opportunity to examine the role that HRW and its sometimes outspoken founder have played regarding the Palestinians’ pursuit of their fundamental human … Continue reading Bob Bernstein and Human Rights Watch: A Mixed Record →

Palestinian prisoners win a notable battle

Helena · 3:43 pm · 04/17/2019 · Human rights, Incarceration, International law, Israel, Palestine

Washington DC, April 16 — Palestinian political prisoners held in Israeli jails won a small but significant victory April 15 when the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) agreed to several key demands voiced by 400 prisoners who had been on an open-ended hunger strike. Under the settlement, the IPS agreed to provide three-times-weekly access to (supervised) payphones so … Continue reading Palestinian prisoners win a notable battle →

Palestinian Jerusalem faces a ‘Fourth Wave’ of Israeli assaults

Helena · 4:05 pm · 04/03/2019 · Human rights, Israel, Jerusalem, Palestine

This week, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro became the second prominent rightwing world leader to step up his support for Jerusalem being Israel’s capital, thus joining President Donald Trump in showering Benjamin Netanyahu with diplomatic gifts in the run-up to Israel’s April 9 election. Inside Jerusalem itself, the Israeli government’s push to encircle, suffocate, and expel the … Continue reading Palestinian Jerusalem faces a ‘Fourth Wave’ of Israeli assaults →