Civilization and Human 'Oneness' — Templates for a Viable System of International Law
“God loves from Whole to Part, but human soul Must rise from Individual to the Whole.” Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man Though poorly understood, humankind can survive on this planet only by embracing viable systems of international law. More than anything else, these world-centered legal systems must be founded upon axiomatic principles of human [...]
Russia accused Ukraine of deliberately shooting down a Russian Military Transport plane Wednesday carrying 65 Ukrainian Military personnel for an alleged “pre-agreed exchange” of prisoners of war. The incident reportedly killed 74, including six crew members and 3 Russian officers. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the shooting down of a [...]
The resumption of any kind of negotiations or diplomatic ties with the Taliban should come with principles and conditions. Such conditions should be no less than those enshrined in the fundamental principle of human rights and dignity and expected in a multi-ethnic and democratic country. Afghanistan cannot afford to settle for anything less than the [...]
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, urged Comoros authorities on Wednesday to ensure the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as Comoros witnessed protests against Sunday’s presidential election. After the incumbent president Azali Assoumani won a fourth term, Comoros’s main opposition party, Juwa, called on people to protest and for [...]
Donald Trump and Capital Punishment: Sounding the Death Knell for American Democracy
During every execution in the United States, Death Penalty Action* holds a virtual vigil simultaneously with local death penalty abolitionists protesting outside the prisons and state capitals or governor’s mansions where the state-sponsored killing is taking place. When these gatherings are in person, those in attendance toll the same massive bell at the time the [...]
Suriname court denies former President Bouterse's appeal in murder trial
The High Court of Justice of Suriname upheld on Wednesday a 20-year prison sentence for former President Desi Bouterse in connection with the December 1982 murders of 15 political opponents during his regime. Bouterse, who served as president of the sovereign state from 2010 to 2020, initially rose to power as Suriname’s de facto leader from [...]
Peru constitutional court affirms ex-president pardon despite international court ruling
The Peru constitutional court moved Wednesday to affirm a 2017 pardon granting the release of ex-President Alberto Fujimori despite an Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ruling that required the release be blocked. Fujimori was convicted in 2009 and sentenced to the maximum term of 25 years for various war crimes and corruption during his [...]
Why do coups d’état happen? Is it that bad leadership pushes people to their boiling points, compelling them to take matters into their own hands? Or is it a lack of adequate preventative laws? Do external factors play a role? And in Africa specifically, how much of an impact does history tend to have? Moreover, [...]
The Power of the People: Protests Through the Lens of Kenya and Ghana
Many people, especially ignorant people, want to punish you for speaking the truth, for being correct, for being you. Never apologize for being correct, or for being light years ahead of your time. If you are right and you know it, speak your mind. Speak your mind. Even if you are a minority, the truth [...]
Israel-Hamas War Law Student Interview Series: ‘It's a time of crisis’
Editors’ note: On Oct. 7, Hamas militants staged a surprise attack on Israel, as a result of which at least 1,400 Israelis were killed and hundreds were taken hostage. In the days since, Israeli forces have launched a counter-offensive in Gaza that has taken thousands of Palestinian lives, according to local reports. As tensions continue [...]
