19/01/2016
The Widening Gap
Human Wrongs Watch
By Uri Avnery*
16 January 2016
IN ANY list of Israel’s 100 most important women, Ilana Dayan would occupy a prominent position.
Uri Avnery
Dayan (no relation to the late general with the eye patch) is the host of one of the most prestigious television programs.
While Israeli TV in general is slowly sinking into a morass of stupid “reality” entertainment, her program, named “Uvdah” (“Fact”), stands out as a beacon of responsible investigative journalism, of the kind my late weekly news magazine was known for.
In general, Dayan has always been considered as mildly “leftist” – since uncompromising criticism of the powers that be is generally identified with the Left.
Now she is being accused of serving the extreme, near-fascist Right. Shocking.
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19/01/2016
Seven Top Challenges Facing African Women
Human Wrongs Watch
Participants in the African Union Gender Pre-Summit on 2016 African Year of Human Rights, with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women in Addis Ababa | Courtesy of the African Union Commission
These challenges are now top on the agenda of the “8thAfrican Union Gender Pre-Summit on 2016 African Year of Human Rights,with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women” taking place in Addis Ababa on 17 – 21 January.
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19/01/2016
International Tourism Hits Record 1.2 Billion in 2015
Human Wrongs Watch
International tourism grew by 4.4 per cent last year to a record 1.184 billion as calculated by overnight visitors to international destinations, 50 million more than in 2014, and the sixth consecutive year of above-average growth, UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on 18 January 2016 reported.
Tourists on a ferry boat going across the Nile River, Cairo, Egypt. Photo: World Bank/Kim Eun Yeul
“The robust performance of the sector is contributing to economic growth and job creation in many parts of the world. It is thus critical for countries to promote policies that foster the continued growth of tourism, including travel facilitation, human resources development and sustainability” UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said in a press release.
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19/01/2016
Improving Democracy
Human Wrongs Watch
By Johan Galtung* –
Alfaz, Spain, 18 January 2016 – TRANSCEND Media Service – Democracy is rule–decision-making –by the consent of the people, the demos. There is a very good argument: the people will suffer the consequences. Hence rule of, by, and for the people.
Johan Galtung
Problem: which level dominates the decision-making? Level [4] national (government-parliament-courts); [3] regional (provinces-departments), [2] local (LAs, municipalities), level [1] individuals? In theory [1] is primary, basic, sovereign; in practice level [4].
Through elected representatives, packaged in electoral districts; representing individual preferences, packaged in party programs.
Comment, from Germany: “The sovereignty comes from the people–and never comes back” (“vom Volke raus, und kommt niemals zurück“).
The representatives kindly open a window every 4 years or so, 8-12 hours, 1-2 days, for the people to confirm or disconfirm the government. 1-2 days out 4 x 365 = 1460 (+1): around 1 per mil.
However, society has faultlines, by gender-generation-race, class, nation, territory. Only territory is built into the system through the elections by districts, the vote catchment areas.
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19/01/2016
Funding Shortfall Threatens UN efforts to Counter El Niño-Exacerbated Drought in Southern Africa
Human Wrongs Watch
With 14 million people facing hunger in southern Africa as the El Niño weather pattern, the worst in over three decades, exacerbates drought, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on 18 January 2016 warned that it faces critical funding challenges in scaling up food and cash-based aid.
A farmer takes a break in Swaziland. Photo: FAO/Rodger Bosch
“The number of people without enough food could rise significantly over coming months as the region moves deeper into the so-called lean season, the period before the April harvest when food and cash stocks become increasingly depleted,” WFP said in a news release.
“Particularly vulnerable are smallholder farmers who account for most agricultural production.”
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