Recent Progress In Copenhagen Is Not Progress Enough
The imminent arrival of world leaders in Copenhagen seems to have given the climate talks a boost, with the Danish leader claiming there had been “very fruitful” discussions late last night. Positively, Hilary Clinton has admitted that it is poor countries who will suffer the most if the talks fail, and claimed the USA is committed both to reaching a deal and to contributing towards a $100bn annual fund to support developing countries.

She didn’t fail to include a small get-out clause that this all still needed to be a ‘common effort’, (interpreted as, “We’ll do the right thing, but only as long as Europe, China, Australia and India do the right thing.”) However, non-governmental observers are claiming that a recently leaked UN draft agreement has gone no where near far enough to stop runaway climate change. Hopes were fading fast that Copenhagen could achieve a fair deal by the end of the initial two-week negotiating period, so countries already facing the devastating implications of a changing climate have called on negotiators to stay in Copenhagen until a fair and binding deal is done.

 

 

CIA Accused Of Allowing Torture In The West Bank
It’s almost a year since US President Obama claimed that under his administration, America would not use torture as an interrogation technique. But a recent investigation claims that Palestinian security agents in the West Bank, working closely with the CIA, are using torture on Hamas sympathisers. Human Rights organisations claim that at the very least, American agents are well aware of the abuses and are doing nothing to try and prevent them; and at worst, almost supervising the agents involved. Over 400 Hamas sympathisers are currently being held by Palestinian Security Agents, and three detainees have died in custody this year due to mis-treatment.  
 

International Migrants Day
Today, December 18, 2009, is International Migrants Day, which everyone is invited to observe by remembering the ‘human rights and fundamental freedoms’ of migrants. A new campaign has been launched to remember the ‘invisible victims’ of migration; those who experience abuse, assault, and sometimes murder, including those from Latin America hoping to make it to the USA.

Food Price Rise Means More People Going Hungry
Food prices have hit a ten-year high in India, in part due to lower farm productivity because of droughts, flooding, and more unpredictable weather. Additionally, more and more people are leaving farming for what appears to be a more attractive lifestyle in the city. The number of people going hungry in the world hit one billion this year for the first time since records began.

Rape. Asking For it?
Indian Politician Shantaram Naik has claimed that cases of rape that happen “even beyond the middle of the night” should be treated differently to other cases of sexual assault, with the implication that women who stay out late are more deserving of attack. Naik is a member of the ruling Congress Party and his comments have been widely criticised by members of the opposition parties.

Words: Sarah Rowe. Ctrl.Alt.Shift's Sarah is representing the movement in Leeds.
Photos: Flickr user MIRIAM GODET

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