UN Women: Communications Procedure of the Commission on the Status of Women Any individual, non-governmental organization, group or network may submit communications (complaints/appeals/petitions) to the Commission on the Status of Women containing info

http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/communications_procedure.html#where

 

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Communications Procedure of the Commission on the Status of Women

Any individual, non-governmental organization, group or network may submit communications (complaints/appeals/petitions) to the Commission on the Status of Women containing information relating to alleged violations of human rights that affect the status of women in any country in the world. The Commission on the Status of Women considers such communications as part of its annual programme of work in order to identify emerging trends and patterns of injustice and discriminatory practices against women for purposes of policy formulation and development of strategies for the promotion of gender equality.

Deadline Any person or organization with a communication should write by 1 August 2012.  More info >>

The current communications procedure of the Commission on the Status of Women has its roots in Economic and Social Council resolution 76 (V) of 5 August 1947, as amended by the Council in resolution 304 I (XI) of 14 and 17 July 1950. The mandate of the Commission on the Status of Women to consider communications has been reaffirmed and the modalities of the procedure have been further modified by the Council (see Council resolutions 1983/27 of 26 May 1983, 1992/19 of 30 July 1992, 1993/11 of 27 July 1993, 2009/16 of 28 July 2009and decision 2002/235 of 24 July 2002).

What types of communications are sought?
What information should be included in a communication?
The procedure
Examples of categories of communications received and trends and patterns identified in recent years
Where to submit a communication to the Commission on the Status of Women

What types of communications are sought?

Accurate and detailed information relating to the promotion of women's rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields in any country anywhere in the world.

What information should be included in a communication?

It is advisable that communications should:

• Identify as far as possible the woman victim, or women victims
• Indicate clearly where (the particular country/several countries) the alleged violation(s) or pattern of violations have occurred or are occurring
• Provide, when available, dates and circumstances of the alleged violations
• Explain the context by providing relevant background information
• Provide, when available, copies of documentation

The procedure

Examples of categories of communications received and trends and patterns identified in recent years

• Arbitrary arrests of women
• Deaths and torture of women in custody
• Forced disappearances or abductions of women
• Discriminatory application of punishments in law based on sex, including corporal and capital punishment
• Violation of the rights of women human rights defenders to freedom of expression and assembly
• Threats or pressure exerted on women not to complain or to withdraw complaints
• Impunity for violations of the human rights of women
• Stereotypical attitudes towards the role and responsibilities of women
• Domestic violence
• Forced marriage and marital rape
• Virginity testing
• Contemporary forms of slavery, including trafficking in women and girls
• Sexual harassment of women in the workplace
• Unfair employment practices based on sex, including unequal pay
• Lack of due diligence by States to adequately investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of violence against women
• Discrimination against women under immigration and nationality laws
• Violations of the rights of women to own and inherit property
• Discrimination against women in accessing international humanitarian aid
• Forcible evictions of women in conflict situations

All claims must be submitted in writing and signed by e-mail, fax, or regular mail. However, the author's identity is not made known to the Government(s) concerned unless she/he agrees to the disclosure.

Please note that the Commission on the Status of Women does not take decisions on the merit of communications that are submitted to it and, therefore, the communications procedure does not provide an avenue for the redress of individual grievances.

Where to submit a communication to the Commission on the Status of Women

Any person or organization with a communication should write by 1 August 2012 to:

CSW Communications Procedure
Human Rights Section 
UN Women 
220 East 42nd Street, 17th floor,
New York, NY 10017
USA 

or 
Send an e-mail message to: cp-csw@unwomen.org

http://www.sarayaku.com/ The official website of Sarayaku - This is the official website of theAutonomous Territory of the Original Kichwa Nation of Sarayaku (TAYJA-SARUTA)

Toke of the Town - Call To Action: Stop The Feds From Silencing Robert Platshorn - By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~

http://www.tokeofthetown.com/2012/07/call_to_action_stop_the_feds_from_silencing_robert.php

 

Call To Action: Stop The Feds From Silencing Robert Platshorn

By Steve Elliott ~alapoet~ in News

Friday, July 27, 2012 at 10:57 am

The Silver Tour

Robert Platshorn spreads the truth about cannabis through The Silver Tour. Now the federal government has moved to silence him

Here's What You Can Do To Fight Back Against The Feds Who Would Trample On Robert Platshorn's Rights For Spreading The Truth About Marijuana

It's time to push back and expose the bureaucrats that are now moving behind the scenes to silence cannabis activists like The Silver Tour's Robert Platshorn all over the country. They are acting as a secret army, in anticipation of the upcoming spate of pro cannabis ballot initiatives. There are serious First Amendment rights at stake, not to mention their intent to kill the tremendous public momentum for ending cannabis prohibition. 

"We must shine a light on these bureaucrats and expose their actions," Platshorn told Toke of the Town Friday morning from his home in Florida. "There is nothing that frightens them more than jerking them out of the shadows that hides them from public scrutiny while they do their dirty work."

"The first time I noticed something odd was the announcement in The Modesto Bee that Bryan [Epis] was given an extremely odd sentence reduction -- if he agreed not to speak in public to promote legalization," Platshorn told us. (Oddly, the link to the newspaper story -- from just two days ago -- is now dead.)

"Although we had strong claims, I understand and concur in Bryan's decision to accept the government's offer ... in order to get back to his family as soon as possible," Epis' attorney, John Balazs, said Monday. "At the same time, it seems un-American for the government to insist ... that Bryan give up his First Amendment right to advocate for the reform of our country's marijuana laws." 

The Silver Tour

Platshorn thought this just a bizarre incident, until his parole officer, Scott Kirsche phoned and rescinded Platshorn's permission to travel to Chicago to speak at the national meeting of The American Bar Association, with this chilling caveat:

"I am ordered by my superiors [Reginald Michael and Frank Smith] to inform you that your permission to travel to Chicago is rescinded and you cannot travel to promote the legalization of marijuana without the permission of the U.S. Parole Commission in Washington D.C. You must request their permission directly."

"Last night, I began getting messages indicating that activists in several key states with ballot initiatives were being pressured to modify their messages or curb their public activities," Platshorn told Toke of the Town. "No one could pinpoint the original source of these pressures."

As for the forced cancellation of his appearance at the A.B.A. convention, Platshorn told us, "I can't begin to quantify the loss to the movement, The Silver Tour, to our TV show, Should Grandma Smoke Pot? and the financial lose of much-needed book sales that buy my groceries.

"I had planned a really powerful presentation that I believe would have raised millions of dollars for Grandma and a tremendous upswell of support from the nearly 400,000 influential members of that organization," Platshorn said.

What can be done?

Here is a good start.

"This man has remained in the shadows, but exerts tremendous power over thousands of people like me," Platshorn said. "The man who is ultimately in charge of my fate in this matter and all other parole matters, is Isaac Fulwood Jr., the Commissioner of the U.S. Parole Commission in D.C. 

Call to Action: Thousands, Not Dozens Are Needed

In order of effectiveness, phone calls, letters and emails are needed to Fulwood with copies to the press expressing outrage at the actions of his subordinates trampling on Robert Platshorn's First Amendment rights and denying Platshorn the opportunity to address the A.B.A. and speak at legitimate political rallies to promote sensible changes to our draconian cannabis laws.

Correspondence to the U.S. Parole Commission may be sent to:

U.S. Parole Commission   

90 K Street, N.E., Third Floor

Washington, D.C. 20530

By Email

USPC FOIA: USPC.FOIA@usdoj.gov

Media Contact: USPC.media@usdoj.gov

By Phone

(202) 346-7000

USPC Officials: See the Directory of Department Officials

If you can't reach Fulwood at The U.S. Parole Commission after several tries, try him at the University of the District of Columbia. Presently, Commissioner Fulwood is an Adjunct Professor at the University, where he teaches Law Enforcement subjects, Community Policing, and Ethics in Law Enforcement.

"Please get the word out and take action," Platshorn said. "More than the fate of one activist is riding on this. Dozens of letters or calls will only be annoying. Hundreds of calls will get his attention and thousands of calls and letters will bring change."

Tags: federal government, platshorn, silenced

Palm Beach Post -By Jane Musgrave - parole office discharged Platshorn loses first round in 'special' parole fight with parole office - header edited by Mark Aldiss

Posted: 12:49 p.m. Friday, July 20, 2012

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/crime-law/convicted-former-pot-smuggler-platshorn-loses-firs/nPzCB/

 

Convicted former pot smuggler Platshorn loses first round in parole fight

By Jane Musgrave

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

WEST PALM BEACH — 

Convicted pot smuggler turned medicinal marijuana advocate Robert Platshorn has lost the first round in his fight with the U.S. Parole Commission.

Pointing out that Platshorn’s quest for freedom to speak at such events as Hempfest Seattle, Sacramento Hempfest and Detroit High Times Medical Cannabis Cup seems to conflict with his marijuana-related crimes, U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks said the 70-year-old Golden Lakes Village resident must remain under the supervision of the parole office.

Platshorn, who was released from prison in 2008 after serving roughly 30 years, said the parole office discharged him in May 2011 but recently alerted him that he is on special parole.

Middlebrooks said special parole is commonly ordered and upheld it.

Platshorn, who founded the Silver Tour to persuade seniors to push to legalize medical marijuana, vowed to continue his legal battle.

 

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/crime-law/convicted-former-pot-smuggler-platshorn-loses-firs/nPzCB/

GlaxoSmithKline agrees $3 billion fraud payout 05 July 2012

IT'S a hefty pill to swallow. GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to pay $3 billion for introducing "misbranded" drugs and failing to report safety data, following a criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice. The settlement is the largest for healthcare fraud in US history.

"This historic action is a clear warning to any company that chooses to break the law," said James Cole, the US Deputy Attorney General, in a statement.

The charges related mainly to three drugs. The investigators found that between 1998 and 2003, GSK unlawfully promoted an antidepressant, trade name Paxil, for treating depression in people under 18, despite no approval for this from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Likewise, from 1999 to 2003, GSK promoted Wellbutrin, a drug approved at that time only for major depressive disorder, for a host of other conditions, including sexual dysfunction and addiction to drugs.

Finally, the investigation found that between 2001 and 2007, GSK failed to send the FDA safety data which revealed that the diabetes drug Avandia carried risks of congestive heart failure and heart attacks.

"I want to express our regret and reiterate that we have learnt from the mistakes that were made," said Andrew Witty, chief executive officer of GSK, in a statement. He added that the offences were symptomatic of conduct that is no longer tolerated. "The company reached this settlement with the government to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience and uncertainty of protracted litigation," said Witty.

The company's annual report reveals that GSK posted an operating profit last year of more than quadruple the fine, at $12.4 billion, and turnover of $43 billion. The company is valued at $113 billion.

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It Isn't Their Money!

Thu Jul 05 09:37:08 BST 2012 by ullrich fischer

If the $3b were to come out of the pockets of the GSK execs responsible for the decisions leading to this crime, that might be a slight taste of justice, but to fine the company is to take the money out of the pockets of GSK shareholders most of whom had no say in those decisions. As it stands, this is not a proportional deterrent. Consider that Bernie Madoff is in jail for life despite having killed no one. The action described in the article may well have killed thousands due to inappropriate medication and thousands more due to the support this scandal gives to the "big pharma is a conspiracy" meme which is currently causing thousands of families around the world to refuse to vaccinate their children against deadly diseases

login and reply report this comment

It Isn't Their Money!

Fri Jul 06 09:18:44 BST 2012 by sevenleafclover

So you're saying they embezzled the money to pay the 3b fine? hmmm, I don't know...

These corporate conspiracy theories are interesting, but nothing will change unless consumers take action:

Consumers must hold these shady corporations accountable through the organization of boycotts, and through the enaction of new legistation. Only then will corporations hold their execs personally responsible for their actions.

Socal media has given consumers a much greater power, it's high time consumers start using that power justly.

login and reply report this comment

It Isn't Their Money!

Sat Jul 07 00:27:39 BST 2012 by Chris

'So you're saying they embezzled the money to pay the 3b fine?'

Nope, he didn't say that or even imply it at all, it might be better if you actually read, and understand, what someone has written before you comment on it.

The point being made was that the fine, being levied against the company, is to be paid out from the companies profits thereby badly affecting the shareholders dividends for a year or two, (remember the shareholders were not the ones who decided to mis-sell and mis-report these drugs)

Meanwhile the excutives who did decide to put peoples lives and health at risk to increase sales do not themselves pay the fines despite being those responsable.

Money grabbing management parasites like those here should pay compensation out of their own pockets to all those affected in this debarcle, receive heftly fines and/or prison terms and should of course be banned from working in a management position in any healthcare, medical or drug company again

login and reply report this comment

It Isn't Their Money!

Tue Jul 10 04:12:55 BST 2012 by Jamie W.

I vehemently disagree with Chris and Ullrich that the shareholders are somehow innocent in all this. Of course the Glaxo exec's should face the music (or perhaps a firing squad), but anyone who holds shares should know exactly where their money is invested. They may not design the profit-making schemes but they're happy to rake in the dividends. Would it be acceptable for me to take shares in a crystal meth factory? Should I evade punishment if the cooks get busted?

login and reply report this comment

It Isn't Their Money!

Tue Jul 10 03:58:52 BST 2012 by Jamie W.

"The company reached this settlement with the government to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience and uncertainty of protracted litigation,"

The above quote says it all, really. If the swine thought they had a chance in court they would have sent in the lawyers. Their accountants would have determined that settling was the option least damaging to the shareholders' hip pockets.

There's no conspiracy here, there's no cabal of evil pharma-lords, just a system that prioritises profit-maximisation and limits personal responsibility. The Glaxo decision-makers were doing their job, and their job isn't developing and providing treatments for unwell people, it's providing ever-increasing dividends. The average large pharmaco spends around three times more money on marketing than they do on R&D, a fact which tells us exactly what their priorities are.

It seems to me that there's something profoundly wrong with a system where treatments for the unwell (or food for the hungry, or heating for the cold, or shelter for the homeless) are provided or withheld on the basis of profitability.

I agree with sevenleafclover (do they grow near Pripyat?) that action is desperately needed, but I suspect boycotts and legislatory changes are nothing more than inconveniences, like fleas on a rabid dog.

Perhaps it's time we stopped referring to human beings as consumers. Perhaps we can use the power of the web to do more than complain. Perhaps it's time we take back the world.

login and reply report this comment

view thread

It Isn't Their Money!

Mon Jul 09 19:21:57 BST 2012 by James

I am now curious where the 3BN is going? How much did it cost to get the 3BN fine so how much is my government actually making? Additionally I thought we had a law that corporate execs could be charged with this as a crime, Knowingly choosing proifits over the safety of people.

login and reply report this comment

view thread

It Isn't Their Money!

Tue Jul 10 04:25:41 BST 2012 by Jamie W.

"...and thousands more due to the support this scandal gives to the "big pharma is a conspiracy" meme which is currently causing thousands of families around the world to refuse to vaccinate their children against deadly diseases"

Ullrich, you've got to be kidding. I absolutely agree that scientifically-illiterate idiots refusing to vaccinate their kids is a huge problem, but you can't seriously be suggesting that we should let stuff like this slide in order to preserve the respectable face of the pharmaceutical industry. Perhaps I've misread your intentions?

login and reply report this comment

view thread

All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.

If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please contact technical support.

via newscientist.com

GlaxoSmithKline agrees $3 billion fraud payout 05 July 2012

IT'S a hefty pill to swallow. GlaxoSmithKline has agreed to pay $3 billion for introducing "misbranded" drugs and failing to report safety data, following a criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice. The settlement is the largest for healthcare fraud in US history.

"This historic action is a clear warning to any company that chooses to break the law," said James Cole, the US Deputy Attorney General, in a statement.

The charges related mainly to three drugs. The investigators found that between 1998 and 2003, GSK unlawfully promoted an antidepressant, trade name Paxil, for treating depression in people under 18, despite no approval for this from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Likewise, from 1999 to 2003, GSK promoted Wellbutrin, a drug approved at that time only for major depressive disorder, for a host of other conditions, including sexual dysfunction and addiction to drugs.

Finally, the investigation found that between 2001 and 2007, GSK failed to send the FDA safety data which revealed that the diabetes drug Avandia carried risks of congestive heart failure and heart attacks.

"I want to express our regret and reiterate that we have learnt from the mistakes that were made," said Andrew Witty, chief executive officer of GSK, in a statement. He added that the offences were symptomatic of conduct that is no longer tolerated. "The company reached this settlement with the government to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience and uncertainty of protracted litigation," said Witty.

The company's annual report reveals that GSK posted an operating profit last year of more than quadruple the fine, at $12.4 billion, and turnover of $43 billion. The company is valued at $113 billion.

• Subscribe to New Scientist and you'll get:
• New Scientist magazine delivered every week
• Unlimited access to all New Scientist online content -
  a benefit only available to subscribers
• Great savings from the normal price
• Subscribe now!

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.

Have your say

Only subscribers may leave comments on this article. Please log in.

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It Isn't Their Money!

Thu Jul 05 09:37:08 BST 2012 by ullrich fischer

If the $3b were to come out of the pockets of the GSK execs responsible for the decisions leading to this crime, that might be a slight taste of justice, but to fine the company is to take the money out of the pockets of GSK shareholders most of whom had no say in those decisions. As it stands, this is not a proportional deterrent. Consider that Bernie Madoff is in jail for life despite having killed no one. The action described in the article may well have killed thousands due to inappropriate medication and thousands more due to the support this scandal gives to the "big pharma is a conspiracy" meme which is currently causing thousands of families around the world to refuse to vaccinate their children against deadly diseases

login and reply report this comment

It Isn't Their Money!

Fri Jul 06 09:18:44 BST 2012 by sevenleafclover

So you're saying they embezzled the money to pay the 3b fine? hmmm, I don't know...

These corporate conspiracy theories are interesting, but nothing will change unless consumers take action:

Consumers must hold these shady corporations accountable through the organization of boycotts, and through the enaction of new legistation. Only then will corporations hold their execs personally responsible for their actions.

Socal media has given consumers a much greater power, it's high time consumers start using that power justly.

login and reply report this comment

It Isn't Their Money!

Sat Jul 07 00:27:39 BST 2012 by Chris

'So you're saying they embezzled the money to pay the 3b fine?'

Nope, he didn't say that or even imply it at all, it might be better if you actually read, and understand, what someone has written before you comment on it.

The point being made was that the fine, being levied against the company, is to be paid out from the companies profits thereby badly affecting the shareholders dividends for a year or two, (remember the shareholders were not the ones who decided to mis-sell and mis-report these drugs)

Meanwhile the excutives who did decide to put peoples lives and health at risk to increase sales do not themselves pay the fines despite being those responsable.

Money grabbing management parasites like those here should pay compensation out of their own pockets to all those affected in this debarcle, receive heftly fines and/or prison terms and should of course be banned from working in a management position in any healthcare, medical or drug company again

login and reply report this comment

It Isn't Their Money!

Tue Jul 10 04:12:55 BST 2012 by Jamie W.

I vehemently disagree with Chris and Ullrich that the shareholders are somehow innocent in all this. Of course the Glaxo exec's should face the music (or perhaps a firing squad), but anyone who holds shares should know exactly where their money is invested. They may not design the profit-making schemes but they're happy to rake in the dividends. Would it be acceptable for me to take shares in a crystal meth factory? Should I evade punishment if the cooks get busted?

login and reply report this comment

It Isn't Their Money!

Tue Jul 10 03:58:52 BST 2012 by Jamie W.

"The company reached this settlement with the government to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience and uncertainty of protracted litigation,"

The above quote says it all, really. If the swine thought they had a chance in court they would have sent in the lawyers. Their accountants would have determined that settling was the option least damaging to the shareholders' hip pockets.

There's no conspiracy here, there's no cabal of evil pharma-lords, just a system that prioritises profit-maximisation and limits personal responsibility. The Glaxo decision-makers were doing their job, and their job isn't developing and providing treatments for unwell people, it's providing ever-increasing dividends. The average large pharmaco spends around three times more money on marketing than they do on R&D, a fact which tells us exactly what their priorities are.

It seems to me that there's something profoundly wrong with a system where treatments for the unwell (or food for the hungry, or heating for the cold, or shelter for the homeless) are provided or withheld on the basis of profitability.

I agree with sevenleafclover (do they grow near Pripyat?) that action is desperately needed, but I suspect boycotts and legislatory changes are nothing more than inconveniences, like fleas on a rabid dog.

Perhaps it's time we stopped referring to human beings as consumers. Perhaps we can use the power of the web to do more than complain. Perhaps it's time we take back the world.

login and reply report this comment

view thread

It Isn't Their Money!

Mon Jul 09 19:21:57 BST 2012 by James

I am now curious where the 3BN is going? How much did it cost to get the 3BN fine so how much is my government actually making? Additionally I thought we had a law that corporate execs could be charged with this as a crime, Knowingly choosing proifits over the safety of people.

login and reply report this comment

view thread

It Isn't Their Money!

Tue Jul 10 04:25:41 BST 2012 by Jamie W.

"...and thousands more due to the support this scandal gives to the "big pharma is a conspiracy" meme which is currently causing thousands of families around the world to refuse to vaccinate their children against deadly diseases"

Ullrich, you've got to be kidding. I absolutely agree that scientifically-illiterate idiots refusing to vaccinate their kids is a huge problem, but you can't seriously be suggesting that we should let stuff like this slide in order to preserve the respectable face of the pharmaceutical industry. Perhaps I've misread your intentions?

login and reply report this comment

view thread

All comments should respect the New Scientist House Rules. If you think a particular comment breaks these rules then please use the "Report" link in that comment to report it to us.

If you are having a technical problem posting a comment, please contact technical support.

via newscientist.com

The Guardian - Simon Harwood cleared of manslaughter of Ian Tomlinson

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/19/simon-harwood-not-guilty-ian-tomlinson

 

Simon Harwood cleared of manslaughter of Ian Tomlinson

Met police officer cleared of manslaughter over death of bystander hit with baton and pushed to the ground

• Peter Walker and Paul Lewis
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 19 July 2012 14.41 BST

Footage from CCTV cameras, broadcasters, protesters and bystanders retraces the movements of PC Simon Harwood and Ian Tomlinson on 1 April 2009 Link to this video

A policeman has been acquitted of killing Ian Tomlinson during G20 protests in London by striking the 47-year-old bystander with a baton and pushing him to the ground as he walked away from police lines.

The jury at Southwark crown court on Thursday cleared PC Simon Harwood, 45, a member of the Metropolitan police's elite public order unit, the Territorial Support Group, of manslaughter following one of the most high-profile cases of alleged police misconduct in recent years.

Harwood told the court that while in retrospect he "got it wrong" in seeing Tomlinson as a potentially threatening obstruction as police cleared a pedestrian passageway in the City on the evening of 1 April 2009, his actions were justifiable within the context of the widespread disorder of that day.

Speaking outside the court, the Tomlinson family said: "It's not the end, we are not giving up for justice for Ian." They said they would now pursue a civil case.

The jury's verdict, after four days of deliberations, brings about something of a legal contradiction: 14 months ago another jury, at the inquest into Tomlinson's death, ruled that he was unlawfully killed by Harwood. The inquest ruling was made on the same burden of proof as a criminal trial, that is, beyond reasonable doubt.

Neither jury heard details of Harwood's prior disciplinary record, which can only be reported now. This includes how he quit the Met on health grounds in 2001 shortly before a planned disciplinary hearing into claims he illegally tried to arrest a driver after a road rage incident while off duty, altering his notes to retrospectively justify the actions. Harwood was nonetheless able to join another force, Surrey, before returning to serve with the Met in 2005.

He allegedly punched, throttled, kneed or threatened other suspects while in uniform in other alleged incidents.

PC Simon Harwood leaves court

The verdict will come as a huge disappointment to Tomlinson's family, following a saga that began when the father of four, who was stepfather to his wife's five other children, collapsed as he tried to make his way home through police lines. It followed a day of protests connected to the meeting in London of leaders from the G20 group of nations. He died shortly afterwards.

Tomlinson had been an alcoholic for some years and was living in a homeless hostel. It was initially presumed he died from natural causes, a conclusion supported by an initial postmortem examination, which gave the cause as heart failure.

But six days later the Guardian published video footage, shot by an American in London on business, which showed a policeman in riot gear striking Tomlinson on the leg with a baton before shoving him violently to the pavement, minutes before his final collapse.

Three pathologists involved in two further postmortem examinations said Tomlinson instead died from internal bleeding associated with his liver and consistent with being pushed to the ground. While the officer was soon identified as Harwood, prosecutors initially decided against charging him, changing their mind only after the inquest verdict.

The trial hinged on two key questions: firstly, whether Harwood's actions amounted to a criminal assault; then, whether they directly led to Tomlinson's death.

The first issue was simple, the prosecution argued: Harwood carried out "a gratuitous act of aggression", Mark Dennis QC told the jury. Harwood had recklessly abandoned the police van he was designated to drive to arrest a man seen writing graffiti on another vehicle. Humiliated when the man wriggled free, he opted to join a line of other officers clearing a pedestrian passageway by the Royal Exchange complex.

But in his evidence Harwood said he had been separated from his van by a threatening crowd before following orders to clear the passage. He insisted his actions towards Tomlinson were correct at the time, a version of events supported by two other officers at the scene called as defence witnesses.

The issue of cause of death saw the testimony of the first pathologist, Dr Freddy Patel, who reasserted his belief that Tomlinson died from heart failure, placed against that of Dr Nat Cary, who told the court that even a relatively small amount of internal bleeding would have caused death. The jury was not told that Patel has twice been suspended by medical authorities for mistakes in other postmortem examinations and is no longer on the Home Office's register of approved pathologists.

No police officer has been convicted for manslaughter for a crime committed while on duty since 1986.

Dear Governor Brown: I am writing to urge you to grant clemency to Sara Kruzan

http://www.savesara.com/Letter.php

 

 

 

You may either endorse the letter below on this website 
or send this letter or your own version by mail. This is 
one of the strongest ways to push Sara's case forward. 

Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Brown: I am writing to urge you to grant clemency to Sara Kruzan, a woman who is serving a 25-year-to-life term in a California penitentiary for shooting and killing, when she was 16 years old, a man who had sexually abused her and who had previously been her pimp, making him a very serious child sex offender. While I am not condoning vigilantism, Sara's sentence of life without parole, imposed when she was a juvenile, is too extreme considering her youth and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding her crime, and fails to reward the remarkable personal growth and transformation that she has demonstrated during her 16 years in prison. 

This is your opportunity to correct the woefully inadequate action of your predecessor, Governor Schwarzenegger, who commuted Sara's sentence from life without parole to twenty-five years to life. At this point she has spent more than half her life in prison and has served more time than most murderers. You can now restore justice by commuting Sara's sentence to time served. She, the State of California, and all women everywhere will benefit. 

Sara was just two months past her 16th birthday when she shot and killed a well-known pimp who raped her and sexually abused her since she was 11 and forced her into prostitution since she was 13. Now 32 years old, Sara has spent more than half her life in prison. She has been a model inmate, and has earned her college education, and received a 2009 Honor Dorm"Woman of the Year" award from corrections officers. 

Prior to her incarceration, Sara grew up in Riverside, California where she excelled in school, making the honor roll and running track. But starting at a young age, Sara was a victim of regular abuse: she was molested by several men, gang-raped by neighbors, physically and emotionally abused by her mother, and then abused and manipulated by her pimp. Two nationally known experts have determined that Sara was suffering from the effects of intimate partner battering when she committed the crime. 

Despite being only 16 and having no criminal record, Sara was tried as an adult and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. At the time of her sentencing, the California Youth Authority found Sara amenable to treatment. Had the court followed this recommendation, Sara would have been released at age 25. Even while her youth, abuse, and trauma help to mitigate her offense, Sara expresses remorse for her crime. In a 2007 Human Rights Watch interview, she reflects: 

"I definitely know that I deserve punishment. You don't just take someone's life and think it's okay. I am very sorry to take his life like thatÉIf I had a parole hearing, I would want to tell the people that, first of all, I have learned what moral scruples are. Second, that every day is a challenge, but I realize that I have a lot of good to offer. Now the person who I am today... I believe that I could set a positive example." 

The terrible crimes committed by youth can take and ruin lives. Yet we believe that the sentencing choices in California should reflect the circumstances of the offender as well as the nature of the crime, and leave open the possibility that a person redeem herself. This is especially true of youth. As the United States Supreme Court re-affirmed earlier this year, youth are different from adults, and thus a life without parole sentence is "an especially harsh sentence for juveniles." 

Sara is not the same person that she was at age 16. Considering her background of trauma and abuse, her young age at the time of the offense, and her rehabilitation over the last 16 years, I ask that you commute her sentence to time served. 

Sincerely, 

Mark DJ Aldiss
projectbrainsaver
Harlech
Wales
UK
LL46 2YT 

You may email a copy of this letter or your own, along with your name, address, contact info and electronic signature to facesforsarakruzan@gmail.com and it will be sent to Governor Brown of California. 

5 July 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing the Syria Files

 

Thursday 5 July 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing the Syria Files – more than two million emails from Syrian political figures, ministries and associated companies, dating from August 2006 to March 2012. This extraordinary data set derives from 680 Syria-related entities or domain names, including those of the Ministries of Presidential Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Information, Transport and Culture. At this time Syria is undergoing a violent internal conflict that has killed between 6,000 and 15,000 people in the last 18 months. The Syria Files shine a light on the inner workings of the Syrian government and economy, but they also reveal how the West and Western companies say one thing and do another.

List of Releases

Released on	Name
2012-07-19 14	The Pope and the dictator: as the Syrian bloody crackdown starts, Assad writes to Benedict XVI
2012-07-18 08	The best jokes of Bachar al-Assad
2012-07-17 02	Mail on Sunday (UK) Wikileaks files (Week 2)
2012-07-16 12	Evidence Shows Syrian Security got Comms from West
2012-07-15 00	Syrias førstefrue shoppet mens blodet fløt
2012-07-11 09	Spanish Young Communists to Syrian comrades: we don't trust Spanish media, tell us the truth
2012-07-11 09	The relationships between the Syrian Communist Party and the Italian and Spanish communists
2012-07-11 02	Rami Makhlouf: Buying Syria One Bank at a Time
2012-07-11 00	القرارات الحكــــومية تصدر على مضض وببطء
2012-07-10 23	Qatari Royal Dumps Syrian Stocks Pre-Ramadan 2011
2012-07-09 06	Al Asad mantiene a una queridísima amiga en una universidad inglesa
2012-07-09 06	“En estos días difíciles nos hemos dado cuenta de quién es nuestro amigo”
2012-07-09 00	US Firm Encourages 'Fist and Open Hand' in Syria
2012-07-09 00	Asma and Bashar: Syria's British Royals
2012-07-08 05	The Mail on Sunday Assad files
2012-07-06 07	El TETRA de Selex no lleva solo componentes italianos
2012-07-06 07	Siria amplió el contrato a Selex a los tres meses de las revueltas
2012-07-06 06	The US spin doctor of Asma al-Assad
2012-07-06 04	Italienische Verschlüsselungstechnologie für Assad
2012-07-06 00	How the Finmeccanica technology is helping the Syrian regime
2012-07-05 10	Los misteriosos vínculos entre Finmeccanica y el 'banquero de Dios'
2012-07-05 10	TETRA ayuda a la represión en Siria
2012-07-05 10	Italia vende a Siria alta tecnología que puede usarse para la represión
2012-07-05 10	Wikileaks pone al desnudo el correo electrónico interno del régimen sirio

Thursday 5 July 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing the Syria Files

 

Translations
[es] Syria Files (ES) 
[fr] Syria Files (FR) 
[de] Syria Files (DE) 
[pt_br] Syria Files (PT-BR) 

Today, Thursday 5 July 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing the Syria Files – more than two million emails from Syrian political figures, ministries and associated companies, dating from August 2006 to March 2012.

This extraordinary data set derives from 680 Syria-related entities or domain names, including those of the Ministries of Presidential Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Information, Transport and Culture.

Over the next two months, ground-breaking stories derived from the files will appear in WikiLeaks (global), Al Akhbar (Lebanon), Al Masry Al Youm (Egypt), ARD (Germany), Associated Press (US), L’Espresso (Italy), Owni (France) and Publico.es (Spain). Other publications will announce themselves closer to their publishing date.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said: "The material is embarrassing to Syria, but it is also embarrassing to Syria’s opponents. It helps us not merely to criticise one group or another, but to understand their interests, actions and thoughts. It is only through understanding this conflict that we can hope to resolve it."

At this time Syria is undergoing a violent internal conflict that has killed between 6,000 and 15,000 people in the last 18 months. The Syria Files shine a light on the inner workings of the Syrian government and economy, but they also reveal how the West and Western companies say one thing and do another.

The range of information extends from the intimate correspondence of the most senior Baath party figures to records of financial transfers sent from Syrian ministries to other nations.

The database comprises 2,434,899 emails from the 680 domains. There are 678,752 different email addresses that have sent emails and 1,082,447 different recipients. There are a number of different languages in the set, including around 400,000 emails in Arabic and 68,000 emails in Russian. The data is more than eight times the size of ’Cablegate’ in terms of number of documents, and more than 100 times the size in terms of data. Around 42,000 emails were infected with viruses or trojans. To solve these complexities, WikiLeaks built a general-purpose, multi-language political data-mining system which can handle massive data sets like those represented by the Syria Files.

In such a large collection of information, it is not possible to verify every single email at once; however, WikiLeaks and its co-publishers have done so for all initial stories to be published. We are statistically confident that the vast majority of the data are what they purport to be.

We would like to thank our sources, technical team, donors and defenders without whom this contribution to the historical record would not be possible. https://wlfriends.org/

For more information on the Syria Files, please see: http://wikileaks.org/syria-files/re...

For media enquiries, please see: http://wikileaks.org/Press

Faces For Sara Kruzan - A VISUAL PETITION & MOVEMENT TO FREE CHILD SEX-TRAFFICKING VICTIM SENT TO LIFE IN PRISON

http://www.elizabethohara.com/ffskpetitioninfo.php

 

 

    
A VISUAL PETITION & MOVEMENT TO FREE CHILD SEX-TRAFFICKING VICTIM SENT TO LIFE IN PRISON

For More Details, Read The Sara Kruzan Story Here

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

 

SIMPLY SUBMIT YOUR OWN HI-RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPH TO FACESFORSARAKRUZAN@GMAIL.COM

Read the below details if you are unsure how to submit a photograph.
SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOGRAPH: THREE VERY SIMPLE RULES FOR EXAMPLES OF PHOTOS SEE "FACES" GALLERY 

1) Send 1 to 3 pictures of yourself that are clear, HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOS (over 500k, preferably 1MB or higher). No photoshopped images or otherwise doctored images. 

2) You may send me a sentence/statement that will be attached as your quote along with the photo you send. Pictures with you looking into the camera are stronger for this project. 

3) Group photos are absolutely not accepted without my permission. 

That's it!

Again, please send your photo to FacesForSaraKruzan@gmail.com Please include your first name and last name. 

Restrictions

The following: inappropriate images, including full nudity or provocative/suggestive poses (for minors). For adults, artistic expression will be limited to partial nudity (no private areas showing), but can be provocative to make a statement about abuse, sex trafficking, injustice, etc. NO racially-based language or any other racially discriminatory language or slang. No profanity please. 

Now that you know the rules and have submitted your photo, please pass this along to everyone you know. Thank You! 

  

STATEMENT AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE PETITION

The main objective: to find everyone who supports Sara Kruzan's freedom who is proud and willing to show their face in support of her Freedom. This collective petition will be exhibited in galleries and around Sacramento, in the press, sent to politicians for support and ultimately, to Governor Brown's hands in the form of a petition "photo book" style format. I also urge every Sara supporter to write Governor Brown of California, a one page letter asking for Sara's freedom (globally). Contributing here and doing that will be the best of both worlds. 

The purpose is to use this photo petition to display the strength of a visually personalized movement, through the faces of her supporters, not only to attempt greater attention surrounding her need for full clemency, but also as a means of support to Sara. I want Sara to see all of the people who care about her through the lens. Personal statements I'm sure, will make it more interesting for her to browse through. There is an emotional attachment and magnitude that a book or a wall full of pictures can achieve that an anonymous online petition cannot. This story must be spread and supported around the world. 

Contribution to this project is a very simple and can make a huge difference in the freedom of someone who is powerless to change her situation. If you were in her position, you would hope strangers would take the time to do the same for you. 

Sincerely,
Elizabeth O'Hara @SAVESARA www.savesara.com

http://www.elizabethohara.com/ffskpetitioninfo.php

Untitled

March for Justice for Kingsley Burrell to be held in Birmingham

TUESDAY, 10 JULY 2012 00:00

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A march demanding justice for Kingsley Burrell will be held on 18th August 2012 in Birmingham.

Burrell lost his life after he was forcibly restrained by police, while detained under the Mental Health Act.

A year after Burrell’s death, no one has been charged and his body has still not been released to his grieving family for burial.

Community members are urged to attend the march in large numbers in memory of Burrell and all who havedied in custody.

MARCH FOR JUSTICE FOR KINGSLEY BURRELL
Date: 18th August 2012
Time: 12:00
Venue: Summerfield Park, Dudley Rd/Icknield Port Rd, Birmingham B16
http://www.facebook.com/BirminghamStrong4Justice

Justice for Kingsley Burrell supports the UFFC No. 10 Petition re: deaths in custody

Justice for Kingsley Burrell supports the UFFC No. 10 Petition re: deaths in custody

Deaths in police, prison, mental health & immigration detention

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/26276

The United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC) calls for an independent judicial inquiry into all suspicious deaths in custody.

UFFC is a coalition of families and friends of those that have died in the custody of police and prison officers as well as those who died in psychiatric and immigration detention. It also has members and supporters from campaign groups and advocacy organisations from across the UK.

The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody report published in 2011 states: in total, there were 5,998 deaths recorded for the 11 years from 2000 to 2010. This is an average of 545 deaths per year.Despite the fact there have been 11 unlawful killing verdicts since 1990 there has never been a successful prosecution.

Our joint efforts have yielded some results. The police self-investigation of deaths was replaced by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman now investigates deaths in prison and immigration detention. The Attorney General was forced to undergo a review of the role of the Crown Prosecution Service, and corporate manslaughter laws are now extended to custody deaths.

However, these reforms have not addressed the lack of justice in outstanding cases. We believe that equitable dispensation justice in the UK must be done and be seen to be done if the general public are to enjoy high levels of trust and confidence in the fair administration of justice.

The poor quality and speed of independent investigations conducted by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and an Inquest process that is seriously under resourced, subject to delay and limited in remit and is not fit for purpose. Both critically fail to protect or support the rights of victims or their families.

Our Demands:

1.  Replacement of the IPCC to ensure open robust transparent and thorough investigations from the very outset of police deaths in custody - with a removal of all ex-police officers for it to be a truly independent body.

2.  The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman should be placed on a statutory footing.

3.  Deaths in psychiatric detention and / or of those detained under the Mental Health Act must be subject to a system of properly funded investigation that is completely independent of the Health Service.

4.  Officers and officials directly involved in custody deaths are suspended until investigations are completed.

5.  Immediate interviewing of officers and all officials concerned with the death.

6.  Officers and officials should never be allowed to collude over their evidence and statements of fact.

7.  Full and prompt disclosure of information to the families affected.

8.  Prosecutions should automatically follow ‘unlawful killing’ verdicts at Inquests and officers responsible for those deaths should face criminal charges, even if retired.

9.  Implementation of police body cameras and cameras in all police vehicles in the interests of both the officers and the public.

10. There should be an automatic right to non means tested legal aid for families. There is a lack of funds for family legal representation at Inquests whilst officers and NHS staff get full legal representation from the public purse – this is unbalanced.

US civil rights veteran, Rev Jesse Jackson supports the inquiry campaign.

Petition Link:  http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/26276

UFFC website:  http://uffc-campaigncentral.net/

UFFC Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/pages/United-Families-Friends-Campaign-UFFC/308702409174443?sk=wall

Facebook Petition page:  http://www.facebook.com/events/167075506731920/

For those wishing to lobby their local MP:http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

Posted by Campaign Admin at 02:31

The Official Kingsley Burrell Poster for the National Demo 18 August. Please spread the word, post, email and promote @march4justice

The Official Kingsley Burrell Poster for the National Demo 18 August. Please spread the word, post, email and promote @march4justice

 

http://justiceforkingsleyburrell.blogspot.co.uk/

Justice for Kingsley Burrell

Campaigning for Justice for Kingsley Burrell and for legislative reform in regards to deaths in custody. In unity with all those who have lost a loved one in these circumstances.

 

Planning meetings for 2nd March 4 Justice 4 Kingsley Burrell to be held at: Handsworth Park, Community Play centre on   
Saturday 21st July    6-8pm
Saturday 28th July    6-8pm
Saturday 4th August  6-8pm
Saturday 11th August 6-8pm
Please attend if you can and volunteer your time to help 
co-ordinate the March on 18th August. 

www.facebook.com/Justice4Kingsley

Twitter: @March4Justice

 

Update: Body of Birmingham dad Kingsley Burrell not released one year on
Originally published at Birmingham Mail

Distraught sister Kedisha and Kingsley Burrell who has not been buried a year after his death

ANGRY relatives of Kingsley Burrell who mysteriously died after being detained by police a year ago are still waiting for his body to be released for his funeral.

Kingsley Burrell, 29, dialled 999 after being threatened by a group of men while with his young son in Icknield Port Road, Birmingham, on March 27 last year.

But when officers turned up they detained the trainee security guard under the Mental Health Act – despite his family saying he had no history of mental illness.

 Within hours Mr Burrell was sectioned and taken to a mental health unit in the city, where his family claim he had mysterious physical injuries and was not allowed to speak to them.

Three days later, police were called to the Mary Seacole mental institute in Winson Green after an “incident” involving the dad-of-two and he was transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he died on March 31.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission immediately launched an inquiry and has now asked Dorset Police to begin a further investigation into the death.

Last night Mr Burrell’s sister, Kadisha Brown-Burrell said the family still had no idea how he had died – and could still be months away from having a funeral.

She said: “How can they keep a body for a year? It’s been more than a year now and they are dragging their heels.

‘‘We are still grieving and need closure but have been told the Dorset Police investigation will take at least take another six months.

“We’re angry and frustrated and don’t know what is happening.

‘‘It’s been painstakingly difficult, frustrating, and emotionally overwhelming for the family to begin to come to terms with his death. Especially, not being able to lay his body to rest, not knowing the sequence of events that led up to his death and how he died.’’

Mr Burrell was dad to five-year-old son Kayden – who was with him when he was detained by police – and 10-year-old daughter Travita.

Student Miss Brown-Burrell regularly visits her brother’s body, which is being held at the mortuary at Sandwell Hospital.

She added: “I personally don’t have much confidence in the IPCC investigation and we have not been kept informed.

“The family has now attended eight or nine pre-inquest hearings, yet still nobody can tell us what or who killed Kingsley.

‘‘It’s not fair on his children, especially his little boy who can’t stop thinking and talking about what happened that day.”

A spokesman for the IPCC said investigators have interviewed four West Midlands police officers under criminal caution and a further 10 officers as witnesses.

He added: “In total, more than 100 witness statements have been obtained from police officers, medical professionals, ambulance staff and members of the public.

‘‘Footage from CCTV cameras at four locations has been recovered and reviewed and hundreds of documents have been seized as part of the independent investigation.

“Earlier this year, after liaison with HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Dorset Police were requested by the IPCC to begin an investigation into the actions of non-police personnel who had contact with Mr Burrell and they continue to undertake enquiries.

“The IPCC has provided regular updates at HM Coroner’s pre-inquest hearings and to the family and interested parties.’’

Posted by Campaign Admin at 02:55

STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN in Iran and Afghanistan

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/VIOLENCE_AGAINST_WOMEN_AND_CHILDREN

 

STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN

This petition is awaiting approval by the Avaaz Community

100

16

16 signers. Let's reach 100

Why this is important

I am working in favour of the culture of human rights and democracy in Iran and Afghanistan and I want to STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN in Iran and Afghanistan

 

I would like to call upon the national and international community to give more room and opportunity to the role of women in peace- and security building in Iran and Afghanistan. I would like to ask the Iran and Afghan Government to ban any discriminatory acts and practices which are against Iran and Afghan women’s rights.

• I would like to call upon the Iran and Afghan state and international partners to support the Afghan and Iran women in reducing poverty. Poverty is one of the main challenges for the Afghan and Iran women in their social life.

• Domestic violence is also a very important challenge for the Afghan and Iran women.

Posted July 11, 2012