Category Archives: human rights

Giorgio Bianchi at UNSC: “What game are we playing? Do we want World War III?”

The Italian journalist Giorgio Bianchi was invited to participate in a meeting organized at the United Nations Security Council on 6 May 2022. The theme of the meeting was human rights violations in the Ukrainian Donbass area. Here is a … Continue reading

Posted in disinformation, guest blog, human rights, journalism, media, propaganda, Ukraine, Uncategorized, war | 3 Comments

OPCW: A Site of Struggle for Impartiality, Independence and International Legitimacy in War Crimes Investigations

The use of chemical weapons is a war crime. The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) – signed by almost every nation[1] – aims to expunge their use from the face of our planet. Charged with implementing the Convention is the Organisation … Continue reading

Posted in chemical weapons, global justice, human rights, international institutions, OPCW, political philosophy, Syria, UK Government, Uncategorized, war, White Helmets | 8 Comments

Cynthia McKinney: To my new friends in the UK

Cynthia McKinney, renowned American politician, activist and academic, is currently visiting the UK.  She has today shared some reflections on politics and media in UK via a public post on Facebook. Her words speak eloquently and powerfully, so I wanted to … Continue reading

Posted in BBC, constitutional politics, global justice, guest blog, human rights, journalism, media, Uncategorized, war | 6 Comments

Academic Freedom And Setting An Example

This post is based on a letter I wrote in reply to someone who has known me as a teacher. I have responded to her as one concerned citizen to another, but with her student experience in mind. We agreed … Continue reading

Posted in chemical weapons, disinformation, human rights, journalism, media, propaganda, Syria, Uncategorized, war | 25 Comments

What is ‘Open Society’?

The idea is familiar and sounds attractive. But attractive ideas can be used in different ways, and not always those you expect. Some interpretations of ‘Open Society’ actually conflict with others. The latent battle of ideas within is not obvious … Continue reading

Posted in constitutional politics, global justice, human rights, political philosophy, Uncategorized, war | 12 Comments

Who to believe about Syria?

I’m no expert about Syria, so why these blogposts? The initial stimulus was realising that people of good will and similar ethics can have some markedly contrasting views of the situation in Syria.  This was a puzzle to me. And given … Continue reading

Posted in Amnesty International, BBC, Channel 4, global justice, human rights, journalism, MSF, political philosophy, prisoners' rights, propaganda, Syria, UK Government, Uncategorized, war | 43 Comments

A Theory of Bullshit II: Serious Stuff

Serious Bullshit, I suggested previously,[1] was exemplified in the justification offered for the US-led destruction of Iraq. The specific lie deployed initiating it – concerning alleged WMD – has long since been exposed. But a particular lie may be merely … Continue reading

Posted in Amnesty International, bullshit, disinformation, human rights, journalism, media, political philosophy, propaganda, Syria, Uncategorized, war | 5 Comments

Channel 4’s ‘Case Against Assad’: some questions to keep in mind

              We will not hear a case for the defence, so viewers who believe in due process are left to work out questions to ask of the accusers. Channel 4 this week is to present a renewed ‘case against Assad’. … Continue reading

Posted in Channel 4, human rights, journalism, media, propaganda, Syria, Uncategorized, war | 2 Comments

Amnesty International: is it true to its mission?

Amnesty International has a moral mission: ‘to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of human rights’. Could that be an impossible mission for an organisation that calls for military intervention on human rights grounds? This question … Continue reading

Posted in Amnesty International, disinformation, global justice, human rights, journalism, media, political philosophy, propaganda, Syria, Uncategorized, war | 13 Comments

Water: a human right?

Is there a human right to water? Nestle’s CEO once notoriously suggested that the idea is an extreme one put about by NGOs.[1] Just this week, the same corporation has sparked controversy in a municipality of Ontario by outbidding the … Continue reading

Posted in climate change, ecological space, environment, environmental ethics, fair trade, global justice, health, human rights, political philosophy, responsible investment, Uncategorized | Leave a comment