Daily Archives: January 15, 2015

Kenya

Two dead, scores injured after building collapses in Nairobi’s Huruma estate

Daily Nation

Peter Leftie

Soldiers guard the scene of a collapsed multistory residential building in the densely populated Huruma estate in Nairobi on January 4, 2014. At least two people were reported dead and scores injured. AFP PHOTO | TONY KARUMBA
Soldiers guard the scene of a collapsed multistory residential building in the densely populated Huruma estate in Nairobi on January 4, 2014. At least two people were reported dead and scores injured. AFP PHOTO | TONY KARUMBA

At least two people were killed and several others injured on Sunday evening when a seven-storey residential building collapsed in Nairobi’s Huruma estate.

One person died on arrival at Kenyatta National Hospital while a child’s body was retrieved from the rubble, an official from the Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre said.

A rescuer identified as Mary Wangechi said they had managed to pull out three people — one woman and two children — from the rubble during the overnight rescue operation. Continue reading Two dead, scores injured after building collapses in Nairobi’s Huruma estate →

Church

Catholic liberals in Italy launch petition to back Pope Francis

Crux

John L. Allen Jr.

A coalition of liberal Catholic groups in Italy have started an online petition in support of the pope after a leading Italian journalist wrote a critique of his papacy. (AP Photo)
A coalition of liberal Catholic groups in Italy have started an online petition in support of the pope after a leading Italian journalist wrote a critique of his papacy. (AP Photo)

Amid a robust Italian debate over the leadership of Pope Francis, a cross-section of liberal Catholic groups in the country has launched an online petition to show backing for the Argentinian pontiff.

Pointedly called “Stop the Attacks on Pope Francis,” the petition was launched on Christmas Day by groups including “We are Church,” “Blessed are the Peacemakers,” the Edith Stein Study Center, an Italian association of theologians, and a variety of base communities. All are generally associated with the liberal wing of the Italian Church. Continue reading Catholic liberals in Italy launch petition to back Pope Francis →

USA

10 Ways Human Rights and Democracy Won in 2014 (Yeah, You Heard That Right)

YES Magazine

Let’s be honest: It was a brutal year for human rights. But we still have victories worth celebrating.

Sarah van Gelder

Ferguson, Missouri. October, 2014. (Photo by Sarah-Ji/flickr/cc)
Ferguson, Missouri. October, 2014. (Photo by Sarah-Ji/flickr/cc)

In 2014, we saw a lot of brutality. Unarmed black men and women were killed by police, women were raped on college campuses and in military barracks, foreign nationals were tortured, and young and mentally ill Americans were confined for extended periods in solitary confinement in U.S. prisons.

The privilege of whiteness is under review. Continue reading 10 Ways Human Rights and Democracy Won in 2014 (Yeah, You Heard That Right) →

Peru

How One Indigenous Woman Took On a Multinational Mining Corporation… And Won

Common Dreams

Indigenous Peruvian farm worker Maxima Acuña de Chaupe withstood violent eviction attempts, beatings, and a legal battle to protect her land from being turned into an open-pit gold mine

Sarah Lazare, staff writer

Maxima Acuña at her property in front of the Blue Lagoon (Photo: Jorge Chávez Ortiz)
Maxima Acuña at her property in front of the Blue Lagoon (Photo: Jorge Chávez Ortiz)

For over three years, indigenous Peruvian farmworker Maxima Acuña de Chaupe has refused to allow a U.S.-based multinational corporation to turn her land into an open-pit gold mine, withstanding multiple violent eviction attempts by corporate and state agents.
Continue reading How One Indigenous Woman Took On a Multinational Mining Corporation… And Won →

Environment

Chevron Halts Arctic Drilling Plans ‘Indefinitely’

Common Dreams

Decision ‘further proof that technical challenges of drilling in icy waters, where a spill is all but inevitable.’—Farrah Khan, Greenpeace Canada

Andrea Germanos, staff writer

"Polar bear on sea ice. Alaska, Beaufort Sea." (Photo: [ https://www.flickr.com/photos/noaaphotolib/5277241065 ]NOAA Photo Library)
“Polar bear on sea ice. Alaska, Beaufort Sea.” (Photo: NOAA Photo Library)
In a move cheered by environmental groups, Chevron has put its plans to drill for oil in the Arctic “on hold indefinitely,” the energy company said Wednesday.

It had planned on drilling by 2020 in the Beaufort Sea, but in a letter to Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB), Chevron cited “the level of economic uncertainty in the industry” for its decision, Reuters reports.

CBC News reports that Chevron has already spent over $100 million on exploration in the Beaufort Sea. Continue reading Chevron Halts Arctic Drilling Plans ‘Indefinitely’ →

Peace, USA

Searching for Justice and Peace

Pat McGuire

sammy-riggs-black-lives-matter-nyc-protests-938x535(photo credit)
sammy-riggs-black-lives-matter-nyc-protests-938×535(photo credit)

Last Sunday, on the second anniversary of the massacre of children and teachers at the Sandy Hook Elementary School — an occasion that seemed to draw only the most muted observance — the former vice president of the United States mounted a vigorous defense of the official use of torture.  At the same time, tens of thousands of demonstrators continued marching in the streets of Washington, New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Berkeley and many other cities to protest the police use of fatal force against unarmed black men. Continue reading Searching for Justice and Peace →

South Sudan

Give Peace a Chance – Run with Youth

Ettie Higgins

 

Children at play at the Yida settlement in Unity state, in northern South Sudan. Opened in 2011, Yida has over 70,000 refugees. Some 85 percent are children and women from the Nuban Mountains of South Kordofan, who fled bombardments and violence there. Credit: UN Photo/Martine Perret
Children at play at the Yida settlement in Unity state, in northern South Sudan. Opened in 2011, Yida has over 70,000 refugees. Some 85 percent are children and women from the Nuban Mountains of South Kordofan, who fled bombardments and violence there. Credit: UN Photo/Martine Perret

JUBA, Dec 15 2014 (IPS) – Rambang “Raymond” Tot Deng was 18 and attending his final year of school when fighting erupted in South Sudan’s capital Juba, one year ago. In the ensuing violence, as Raymond’s schoolbooks burned, thousands of South Sudanese were killed, including two of his cousins.

Many fled to U.N. bases for protection or to neighboring countries. “I saw children killed and women killed and everybody was crying,” Raymond recalls. “Let all youth in the world facing the same thing we are, know that forgiveness is the first priority. Give us the tools, and we will create peace.” — Rambang “Raymond” Tot Deng Continue reading Give Peace a Chance – Run with Youth →

Peace, USA

Three Members of Congress Just Reignited the Cold War While No One Was Looking

Common Dreams

Dennis Kucinich

We’ve superimposed the congressional record on top of a photo of the chamber of the House of Representatives. It shows H.R. 5859 passing by unanimous consent in the span of one second. (Photo: AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
We’ve superimposed the congressional record on top of a photo of the chamber of the House of Representatives. It shows H.R. 5859 passing by unanimous consent in the span of one second. (Photo: AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

Late Thursday night, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a far-reaching Russia sanctions bill, a hydra-headed incubator of poisonous conflict. The second provocative anti-Russian legislation in a week, it further polarizes our relations with Russia, helping to cement a Russia-China alliance against Western hegemony, and undermines long-term America’s financial and physical security by handing the national treasury over to war profiteers. Continue reading Three Members of Congress Just Reignited the Cold War While No One Was Looking →

Brazil

Brazil indigenous group clashes with police in Congress

BBC

Indigenous protesters in Brasilia Indigenous leaders say the government of Dilma Rousseff should do more to protect their people.

Brazilian indigenous protesters armed with bows and arrows have clashed with police inside the National Congress building in the capital, Brasilia
Brazilian indigenous protesters armed with bows and arrows have clashed with police inside the National Congress building in the capital, Brasilia

The group, with some 30 men, tried to break into the building to protest against a bill on indigenous lands.

Police officers used pepper spray and blocked access to a committee that was due to vote on the proposal. Continue reading Brazil indigenous group clashes with police in Congress →