Worth a look
Missing Journalist James Foley now thought held by Syrian government, report says
Foley in June, 2011
U.S. Journalist James Foley, missing in Syria since Thansgiving 2012, is now thought to be being held by the Syrian government.
"With a very high degree of confidence, we now believe that Jim was most likely abducted by a pro-regime militia group and subsequently turned over to Syrian government forces,” GlobalPost CEO and President Philip Balboni said on May 3 during a speech marking World Press Freedom Day. (Full story) This is the second time in 18 months that the 2008 Medill School of Journalism graduate has been taken captive in a war zone.
“The family appeals for the release of Jim unharmed,” his relatives said on a web site focused on getting him freed. He was kidnapped in northwest Syria on Thanksgiving Day, the family said.
Watch video archive of May 3 World Press Freedom Day event in Boston: “Silenced Voices: When Conflict Journalists Go Missing.”
Posts by Tatiana Kouskoulas
Palestinian unilateralerism risks peace
(Aug. 22, 2011)WASHINGTON– In September, the Arab League will ask the United Nations to recognize the State of Palestine, using its pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital and to upgrade its status to full member state. An official letter will be submitted to the secretary-general of the Security Council requesting that it become a member state of the UN. A committee will then debate the issue and submit a recommendation to the General Assembly within … (Continue reading . . .)
Demining Afghanistan during war
(Aug. 19, 2011)WASHINGTON–Afghanistan has 10 million land mines. And while a war may end, casualties continue. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance to Afghanistan, as of 2010, an average of 50 Afghani citizens were killed or severely injured each month due to landmines. Between 2004 and 2009, this accounted for over 4,000 civilian casualties. “Mines persist after war is over,” said Andrew Lyons, the U.S. vice president of Halo Trust, the … (Continue reading . . .)
New Sanctions Against Iran get American Jewish Council’s Praise
(Jun. 12, 2011)Due to its massive human rights violations, and its continuing threats against Israel, the American Jewish Council has worked for decades to preclude the Iranian threat. Earlier this week, the Obama Administration received praises from the AJC for announcing new sanctions against Iran. AJC Executive Director, David Harris, said “U.S. action is an essential reminder that the Iranian regime’s gross and systematic violation of human rights is being closely monitored and will not go unanswered.” … (Continue reading . . .)
Are Targeted Killings an Effective Counterterrorism Tool?
(Jun. 12, 2011)The Obama administration has heightened its campaign of targeted killings against suspected terrorists. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, this includes an increased use of unmanned drone strikes and “kill/capture missions” on al-Qaeda and Taliban leadership. While some experts claim victory on such missions- such as the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, others criticize the strategies as lacking proper legal boundaries, (as in the targeting of an American jihadist, Anwar al-Awlaki, … (Continue reading . . .)
Surveillance for safety?
(Jun. 08, 2011)What is more at stake, our civil liberties or our security? Last year 1,506 federal surveillance applications were submitted and approved. Under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, court warrants grant the government broad authority to secretly monitor the electronic communications and physical search of persons engaged in espionage or international terrorism against the U.S on behalf of a foreign power. Between 2009 and 2010, there was a 13 percent increase in government requests … (Continue reading . . .)
Mission Accomplished, but do we feel safer?
(Jun. 08, 2011)How much safer do Americans feel now that Osama Bin Laden is dead? Hardly at all, according to a Newsweek and Daily Beast poll of 1,200 adults, conducted in the two days immediately prior to President Obama’s Sunday announcement and immediately after. Bin Laden is dead. But terrorism still exists. Only 26 percent of Americans surveyed said they now feel safer. And 67 percent said they were seriously concerned about national security. According to this … (Continue reading . . .)
Impact of New Civil Union Legislation in Illinois?
(Jun. 08, 2011)In late January, thousands outside of Chicago’s Cultural Center celebrated as Governor Pat Quinn signed the new Civil Union legislation. Taking effect June 1, 2011, this gave a few months for county registrars and county clerks to prepare for handing out civil union licenses. Yet what are the implications? To many, this new law simply means civil union for same-sex couples, with rights similar to those in marriage. However, uncertainty in the full reach of … (Continue reading . . .)
Council on American-Islamic Relations, more donations than in years prior
(Jun. 08, 2011)How much money is needed to defend civil rights, to fight bigotry and promote intolerance? Can money save civil liberties? To support civil rights work, Chicago’s Council on American-Islamic Relations raised almost $400,000 in contributions. CAIR’s New York and Chicago chapters hosted hundreds of community and interfaith leaders, public officials and activists, selling out their annual banquets. A not-for-profit organization, CAIR said it uses these contributions to fund numerous diverse projects with relevance to the … (Continue reading . . .)
Unreasonable government surveillence?
(May. 24, 2011)The American Civil Liberties Union opposes federal, state, and local programs that it believes invade civil liberties in the name of national security. One of its main concerns,according to the ACLU is protecting citizens from what it deems unreasonable government surveillance. According to an ACLU spokesperson, “too often, government attempts to gather, store, use, and share sensitive private information about us, even where there is no reasonable suspicion that we are breaking any laws.” The … (Continue reading . . .)
America 2049
(May. 24, 2011)[America 2049: Human rights are in peril, democracy in the dust. You: an agent of the Council on American Heritage. Your mission: nab a terrorist—and change the future.] Can interactive online experiences alter the perceptions and understandings of its users? Can it break through social, religious, political barriers and foster empathy for civil rights? Breakthrough, an India and U.S. based human rights organization, recently announced its futuristic Facebook game which depicts a “Divided States … (Continue reading . . .)
