Monthly Archives: July 2013

R.I.P. Garry Davis (1921-2013)

"The world has lost a true visionary. Davis renounced his US citizenship in 1948, proclaiming himself a citizen of the world. He went on to advocate for global, rather than national, governance, and founded organizations to that end. Since 1954, the World Passport that Davis devised and issued has facilitated crossings of some 180 national borders, and has has saved tens of thousands of lives. as bearers and their families used it to flee conflict zones and genocides. Garry’s legacy lives on, both in the ideals he articulated and in the lives and descendants of the people his 'fake' passports saved." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingR.I.P. Garry Davis (1921-2013)

A Death Before Dying: Solitary Confinement on Death Row

"We know that the death penalty system is broken. Racial bias, junk science, underfunded public defense, and other serious breakdowns in our legal system can mean that people – sometimes innocent people – will languish on death rows for years while pursuing appeals. Spending these years in extreme isolation can erode mental health to the point that some will 'volunteer' to die rather than continue to live under such conditions. Many prisoners die a slow and painful psychological death before the state ever executes them." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Death Before Dying: Solitary Confinement on Death Row

Ex-President Jimmy Carter plans to visit North Korea to negotiate prisoner’s release

"Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is planning to visit North Korea soon to try to win the release of a U.S. citizen held for committing crimes against the reclusive state. Carter has made contact with the North to arrange for the visit, and he is likely to make the trip in a personal capacity to secure the release of Kenneth Bae, the U.S. citizen, a source in Washington was quoted as saying. Carter has made trips to the North on diplomatic missions and in 2010 helped earn the release of another American, Aijalon Mahli Gomes, a Boston native who had been sentenced to eight years hard labor for illegally entering the country." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEx-President Jimmy Carter plans to visit North Korea to negotiate prisoner’s release

New Zealand military told to soften manual that equates media with extremist groups

"Opposition defence spokesman Phil Goff said it was 'utterly wrong and intolerable' for the military’s top brass to display such paranoia about journalists, showing they did not understand the media’s role in a democratic society. Goff said the situation raised further doubts about moves to expand the power of intelligence services so they can spy on New Zealanders, particularly after it was revealed that Internet mogul Kim Dotcom was illegally snooped upon before his arrest in January last year. The expanded powers, backed by Prime Minister John Key, are due to go to parliament this week and are expected to be passed by a narrow majority." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew Zealand military told to soften manual that equates media with extremist groups

Limbaugh and Hannity to be dropped by major radio network

"The country’s second-biggest radio network is planning to dump conservative commentators Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh at the end of 2013 to offset a loss in revenues, Politico reported on Sunday. Think Progress reported that the duo has lost 240 advertisers between them since 2012, with Limbaugh in particular being targeted for a boycott over his derogatory remarks against womens’ rights activist Sandra Fluke. That same month, Limbaugh complained that Fox News was losing out on advertising money because 'the media buyers at advertising agencies are young women, fresh out of college, liberal feminists who hate conservatism.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLimbaugh and Hannity to be dropped by major radio network

Oklahoma prosecutors return $21,227 more to Interstate 40 travelers

"District Attorney Jason Hicks agreed Thursday to return the funds in the three cases, dropping efforts to have the money forfeited to law enforcement use. Hicks is under fire for hiring a private company, Desert Snow LLC, to assist in his drug interdiction effort. After hiring the Guthrie company in January, his task force seized more than $1 million in the stops, mostly along a 21-mile stretch of I-40 in Caddo County. Hicks agreed to pay the company 25 percent of all forfeited proceeds from stops involving its trainers. Hicks said he does not plan to return nearly $850,000 seized in one stop in May. No one was arrested in that stop." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOklahoma prosecutors return $21,227 more to Interstate 40 travelers

More countries abolishing capital punishment, but some returning to it

"Although 33 of the 40 countries that still have the death penalty are ruled by despots, some 'liberal democracies' returned to capital punishment in 2012, the report said. 'While China seems to be progressively improving, some liberal democracies seem to be going the opposite way,' said Sergio d'Elia, Hands off Cain secretary. In 2011, of the 'liberal democracies', just the United States and Taiwan carried out executions, while in 2012 Japan, Botswana and India began using capital punishment again after many years in which the practice was suspended. This year, Indonesia joined them, carrying out its first death penalty for five years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMore countries abolishing capital punishment, but some returning to it

Sex Offenses, No Matter How Minor or Understandable, Can Ruin You for Life

"In 2013 alone, at least nine new laws were proposed in the California legislature to tighten or expand sex offender laws; if passed, these new laws would be applied indiscriminately to the entire registry, a list which includes persons convicted of public urination, teens having consensual sex, as well as serial rapists and violent pedophiles. In California, registration is for life. Current prohibitions include not being permitted to live within 2,000 feet of a school, park, nursery or church; obtain a contractor's license; practice medicine or law; foster a child. Sex offenders are ineligible for some federal and state grants and cannot live in federal public housing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSex Offenses, No Matter How Minor or Understandable, Can Ruin You for Life

States Sending the Most People to Prison

"In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., John Roman, Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center, explained that each state’s policies on enforcement are a major factor. 'It really is a political choice,' he said. There are several sentencing policies that can dramatically increase the number of inmates in a state’s prison system, such as mandatory minimum sentencing, which requires a minimum predetermined prison sentence length, regardless of the circumstances of the crime. Roman also pointed to three-strikes laws, which impose much longer sentences on criminals who have committed three or more serious crimes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStates Sending the Most People to Prison

Bitcoin Mining Unit Sells on eBay for US$10,866.88

"Less than two hours ago, the auction closed for this 60 GH/s Single SC from Butterfly Labs. These supercomputers normally sell for $2,499. Last year, they were selling for US$1,299. Butterfly Labs started taking pre-orders for these units on June 23rd, 2012, with an expected ship date in October, 2012. Production finally began in May, 2013. It took them until Friday, July 26th (65 days of production) to start shipping orders placed after June 23rd, and there were still two June 23rd orders to be shipped." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBitcoin Mining Unit Sells on eBay for US$10,866.88