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Tyre Nichols protests in Columbus, Ohio. Many people march down the street holding banners. A woman in th foreground yells into a megaphone holding a sign which says ' End police terror'.
Becker1999 | CC BY 2.0

The Killing of Tyre Nichols

Once again, a black man has been killed by police. Tyre Nichols, 29, died on January 10 after being brutally beaten by five police officers following a traffic stop. The viciousness of the killing has sparked public outrage and raised the question of why black people continue to die at the hands of those who are supposed to serve and protect citizens. Although the ex-officers have been convicted of second-degree murder, Nichols' family claims that convictions are not the goal, and that what they want is an end to police killings of black people.

The Killing of Tyre Nichols
Qatar world Cup 2022 graphic – A migrant worker chained to the World Cup trophy kneels down under the weight of it. Behind is the view of a football field with the words ‘human rights’ written in the goal.
Better World Info | Mei Lau

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Qatar is set to host this year's World Cup games between 20 November and 18 December. It will be the first time the tournament has been held in the Arab world. However, the build-up to the games has not been short of controversy. Corruption and money laundering allegations have led to an investigation around Qatar’s World Cup bid. Furthermore, Amnesty international has widely reported on thousands of deaths in the country's preparations, predominantly of migrant workers who are suffering rights abuses, and unregulated and inhumane working conditions.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Green board with the letters "child labour" written on it in chalk.
Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

Child Labour in the U.S.

On 25 February, the New York Times presented the results of its investigation into child labour law violations in the U.S., finding that a growing number of minors are working in hazardous occupations or at unpermitted hours. Although children of all kinds are affected, the majority of cases are immigrant children arriving alone in the U.S. States such as Minnesota and Iowa are even trying to relax child labour laws, as companies prefer to fill jobs with minors because they are cheaper and easier to handle.  

Child Labour in the U.S.
5 serious women stand holding a banner supporting the rights fo the Uyghur people
Flickr | Brussels Morning

Oppression of the Uyghur’s

The Uyghurs form the largest minority ethnic group in Xinjiang, China’s North-western province. For years human rights groups have campaigned against their harsh treatment by the Chinese government. Accusations of crimes against humanity and potential genocide against the population are being investigated as human rights groups deplore the use of “re-education camps.” More than one million Uyghurs have been detained in these camps, and hundreds sentenced to prison terms without cause. Shoot to kill policies are in place for those attempting escape.

Oppression of the Uyghur’s
Kill the Bill

Police and Crime Bill

The British government has succeeded in its attempt to restrict protest rights. The bill has been controversial since the crackdown on protests over the murder of Sarah Everard. The new law increases police powers to stop protests if they "reasonably" believe they are likely to cause serious public disorder, damage property, disrupt community life or if there is disruptive noise, but, the vagueness of these terms leaves much room for arbitrariness. Movements such as EX and Insulate Britain are seen as the main target of this new law.

Police and Crime Bill
Beijing 2022

Olympic Games Beijing 2008 + 2022

As the first city ever to host both the summer and winter Olympics, and this years games set to take place during the Covid-19 pandemic, all eyes are on China to see how events unfold. As was the case in 2008, similar boycotts to the games have been put in place as a response to Chinese human rights abuses of the Uyghur, and the National Security Law implemented in Hong Kong - 10 countries have now confirmed diplomatic boycott. Climate impact concerns have also been raised due to lack of reliable snow, resulting in high costs financially and environmentally. Sportswashing, and concerns regarding athlete censorship are also being closely monitored by critics.

Olympic Games Beijing 2008 + 2022
"Out From the Darkness" by Truthout.org is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

20 years of Guantanamo Bay – 2 Decades of Injustice

The 20th anniversary of the U.S. military detention facility is being marked by protests and disturbing allegations. Its strategic location blurs the lines of international law and prisoner treatment, thus stripping detainees of their constitutional rights. Established under Bush administration during the height of the ‘war on terror’, its legacy as a place of torture, injustice, abuse and indefinite detention continues. The legal anomaly has proven hard to shut down, and calls for Biden to keep his promise and to close its doors once and for all are their strongest ever.

20 years of Guantanamo Bay – 2 Decades of Injustice

Western Sahara

Last week there were armed clashes in the Western Sahara between the Morocan military and the region’s independence movement Polisario Front. Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony that was occupied by Morocco in 1975. The Polisario Front fought against the occupation and in 1976, with the support of Algeria and Libya, proclaimed the Democratic Arab Republic of the Sahara. Since 1991 there has been a truce between the two sides, that now seems to be over.

Western Sahara
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