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Category Archives: Freedom

Freedom Under Assault in Putin’s Russia

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Testimony of Frank S. Jannuzi Deputy Executive Director, Amnesty International, USA

In recent months, Russian authorities have intensified their assault on basic freedoms and undermined rule of law. The assault takes many forms. New bills - passed just this week by the country's lower house of Parliament and expected to be approved in the near future by the upper house of Parliament and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin restrict the activities of non-governmental organizations, criminalize public actions "committed to insult the religious feelings of believers" and outlaw activism by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) individuals and their supporters. I would note that the new law criminalizing "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations," passed 436-0 by the rubber stamp Duma this week, comes as much of the world marks Pride month.

New controls over the media are being used to smear government critics and bolster the government's policy line. Authorities use secret detention facilities and torture, especially in the North Caucuses region, to silence critics and deny them access to counsel. These measures are widespread and systematic. They are being imposed on domestic and international civil society groups alike.

This crackdown, coming as Russia prepares to host the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, should be a matter of grave concern to the U.S. government. Moscow's lack of respect for human rights speaks volumes about its reliability as a potential partner to the United States and Europe in addressing pressing international security concerns, from the conflict in Syria to the danger of nuclear proliferation. Moreover, it marks an ominous turn in a country that had been making progress towards developing more open, transparent, and accountable governance.

Many of you may be aware that Amnesty International has itself been subjected to various forms of harassment. For some NGOs, the significance of this particular brand of harassment is that it can result in self-censorship, restriction of activities, or flight. John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia Director, has expressed our concern that Russia's new NGO law will be used to target prominent civil society organizations. Already 43 Russian non-governmental organizations in 16 regions are undergoing inspections and investigations, with devastating effect. Many prominent organizations, such as Golos (Voice) Association which monitors elections, the LevadaCenter for sociological research, the Moscow School for Political Research, and the Human Rights Center Memorial, have been labelled by prosecutors as "Foreign Agents." Our biggest concern is that this is just "round one," and that forced closures are likely to follow.

Indeed, the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute arms of the National Endowment for Democracy funded by Congress have already suspended operations in Russia given the threat that their employees might be charged with treason or espionage. This is because the NGO law passed late last year provides for sentences of up to 20 years for individuals "providing consultative assistance to a foreign organization" if that group was involved in "activities aimed against Russias security," a catch-all phrase that could be used to criminalize almost any activity the government deems hostile.

Prisoners of Conscience

Amnesty International coined the term "Prisoner of Conscience" to describe individuals who have been imprisoned for the peaceful expression of their beliefs or identity. These individual cases are often emblematic of systemic problems; so let me briefly highlight some cases to underscore two key points:

Russia's most famous Prisoners of Conscience are the members of the band Pussy Riot. Pussy Riot's one minute long performance in Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, and the band members' subsequent arrest and sentencing, sparked a global outcry and brought Russias mounting repression to an international audience. The YouTube video of their punk performance, in which they criticized President Putin, generated over 3,000,000 YouTube views.

Amnesty International championed the case of Pussy Riot, not because we have an opinion on their musicality I am more of a Sondheim fan myself but because we recognize that artists are often at the cutting edge of political commentary. When artists are arrested for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression whether in China with painter and sculptor Ai Wei Wei, in Egypt with TV Bassem Youssef, or in Burma with comic Zarganar broader restrictions on the general public are likely to follow.

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Freedom Under Assault in Putin's Russia

Freedom? Not if kid is at risk

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SOLOMON LEACH, Daily News Staff Writer leachs@phillynews.com, 215-854-5903 Posted: Thursday, June 13, 2013, 3:01 AM

ALTHOUGH RELIGIOUS freedom is protected under the First Amendment, prosecutors say the law can get involved if there is reason to believe a child is in danger due to lack of medical care.

"If the police come or if somebody calls the police and they see something, just like child abuse, anything like that would be investigated or looked at or somebody could intercede," said Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore, who is prosecuting Herbert and Catherine Schaible for a second time.

Such cases can often be tough to prove, Pescatore said.

"I'm doing it through their own words," she said of the Schaibles. "I don't know how else you would prove it unless you had an eyewitness."

In 1998, Daniel and Anne Marie Foster, members of Faith Tabernacle in North Philadelphia - from which the Schaibles' First Century church split nearly nearly 90 years ago - were found guilty for not seeking treatment for their 2-year-old son's stomach tumor after an anonymous caller alerted the city Department of Human Services.

Outside Pennsylvania, there have several similar cases. In 2011, for instance, an Oregon faith-healing couple was found guilty of not getting treatment for a birthmark over the daughter's eye that developed into a condition known as hemangioma.

Dr. Paul Offit, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, has argued that Pennsylvania's laws are too lax on the issue.

"In the state of Pennsylvania, there are religious exemptions to child abuse and neglect laws; we are backward in that sense," he told NBC10. "I think we need to eliminate those exemptions."

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Freedom? Not if kid is at risk

Practice freedom of speech within Msian norms – Najib

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Freedom of speech must be suited and match Malaysian norms which are synonymous with good manners and noble values, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said this way, the freedom to express differences in opinions could be done wisely without inviting suspicions or prejudice.

"For democracy to truly function as it should, the people and media practitioners must uphold noble values so there are none among us who deviate (from these norms) or resort to abuse of power," he said in addressing the Malaysian Journalists Night 2013 here today.

He said demands for freedom of speech in the country not only arose due to globalisation but gained impetus because of access to the Internet, the people's higher socio-economic standing as well as education level.

He stressed that Malaysians wanted and could capitalise on freedom of speech by disseminating information that is accurate and did not lead to confusion.

"Freedom of speech must be suited and match Malaysian norms which are synonymous with good manners and noble values. Only then can we discuss important issues by way of dialogue when there is a difference in opinion among different groups," he said.

Najib said the landscape of the media and media organisations in the country had undergone rapid changes with the introduction of online media to complement the existing print and electronic media.

He added that anonymous writers in the social media had taken the opportunity to spread lies that could cause disunity and threaten the peace and harmony enjoyed by the people, compared with the mainstream media that continued to adhere to the ethics of journalism.

Najib therefore urged those using the social media as a tool to spread information, to remain steadfast to principles, responsibility and ethics.

"On this, I want to urge the people to propose the best form of monitoring and control to ensure what is written in the social media do not breach the laws.

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Practice freedom of speech within Msian norms - Najib

Poll Finds Ukrainians Believe They Have Freedom of Speech

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KYIV, Ukraine, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

An independently-conducted poll has found most Ukrainians believe freedom of speech is alive and well in their country, a finding in line with the Government's efforts to alter perceptions that it has failed to move away from its Soviet past.

The study conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Fund and the Razumkov Center found that just seven percent of respondents believe Ukraine has no freedom of speech while 65 percent believe the nation does have freedom of speech. A tenth of those questioned gave their country the maximum score.

The results are a big improvement on a similar poll in 2011 in which 33 percent said Ukraine has freedom of speech.

Half of those questioned believe the media in Ukraine presents varying viewpoints and they trust Ukrainian media (58 percent) more than they do Russian information sources (33percent).

The survey results will doubtless be welcomed by those close to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who has in the past bemoaned the "mistaken stereotype regarding the lack of freedom of speech."

He has frequently pointed out that his government has left behind its Soviet past and enacted freedom of information laws.

"These latest survey results don't surprise us. You only have to look at our vibrant digital media and blogosphere in Ukraine to see the broad range of opinions in our society," a Ukrainian government spokesman said. The survey found a third of Ukrainians get their news online.

"But unfortunately there are still those who chose not to see the changes that have taken place in our nation," he added.

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Poll Finds Ukrainians Believe They Have Freedom of Speech

I HAVE PRIDE – Leaders of the Minnesota "Freedom to Marry Bill" (Love is the Law – The Suburbs) – Video

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I HAVE PRIDE - Leaders of the Minnesota "Freedom to Marry Bill" (Love is the Law - The Suburbs)
I HAVE PRIDE! - Key Leaders of the Minnesota Freedom to Marry Bill speak to all of Minnesotan #39;s as well as Twin Cities Pride 2013 letting them know why they ...

By: Brent Dundore

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I HAVE PRIDE - Leaders of the Minnesota "Freedom to Marry Bill" (Love is the Law - The Suburbs) - Video

‘Freedom Ride’ against human trafficking set

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LOCAL bikers coming from four biking groups are joining the Freedom Ride aimed to raise awareness against human trafficking and modern day slavery in Zamboanga City.

Freedom Ride Zamboanga project coordinator Kiko Miranda said the event will start at 7 a.m. Wednesday at the Plaza del Pilar.

Miranda said the participants of the activity would come from the Zamboanga Bikers 101, Project Banig Zamboanga, International Order of Demolay-James Wilson Chapter, and MTV EXIT-Zamboanga.

Miranda said the activity is part of the Stop Look listen campaign of Dakila against human trafficking and is aimed to popularize the 1343 Anti-Trafficking Hotline.

The Stop Look Listen campaign kicked off last March 9 with a Freedom Ride held in McKinley Hill, Taguig City participated by around 1,000 cyclists, Miranda said.

He noted that most of the local folks are unaware of the illegal trade of people is happening although human trafficking is a very sensitive issue here in Zamboanga City.

He said the worst thing is that women and even children and men are being pushed to prostitution and forced labor every day.

We hope that through the Stop Look Listen (Freedom Ride) campaign of Dakila, we give voice to the victims of this violation of human rights, Miranda said.

We also hope that more Zamboangueos will have the courage to speak up for our fellow Zamboangueos who are being oppressed every single day. Stand up for injustice and intolerance, he added.

Coordinated Freedom Rides will be held in Iloilo (June 12, 7 a.m., Jaro Belfry) and Metro Manila (June 12, 7 a.m., Eastwood City), he said.

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‘Freedom Ride’ against human trafficking set

Freedom Preview Homestand

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June 12, 2013 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom FLORENCE, KY - This weekend at the Florence Freedom, fans can enjoy everything from fireworks, to bobbleheads, to trading cards, to playing catch with dad on the field at University of Cincinnati Medical Center Stadium.

The "weekend" starts with a Rewind 94.9 Thirsty Thursday featuring $1 beer, soda and ice cream sandwiches on Thursday night when the Freedom wrap up their three game series against the Traverse City Beach Bums. Thursday is also presented by American Mortgage Services Co. night featuring a ballpark themed photo booth and one fan will leave with a brand new iPad. Game time is set for 6:35pm

Fans can stick around post-game on Thursday night for live music by See Rock City.

On Friday the Frontier Greys comes to town for the start of a three game set, beginning with a Local 12 Fireworks Friday presented by CBTS 6:35pm. An incredible Rozzi fireworks show lights up the sky post-game, game time is 6:35pm.

During the game on Friday, families with peanut allergies can take rest, as the stadium will be hosed down Thursday night and no peanuts will step foot in the ballpark for Friday's Peanut Free night presented by Family Allergy & Asthma.

Fans will also want to get to the ballpark early on Friday as the first 1,000 fans will receive the Freedom's 2013 trading card set courtesy of Dominach's Taekwondo Academy.

Saturday marks the return of a 92.5 The Fox Rockin' Saturday presented by Joseph Subaru. Fans will want to get to the ballpark when the gates open at 5:05pm, as the first 1,000 tickets through the gates receive a bobblehead of Freedom all-star shortstop Junior Arrojo presented by Reinhart Food Service. The bobbleheads will be given one per two tickets.

Post-game on Saturday, fans can enjoy the ultimate Jimmy Buffett tribute band as Lunar Beach House performs on the Parrot Bay bandstand down the first-base line. There's even something for kids post-game, as while mom and dad enjoy the music, kids play supervised kick-ball on the field presented by Dominach's Taekwondo Academy. Game time Saturday is 6:05pm.

Sunday, the Freedom are celebrating Father's Day at the ballpark presented by Qdoba Mexican Grill. The gates open at 5:05pm, and dads can enjoy playing catch on the field with their kids until 5:35pm with an on-field wristband.

This Great Country 94.1 Family Sunday, presented by the Bank of Kentucky, also includes kids running the bases post-game, an entire team autograph session, animals from the Newport Aquarium for kids to pet on the concourse, and a draw-string backpack giveaway to the first 100 kids courtesy of the official bank of the Freedom, The Bank of Kentucky.

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Freedom Preview Homestand

Freedom as seen through a metal framework

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What is freedom to you?

This is what artist Leeroy New, a rising star in the art world, wants the audience viewing his 30-foot art installation to contemplate and answer.

Freedom should come from the people, without having to rely on sponsored images of freedomthat is what the installation is all about, Leeroy said in a chance interview with GMA News Online.

New's installation, launched on Independence Day, stands near the monument of Jose Rizal at the Rizal Park in Manila.

The structure's design mirrors the heroic monument, even if its elements do not promise the same permanencea basic scaffolding made of metal poles, draped in colored plastic behind which television sets displayed different people answering the question, Paano ka naging Malaya?

We had to make use of materials that we were able to source, what is available to us, Leeroy said.

A performance by the Sipat Lawin dance group was also showcased as part of the installationfor Leeroy, important to better convey the message to the audience.

We wanted to create a structure that allowed the audience and participants to contemplate this idea of freedom, with the help of the performers, the video, the structure itselfwhich is a direct reference to the Rizal monumentand the location itself, he said.

He explained that while the installation is a re-articulation of the heroic monument, the industrial design should steer the structure away from intimidation.

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Freedom as seen through a metal framework


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