Daniel Balson, Advocacy Director of Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International USA, talks about Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014 and 2022. Russian troops have been violating International Humanitarian Law by targeting civilians and evidence is being gathered regarding potential war crimes that may be adjudicated at the International Criminal Court in the future. Because of the war and the destruction of critical infrastructure, Ukrainian civilians are experiencing numerous challenges, including a healthcare crisis. Ukrainian elders are especially vulnerable. To find out more, read the Amnesty International report "I Used to Have a Home." News updates can be found at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/03/latest-news-on-russias-war-on-ukraine/

WRFI Human Rights Show

Daniel Balson on Ukraine

Bethany Ojalehto Mays, Shimon Edelman, and Fenya Bartram are part of the coalition "Cornell on Fire" that seeks to hold Cornell University accountable for its lack of climate action. Recommendations include: Cornell should recognize that we are in a climate emergency instead of just speaking about sustainability; it should pay its fair share to Tompkins County, which includes funding for TCAT (public transportation); it should limit its carbon footprint, for example, by reducing how much people fly around the world while on Cornell business; it should also offer a wider variety of courses that actually deal with the climate emergency and help create a viable future for its students after they graduate.
For more information visit: https://www.cornellonfire.org/

Cornell on Fire March 8

Nate Smith and Sophia Sabeh from the Amnesty International USA MSP Co-Group (Military, Security, and Police Coordination Group) talk about the Safeguarding Human Rights in Arms Exports Act aka Safeguard Act (S. 1025/HR. 1801), which has been introduced to Congress. The bill would expand on previous legislation, in particular the Leahy Laws, that prohibit the U.S. government from providing foreign aid and Defense Department training to security forces abroad that are known to have committed human rights violations. The Safeguard Act specifically includes U.S. arms transfers and sales and would require the administration to send reports to Congress even if the weapons sales fall under the current reporting threshold. While the Biden administration's Conventional Arms Transfer (CAT) Policy includes strong language regarding weapons transfers, a law passed by Congress would codify it and expand on it. CAT does not have sufficient money to monitor sales and lacks sufficient enforcement. Currently so-called "End Use Monitoring" only monitors who obtains U.S. weapons, but not how or against whom these weapons are used. Governments or security forces that would be prohibited from obtaining U.S. weapons are those who were recently involved in a coup, who committed war crimes (crimes of humanitarian law), or genocide.

20 NGOs have expressed support for the Safeguard Act. For more information visit: https://www.amnestyusa.org/updates/letter-from-20-ngos-expresses-support-for-the-safeguard-act

Safeguard Act March 15

We talk about the work "Educate the Children Nepal" (ETC) is engaged in empowering women and helping children and schools in Nepal. Lisa Lyons, the U.S. Director of ETC talks about the history of the organization and the programs it provides. Beth Prentice, President of ETC's Board of Directors, discusses the importance of the caste system and working with lower-caste communities. Susan Braatz reflects on the trip to Nepal that ETC organized last November.
This show is part 1 of a two-part series.
For more information visit: https://www.etc-nepal.org/

ETC Show 1 March 22

Zoe van Nostrand talks about several exhibits at the Tompkins County History Center, including women's sports teams. We reflect on the challenges women have faced over the centuries, struggling against gender norms and restrictions as they pursued their dreams. The Hockey Girls' Team was the first in the state (and the third in the country) to be created after Title IX went into effect, outlawing gender discrimination in schools in the 1970s. The Women's Roller Derby likewise broke gender barriers.

The History Center has a Women's Oral History Collection, History Forge with 80 years of census data, and genealogy files on more than 2,000 families.

For more information visit: https://thehistorycenter.net/
For oral history and other audio podcasts visit: https://soundcloud.com/tompkinshistory

TC History Center March 29

Paul O'Brien, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, talks about the human rights situation around the world as authoritarian regimes are becoming more emboldened. We also reflect on the challenges of organizing and being in coalition with activists whose backgrounds and identities differ from ours.  Amnesty International operates on several levels. Research is done through the International Secretariat in London and the regional sections. Deep research as well as press releases are frequently published. Recent lobbying efforts in the U.S. include the "Safeguarding Human Rights in Arms Exports Act." The organization is also grassroots, with student groups and local groups engaged in a wide range of activities, including letter-writing campaigns and events. Lastly, we reflect on 2024 being an important election year and how human rights could inform the discussions.
For more information visit: https://www.amnestyusa.org/ or https://www.amnesty.org/

Paul O'Brien April 5

Eric Cheyfitz, Professor at Cornell University, talks about settler colonialism, comparing federal Indian policies in the United States with Israel's policies in the Occupied Territories of Palestine. We look at some of the legal and extra-judicial methods that were (and are) being used to disenfranchise people, appropriate their land, and impede their cultural survival. We also briefly reflect on the situation in Gaza.

Eric Cheyfitz April 12

This is the second show with staff and supporters of Educate the Children-Nepal. Elicia Carmichael, who is engaged in fundraising talks about the work and importance of the organization. Barbara Butterworth, who has spent many years in Nepal, talks about organizing last year's trip. The others reflect on what impacted them during the visit at ETC project sites. Currently, the organization is fundraising money for this year.
For more information visit: https://www.etc-nepal.org/

ETC Show 2

Leni Hochman and Tim Joseph talk about their support of the organization Educate the Children Nepal. Both participated in the November 2023 trip to Nepal organized by ETC. Afterward, they had the opportunity to meet the young woman they supported as a child in person for the first time. They reflect on how the extended family embraced them.

ETC - Leni Hochman and Tim Joseph

We talk about the continuing catastrophe in Gaza, skewed media reporting that dehumanizes Palestinians and uncritically repeats Israel's claims, and the brutal crackdown against pro-Palestinian student protesters in the United States. We also discuss how weapons made and sold by the U.S. are being used to kill Palestinian civilians. The Safeguard Act would fill some gaps and require the government to determine if U.S. weapons are being used to commit grave human rights violations. If they are, the U.S. 
government would be obligated to stop the sale of weapons.

For more information about Amnesty International's call to a permanent cease-fire, visit: https://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/

For more information on the Safeguard Act visit: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1025

Daniel Balson on Ukraine

WRFIhumanrightsshow

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