Good News: Amnesty International (October 2024)

 

Palestinian surgeon Dr. Khaled Al Serr was just released from Israeli detention after spending more than six months without charges of trial. Amnesty has been campaigning and advocating for Dr. Al Serr ever since he was taken by Israeli forces while working at a hospital in Gaza, along with other healthcare workers. For over five months, his family did not know if he was safe or even alive. We are so grateful for the thousands of you who helped amplify calls for his release.

Education activist Ahmad Fahim Azimi was just released after 11 months in prison. He should never have been jailed for promoting girls' rights to access education. His arrest, arbitrary detention, and unfair trial were against international human rights law. Since its return to power in Afghanistan, the Taliban has detained, tortured, and in some cases killed activists, journalists, poets, and others across the country. Thank you to all who worked tirelessly calling for his release.

7 Maps Showing How the World is Actually Getting Better: By Ian Wright October 14, 2024

Here are just a few highlights:

All but 6 countries in the world have higher life expectancy rates today than in 1982. With East Timor more than doubling its life expectancy.  China reduced it’s extreme poverty rate from 91.8% in 1981 to 0% today, this is due to it’s incredible economic growth which has seen the average Chinese person increase their wealth 9X in real terms in 40 years.  Infant Mortality rates have fallen in every country on earth expect for one, with many countries reducing deaths by over 90%!  CO2 emissions per capita have grown a lot less slowly than I expected, they grew 14% per person globally, but have fallen in many rich countries such as Canada (-14%), US (-23%), Germany (-39%), France (-43%) and the UK (-51%).

To me the UK number is the most interesting. It was the birthplace of the industrial revolution power by coal.

Yet on 30 September 2024, UK shut down it’s last coal power station after 142 years. The UK now produces less CO2 per capita than it did at the end of the Crimean War in 1856!

This suggests that economic growth does not have to equal a growth in CO2 emissions. Combined with falling fertility rates (especially in China and India) means our impact on the planet is very likely close to reaching its peak.

So while the world is far from perfect, and there a lots of thing that can still be improved, I’m actually even more of an optimist about the future after researching these maps than I was before.

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World Day Against Death Penalty: October 10, 2024

 

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); October 10, 2024: 10th October marks World Day Against the Death Penalty. In anticipation, the Islamic Republic hanged 12 people the day prior. At least 531 people including a juvenile offender and 18 women have been executed in 2024.  Iran Human Rights once again urges the international community to not remain silent about the daily executions under the shadow of war and to do everything in their power to stop the rising executions in Iran. IHRNGO Director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: “Under the shadow of the threat of war with Israel, and taking advantage of the neglect of the media and the international community, the Islamic Republic has begun a widespread execution wave in Iranian prisons, targeting the most vulnerable individuals in society who have been sentenced to death in unjust courts. The aim of these executions is to instil fear in society and ensure the survival of the regime. We and the people of Iran today need more than ever solidarity and support from the global movement against the death penalty and the international community. The international community, especially the governments committed to human rights that have diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic, must not remain silent in the face of an execution every five hours in Iran.” For more information, Click here.

 

Abdorrahman Boroumand Center of Human Rights: October 9, 2024

World Day Against the Death Penalty,

From October 2023 to October 2024, at least 811 executions have been carried out, marking a sharp increase from the previous year and reaching levels not seen in nearly a decade. In August alone, at least 97 executions were reported, 45 of which were for drug-related offenses—charges that do not meet the threshold of “most serious crimes” under international law. This year also marks the highest number of women executed in the past decade, with 23 women being put to death.

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