andrew emett

Five Unarmed Black Men Killed by Police Within a Month

Originally published on August 20, 2014, at NationofChange.org

In less than a month, cops have been responsible for killing at least five unarmed black men. Police officials have confirmed Eric Garner, John Crawford, Ezell Ford, Dante Parker, and Michael Brown were not carrying lethal weapons when authorities executed them. As racial tensions continue to escalate in Ferguson, militarized law enforcement agencies show no signs of ending the violence.

On July 17, NYPD Officer Justin Damico accused Eric Garner, 43, of selling untaxed cigarettes. A witness recorded video footage of Garner arguing with Damico when Officer Daniel Pantaleo crept up behind Garner and placed him in a chokehold. Officers piled on top of Garner as he weakly repeated, “I can’t breathe.”

After releasing the chokehold, Pantaleo placed his knee on the back of Garner’s head pressing his face into the pavement. Garner died of cardiac arrest induced by Pantaleo’s chokehold. The NYPD banned the use of chokeholds in 1994 after an officer placed Anthony Baez in a chokehold resulting in his death.

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Investigate Assassination Attempt Against Human Rights Worker

Originally published on August 20, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of South Sudan

Goal: Investigate the assassination attempt against a prominent human rights activist

A human rights activist known for his anti-corruption campaigning was speaking outside with his friends when a man armed with an AK-47 fired at him. The human rights defender was wounded in the leg before the gunman escaped. No one has been arrested for the attempted murder. Demand that the government of South Sudan launch a full investigation into this attempted murder.

Advocating for the people of South Sudan, Deng Athuai Mawiir had recently called for accountability for murdered civilians in the current armed conflict. Although armed security personnel witnessed the assassination attempt against Mawiir, none attempted to apprehend the gunman.

In early July 2012, Mawiir was kidnapped and beaten for his work exposing corruption scandals. Mawiir was physically assaulted for three days in an attempt to intimidate him. Threatened with violence and assassination attempts, Mawiir continues to defend human rights in South Sudan.

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Stop Abusing Human Rights Activists and Union Leaders

Originally published on August 19, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Abdul Hamid, President of Bangladesh

Goal: End the violence against human rights defenders and union leaders supporting workers’ rights

The police and pro-government groups are attacking union leaders participating in a hunger strike in Bangladesh. Human rights activists attempting to give medical supplies to the striking workers have been beaten and arrested. The government of Bangladesh needs to investigate these attacks and charge the guilty officers of excessive force.

At least 1,200 workers have been on a hunger strike since July 28, 2014. The workers are protesting in Hossain Market and demanding three months of unpaid wages. Human rights activists and doctors visit the workers, providing medical treatment and saline drips.

On August 6, police and members of a pro-government workers’ union barricaded the market to prevent doctors and human rights defenders from helping the striking workers. Targeting activists and union leaders, the police and pro-government groups savagely beat several human rights defenders and arrested them. Instead of engaging in retaliatory violence, the workers continued their hunger strike.

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Prisoners Using Drones to Smuggle Contraband

Originally published on August 18, 2014, at NationofChange.org

Defying conventional smuggling techniques, drone operators around the world are using a new method to sneak drugs, tobacco, cell phones, and other contraband into prisons. Capable of flying great distances, drones stashed with illicit packages can easily bypass prison walls to complete their deliveries. Many guards complain that they lack the proper ammunition to shoot down the drones.

The most recent drone was discovered on July 21, 2014, at a prison in Thailand. After receiving a tip-off about smuggling, guards at the Khao Bin prison reviewed surveillance footage and discovered a drone snagged on a tree branch inside the compound. The DJI Phantom drone they found was a quadcopter equipped with a GoPro video camera and a Wi-Fi signal range extender. Taped to the drone were two Nokia cell phones, two Bluetooth devices, four SIM cards, an integrated circuit and a pair of earphones. The drone operator escaped and is still at large.

On April 21, 2014, guards at Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina discovered a drone while conducting a routine perimeter check outside the prison. Officials believe the downed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed into the prison’s 12-foot-tall razor wire fence and landed in the bushes. The drone had been carrying marijuana, cell phones, tobacco, and synthetic marijuana.

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Protect Koalas from State-Sponsored Extinction

Originally published on August 18, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Mike Baird, Premier of New South Wales

Goal: Prevent a highway project from destroying a vital koala habitat

A colony of source population koalas is under threat by the recently approved plans to construct a highway through the Blackwall Range Wildlife Corridor. Critical to the survival of coastal koalas, the colony is expected to become extinct within the next 20 to 25 years due to the creation of the roadway. Although the highway could be built along multiple alternate routes, the current plans will entail bisecting the koala habitat and will threaten the survival of several other endangered species.

Commissioned by the Ballina Council, a Koala Habitat Study reported that construction of the highway would be a key threatening process endangering the lives of the koalas and other species. Previous studies of deforestation show that the koala population will rapidly decrease following the wanton destruction of their habitat. With no concern for the wellbeing of the animals or the environment, the Stage 10 upgrade of the Pacific Highway will ravage a habitat filled with biodiversity.

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Reform Corrupt Institution of Dirty Cops and Corrections Officers

Originally published on August 17, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Bujar Nishani, President of Albania

Goal: Reduce the numerous cases of police brutality, corruption, and human rights abuse in Albanian prisons

Investigations reveal multiple cases of Albanian police officers using excessive force and often beating suspects during interrogations to elicit confessions. Albanian jails are reported to be in such poor condition as to constitute inhuman treatment. Reports of torture committed by prison guards are rarely investigated, while the courts rarely prosecute corrupt government officials.

According to the U.S. State Department, corruption in all branches of the Albanian government is pervasive. With a mountain of evidence against them, high profile government officials are often found not guilty in court. Many other corrupt officials never have charges brought up against them.

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Former Navy Contractor Guilty of Bribery Scam

Originally published on August 15, 2014, at NationofChange.org

Seven men have been arrested in connection to a bribery scheme to collect roughly $5.5 million in government contracts. On August 12, Scott Miserendino, Sr. became the sixth man to plead guilty for his role in the crime. The former U.S. Navy contractor, Miserendino, pleaded guilty in federal court to accepting bribes and conspiring to commit bribery.

Scott Miserendino joined the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command in 1994. With a fleet of 110 ships posted around the world, the defense contractor is the leading provider of transportation for the U.S. Navy. On January 7, 1998, the Military Sealift Command published a press release awarding Miserendino for his cost-saving strategies. The press release has since been removed from the site.

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Enforce Stronger Laws Against Animal Cruelty

Originally published on August 14, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Elio Di Rupo, Prime Minister of Belgium

Goal: Create stronger laws to deter animal cruelty in Belgium

Instead of enforcing laws with tough sentences against purveyors of animal cruelty, the Belgian government chooses to turn a blind eye to animal abuse. Ignoring the problem will not make violence against animals simply disappear. The Belgian government must create and enforce laws protecting animals from physical abuse and mistreatment.

Numerous cases of malnourished, neglected, and abused animals have been reported with minimal punishment given to the perpetrators. Instead of deterring people who commit animal abuse, lenient sentences allow them to become repeat offenders with little to no consequence for their actions. Because these animals cannot stand up for themselves, they need us to protect them from harm.

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Demand an End to Rampant Police Brutality

Originally published on August 14, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, President of Yemen

Goal: Prosecute security officials guilty of torture, unlawful killings, and other human rights abuses

The government of Yemen has become complicit with human rights abuses taking place by law enforcement officials. Ignoring reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, and illegal executions, the government of Yemen refuses to investigate the perpetrators of these crimes. Such widespread corruption will only lead to further abuses if nobody takes action now.

Numerous reports exist documenting security forces committing unlawful killings. Government forces often utilize excessive force when dealing with protests or demonstrations. Innocent civilian bystanders have been killed as security forces attempt to suppress free speech.

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Save Zoo Animals from Severe Cruelty and Neglect

Originally published on August 13, 2014, at ForceChange.com

Target: Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand

Goal: Improve the miserable living conditions of animals in Thailand’s Phuket Zoo

Animals in captivity at the Phuket Zoo in Thailand are barely surviving due to decrepit living conditions. Zoo officials have refused to address the fact that their animals live in filthy cages with dirty drinking water. Many of the animals appear malnourished and suffer from untreated wounds. Demand that the animals trapped in this zoo receive protection against further cruelty and mistreatment.

Phuket Zoo is most famous for allowing tourists to take pictures with a heavily sedated tiger that has been chained to the floor. Sadly, the mistreated tiger is one of the few animals allowed to rest in the shade all day. Most of the zoo’s inadequate enclosures do not provide the animals with protection from the elements, completely depriving overheated animals of shade and forcing them to remain uncovered during rain or thunder. With little food and no fresh water, most of the animals appear sickly and lethargic.

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