Global Notebook

Haunted by a Shameful Legacy

HOLLYWOOD – Dashiell Hammett. Lillian Hellman. Clifford Odets. Those literary legends were just a few of the left-leaning citizens whose names Elia Kazan, then under scrutiny for his own political affiliations, recited before the vicious House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) sniffing out radicals in 1952. A brilliant stage and screen director (A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, East of Eden), Kazan claimed he was proving his patriotism 47 years ago. He has remained unrepentant about those McCarthy Era betrayals ever since. read more

Another Countdown for Mumia

PHILADELPHIA – On October 28, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the appeal of Mumia Abu-Jamal, along with his motion for a new trial. Although the decision is being appealed in federal court, Gov. Tom Ridge could sign a second death warrant at any moment. After that, Abu-Jamal may have as little as 30 days to get a judge to issue a stay of execution.

A respected journalist and anti-racism activist, Abu-Jamal was accused of killing a police officer on weak, tainted evidence. During the original trial, jurors were barred on racial grounds, key evidence was suppressed, and police officers were permitted to testify that Mumia had confessed – after "forgetting" to mention it for two months. read more

US Hypocrisy Takes Center Stage

LONDON – For the first time, Amnesty International (AI) is targeting the US for a year-long campaign, accusing it of double standards and creating a climate "in which human rights violations thrive." Its detailed October report attacks the US for "a persistent and widespread pattern of human rights violations."

Federal and state authorities, police, immigration, and prison officers are criticized in a study that paints a picture of gratuitous violence, sexual abuse, and cruelty. Shocked that the US was singled out, the State Department issued an angry repudiation. read more

Monsanto Plays the Hunger Card

LONDON – A new war is breaking out in Europe. On one side is Monsanto – the planet’s second largest agro-chemical company – which recently launched a major media blitz to overcome opposition to genetically engineered foods. On the other is the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FOA), non-government groups like the Panos Institute, and a growing chorus of European leaders. The stakes are control of world food supply.

Austria, Luxembourg, and Italy recently have attempted bans on the planting of genetically-modified seeds. European consumers are picketing grocery stores. One major UK supermarket chain has even refused to sell genetically-modified products. Britain’s Prince Charles accuses the multinationals of "playing God." read more

EU Freezes Human Rights Funding

BRUSSELS – Unless the European Union reconsiders a June decision, the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this December could be a major disappointment. Fearing legal liability after a European Court of Justice decision that questions its budget management, the EU’s administrative commission has frozen financial support for a wide range of human rights efforts around the world.

The action threatens the survival of hundreds of programs, including support of Nigerian advocates for democracy, medical and legal assistance to victims of torture in Turkey, prevention of violence against women, rehabilitation of street children in Latin America, and independent human rights monitoring in Kosovo. read more

Russia Faces a Crime Revolution

MOSCOW – Big money is a major factor in Russian politics as the newly – sometimes illicitly – rich gain control over democratic institutions. A recent example was the April mayoral victory of a controversial businessman with a criminal record in Nizhny Novgorod, the country’s third largest city. Afterwards, the winner, Andrei Klimentiev, was arrested for bribing voters and violating an earlier court order to leave town.

Fearing a criminal takeover, President Yeltsin has backed legislation to prevent criminals from being elected or getting government jobs. The Interior ministry estimates there are now 12,000 criminal organizations in Russia, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies warns that the country "is on the verge of becoming a crime-dominated oligarchy." Russian bureaucracy is a perfect playground for corruption: Salaries are low, and many officials accept bribes. read more