American view of Human Rights? (Y13)

The USA administrations over the decades have spoken at length Human Rights abroad, and their responsibility to protect them. However, Amnesty International argue that not only is their current detention of 174 prisoners at Guantanamo Bay (without charge or trial) a total breach of their human rights, but also an undermining of their position to the rest of the world, which may in turn encourage anti-American feelings in the Islamic World (Clash of Civilisations?)

Amnesty UK are particularly pressing for the release of Shaker Aamer, the last UK resident held at Guantanamo, who has been held at the Cuba base for 9 years.

We will return to this soon

(Human Rights, Conflict, War & Terrorism)

Problems with Nuclear Proliferation (Y13)

This is a topics that we will discuss on the next unit, but this report from the Guardian is a key story on the issue. Barack Obama has made ridding the world of nuclear weapons a standout pledge since becoming President, but this will prove very difficult if countries that are not signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty are gaining a nuclear arsenal. This will definitely be one to watch over the coming months.

(Conflict, War & Terrorism)

New Members of the House of Lords (Y12)

We will be looking at the House of Lords and its membership very soon, but today David Cameron unveiled a list of  53 people who are to appointed Members of the House of Lords. A full list can be found here but some of the standout appointments and the implication are discussed here.

(Parliament)

Corruption in India (Y13)

This story is perfectly linked to our last topic as it illustrates how developing countries can be affected by corruption, and how this in turn can make the poorest even poorer.

According to Global Financial Integrity, in a story reported on the BBC website India lost $462bn between 1948 and 2008 to corruption, due to tax evasion, crime and corruption.

(Poverty & Development)

Police and the Rule of Law (Y12)

Two stories today about the Police being charged, two different outcomes. Both give rise to the argument that the law is not equally applied to members of the Police Force.

One the one hand there is this story of the Police Officer from London who was dismissed from his job but not charged for raping a drunk woman who was held in custody. The question could be raised if there was evidence enough to sack him, then why not to charge him. Either he was guilty or not, surely??

Secondly Sgt Mark Andrews today won his appeal against a 6 month sentence for assaulting a women held in custody in Wiltshire. Look at the video on the BBC story and question whether if similar evidence existed for a civilian, would there be any doubt that an offence had taken place??

(Constitution, Judiciary & Civil Liberties)

Civil Liberties and Scottish Parliament (Y12)

This article from the BBC today links two stories that we will look at for the British Politics course. It is an example of the Scottish Parliament debating legislation that is different from the Westminster Parliament, but importantly is again highlights the issue of assisted suicide and the so called “right to die”. It is currently illegal in the UK to help another person to commit suicide. This has caused a few high profile challenges in the ECHR over the issue (which we will look at when we reach the Judiciary unit), and this bill would clarify the situation in Scotland (and make it different from the law in the rest of the UK)

Constitution, Devolution, Judiciary & Civil Liberties)

Consequences of Poverty? (Y13)

This is a story that had disappeared from the news over the last 12 months (how many other stories is that true of?  - stories that get a blaze of publicity, then despite the event not stopping, just slowly vanish from the forefront of the media output), but it has become one of those evntually heart warming tales.

The reason for it being relevant is that the activities of the Somali pirates (although I heard Paul Chandler himself saying that this wasn’t piracy, but plan and simple kidnapping and extortion) are due to the high level of poverty in their country. Not only has the government disintegrated and the country is regularly faced with environmental disasters, but the country is so poor that for many the only way to make a living is to sail off into the Arabian Sea an hijack tankers and private sailing craft. This article from the BBC in 2009 explains the issue well.

If you have the time, this link takes you to the first section of Ross Kemp’s programme on 21st Century Piracy. Well worth a look!

(Poverty & Development, Conflict, War & Terrorism)

Free Speech in the UK? Modern Judiciary? (Y12)

An interesting story has resurfaced over the weekend, with the failed appeal of the man who posted on his Twitter feed “Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your shit together otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!!”. He was originally arrested by police for making a bomb threat and then charged with breaking the 2003 Communications Act by “sending by means of a public electronic telecommunications system a message or other matter that is “grossly offensive, or of an indecent obscene or menacing character” This has raised both questions over our democratic right to free speech in the UK and also whether judges in Britain have moved sufficiently with the times to fully understand the new social media.

This has also led to some good examples of how new media is used to exert pressure, maybe a good case study to think about when you begin to look at Pressure Groups?

(Democracy, Judiciary & Civil Liberties, Pressure Groups)

EU forces change to UK Constitution (Y12)

Interesting that this should come up when we are looking at this very topic. Historically, British citizens who are in prison have not been able to vote. In 2001, John Hirst who had been convicted of manslaughter in 1980 began took the government to court, claiming that by denying him the right to vote, his human rights were being infringed (as laid down in the European Convention of Human Rights – ECHR).

Eventually in 2005, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that we were in breach of the ECHR and that we should change the law in Britain. Over the last 5 years the government had been looking into whether we had to agree to this, and this week it has been decided that the UK must change its law on voting rights or be liable for milions of pounds in damages.

This is worth remembering as the best recent example of a change to our Constitution forced upon us by the EU

(The Constitution, Judiciary)