Peacelogs

This week at the Court

Kali Borkoski — Sun, 19 May 2013 04:01:30 +0000

At 9:30 a.m. on Monday we expect orders from the May 16 Conference. Our list of “Petitions to watch” for that Conference is here. At 10 a.m. we expect opinions in argued cases. We will begin live blogging shortly before 9:30. On Thursday the Justices will meet for their May 23 Conference. Our list of [...]

Israel: Strengthen White Phosphorus Phase-Out

Human Rights Watch — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:59:59 +0000

Tweet Widget Facebook Like Email Israel should strengthen an announced reduction of its military use of white phosphorus munitions by banning all use of “air-burst” white phosphorus munitions in populated are...

FYRP: This Will Be on the Test

harry — Sat, 18 May 2013 22:30:09 +0000

After escaping the clutches of a term paper draft, it returns! Associated Press | Whoops. Seems like the people in charge of the most powerful weapons known to man just weren’t up to the job, and needed a bit of extra training. Not the first mistake of this manner. Navy Live | Apparently, the Navy [...]

Solicitor General files invitation briefs for June 6 Conference

Amy Howe — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:52:29 +0000

Every Term, thousands of litigants file petitions for certiorari, asking the Justices to review their cases on the merits. In roughly a dozen, the Justices initially neither grant nor deny review. Instead, they issue an order “invit[ing] the Solicitor General to file a brief expressing the views of the United States” – also known as [...]

Jimmy Carter on drug policy

Pete — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:44:10 +0000

“Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself; and where they are, they should be changed. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against possession of marijuana in private for personal use…” – President Jimmy Carter to Congress, August 2, [...]

Did the Keystone XL Environmental Contractor and the State Department Act Inappropriately or Illegally? [Greg Laden's Blog]

Greg Laden — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:04:27 +0000

Several environmental advocacy groups are asking the US State Department to launch an investigation over the State Department’s handling of the Keystone XL review. This is a bit nuanced but important, and I want to make clear what is going on here. Normally, environmental impact assessments are done by private contractors ultimately hired by the…

Leaders of biggest Jewish organisation ‘presiding over its rapid disintegration’

sarahbenton — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:09:53 +0000

If you've ever wondered about the role of the Board of Deputies, the pro-Israel body favoured by all UK governments as representing Britain's Jews, don't waste your time. According to members, the BoD is in a state of meltdown, chaos, on the edge of self-destruction. Either this is due to the Jewish Leadership Council usurping its role or chaos will averted by the timely intervention of the JLC. The demoralising confusion appears to rest on a conflict between professional efficiency and representative democracy.

Burma: New Doubts About Pace of Reforms

Human Rights Watch — Sat, 18 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Tweet Widget Facebook Like Email The United States should use the upcoming visit by Burma’s president to ask tough questions about the slowing pace of human rights reforms and insist on implementation of past c...

‘West must unite against China’s bullying’

Phayul Latest News — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:22:00 +0000

In a hard-hitting article written by prominent journalist Edward Lucas, the author advocates for democratic governments in the West to unite in resisting “Chinese bullying” against those who meet Tibet’s exiled leaders. Lucas, who is Internationa...

Exile Tibetan administration, scholars express concern over Lhasa’s ‘destruction’

Phayul Latest News — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:58:00 +0000

The exile Tibetan administration has expressed its deep concern over the “so-called ‘face-lift project’” currently underway in Barkhor and the old town area of Tibet’s ancient capital city of Lhasa.