Development
The Rural/Urban Paradox of India (Abridged)
A few weeks ago, I got the chance of having a long and touching conversation with Ashok Manjhi, one construction laborer who works in Ghaziabad, a suburb of New Delhi. He is one of the millions of daily-wage earners who reside in slums in Indian cities. The dynamics of rural poverty and urban migration... »
Gabon’s Lords of Poverty
Gabon’s Lords of Poverty Gabon’s Ba’aka pygmy population may soon be saying au revoir to smoked fish and nihao to tofu, if the $3.5 billion Belinga iron-ore mining deal, awarded to a Chinese consortium in 2006, goes off without a hitch. The ore, billed as one of the world’s last remaining major untapped deposits,... »
Governance and Development: Iraq after the US invasion
Governance and Development: By: Carol Blenda Reyes Avila The loss of life continues to rise in the US-led invasion of Iraq as both proponents and detractors of the war begin to question the almost certain human rights violations that are occurring. Overseeing the establishment of a sound and appropriate government once appeared to be... »
Human Trafficking: What a Perfected Business!
A lot of us think that success had come in the beginning of the 1800’s with the demise of the transatlantic slave trade, but pretty tragically, the incidence of slavery is more pervasive now, than ever before. There are an estimated 27 mm. slaves in the world today, more than at any other time... »
Sovereign Immunity: Samantar v. Yousuf
Human rights violations, war crimes, and international humanitarian law in the context of “Failed States” and “Civil Wars” are permeating into global discourse at a steady pace. While a few celebrated cases have dominated international attention, the “rules of accountability” are an organic process with growing pains. One of the main issues that hinder... »
Prison: The New South
Slavery went from the hands of the people to the hands of the government. Milton Meltzer stated that slavery lingers. “Slavery as an institution that degraded man to a thing has never died out. In some periods of history it has flourished: many civilizations have climbed to power and glory on the backs of... »
The real importance of democracy*
In our readings for this course, we usually see that the authors consider democracy an advantage or even an essential aspect in the process of achieving development and human rights. Sen (pp. 43), for example, exemplifies his reflections in a chapter saying that “there are real handicaps that China experiences compared with India because... »
Obama’s FY 2011 Global Health Initiative Budget Missing The Mark
It is impossible to separate HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention from the issue of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health however; it appears the President’s FY 2011 Foreign Affairs budget is attempting to do just that. It is also impossible to separate these issues from women’s rights as human rights. The basic human... »
Social Accountability of Individuals
After reading Ackerman’s article on “Human Rights and Social Accountability”, it seems apparent that no matter the program, much of the responsibility pertaining to human rights relies on individual and civic action. While governmental action may have some impact, it seems as though there are many more changes that appear to be affective as... »
Wealth through Development
It is normal for human beings to demand their rights, no matter what the cost. There is no pleasure in living if one’s rights have been deprived. A good lifestyle does not rely only on material survival alone. A decent life requires human rights that the individuals should enjoy without interference from the government.... »