Violation of Human Rights // Current

Two women sentenced to ‘Re-education’ in China

Two elderly Chinese women have been sentenced to a year of "re-education through labor" after they repeatedly sought a permit to demonstrate in one of the official Olympic protest areas, according to family members and human rights advocates.

The women, Wu Dianyuan, 79, and Wang Xiuying, 77, had made five visits to the police this month in an effort to get permission to protest what they contended was inadequate compensation for the demolition of their homes in Beijing.

During their final visit on Monday, public security officials informed them that they had been given administrative sentences for "disturbing the public order," according to Li Xuehui, Ms. Wu’s son.

Mr. Li said his mother and Ms. Wang, who used to be neighbors before their homes were demolished to make way for a redevelopment project, were allowed to return home but were told they could be sent to a detention center at any moment. "Can you imagine two old ladies in their 70s being re-educated through labor?" he asked. He said Ms. Wang was nearly blind.

A man who answered the phone at the Public Security Bureau declined to give out information about the case.

At least a half dozen people have been detained by the authorities after they responded to a government announcement late last month designating venues in three city parks as "protest zones" during the Olympics. So far, no demonstrations have taken place. Two elderly Chinese women have been sentenced to a year of "re-education through labor" after they repeatedly sought a permi... more

fountaingoats

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5 hours ago

Delta makes woman with muscular dystrophy crawl off plane

On July 20th, Julianna's (delayed) Delta flight landed in Atlanta at 7:30pm, with a connecting flight scheduled for 8:05pm. Julianna, who has muscular dystrophy, missed the connecting flight because nobody came with a wheelchair until 8:05—the same time the connecting flight took off. To make matters worse, the plane crew told Julianna she might make the flight anyway if she stopped waiting for help and got off the plane right now, so she crawled down the stairs on her own. When the wheelchair came she was "wheeled into a back room and advised" that her plane had taken off. But that was just the first half of her ordeal, and the next eight hours only got worse.

Letter Julianna has sent to Richard Anderson, Delta's CEO:

The employees in this room were debating who would get me to the ticket gate to be re-ticketed because it was no one's job and the appropriate personnel were not responding to their calls. After that was resolved I was given a new boarding pass for a flight expected to leave at 12:55 AM. Then this person advised me she cannot get me from a D Gate to Gate A9. She again called for the appropriate personnel who never showed. We waited by an elevator for someone she convinced to bring me over to Gate A even though it was not his job. I had to beg him to stop at a bathroom entrance and to wait for me and then he finally delivered me to Gate A9.

I was given a meal voucher for my INCONVENIENCE but could not purchase any food because again there was no one to bring me to an eating establishment, never mind wait on the long line for me to make a food purchase.

At 11:15 I advised the gate attendant I was dehydrated and cramping because I could not purchase any water. This is the only nice employee that treated me with dignity. The flight I was transferred to was supposed to leave at 10:22 PM but was delayed until 1:30 AM. This gate attendant went and brought me water off of the plane.

This gate attendant also made sure she finally found some one at 11:15 PM to push me to obtain food and another bathroom break. I arrived in West Palm Beach at 3:15 AM with no ride and had to again crawl into the shuttle service to get home.

I understand plane delays and waiting at airports, but is this how you treat your handicapped passengers???

The text above is from a letter Julianna has sent to Richard Anderson, Delta's CEO, who we hope will do more than send her another food voucher—like take real steps to make sure handicapped passengers are treated with a minimum of respect when they're traveling. On July 20th, Julianna's (delayed) Delta flight landed in Atlanta at 7:30pm, with a connecting flight scheduled for 8:05pm. Julia... more

goldenways

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9 hours ago

Internet dating & date rape - My friend's true story. Warning, graphic, ...

The link I attached my friend's true story below is an article to provides tips to avoid date rape. It's a violation. A crime.
I think her own words are best, so here is her story:

Her email to me starts here:

"You said you would help warn others about what happened to me. It's painful, but this is my story. Thanks for your help.

Why?
So, here in a state I don't want to name, I don't know a soul.. I don't get out and meet many people on average probably because I am disabled, but it's an invisible illness. I look normal, can act normal, feel alot of pain everywhere in my body.. nature of the illness.

I signed up on an Internet dating source in the summer, had not dated anyone yet. I'm cute, so people are always surprised I'm single, I just don't know anyone. Mailbox always full.

New Years came 2008.. didn't want to kiss my cat... again. I sent a mail to a guy close that had been talking to me. I was so excited to have a date, the guy, awesome. Checked him out, all seemed good. In officer program in the military. false comfort.

Suddenly plans get changed. I was lost. He was kind on the phone. We met up in a parking lot, where I eneded up purchasing something at a store for allergies (probably his cologne), and we left in his car. Thankfully I put the receipt in my coat pocket or I would not have found my car. After I was out of the hospital.

The dinner, weird. He was constantly gone, phone, texts, bathroom, something elese. He took about 4 bites of food. I worried, are you ok? He said his friend got in trouble.
Asked if we should scrap plans and go find him? Suddenly it wasn't a problem. We were at a dive but it wasn't his original plan. I just cared for the company and couldn't care less that plans fell.

I had been crushing on him a while... . we kissed and I asked what was wrong, he said nothing. I told him before specifically not to expect sex or anything more than a kiss in our email communications. He seemed fine.

The kiss for new years, is the last i remember and I did get a kiss. And a glass of diet drink, he got it for me. Tasted fine, toast, laugh kiss.. warm.
Soda needed ice, who cares. Just be happy.

Next memory. Shower, too cold. Hurts. So much hurts. Don't rub so hard. Tender. More cold. no covers. cold wet. Am i alone? towel? dark.
Next memory. I woke up alone, was naked. In a hotel. I didn't know what state, town, city, etc? Where was my car? No idea. I called the police and they said it wasn't their responsibility to know where my car was. Thinking i was a bimbo that drank to much I suppose, not drugged, raped, from the damage repeatedly. Left alone. I'm diabetic. Sugar less than 40, nothing to eat/drink. I couldn't hardly walk. I have little memory of that day too. Drug is strong. Lost. No money for a cab. Phone dead.

Hospital. Exam. Hurts. I cry. They document where my throat was holding me down. They stitch me back up, in that private place. I try to escape in my head. Glucose iv. Pills, so many to protect from std's.

Car? where could it be? I needed showers many showers.
As I sat there, hospital scrubs, not my own clothes, the police took all I was wearing and the biological evidence I gathered before I left the motel room. Blood, semen, soda cans and glasses. I don't want him hurting another girl.

I had spent hours looking for my car and trying to figure out details.

When I left the hospital they let me keep my coat, hands cold, in pockets. paper. the answer, my car was in another town completely.

Due to my medical conditions, I was told at the emergency room that street drug could have killed me. I was lucky they said. Why don't I feel lucky?

I'm a mess. I've been on bed rest for 8 days now. I am wearing 3 layers of clothes. So confused. Why? I was so careful.
Thanks for reading my story. I hope it helps someone." The link I attached my friend's true story below is an article to provides tips to avoid date rape. It's a violation. A cr... more