LONDON, England — Nine activists of Black Lives Matter UK (BLMUK) staged a protest on a runway of London City Airport in London last Tuesday. Protestors reportedly swam or traveled via a dinghy across the Thames River from a dock across from the airport in order to reach the runway. Once on the runway, the protestors constructed themselves into an interlocked tripod formation.
Law enforcement officers work to remove protesters from the London City Airport Runway (Photo Courtesy of CNN)
Flights at the airport were suspended until the protesters were arrested and removed from the runway. According to local police, the seven of the nine protestors were arrested on charges of aggravated trespass, being unlawfully airside, and for breaching the bylaws of the London City Airport. The remaining two protestors remained interlocked on the runway and continued to engage in negotiations with police officers.
BLMUK stated that London City Airport is planning to expand, which would likely impact the surrounding neighborhoods which are located in a highly deprived part of London. One reason given by BLMUK for the protest was to highlight the economic disparity between airport travelers and the people who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the airport. The activist group claims that the airport was “designed for the wealthy,” and compares the salaries of the average London City Airport user (€136,000) to the average population in the surrounding town of Newham (£20,000 or less).
In this same sense, BLMUK provides that the reason for the protest was to “highlight the environmental impact of air travel on the lives of black people locally and globally.” The group estimates that by 2020, there will be 200 million climate refuges across the world. They claim that in 2016, 3,176 migrants either died or went missing in the Mediterranean as a result of fleeing conditions they did not create because cheaper, easier, and safer avenues of travel have been blocked or ignored by the UK.
The protest aggravated many affected travelers at London City Airport. One traveler whose flight was delayed said she understood the purpose of the protest and the concerns surrounding it, but highlighted that there are other ways the group can get their point across without impacting “young families.” Another set of African American travelers recognizes that “many issues always affect the poorest in society…but it has stopped these two black lives from going on holiday.”
by Yesim Usluca Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
DAMASCUS, Syria — Dozens were injured in a suspected chlorine bomb attack by Syrian government forces in the city of Aleppo on Tuesday, September 6th.
Many children were treated for breathing difficulties (Photo courtesy of New York Post)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicated that barrel bombs were allegedly dropped from helicopters by Syrian government forces on a crowded neighborhood. Use of chlorine in weapons is banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention. Chlorine gas can be fatal in high concentrations. In lower doses, it can damage lungs or cause severe breathing difficulties, vomiting and nausea, among other symptoms.
Syrian activists and volunteer emergency rescue workers stated that the attack caused dozens of cases of suffocation and at least one death. The volunteer rescuers noted that individuals in the area were rushed to hospitals due to severe breathing difficulties following the bombing. The victims’ clothing was reported to smell of chlorine and their symptoms were allegedly the same as those experienced in former attacks. These observations led to the suspicions of a chlorine gas attack. According to reports from the affected area, a majority of the injured individuals were women and children, with a pregnant woman being one of the patients in critical care.
Accusations involving use of chlorine and other poisonous gases are not uncommon in Syria’s civil war. An inquiry conducted in August 2016 by the U.N. and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons found that the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad had used toxic chlorine gas in at least two attacks in 2014 and 2015. The U.N. is further investigating an allegation by the Syrian Civil Defense which accused the government of another chlorine attack in August 2016.
The Syrian government is maintaining its position that it has never used chemical weapons. In August 2013, President Assad agreed to surrender and destroy all chemical weapons and facilities. This resolution authorizes militarily enforceable sanctions for use of any chemical weapons in Syria.
Buenos Aires, Argentina—Large oil companies are facing resistance against fracking from the Mapuche indigenous community located in the northern Patagonia region of Argentina. The Mapuche are claiming that their natural resources are being polluted as a result of gas extraction techniques.
Evidence of a water pipe with grease. (Picture courtesy of BBC)
The region targeted by the oil companies is known as Vaca Muerte in the northern province of Neuqen. It is the second largest hydrocarbon reserve in the world following the United States according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. But the region is also home to various indigenous families who claim that the pollution is contaminating their drinking and farming water. Albino Campo, the leader of a Mapuche community, Lof Campo Maripe, told BBC that, “The Mapuche people are angry. We feel like they have enslaved our land. It’s as if someone came into your house without asking. They have contaminated everything.” Campo also stated that their pipes and water used to be clear, but now the pipes are covered with black grease. In addition to black pipes, the water deposited from the pipes contains murky residue. The Mapuche also claim that the contaminated water is causing birth defects among their farm animals. According to BBC, Conservationist groups are also joining the movement demanding an end to fracking in indigenous territory, farming land, nature reserves, urban areas, and sites near water resources such as rivers, lakes, and lagoons.
The Vaca Muerte region is enticing for oil companies because it is an opportunity for Argentina to become self sufficient for many years to come. Fracking in the area could extract enough oil to cover the demands in Argentina providing cheap energy. Pro-government Congressman Eduardo Amadeo stated that, “Argentina needs oil and gas. You cannot stop production for 45 million people because one or two thousand people feel that their rights are affected.” The YPF and Chevron have the strongest partnership in the region. Chevron has agreed to invest 16 billion in the development through its partnership. YPF and Chevron have drilled 420 wells and are expected to drill 200 more. The companies have denied the allegations of contamination.
by Yesim Usluca Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
MANAMA, Bahrain — Nabeel Rajab, a prominent Bahraini human rights activist, was arrested in June 2016 on charges of spreading “false or malicious news, statements, or rumors.” Human rights organizations worldwide are now urging the government of Bahrain to release Mr. Rajab due to deteriorating health and detention conditions.
Bahraini human rights activist Nabeel Rajab leaving court with his daughter (Photo courtesy of AFP)
Prior to Mr. Rajab’s arrest, Bahraini authorities raided his house and seized all electronic devices. He was then arrested on June 13th at his home. At the time, his spouse claimed that security officers searched their house and detained him without providing any reason. The human rights abuse group, Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, believes that Mr. Rajab was arrested as part of a “synchronized series of moves to silence civil society in Bahrain.”
In July 2016, a Bahraini court denied bail for Mr. Rajab. He is being charged with “insulting a state institution and neighboring Saudi Arabia, and disseminating false rumors in time of war.” The accusations against Mr. Rajab refer to tweets posted on his Twitter account in 2015, referring to “allegations of torture” at Bahrain’s Jaw prison, and the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen.
Since his detention, Mr. Rajab has been experiencing recurring health problems. He was rushed to the coronary care unit on June 28th with an irregular heartbeat. His family stated that he has lost over seven kilos (approximately fifteen pounds) since his arrest, and developed high blood pressure and yellow skin. Upon his release, Mr. Rajab was returned to the West Riffa Police Station in Bahrain, where he is currently being held. The Bahraini court ordered that he remain in custody throughout the trial. The next court date for Mr. Rajab is scheduled for September 5, 2016.
The arrests of several human rights activists in Bahrain, such as Mr. Rajab, have drawn protests from the United Nations and key allies, including the United States. On September 2nd, over 30 human rights organizations worldwide penned an urgent plea letter to the King of Bahrain expressing their concerns over the continued detention of Mr. Rajab. The organizations urged the Bahraini government to “immediately and unconditionally” release Mr. Rajab. His detention is cited as an “act of reprisal for his work to promote fundamental human rights in Bahrain.” The organizations state that his cell does not meet the requirements for long-term detention and report on the unhygienic sanitary facilities. They indicate that he is suffering from chronic inflammation in his lower back, which requires urgent surgery. It is stated that his surgery has been pushed back to early September by Bahraini authorities. Similar to the concerns expressed by Mr. Rajab’s family, the letter expresses that he is experiencing an irregular heartbeat, as well as chest pains. The letter continues on to note that prison authorities are not providing him with sufficient medical assistance, and that he is dependent on his family for painkillers and bandages for a bleeding ulcer. The organizations express concern over Bahrain’s unwillingness to guarantee the right of freedom of expression, despite being a signatory to international human rights conventions.
by Portia K. Skenandore-Wheelock Impunity Watch Reporter, North America
CANNONBALL, N.D. — The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has sought a preliminary injunction to stop the construction of a $3.7billion pipeline until their lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is heard. The judge, James A. Boasberg of United States District Court, wanted more time to determine whether the Corps failed to follow federal laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act, in its environmental review of the pipeline project. A ruling on the injunction is expected September 9.
The pipeline spans over 1,100 miles over four states and is the first to bring Bakken shale in North Dakota directly to refineries in the Gulf Coast. Dakota Access is the group of firms behind the pipeline, which is led by Energy Transfer Partners. Supporters of the pipeline say this will be a more cost-effective way to transport the shale to the Gulf and assert it is safer than using roads and railways.
Members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe have been protesting the construction since April in order to protect their burial sites, sacred land, and the Tribe’s main water supply. There are now three distinct camps, the original Sacred Stone Spirit camp, the main Seven Council camp on the north side of the Cannonball River, and the Rosebud camp across the river. The main camp was established last spring to fight the construction of the pipeline that is expected to travel under the Missouri River on treaty lands a half of a mile from the Standing Rock reservation. Other Tribes and Nations have joined the camp in solidarity to protect the water and advocate for treaty rights. Accounts of the number of people at the camps vary from 1,000 to 3,000 over the last few weeks. A part of the camp traveled to Washington, D.C. to fill the court room and demonstrate outside the courthouse.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have confirmed that Energy Transfer Partners does not have a written easement to build the pipeline on Corps property. In July the Corps issued Section 408 permission, which allows the easement to be written, but the easement itself is still under review. The Department of the Interior, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Environmental Protection Agency objected to the Corps permission. Corps spokesman Larry Janis discussed current construction saying, “They can’t build the project by accessing corps property from west to east across Lake Oahe.” The lack of an easement became clear in the federal district court case. “Everybody thought they had it, this is really important information,” said attorney Carolyn Raffensperger, one of four attorneys volunteering their legal services to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and individuals that may get arrested in the protests.
A group of those protesting the Dakota Access pipeline left the camp to take their message to Washington, D.C.. (Photo courtesy of the New York Times)
Amnesty International and United Nations observers have been making visits to the camp. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the International Treaty Council have appealed to the United Nations by submitting an urgent action communication to four U.N. human rights special rapporteurs on the grounds that the tribe’s water supply is directly threatened by construction of the pipeline. The appeal states, “We specifically request that the United States Government impose an immediate moratorium on all pipeline construction until the treaty rights and human rights of the Standing Rock Tribe can be ensured and their free, prior and informed consent is obtained.” The Dakota Access pipeline allegedly violates the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples including the “right to health, right to water and subsistence, threats against sacred sites including burial grounds, Treaty Rights, cultural and ceremonial practices, free prior and informed consent, traditional lands and resources including water, productive capacity of the environment, and self-determination.”
The appeal also asserts environmental racism in the Corps’ decision to relocate the pipeline from north of Bismarck due to concerns of the impact on the city’s water supply without concern for the impact on the Tribe’s main water supply. The Corp has also issued permits to dig through burial grounds that are protected by protocols established by the National Historic Preservation Act that the Tribe alleges are not being followed.
North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple declared a state of emergency which allows for resources to be mobilized through the State Emergency Operations Plan and helps state and local agencies with more funding for public safety. Some residents are questioning the use of resources to protect Energy Transfer Partners. North Dakota Highway Patrol troopers and other agencies are manning a police barricade that stops and reroutes those going to the reservation but gives access to those north of the reservation. Private security has also been employed, including the recent use of dogs and pepper spray.
In addition to easement issues and potential human rights violations, residents in other states impacted by the pipeline have also filed suit. In Iowa, farmers are suing the government asserting that Dakota Access LLC is illegally using eminent domain to gain rights of way onto their land.
