Inspirational and good news.
President of the United State, George W. Bush, has finally given into pressure to back a bill that bans torture.
The White House was hesitant to back the bill, but, as a result of domestic and international presurre the Bush administration has taken a stance against torture.
Online Rights Canada is a new grassroots that aims to promote the rights of Canadians online. They are sponsored by the EFF and CIPPIC.
From the ORC site:
“We believe that Canadians should have a voice in copyright law, access to information, freedom from censorship, and other issues that we face in the digital world.”
Election time is upon us here in Canada, and all political parties have been quick off the mark with takes on the usual promises to the electorate. Among the more intersting debates that emerged during the first few weeks of the campaign centred on the notion of lowering the legal voting age to 16.
In a country where 16 year olds have many rights and responsibilities already, it is unfortunate that Canada has not yet extended the right to vote to this group of citizens. With voter turnout rates expected to be at record lows for January’s election, Canada needs seriously examine how to get more people participating in one of the essential hallmarks of a democracy. By encouraging 16 year olds to vote, especially while they are in high school and can be educated on the democratic process, it is hoped that youth may be encouraged to participate in democracy at an earlier age, and for a lifetime.
A Member of Parliament during the last session put forth a private members’ bill that would have lowered the voting age to 16. The bill was defeated in June, but he has used the current campaign to promote this important idea once again. Vote16.ca is a website dedicated to “engaging Canada’s youth in politics,” specifically through lowering the legal voting age to 16.
In a move meant to combat the growing trend of ‘biopiracy’ (companies or countries patenting organisms or techniques which originated elsewhere), India will be releasing an encyclopedia of traditional ayurvedic, unani, and siddha medicine next year.
The project, dubbed Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, is meant to showcase and protect India’s cultural heritage.
European lawmakers want to find out what is going on with CIA “torture planes” flying through their airspace and landing in some European nations.
The planes use airstrips in Europe as the flights transfer people to “secret” CIA bases. Interest in America’s activities involving the planes, bases, and torturing is on the rise among Europeans. It’s good to see that the Europeans want to find out what is really going on.