Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has come under a lot of international criticism lately, released 190 political prisoners on Novemeber 3rd.
Category: Freedom
Denver chills out, smokes a bowl
Residents of Denver recently voted to legalize possession of marijuana in the amount of 1 oz or less. That’s legalize, mind you, not just decriminalize. 54% of voters were in favour of the ordinance.
The main argument by those in support was that marijuana is a safer alternative to alcohol, as far as recreational drug use goes.
Drug offenders in the US are generally charged under state or federal laws, so this measure may have no real official meaning; but Denver police will presumably not feel too compelled to make any arrests on the matter.
Female Firefighters in Iran
Iran has something that is unique for the Middle East: the only all-female firefighter squad.
From The Christian Science Monitor:
“Not every rescue requires a feminine touch. But in the Islamic Republic, which tolerates little public mixing of the genders, the 11 women here are breaking new ground and creating a model for cities across the country. They also represent a strain of pragmatic progressivism in Iran that is rarely matched elsewhere in the region.”
Rome Encourages Happy Pets
Rome is taking the welfare of pets into serious consideration and has actually banned small fish bowls! The popular round fish bowls have been banned under a new by-law which also stops fish or other animals from being given away as fairground prizes. The bowls apparently do not supply adequate oxygen for fish and can cause them to go blind.
Dog walking is also becoming mandatory for pet owners and dog owners are required to regularly walk their dogs and stop clipping their tails for esthetic reasons.
“It’s good to do whatever we can for our animals who, in exchange for a little love, fill our existence with their attention,†said Monica Cirinna, the councilor behind the by-law.
It’s nice to know that pets out there are getting the rights to live a good quality of life!
Writer Challenges Freedom
Orhan Pamuk is a famous writer from Turkey who is challenging freedom of expression in his country. In daring to comment about the genocide of thousands in Turkey he is now facing prosecution for the ‘public denigration of Turkish identity’. If convicted, Pamuk faces three years in prison, even longer if he publicly discusses his case before it goes to trial in December.
‘I said loud and clear that one million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds were killed in Turkey, and I stand by that. For me, these are scholarly issues,’ said Pamuk. ‘I am a novelist. I address human suffering and pain and it is obvious, even in Turkey, that there was an immense hidden pain which we now have to face.’
In finding the courage to speak out about his views on freedom of expression Orhan is creating a stir all throughout Turkey. The International community is taking notice of his case as well and this week he is being awarded with the German Peace Prize.
When people in the public eye challenge oppression and human rights violations it is a huge and bold step toward creating change.
‘It goes without saying that I stand by my words,’ he’s said in recent interviews. ‘And even more, I stand by my right to say them.’