International Day of Democracy 2024

#DemocracyDay

A snapshot today,

ongoing verb,

think, genocide,

throbbing,

pulsing,

parasitic,

blue & white,

in spite of right

“Kamala Harris and Donald Trump debated. Haitians in the US feared for their safety after that debate. Today is Sunday, September 15.

Fifty days remain until the US presidential election. It is day 345 of the war in Gaza, where more than 41,182 Palestinians have been killed. On Saturday, Palestinians returning to the Zeytun neighborhood of Gaza City found widespread destruction in the wake of an Israeli operation there that lasted nearly three weeks.”

Today also marks,

(drum roll please)

International Day of Democracy!

established through,

UN General Assembly,

resolution, 2007

Background:

The International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But around the world, there are governments and those wielding power who find many ways to obstruct it.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

2024:

This year’s theme focuses on the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool for good governance.

“The International Day of Democracy is an opportunity to reinforce the importance of upholding free speech, civil liberties, and the rule of law; ensuring accountable institutions; and protecting and promoting human rights.

This is especially crucial in a year where more than 50 countries – representing half of the global population – are holding elections.

Yet, these rights and values are under attack around the world. Freedoms are being eroded. Civic space is diminishing. Polarization is intensifying. And mistrust is growing.

-António Guterres

The UN held a special event earlier in the week (September 10) to mark the year.

GZERO's Chief Content Officer Tony Maciulis moderated a UN Democracy Fund - UN Partnerships livestream (in partnership with UNDP, UNESCO and UNODC), hosting panelists from across the UN, civil society and academia.

🎥 International Democracy Day 2024: Navigating AI for Governance and Citizen Engagement

And!

The U.S. Department of State commemorated the day in official press release hypocrisy… (you do it so well, bravo wallah)

The United States will continue to support free and fair elections, to fight corruption, to protect human rights, and to promote inclusive governance.  We call on all governments to join us in these efforts and commend the reformers working tirelessly around the globe to advance democratic progress.

Too bad your policies,

Blinky blink-much,

don’t match ‘your’,

bad politics…

🎥 Why does Israeli army get away with killing foreign activists? | Inside Story

Al Jazeera English | Sep 15, 2024

“The fact that anybody is surprised or even thinks that it's news, that a protester was shot when we know this has been going on for decades, is really quite absurd. The conversation needs to be about why is it the international community is allowing this genocidal regime that has a history of mass murdering Palestinians, of mass deportation of Palestinians, of land theft and building settlements, all of which are illegal. Why is that not the conversation?

Why are we not discussing how to impose sanctions? Why are we not discussing an arms embargo and a no-fly zone over Gaza? These should be the conversations.

I mean, every life is precious, of course, and every Palestinian. I've seen, as a protester, I've been to so many of these protests and I've seen people shot, targeted and shot many, many times. And I've seen the soldiers, I've seen these snipers.”

And in recent Falastin news… I share an exact four…

➊

According to a report by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor earlier this month, the number of elderly Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks stands at more than 2,120.

The figure represents about 4 percent of the war’s victims and 2 percent of the besieged and bombarded territory’s elderly population.

“Most of these elderly victims were crushed under the debris of their homes or shelter centres after Israeli aircraft bombed them, or during forced evacuations or visits to markets for basic needs,” the watchdog said.

It added that “dozens were shockingly killed through direct field executions and liquidation operations”.

➋ 

Israeli authorities have forced the Elayyan family to demolish their own home in Beit Safafa, in occupied East Jerusalem, Wafa reports.

The Israeli municipality ruled the house must be destroyed because it was built without permits, which are notoriously difficult for Palestinians to obtain. Ahmed Elayyan lived in the house with four other family members.

Since October 7, more than 307 houses have been demolished in East Jerusalem, according to a report by Palestinian authorities.

➌ 

Israel has issued 33 orders placing Palestinians under administrative detention in a single day – without trial or charge, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society and the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs.

“Since October 7, the number of administrative detention orders reached more than 8,872,” the two organisations said in a statement.

➍

Satellite images captured between August 28 and September 13 reveal the evacuation of dozens of displaced people’s tents in the western areas of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, due to rising tide levels and heavy rainfall.

Activists and journalists have shared photos and videos showing the flooded tents and the struggle of displaced families to protect their remaining shelters as winter looms.

And since AI continues,

fashionably buzzing,

promising…

lives enriched,

realms of tech,

business, and (apparently),

most human rights…

let’s bid good night,

that novel thought,

(and it includes)

a song about…

cats…

🎥 Artificial Intelligence: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Last Week Tonight | Feb 27, 2023

@nawaftoon

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