Our weekly round-up of must-read stories you might have missed: Support Sudanese Writer Raina Mamoun; As People Live Longer, Threats to Wildlife Increase; Monsanto and Pepsi trying to stop GMO labeling law in Washington State; #Strike4Sudan – its supporters and its critics debate the way forward.
Stop the Trial of the Sudanese Writer Raina Mamoun – Avaaz.org
We urge you to stop the unfair trial of the Sudanese Writer who is faces another session of trial on November 10, 2013. Her charge is protesting against the increase in fuel price that the Sudanese Government imposes in late September 2013. Rania was brutally beaten by the Sudanese Authorities when was first detained last September 2013. It worth mentioning that peaceful protest is the right of every Sudanese citizen as per the Sudanese Transitional Constitute of 2005…
As People Live Longer, Threats to Wildlife Increase – Scientific American
As countries’ human life expectancy grows, so do their numbers of invasive and endangered species, according to a new study by University of California, Davis researchers. The researchers examined social, economic and ecological information for 100 countries to determine which factors are most strongly linked to endangered and invasive birds and mammals. Human life expectancy is rarely included in such studies but turned out to be the best predictor of invasions and endangerment in these countries, according to the study published in Ecology and Society…
Monsanto and Pepsi trying to stop GMO labeling law in Washington State – RT
A Washington State ballot measure to label food featuring genetically modified crops is under fire as food and chemical corporations pour millions of dollars against the campaign. On November 5, voters will head to the polls to decide whether or not to label food containing crops that have been genetically modified, but what started out as a landslide victory in the making has turned into a tight contest amidst massive corporate spending. Supporters of ballot measure I-522 argue that this is an issue of transparency, and letting consumers know when their food contains genetically modified organisms (GMO) would enable them to make more educated decisions. They also say that GMO are not safe for human or animal consumption, and cause environmental problems by promoting the use of certain farming chemicals…
#Strike4Sudan – its supporters and its critics debate the way forward – Open Democracy
Almost a month has passed since the people of Sudan began to rebel. Violence ensued which led to the death of over 210 peaceful protestors, the arbitrary arrest and detention of over 700 people and the disappearance of a number of young men and women whose families don’t know if they are still alive or killed by government militias. By the end of September the mass protests had dwindled in size, but the youth had not given up. Now they are in the process of developing resistance groups to challenge the National Congress Party (NCP). Young female activists and students have organized several silent sit-ins in front of the military headquarters and on Nile Street in Khartoum; where they posters bearing photos of the October martyrs are on display. Families of the detainees are also arranging regular sit-ins in front of National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) premises…
