[vox_mundi]

World Report 2017: Demagogues Threaten Human Rights

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ') (Washington, DC) – The rise of populist leaders in the United States and Europe poses a dangerous threat to basic rights protections while encouraging abuse by autocrats around the world, Human Rights Watch said today in launching its World Report 2017. Donald Trump’s election as US president after a campaign fomenting hatred and intolerance, and the rising influence of political parties in Europe that reject universal rights, have put the postwar human rights system at risk

Meanwhile, strongman leaders in Russia, Turkey, the Philippines, and China have substituted their own authority, rather than accountable government and the rule of law, as a guarantor of prosperity and security. These converging trends, bolstered by propaganda operations that denigrate legal standards and disdain factual analysis, directly challenge the laws and institutions that promote dignity, tolerance, and equality, Human Rights Watch said.

“The rise of populism poses a profound threat to human rights,” Roth said. “Trump and various politicians in Europe seek power through appeals to racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and nativism. They all claim that the public accepts violations of human rights as supposedly necessary to secure jobs, avoid cultural change, or prevent terrorist attacks. In fact, disregard for human rights offers the likeliest route to tyranny.”
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')i]“We forget at our peril the demagogues of the past: the fascists, communists, and their ilk who claimed privileged insight into the majority’s interest but ended up crushing the individual,” ... “When populists treat rights as obstacles to their vision of the majority will, it is only a matter of time before they turn on those who disagree with their agenda.”

[vox_mundi]

World Leaders Warned of Existential Risks in New Report

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')img]http://globalprioritiesproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/longlogo2.png[/img]

The report was carried out by the Future of Humanity Institute (FHI), which is part of the Faculty of Philosophy at Oxford University.

The FHI studies existential risk, which is defined by its director, Professor Nick Bostrom, as a risk "where an adverse outcome would either annihilate Earth-originating intelligent life or permanently and drastically curtail its potential".
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')b]Three of the most pressing possible existential risks for humanity are pandemics, extreme climate change, and nuclear war.

[onlooker]

Very interesting link Vox. I however am not convinced at this point any individual or collective action can significantly change the dire outcomes set to occur. We simply have too many people on the Earth which itself guarantees a certain impact upon the Environment and Ecosystems. We also have expectation of living modern lifestyles on the part of many currently living, that is also a problem. Finally, the entire argument of us changing as a species is sadly one which has ended upon being disillusioning to many including myself. We continue to exhibit primitive urges and impulses and continue mostly separated into groups who many times do not share common attitudes and are openly belligerent or uncooperative with each other. Our primal nature seems so difficult to control and eradicate. Our intellect and loftier emotions have not been able to sufficiently downplay this more egocentric pleasure seeking and aggressive side of us. So, I see little to warrant much optimism.

[vox_mundi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('onlooker', 'V')ery interesting link Vox. I however am not convinced at this point any individual or collective action can significantly change the dire outcomes set to occur. We simply have too many people on the Earth which itself guarantees a certain impact upon the Environment and Ecosystems. We also have expectation of living modern lifestyles on the part of many currently living, that is also a problem. Finally, the entire argument of us changing as a species is sadly one which has ended upon being disillusioning to many including myself. We continue to exhibit primitive urges and impulses and continue mostly separated into groups who many times do not share common attitudes and are openly belligerent or uncooperative with each other. Our primal nature seems so difficult to control and eradicate. Our intellect and loftier emotions have not been able to sufficiently downplay this more egocentric pleasure seeking and aggressive side of us. So, I see little to warrant much optimism.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vox_mundi', '[')b]World Leaders Warned of Existential Risks in New Report

Three of the most pressing possible existential risks for humanity are pandemics, extreme climate change, and nuclear war.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vox_mundi', '[')b] World Report 2017: Demagogues Threaten Human Rights

(Washington, DC) – The rise of populist leaders in the United States and Europe poses a dangerous threat to basic rights protections while encouraging abuse by autocrats around the world, Human Rights Watch said today in launching its World Report 2017. Donald Trump’s election as US president after a campaign fomenting hatred and intolerance, and the rising influence of political parties in Europe that reject universal rights, have put the postwar human rights system at risk

[onlooker]

Agree Plant. If the democratic process is being adhered too, we should be happy about this trend