New Additions to AllGov

U.S. Only Country of 47 to Vote against Investigating Possible Human Rights Violations during Israeli Occupation of Gaza

The U.S. has again demonstrated its steadfast loyalty to Israel, this time casting the lone “no” vote on a U.N. resolution authorizing an investigation into alleged human rights abuses in Gaza. The recent military invasion of the Palestinian territory has seen hundreds of civilians killed, including many children. The measure condemned the “violations of ...human rights” caused by the Israeli military and "all violence against civilians...including the killing of two Israeli civilians.” read more

European Union Court Slams Poland for Helping U.S. Torture Program

Poland’s actions in helping the George W. Bush administration torture terrorism suspects on its soil constituted a human rights violation, the European court ruled. It also was faulted for not looking into what happened to Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri (implicated in the 2000 attack on the USS Cole) and Abu Zubaida (accused of facilitating militant training) while they were in CIA custody. Nashiri was subjected to a mock execution and had a drill put to his head at the black site. read more

Ominous Drying Up of Groundwater that Supplies Nine States

It’s easy to see the effects the prolonged drought in the Western U.S. is having on surface water supplies: many reservoirs have taken on a striped appearance from the difference between normal levels and the much lower levels now. But water supplies are also drying up in a place that’s not as obvious and can have more severe consequences. The groundwater levels in the Colorado River Basin, which covers parts of multiple states, have fallen faster than they can be replenished. read more

Missouri Voters will Decide if Phone and Email Privacy Should be Added to State Constitution

Missouri residents may soon be able to say “Show me a warrant” when asked by law enforcement to produce their electronic devices. Both houses of the state’s legislature voted to put a proposed Amendment 9 on the ballot that would ensure "that the people shall be secure in their electronic...data from unreasonable searches and seizures..." The bill has “national implication,” said Tenth Amendment Center's Michael Maharrey. read more

U.S. Ambassador to Honduras: Who Is James Nealon?

Nealon took a job as deputy chief of staff at the embassy in Peru in 2007. While in Peru, Nealon wrote a report, later released by WikiLeaks, expressing concern about “anti-system radicals” who might “lay the groundwork for a more systematic assault on the pro-growth model.” In December 2012, President Obama proposed Nealon as the ambassador to Bolivia, but, not surprisingly considering his comments, Nealon was rejected by the Bolivian government. read more