Tag Archives: prison

Illegal, Dangerous, and Discriminatory

A tweet by California’s Governor Newsom. Over the past five years, there has been a growing case against the use of lethal injections under the death penalty. In 2014, Clayton Lockett’s case garnered international attention for his execution that lasted 1 hour and 44 minutes from the time he was strapped onto the gurney toContinue reading “Illegal, Dangerous, and Discriminatory”

Prisons on the Frontier: China’s Latest Human Rights Crisis

For over two hundred years, the Central Asian Uyghur people have represented one of the earliest and most visible examples of Chinese imperialism. When the Qing dynasty conquered huge swaths of what is now considered northwestern China in the 18th century, they incorporated the traditional Uyghur homeland as the province of ‘Xinjiang’ (New Frontier). SinceContinue reading “Prisons on the Frontier: China’s Latest Human Rights Crisis”

The Resurgence of Prison Privatization in Trump’s America

In a Huffington Post article, Bernie Sanders points to mass incarceration and the use of for-profit prisons as America’s deepest flaw, saying, ‘We have more people in jail than any other country on earth, including Communist China, an authoritarian country four times our size. The United States has less than five percent of the world’sContinue reading “The Resurgence of Prison Privatization in Trump’s America”

Remembering Liu Xiaobo

Last Thursday (October 19th), a service took place at Washington National Cathedral to commemorate the work and life of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Liu Xiaobo, and celebrate his wife, Beijing-based poet, artist, and activist, Liu Xia. The event included messages from the Dalai Lama, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Congressman Chris Smith, as wellContinue reading “Remembering Liu Xiaobo”

A Death in Detention: Life Inside UK Immigration Removal Centres

On 3rd October 2017, Morton Hall Immigration Removal Centre (IRC) – an ominous, high-security, 392-room deportation centre based in Lincoln – became the site of the third detainee death in UK centres in less than a month. Carlinton Spencer, aged 38, had apparently repeatedly called for medical assistance, while his health deteriorated. He was eventuallyContinue reading “A Death in Detention: Life Inside UK Immigration Removal Centres”

Polling, Porn, and Privileges: What Does the ECHR Entitle Prisoners to?

Have you ever tried to go a whole night aware of the fact that you do not have access to a toilet until a certain time? It is not a comfortable situation to be in. Even the mere thought that you might need and not be able to access the toilet puts you on edge.Continue reading “Polling, Porn, and Privileges: What Does the ECHR Entitle Prisoners to?”

Torture in the United States: In Theory and Praxis

The United States is known by many as the global hegemon, especially in regard to military strength. While this is sometimes disputed, what cannot be is the vast scale on which the defense budget of the United States far exceeds that of any other country. In 2015, the defense budget of the US was $569.3Continue reading “Torture in the United States: In Theory and Praxis”

Brexit and Prisoners' Right to Vote

A prisoner looks out of his cell On the 23rd of June 2016, 52% of British voters elected to leave the European Union in a national referendum. Britain joined this union in 1973 when it was the European Community, under the conservative government of Edward Heath. Different political analysts will cite different reasons as ultimatelyContinue reading “Brexit and Prisoners' Right to Vote”