What exactly defines human rights? Does anyone who is born with two hands, legs and eyes considered “eligible” for this special right granted to no other species but to man alone? Well, the proponents of this particular concept advocate giving this right to any subject provided he or she is a human. But why talk about human rights in the first place? What is it even about?
Now, these two latter questions are a bit tricky. Why is there even a need to define what right we hold as humans? Is there no freedom to express humanly rights in the growing global society? Well, unfortunately, there is not only a need to define it but the need is rather pressing. The following was the explanation of human right on the UN site :”Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.” Now, how many of us can actually agree that the world is “bias free”/”discrimination free”? From the primitive cave wave wars to the world wars and to the wars of water, oil and land of the present situation, this has never been the case. This literally spells out that we had never adopted the idea of having equal “human rights” at any point in time. Fine. We shall let alone history but could anyone point out if we would at least, ever attain it?
All human rights are indivisible and very much dependent on each other. Some of which include the right to life, education, expression, social and cultural values and fundamentally equality irregardless of your race, religion, language or ethnicity. If we encourage and facilitate the advancement of one of those, there would be a “uplifting” effect on the rest as well. The downside however is that the system works both way and the moment, one gets denied a right and the absence of that leads to a steady depletion of the rest.
It is vital to understand that the fundamental and most crucial lifeline of the human society lies in the basis of equality and unity. Human Rights advocate just that. The very society that discriminates a particular community is being made the subject of discrimination by another. Is this the world we want to live in? There is unjust and cruel happenings every second around the globe and at this point as you read, a few kids die in Africa due to starvation. We have plenty of food in the world but it the lack of infrastructure in distributing them which results in many being denied the right to live. The rich nations have plenty of food that it is wasted and the poorer nations have countless dying each day. Why was the basic right to food/live denied for those who died? Were they not human enough? No. It is simple. They weren’t rich enough.
Too many cases wherein fellow people are denied the very right they actually deserve are raising at an alarming rate each day. They hit the news but they do not come as headlines which are stolen by the latest gossips in hollywood. The news ridden to the back… but then again, the truth sometimes is just too ugly to start the morning with…
Sometimes, we just have to face it. If no one is going to do something about it and the situation remains … it is bad… however, that is not even the case… if no one does something, if we don’t do something, it is not even going to stay steady but it is in fact, going to go down the ninety degree roller coaster ride just to hit earth with full velocity. We may then realize our mistake but it is way too late by then. Simply way too late for the human race.
Giant companies to governments … they are all involved in cases with denial of fundamental human rights. Giant corporation are responsible for some of the most gruesome and pitiful cases of human rights violation in this modern era. Although it is a problem increasing worldwide and is difficult to keep account for, we can try to do our part. We have the power to keep the industry and company in check.
The drink company that swallows the whole industry of fizz, Coca Cola has encountered so many cases of violation of human rights. It is not only the King of the Fizz world but also in terms of human right violations… With accusations of “prison-like” working environments, “promoting” child labour by purchasing materials from companies that do. Although Coca Cola denies no relevance to see beyond its direct supply, it definitely has to go down the supply chain. How else can we ever put an end to this? I came across a site that I would be most apt to share at this moment. http://www.killercoke.org/crimes.htm. It describes the very incidents that occur in the companies and the fight for the basic human right to life. “Between 1989 and 2002, eight union leaders from Coca-Cola bottling plants in Colombia were killed after protesting the company’s labor practices. Hundreds of other Coca-Cola workers who have joined or considered joining the Colombian union SINALTRAINAL have been kidnapped, tortured, and detained by paramilitaries who intimidate workers to prevent them from unionizing. In Turkey, 14 Coca-Cola truck drivers and their families were beaten severely by Turkish police hired by the company, while protesting a layoff of 1,000 workers from a local bottling plant in 2005.”
More recent news (May 2010) cover the plants in China which develop products for technology giants such as Apple, HP and Dell. 13 workers in Foxconn Technology have attempted suicide and the reason? Labour activists claim it is because of the “rigid management style, a too-fast assembly line and overwork”. What I fail to apprehend is why there are trying to use flesh and blood as oiled machines to do those things even computers fail with every now… Is a human’s quality of life… or rather, just life that worthless? If the mere workload and working hours is causing one to have suicidal thoughts …. I definitely do not understand how much more merciless it can get. Does one think that he has the right to their life just because he is on the big comfortable leather chair in the air conditioned room? What right does he hold to deny the fundamental human rights of the rest?
Chevron is yet another company in the unexhaustive list. Not only did it leave a utterly unimaginable environmental impact, it is responsible for the illness of the local residents in Richmond, California where it dumped all it toxic waste (350 000 barrels of oil/day). The great gift it gave to residents: rashes, kidney problems, liver problems tumors and cancer to name a few.
Well, not everyone may be interested in Chevron so how about chocolates? Nestle? Yes. The spread of this vicious virus hasn’t left even the sweetest industry. Illegal and forced slave child labour is increasingly found in the chocolate companies and according to sources, Nestle has been held responsible for the worst form of child labour with having almost 110 000 child laborers in dangerous working conditions at one point. At this juncture, it is notable to point out that Nestle is also notoriously known to have “contributed” to the deaths of innocent children and babies by its infant formula which it marketed in poor countries. Of more recent news, was the presence of chemical ITX in its formula which had to be seized by the police although Nestle knew about it several months back and didn’t recall it back!
Of course, other companies are in the queue for these “prestigious” positions. However, doesn’t all this ring a bell? With us enjoying our meals and chit chatting with our friends during our breaks… there is someone out there who is denied even the right to be human… the right to live his life… the right to fulfill his dreams… or even the right to even dream…
Not only do companies but even countries alike, commit sins as venomous. An article I just read talks about how most people in Pakistan live in a “human right free zone”. Please do visit it to read more about the plight of those people (http://southasia.oneworld.net/todaysheadlines/human-rights-denied-to-millions-reports-amnesty )… who are suffering… not because they are any different from us, but because they are born in a place that is geographically just away? The same applies for the females in Saudi Arabia who are “Under the law, are also not permitted to work, travel, study or marry, and can be denied access to health, judicial and other public services without first obtaining permission from a male guardian.” I feel that rage within as I read it. It manifests into the heated adrenaline gushing through my arteries… alas, why do the males treat THEIR females with no respect at all?! Just because the females are born in Saudi, they are denied their basic rights as humans which every other female counterpart around the world enjoys? I don’t understand the rationale of such discrimination nor the cultural sexual difference imparted on females.
With all said… If there is anything we can do, we have to actively voice out our discontent, our public outcry of this emotion… and our dissatisfaction with the way things are done… these companies or governments have nothing to gain but something to lose… their vulnerability is what we should tackle… and as youths, we have to not only tackle them but motivate the rest around us to think the same… Can’t we spend 5 minutes to think about another person around the globe? Who is just like you but… not smiling… suffering? Should we not take a moment and think how we can stop this from happening?
Remember, it is happening one at a time, every second that ticks by on that watch of yours… one life is gone… If there is a time, it is NOW… and if there has to be someone… why can’t it be you? …
With thoughts to ponder
and actions to occur…
Ammu Arudhra
youth, faith and what?!
Janice Mustafova
danielburitica
Ayah Al-Fwaress
raisingvoicepk
tolagenius
