Human Rights Institute papers

Human Rights Institute and the University of Connecticut has put up on the net a range of papers online and are hoping to develop this. A number of downloadable papers on human rights themes as diverse as land rights, cultural rights and multiculturalism, and truth recovery in South Africa and Northern Ireland are available. You can also send them others if you want.

Mahatma Gandhi Research and Media Service

Don't know if any of you have seen this, the Mahatma Gandhi Research and Media Service. This e-archive is an extensive online resource on Mohandas Karamchand (aka Mahatma) Gandhi in terms of quality and quantity. It provides over 1400 photographs, 17 hours audio online, 8800 books, a day-to-day chronology, Gandhi's life on video (60 min.), over 200 writings online, 44 min. of Gandhi's voice, and over 20 hours film footage. One for you Ghandi lovers out there...

Snapshot of South African Attitudes

The Washington Post with the Kaiser Foundation undertook a survey on South African attitudes recently. There is a short video on the web with some results, but also a link on that page to the summary document. Very interesting, and it is hopeful to note that most feel positive about the future...

Torture at Abu Ghraib

The stories have been all over the news for days now, so I am sure most have you have read about it extensively. However, I would recommend the various pieces by Seymour Hersh in the New Yorker of late. Key question how far up does the responsibility go? Well worth the read.

The Gray Zone by Seymour Hersh.

Chain of Command by Seymour Hersh

Inter-group Forgiveness in Settings of Ethnic Conflict

Inter-group Forgiveness in Settings of Ethnic Conflict: Empirical Research, Peace and Conflict is pleased to announce a future special issue on the theme of inter-group forgiveness in settings of ethnic conflict. Professor Micheal D. Roe of Seattle Pacific University and the University of Ulster is serving as Guest Editor. Manuscripts must present empirical research. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies are welcome. Studies from a variety of national or cultural settings are encouraged. Inquiries should be directed to Micheal Roe. Phone: (206) 281-2252; email: mroe@spu.edu. Submission deadline: 1 October 2003.

Gito Baloi

Seems like some times things can travel slowly across the planet, or otherwise I was just not paying attention. Only this morning I was browsing through the Mail and Guardian and came across this sad story. Apparently, Gito Baloi, celebrated jazz bassist and one-time member of the group Tananas, was shot and killed on the streets of Johannesburg in the early hours of April 4. I know his music well and saw him many times at the Bass Line Jazz Club that used to be up the road from my house in Johannesburg. How sad.