(2022-03-01). Venezuela Repudiates Washington's Aggression Before UN Human Rights Council (+Alex Saab). orinocotribune.com The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, spoke this Monday, February 28 at the 49th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council, and denounced any intention to use the international human rights system "to replace governments not aligned with Western hegemonic interests, imposing against the countries of the South formulas of judicial colonialism seeking to replace national systems with interventionist, colonialist, foreign mechanisms, contrary to the principles of sovereignty, self-determination and complementarity." | In his speech, he also repudiated the actions of the Bank of England which, with the sup…
(2022-03-01). Rally in solidarity with detained immigrants in Tacoma, Washington not dampened by rain. liberationnews.org 
On Feb. 26, over 100 community members showed up at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, to loudly stand in solidarity with those detained just a few feet behind them.
(2022-03-01). Cambodia police say blood-slave case faked. ecns.cn The so-called blood slave case, in which a Chinese national had been reported to be detained illegally in Cambodia and had large quantities of blood taken from him, was fabricated, the Chinese embassy in Cambodia said on Monday, quoting local police.
(2022-03-01). Senate votes against legalizing abortion 46-48; struggle for full reproductive rights will continue until victory. liberationnews.org 
The power is in the hands of the people; we will not stand by quietly as attacks on abortion proliferate across the states!
(2022-03-01). Friday 3/4: Lessons from Selma Bridge Crossing & Civil Rights Movement for Moral Action Today w/ PPC. indybay.org Online via livestream…
(2022-03-01). Sunday 3/20: The Joy of Conflict: A Nonviolent Approach. indybay.org Berkeley Animal Rights Center | 2425 Channing Way Berkeley, CA 94704…
(2022-03-01). Ukraine crisis: Do sanctions work? america.cgtn.com 
The Western world has imposed a wide range of sanctions in order to try to deter and punish Russia in the wake of its military operation in Ukraine. Sanctions are widely used by governments — a non-military strategy to try to affect behavior of other nations. But …
(2022-03-01). EU Will Wage Total Economic & Financial War Against Russia, French Finance Minister Says. sputniknews.com On Monday, Paris vowed to identify Russians who have properties in France so that they might be included in the EU sanctions list due to links with the Russian authorities in connection with the ongoing special operation conducted by Moscow to "demilitarise and denazify" Ukraine.
(2022-03-01). Finnair, Nokian Tyres Plunge Amid Anti-Russia Sanctions Over Ukraine Special Op. sputniknews.com Barely a day after the EU banned all Russian planes from its airspace, Moscow responded in kind, barring carriers all 27 EU members, which plunged Finland's flag carrier.
(2022-02-28). US, Allies Ban Russian Banks From SWIFT, Crypto Maybe Next Target. news.antiwar.com The US has joined Canada, the EU and UK in barring some Russians from the international money transfer system, SWIFT. The move is the most serious round of sanctions yet from Western nations over Russia's actions in Ukraine, with Ross Delston, a U.S. lawyer and former banking regulator, calling it "the closest thing to a …
(2022-02-28). U.S. Sanctions on Russia Over Ukraine Also Target Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba. towardfreedom.org U.S. President Joe Biden's top Latin America advisor, Juan S. González, admitted U.S. sanctions against Russia aim to hurt Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. The three socialist governments condemned NATO aggression for creating the crisis in Ukraine, reports Ben Norton.
(2022-02-28). Political economy of the conflict in Ukraine. peoplesdispatch.org The mainstream media in India has been engaged in extensive but one-sided coverage of the conflict in Ukraine. Like all other crises, the conflict in Ukraine has several dimensions which need to be rigorously examined. In this article, we will seek to examine the political economy background to this crisis. | Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been extended eastwards towards Russia in many phases in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2017 and 2020. Supporters of the "rights-based international order" argue that this expansion of NATO occurred due to "voluntary choices" of…
(2022-02-28). Putin Puts Russian Nuclear Forces on High Alert as Resistance to Invasion Grows. truthout.org 
Following a wave of peace rallies held across the globe this weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to diplomatic talks with Russia. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin placed Russia's nuclear forces on high alert on Sunday, citing increasingly tightened international sanctions. We speak with Anatol Lieven, senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, who says it's not clear whether Putin is using a nuclear threat to topple the Ukrainian gov…
(2022-02-28). Putin Puts Russian Nuclear Forces on High Alert as Resistance to Ukraine Invasion Grows. democracynow.org 
Following a wave of peace rallies held across the globe this weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to diplomatic talks with Russia. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin placed Russia's nuclear forces on high alert on Sunday, citing increasingly tightened international sanctions. We speak with Anatol Lieven, senior fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, who says it's not clear whether Putin is using a nuclear threat to topple the Ukrainian government or pressure them into a deal. Lieven also speaks about Belarus's support of the Russian invasion…
(2022-02-28). Spain proposes closing ports to 'Russian oligarchs' over Ukraine. rt.com 
Russian millionaires should not enjoy prosperity brought by democracy and peace, Spanish FM says | The Spanish Foreign Minister has proposed closing European ports to Russian ships as part of sanctions punishing Moscow for its attack on Ukraine. This would make "Russian oligarchs" pay their share of the prices of Russian foreign policy, Jose Manuel Albares told Radio Nacional de Espana on Monday. | The minister was explaining the EU's use of individual sanctions against Russian citizens. The minister said he proposed to his EU counterparts "to close the ports of Europe to those yachts of millionaire oligarchs"
(2022-02-28). Looters to be shot on the spot, Ukrainian mayors warn. rt.com 
Harsh warnings amid rising number of incidents across several locations | Law enforcement officers in two Ukrainian towns have been authorized to shoot looters "on the spot," the mayors have announced. | A significant number of looting incidents have been reported across the country since the beginning of Russia's military operation. Zhytomyr's mayor Sergey Sukhomlyn in a Facebook video address mentioned an attempted robbery of a store in one area of the city. | "I am warning everyone: the police, the National Guard, the territorial defense units – they all received orders not to detain, they can just shoot on…
(2022-02-28). Russia out of Swift, The "Nuclear" Financial Option That Risks Collapsing The World Economy. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | Written by Piero Messina | There is the war that is fought on the ground and there is the war that is fought with international finance weapons. Financially, Europe and the United States have a nuclear option. They used it: to oust the Russian Central Bank from Swift transactions. | But what is the Swift? It is an acronym that stands for "Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications": it is a Belgian messaging platform that connects thousands of financial institutions fro…
(2022-02-28). New York Bail Reform Fight. popularresistance.org Black Agenda Report coined the terms "black misleadership class" and "black political class" to describe elected officials and others whose positions of influence do little to help the masses of Black people. In some cases their actions in elected office and other prominent positions deliberately undermine the human rights of Black people. So, when Black elected officials do the right and righteous thing, BAR should take notice. | Such is the case in the state of New York, where a Black man and woman lead the two legislative chambers. Carl Heastie is Speaker of the Assembly and Andrea Stewart-Cousins is the State…
(2022-02-28). Human rights and a divorce or civil partnership dissolution statement. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
Statement as 'conclusive evidence' The European Convention 1950 guarantees the right to a fair trial. Everyone knows that. At article 6.1 the Convention says: Right to a fair trial 1. In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing …
(2022-02-28). The ICJ and the Issue of Lawful Representation in The Gambia v Myanmar. transcend.org 18 Feb 2022 – Ahead of the scheduled public hearings in The Gambia v Myanmar (the Rohingya genocide case) at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the University of Ottawa Human Rights Research and Education Centre, Canada, the Genocide Watch of USA and FORSEA release a comprehensive legal analysis. It focuses on the crucial question of who should lawfully speak for Myanmar before the ICJ as Myanmar's coup resulted in an unprecedented situation with no recognized government or even regime with effective control of the state.
(2022-02-28). Report from Kyiv: LGBTQ Activist Says Ukrainians Are United in Resisting Russian Invasion. democracynow.org 
Ukraine is demanding an immediate ceasefire and for all Russian troops to leave the country as they report more than 350 Ukrainian civilians have so far been killed in President Putin's invasion, which entered its fifth day Monday. The United Nations is also reporting more than 500,000 people have fled Ukraine and another 100,000 are internally displaced. This all comes as the Russian military has so far failed in its attempts to seize Kyiv and other large Ukrainian cites despite the capital remaining surrounded by Russian troops. We go to Kyiv to speak with Olena Shevchenko, a Ukrainian human rights and LG…
(2022-02-28). Whistleblower Exposes Credit Suisse's Bankrolling of Spy Chiefs Involved in CIA Torture. transcend.org 22 Feb 2022 – A major global journalism project called "Suisse Secrets" revealed the names of criminals and corrupt government officials who had Credit Suisse accounts, including spy agency chiefs implicated in the CIA's torture program.
(2022-02-28). Nils Melzer: The Political Persecution of Julian Assange. transcend.org 12 Feb 2022 – WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is being made an example of by the US government to deter investigative journalists from exposing state abuses, the current UN Special Rapporteur on torture says.
(2022-02-28). In the Footsteps of Constance Motley Brown, Supreme Court Pick Ketanji Brown Jackson Makes History. democracynow.org 
President Biden on Friday nominated federal Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court to fill Justice Stephen Breyer's pending vacancy. If confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice. We speak with Harvard constitutional law professor Tomiko Brown-Nagin about the nomination of the 51-year-old federal judge and the parallels between her and the first Black woman federal judge and civil rights legal icon Constance Baker Motley, who was at one point eyed for a Supreme Court nomination.
(2022-02-28). Disarming Ukraine — Day Five; Money War On Russia — Day One. popularresistance.org The U.S. and its proxies in the EU and elsewhere have put up very harsh sanctions on Russia to damage its economy. | The final intent of this economic war is regime change in Russia. | The likely consequence will be regime change in many other countries. | This war is waged at a financial size that is unprecedented. The consequences in all markets will be very significant to extreme. But experience from Iran shows that such financial wars have their limits as the targeted country learns to survive. Moreover Russia is in a much stronger position than Iran ever was and is better prepared for the consequences. | The…
(2022-02-28). Headlines for February 28, 2022. democracynow.org Ukraine Demands Ceasefire as Casualties Mount, Ukrainian and Russian Delegations Meet in Belarus, Belarus Could Join Russian Invasion as Putin Puts Nuclear Forces on High Alert in Latest Escalation, 500,000+ Ukrainians Become Refugees as Families Torn Apart by War, International Community Send Military Assistance, Up Sanctions on Russia
| , Protests Around the World Condemn Invasion of Ukraine; Russian Police Arrest Thousands, U.S. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Accepts Historic Supreme Court Nomination, U.N. Report Warns Climate Crisis Is Driving Hunger, Poverty, Disease and Species Loss, El Salvador Ex-Presid…
(2022-02-28). Gas prices in Europe jump 35% amid Russia supply worries. rt.com 
April futures exceeded $1,450 per 1,000 cubic meters on Monday | The price of natural gas in Europe had risen by 35% at the opening of trading on Monday, data from the London Stock Exchange ICE shows. Higher energy costs are being propelled by supply worries due to sanctions against Moscow related to the conflict in Ukraine. | Russia provides around 40% of the continent's gas supplies. | April futures at the TTF hub in the Netherlands jumped to $1,454 per 1,000 cubic meters. | The spike in prices comes amid sweeping anti-Russia sanctions introduced last week by the USA, EU, Great Britain, and a number of other…
(2022-02-28). Russian Central Bank steps up ruble support. rt.com 
Sanctions over Ukraine conflict have sent the currency plummeting to historic lows | The Central Bank of Russia spent over $1 billion in foreign currency reserves to support the ruble on February 24, during the first round of anti-Russia sanctions related to the start of military operations in Ukraine, the regulator revealed on Monday. | An equivalent of $1.057 billion (nearly 85 billion rubles) in foreign reserves were sold last Thursday, according to the regulator's data, which is usually disclosed with a delay. The amount in dollars is calculated based on the exchange rate for that day. | The Bank of Russia…
(2022-02-28). China comments on Western sanctions against Russia. rt.com 
Beijing claims that restrictions will not solve problems in Ukraine | The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it opposes the use of unilateral sanctions to resolve the crisis in Ukraine after Russia's decision to launch an attack on the country with the stated goal to "demilitarize" it. Western powers have announced a raft of punitive measures, including on the Russian economy and its banking sector. | Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular news briefing that sanctions will not solve problems but will create new ones. He claimed that sanctions will interfere with the process of…
(2022-02-28). EU includes carve-out in ban on dealing with Russia's Central Bank. rt.com 
The restrictions were imposed in response to the military operation in Ukraine | The 27-member European Union officially banned operations involving reserves and assets of the Central Bank of Russia on Monday, with the exception of deals that are absolutely vital for individual member states or the bloc as a whole. The ban is part of the sanctions slapped on Moscow in response to its military operation in Ukraine launched last week. | "The competent authorities may authorize a transaction provided that it is strictly necessary to ensure the financial stability of the union as a whole or of the member state con…
(2022-02-28). Australia blacklists Putin. rt.com 
A number of Moscow's high-ranking officials will also be hit with personal sanctions | Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top officials will not be welcome to visit Australia, Canberra has declared, in the wake of Moscow's military operation in Ukraine. | Prime Minister Scott Morrison revealed the measures in a statement on Sunday, arguing that "it is exceedingly rare to designate a head of state, and [that] reflects the depth of our concerns." | He added that the personal sanctions, which include a full asset freeze and a ban on entry, will also be imposed on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Mi…
(2022-02-28). Russian exporters ordered to convert most foreign currency to rubles. rt.com 
The measure is meant to support the domestic currency, which has weakened under the pressure of Ukraine-related sanctions | Russian businesses that trade abroad must sell 80% of their foreign currency earnings and convert them to rubles, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Monday. The decision comes in response to sanctions targeting Russia's financial system over the crisis in Ukraine. It is expected to stabilize the ruble and encourage more investments in Russia instead of moving foreign currency abroad. | "Today, a decision will be made to introduce a mandatory sale of foreign currency in the amo…
(2022-02-28). Europeans to 'pay a price' for Russia sanctions — top EU official. rt.com 
European commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said Brussels will stand behind Ukraine nevertheless | The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has acknowledged that the sweeping sanctions the bloc has imposed on Russia in recent days over Moscow's military operation in Ukraine will have a negative impact on Europeans, too. | Responding to a Euronews correspondent's remark on Sunday that "of course Europeans and Europe will have to pay a price for these measures," von der Leyen replied in the affirmative, saying that "every war comes at a cost." | However, according to the officia…
(2022-02-28). Sanctions on Russia Cost the US More Than it Thinks. journal-neo.org 
For more than many weeks now, many Western leaders have been calling for blocking Russia out of the SWFIT payment system. The UK's Boris Johnson thinks that this is a potentially good way of 'punishing' Russia. But the US/EU have not blocked Russia out of this global payments system yet. There are two reasons for …
(2022-02-28). UK Treasury Imposes Sanctions Against Central Bank of Russia. sputniknews.com Earlier, the UK announced sanctions measures aimed at "imposing severe consequences on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian economy" over Moscow's special operation in Donbass to defend the Donetsk and Lugansk People's republics (DPR and LPR).
(2022-02-28). Ukrainian athletes demand total Russia and Belarus ban. rt.com 
Russia and Belarus must be punished, according to a letter sent to Olympic bosses | A group of Ukrainian athletes have called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to "immediately suspend" all Russian and Belarusian competitors from international sporting events. | In a letter published by sporting movement Global Athlete and addressed to IOC president Thomas Bach and IPC counterpart Andrew Parsons, a host of Ukrainian athletes and federations demanded that both organizations sanction Russia and Belarus. | "Any suspension must include the banning of all [Russ…
(2022-02-28). BP dumps stake in Russian oil giant. rt.com 
The divestment will cost the UK-based firm $25 billion | Oil and gas supermajor BP (formerly British Petroleum) is divesting itself from Russian oil giant Rosneft amid sanctions over Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, the company announced on Sunday. The move will reportedly cost the firm $25 billion. | "I have been deeply shocked and saddened by the situation unfolding in Ukraine and my heart goes out to everyone affected. It has caused us to fundamentally rethink BP's position with Rosneft," BP Chief Executive Bernard Looney said, as cited by Reuters. | Rosneft accounts for nearly a half of BP's oil and…
(2022-02-28). Major chipmakers halt sales to Russia — media. rt.com 
Intel, TSMC, and AMD reportedly suspended semiconductor deliveries amid sanctions | Global chipmakers have begun suspending semiconductor chip sales to Russia in the wake of Western sanctions introduced against Moscow following the launch of a military operation in Ukraine. | Last week, the US announced a package of measures aiming to undermine Russia's military capability, which include a ban on chip sales to the country. According to Washington, the ban aims to stop Russia from receiving technology for military purposes or dual-use chips that could be used for both civilian and military equipment. This means…
(2022-02-28). Chechen Leader Mocks EU With Mirror Sanctions, Including One Acknowledging There Is 'No English Tea'. sputniknews.com This week, due to the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, Western nations have imposed sanctions on its banking and defense sectors, as well as on some industries. Individual sanctions were imposed against Russian officials and businessmen, including President Putin.