UK: Freedom in the Balance
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/09/30/uk9426.htm
Britain’s Highest Court to Rule on Indefinite Detention (London, October 1, 2004) — Britain’s highest court will begin deliberations on October 4 in a landmark challenge to the government’s indefinite detention of foreign terrorism suspects, Human Rights Watch said today.

Congratulations to Daisuke Inoue, winner of the 2004 Ig Nobel Peace Prize. Inoue was the inventor of karaoke, providing, according to the official citation, "an entirely new way for people to learn to tolerate each other".

The first Major Parties Mass Debate is under way in Florida. The stunned mullet versus the coiffured totem pole.

The theme is foreign policy and homeland security. From my perspective, Kerry is walking all over Bush, as he should. I couldn't help noticing Bush confusing Saddam with Bin Laden and then correcting himself. Bush is trying to get by with homespun folksy sound grabs. Kerry is not the most charismatic man, and certainly not the Reagan-Bush style of communicator. But he's a far more intelligent man than the current president.

Debating Dubya
http://www.motherjones.com/news/dailymojo/2004/09/09_526.html
George Bush will make lots of promises in his debates against John Kerry. How did the last set turn out?

Footy Fans Against Sexual Assault (FFASA) is a highly commendable cause. Founded earlier this year after a serious of scandals surrounding allegations of sexual assaults by NRL and AFL footballers, and the evidence of a culture that has been around for years. The FFASA is advocating, among many other things, that sporting teams hold a "purple armband" day, where they wear purple armbands demonstrating a committment to a united stance against sexual violence. Several NRL clubs have already taken part as have sporting teams from other codes.

Bahrain: Rights Center Closed as Crackdown Expands
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/09/30/bahrai9422.htm
The Bahrain government should rescind an order that closed one of the country?s leading human rights organizations, Human Rights Watch said today. The closure of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights on Wednesday follows the arrest last week of its vice-president, `Abd al-Hadi al-Khawaja, after he publicly criticized the prime minister.

Vanunu 18th Anniversary
http://www.indymedia.org/or/2004/09/111906.shtml

Integrantes de una radio comunitaria en Oaxaca golpeados y encarcelados
http://www.indymedia.org/or/2004/09/111908.shtml

The Warming War heats up
http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/news/details?item_id=601014
George Bush's government is out in the cold over Kyoto - and it's that old Cold War enemy, Russia, that's put it there. The Russian government has moved closer towards ratifying the crucial Kyoto climate change treaty. But while Bush hangs out in hurricane-ravaged Florida before his first election debate, the US government continues to criticise the Kyoto Treaty.

http://www.fishtycuffs.com/

Choose John Howard versus Mark Latham. Or David Beckham versus Paris Hilton. Or John versus David. Or Mark versus Paris. Or...

See it to believe it. (Requires Flash.)

Rwanda: Rape Survivors Find No Justice
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/09/30/rwanda9391.htm
The 58-page report investigates the persistent weaknesses in the Rwandan legal system that hamper the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence. The report also documents the desperate health and economic situation of rape survivors. Many of the women who were raped became infected with HIV.