International Issues

As we look at the state of the world today, we as Guild members know that it is not just fate that has dealt a mean blow to some people of the world more than others, but rather specific political, economic, and development policies that have favored the rich over the poor.

In Haiti, it was not just a devastating earthquake that caused hundreds of thousands to die, but also a history of neoliberal policies (which are also reflected in current US relief efforts) that caused such immense consequences.  Blaine Bookey, Development Director for the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti and an attorney with the Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, Haiti, details this history and goes on to describe an initiative of Guild lawyers to coordinate a just legal response.

Mass Chapter member Brook Baker, from Northeast-ern University School of Law and Health GAP (Global Access Project), who has been active in campaigns for universal access to treatment, prevention, and care for people living with HIV/AIDS, explains how International Monetary Fund policies have intensified the global health crisis in general and the AIDS pandemic in particular.

Turning to the plight of Palestinians, NLG Vermont member James Marc Leas documents that Israel’s massive attack in Gaza a little over a year ago – Operation Cast Lead – was not needed to stop Hamas rocket fire, as the rocket fire had ended months earlier as a result of a negotiated ceasefire.  Instead, he argues, it was a war of aggression.

Looking at ways to address some of these policies, Susan Scott, co-chair of the NLG International Committee and board president of the Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute (of which Ann Fagan Ginger is director emeritus), describes two ways that Guild members and others can use international human rights treaties to address inequities here in the US, first by undertaking campaigns to get the US to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and second, by participating in the Universal Periodic Review process.

Lastly, Mass Chapter board member Bonnie Tenneriello profiles board member Jeff Feuer as part of our continuing series on Mass Chapter sustainers.

-      Judy Somberg     -