In a world of increasing inequality, the legitimacy of institutions that give precedence to the property rights of ""the Haves"" over the human rights of ""the Have Nots"" is inevitably called into serious question.

quote by David Korten
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The idea of cultural relativism is nothing but an excuse to violate human rights.

quote by Shirin Ebadi
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Paul Robeson

Paul Robeson was the first great negro singer
Though through his life he knew his share of woe
In his Homeland he was treated as an outcast
But in death his legend seem to grow and grow.

Paul Robeson spoke of freedom peace and justice
And he campaigned for the black Peoples rights
But for his beliefs he was made to suffer
In a country that is governed by whites.

For his membership of the communist party
Paul Robeson an unfair price had to pay
His passport from him it was confiscated
By the authorities in the U.S.A.

Even shunned by some influential blacks in his home Country
And his basic human rights to him denied
But in Russia he was feted as a hero
And Paul Robeson he was revered far and wide.

[...] Read more

poem by Francis Duggan
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""Freedom from fear"" could be said to sum up the whole philosophy of human rights.

quote by Dag Hammarskjold
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As corollaries to the right of every individual to life and to full participation in society, the Declaration incorporated in the list of human rights the right to work and a certain number of economic, social, and cultural rights.

quote by Rene Cassin
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America's support for human rights and democracy is our noblest export to the world.

quote by William Bennett
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Freedom Riders

we are born to fight cause freedom
we ride forth constantly in cause freedom
we must speak fight for all who cannot

or will not fight
cause freedom
for themselves

but cause freedom
is not fighting deception oil wars
cause freedom is human rights

human rights regardless
of age race religion gender
for all citizens of this planet

poem by Terence George Craddock
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Nothing gets a bigger laugh than when you refer to things like ethics or human rights.

quote by Ron Silver
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Human Rights Violations

Human rights violations continue to plague the UN,
But their Human Rights Council is not bothered now, nor was it then,
As they publish serious distortion of actual events,
Their gang rapes goings on over there were people live in tents.

Despite some of their friends being involved in genocide - no report,
Even after being indicted by the International Criminal Court,
The whole UN and their Human Rights Council seem corrupt,
Canada’s forbidden entry to their Council was fierce and abrupt.

Their bent press releases are unadulterated propaganda,
We should pull out of their glass building, their wars, and their agenda,
These suggestions are unacceptable at the UN, I know,
But why should our democracy receive blow after blow?

Oct 21st,2010

poem by James Bredin
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If we destroy human rights and rule of law in the response to terrorism, they have won.

quote by Joichi Ito
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Liberty, freedom and democracy are very fuzzy words, but human rights is very specific.

quote by Joichi Ito
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The predominant yardstick of your government is not human rights but national interests.

quote by Breyten Breytenbach
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Upholding human rights is not merely compatible with fighting terrorism, it is essential.

quote by Joichi Ito
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No references to the need to fight terror can be an argument for restricting human rights.

quote by Vladimir Putin
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Deep Level Concern

deep level concern;
our own national parks
used as collateral

on loans from China!
water rights to the Great Lakes,
and other bodies of water here...

sold to China!
our jobs, Joe blue collar working
families.... sold to China!

our oil profiteer wars,
financed by China!
sleeping with the country

with the worst human rights record,
dancing with the devil!

and now, our own police forces

[...] Read more

poem by Eric Cockrell
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Today, Academies of Science use their influence around the world in support of human rights.

quote by John Charles Polanyi
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A Sparrow's Thoughts... (Number Seven)

when we sit numbly staring
at the six o'clock news...
at the cops in riot gear
dispersing the student protesters...
protesting against Wall Street excess,
against the greed of big business,
against the destructive thrusts of big oil,
against the wars over seas...
against human rights being taken,
against the lie we're being fed...

when these young people are beaten,
gassed, and arrested for standing up
for their ideals of freedom...
do we remember that these are our children?
do we know?

even more, do we remember,
when we were young and believed?
the anti-war protests,

[...] Read more

poem by Eric Cockrell
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But if USA has 1.3 billion people, USA would have the same human rights problem just like China.

quote by Alex Chiu
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The global response to global terrorism must not endanger fundamental human rights and freedoms.

quote by Stjepan Mesic
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Human rights is a universal standard. It is a component of every religion and every civilization.

quote by Shirin Ebadi
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