Author: Lucas Hafey

Otto Warmbier, North Korea, And Dark Tourism

About 2,500 mourners, family members, friends, and supporters gathered to say farewell to Otto Warmbier last Thursday morning at Wyoming High School, Cincinnati, Ohio. Warmbier, 22, returned to the US last week in a coma following 17 months in detention in North Korea, after he was arrested for allegedly attempting

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Can We Be Both Commemorative And Critical When Reflecting On War?

Controversy erupted this week on Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day in Australia over the social media comments of part-time ABC presenter, engineer, author and Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied. ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that commemorates armed service personnel, past

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Towards Peace in Colombia: Rebels Begin Surrendering Weapons

Colombia’s left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) have begun surrendering their weapons as part of the landmark peace agreement struck with the Colombian government late last year. After logistical delays in gathering the rebels at 26 specially designated rural disarmament zones, the six-month demobilisation process was set to begin on Wednesday,

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UN Declares Famine In South Sudan As Millions Desperate For Food

Earlier this week, the United Nations declared a famine in parts of South Sudan. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 100, 000 people are facing immediate starvation, and a further 1 million are said to be on the brink of famine. Further, around 42% of South Sudan’s population, which

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Playing Politics: Human Rights In Australia Under Threat

According to Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR), human rights in Australia have never been under greater threat. “The protection of human rights is now at a very low point in Australian history,” said ALHR President Benedict Coyne. “Tumultuous world events have led to a surge in the number of

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“War on the Poor”: Human Rights Groups Condemn Duterte’s Anti-Drug Campaign

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have condemned Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his “war on drugs” this week, after a “pause” was announced in the controversial anti-drug operations. On January 30, 2017, Philippine National Police Director-General Ronald Dela Rosa declared that the Philippine government would cease anti-drug operations, in

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Trans-Pacific Partnership: More Than The Economy, Stupid

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to withdraw the United States’ involvement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Putting into practice his protectionist “America first” rhetoric, Trump signed the order on his first full day in the White House, effectively burying the already problematic trade policy of former President

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