Playaway Products’ Post

Former Belgium MP for the far-right nationalist party Dries Van Langenhove has been sentenced to a minimum of 1 year in prison and fined €16,000 for inciting racism and promoting holocaust denial. His sentencing represents a significant step-up in judicial response to hate crimes and racism. Politicians are universally considered to be given wider discretion with their actions, often shying away from any accountability for their words or actions by hiding behind a political shield. It has historically been a fine line for judiciaries to walk in criticizing the actions of politicians. Further, the convictions of hate crimes have been equally rare. This combination of the two sparks hope for a more accountable future, for both politicians and the public, where racism and all forms of hate speech are no longer tolerated. While Van Langenhove’s sentencing offers hope for the future, it is also a critical reminder of the issues often swept under the rug by modern societies, continuing to deny the presence of hate speech in our evolved world. Without recognition of our social disgraces there is little hope or opportunity to address and improve ourselves. Van Langenhove’s sentencing has issued a harsh reminder of the state of current society and an opportunity to invite positive change. Piet Ruig further discusses the electoral impact of this conviction in today’s newsletter:

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On transitional justice In today's excellent and insightful seminar presented by Caitlin Reiger on transitional justice, my questions were: 1) Can transitional justice be successful if it is designed and implemented by the government accused of the mass crimes that necessitated the adoption of transitional justice? and 2) Can economic and environmental justice be part of transitional justice? On the first, she raised the problems of transitional justice, with the government being the designer and guardian of the process. On the second question, she gave examples of success stories for including economic justice as part of transitional justice. Title of the seminar: The evolution of Transitional Justice: From post-authoritarian settings to established democracies Venue: ANU CoL.

Problem / loophole 01: Auxiliaries, conventions and associations of churches have become tools to stop filing the informational form 990s with the IRS, even when the organization in no way resembles a church. Why would less accountability be a good thing?

ICYMI: Explore the impact of plain language on access to justice with Deborah S. Bosley, Ph.D. Learn how clear communication in voting materials, jury instructions, and other civic information is crucial for an engaged citizenry. https://hubs.li/Q02bVKgn0

In the ongoing efforts to safeguard the right to read in America, significant strides have been achieved, yet challenges persist with ongoing attacks on the First Amendment and the foundational principles of libraries. ALA's resolution on intellectual freedom serves as a thorough overview outlining the pressing issues. It stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication to these values and the ongoing struggle they are engaged in. Moreover, it expresses gratitude to all those who have united in solidarity with the cause, reinforcing the collective commitment to uphold these fundamental freedoms. You can read the resolution here: https://lnkd.in/g72gDb6N