Category: International

Bizarre, Criminal law, Environment, International, Politics, Society, Torts

China Sentences Food Safety Advocate to Over Two Years in Prison

The Chinese have jailed another activist. This time the victim is Zhao Lianhai, the father of a child sickened by one of the country’s food safety scandals. At least six children died from melamine-tainted milk in 2008 and Zhao’s son was injured. More than 300,000 children were left with kidney problems. Zhao has been demanding answers. He just received one in the form of a 2½ years in prison sentence for “disturbing social order.”

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Justice, Politics, Religion, Society

Turley Affidavit in Canadian Polygamy Case

I previously posted notice of my retention as a legal expert in the polygamy case before the British Columbia Supreme Court — a case that is being watched closely around the world. My office has received a number of requests for the affidavit, which I have been informed is now part of the public record and is linked below.
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Bizarre, International, Politics, Religion, Society

In the Grip of Controversy: Indonesian Minister Faces Scandal Over Handshake With First Lady

Indonesian Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring is in the midst of a political crisis over a handshake. Sembiring is a conservative Muslim who often blames natural disasters on a lack of morality and avoids any contact with females outside his family. Then it happened on camera. A smiling Sembiring shaking the hand of first lady Michele Obama. It is enough to send a religious nut into a fetal position. The result has been an insistence that Michele Obama was the hand aggressor — effectively grabbing his hand to his disgust and alarm. The pictures seems to belie the defense — showing a smiling Sembiring who appears to grab the First Lady’s hand.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Politics, Religion

Taking the Rap: Iranians Arrest Teenagers Across Country For Playing Rap Music and Using “Western Musical Instruments”

The Iranian police has found another threat to the Islamic faith: rap music. The morals police has raided parties across Iran to nab kids who just want to play rap music. These teenagers have been meeting in abandoned buildings to listen to the music and dance.
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International, Society, Travel Blog

An American in Paris

As promised, here are a few pictures and recommendations from France. One item will await a posting in our series “Things That Tick Me Off.” While October and November are part of the low tourism period, I do not know why. Paris and the French countryside are ablaze in color and the weather is mild. No lines at museums or restaurants. Forget Spring in Paris, think Fall.
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Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, International, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Religion, Society

The Canadian Polygamy Case

The British Columbia Supreme Court will be some hearing testimony on the criminalization of plural unions — an extremely important case with global ramifications. As has been my practice in past cases, I wanted to confirm my involvement in the case as a court-appointed expert on the legality of such criminal laws. Weeks ago, I was retained to submit written testimony on the right of consenting adults to plural unions under United States and international law.

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International, Media, Society

I Have Returned: Merci Beaucoup To Elaine, David, and Mark

While heavier and a bit jet lagged, I have returned from the France.  I must report that we came and we were captured.  The conference in Paris was fascinating. I had some very interesting discussions on the cultural defense with American and foreign lawyers – including some pending cases in France on the issue. Of course, as in real estate, it was “location, location, location.”  Paris was gorgeous with leaves in full autumnal splender.  It was impossible to get a bad meal or a bad glass of wine.  Trust me, we did an exhaustive survey. I just landed this morning and I will be sharing a few pictures later, but I wanted to check in today.

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International

Black People in Great Britain Six Times More Likely to Face Arrest for Drug Offenses Than White People

 According to an article in The Observer, new research has shown that black people are six times more likely to be arrested for drug offences than white people. They are also eleven times more likely to be imprisoned. This, all despite the fact, that there is no evidence that proves that black people are more likely to use or deal drugs.

 The evident bias in racial drug arrests in England and Wales is even worse than it is in the United States—where black people are three times more likely to be arrested and ten times more likely to be imprisoned than whites.

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Bizarre, International, Politics, Science, Society

Do You Want Alli® With That II: Frisco Bans Toys in Happy Meals

Brazil’s got nothing on San Francisco. Come December 1st, the City by the Bay will be without those nasty Hamburglars and the Avatar avatars. A new city ordinance requires that restaurants meet certain nutritional standards before including toys in the packaging. Ronald is not amused. “We are extremely disappointed with today’s decision. It’s not what our customers want, nor is it something they asked for,” lamented McDonald’s spokeswoman Danya Proud. The ordinance requires that toy-filled treats have “less than 600 calories, contain fruits and vegetables, and include beverages without excessive fat or sugar.” Not exactly something Grandma would frown on, by the way.

The ordinance was prompted because “fifteen percent of American children are overweight or obese — which puts them at risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and cancer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Source: Yahoo News

–Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Bizarre, International, Science, Society

One You Never Saw Coming: Ozzie has Neanderthal Genes

Just Imagine. The man who bites heads off birds and fronted for the hyper-heavy metal band, Black Sabbath, has bits of Neanderthal coursing though his veins. Ozzie Osbourne joins DNA co-discoverer James Watson and Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates as persons having their entire genome sequenced and analyzed. Ozzie it seems has a little segment on his chromosome 10 that very likely traces back to a Neanderthal forebearer. Says the unflappable Ozzie, “”Given the swimming pools of booze I’ve guzzled over the years—not to mention all of the cocaine, morphine, sleeping pills, cough syrup, LSD, Rohypnol…you name it—there’s really no plausible medical reason why I should still be alive. Maybe my DNA could say why.” Brutish determination ,it seems, is the answer.  I am taking up funds to get a similar DNA sequence done for Dick Cheney. Any ideas on his forebearers? Meanwhile here’s some Black Sabbath to tide you over:

Source: Scientific American

–Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Bizarre, Criminal law, International

Tattoo Artists Make News With Crimes on Two Continents

James “Jacob” Thompson, 22, was arrested in Texas on a bizarre mix of charges, including the allegation that he agreed to cut out a teenage girl’s birth control device in her arm before giving her a tattoo. What is amazing is that this may not be the worst tattooing crime recorded this week. Australia may have topped Texas this week in the most bizarre felonious tattoo.
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Bizarre, International, Torts

Quadriplegic Suffers Severe Brain Damage After Nurse Is Shown Turning Off Ventilator

A family in England is looking at a possible torts case with a rare piece of evidence. The family of quadriplegic Jamie Merrett, 37, was already concerned about what they viewed as shoddy nursing care from staff supplied by the NHS Wiltshire Primary Care Trust. To satisfy their concerns, they set up a camera shortly before an incident that left Merrett severely brain damaged. To their shock, the footage showed nurse Violeta Aylward turning off the ventilator system.
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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, International, Media, Politics, Religion

Wilders Trial Thrown Into Disarray After Judges Found To Be Biased

The trial of Dutch politician Geert Wilders for his anti-Islamic views has been thrown into disarray after his judges were found to be themselves biased — against Wilder. A verdict from the panel of three judges at the Amsterdam district court was due next week. A re-trial will be scheduled with new judges.
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