The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and the Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Chennai, to enquire into and send a report about the alleged dumping of bio waste on the main road at Tiruvallur.

In his order on a complaint, SHRC Acting Chairperson K. Baskaran stated that the report should be filed within four weeks. The complainant, K. Sudhan, an advocate, stated that while he was on his way to Tiruttani he noticed the bio waste dumped by the Government Hospital, Tiruvallur, piled up near the hospital entrance.

Taking a stern stand against poachers, Maharashtra Government on Tuesday decided that action taken by forest authorities against those caught while hunting down tigers will not be considered a crime.

Talking to reporters here, Forest Minister Patangrao Kadam said if the forest officials fire upon the poachers injuring or killing them, the action will not be considered a crime

British MPs address letter to Manmohan, Jayalalithaa

Carrying placards that read, “No More Chernobyls! No More Fukushimas!,” activists representing a coalition of anti-nuclear and human rights groups held a protest outside the Indian High Commission here on Friday, demanding a halt to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) and withdrawal of police and court cases against anti-KKNPP protesters.

Express deep concern over human rights and environmental issues around the plant

British MPs and members of the European Parliament have signed a letter from South Asian anti-nuclear groups to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing “deep concern” over human rights and environmental issues around the controversial Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) which they argue “violates” the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s safety guidelines.

Following three years of negotiations, members of the co-ordinating body for global food security efforts have agreed on a new set of voluntary guidelines aimed at bringing responsible governance to large-scale land acquisitions, which have become increasingly common as a result of the 2007-2008 food crisis. The Rome-based Committee on World Food Security (CFS) announced the new guidelines on 11 May.

By providing estimated figures for indigenous and forest peoples’ populations in countries and regions across the globe, this new Forest Peoples Programme report seeks to raise awareness of the existence of peoples who primarily depend on forests for their livelihoods, and to enhance their visibility as key actors and rights-holders in the management and use of forests and forest resources.

This latest regional human development report for the Asia Pacific focuses on the need for the region to find ways to continue to grow economically while reducing poverty and tackling climate change and environmental concerns.

Initiative for Equality (IfE) has convened a 14-member global Equity Treaty Circle to coordinate the negotiation of a People's Sustainability Treaty on Equity by civil society groups and individuals around the world. The Equity Treaty and its Action Plan, one of several People's Sustainability Treaties, will be finalized at the People's Summit in Rio, June 2012, and presented as input to the Rio+20 Earth Summit.

The Nuremberg Code, set up to protect the human subjects of research, is being routinely ignored, warns Harriet A. Washington.

Since 2008, the rush for land in developing countries has rapidly intensified but the sector remains largely unregulated and land deals are frequently agreed in secret between governments and investors. Such a lack of mechanisms or political will to ensure transparent, accountable, and equitable decision-making in the acquisition and allocation of land concessions undermines governance and the democratic process.

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