Human Rights Watch: World Report

The HRW world report was released about a week ago, and is a great way to get brushed up on world events. The US has their own entire section, while the rest of the world is broken into continents (not incontinence).
About the budget, which I won't rant about, there's a good article on Al-Jazeera that puts things into perspective. Why do those in charge think no one will notice things like this? I guess concerns like that are quelled when you come to consider that in the recent past, it doesn't matter whether or not it comes to light.
I'm done for now. By the way, I need something better than pandas, a penny for your thoughts? Don't put your two cents in, I don't give change back.
Have a good one, folks

A Human Rights Benchmark?

The Saudi Arabian government permits the first civilian social group, Ansar Al-Marah, dedicated to women's rights in the Kingdom. This seems to be a step in the right direction, though it is hard to tell the direction of Al-Marah when its leader, Suliman Al-Salman, denies the historical bias against women in Saudi Arabia.

The formation of this organization comes among a wave of recent modernization efforts: the science and technology University under construction, women finally getting to enter the business sector, the King's pardon of the formerly-linked rape victim, even two women allowed to be elected to the chamber of commerce. Women are gaining more human rights, but Saudi Arabia has a lot of ground to make up in the human/civil rights arena. At least now women and human rights advocates have a medium by which they can (sometimes and very politely) voice their disappoval of Saudi Arabian abuse.