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United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Rights

Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

Gee... perhaps the UN should take a good look back at the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights... didn't see anything about Internet in there... talk about the UN trivilizing something that is very important. That seminal document is a pretty good summation of what ought to be basic human rights. How about we ensure that all people around the world have those first before we worry about guaranteeing Internet access???

Excellent point.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I did some digging.. We provide 22% of the funding for the U.N.. In 1972 we had to request and allow the U.N. to vote on reducing our contribution from 35% down to 25%. Obviously, we won that vote..but still. Then, in 2000 they lowered the cap to 22%...so we're at the peak of financial contribution. The current general budget for the U.N. is $14.5 billion. Then, apparently the "peacekeeping" budget is separate; the U.S. contributes 27% of that budget, which was set at 7.8 billion for the 2009-2010 fiscal year (didn't find current numbers).

So we put in $3,190,000,000 for the general budget and $2,106,000,000 for peacekeeping, for a total of $5,296,000,000.

That's 5% of our 2010 dept. of education funding.
It's 8% of the DHS spending in 2010.
It's 3% of the dept. of agriculture spending in 2010.
It's about the 50% of legislative spending in 2010.
It's about 50% of National Science Foundation spending in 2010.
It's about 20% of dept. of energy spending in 2010.

And for that expense we're getting reports like the one referenced in the OP? And sternly worded letters to those who violate U.N. "rules"?

I watched an episode this weekend of a show called "Locked Up Abroad" where this British soldier volunteered to be a UN peacekeeper in Sierra Lione. He ran a disarmament station. Anyway, at some point, the compound started to get overrun by rebels, and he asked for permission to get out but his UN commanders said no, that they should fight (they had no weapons). Later though, when it got to where he couldn't easily escape any more, the UN didn't offer any assistance to try to get them out and told him to try to escape instead. I thought that show succinctly illustrated the value of the UN.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I watched an episode this weekend of a show called "Locked Up Abroad" where this British soldier volunteered to be a UN peacekeeper in Sierra Lione. He ran a disarmament station. Anyway, at some point, the compound started to get overrun by rebels, and he asked for permission to get out but his UN commanders said no, that they should fight (they had no weapons). Later though, when it got to where he couldn't easily escape any more, the UN didn't offer any assistance to try to get them out and told him to try to escape instead. I thought that show succinctly illustrated the value of the UN.

I like the irony in being part of a peacekeeping group being asked to fight against an insurgency.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I like the irony in being part of a peacekeeping group being asked to fight against an insurgency.

Sometimes the peacekeepers have to be peacemakers first.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I watched an episode this weekend of a show called "Locked Up Abroad" where this British soldier volunteered to be a UN peacekeeper in Sierra Lione. He ran a disarmament station. Anyway, at some point, the compound started to get overrun by rebels, and he asked for permission to get out but his UN commanders said no, that they should fight (they had no weapons). Later though, when it got to where he couldn't easily escape any more, the UN didn't offer any assistance to try to get them out and told him to try to escape instead. I thought that show succinctly illustrated the value of the UN.

It's not surprising that the UN is so ineffective when its member states accord it so little power and resources to begin with.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

Sometimes the peacekeepers have to be peacemakers first.

"You can't have peace without war"
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

:roll: Does your government provide guns?

I agree that this is stupid, but you're kinda misrepresenting it, it's not the government has to provide it, it's that the government can't stop you from accessing it.

Punishing Kevin Mitnick in such a way would thus be a bad thing. Tossing aside Mitnick's particular case, I think governments should have that ability to take away internet access against certain criminals, as I see it as a privilege.
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

How can something be considered a human right when its potentiality has only existed for a couple of decades?

Because porn is THAT important.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

But you have the right to *access* TV and newspaper, at least in this country. The government can't just ban you from viewing or participating in those media sources if you want to.

No you don't. Tell me what a right is. I think you don't understand it.

Anyway, I think its about time we get rid of the UN if they are going to further the misunderstanding of what rights are.
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

How can something be considered a human right when its potentiality has only existed for a couple of decades?

People need it so its a right. That is how these kind of people work. Get used to it.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

No you don't. Tell me what a right is. I think you don't understand it.

Anyway, I think its about time we get rid of the UN if they are going to further the misunderstanding of what rights are.

OK, well then please explain to us dummies what rights are. Because most definitions would certainly include freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

At first I thought this was a bit overzealous, but after thinking about it more I agree with the UN. The internet is the 21st century of the newspaper or television, and cutting people off is even more harmful than denying them access to those things would be. This is one of many reasons I oppose giving any person or government a "kill switch" through which they can cut people off from the internet.

Do you agree with the UN that it's a violation of human rights to disconnect people from the internet? Why or why not?

I disagree with the UN. What happens when you don't pay your newspaper subscription?
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

OK, well then please explain to us dummies what rights are. Because most definitions would certainly include freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

What definition would include government protections under rights? Well?
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I disagree with the UN. What happens when you don't pay your newspaper subscription?

The UN resolution is referring to governments disconnecting people from the internet and/or preventing them from getting access, not service providers being forced to support you. So to answer your question: If you don't pay your bill to the New York Times, the New York Times will probably cancel your subscription. But if the government tells you that you CAN'T get the New York Times anymore, then that would be a violation of your right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

What definition would include government protections under rights? Well?

I have no idea what you're even trying to ask here. Try again.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

I have no idea what you're even trying to ask here. Try again.

It goes back to what are rights. While the ability to speak your mind is a right, freedom of press and the ability to bear arms is not a right, but government protected services that are protected for reasons decided by the state. The government can protect rights, but in order for that to be done you still have to understand what is a right.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

It goes back to what are rights. While the ability to speak your mind is a right, freedom of press and the ability to bear arms is not a right, but government protected services that are protected for reasons decided by the state. The government can protect rights, but in order for that to be done you still have to understand what is a right.

OK, let's go with the right to speak your mind. (I'm not sure how you decided that THAT is a right whereas freedom of the press is merely a government-protected service, but I'll go with it.) If you have the right to speak your mind, doesn't it logically follow that you then have the right to listen to others speak THEIR mind, and that you have the right to obtain information so that you can make up your mind in the first place? After all, the right to speak one's mind doesn't do anyone much good, if no one else is allowed to listen to them.

If so, then governments that disconnect people from the internet (or ban newspapers, or any of the other old forms of repression) would be violating their people's rights.
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

OK, let's go with the right to speak your mind. (I'm not sure how you decided that THAT is a right whereas freedom of the press is merely a government-protected service, but I'll go with it.) If you have the right to speak your mind, doesn't it logically follow that you then have the right to listen to others speak THEIR mind, and that you have the right to obtain information so that you can make up your mind in the first place? After all, the right to speak one's mind doesn't do anyone much good, if no one else is allowed to listen to them.

If so, then governments that disconnect people from the internet (or ban newspapers, or any of the other old forms of repression) would be violating their people's rights.

You are connecting knowledge to speaking your mind. There is no qualifier that says you need to be wise to speak. The services that open you up to knowledge are not rights because they happen to do this for people. Rights are not created by chance, they are not created by a great idea, they are not created by how much they help someone. That is what makes a valuable service, not a right.
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

At first I thought this was a bit overzealous, but after thinking about it more I agree with the UN. The internet is the 21st century of the newspaper or television, and cutting people off is even more harmful than denying them access to those things would be. This is one of many reasons I oppose giving any person or government a "kill switch" through which they can cut people off from the internet.

Do you agree with the UN that it's a violation of human rights to disconnect people from the internet? Why or why not?

No, but I find it odd people get disconnected from the internet, and some brilliant thinkers (sarcasm icon) believe it's considered a violation of human rights, yet disconnecting an unborn from their mother's womb when the baby doesn't not pose any threat to the mother is considered Honky Dory.

You just have to wonder where this **** comes from sometimes.

Rights For Dummies
A Human Right means it is universal, and so... it means it does not matter where you are, or who you are, you in theory should enjoy that right; like the right to free speech. It is both instantaneous and universal.

The internets... not.
Medical care... not.

End of Rights for Dummies, Coles Notes.

.
 
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Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

Does this mean the UN will pay my DSL bill?

This is a real close to being over the top, but then I have no respect for the UN because they are pretty much useless for anything other than hating the USA, wasting money, being Commies. We have plenty of those types here on this forum.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

Then, more than half of the people in the world are having their human rights abused.
This is ridiculous.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

It's not surprising that the UN is so ineffective when its member states accord it so little power and resources to begin with.

Well, the UN would have a little more credibility if it didn't continually reject the aspirations of the 23 million people of the independent and democratic island country of Taiwan, a country I might add does a far better job of protecting human rights than the vast majority of UN members...
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

Then, more than half of the people in the world are having their human rights abused.
This is ridiculous.

To clarify: The UN didn't say that people have to have access to the internet, they just said that disconnecting them (i.e. DENYING them access) was a violation of human rights. And I would agree that more than half of the people in the world are having their human rights abused, albeit for other reasons.
 
Re: United Nations: Disconnecting People From the Internet Is a Violation of Human Ri

To clarify: The UN didn't say that people have to have access to the internet, they just said that disconnecting them (i.e. DENYING them access) was a violation of human rights. And I would agree that more than half of the people in the world are having their human rights abused, albeit for other reasons.

Yes, I do also agree with the part of half the world being violated of their human rights
Yet the idea itself is ridiculous. Why is disconnecting people from the Internet a violation of human rights? The person whose connection has been lost might not have paid for the connection, or the company providing the connection might have bankrupted, or countless other kinds of circumstances that can't and shouldn't be outlawed.
I would like to say that this is another piece of evidence and an example of why the UN is worthless and nothing but a mouthpiece for human right activists
 
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