Commentary
Expert perspectives on justice concerns worldwide
On Valentine’s Day 2018, my family was celebrating together at home and at our children’s schools. Cards, chocolates, flowers, and sentiments of love and affection abounded. But in the backdrop were news reports of the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida — such a stark contrast from the Valentine’s Day sentiments and such a terrible loss of 17 lives.
2015 was a significant year for major news stories related to international issues and global justice. Throughout this year we have seen wide scale global concerns on topics ranging from race & religion to violence & terrorism to natural disasters. The following is a summary of my selection of the Top Ten Global News stories and themes for the year based on their international impact and relevance for global justice, but they do not diminish the relevance of the many other significant events and issues raised throughout the year:
Today is International Criminal Justice Day — and my heart is heavy thinking of the victims of the Tennessee shootings–military servicepeople senselessly gunned down yesterday; the families of the victims in the Aurora, Colorado shootings–receiving a verdict of murder but still emotional at the loss of their loved ones; and many others facing violence and oppression around the globe.
The case of Dynel Lane of Longmont, CO, who attacked a pregnant woman and killed her 7 month old unborn child, is shocking on many levels. Not only is this a particularly grisly crime, but it raises several questions for how and to whom we apply the protection of the homicide laws. Most significantly, at what point does a baby receive protections against murder?
Since launching G.L.O.B.A.L Justice in September 2014, I am even more certain that awareness of global concerns is of tremendous importance in our current and future eras. International issues have been central in news stories throughout 2014 and have had an increasing impact on our communities, our country, and our world. While there are justice concerns in every region of the globe and many significant events from the past year, I highlight the following “Top 10” news stories for their impact during 2014 as well as their implications for 2015:
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