The UK's Business Secretary Vince Cable has been given an ultimatum by legal action charity Reprieve - ban the export of execution drugs to the US within 72 hours, or face legal action.
The charity's director yesterday wrote to Cable giving him until close of business on December 30th to stop British firms from exporting the drugs sodium thiopental, pancuronium bromide, and potassium chloride to the United States, where they are all used as part of the lethal injection process. Reprieve argued that it was a breach of European Human Rights Law and Britain's opposition to the death penalty for the government to have allowed the export of the drugs.
The charity has successfully brought one legal action against the government over its failure to prevent the export of sodium thiopental. A shipment of the British manufactured drug has already been used in at least one execution already - Jeffrey Landrigan in Arizona.
Despite being forced to ban the export of the chemical, Cable's delayed response allowed a large shipment to be despatched to California before the ban came into effect. It has been estimated that this shipment contained enough of the drug to execute at least 80 death row inmates in the US. It has yet to be released by the US Food and Drug Administration, and Reprieve believe an intervention from Cable could prevent the shipment reaching its destination.
Reprieve's director, Clice Stafford Smith noted that Cable apparently devoted 20 hours to rehearshing his foxtrot for the TV show Strictly Come Dancing, but has yet to devote the half hour of his time which would help to prevent scores of executions. He also pointed out that "the Foreign Office is struggling to help us prevent the execution of British nationals in the US, at the same time as Mr Cable sits on his hands and allows the export of British drugs that will kill those same prisoners."
America's shortage of drugs used to legally murder people is apparently bringing out the worse in a lot of people. Mr. Stafford Smith said one British firm had marked the price of the drugs up 3,500 per cent to capitalize on the demand for death drugs. In a country which opposes the death penalty, some people are making money from helping to carry out executions.
Although, to be fair, if a state is so desperate to legally murder the population of its death row that they're willing to pay 3,500 per cent more than they would normally pay for the drugs to do it, they probably deserve to be ripped off. I think they deserve to be ripped off and then have the drugs taken off them too. That'd show 'em. Why isn't this much money and effort going into crime prevention, or better education schemes?
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
Monday, 27 December 2010
UN General Assembly approves new resolution for universal moratorium on death penalty
On December 22nd, the United Nations General Assembly approved a new resolution in favor of a universal moratorium on the death penalty. The same resolution was approved in December's 2007 and 2008... Third time lucky?
108 countries voted in favor of the resolution; 41 voted against; 36 chose not to vote; and 7 were absent at the time of the vote.
The only new part of the text of the resolution is the request which asks member states to "make information available relevent to the use of the death penalty to allow an informed and transparent national debate."
108 countries voted in favor of the resolution; 41 voted against; 36 chose not to vote; and 7 were absent at the time of the vote.
The only new part of the text of the resolution is the request which asks member states to "make information available relevent to the use of the death penalty to allow an informed and transparent national debate."
Friday, 24 December 2010
Merry Christmas
I think this goes without saying, but I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a trully wonderful Christmas. I'll probably say this again before we usher in the new year, but a huge thank you to all our members and supporters for all your hard work over the past year. Since I doubt Santa will leave the abolishment of the death penalty under my tree this year, I just hope we can keep up the good work for 2011!
Merry Christmas!
- Tiffany & Samantha
Merry Christmas!
- Tiffany & Samantha
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
2010 - 12% decline in executions
46 men and women were executed in the United States in 2010, a 12 percent fall in executions compared to the previous year which saw 52 death sentences carried out in the country. Texas alone carried out 17 of this year's executions, but that was down from 24 executions in 2009.
The Death Penalty Information Centre's executive director Richard Dieter commented that the nation "continued to move away from the death penalty in 2010". He noted that there are concerns about the high cost of the death penalty, the risk of executing innocent people and unfairness in application which may be contributing to the changing attitudes on the practice.
A recent nationwide survey of 1500 registered voters carried out by DPIC found that most voters prefer the prospect of life without parole for murderers as opposed to a death sentence.
So is the United States prepared to get rid of the death penalty? Dieter said: "About 60 percent of the public is ready. They may still support the death penalty, but they are willing to replace it because of the problems that exist with capital punishment."
He also said that capital punishment was ranked lowest by voters among budget priorities, and that a majority of those polled favoured replacing the death penalty with life without parole if the money saved were used to fund crime-prevention programs.
A death penalty case costs $3 million, three time more than imposing a life sentence which costs $1 million. I can think of quite a few areas that money could be better spent than in killing a person.
If you would like to read more about this, you can see the entire poll results from DPIC at http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/
The Death Penalty Information Centre's executive director Richard Dieter commented that the nation "continued to move away from the death penalty in 2010". He noted that there are concerns about the high cost of the death penalty, the risk of executing innocent people and unfairness in application which may be contributing to the changing attitudes on the practice.
A recent nationwide survey of 1500 registered voters carried out by DPIC found that most voters prefer the prospect of life without parole for murderers as opposed to a death sentence.
So is the United States prepared to get rid of the death penalty? Dieter said: "About 60 percent of the public is ready. They may still support the death penalty, but they are willing to replace it because of the problems that exist with capital punishment."
He also said that capital punishment was ranked lowest by voters among budget priorities, and that a majority of those polled favoured replacing the death penalty with life without parole if the money saved were used to fund crime-prevention programs.
A death penalty case costs $3 million, three time more than imposing a life sentence which costs $1 million. I can think of quite a few areas that money could be better spent than in killing a person.
If you would like to read more about this, you can see the entire poll results from DPIC at http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/
Monday, 13 December 2010
Texas Monthly endorses moratorium on executions; Dallas Morning News says moratorium is best way to protect innocent lives
Bad news for the Texas death penalty - good news for sane people! As the hearing to determine the constitutionality of the Texas death penalty continues, magazine Texas Montly has endorsed a moratorium on executions in their January 2011 issue. Click Here to read the article.
And on the same day, The Dallas Morning News renewed its call for a moratorium on executions, saying a moratorium is the best strategy for protecting innocent people already on death row from wrongful executions.
They also said "Texans should stand mute no longer on this madness."
Here, here! My thoughts entirely.
And on the same day, The Dallas Morning News renewed its call for a moratorium on executions, saying a moratorium is the best strategy for protecting innocent people already on death row from wrongful executions.
They also said "Texans should stand mute no longer on this madness."
Here, here! My thoughts entirely.
Arizona are 'life-savers' after supplying California with the drugs to kill a person
I read this on the Texas Moratorium Network's blog and it just made me sick. California has been desperately scrambling to get the drug Sodium Thiopental in order to carry out executions. ACLU of Northern California recently obtained emails sent by a number of prison officials as they tried to find a supply of the drug, at one point even moaning that Texas isn't sharing their supply, boo hoo. But now unfortunately California has found a small ammount of the drug and Scott Kernan, California's undersecretary for Corrections and Rehabilitation had this to say to his Arizona counterpart after taking the delivery.
If you're life-saver for helping kill a person, why are we killing killers in the first place, doesn't that make them life-savers too?
And if the cost of a human life is a beer, what the hell is this world coming to?
"You guys in AZ are life-savers... Buy you a beer next time I get that way."Life-savers. Because they supplied a drug which will be used to kill a person. I don't see the logic there. In fact, the hideous disregard for a human life makes me really sick.
If you're life-saver for helping kill a person, why are we killing killers in the first place, doesn't that make them life-savers too?
And if the cost of a human life is a beer, what the hell is this world coming to?
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Amnesty International 'Write for Rights' Campaign
Every year thousands of people across the world mark International Human Rights Day on Dec 10th by taking apart in Amnesty International's Write for Rights Global Write-a-thon - the largest letter writing event in the world. It's all about writing letters to demand that the rights of individuals are respected, protected and fulfilled - rights which many of us take for granted. Your words can have real power so it's a great thing to get involved with.
One case which caught my eye was that of Reggie Clemons, just one more example of the flaws in America's death penalty system. Here is what AI has written about Clemons case:
Reggie Clemons was sentenced to death in St. Louis as an accomplice in the 1991 murder of two young white women, Julie and Robin Kerry, who plunged from the Chain of Rocks Bridge into the Mississippi River. Two other black youths were also convicted, including Marlin Gray (executed in 2005). Clemons has consistently maintained his innocence. His case illustrates many of the flaws in the U.S. death penalty system.
At the time of the trial, the prosecution conceded that Clemons neither killed the victims nor planned the crime; there is no physical evidence that ties him to the crime itself or the events leading up to it. Clemons alleges that he confessed under the pressure of police brutality to raping one of the victims. He never confessed to the murders. He subsequently retracted his confession. Two other suspects independently alleged mistreatment by the police. Witnesses attest to Clemons' face being swollen after his interrogation.
Four federal judges have agreed that the prosecutor's conduct was "abusive and boorish." The prosecutor had a history of criticism from both state and federal courts, and compared Clemons to two convicted serial killers, despite Clemons' clean record. Clemons' lawyer had experienced some past complaints as well. His co-counsel had a full-time job in another state during her representation of Mr. Clemons, resulting in poor preparation for the trial.
Of equal importance when considering the case of Mr. Clemons, is the question of race; not only were the murder victims white, but the two crucial witnesses were as well. The three convicted defendants were black, and during jury selection, blacks were disproportionately dismissed, resulting in an unrepresentative jury, given St. Louis' sizeable black population. The jury's flaws were also noted in 2002 by a U.S. District Court judge who ruled Clemons' death sentence should not stand because six prospective jurors had been improperly excluded at jury selection.
If you have even the slightest shred of doubt about Clemons' guilt or oppose the death penalty period, I'd urge you to join in with the write-a-thon. It'll take a few minutes and the cost of a postage stamp. I'll be writing from the UK. You can also send messages of support and hope to Reggie Clemons. All the postal information and other details are on the campaign website.
Click Here for more information.
One case which caught my eye was that of Reggie Clemons, just one more example of the flaws in America's death penalty system. Here is what AI has written about Clemons case:
Reggie Clemons was sentenced to death in St. Louis as an accomplice in the 1991 murder of two young white women, Julie and Robin Kerry, who plunged from the Chain of Rocks Bridge into the Mississippi River. Two other black youths were also convicted, including Marlin Gray (executed in 2005). Clemons has consistently maintained his innocence. His case illustrates many of the flaws in the U.S. death penalty system.
At the time of the trial, the prosecution conceded that Clemons neither killed the victims nor planned the crime; there is no physical evidence that ties him to the crime itself or the events leading up to it. Clemons alleges that he confessed under the pressure of police brutality to raping one of the victims. He never confessed to the murders. He subsequently retracted his confession. Two other suspects independently alleged mistreatment by the police. Witnesses attest to Clemons' face being swollen after his interrogation.
Four federal judges have agreed that the prosecutor's conduct was "abusive and boorish." The prosecutor had a history of criticism from both state and federal courts, and compared Clemons to two convicted serial killers, despite Clemons' clean record. Clemons' lawyer had experienced some past complaints as well. His co-counsel had a full-time job in another state during her representation of Mr. Clemons, resulting in poor preparation for the trial.
Of equal importance when considering the case of Mr. Clemons, is the question of race; not only were the murder victims white, but the two crucial witnesses were as well. The three convicted defendants were black, and during jury selection, blacks were disproportionately dismissed, resulting in an unrepresentative jury, given St. Louis' sizeable black population. The jury's flaws were also noted in 2002 by a U.S. District Court judge who ruled Clemons' death sentence should not stand because six prospective jurors had been improperly excluded at jury selection.
If you have even the slightest shred of doubt about Clemons' guilt or oppose the death penalty period, I'd urge you to join in with the write-a-thon. It'll take a few minutes and the cost of a postage stamp. I'll be writing from the UK. You can also send messages of support and hope to Reggie Clemons. All the postal information and other details are on the campaign website.
Click Here for more information.
Hearing to determine constitutionality of Texas's death penalty to be held Monday
http://stopexecutions.blogspot.com/2010/12/text-of-motion-to-declare-texas-death.html
It's all heating up now. If you click that link above you'll get to the Texas Moratorium Network's blog on which you'll find the powerful 81 page motion written by attorneys asking Judge Kevin Fine to declare Texas's death penalty unconstitutional.
A hearing will be held in Judge Kevin Fine's courtroom in Houston on Monday 6th December at 9am. The Texas Moratorium Network are asking anyone interested who lives in Houston or can be there to participate in a demonstation outside the courthouse at 8am before going inside for the hearing. You can RSVP on their Facebook page Click Here. It's times like this that I hate being stuck in Scotland - this is big news.
The hearing will see Texas's use of the death penalty undergo legal scrutiny. It is likely that evidence and arguments will be presented concerning the substantial risk that innocent people are not adequately protected from execution by the state's death penalty law.
I must say - I'm quite excited about this. This is a big step. My enthusiasm is not without its doubts though. I've always imagined that when the death penalty is finally abolished in the US, Texas will be the last state to go - kicking and screaming. But for now I'll dare to be cautiously optimisic. Bring on Monday.
It's all heating up now. If you click that link above you'll get to the Texas Moratorium Network's blog on which you'll find the powerful 81 page motion written by attorneys asking Judge Kevin Fine to declare Texas's death penalty unconstitutional.
A hearing will be held in Judge Kevin Fine's courtroom in Houston on Monday 6th December at 9am. The Texas Moratorium Network are asking anyone interested who lives in Houston or can be there to participate in a demonstation outside the courthouse at 8am before going inside for the hearing. You can RSVP on their Facebook page Click Here. It's times like this that I hate being stuck in Scotland - this is big news.
The hearing will see Texas's use of the death penalty undergo legal scrutiny. It is likely that evidence and arguments will be presented concerning the substantial risk that innocent people are not adequately protected from execution by the state's death penalty law.
I must say - I'm quite excited about this. This is a big step. My enthusiasm is not without its doubts though. I've always imagined that when the death penalty is finally abolished in the US, Texas will be the last state to go - kicking and screaming. But for now I'll dare to be cautiously optimisic. Bring on Monday.
Broom to stay on death row after botched execution
How many times can you try to kill a man before it becomes unconstitutional? As if once wasn't bad enough, apparently twice is fine.
Romell Broom was sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a 14 year old girl in 1984. In September of 2009 the state of Ohio attempted to execute him. 3 hours and 18 puncture wounds later, they gave up, unable to find a suitable vein. What Broom must have believed to be his final hours undoubtedly caused great psychological distress - it was reported that he even tried to help his executioners to get the needles in.
Living through one failed execution is bad enough. But on Thursday, Ohio's Supreme Court ruled that Broom is to stay on death row despite attorneys arguing that any attempt to execute Broom will violate his constitutional rights which prohibit double jeopardy.
A similar argument by Broom is pending in federal court.
I empathise a lot with Broom at the moment after a botched attempt to donate my blood in November. After lying on a table with tight things around my arms being prodded and pinched for over and hour whilst they searched for a decent vein before they eventually gave up and pulled the needle out again, I couldn't help but recall this case. I was given a biscuit and told not to bother trying again for 4-5 years. Broom was sent back to death row. Yes, I can empathise with him.
Romell Broom was sentenced to death for the rape and murder of a 14 year old girl in 1984. In September of 2009 the state of Ohio attempted to execute him. 3 hours and 18 puncture wounds later, they gave up, unable to find a suitable vein. What Broom must have believed to be his final hours undoubtedly caused great psychological distress - it was reported that he even tried to help his executioners to get the needles in.
Living through one failed execution is bad enough. But on Thursday, Ohio's Supreme Court ruled that Broom is to stay on death row despite attorneys arguing that any attempt to execute Broom will violate his constitutional rights which prohibit double jeopardy.
A similar argument by Broom is pending in federal court.
I empathise a lot with Broom at the moment after a botched attempt to donate my blood in November. After lying on a table with tight things around my arms being prodded and pinched for over and hour whilst they searched for a decent vein before they eventually gave up and pulled the needle out again, I couldn't help but recall this case. I was given a biscuit and told not to bother trying again for 4-5 years. Broom was sent back to death row. Yes, I can empathise with him.
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