This Week: Ethics in the News

Highlights from some of the week's top ethics news stories.



Religion/International
Self-immolation, as was previously reported, continues to take the lives of Tibetans across China and in refugee communities in India. The Dalai Lama has commented that there are positive signs coming from the People's Republic of China that may be harbingers of political reform or "Western style democracy." The Chinese government maintains that the self-immolating protestors are terrorist and that the Dalai Lama is inciting separatism.    
read more......Voice of America - Two Tibetans Self-Immolate in Zamthang
read a perspective from China.......Xinhua China - Dalai Click Separatist Doomed to Fail

Locations of Tibetan Refugee Communities, Source: Tibet Children's Villages

Women's Health
An anti-abortion bill was passed this week in Phoenix. The contentious vote down party lines was 10-20 in the Republican dominated state Senate. The bill holds that abortions can only be performed after twenty weeks for medical emergency, that women must undergo an ultrasound in order to see the fetus twenty-four hours before the abortion, and that a state-run website will display fetuses of various sizes. Leaders of Planned Parenthood in Arizona plan to continue to fight the new legislation.    
read more......Huffington Post - Arizona Abortion Bill
read a perspective from Arizona....Arizona Republic - Oks Abortion Bill

Justice
As a follow up to previous coverage of the Trayvon Martin case, George Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder. The special prosecutor came to this conclusion after extensive investigations. This case has sparked a national outcry about the state of race and issues of self defense. Martin, who was unarmed walking home from a convenience store, was shot and killed by Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer. Florida Governor Rick Scott announced a new gun law task force in the aftermath of this crime.
read more......NYT - Prosecutor Files Charge of 2nd Degree Murder
read about the task force.....CNN - Governor to Announce Gun Law Task Force

World News
UN Secretary Kofi Annan is taking desperate measures to pacify Syria. This week there were talks with Iran about stepping in to impose sanctions on Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has made promises of withdrawing troops and honoring a cease-fire but has done the opposite and instigated fresh attacks. 
read more......Associated Press - US Syria Policy a Tacit Nod to Assad's Firm Grip
read international perspective......Telegraph UK - Syria and UN Agree Observer Mission Details
read a perspective from inside Syria.....Syria Today - Security Council and Foreign Ministers Assess Syrian Peace Plan