Death Penalty in 2010: Executing countries left isolated after decade of progress
Countries which continue to use the death penalty are being left increasingly isolated following a decade of progress towards abolition, Amnesty International has said today in its new report Death Sentences and Executions in 2010.
A total of 31 countries abolished the death penalty in law or in practice during the last 10 years but China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the USA and Yemen remain amongst the most frequent executioners, some in direct contradiction of international human rights law.
The total number of executions officially recorded by Amnesty International in 2010 went down from at least 714 people in 2009 to at least 527 in 2010, excluding China.
China is believed to have executed thousands in 2010 but continues to maintain its secrecy over its use of the death penalty.
“The minority of states that continue to systematically use the death penalty were responsible for thousands of executions in 2010, defying the global anti-death penalty trend,” said Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
“While executions may be on the decline, a number of countries continue to pass death sentences for drug-related offences, economic crimes, sexual relations between consenting adults and blasphemy, violating international human rights law forbidding the use of the death penalty except for the most serious crimes,” said Salil Shetty. ...
9 Out Of 10 For New Foo Fighters Album!
Check out Spin's great review of the Foo Fighters new album "Wasting Light":
Enter the Foo: Your favorite grungy uncle asserts arena dominance
Spin Rating: 9 of 10
First Dave Grohl learned to fly. Then, in "Times Like These," he learned to love and live again. Grohl's latest lesson? "Learning to walk again," as he puts it near the end of the seventh Foo Fighters album. That back-to-basics aspiration is no coincidence: After scaling the uppermost heights of modern-rock stardom -- Grammy Awards, stadium shows, occasionally drumming for Paul McCartney, and a side project with a dude from Led Freaking Zeppelin -- Grohl built a recording studio in his San Fernando Valley garage last year and hired Nevermind producer Butch Vig to oversee Wasting Light, which includes a guest appearance by Nirvana's Krist Novoselic and heralds Pat Smear's full-fledged return to the Foo fold. The thing should come wrapped in flannel....
U2, Eminem, Gaga & 35 More on Japan Benefit Album
Nearly 40 A-list artists have contributed tracks to a new compilation meant to benefit victims of Japan's tsunami. Available now for $9.99 via iTunes, Songs for Japan features top hits from artists like U2, Eminem, Lady Gaga, John Lennon, and literally dozens more. Check out the full tracklisting below.
All artists, music publishers, and labels involved have waived any royalties for these songs, and iTunes will donate its proceeds from all album sales worldwide -- all funds go towards the Japanese Red Cross Society.
Songs for Japan is available now.
Songs for Japan tracklisting...
