ethicsVOL. 2: THE CORE

Faculdade de Belas-Artes de Lisboa

Design de Comunicação

DC V 2010

SOS + SMS

Sérgio Nevesn 4795

chazthecat.pt.vu

ETHICS: VOL. 2the core

Mutual respect and a good ethical treatment allow the

individual, and the community he/she is a part of, to

fully develop and prosper.

The development of a sense of human rights has

its roots in the struggle for freedom and equality

everywhere in the world. The basis of human rights

— such as respect for human life and human dignity —

can be found within most religions and philosophies, as

guidelines to a “good” and “just” way to live.

Throughout History, humanity had a growing concern

about the subject, and ensuring that every human

stands equal before other humans. These concerns

were mostly verbally discussed and put to paper; the

signing of such documents ensured the following of

some mainly basic and local laws.

context

Humans are the

foundation of

freedom, justice

and peace.

* The Cyrus Cilinder, issued by the Persian Prince Cyrus the

Great around 539 BC, is often thought to be the first human

rights artifact; it is thought to be Cyrus’ letter to the Jews, al-

lowing them to return to their homeland after “Babylonian” re-

clusion.

* Sociologists and historicians refer that the ancient Islam

was very advanced for its time, and provided its people with

social reforms that ensured social security, family structure, and

even women’s rights, slavery, or ethnic minorities. Mostly link

Muhammad to the role of reformer of the pagan Arab behaviour.

* The Magna Carta is a british document signed by King John

and the Pope Innocent II, and was first destined to limit the brit-

ish king’s rights. It is known as the basis to common laws and

very important documents such as the Bill of Rights; plus its

most enduring legacy is the set right to habeas corpus.

“No Freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseised

of his Freehold, or Liberties, or free Customs, or be outlawed, or

exiled, or any other wise destroyed; nor will We not pass upon

him, nor condemn him, but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by

the Law of the Land. We will sell to no man, we will not deny or

defer to any man either Justice or Right.”

Clause XXIX, Magna Carta

* Human rights do not have to be

bought, earned or inherited, they belong

to people simply because they are hu-

man — human rights are 'inherent' to

each individual.

* Human rights are the same for all

human beings regardless of race, sex,

religion, political or other opinion, na-

tional or social origin. We are all born free

and equal in dignity and rights — human

rights are 'universal'.

* Human rights cannot be taken away,

no one has the right to deprive another

person of them for any reason. People still

have human rights even when the laws

of their countries do not recognize them,

or when they violate them - for example,

when slavery is practised, slaves still have

rights even though these rights are being

violate — human rights are 'inalienable'.

* People live in dignity, all human rights

are entitled to freedom, security and de-

cent standards of living concurrently —

human rights are 'indivisible'.

It was from the 16th century on, mainly because of

the portuguese and spanish overseas expansions and

conquests, that the subject of human rights gained

new contours. European philosophers, most notably

John Locke, developed the concept of natural rights,

the notion that all people are naturally free and equal,

under the creation of God.

The Americas were then the core of the humanitarian

rights discussions. And the emerging United States

of America, as North American states joined forces

and stood up as a nation, brought along a feeling of

enpowering, of infinite possibilities, and a need for the

setting of a “dos and dont’s” document, to somewhat

limit this sense. Thus the Virginia Declaration of Rights

was signed, in 1776, which would be the basis for the

US Declaration of Independence.

A few years later, in 1789, the French wrote a similar

document, intitled Declaration of the Rights of Man

and Citizen, in which they define a set of individual

and collective “universal” rights. This document

also ended up as one of the ignitors to the next few

centuries, for philosophers and sociologists such

as Thomas Paine, Hegel or Henry David Thoreau to

extend theories and defend their own thesis’ around

human rights and, ultimately, to promote discussion

and thought, and cause it to be one of the central

topics for the next centuries.

In effect, this discussion resulted in massive foundings

of various organizations and parties, and in just as many

fights to defend or claim the rights everyone deserves.

* The United States of America, branded as a nation of plenty,

of opportunity, and of freedom for all, struggled to grant equal

chances and rights for its population. Many fights were neces-

sary to conquer these rights — such as the Women’s Rights

movement, the Civil Rights movement, and various ethnical

movements (most notably the actions taken from Abraham

Lincoln’s reforms through the Black Panters movement and to

Malcolm X’s actions and Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination).

* Mahatma Ghandi’s fight to free his native country India from

British rule also represents a fight to protect the rights of his

fellowmen, against colonial and slavery abbuse.

The Geneva Convention of 1864 was the first

international reunion to discuss humanitarian terms.

By then the whole world was at war with itself for

possession, for expansion, for colonies or for a hundred

other reasons. At this time the treatment given to war

victims, both civilian and military, was a major concern

for sociologists and humanitarians.

The most notable of theses characters was Henry

Dunant, creator of the International Committee for

Relief to the Wounded, which would soon turn into the

International Committee of the Red Cross. Dunant was

a concerned merchant who, in his travels, had seen the

horrors of war victims, and had appealed to peace, and

at the lack of it, universal medical assist for all victims,

no matter which side they defended.

In 1863 Dunant and the International Committeee held

a convention with thirteen countries, in which they

established the Red Cross as an official organization,

with set humanitarian ideals. In 1864 they convinced

the Swiss government to convene a diplomatic

conference in Geneva, which they called “Geneva

Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the

Wounded in Armies in the Field”. Twelve government

representatives signed this first treaty of humanitarian

law, which stated in ten articles the protection and

treatment of war victims and prisoners.

In 1899 in Hague it was signed the next Convention,

adjusting Geneva Convention’s principles to the

war-action at sea. In both 1906 and 1907, the ten

articles of the First Convention were improved and

complemented. But this articles still were not enough,

as they were focused in war situations, and so was the

world. And in the meantime, the World Wars broke out.

Two more Conventions were held. One after World War

I, in 1928, and one after World War II, in 1949. Besides

being the first global agreement, its military and war-time

focus became clearer in the last of the Conventions, since

by the time it was held, with an amazing participance of

149 countries, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

had been introduced.

Here are the essencial rules of the humanitarian law:

* Persons who do not or can no longer take part in the hostilities

are entitled to respect for their life and for their physical and men-

tal integrity. Such persons must in all circumstances be protected

and treated with humanity, without any unfavorable distinction

whatever.

* It is forbidden to kill or wound an adversary who surrenders or

who can no longer take part in the fighting.

* The wounded and sick must be collected and cared for by the

party to the conflict which has them in its power. Medical person-

nel and medical establishments, transports and equipment must be

spared. The red cross or red crescent on a white background is the

sign protecting such persons and objects and must be respected.

* Captured combatants and civilians who find themselves under

the authority of the adverse party are entitled to respect for their

life, their dignity, their personal rights and their political, religious

and other convictions. They must be protected against all acts

of violence or reprisal. They are entitled to exchange news with

their families and receive aid.

* Everyone must enjoy basic judicial guarantees and no one

may be held responsible for an act he has not committed. No

one may be subjected to physical or mental torture or to cruel or

degrading corporal punishment or other treatment.

1919. the world was still at war. The Allied Union,

whose major participants were France, England and

the USA, still fought Germany and the Central Powers,

but this was a tiring and destructive war. At Germany’s

low, a chance for peace was uttered. In 1919, a global

diplomatic reunion was organised to sign a document

that would mean the end of the battle — the Treaty

of Versailles. The League of Nations was established

as well, with the purpose “to promote international

cooperation and to achieve peace and security.”

Once World War II broke, the League of Nations

was dismanteled, for failing to prevent it.

In 1945, in the aftermath of World War II,

representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco,

USA, at the United Nations Conference. All 50

participants, plus Poland in a later occasion, approved

the creation of the United Nations, an organization

with the same values of the League of Nations, but

with a wider range, more active powers and bigger

responsabilities in social and political scenarios,

focused on maintaining peace. The UN headquarters

was set in New York City, USA.

A balance of the war’s true and grotesque

consequences lead the UN and its members to

adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as

a common standard for all nations. It consists of 30

articles which have been elaborated in subsequent

international treaties, regional human rights instruments,

national constitutions and laws, and “built” upon

the Four Freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of

assembly, freedom from fear and freedom from want.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the core

of the general assembly know as the International

Bill of Human Rights. The International Covenant on

Civil and Political Rights (1966) with its two Optional

Protocols and the International Covenant on Economic,

Social and Cultural Rights (1966) are the remaining

constitutes of the bill.

As some criticism is often appointed to certain articles

of the Declaration, due to cultural and religious

adaptabilities, the adding of more articles (such as the

Right to Refuse to Kill), or even debate about the actual

reliability in such a document, the truth stands and

claims it as the first true international agreement on

the rights of every man.

Here are a few of its articles:

Article 1.

* All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and

rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should

act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Article 2.

* Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth

in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race,

colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national

or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no

distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdic-

tional or international status of the country or territory to which

a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-

governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3.

* Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Africa has, in more than one way,

missed the train of evolution. The

continent was treated as a colonial

site to support european countries

and their allies for centuries. To

earn their independence, most

african countries had to fight.

Centuries of slavery, poor

investment, colonial issues

and constant conflict has set it

back drastically, mostly in their

economical, political and social

outcomes. This, of course, affected

their human and living conditions.

North Africa always seemed to

be a notch above this problems.

Center African countries were

isolated, had little resources, and

had their hands full constructing or

recontrustructing their structures.

But North African countries were

connected to Europe and seemed

to have good relationships with the

rest of the world. Their prosperity

was well documented, their

resources plentiful, their people,

dedicated. What could go wrong?

Underneath what seemed like a

well-balanced zone, North African

countries had a sentiment of

despair and unease with their lives

and their community’s.

The reason: oppresion.

Nearly every country in North

Africa was ruled by a series of

obscure and corrupt dictators, that

passed along their powers to their

families or piers for generations.

The result was a great trench

dug between the wealthy class

(amongst which was the leader

himself) and the poor. Not only in

wealth, but also in social support,

in health, in every human condition,

there was a standard for a few, and

a completely diferent one for the

remaining people.

Not only that, but dictators refuged

themselves behind powerful

moguls, a strong military force,

and international alliances, which

enforced their dictatorship and

their role as leaders. North Africa

was, basically, in their hands.

Located by the seaside, bathed by the Mediterranean,

Tunisia was one of these countries.

In the recent years, Tunisia was ruled by Zine El Abidine

Ben Ali, a military dictator who usurped power from

the fair and adored president Habib Bourquiba, who

ruled his country for 30 years, from 1957 to 1987. Ben

Ali, at the time Prime Minister, forged papers that

indicated that Bourquiba was unable to lead his country

due to medical problems, thus ending his reign and

forcing his people to live under his ruling.

Of course, the country would soon realise that this

was an unfair and oppressing ruling, controlled by the

powerful, in prejudice of the little people (the masses).

But his ruling would go on for more than 20 years.

Mohamed Bouazizi was a local street vendor in Tunisia,

who a few months ago got his goods confiscated, and

plus was harassed and abused by the local police, not

for a single isolated time, but for a series of times. At

the lack of help or even any attention from his governor

or from any figure of power, and in dispair, he chose to

light himself on fire in protest.

Bouazizi’s protest against the abuse and disregard for

his (and his people’s) well being ignited the revolt and

injustice that the Tunisian had been standing for ages.

It motivated people to leave their homes and start

public demonstrations and riots against political and

social figures in the country, against corruption, social

injustices, lack of freedom and poor living conditions.

He is credited with galvanizing the frustrations of

the country, and truly the region’s youth against their

governments into mass demonstrations, revolts, and

revolutions. Bouazizi is considered a martyr.

In effect, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali stepped down on

January 14, 2011, after 23 years in power. Ever since

then, the people have been making their voices heard,

and their will fulfilled, as they try to reconstruct their

country with balance, freedom and justice for all.

When civil revolution broke, Tunisian and North African

authorities tried their best to contain and silence it, so

the rest of the world wouldn’t notice it, and so they

could take care of it as they wanted. But in a “global

village” such as the one we all live in today, such

attemps are futile. The Internet, and social networks

in specific, such as Twitter or Facebook, were the

medium for the Tunisian broadcasts, videos, photos

and reports on what was happening in their country.

This allows us to realise how much the world is united,

yet divided. This sharing also allowed the Tunisian

people to not go unnoticed, as they carried out a

revolution of a lifetime. And not only that, but they

managed to inspire other countries and communities

to revolt and fight against such injustices as well.

Map of the protests: in dark blue, concrete revo-

lutions; in dark red, armed conflict; in light blue,

protest followed by governmental changes; in

purple, civil uprising; in dark yellow, minor pro-

tests; and in orange, major protests.

scenario

The Tunisian revolution was such a powerful event that

it inspired other countries to revolt agains opression,

repression and injustice. It ignited a fire that burned

through everyone. Neighbour populations united and

rebelled against their own governments, against their

tyrans and regimes, demanding much better living

conditions, equality, freedom and justice for all.

Egypt followed Tunisia and got out on their streets to

rally against their president Hosni Mubarak, and to

overthrow his regime. These eventually gathered in Tahrir

(=Liberation) Square, in the capital Cairo, with

protestants camping out in the square, exerting

pressure through both their actions, media coverage

and outside negotiations. They eventually succeeded,

with Mubarak resigning in February, after weeks of

intense pressure.

Many nations followed the North African revolution

wave. Algeria, Jordan, Sudan, Oman, Yemen, Armenia,

Syria or Morocco are a few of the many countries

where there has been civil uprising, governmental

opposition, protests or even conflict. The most violent

case is definitely Lybia, now drowned in a civil war to

overthrow Muammar Gaddafi, and currently with the

direct participation of the United Nations and NATO in

the conflict, siding with the “rebels”.

This situation reveals a global necessity for a call for

arms, not in the most literal meaning of the

expression, but as a reflect of the intention to stop the

abuse, opression and injustice, and a need to help the

helpless, to defend and protect the innocent, to treat

the wounded in these conflicts, etc.

* Tunisia was the first nation to claim

their rights in the streets, and the most

accomplished by their acts. Since the for-

mer president and prime minister both re-

signed and were forced to leave the coun-

try, the rulling party, RCD, was dissolved,

and its assets liquidated, political prisoners

were released, and elections to a Constitu-

tional Assembly were booked to July 24.

* Algeria was actually the second coun-

try to rebel, following Tunisia. “Replicas”

of Bouazizi’s self-immolation were repro-

duced, along with major protests, strikes

and road blocks. The result so far was the

lifting of the “state of emergency” the

nation was in for the last 19 years.

* Meanwhile, the region of Djibouti

and the nation of Lybia are still fighting

towards their objectives. In Djibouti the

opposition leaders were arrested, and

international observers were expelled off

the land. And in Lybia, a greatly propor-

cioned civil war is taking lives everyday

and destroying the country’s landscape.

* The core of the revolutions is not in

the reaction, but in the actions taken by

the leaders, hurting the people they were

supposed to defend and make happy,

only to their and their friend’s benefit. An

incredible lack of ethics. A disregard for

what is good, to do what is bad.

It all comes back to ethics.

the core

The CORE is created following the North African and

Middle Eastern revolutions, under this purpose. To be

an organised help to the particular need to fight against

oppression and injustice, and any major threats to a

community’s human rights.

Fighting doesn’t mean fight, in the sense of using

brute force or psychological wars of any kind. The

CORE stands for fighting in a way that sides with

the underdogs, and shows the oppressors that we

are human beings, that we deserve equal and fair

treatment, that we are the people and our will is

strong. We strongly encourage people to leave their

homes and take the streets, making their voices heard,

unite, grow and show their unsatisfaction, demand a

change and do not stop until their demands are met.

The CORE is created to support this fight.

Our intention is to act both locally and globally, and

thus our strategy has two parts to it. The first one, of

course, is to support the fight in a pro-active way. For

example, with the population of Egypt, who rallied the

streets and ended up camping outside the President’s

office, we would then act and bring them supplies,

medical assistance, basic health and resting supports,

information stands, etc.

Our members and volunteers are ready to act

whenever a call for help is uttered. Even in countries

like Lybia, where the situation is critical and conflict

between liberation forces and the oppressors is true,

we are ready to provide medical treatment to those

who are injured, protection measures to innocent

bystanders (which include temporary housing and

secure transportation), and even exit strategies to

other regions or countries.

The second part consists of an external action. This,

essencially, means promotion. Setting up an online

platform (thecore.pt.la), and completing it with both a

discussion page on the social network Facebook, and

a news feed and commentary blog on Blogger, making

a tri-ffecta to inform the world of what is going on, to

incite discussion on the subjects presented, maybe

even get to constructive and possible solutions.

Since we are primarily a pro-active organisation, this

second part also denotes outside action as diplomatic

encouragement. Which means we intend to, while

helping the people in the field, promote discussion

and conversation between the international powers

responsible for maintaining peace, the countries

that can help our cause (from donating, to exerting

pressure, to helping the field action), and the

oppressing forces. We prefer to use negotiations and

pressure to demove these last ones.

And how, you might ask, do we plan on materializing

such great and idealistic plans?

Well, we are glad you asked.

Your fight is our fight. And just as you are not alone

in your fight, we are not alone in supporting it. We

count with the support of Amnesty International,

an organisation dedicated to defend and preserve

human rights worldwide. In fact, this is our “mother”

organisation; The CORE is branched from it. Thus

we are able to get recognised, gather the donations

and volunteers we need in our fight, and help in our

campaigns and promotion.

We have also established a connection with the

Red Cross association. They focus on getting

medical assistance and secure transportation in

any situation, to everyone in need (page 8). And

our third “partnership”, shall we call it, is with the

United Nations, an international comitee dedicated to

maintaining peace and justice in the world (page 10).

The combination of all three organisation’s powers

gives us the leverage to act wherever we are wanted.

The Red Cross is welcomed in every part of the world,

and can supply us with the medical equipment, experts

and supplies needed to help populations. Plus, they

can transport any pacient, and have a free pass to

travel to any country when on a humanitarian mission.

The United Nations specialize in diplomatic dialogue

and peaceful negotiations. Much can be done there to

help communities in trouble, by reaching out to their

oppressors, exerting pressure near them, negotiating

solutions with them and with other creative/powerful

forces. Their powers would be very appreciated in the

external strategy of The CORE.

Combining these three forces into our organisation,

gives us the possibility to truly make an impact and to

help the people who reach out for help.

Our sole purpose is to enforce justice, freedom,

equality and every article of the Universal Declaration

of Human Rights. Our objective is to encourage others

to stand up and fight for their rights, whenever they are

put at risk. Our mission is to help them achieve it.

In a nutshell, it’s about revolution.

This is a project about human rights.

sentiment without action is the

ruin of the soul

it’s about revolution, and always

has been: the great cycles within

and without

standing naked before our

opressors reveals their injustice

Edward Abbey

Jessica Forman

Matthew Herrman

references

Welcome to The CORE

Website: thecore.pt.la

Blog: sos-sms.blogspot.com

Facebook page:

facebook.com/pages/The-

CORE/214558831901727

David B. Berman, Do Good Design:

How Designers Can Change The

World, 2009.

Lucienne Roberts, GOOD: An

Introduction to Ethics in Graphic

Design, 2006.

Steven Heller & Véronique Vienne,

Citizen Designer: Perspectives on

Design Responsibility, 2003.

www.amnesty.org

www.redcross.lv

www.un.org

www.ethicsingraphicdesign.org

www.hrw.org/en/home

www.bbc.co.uk

www.visionofhumanity.org

www.designglobalchange.virb.com

www.livingprinciples.org

www.adbusters.org (mag 91&92)