I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops. -Stephen Jay Gould
Human Rights
Human Rights Watch
Amnesty International
Privacy International
The Hunger Project
Alliance For Fair Food
The Framers of the Bill of Rights did not purport to “create” rights. Rather, they designed the Bill of Rights to prohibit our Government from infringing rights and liberties presumed to be preexisting. -Justice William Brennan, 1982
Civil Rights
American Civil Liberties Union
Aren’t Civil Rights Human Rights? What’s the Difference?
Put very simply, civil refers to rights guaranteed to citizens by their government, usually via documents like the U.S. Constitution and amendments to such documents, like The Bill of Rights.
Human Rights are more universal, and are generally understood to include all people, regardless of their citizenship. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly; read more about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Here.
Why is this important? I think it’s important to understand that human rights and civil rights are not the same, although they do have points in common. It is useful to pay attention when rights are discussed exactly what kind of rights the speaker/writer is referring to. Further, it’s important to request clarification in instances when human or civil rights are just referred to as rights, or when the terms are used interchangeably.
*My disclaimer: The information is presented is to the best of my knowledge. I am aware of numerous debates about defining what civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights are. If you know any information here that is incorrect, please let me know. This info intended as a quick clarification for the question at the beginning of this section. Those wishing to engage in deeper discourse on the subject, go for it-in appropriate forums.
I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority. -Elwyn Brooks White
Environmental Justice and Protection
Basel Action Network (BAN)
Macronet USA
U.S. Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs)
