* * *
*March 19, 2026
nightslantern
suppressed news
concerned with the prevention of genocide
by john bart gerald
graphics by julie maas
2026
U.S.A.: U.S. public support for the war on Iran was at inception the least for any U.S. war in history - 41% (NYT); a Reuters/Ipsos poll finds only 23% approval of the air strikes. Unverified news sources report the possibility of military resisting deployment to Iran, or seeking conscientious objector status. The reports are not verified by the Pentagon. The U.S. NGO Center on Conscience & War which offers advice for C.O.'s was subjected to a deluge of calls and reports of disagreement with the war policy. It states more units have been activated than known to the public. The Quaker GI Rights Hotline is receiving twice as many calls as usual from all branches of the service. Social media reports of military refusing duty or deployment are not verified and I would ignore this consideration except that, for example, during Vietnam an entire unit refused deployment - information not available to the public until after the war.
Partial sources: "Unlike Past U.S. Conflicts, Iran Attack Is Opposed by Most Americans," Lily Boyce and Ruth Igielnik, March 10,2026, The New York Times; "Reuters/Ipsos Iran Airstrike Survey," current <,i>Ipsos [Access:< https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2026-03/Reuters%20Ipsos%20Iran%20Airstrike%20Topline%203.1.2026_0.pdf >]; "Report claims U.S. troops refusing orders in Iran conflict," Suleman Chitera, March 16, 2026, Malawi Freedom Network; "US-Iran war update: Soldiers refusing to be deployed in Iran? New non-profit report raises concerns," Yash Nitish Bajaj, March 17, 2026, Hindustan Times; "Are US soldiers 'openly refusing' deployment orders to Iran? Inspecting claim," Anna Rascouët-Paz, March 18, 2026, Snopes.
Richmond Virginia: the Center for Constitutional Rights announces it has won its case (with co-counsel from the law firms of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP, and Akeel & Valentine, PLC) against CACI Premier Technology, Inc., a defense contractor, for its role in torturing three prisoners at Abu Ghraib in 2003-4. The three Iraqi plaintiffs were awarded 14 million dollars each by jury trial in October 2024. Virginia based CACI appealed to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals which on March 12, upheld the jury's verdict. While the judge supported the United States' immunity from prosecution for suit, CACI's argument that it acquired immunity as a government contractor could not prove that its use of torture was authorized by the U.S. government. The current legal system may find a way to vacate the ruling which could explain why the U.S. press is ignoring the ruling. Partial sources: "Al Shimari, et al. v. CACI," current, Center for Constitutional Rights [access:< https://ccrjustice.org/AlShimari >]; "Victory for Abu Ghraib Torture Survivors: Appeals Court Upholds Historic $42 Million Verdict Against Private Contractor," Press release, March 12,2036, Center for Constitutional Rights; "Fourth Circuit Affirms $42 Million Jury Verdict in Abu Ghraib Case," William S. Dodge, March 17, 2026, Just Security.
The Hague: Declarations to the International Court of Justice by individual nations in response to Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel) are either ways to support South Africa's allegations that Israel has or is committing genocide in Gaza, or attempts to derail the allegations. The legal tracts' purposes can be buried in the individual country's legal constructs about just what genocide is while the world's people have an increasingly clear idea. In the "Declaration of Intervention of Paraguay," March 6, 2026, Paraguay advises the Court to use the highest standards applicable in considering evidence of intention of genocide. However this is one way the Court may use to find Israel not guilty of genocide in Gaza. Declarations by The Netherlands and Iceland are more helpful to fair process. The "Declaration of Intention of the Netherlands," March 11, 2026, includes concern for forced displacement as an aspect of genocide and shows particular concern for what happens to children, and the effects of starvation and withholding of humanitarian aid. In the "Declaration of Intervention of Iceland," March 11, 2026, Iceland reminds the Court that the defining character of genocide is "a denial of the right of existence of entire human groups..." and like the Netherlands shows particular concern for children, pregnant women as well. The U.S., Hungary and Fiji, submitted declarations to the court on March 12th which seem part of a coherent program to undermine any allegations of genocide made against Israel. The "Declaration of Intervention of the United States of America," March 12, 2026, is an attempt to support Israel's position despite Israel's impunity, underscoring a requirement for specific intent to commit genocide which the U.S. has relied on since the Convention's inception to avoid labeling militarily connected mass murders genocide. This intervention by the United States is remarkable since the U.S. has denigrated, sanctioned and harassed judges of the International Criminal Court and other defenders of international law such as UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese. Implicit in "Declaration of Intervention of Hungary," March 12, 2026, is the perspective that the heinous acts of Hamas justify - by providing context, Israel's acts alleged as genocide by the outside world. Hungary's declaration, like the U.S.'s focuses on need to prove very specific intention to commit genocide, the standard hedge to invalidate charges of genocide. In the "Declaration of Intervention of Fiji,"March 12, 2026, Fiji as well calls for the highest level of proof of acts of genocide and their intention, and is unwilling to accept UN affiliated reports as unbiased. It also attempts to undermine Amnesty International reports and other NGO information sources. The "Declaration of Intervention of Namibia," March 12, 2026, is the most straightforward of the March 12th presentations, and affirms with simplicity the basis of South Africa's case, as if both the document's writer and reader were just people. See previous.
Montreal: "questioning a criminal war, a poem," by J. B.Gerald.
Ottawa: following the Parliamentary debate on March 9th, on March 10th Prime Minister Mark Carney made his position on the U.S. Israeli war on Iran clear: while Canada supports the need to prevent (limit) Iran's nuclear program and "export of terrorism" Canada is not involved in and won't participate in the US Israeli war on Iran. This places the Prime Minister's stated policy within international law. Partial sources: "Canada will 'never participate' in Iran offensive, Mark Carney says," Nick Murray, The Canadian Press, March 10, 2026, The Toronto Star; "Canada will 'never participate/ in Iran offensive, Carney says," The Canadian Press, March 10, 2026, CTV News.
Zurich: Switzerland's Defence Minister Martin Pfister declared on March 8th that the U.S. Israeli attack on Iran has violated international law. In statements starting on February 28th, Spain's Prime Minister Prime Pedro Sánchez has found the U.S. Israeli attack illegal and barred the U.S. from using Spanish bases for attacks on Iran, despite U.S. threats of sanctions. In Canada, Prime Minister Carney's perspective regarding the U.S. Israeli war on Iran where he has qualified his initial support, was challenged in Parliament the evening of March 9th in a session dominated by Conservative Party hawks oblivious of international law, a session which the Prime Minister and NDP avoided. Some resistance to the conflict was presented by the carefulness of the Bloc Québécois - Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe's reasonableness, and the Green Party's faithfulness to international law. Partial sources: Iran attacks breach international law, Swiss Defence Minister says," Reuters, March 8, 2026, Reuters; "Spain slams US and Israeli strikes on Iran, reflecting shift in foreign policy," Maïa de la Baume & Maria Tadeo, Feb. 28, 2026, euronews; "Spain's Sánchez emerges as chief EU critic of Trump's strikes on Iran," Aitor Hernández-Morales, March 3, 2026, Politico; "Spain defies Trump's threats over stance on Iran war, says it 'won't be vassals'," David Latona and Victoria Waldersee, March 4 2026 Reuters; "House of Commons holds debate on Iran," CBC, March 9, 2026, YouTube.
Iran: U.S. and Israeli military forces began bombing and missiling targeted sites in Iran on February 28, 2026. That is not suppressed news. It follows weeks of domestic and CIA instigated revolt against Iran's authorities. The strikes on Iran continue. Iran is attempting to reciprocate with missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. facilities in the region. Iran has closed the Straits of Hormuz. To avoid taking sides between Iran's clerical government and a far-right replacement government with Reza Pahlavi as temporary head representing U.S. and Israeli interests, ie. to place the law above politics: the U.S. and Israel have opened war without being attacked. This violates the United Nations Charter (Article 2 Section 4), and is the crime of aggression. It can be considered as part of a U.S. / Israeli agenda to take over Iran's oil reserves and place Israel in control of the Middle East. It can also be considered an attempt to improve the human rights of the people of Iran which is not in the domain of the U.S. or Israel. International law is clearly violated. Prime Minister Carney of Canada has stated support of the U.S. position breaking international law and violating the UN Charter. There is an unverified report of targeting support from the Canadian military. Under U.S. law the President has opened a war without Congressional approval and not in response to an emergency. This is a crime and an impeachable offense. In addition, the assassination of foreign political leaders particularly if done with "perfidy" - a word which may be called into play by the pretense of negotiations ongoing during the surprise bombing of Ali Khameini and his family (killing among others his daughter, grandchild, son-in law, daughter-in law, and then from injuries sustained, his wife) is a crime under the U.S. Code of Military Justice. U.S. and Canadian media news reporting of the war is "managed" and unreliable, withholding evidence of war crimes. The illegal missile attack on a girls school near Iran's Hormuz is alleged to have originated from the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. Over 160 dead. A warning: by waging war in violation of international and domestic law the U.S. President is criminalizing the U.S. armed forces. Criminalizing a military prepares it for worse crimes.
Washington D.C.: on February 25th, the family of Francesca Albanese filed a suit in U.S. District Court, Washington D.C. against President Trump, Secretary Rubio, Attorney General Bondi, Treasury Secretary Bessent, asking the sanctions against her be lifted. Violations of her First, Fourth, Fifth Ammendment rights and seizure of her personal property were cited. Ms. Albanese is faulted by the administration for faithfully performing her duties as U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories. She is subjected to U.S. sanctions customarily applied to terrorists. Due to the honesty of her reporting the complicity of Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Czechia, in the Israeli genocide of Gaza, these European governments have asked her to resign. On February 26 over a thousand scholars of international law posted a letter in support of Ms. Albanese in French, Italian and German media. The U.S. sanctions defy an express request to withdraw them by the UN Commissioner for Human Rights. Previous. Partial sources: "Family of U.N. Expert Critical of Israel Sues Trump Over Sanctions," John Yoon, Feb. 26, 2026, The New York Times; "Open Letter of Scholars in Support of UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese," Feb. 26, 2026,
TWAILR; "Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on U.S. sanctions against Francesca Albanese," Press release, July 10, 2026, ONHCR; "The Increasing Attacks on Francesca Albanese Presage a New Dark Age," Chris Hedges, current, February, The Chris Hedges YouTube Channel.
Urbana Illinois: Nightslantern notes with deep respect the death on January 30, 2025 of Francis Anthony Boyle. His death certificate has not been released to the public. Noted but suppressed by the media the death occurred 20 days after he agreed to testify against Bill Gates and Albert Bourla re. the anti-COVID shots which he considered "synthetic biological weapons of mass destruction" ("The Mysterious Death of Prof. Francis Boyle: A Bioweapons Whistleblower's Final Warning," Global GeoPolitics, Dec. 7, 2025, Medium;"Francis Boyle, long-time College of Law faculty member, passes away," Chris Davies, Feb. 19, 2025, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign). Nightslantern.ca has carried his work for many years. The primary American voice consistently defending basic precepts of international law and decency, his good works included formally representing Canada's Blackfoot Nation, advising the PLO, protesting Israel's genocide early, drafting the U.S. biological weapons act, criticizing Amnesty International as a board member, advising the AFSC. and on... Many of his efforts for human rights appear in conjunction with Canada's Lawyers Against the War." Wikipedia notes He stated that he "was born Irish", and did not consider himself to be a "White North American".. See "Law and Resistance: The Republic in Crisis and the People's Response."
See previous. A team of researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine revealed that acetic acid (vinegar) kills the highly resistant mycobacteria which cause tuberculosis and for example leprosy. Surfaces contaminated with the mycobacteria can be disinfected with vinegar. Partial sources: "Does Vinegar Kill Bacteria?" Angela Betsaida B. Laguipo, BSN, June 13, 2019, News Medical Life Sciences; "Who knew? Vinegar kills tuberculosis-causing germs," Laura Mize, May 27, 2014, UFHealth.
Nunavik Quebec: in response to a call for a pubic health emergency to be declared over eight months ago, the Province of Quebec has allotted additional funds to fight tuberculosis in northern Quebec. Despite professed government concern in the past "Inuit living in Nunavik face tuberculosis rates 1,000 times higher than non-Indigenous, Canadian-born residents of Quebec according to the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services" (Mayors' letter - NN). This is attributed to lack of qualified medical and health care staff. It's also attribute to crowded living conditions, improper housing design, lack of nourishment. Historically the community suffered heavily from TB in the 1940's to 60's, with infected patients sent to sanitariums further south and many patients never returned, raising an historical mistrust. Federally funded and Inuit strategies are in place to eliminate tuberculosis in the area which currently has the highest TB rate in the world. This includes a flashy sum from the federal government which includes funding for an Inuit university but the problem is noted here because the TB is part of an ongoing pattern historically where application of what funds are supplied continues the eradication humiliation, resource stripping of the continent's native peoples (and other caretakers). This may prove of greater interest to the ruling governments with the tactical military importance of Inuit lands throughout the Arctic, northern Canada and Greenland. Despite legal progress and international clarification of what human rights should be Canada has not so far successfully addressed the equalization of living conditions for native people preferring a capitalist rule oriented to profit and comfort of the middle class. Ongoing genocide warning. Partial sources: "Quebec government taking TB situation 'very seriously'," Nunatsiaq News, June 10, 2025, Nunatsiaq News; "Nunavik mayors demand health care action over 'staggering' TB crisis," Nunatsiaq News, June 9, 2025 Nunatsiaq News; "Tuberculosis outbreak hits Labrador weeks after ITK decried funding loss," The Canadian Press, Nov. 28, 2025, APTN; "Canadian Red Cross to assist in Nunavik's fight against tuberculosis," Samuel Wat, Feb. 16, 2026, CBC News.
Rojava: Genocide Watch has issued a "genocide emergency" for the Kurds in North and East Syria. Under siege by Syrian Armed Forces and forces cooperating with Turkey's military (which has for seven years attempted Turkification of Kurdish lands) threaten survival of the Kurdish people. Genocide warning. Partial sources: "Genocide Emergency: Rojava and Northern Syria 2026, " Jan. 27, 2026, Genocide Watch; "Statement from the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal on the situation in Rojava," January 2026, PPT; "Genocidal attack in Rojava cannot be understood without understanding Kurdish genocide," Cihan Eren, Jan. 26, 2026, ANF News.
Washington D.C.: a Federal Grand Jury refused to indict Congresspeople who supported a military person's right to disobey illegal orders. See previous. The government attempted to have them charged with sedition. The lawmakers were threatened with execution by the U.S. President. Partial sources: "Federal Grand Jury Declines to Indict Six Democratic Lawmakers for Urging Service Members to Refuse Unlawful Orders," Feb. 11, 2026, Democracy Now; "DC grand jury declines to indict Sens. Kelly, Slotkin for seditious conspiracy: MS Now," Dan Mangan, Feb.10, 2026, CNBC.
New York State: heavily in debt to the World Health Organization the U.S. government withdrew from the WHO on January 22nd, as U.S. assistance policy cuts increasingly place vulnerable groups at risk globally. The State of New York has joined the World Health Organization's International Response Network on its own. Partial sources: "Governor Hochul Announces New York State Will Join World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network," Feb. 10, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul; "Kathy Hochul enters New York into WHO network after Trump pulls US out of global body," David Zimmermann, Feb.10, 2026, Washington Examiner.
New Brunswick: this history of Acadia is of an early North American genocide which helps explain the mix and integration of North American peoples and finds some parallel today in current U.S. deportation policy "Mass-Deported Europeans in North America - The Acadian Genetic Mystery"} (Youtube)
Cuba: The U.S. has forbidden supply and placed tariffs on any country supplying fuel to Cuba. This has caused a humanitarian crisis, interrupting food distribution, energy supply, transport to from and within Cuba, stopping the tourist industry, accessibility to the country and placing the civilian population in duress. It is calculated to make the government dysfunctional and break the revolutionary spirit of the Cuban people. Russia and China have affirmed Cuba's sovereignty. If the current U.S. policy continues other countries should prepare to consider the people of Cuba as a national group under early genocide warning. Partial sources: "China steps in as Cuba faces deepening fuel crunch under US pressure Beijing says it will back Havana's sovereignty and survival needs as the UN warns shortages are hitting daily life," Feb. 10, 2025, TRT World; "Russia warns Cuba fuel situation critical; Havana slams "cruel" US tactics," Feb. 10, 2026, Al-Jazeera; "2 Mexican Navy ships laden with humanitarian aid dock in Cuba as US blockade sparks energy crisis," AP, Feb. 12, 2026, Castanet.
Current summary from Montreal: as instances where the Convention on Genocide should be applied become more clear and multiply, the impunity of the offending major powers increases. Transgressions and threats against people in national groups as in Greenland-Denmark, Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, Lebanon, Palestine etc., whose rights are protected by the Convention are selectively overlooked by the media. CBC Anglophone news coverage in Montreal seems reluctant to share international news. Genocide is being ignored and normalized throughout the Western media. The U.S. has sanctioned and threatened the UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese as well as International Criminal Court judges investigating Israel's genocide in Gaza. In Canada the "All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and other Crimes Against Humanity," funded in part by the "Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies" seems to have closed along with the Montreal Institute. A Hind Rajab Foundation attempt to ban (for inciting IDF forces and propaganda for war) an Israeli comedian from admission to Canada, wasn't successful; the comedian was freed from airport detention to perform, by intervention of the Israeli consulate. The Hind Rajab Foundation was able to file charges at the comedian's next appearance in New York City. Generally, writing against genocide incurs isolation and banning as well as the contemporary risks of honest journalism. Those protesting the genocide in Gaza risk illegal retribution. In England six protestors who in 2024 broke into Elbit (the Israeli arms production company) and were charged with burglary carrying a life sentence were acquitted by jury. French judges have issued warrants for "complicity in genocide" against two persons in Israel for impeding aid to Gazans. In Boston the Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a war crimes complaint against an Israeli soldier scheduled to speak at Boston University. Partial sources for verification: "UN special rapporteur urges US to lift sanctions on ICC judges, prosecutors," Beyza Binnur Donmez, Jan. 26, 2026, Anadolu Agency; "HRF Files Legal Complaint in the United States Against Israeli Soldier Adi Karni, Already Under Investigation in Peru," Feb. 4, 2026, Hind Rajab Foundation; "Palestine Action activists cleared of aggravated burglary at Israeli defence firm site," Haroon Siddique, Feb. 4, 2026, The Guardian; "Israeli comedian said held for 6 hours at Toronto airport after Hind Rajab complaint," Michael Horovitz, Jan. 20, 2026, The Times of Israel; "France issues warrants for Franco-Israelis over Gaza 'complicity in genocide'," Feb. 4, 2026, RFI.
"Genocide Warnings for 2026," John Bart Gerald. This essay discusses changes in how genocide is understood and applied since humanity's experience with the Nazis of the Third Reich. It notes briefly about twenty countries with national, ethnic, or religious groups undergoing genocide or at particular risk now and in 2026, in Palestine, Sudan, the DRC, Myanmar, China, Venezuela, Guatemala, Haiti, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Ukraine, Cameroon, India, Kashmir, the U.S.. The list is not all-inclusive -posted December 21, 2025
A branch that comes from violence will not take root;
for a blighted root is on sheer rock, like reeds by the
banks of a river, which are dried up before any grass; but
kindness, like eternity, will never be cut off, and faithfulness
will be established forever - from Ben Sira
(Dead Sea Scrolls Bible, Abegg et al)
at first posting in 2002 this bulletin board was for emergency protests, attempts to counter genocide, anti-war information, which were suppressed in the media; my interest remains in how a society is moved into what have become genocidal wars, and how people are able to resist... it becomes a kind of history in motion and a way to counter enforced forgetfulness, the lies that say these things never happened, or that there is nothing wrong with the murders of hundreds of thousands of innocents in other countries, or the continuing move toward eradication of the poor by death, in north america; this account is against forgetfulness. - jbg 2008
by john bart gerald
graphics by julie maas
guest contributions as noted
March 19, 2026
