This page presents comments on the news from the human rights perspective.
RIGHT TO HEALTH: LED LIGHT IS DANGEROUS
LEDs emit very strong blue light waves. A Harvard medical study states that High Energy Visible blue light is the most dangerous light for the retina. It causes premature macular degeneration (vision loss). It can also have other negative effects on our health, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, increased risk of depression and sleep disorders.
Public Health England has warned that new streetlights with LED will harm people’s eyesight and disrupt their sleep. This will also affect people’s daytime alertness and therefore impact general wellbeing and safety. Some people may also suffer from headaches and migraines because of too bright LED lights. (www.msn.com, UK news, 3 April 2018).
The Royal Automobile Club has done a survey about the modern car headlights. They are so bright that two-thirds of the drivers in the survey say they are temporarily blinded by them and can’t see properly for about 5 seconds. Fifteen per cent also reported to have nearly suffered a collision as a result. (I Newspaper, 24 March 2018).
LED light is everywhere, in tvs, computers, phones, street lights, car lights, shop lights, and so-called low energy light bulbs for the home.
Every human being has the right to health.* This means that governments have the responsibility to do what they can to eliminate factors that damage public health. The UK Government should therefore consider a ban on LED lights nationally and campaign for an international ban and the development of light bulbs that are not damaging for our eyes.
*Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reads: “1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. (…)” The United Kingdom has a legal obligation to implement this treaty.
RIGHT TO HEALTH: E-CIGARETTE FLAVOURS ARE DANGEROUS
Scientists at America’s Rochester University have warned that the chemical flavours of e-cigarettes damage tissues and white blood cells in our bodies. This reduces the ability of our bodies to fight bacteria and viruses and can cause cancer, heart disease, diabetes and dementia.
Every human being has the right to health.* This means that governments have the responsibility to do what they can to eliminate factors that damage public health. The UK Government should therefore consider a ban on smoking, including of e-cigarettes, anywhere other than in the sphere of the private home or at places specifically dedicated for those who want to smoke. If individuals want to risk damage to their own health by smoking, that is their own choice. However they should make sure that they do all they can to prevent damage to the health of their fellow human beings, and Government should facilitate this.
*Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reads: “1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. (…)” The United Kingdom has a legal obligation to implement this treaty.
EU REFERENDUM RESULT
After the Second World War, organisations were set up for the promotion of peace, security, human rights, democracy, better living conditions and international co-operation. Examples are the United Nations, the Council of Europe and what eventually became the European Union. The existence of such organisations is a good thing because countries need to co-operate as none of them can solve global or human problems on their own. The fact that many do not like some of the decisions taken within the framework of the EU or the amount of influence that the organisation has is not characteristic of the United Kingdom, it is the same in all the other member states of the EU. Changes that are needed however can only be achieved if the member states work on them together as an organisation. Governments have agreed to follow rules, for instance with regard to workers’ rights, and much of that has been agreed via international networks such as the EU. Our individual rights are safer when governments have agreed to uphold them within the context of an international organisation. From this perspective the outcome of the advisory referendum, a majority vote for the UK to leave the EU, is devastating.
