News

Bachman Kills Lion, Enrages Internet

by Rachel Krantz

Did you know there's an International Violence Against Women's Act? And that Congress is poised to reintroduce it? Neither did I. But as Cristina Finch writes for the Guardian, we should probably care a little bit more — and not just because the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is November 25:

United Nations statistics show that one in three women will be raped, beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during their lifetime. This is a shocking number, and in my experience, a vast underestimation of the true number of women affected...
One of the most critical steps is for the US Congress to pass the International Violence Against Women Act, which makes ending violence against women and girls a top US diplomatic priority. The legislation would codify and implement the US Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally (pdf). The strategy, promulgated by President Obama last year, is an excellent start to ensuring US commitment to this issue – and for setting the model for other countries to follow suit. The I-VAWA would support survivors and programs that hold perpetrators accountable and prevent violence, while ensuring that US foreign aid money is used in the most cost-effective and impactful way possible.

But, you know, the world has more pressing matters to deal with, like Rob Ford's extended spontaneous combustion. Politico and TMZ staffers alike are crying in their coffee his morning after the Toronto mayor's teased reality show was cancelled after just one episode. Ford, it appears, will not be an (official) reality TV star after all. Which is a shame, because that seems like the one job he's qualified for.

Germany is set to introduce a legal quota for the number of women in boardrooms. German firms would have to allot 30 percent of non-executive board seats to women from 2016. Because, historically, quotas have always been the answer to discrimination. Oh, wait.

The U.S. Justice Department announced a $13 billion settlement with JPMorgan Chase Tuesday. Which is supposed to make up for the shady mortgage-bundling practices that led to thousands of people's homes being foreclosed. At least the money will go to struggling homeowners.

This upsetting photo of a woman killing a lion has gone viral.

Policy Mic explains:

Hundreds of thousands of people have come out against Bachman’s hunting. A Change.org petition calling for the South African government to deny Bachman future entry into the country has nearly 350,000 signatures. “Stop Melissa Bachman,” a Facebook group decrying her “trophy hunting” has been liked over 200,000 times. Even if the hunt was legal, that hasn’t prevented outrage from spreading like a wildfire.

This cat is certainly pissed on his cousin's behalf.

Image: Facebook