It is impossible to get cremated in Greece

I am in Athens for a conference on religious freedom issues - where I hope to learn much and also share best practices with my Greek and US counterparts.  Speaking of, some of my Greek colleagues mentioned the challenges Athenians face when looking to get cremated after death.  

For one thing, there is no crematorium in the country - mainly it seems due to opposition from religious authorities.  The problem has become acute. Graveyard space, especially in urban areas is limited. Bodies are now dug up every three years and moved to different, often rural, locations due to space constraints.

But what if your religion mandates cremation?  Once a common practice in Ancient Greece, today cremation is permitted only for those whose religion allows it. To be cremated a person must have made it clear before their death that they wish to be cremated (alternatively, relatives must declare that this is the case).

Even if you obtain this permission, however, the lack of crematoriums leaves shipment of a deceased’s remains to Bulgaria or Italy as the only viable option. Often the expense of undertaking this task leaves relatives of the deceased with burial in Greece as the most practical option. 

This article from the Greek Reporter has more to say about all this, with views from both those against and in favor of cremation in Greece.

How will commercial drones affect privacy rights? We don’t know yet

Over the past few months drones have started littering the skies, used by consumers and businesses alike for taking photos of real estate to dropping off Amazon packages straight to your doorstep.

As commercial domestic drone use increases, many wonder about the privacy implications of having hundreds, if not thousands of these drones roaming the skies on a daily basis.

Federal efforts

(Remarkably) Congress has already started thinking about these issues. Rep. Ted Poe  introduced a bill designed to safeguard privacy rights from commercial drones, the Preserving American Privacy Act of 2013, warning that “companies could use drones for information gathering whether that is taking a photograph of your patio furniture or recording the make and model of your car.” 

The proposed law would make it a misdemeanor to use an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to photograph a person or their property without their explicit permission.  Sen. Ed Markey introduced a similar bill, the Drone Aircraft Privacy and Transparency Act, to provide privacy and civil liberties guidance and limitations  to the FAA regarding the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into United States airspace.

State and local efforts

States have also been struggling with how to handle the impending proliferation of private-use drones while the Federal Aviation Administration works on final drone use regulations. Charlottesville, VA., passed a law banning drones from its airspace earlier this month. Florida lawmakers are proposing that drone use would have to be authorized by the Department of Homeland Security

Non-governmental organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union generally agree with these efforts.  For instance, The Center for Democracy and Technology has called for private-use drones to constantly transmit location, speed and altitude data to local and federal authorities.

It’s a good thing that these issues are being debated even before widespread drone use because a post-conflict dispute resolution system for handling privacy violations, like the courts, is woefully inadequate.  

Federal courts tend to look at privacy violations and ask if the defendant “violated a reasonable expectation of privacy” - except that nine older, and generally out-of-touch men and women hardly constitute my first pick to determine what constitutes my reasonable expectation of privacy.

Litigate. Write. Elect. Advocacy isn’t just about speaking out

But also about writing it in, and convincing others to work on your behalf.  Throughout a lot of my work, I find that the best advocates do more than bring attention to matters they care about.  Often, the most effective advocates for social change or civil liberties also:

• Litigate.  Filing lawsuits encourages precedent.  Which makes it easier to achieve your goals in the long term since you don’t have to fight the same fight repeatedly.
• Write. Not just reports that bring facts to light, but persuasive op-eds in major publications and newspapers read by the right people that generate interest and galvanize policy change.
• Elect. This means raising funds for candidates sympathetic to their cause, encouraging such individuals to run for office and then appealing to them while they are in office to represent their interests.

Litigate. Write. Elect.  I think it’s one recipe for success.

Booking a flight? Know your rights

Pre-flight: booking and reservations

Like most businesses, airlines have considerable discretion in how they respond to problems. This doesn’t mean travelers don’t have certain rights as passengers. Rather, demands for compensation from delays and other inconveniences are likely to be the subject of negotiation. For this reason, the consumer should start by seeking remedies from the airline itself.

If that fails, administrative remedies can be obtained through the Department of Transportation (DOT):

• Consumers can file complaints with the Aviation Consumer Production Division:www.dot.gov/airconsumer.
• For broader or more serious fraud, or abuse of discretion issues, consumers should contact the Office of Inspector General.

Depending on the claim, the DOT may undertake an independent investigation or administrative action, or counsel the traveler to seek litigation or settlement. In certain cases where disputes commonly arise, such as cancellations of reservations, the rights of travelers are more clear-cut.

Read the rest of my article at Elsevier Connect

Every Child Deserves to Play: Camp Zeitouna Helps the Youngest Syrian Refugees

This month three Syrian-Americans will launch a new project to help the most powerless victims of the Syrian conflict: young children. Known asCamp Zeitouna, the arts and sports training program for young adults will be held at theAtmeh Refugee Camp - one of the largest such camps located inside Syria.

Conditions for the 28,000 refugees in this camp are miserable - with inconsistent access to running water and healthy food. Many of these men, women and children fled their homes and villages to seek refuge and now live in thousands of tents among the former olive groves in this town along the Syrian-Turkish border.

Read more at HuffingtonPost.com »

What Are Your Rights at Screenings and Checkpoints?

Following 9/11, security measures have increased at all U.S. ports of entry, especially airports. The Homeland Security Act has given birth to new agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), created to standardize and facilitate air travel. Security procedures, screenings, and interviews of international travelers to the United States have increased. All these activities have resulted in interminable delays for many travelers. Others have experienced perceived harassment or violations of their rights. Many travelers naturally want to know what their rights are at checkpoints and screenings after 9/11 as well as what they can do to obtain redress for the violation of these rights.

Read the rest of my article at the American Bar Association’s GP SOLO Magazine.