In Our Own Best Interest: How Defending Human Rights Benefits Us All

by William F. Schulz

Sierra Leone, Kosovo, East Timor, the Bronx. The nightly news brings vivid images into our homes of the mistreatment of people all over the world. In the secure comfort of our living rooms, we may feel sympathetic to the victims of these atrocities but far removed from them. "What does all this have to do with a person in east Tennessee?" is the question, from a radio program host, that prompted William Schulz to write this book.

Schulz provides answers with an insightful work, generously laced with compelling stories of women and men from all continents, which clearly delineates the connection between our prosperity here in the United States and human rights violations throughout the globe. The book reveals the high cost of indifference not only in ethical and moral terms, but in terms of the political, economic, environmental and public health consequences in our own backyards.

Consider, for example, the high cost to U.S. military personnel and their families of radical political instability in the Balkans-costs that might well have been avoided if the United States and the international community had conscientiously defended human rights. Or the devastating economic impact on U.S. businesses of systemic corruption in Asia. Or the serious environmental hazards of nuclear fuel leaks in Russia, the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis, and the expensive dangers of inhumane prison conditions in the United States, to name just a few examples. At the heart of each of these problems lies the abuse of basic human rights.

Through the stories of Natasa Kandic and Alexander Nikitin, of Samia Sarwar and Han Dongfang, of Jaime Garzon and Sister Dianna Ortiz, Schulz introduces us to the front line of the international battle for rights and builds a powerful case for defending our own interests by vigorously defending the human rights of people everywhere.

Genres: Nonfiction

262 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Rik Leaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clear, concise and rational argument and perspective that is very much needed in the world of activism.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have some issues with the readability of this book, but not with his premise: Human rights should be a major pillar in our foreign policy. He clearly demonstrates how promoting human rights world-wide is in our best interest politically, economically, & environmentally. Our current policy of hoping that human rights will be respected AFTER we begin doing business with offending countries is a fallacy. We must also examine our own practices & be a country that lives up to its core beliefs. Thought-provoking stuff!