wbchallenge-jun7-08



landon's time 15sec
sean's time 17sec

date: june 7, 2008
place: courtenay, bc, canada

It's impossible to imagine the sheer terror of being tied down, helpless, probably in extreme distress from other forms of torture, and knowing that they can drown you again and again.

david may 31/08



David's time: 8 seconds
Date: May 31, 2008
Place: Courtenay, BC, Canada

kurt march 8/08



Kurt's time: 9 seconds
Date: March 8, 2008
Place: Courtenay, BC, Canada

march 1/08 - first of the year



Ray lasted 12 seconds which is a little above average when anticipating the water and holding your breath.

It's impossible to imagine the sheer terror of being tied down, helpless, probably in extreme distress from other forms of torture, and knowing that they can drown you again and again.

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

http://www.hrweb.org/legal/cat.html

The States Parties to this Convention,

Considering that, in accordance with the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, recognition of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,

Recognizing that those rights derive from the inherent dignity of the human person,

Considering the obligation of States under the Charter, in particular Article 55, to promote universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Having regard to article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which provide that no one may be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,

Having regard also to the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by the General Assembly on 9 December 1975 (resolution 3452 (XXX)),

Desiring to make more effective the struggle against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment throughout the world,

Have agreed as follows:

Part I

Article 1

  1. For the purposes of this Convention, torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.
  2. This article is without prejudice to any international instrument or national legislation which does or may contain provisions of wider application.

Article 2

  1. Each State Party shall take effective legislative, administrative, judicial or other measures to prevent acts of torture in any territory under its jurisdiction.
  2. No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat or war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification of torture.
  3. An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be invoked as a justification of torture.
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/h_cat39.htm

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984 -entry into force 26 June 1987, in accordance with article 27 (1)

Canada 23 Aug 1985 24 Jun 1987