The 9/11 Effects on Human Rights around the World

There's always a warning when expressing our basic rights: the right to talk, the right to think; the right for reason; the right for want and so on and so forth.

The BIG question is: when did those rights become privilege? If we abide by the law being implemented in our country, those rights can be limited and can lead us to imprisonment if we abuse it.

I remember in high school on the subject about Social Studies, we were taught about the importance of human rights. It was officially incorporated by the UN (United Nations) General Assembly on December 10, 1948 - proclaiming the day as International Human Rights Day.

Massive killing, extra-judicial cases and all that problems on human rights violations abound in our time.The BIGGEST turning point was the apocalyptic 9/11 where all aspects of life around the world changed.

The repercussion of it can be felt around the world, the change of mankind's outlook on human rights.

The word 'trust' started to have a double meaning among Americans. The trauma is still going on. I felt that many of them become aloft with transient workers who are staying in their country or just passing by through the commercial vessels discharging and loading cargo at the US ports.

Personally, when issues like the aftereffects of 9/11 were tackled by US port personnel, there's a prominent hatred that are building whenever our cargoes came from the Middle East. The Al Qaeda (headed by Osama bin Laden) and other terrorist groups were always the point of discussion.

As a sailor, I've seen the situation of people in Iraq when we went there in 2004. Reactions vary among the locals because many ethnic groups want to be free from Saddam Hussein's rule while the extremists continue to destroy the development being offered by the Allied forces.

Back in the US homeland, the US Coast Guard started to impose the new regulations of the ISPS (International Ship and Port Facilty Security Code) to strictly watch for any breach of security that pose danger to the nation.

ISPS started in 2004. It is the amendment promulgated by 196 countries that are members of International Maritime Organization (IMO) to the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) Convention. The 9/11 effects started to spread around the world through the maritime sector.

And I experienced some of it.


Other 9/11 effects

Aside from the health issues plaguing New York residents, I also want to share with you about the treatment of US airport personnel to all passengers visiting, working or just transitting in the homeland.

Once our commercial plane touched down the tarmac of US airport, passengers will be ushered to the arrival section. After retrieving one's luggages, passengers will be ushered by US Customs officers to the exit lane after inspecting and reviewing their passports and other documents.

For us, sailors who used to join our assigned commercial ships at US ports, the necessary documents are always required plus the passport and seaman's book.

"Are you here for business or pleasure?" It's the usual question that you should answer promptly. You can joke about it but custom officers are serious about it.

  1. I just noticed that our Muslim brothers and sisters are on separate lane. Sailors, as well ,are on different lane, so that the processing of arrival requirements will be faster. the rest of the passengers will occupy the regular lanes.

During the pre-9/11 days, US Customs are less strict about the arrivals of many passengers at the airport. But after 9/11, the usual scenes at the airport have different interpretation now.

Have you ever experienced that all your luggages are opened at the airport?

2. Look, most of the sailors have cartoon boxes when they are already going home for vacation or after finishing their contract onboard ship. One time, at Miami airport in 2003, our cartoonite boxes (as we call it) were opened by Miami airport customs personnel; some of them were Filipinos who already acquired their citizenship in the US. When they didn't find anything suspicious, they just left us hurrying to close our boxes with packaging tapes and try catching our next flight on time.

3. Liquids are strictly prohibited when boarding the plane. You can never bring bottled water or even toothpaste when you are checking in to your next flight. You have to leave, even the bottle of wine you bought from the Duty-Free shop inside the airport. Or even your perfume. Not a chance! You can never hand carry it; better put it inside the luggage you weighed in while the purser handed to you your plane ticket.

4. Taking photographs in the US or in some parts of the world are not the usual..1,2,3...CHEESE! There's always a caution not to take pictures while at port or the sensitive areas of the homeland, like bridges, markets and other public places that can be used by terrorist for massive attack. One time, our Greek captain was so enraged with the oiler that he took out the compact video tape from the seaman's video-camera, then broke it infront of him (to serve as an example to other sailors).

5. Ship's inspection is treated seriously these days; with proper documentation on it. Aside from the short and longterm surveys, the ships' security measures are part of ISPS Code. We can never go ashore if it's already alert level 2. You can never joke about drugs. It might trigger an unannounced Drug Inspection onboard ship (like what happened to us in Texas city port in 2007). Underwater survey should be conducted before departing from port.

Investigation on 9/11 aftermath are still going on, especially the people affected. There's a deep wound still waiting to be healed.

I've heard the news from a distance, but those who experienced the 9/11 chaos upfront; various negative emotions were released (trauma, apathy, hatred) and will continue to affect us when dealing about human rights.

The event was  a clear human rights violations at a huge scale, including the invasion of US sovereignty.

They're still talking about it; as we do here on HubPages.


9/11 : We Will Never Forget

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September 11 2001 Video c/o NetworkLive

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Comments 8 comments

Karanda profile image

Karanda 6 years ago from Australia

The after shock of that terrible day does still send ripples throughout the world. Even as far as Australia, security measures that are in place now that would have been unheard of previously. Thanking for your efforts in putting this together.

travel_man1971 profile image

travel_man1971 6 years ago from Bicol, Philippines Author

@Karanda: Thanks for reaching out. It still sends shiver to my bones, whenever I watches videos regarding 9/11. The agony of those victims and the retrieval of those buried in the rubbles of that fallen towers of WTC, the scenarios continue to rewind in my mind. Time heals all wounds, but how long? The effects are spreading in a tremendous spped around the world.. in our economic situations, treatment among human races, and our outlook about human rights today.

thesailor profile image

thesailor 6 years ago from Seven Seas

We, sailors, experience most of the 9/11 after effects. You could see us following all what the US coast guard personnel will command once they go on board ship for inspection and bomb search.

travel_man1971 profile image

travel_man1971 6 years ago from Bicol, Philippines Author

@sailor: More and more security measures are being imposed at US ports. Unlike in South America, leniency is noticeably visible, although, they adhere to the rules of ISPS Code. A more relax atmosphere can be seen during operations at many ports in Venezuela, Colombia or Ecuador. Some port officials commented that they respect the new amendment of the IMO. But tackling the issue on human rights? They said it's a sensitive matter that varies from country to country. I agree with that.

Happyboomernurse profile image

Happyboomernurse 6 years ago from South Carolina

The town I lived in until a few months prior to 9/11 was an hour north of NYC and about 1/3 of the community were NYC commuters. The town lost 11 firefighters and emergency workers that day and you're right that many in America and especially NY are still living with the afteraffects of the trauma.

I believe it does affect human rights issues because we keep chipping away at basic freedoms hoping it will keep us safe. But does it or is that just wishful thinking?

travel_man1971 profile image

travel_man1971 6 years ago from Bicol, Philippines Author

@Happyboomernurse: Thanks, ma'am for your first account here on my hub. It saddens me to see some of my American friends are still living with the aftereffects of 9/11.

My Filipino friend's uncle, who once work with former Mayor Janet Reno of New York, had witnessed the terror of that event.

In 2002, when we discharged our cargo at Long Island, New York, all sailors were not allowed to go ashore, due to that reason.

The effects never fade.


though it was a day of great misery and destruction but my friends find out the reality its a great game of US government to control the world resources and power. According to leading analyst and defence strategist its a pre plan targeted attack. now think and see after 9\11 the human right voilation made by US in Iraq iran afghanistan and every part of world.

think about it.

travel_man1971 profile image

travel_man1971 5 years ago from Bicol, Philippines Author

@ARSHD BAIG GILTITI: Thanks for bringing up your thoughts here. I've seen the footage of the 9/11 malady and if you can see closely what's happening inside the Twin Towers, you will conclude that it was really a pre-planned disaster; at the expense of innocent Americans and foreign workers inside those doomed buildings.


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