September 22 - 26, 2008
International Justice
Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki might ask for an extension of the UN Multinational Force mandate (MNF) set to expire in December 2008 as US and Iraqi officials reach a deadlock in the bilateral discussions. Iraq insists on provisions in the renewed MNF mandate, including limited immunity for US troops and military contractors, which the US has previously rejected. (New York Times)
security/issues/iraq/mnfrenewal/2008/0919trooprisk.htm
US customs officials have returned more than 1,000 stolen Iraqi artifacts, found in the US, to the Iraqi embassy in Washington. The scale of the recovered antiquities suggests that illegal excavations and smugglings continue. Suspected involvement by US personnel in the theft of artifacts calls into question previous US officials' assertions that Iraqi "extremists" were to blame for the sale of stolen Iraqi artifacts. (Azzaman)
security/issues/iraq/attack/consequences/2008/0918artifacts.htm
Noam Chomsky argues that since World War II, the US has wanted to control Iraq's huge oil resources, which prompted the US to invade Iraq in 2003. As the world's oil resources are diminishing, the US seeks control over Iraq's oil to secure its global power and influence. (Chomsky.info )
security/oil/2008/0809statusforces.htm
Royal Dutch Shell PLC opened an office in Iraq, the first major oil and gas firm since 1972 to do so. Shell plans to expand its operations in Iraq but many Iraqis view Shell as exploiting Iraq's oil resources with little benefit for the Iraqi people. (McClatchy)
security/oil/2008/0923shellfirst.htm
Security Council
Resolution 1833 extends the NATO force ISAF mandate until October 13, 2009. The resolution condemned the targeting of Afghan civilians by armed groups and stressed that an increase in violence has a deleterious effect on the stabilization and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. The resolution does not, however, mention NATO's air strike last month, which reportedly killed 90 people, including 60 children.
security/issues/afgindx.htm#resolution1833
The US Geological Survey estimates that the Artic circle region holds one quarter of the world's undiscovered gas and oil reserves. The US, Russia, Canada, Denmark and Norway compete for parts of the North Pole to secure natural resources. These countries invest in technical equipment like icebreakers and Artic patrol ships to locate natural resources and also submit Artic ownership claims to the UN. (Der Spiegel)
security/natres/oil/2008/0919melting.htm
Human Rights Watch argues that the draft protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) only seeks to regulate the use of cluster munitions instead of banning them. The protocol also does not apply to all cluster weapons, which allows countries to use of certain types of munitions without limit. Moreover, because the protocol does not prohibit the use of cluster munitions on agricultural lands and farms, unexploded weapons threaten civilians.
security/smallarms/articles/2008/09observations.htm
The Nigerien Movement for Justice (NMJ) argues that foreign mining companies profit too much from Niger's uranium revenue and wants the government to transfer 50 percent of the proceeds to local communities. The NMJ also wants to prioritize local employment opportunities and stop foreign companies from buying lands inhabited by indigenous people. The effect of mining pollutes the drinking water and makes it impossible for the indigenous population to herd their cattle on the infected land. Niger remains the third largest uranium exporter in the world but it is one of the poorest countries too. (Le Monde diplomatique)
security/natres/generaldebate/2008/0706minewar.htm
The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), which will supervise Kosovo's independence, seeks to replace the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). This Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty article argues that Russia pressures the UN not to transfer power to EULEX since Russia does not recognize Kosovo's independence.
security/issues/kosovo1/2008/0620rocky.htm
This Dag Hammarskjold Foundation article suggests a Regional/Economic Proposal (REP) for UN Security Council (SC) reform. According to the REP, SC members represent a geographic region, and have a minimum of 4 million people or a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of at least US$40 billion. In the voting process, SC members must have regional support from countries with 60 percent of the member's population and GDP. The author believes that the P5 will probably not accept the REP proposal because it diminishes their power within the Security Council.
security/reform/cluster1index.htm#squaring
Social and Economic Policy
The financial crisis on Wall Street – with major banks and financial institutions running to the government for help – marks an end to a market-oriented economic organization. Former World Bank Chief Economist Joseph Stiglitz proposes a new economic model with "speed bumps" to dampen expansions of assets, and a "financial product safety commission" to make credit safer. Stiglitz further urges world leaders to make the new economic model more comprehensible to the public than the collapsing system of economic liberalization. (Huffingtonpost)
socecon/crisis/financial/2008/0916fallwallstreet.htm
In this article, Ann Pettifor says that the global financial crisis has compelled even the more conservative voices in media to challenge the neoliberal economic model of deregulation and liberalization. Pettifor argues that John Maynard Keynes' writings from 1936 can serve as a guideline to alleviate the crisis. The author argues that "Money-lenders, speculators, and orthodox neoliberal economists" must give way to pioneers promoting capital control and regulation of the global economy. (openDemocracy)
socecon/crisis/financial/2008/0922weekchange.htm
The Basic Capabilities Index (BCI), released by Social Watch, shows that the vast majority of 176 countries experienced slow progress or even regression in basic social indicators. The BCI provides a general overview of the health status and basic educational performance of each country. Sub-Saharan Africa scored particularly low on the index, and Social Watch says that at this rate the region will not reach an acceptable BCI score before the 23rd century.
socecon/develop/2008/0922bcipoverty.htm
The "alignment" principle in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness states that donors should follow the development plan set up by the recipient country's government. But since these plans often fail to prioritize gender equality, the West African Women's Consultative Meeting urges governments to strengthen women's rights organizations' participation in national development planning processes. (Pambazuka)
socecon/develop/oda/2008/0905statement.htm
NGOs
Fewer people are participating in protests today even though circumstances resemble those 40 years ago, when another economic crisis and continuing war marked the election year. This article argues that people of the new generation protest less, not only because they lack interest, but also because they have found other ways of making their voices heard, for example through the internet, fundraising and "going door to door." (Washington Post)
ngos/advocacy/protest/2008/0924protestgone.htm
The Gates Foundation, with its US$38 billion endowment, plays a dominant role in financing development and fighting disease in poor countries and few grant recipients dare to openly criticize the foundation since they risk losing their funding. But analysts from academia and think tanks argue the foundation should take part in discussions on how it can improve its work, and also share information about both successful and less successful programs. (Seattle Times)
ngos/fund/2008/0803gates.htm
Nations & States
This Christian Aid report examines the scale, nature and problems of illicit capital flows. Capital flight reduce the funds available for health and other public services in several countries. Further, tax havens and tax evasions erode the rule of law and encourage corruption. The report estimates that every year international investors move US$500 billion from developing countries. In comparison, global aid flows amount to roughly US$100 billion per year.
nations/launder/haven/2007/2007capitalflights.pdf
International Justice
This Radio Netherlands Worldwide article argues that countries use the ICC for political purposes to suit their own interest. The author refers to Security Council (SC) Resolution 1828 on Darfur, which states that only the parties directly involved in the Sudanese conflict are obligated to cooperate with the ICC. The SC also excluded non-ICC member states' troops from the ICC's jurisdiction, including US forces.
intljustice/icc/crisis/2008/0921easiest.htm
This Phnom Penh Post article argues that the Special Tribunal for Cambodia attempts to minimize the rights of victims who want to take part in criminal proceedings against former Khmer Rouge leaders. The court forces victims to participate in group hearings with a single lawyer as separate victim participation overburdens the court, which does not have sufficient funds to provide individual lawyers to all the victims.
intljustice/tribunals/cambodia/2008/0911victims.htm
(August 27, 2008)
In 2008, the US will try Chuckie Taylor for committing torture in Liberia during the regime of his father, former Liberian president Charles Taylor. Although the US joined the Convention against Torture in 1994, which allows the prosecution of non-nationals, Chuckie Taylor is the first person the US will bring to court on the basis of universal jurisdiction. (Human Rights Watch)
intljustice/universal/univindex.htm#chuckie
Internships at GPF!
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visitctr/interns/index.htm
