Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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What Was New What's New
Week of March 31, 2008 - April 4, 2008
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy Globalization NGOs Nations and States
UN Reform UN Finance International Justice
Iraq
The True Cost of War (February 28, 2008)
Joseph Stiglitz, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics and author of The Three Trillion Dollar War, reflects on how poor insight and judgment resulted in a war that has cost the US three trillion dollars and lasted longer than either world war. With the US spending sixteen billion dollars monthly on the running costs alone for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, three trillion dollars may be a conservative estimate of the eventual cost to US taxpayers. Stiglitz, however, confirms that the US economy is not the only victim here: US relations with the international community, global stability and most of all, the people of Iraq have suffered in innumerable ways. (Guardian)Embarrassed US Starts to Disown Basra Operation (March 31, 2008)
After violent attacks on the city of Basra, the US media claimed that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr were the only key players in the conflict. The Bush administration attempted to distance itself from the situation by accusing Nouri al-Maliki of carrying out the attacks without consulting the US government. However, “no significant Iraqi military action can be planned without a range of military support functions being undertaken by the US command.” US government officials admitted providing support for the raid up until the conflict began and denied involvement only after realizing the extent of the disaster. (Inter Press Service)Security Council
“Supporting a Dictator in Chad” (March 31, 2008)
According to Inter Press Service, members of the UN Security Council have approved an EU peacekeeping mission to Chad (EUFOR) that reinforces French interests rather than providing neutral humanitarian protection. EUFOR, which is comprised largely of French troops, compliments an existing French mission in Chad (Epervier) that provides military assistance to Paris’ preferred ruler Idriss Deby. The author states that by supporting Deby, France has allowed the ruler to perpetrate human rights violations, including the arrest and detention of opposition leaders.Somalia’s Government Teeters on Collapse (March 29, 2008)
The UN-backed Transitional Federal Government in Somalia has urged the United Nations to provide extra funding and peacekeeping troops to strengthen its tenuous grip on power. The New York Times notes that Somalia remains “the most dangerous in the world for aid workers,” and that war, displacement and high food prices have left the country on the brink of severe famine.Palestinians Fear Two-Tier Road System (March 28, 2008)
The Israeli military is banning Palestinians from traveling on Route 443 in the West Bank for “security reasons.” Israel originally justified the legality of building highway 443 by claiming it would address the needs of the Palestinian people in the occupied territory. Forty thousand Israeli commuters now use the road daily. The New York Times notes that Israel continues to build illegal settlement in the West Bank, and that the barring of Palestinian access to transport constitutes a policy of “apartheid.”UN Fully Exempts Congo Government from Arms Ban (March 31, 2008)
France has drafted a resolution at the Security Council exempting the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo from a UN arms embargo. Previously, the embargo prevented the government from purchasing arms for military units that had not been through a national integration program. Amnesty International criticized the exemption as premature, noting that the army and police use arms and munitions “to commit daily abuses against civilians, including widespread killings and rapes.” (Reuters)Empire?
Empire or Humanity? (April 1, 2008)
Two centuries of US politicians have described their foreign military operations as “benign” projects to spread “civilization” abroad. Howard Zinn argues that US leaders cannot feign benevolence when a long history suggests otherwise. This essay sheds light on US expansion as a “succession of violent interventions” from the wars with Mexico, to the removal of the democratic Iranian Mossadeq government by the CIA, and recently the occupation of Iraq. (TomDispatch)The Responsibility to Protect (R2P): A Way Forward – or Rather Part of the Problem? (February 2008)
This Foreign Voices debate suggests that the R2P doctrine can only protect human rights in the context of non-violence. By citing the tragedies of Srebrenica and Rwanda, R2P enthusiasts divert attention away from the meddling role of Western countries in creating crises. One essay notes that the central element of the Responsibility to Protect is to prevent conflict rather than react through military means. Regional arrangements like the African Peer Review Mechanism, not foreign armies, ensure efficient prevention.Social and Economic Policy
Bangkok Climate Talks Progressing Smoothly So Far (April 1, 2008)
This article reports on the start of the UN Climate Change talks in Bangkok, from March 31 – April 4, 2008. These talks, together with a series of subsequent meetings, should lead to a new climate change agreement in 2009, to succeed the Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change chief Yvo de Boer finds the goodwill shown during the Bangkok conference encouraging: “I take it that countries really want to get down to work rather than fight procedural wars.” (Integrated Regional Information Framework)A Perfect Storm of Hunger (April 1, 2008)
A “perfect storm” of causes – rising food and oil prices, poor harvests, the falling dollar and an increased demand for biofuels – dramatically increases the World Food Programme’s (WFP) operating costs. The WFP already struggles to feed the millions of people that rely on food aid. The new caseload of people no longer able to afford food will put additional strains on the WFP budget. These mostly urban populations in for instance Central America and Afghanistan cannot afford the nearly doubled prices for basic foodstuffs. (Los Angeles Times)The Road to Doha Newsletter (February, 2008)
This newsletter summarizes the Financing for Development review sessions on mobilizing both domestic and international financial resources for development. In addition, the newsletter features an editorial that argues that external debt is continuing unabated, with low-income countries paying $100 million dollars each day to creditors. The author calls on the Doha conference to support the growing global call for action on odious debt and responsible lending. (DESA Financing for Development Office & United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service)UN Special Rapporteur: Impact of Biofuels on the Right to Food (August 22, 2007)
In this report to the General Assembly, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Jean Ziegler evaluates the impact of biofuels on the Right to Food. Ziegler labels the “sudden, ill-conceived, rush to convert food into fuel” a “recipe for disaster.” The Rapporteur calls for a five-year moratorium on biofuel production to review production technology and to create “regulatory structures to protect against negative environmental, social and human rights impacts” of biofuel production. To eradicate competition between food and fuel, Ziegler urges member states to look into the possibility of deriving biofuels solely from agricultural waste and non-food crops. Food prices would then remain stable, and both producers and consumers could benefit from biofuels.Globalization
Globalisation and War (March 10, 2008)
Political scientist Susan George argues that “corporate-led, finance-driven globalization” has led to huge and ever increasing inequality. Globalization has been good to those in the tops of societies, but the system as a whole faces crisis: The World Trade Organization finds itself in deadlock, and institutions such as the World Bank are less important than before. George argues that scarcity of food and water, climate change, and the risk of an economic recession will place further, extreme stress on the world system and will lead to increased violent conflict. (Transnational Institute)NGOs
Silences in NGO Discourse: The Role and Future of NGOs in Africa (2007)
This collection of essays argues that NGOs are Africa’s new missionaries. They dispense services in a spirit of “charity and pity” as puppets of “neo-colonial” powers. NGOs rely on their funding partners in a paternalistic relationship where foreign “true friends” – as one US ambassador termed donors – treat the poor as recipients of aid and exclude citizens from policy-making. The author recommends that NGOs in Africa stop pretending neutrality and engage in political activism. (Fahamu)Making NGO's More Effective and Responsive in a Globalized World (March 28, 2008)
This article describes how NGOs in the developing world can help the poor to benefit from economic globalization. In countries like South Africa, NGOs work with communities to negotiate optimal labor contracts, increase access to credit and prevent corrupt middle-men from stealing profits in business transactions. Donor countries increasingly channel development aid through nonprofits, rather than through government budgets. This gives NGOs capacity to dispense services that governments usually provide. (African Path)Nations and States
Tibet, China and the West: Empires of the Mind (April 1, 2008)
In this OpenDemocracy article, the author puts the China-Tibet issue in a historic perspective, considering their respective notions of sovereignty. During the first half of the 20th century, Tibet was de facto independent as China did not seek absolute control. But as China grew wary of Western Empires, the country’s nationalistic ideas increased. To create one strong bloc against US, European and Japanese Empires, China fully integrated Tibet. This way, nationalism became a means of legitimizing full sovereignty over Tibet.Eye of the Storm: Ethnic Identities and “Contested Sovereignties” in the Niger Delta (March 26, 2008)
Large oil companies, Western governments and ethnic minority groups all challenge Nigeria’s sovereignty over the oil-rich Niger Delta. This paper explores how these actors’ quest for oil wealth, land, water and self-determination have “redefined” state sovereignty. The Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is fighting the government and large oil companies to gain control over the delta, claiming their right to self-determination. Meanwhile, the US, through its Africa Command (AFRICOM), seeks to undermine the state’s sovereignty, by securing its own control over the oil fields. (International Studies Association)UN Reform
Member States Move Towards a “Basket” Approach to System-Wide Coherence (March 21, 2008)
Following up on the “UN System-Wide Coherence Panel” report, member states are discussing how to improve coordination between UN activities in the field. To speed up action, the two co-chairs proposed to deal with the different thematic issues in two “baskets.” Member states will start discussing the “first basket” issues, such as gender and funding, and then move on to the issues in the “second basket.” While G77 and NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) members argued that the basket approach will downplay the issues in the “second basket,” including human rights and environment, they agreed to begin consultations if delegates discuss all eight issues before considering a resolution. (ReformtheUN.org)UN Finance
UN Headquarters – and Budget – Expands (March 29, 2008)
The UN has asked its members for an additional US$1.1 billion in 2008-2009 to finance renovation of its New York headquarters and to respond to the Bush administration’s demands of the organization in Iraq. US critics of the UN have called the budget increase extravagant. Yet, the UN does not have sufficient resources due to US debt of over US$2 billion. (Foreign Policy Association)
Tell Congress: Pay Our Growing UN Arrears (2008)
On February 1, 2008 the US debt to the UN hit US$2.8 billion. The US has urged the organization to take on costly roles in Darfur, Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon, yet does not pay its share of the budget. To reduce the debt and support UN operations, Congress must pass an emergency spending bill that injects the UN peacekeeping budget with $744 million and the UN regular budget with $133 million. Write to members of Congress through the United Nations Association of the United States of America to make sure the US pays its debt.
United Nations System Funding: Congressional Issues (February 1, 2008)
Throughout UN history, the US Congress has forced its agenda at the organization by withholding contributions to projects it opposes, and tying US contributions to policy conditions. For example, the US has withheld funding for the Special Unit on Palestinian Rights since 1980 and threatened to reduce contributions to the UNDP for Fiscal Year 2008 unless the agency gives the US Mission greater access to information, particularly concerning projects in North Korea and Burma. (Congressional Research Service Report for Congress)
International Justice
Truth Commissions and Prosecutions: Two Sides of the Same Coin? (March 27, 2008)
Post-conflict societies often make a choice between conducting criminal prosecutions and using truth and reconciliation commissions (TRC’s) as an approach to reconciliation. The author argues that these two methods are actually “two sides of the same coin: transitional justice”, and that there can be a complementary relationship between the two. For instance, as TRC’s typically cause less political upheaval in fragile post-conflict situations, they can serve to create initial records of atrocities committed. Criminal prosecutions could then take place later. (Pambazuka)
