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Week of July 2 - 6, 2007 What's New
Week of July 9 - 13, 2007
What Was New
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy NGOs Nations and States UN Reform Secretary General International Justice
Iraq
Week of July 9 - 13, 2007
Green Zone in Baghdad in Need of A Roof for Protection (July 12, 2007)
This Al Hayat piece succinctly reports that since the troop surge began in February 2007, the heavily fortified US embassy complex in the Green Zone has come under an increasing number of deadly attacks. Plans to step up security in the Green Zone - once considered an impenetrable "oasis" from the war - attest to the escalating violence in Iraq and to the massive failure of the surge strategy.Iraq Exodus Fuels Rise in Refugees, Displaced (July 11, 2007)
The latest report by the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) evaluates how well countries observe asylum-seekers' basic rights, including ensuring freedom of movement and providing physical protection and economic assistance. The USCRI links the unrelenting violence in Iraq directly to the burgeoning global refugee crisis. Iraqis constituted nearly half of the two million people worldwide fleeing their homelands in 2006. (Inter Press Service)Iraqis Bemoan Lack of Services in Long, Hot Summer (July 11, 2007)
With no electricity to run their air conditioners, a majority of Iraqi families seek refuge from the oppressive heat indoors by sleeping on their flat rooftops - exposing themselves to the chronic violence. After four years of war, Iraqis' access to water, electricity and fuel has reached the lowest level in decades. Many attribute the collapse of these most basic services to both government inefficiency and the intense fighting triggered by the US occupation. (Reuters)Iraqi Unions Fight the New Oil Law (July 9, 2007)
Iraqis continue to show solidarity in their opposition to the privatization of the country's oil industry. Oil workers have rejected the latest draft of a hydrocarbon law that would give much of the control of Iraq's immense oilfields to foreign companies. While acknowledging that new technology from abroad could prove vital for reviving oil production, union leader Faleh Abood Umara emphasizes that "[Iraqis] would like to be sole owner of their wealth." (In These Times)The Other War: Iraq Vets Bear Witness (July 9, 2007)
The Nation details a pattern of US troops' brutality towards Iraqi civilians and apparent disregard for Iraqi lives. In this report, a number of US soldiers who served in the war describe incidents of gross misconduct by colleagues during raids, at checkpoints and in detention centers. These accounts from within the military itself reflect the devastating toll that the war has taken on ordinary Iraqis - a reality of the war that the Bush administration and other high-ranking officials repeatedly downplay.Media Silence about the Carnage in Iraq (July 5, 2007)
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians have died violently at the hands of coalition forces. Yet mainstream media reports of the daily fighting in Iraq often only include "brief accounts of several different operations, none of them presented as major events." This CounterPunch article warns that such coverage grossly understates the rate of non-combatant fatalities - a statistic that will likely escalate as the US military presence in Iraq expands.The Road Home (July 8, 2007)
Having previously argued against a timetable for a US troop withdrawal from Iraq, the New York Times now calls for an end to the war. This editorial raises important issues about the technical aspects of an exit strategy, urging that it "be based on reality and backed by adequate resources," unlike the 2003 invasion. Contrary to the Bush administration, a growing number of critics recognize that "staying the course" in Iraq will only generate further violence and bloodshed, and could potentially destabilize the region.Prison City: The New Walls of Baghdad (July 4, 2007)
In April 2007, US troops began to construct a concrete wall enclosing the predominantly Sunni suburb of Adhamiya in Baghdad, purportedly to "curtail inter-communal violence." Construction has continued, despite protests from residents who blame the occupying forces' segregation tactics for deepening ethnic and religious tensions in Iraq. Further, the wall reinforces the image of Iraqis as a conquered people, imprisoned in their own communities. (Toward Freedom)Security Council
UN, US Actions Sometimes at Odds on Afghan Policy (July 5, 2007)
Before Abdul Hakim Monib deserted the Islamic movement in favor of US-backed President Hami Karzai, the US placed him on the UN's list of sanctioned al-Qaida members. Now Monib serves as governor of Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, and the US praises him for counter-terrorism cooperation. Working with Monib poses legal questions because it technically violates Security Council-imposed sanctions. But removing Monib's name from the UN's sanctions list requires approval from all fifteen Security Council members. This paradox exposes the inadequacy of the current UN system of sanctions against individuals. (Washington Post)'Blood Minerals' in the Kivu Provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (June 1, 2007)
This ZNet article describes how minerals from Kivu Province mines in DR Congo finance conflict there. In particular, General Laurent Nkunda, whom the International Criminal Court indicted for war crimes in 2002, finances his military occupation of North Kivu with proceeds from the Lueshe mine's pyrochlore. Nkunda illegally exports the pyrochlore using circumventive methods similar to those employed in illegal diamond trade, used, for example, to fund West African rebel groups.France Wants to Retain Ranks within United Nations (July 5, 2007)
When the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) splits into two parts, it will coordinate via a "subordination link". This unique set-up will involve the Deputy Secretary General of the Peacekeeping department reporting to that of the Management department. The split also provides for the addition of 285 staff overall. French Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere says that as long as the departments observe their hierarchy on a day-to-day basis, the split will improve DPKO efficiency. In accordance with traditional French control of the department, Jean-Marie Guehenno will maintain his position as its head. (Le Figaro)UN Unveils Contingency Plan for Peacekeepers in Somalia (June 29, 2007)
In a report to the Security Council, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon hinted at plans to replace the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISON) with UN peacekeepers. The UN peacekeeping operation would promote national reconciliation and stabilization rather than bolster the US and Ethiopia-backed Transitional Government in Baidoa. Preferably, the parties involved would sign a peace agreement or ceasefire that ends hostilities and enshrines a formal acceptance of a UN presence. These parties include 50,000 to 70,000 clan militia and radical armed groups. (Inter Press Service)UN Appears to Backtrack on Western Sahara Autonomy (June 30, 2007)
The United Nations has reissued a report on Western Sahara negotiations, omitting Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's endorsement of an autonomy proposal. The report focuses on the issue of sovereignty as the root of the decades-old dispute between Morocco and Polisario Front. (Mail and Guardian)Rwanda: Boutros-Ghali "Connived" With France During Genocide (July 2, 2007)
According to researcher Linda Melvern, former UN Secretary General Boutros-Ghali, French diplomats and then-President François Mitterand prevented the UN Security Council from acting during Rwanda's 1994 genocide, by twisting evidence and portraying the genocide as just "common banditry" and "tribal anarchy and chaos." Melvern accuses the entire Security Council of fatally privileging conflict in the Former Yugoslavia over that in Rwanda. (Rwanda News Agency)Empire?
There Goes the Neighborhood (July 16, 2007)
Washington is increasingly losing support from Latin American countries, reports this Newsweek article. The US Senate's rejection of US President George Bush's immigration reform outraged Latin Americans who had hoped for better chances of receiving legalization and visas. Meanwhile Bush's leftist "nemeses in the hemisphere" provide free valuable services to poor populations, winning public support. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a regional leader, is turning to Russia, rather than the US, for arms equipment and for Moscow's promise to invest in Venezuelan oil."Accidents" of War (July 9, 2007)
"Air power -- given the civilian casualties that invariably follow in its wake -- is intensely counterproductive in a guerrilla war," argues this Tom Dispatch article. The author claims that the US military has always favored airstrikes as a principal tactic and frequently uses them in Iraq and Afghanistan because they appear more distant and less barbaric than "the atrocity of the car bomb" or "the beheading." He argues that Washington will likely increase airstrikes in the future, despite the civilian casualties they incur, which devastate Afghanis and Iraqis and further provoke suicide attacks and Improvised Explosive Devices.Army's Recruiting Goal Lags for Second Month in a Row (July 10, 2007)
US military officials announced that the army missed its June "active-duty recruiting goal" by 15 percent. Though the army still exceeds its "year-to-date" goal, June marks the second consecutive month that it failed to recruit its target number of soldiers. Officials claim that the Iraq War's unpopularity caused the inadequate recruitment. (Washington Post)Review Article: The Worldwide Network of US Military Bases (July 1, 2007)
The US operates military bases in 63 countries and deploys 255,065 military personnel in 156 countries. This Global Research article provides maps and statistics about US bases and argues that Washington uses its global "War on Terror" to justify its interference in countless countries where it has usurped natural resources and "established its control" over governments. International progressive groups and antiwar activists protest US military intervention, but neither they, nor the exorbitant costs of military operations, have succeeded in deterring the US from expanding its "worldwide network" of bases.US Blame Game Puts More Pressure on Iran (July 4, 2007)
A US military spokesman accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards of collaborating with Hezbollah to aid militant Shiites in Iraq. This Asia Times article argues that such charges will discourage Iran from engaging with the US. Many Iranian political analysts claim that the Bush administration has used contradictory policies toward Iran, calling for peaceful dialogue while also "ratcheting up the accusations," some of which are questionable. This author argues that the administration may be moving toward an attack on Iran, which would devastate not only Iran but also the Middle East as a whole."Are We Rome?" (June 7, 2007))
Cullen Murphy's book, "Are We Rome?" likens and contrasts the Roman Empire and today's debated US "empire." Murphy argues that the two empires' individual residents as well as their professed ideologies do differ. The US, unlike Rome, obsesses over privatization of power and conflict, which leads to corruption and mismanagement. However, a more holistic view shows that the US, like Rome, maintains global dominance in the military and the cultural realms. Murphy argues that the US must get rid of its ethnocentrism and decrease its military to avoid Rome's fate, though he does not necessarily encourage the US empire's continuance. (Salon)Social and Economic Policy
New Tables and Graphs on Global Food Aid
These new tables and graphs provide an overview of global food aid, exploring quantities, types of food aid, donors and recipients. The data shows that over 60 percent of all food aid is produced in and shipped directly from donor countries. But research shows that such transfers are costly and inefficient. Also, by dumping large quantities of food, donor countries risk pushing down prices and discourage production in recipient countries, severely affecting food security. To avoid disrupting local food production, food aid analysts suggest that donor countries procure food aid at local and regional markets. (Global Policy Forum)EU Backs Strauss-Kahn to Head IMF (July 10, 2007)
The European Union decided to back Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the International Monetary Fund following the premature departure of Rodrigo de Rato who will leave in October 2007. But British Finance Minister Alistair Darling said that the job should be open to candidates from other parts of the world besides Europe. Traditionally, the EU always selects the head of the IMF and the US decides who should lead the World Bank. (Associated Press)Going Global for Good (July 9, 2007)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon argues that whereas the first stage of globalization benefited mainly rich countries, the second and current stage "the Age of Mobility" of people, also brings riches to the poor. In 2006, migrants sent US$264 billion - "triple all international aid combined" - in remittances to their home countries. Still, Ban argues, migration has so far mostly "benefited richer countries and generated worries about brain drain in poorer ones." (Washington Times)China Closes Ozone Depleting Chemical Plants (July 1, 2007)
Since the Montreal Protocol was created in 1987, signatories to the international treaty have reduced their emissions of ozone depleting chemicals by almost 95%. Without this Protocol, scientists predict that the amounts of ozone depleting substances in the atmosphere would have increased tenfold by 2050, further weakening the ozone layer and causing health problems. This United Nations Environmental Program article reports on how China has closed down five of its six ozone depleting chemical plants, placing the country two and a half years ahead of the Montreal Protocol's 2010 deadline for the elimination of these chemicals.Agrofuels: Towards a Reality Check in Nine Key Areas (July 2, 2007)
This report on the impact of agrofuels argues that the rush for 'biofuels' is already causing serious damage. Far from being sustainable, agrofuels have not shown to alleviate global warming; they actually threaten to accelerate it by destroying rainforests and other ecosystems to make way for agrofuel plantations. Additionally they compromise biodiversity, fuel human rights violations and promote an intensified industrial agriculture, encouraging the production of GM crops, and posing a serious threat to food sovereignty. (Transnational Institute)Bank of the South: Toward Financial Autonomy (July 8, 2007)
On May 22, 2007, after two months of negotiations, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Venezuela reached an agreement on Banco del Sur which will begin functioning in 2008. The members created the institution for two main reasons: to finance regional development projects in a more autonomous and efficient way than the US/EU-dominated World Bank and IMF and to couteract the effects of decades of deregulation and other neoliberal policies. So far, all parties have agreed to the equal voting rights but still have to decide on other issues of responsibility. Critics doubt that Banco del Sur will be able to single-handedly replace the international financial institutions. (World Press)Cote d'Ivoire: Crisis Sheds Light on Chronic Malnutrition (July 9, 2007)
The current conflict in Cote d'Ivoire has exposed a problem which long existed in the region - malnutrition. In 2002, the rebels cut off the northern part of the country from the southern part, worsening the conditions of the people and causing today's hunger crisis. Before the 2002 rebellion, few NGOs existed in the region but as the conflict spread numerous aid organizations came to treat malnutrition and raise awareness on this issue. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Climate Change: Africa's Deadly Weather Roller Coaster (July 6, 2007)
Menghestab Haile of the WFP's Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping unit explains why climate change will impact the world's poor and hungry the hardest in years to come. He states that Africa has been on a "weather roller coaster" for a few years, with severe droughts on one part of the continent and brutal floods in other parts. With such variations in climate, malaria could become more widespread. Menghestab also adds that the WFP implements emergency measures when disasters strike but it does not tackle climate change in the long-term. (World Food Program)NGOs
The Blockade of Heiligendamm (June 28, 2007)
This Transnational Institute article gives an intimate portrayal of the protesters and security forces present at the G8 demonstrations in Rostock and Heiligendamm. The author describes the scene of the protests as revolutionary and emphasizes how meticulously the demonstrators organized. On June 6th, 10,000 activists protesting globalization lined up in two columns, later splitting into "five fingers," which the police could not stop with tear gas, nor water cannons. Protesters also launched a successful two day blockade. One organizer commented, "On the one hand, everything went off like a military operation, and on the other, there was no violence."Nations and States
Mercosur-Venezuela: Integration by Ultimatum (July 5, 2007)
This Inter Press Service article reports on how Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez told Mercosur nations they must approve Venezuela's membership in the trade bloc within three months or he would withdraw the request to join it. Chávez considers Mercosur as a means for South American nations to come together against US economic and political influence in the region. But Mercosur member countries appear reluctant to break with US-style capitalism.In the Fight Against Developing Country Corruption, Don't Ignore the Role of the Rich Countries (June 25, 2007)
The former Finance Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala argues that developing countries need a plan to fight corruption and that rich countries have to pay greater attention to how they share responsibility for this matter. The plan consists of four steps; first, the fight against corruption should target political corruption before economic corruption. Second, it should track stolen, laundered and hidden funds and thirdly, prevent bribery. Finally, in the fight against developing countries' corruption, rich countries have to set the example. (Center for Global Development)UN Reform
Global Compact Fails to Stop Corporate Human Rights Violations, Says ActionAid (July 4, 2007)
ActionAid warns that the Global Compact cannot prevent corporations from violating human rights. Aftab Alam Khan, Head of Trade from ActionAid, claims that the Compact is faulty because it does not hold any of its signatories accountable for violations. Companies like Anglo American and its subsidiaries, which have joined the Global Compact, continue to pollute rivers and abuse their employees in Ghana and South Africa. The article urges the Compact to introduce legally-binding regulations and also hold corporations responsible for their policies "with respect to gender discrimination, indigenous peoples, corporate transparency and tax avoidance."NGOs Criticize "Blue Washing" by the Global Compact (July 4, 2007)
At the "Public Eye on the Global Compact," a conference held parallel to the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in Geneva, a group of NGOs raised doubts about how effectively the Compact can promote corporate social and ecological responsibility. Daniel Mittler of Greenpeace International insists that the Global Compact should disassociate itself from companies like Areva and RWE which are using their membership in the Compact to promote dangerous nuclear and coal plants as a solution to climate change. (Berne Declaration)Bold Gambit for Disjointed UN: Oneness (June 28, 2007)
This Christian Science Monitor article highlights the challenges faced by the "One UN" pilot project which advocates greater UN efficiency through the integration of resources of various UN agencies. According to Sally Fegan-Wyles, director of the project's New York office, disagreement among member states will likely hamper such reform efforts. James Paul, executive director of Global Policy Forum, notes that "most of the projects for reform of the UN are driven by state interests," which "rarely coincide with peace, justice, development, and the end of poverty."Secretary General
Ban Ki Whom? (June 27, 2007)
Ian Williams reviews the performance of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in his first six months in office. Williams compares Ban's relationships with the US and Middle East to those maintained by his predecessors Kofi Annan and Boutros Boutros-Ghali. According to the article, Ban's support for the International Criminal Court and the death penalty moratorium contrasts with his efforts to improve UN-US relations. (Foreign Policy In Focus)International Justice
For Ugandan Rebel, A Question of Justice (July 12, 2007)
Human rights experts differ on how to deal with Joseph Kony, commander of the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army. On one hand, ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Richard Dicker of Human Rights Watch, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, all advocate the imprisonment of Kony, arguing that the rebel leader's arrest will not impede peace in Uganda. On the other hand, Michael Poffenberger, executive director of Resolve Uganda, and author Jimmie Briggs insist that Kony's future be decided by Mato Oput, the traditional form of justice in the Acholi tribe. (Washington Post)Mato Oput Not a Viable Alternative to the ICC (July 11, 2007)
This New Vision article argues that Mato Oput, the traditional Acholi judicial system, is not an acceptable alternative to the ICC trial of Joseph Kony and three other leaders of the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). The LRA committed war crimes against numerous ethnic groups, most of which do not recognize Mato Oput. Moreover, after 20 years of war, Acholi leaders do not command the same authority they used to. The article also points out that compensation for crimes is a key phase of reconciliation, and that the LRA leaders cannot possibly compensate the thousands of victims.
Week of July 2 - 6, 2007 What's New
Week of July 2 - 6, 2007
What Was New
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy NGOs Nations and States UN Finance
Iraq
Health Ministry Issues Warning on Waterborne Diseases (July 3, 2007)
The destruction of Iraq's sewage and water networks has left most Iraqis with little access to clean drinking water - dealing a direct blow to the health of the population. Due to the inferior quality of the water supply, health officials expect a higher incidence of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, especially among young children and the elderly. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Australia "Has Iraq Oil Interest" (July 5, 2007)
Australian Prime Minister - and staunch US ally - John Howard supported the invasion of Iraq, purportedly to "give the people of Iraq a possibility of embracing democracy." But Defense Minister Brendan Nelson invalidates such justifications for the war, conceding that oil interests hugely motivated Australia's involvement in Iraq. (BBC)The War Economy of Iraq (Summer 2007)
Following the 2003 US-led attack against Iraq, L. Paul Bremer III, who headed the Coalition Provisional Authority, engineered policies to open the country up to foreign investors. Iraq had suffered years of turmoil as a result of economic mismanagement under Saddam Hussein, a war with Iran and the ensuing UN-imposed sanctions. But this corporate invasion aggravated Iraqi citizens' daily struggle to make ends meet, while enriching the war profiteers. This article describes the quagmire in Iraq as "an extreme example of the violence that underpins the wider project of neoliberalism." (Middle East Online)Don't Kick the Inspectors Out of the UN (June 29, 2007)
Decrying the impending closure of UNMOVIC - the UN's Iraq weapons inspection commission - Richard Butler calls on the UN to create a similar, but permanent, entity with a general focus on the global proliferation of dangerous arms. Such a unit could maintain and develop UNMOVIC's technical expertise in monitoring and analyzing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Further, in light of British and US fabrications about Iraq's nuclear capabilities, Butler argues that an internationally-backed body could more objectively assess and act upon any potential security threats in the future. (New York Times)US Is Fighting a Contractor War (June 21, 2007)
The outsourcing of services that the US Army would normally undertake has considerably hiked up the cost of the war in Iraq. Billions of dollars in contracts have gone to underperforming private firms driven by "profits and personal safety considerations." As contractors seek to gain from the devastation in Iraq and at the expense of civilian wellbeing, the privatization of the Iraq conflict continues to grow "exponentially" and with little accountability. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)Told You So, UN Iraq Arms Inspectors' Report Says (June 28, 2007)
The United States and Britain launched their pre-emptive strike in 2003 based on flawed intelligence about the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. In a veiled attack against Washington and London, the final UNMOVIC report asserts that "in-country verification, especially on-site inspections, generate more timely and accurate information than other outside sources such as national assessments." The Iraq arms inspection team, which never found any evidence of WMDs, will end its mandate at the behest of the US and the UK. (Reuters)Permanent Bases the World Over: Behold the American Empire (June 14, 2007)
Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, mainstream media outlets reported very little on the multi-billion dollar construction of US military bases and the massive embassy in Baghdad, essentially ignoring evidence of a permanent US presence in the country. But recently, the media have begun to portray this long-term plan - the "Korea model" - as "breaking news." Describing US military interventions in other countries as "the American way of Empire," this TomDispatch article, however, argues that the Bush administration has long held such imperial ambitions.Security Council
UN Peacekeeping Split to 2 Departments (June 29, 2007)
Amid criticism of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon for circumventing normal procedures and instituting an ambiguous chain of command, the UN General Assembly approved the division of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). The DPKO will split into the Department of Field Support, for management and logistics, and the Peacekeeping Department which will concentrate on operations. (Associated Press)Sudan: Unresolved North-South Conflict Risks New Crisis Beyond Darfur (June 28, 2007)
As the UN and Western governments toy with intervention in Darfur, they ignore tense North-South relations in Sudan. The 1983- 2005 North-South war, which killed over 2 million and displaced over 4 million, ended with the January 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). But the agreement has yet to be fully implemented as its parties, including Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Sudanese Vice President and South Sudan's Regional President Salca Kiir, continue to argue over issues such as the status of the oil-blessed Abyei region. (World Politics Review)It's Time for Some Brinksmanship (June 28, 2007)
US army and UN veteran Edward P. Joseph accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of delaying a vote on UN Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan for Kosovo's independence. In order to accelerate a UN decision on Kosovo's final status, Joseph urges US President George Bush to force Moscow to veto Ahtisaari's plan and then pressure NATO and the EU to pursue an independent solution. But, sidelining UN policy in the Balkans yet again will detract from the legitimacy of a NATO or EU solution. (International Herald Tribune)Somali PM Wants UN Peacekeepers (June 29, 2007)
Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi appealed to the UN Security Council to take over for the African Union (AU) mission in Somalia, which currently operates at only 1,600 out of 8,000 proposed troops. But the UN declined to commit peacekeepers and focused on the reconciliation summit scheduled for July 2007. Outgoing UK Ambassador to the UN Emyr Jones Parry pointed out that "you can't put peacekeeping troops in if there's no peace to keep." (BBC)Report of the Facilitators for Security Council Reform to the General Assembly (April 19, 2007)
The ambassadors of Tunisia, Cyprus, Croatia, Chile and the Netherlands facilitated a UN General Assembly report on Security Council reform. The report proposes temporarily expanding Security Council membership as part of a transitional approach to reform. Making available more Security Council seats would increase countries' chances of achieving Security Council membership.Report of the Facilitators for Security Council Reform to the General Assembly (June 26, 2007)
In their report to the President of the General Assembly, the facilitators, Ambassadors Heraldo Muñoz of Chile and Christian Wenaweser of Liechtenstein, propose a temporary approach to expedite Security Council reform. This transition period should include a new category of membership with longer-term seats, either renewable or not. The agreement would include a mandatory review in a set number of years. The facilitators do not recommend how many new seats should be added, nor how long the transitional phase should last, but insist that the process move from consultations to concrete intergovernmental negotiations.UN's Ban Urges Delay in Push for More Iran Sanctions (June 27, 2007)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon requested that the US, Britain, France and Germany postpone toughening sanctions on Iran. Ban plans on using "dialogue" to coax Iran to stop its uranium enrichment program. The Secretary General explains that he employed similar tactics to negotiate the hybrid peacekeeping force for Sudan. And as with the case of Sudan, the US, UK and France disagree with China and Russia over increasing sanctions against Iran. (Bloomberg)Empire?
Chavez Visits 'Brother' Ahmadinejad (July 1, 2007)
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whom he considers his "ideological brother," to discuss the construction of two petro-chemical plants, one in Iran and the other in Venezuela. By collaborating in the energy sector, the two oil rich countries seek to increase their economic independence from the US. Ahmadinejad is also reaching out to potential regional allies in Latin America who share similar anti-US views. (al-Jazeera)Congo-Kinshasa: CIA Had Plan to Assassinate Lumumba (June 27, 2007)
Declassified CIA documents reveal that the US plotted to assassinate first DR Congo President Patrice Lumumba in 1965. The democratically elected leader advocated economic independence and opposed politics based on tribal divisions, which "colonialists had effectively used to divide and rule Africa." Investigations have indicated that the US and Belgium, unhappy with Lumumba's denouncement of colonialism, ordered and facilitated his assassination. (Rwanda News Agency)Social and Economic Policy
The Precarious State of Public Finance (January 2007)
To decrease their dependency on rich countries and achieve long-term development, poor countries must raise revenue domestically. In this paper, author Jens Martens looks at a range of different obstacles that prevent governments of poor countries from raising sufficient public revenue and spending it on development. For example, governments of rich countries pressure poor countries to liberalize trade, thus reducing customs revenues. Also, ineffective tax systems exempt transnational corporations, landowners and rich individuals from paying taxes to poor countries. (Global Policy Forum, DGB Bildungswerk, terre des hommes)10 Years After the Asian Crisis, We're Not Out of the Woods Yet (July 3, 2007)
In this article Joseph Stiglitz recalls the 1997 East Asian financial crisis and analyzes how people and governments have not learned two important lessons from the crisis which affected not only Asian nations but the whole world. First, opening up developing countries' financial markets is dangerous. Secondly, financial institutions need to design schemes that ensure global stability and promote economic growth in developing countries. Although the risk of facing a new economic collapse is not imminent, reforms to the global reserve system are still needed to achieve global prosperity and stability. (Daily Star)
China Launches $1B Africa Fund (June 26, 2007)
China has launched an African Development Fund of US$1 billion which will invest exclusively in Chinese enterprises and their projects in the continent. China has increased its aid and loans to Africa in exchange for access to oil and other resources and to secure new markets for its exports. Development advocates have criticized this policy of "tying aid" to purchasing goods and services from the donor country and accuse Beijing of supporting authoritarian regimes in Africa. (Associated Press)Advisory Group Commends Progress of the Central Emergency Response Fund (May 24, 2007)
The independent Advisory Group to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) urged donors to increase support to the fund so that it will reach its targeted US$500 million by 2008. The group further insisted that donor countries provide "additional" funding to the CERF, rather than relocating funds from other humanitarian programs. (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)NGOs
Walking the Talk of Peacemaking (July 4, 2007)
This Common Dreams article argues that while many people think of peacemaking as a passive endeavor, "the absence of war," it actually requires action, dedication, and group efforts. The author argues that peace activists are less frequently using public demonstrations as a means of action. This change prevents activists from working with people who are different from them and also lessens the chance that government bodies and the public will respond to their appeals for peace. The author also assigns fault to the Bush administration which has "curtailed peaceful demonstrations" and the media, which often does not cover activism.Chances of Achieving MDGs "Slim" Without Civil Society (June 28, 2007)
As governments fail to make adequate progress in achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), civil society plays a growing role in promoting the goals. Hundreds of NGO representatives met for the Civil Society Development Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, concentrating their agenda on the two goals of "eradicating poverty and hunger" and "creating a global partnership for development." ECOSOC President Dalius Cekuolis argues that civil society's pressure on governments and participation in policy formation are essential in reaching the MDGs; delegates from the forum will present their conclusions at the next high-level ECOSOC meeting. (Inter Press Service)Nations and States
African Governments 'Block' Indigenous Rights Declaration, Charge Advocates (July 3, 2007)
This article reports on how Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria and Namibia are leading a campaign to weaken the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Supported by several powerful governments with large indigenous populations, including Canada, the US, Russia and Australia, these countries have made a counter-draft to the UN General Assembly with numerous changes weakening the position of indigenous groups. One result of this process has been the suspension of a key UN working group on indigenous rights. (Advocacy Project)Leaders Split Over African Unity (July 3, 2007)
On the final day of the African Union summit, the 53 African governments continue to struggle in reaching a common position over the extent of African economic and political integration. Some nations like Uganda favor economic integration but argue that African countries should only integrate politically with those "who are either similar or compatible." Others such as Libya and Senegal express their readiness to immediately set up a pan-African government which could benefit Africa's interests. This BBC article foresees that "the majority of African leaders are likely to call for a gradual approach, preferring to strengthen the existing regional blocs rather than signing away some of their own sovereignty."UN Finance
US vs. Total Debt to the UN (March 2007) Regular Budget Payments of Largest Payers (March 2007) Regular Budget Assessments & Payments (March 2007) Payments Due to the UN for Peacekeeping Accounts (March 2007)
What Was New
