Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Week of July 16 - 20, 2007 What's New
Week of July 23 - 27, 2007
What Was New
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy Nations and States Secretary General International Justice
Iraq
Week of July 23 - 27, 2007
Blood, Sweat and Oil (July 2007)
Many Iraqis believe that the US-backed draft hydrocarbon law will surrender Iraq's economic sovereignty to foreign companies. Iraqi unions - long a symbol of activism - have banded together to reject the proposed legislation. "Conscious of the supreme importance of their industry and the greed that surrounds it," Iraqi oil workers seek full consultation on the future of their country's natural resources. (Socialist Review)Marine Says Officers Ordered To "Crank Up" Violence in Iraq (July 15, 2007)
A group of US Marines and a Navy corpsman attempted to cover up the April 2006 murder of an Iraqi man by planting a weapon on him "to make it appear he had been killed in a shootout." In their defense, the Marines revealed that officers had instructed them to step up the violence against suspected insurgents. The incident suggests that the pervasive culture of cruelty among US servicemen in Iraq may originate from further up the military chain of command. (Associated Press)New US Embassy Rises in Iraq (July 24, 2007)
Some US planners warn that, "despite its brash scale and nearly $600-million cost," the massive US embassy complex under construction in Baghdad "may not be safe enough." A UN report states that in the last four months, more than 85 rocket and mortar strikes killed at least 16 people in the "heavily fortified" Green Zone. But even as the security situation deteriorates, construction of the complex progresses ahead of a September 2007 deadline for completion. (Los Angeles Times)Iraqis Protest Oil Law (July 16, 2007)
Led by the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions (IFOU), hundreds of Iraqis took to the streets to protest the proposed hydrocarbon law and a hike in fuel prices. The IFOU also called on Parliament to legalize trade unions and to establish workers' rights. Observers charge that the draft law would not serve the interests of the Iraqi people, as it would divert oil revenues from Iraq's economy to foreign companies. (US Labor Against the War & Oil Change International)Out of the Shadows (July 19, 2007)
Some resistance leaders in Iraq plan to establish a public profile for the powerful yet largely underground movement. Although sectarian tensions have deepened during the course of the war, various Sunni and Shia insurgent groups share the common objective of ending the US occupation of Iraq. In addition to calling for a complete withdrawal of US forces, the resistance intends to create a political platform "to become an influential voice in a future Iraq." (Guardian)Security Council
Congo-Kinshasa: Security Council Urges Political Solution to Crisis in East (July 23, 2007)
The UN Security Council urged Congolese government forces and rebels to avoid military confrontation, and to actively seek political or diplomatic solutions instead. To this end, the UN peacekeeping mission MONUC and DR Congo's government should promote dialogue and development. They should also disarm combatants and reintegrate them into society. (UN News)UN Will Not Turn 'Blind Eye' to Peacekeepers' Misconduct, Vows UN Official (July 25, 2007)
UN investigations confirm that Moroccan peacekeepers in the Ivory Coast sexually assaulted minors, while Indian peacekeepers in DR Congo participated in gold and weapons smuggling. To address such misconduct, the recently formed Department of Field Operations will establish a subsidiary Conduct and Discipline Unit. But Jane Lute, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Field Support, stresses that troop-contributing states, and not the UN, must ultimately work to prevent and punish misconduct. To that end Lute plans to visit troop-contributing countries to personally review with them the UN's "zero tolerance" standards for its peacekeepers. (UN News)Iran Raises Stakes in War Over Enriching Uranium (July 25, 2007)
The UN Security Council views Iran's uranium enrichment as a nuclear proliferation threat, but Iran claims a fundamental right to do so. As a result, Tehran warned the United States that it might respond to increased UN Security Council sanctions with measures such as breaking off relations with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran claims that it has the capacity to make a bomb, but that doing so would be against a religious fatwa and would make Iran less secure. For now, Tehran has agreed to answer all of the IAEA's questions and to allow inspection of a water-reactor near Arak. (Mail & Guardian)Security Council Drops Vote on Kosovo (July 20, 2007)
Amidst Russian hints that it would veto a resolution leading to independence for Kosovo, the European and US sponsors withdrew the plan from Security Council consideration. They feared that forcing a veto could lead to insecurity in the region. The resolution endorsed the Ahtisaari plan, which calls for Kosovo independence but also for the protection of the ten per cent Serbian minority there. In light of Moscow's opposition, a contact group comprised of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States will discuss Kosovo's future during a specified period of 120 days. All but Russia maintain their endorsement of the Ahtisaari plan. (International Herald Tribune)Darfur Rebels to Hold Peace Talks (July 26, 2007)
United Nations and African Union negotiators will host talks for Darfur rebels, which have split into 12 factions, in Arusha, Tanzania, with hopes that they can coordinate their positions in preparation for an upcoming peace conference with The Khartoum government. The negotiators have secured at least six of the main rebel leaders' participation. But the influential Fur tribe's senior leader, Abdul Wahid al Nur, refuses to attend, and this might lessen the credibility of the talks' outcome. (Guardian)State Rules: Oil Companies and Armed Conflict in Sudan (July 18, 2007)
Since oil multinationals discovered Sudanese oil in the 1970s, they have perpetuated Khartoum's repressive policies, including the North-South and Darfur conflicts. This Third World Quarterly article attributes decades of multinational corporation (MNC) policy in Sudan not only to the corporations themselves, but especially to their home governments'. These include home countries and companies such as the EU (Lundin), Canada (Talisman), the United States (Chevron), and more recently China (China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)) and India (Oil and Natural Gas Company (ONGC) of India). Similar relationships between home governments, oil multinationals and host governments exacerbate conflict in other oil-rich countries.Côte d'Ivoire: Impact of Terminating Top UN Election Monitor Post (July 18, 2007)
This article suggests that the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Ivory Coast (UNOCI) maintains President Laurent Gbagbo's permission to remain in the Ivory Coast by catering to his wishes. Gbagbo perceives outside forces as meddlers in his country's affairs. In what opposition party leaders considered a concession to Gbagbo, the UN Security Council eliminated the post of the most senior UN election official there. The UN will transfer this position's responsibilities to the Special Representative to UN Secretary General (SRSG) for the Ivory Coast. But no one currently fills this post, allegedly because Gbagbo has vetoed candidates that the UN proposed. ( Integrated Regional Information Networks)Empire?
Brown Proposes Tough Anti-Terror Measures (July 25, 2007)
In an effort to take a tough stance on terror, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown plans to implement two policies that the Conservative Party has long favored. Brown has announced that he intends to set up a "highly visible" border patrol force and "to extend the period that terror suspects can be held for questioning without charge." Brown is prepared to increase the period from 28 days to as high as 90 days. British Muslims and civil liberties groups claim that the detention policy violates individual rights. (International Herald Tribune)Gerson's Crusade Against "Low-Hanging Fruit" (July 25, 2007)
This CounterPunch article argues that many neoconservatives in the US government have concluded that they will not be able to achieve regime change in Iran, and so they have suspended plans for intervention. However, some neocons, such as former Bush speech writer Michael Gerson, have turned their gaze on Syria instead, which they consider a "low-hanging fruit" - a state in which they can interfere more easily. Gerson claims that Syria fails to stop terrorists from crossing into Iraq. But this author disagrees and adds that not only does Gerson overlook "the complexity of the Arab world," he also previously tried to frighten US citizens into supporting the Iraq war.From the Grave, a Senator Exposes Bloody Hands on Capitol Hill (July 19, 2007)
The activist group, Sacramento for Democracy, hosted an event where they screened a 1964 video of former Oregon Senator Wayne Morse. In the video, Morse argues with a CBS journalist and maintains that the government and media, in the midst of the Vietnam War, were not presenting the truth to the public about foreign affairs, allowing the president to pursue his own will instead of the public's. The event coincided with the ineffective Senate debate on the US occupation of Iraq. This AlterNet article argues that the notion that Congress is putting forward its utmost effort to enforce withdrawal from Iraq is "a big media lie."A Change of US Plan for Pakistan (July 25, 2007)
Recently, the US has strongly supported Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, offering both development and military financing. And Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher "categorically ruled out the need for any direct US military involvement." Washington's backing, contingent on Musharraf's cooperation in the US "fight against terrorism," only increased Musharraf's unpopularity in Pakistan. As Musharraf's reputation at home deteriorates and his counter-terrorism strategies fail, US officials have reversed their standpoint and allude to a possible military intervention in Pakistan. (Asia Times)The French Connections (July 23, 2007)
The "Clinton Boom" and the US's former lead in internet access once put the US economy ahead of Europe's and Japan's. However, broadband connections have since allowed France, Germany, and Japan to surpass the US by increasing both the speed of their internet and the number of people with access. This New York Times article argues that the US has fallen behind because Washington does not regulate the companies that own phone and cable monopolies - a policy that eliminates competition and raises prices for consumers. The French, this author claims, succeed because "they aren't prisoners of free-market ideology."Social and Economic Policy
UN Emergency Fund Provided Over $200 Million in First Half of 2007 (July 23, 2007)
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) declared that the UN Emergency Fund (CERF) supplied over US$200 million in aid in the first half of 2007 to countries in urgent need. The CERF was established by the General Assembly in December 2005, to "speed up relief operations for emergencies, make money available quickly after a disaster and help in financing underfunded emergencies." (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)'Aid for Trade' May Cut Health, Education Funds (July 20, 2007)
The European Commission has guaranteed to give "aid for trade" to African, Caribbean and Pacific nations who will sign the Economic Partnership Agreements in Brussels in 2007. These funds will help increase the countries' trade, but some African diplomats have raised concerns. They claim that the EU has not said where the money comes from, meaning that this aid could come "at the expense of other forms of development assistance," which are needed to subsidize projects in health and education. (Inter Press Service)Poorest Countries Must Invest in Science, Technology to Develop: UN Report (July 19, 2007)
According to a report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the world's least developed countries should invest in science and technology if they want to compete with industrialized countries. Donors should give more funds "for research and for training professionals" as the brain drain that is underway in these countries is "depriving them of skilled workers." (Associated Press)World Bank Warns On Family Planning, Economic Growth (July 24, 2007)
A World Bank report titled "Population Issues in the 21st Century: The Role of the World Bank" claims that the priorities of some least developed countries, of donor countries and of aid organizations are changing as fertility rates have decreased in many poor countries, and governments are placing more emphasis on economic issues over health issues. As a result there is a shortage of funds disbursed for matters such as "family planning, reproductive health programs and contraception." (allAfrica)After Six Years, the Global Trade Talks Are Just That: Talk (July 21, 2007)
This New York Times article argues that six years after the start of the Doha negotiations, these global trade talks are at an impasse as they have not produced any results. India and Brazil refuse to lower their tariffs for fear that Chinese goods will invade their markets, while other developing countries complain that they are excluded from economic competition by rapidly developing countries such as India and Brazil. In the meantime, some of the poorest African countries accuse industrialized countries of disregarding African needs, asserting that the US and Europe do not do enough to "reduce farm subsidies." The complete failure of these trade talks could harm the world economy.Nations and States
A Babel for East Timor as Language Shifts to Portuguese (July 23, 2007)
This International Herald Tribune article discusses how a new Constitution restored the Portuguese language in East Timor, a language that most of the population does not speak. In a 2002 report by the United Nations, only five percent of 800,000 people said they spoke Portuguese while most people speak Tetum, the country's official language. The imposition of Portuguese as the second official language and its mandatory use in courts, schools and government institutions will noticeably affect the day to day lives of the Timorese. The United Nations turned down Taiwan's formal request to become a member of the organization, saying that it does not recognize the Taiwanese government in Taipei. This decision confirms the UN's allegiance to the "one China policy", according to which China and Taiwan are part of the "same national entity". Taiwan was a member of the UN until 1971 when its seat was relocated to Beijing and the People's Republic of China. (Associated Press)UN on the Offensive Against Iraq Mercenaries (July 13, 2007)
The UN Working Group on the "use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination" visited Chile to investigate private Chilean security companies. These companies, which recruit former soldiers and send them to Iraq as mercenaries, have been charged with "human right abuses, illegal association, possession of explosives and unauthorized use of army weaponry." Chile has not yet signed the "International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries," approved by the UN General Assembly in 1989, but it has stated that it will sign and ratify the treaty by the end of 2007. (Inter Press Service)Secretary General
Ban Ki-Moon and Washington (July 13, 2007)
This MaximsNews article criticizes UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for being a yes-man to the US and its policies. In the past, Ban has described the US troops in Iraq as a "stabilizing" force. He has also supported the US view on certain aspects of the Middle East, such as considering East Jerusalem to be under Israeli control, as opposed to the UN idea of "corpus separatum." Although Ban's predecessors were scrutinized for the slightest of disagreements with the US, the author urges Ban to strongly express his support for the International Criminal Court and the abolition of the death penalty.A Climate Culprit in Darfur (June 16, 2007)
In this Washington Post column, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon discusses the role of climate change behind the conflict in Darfur. Ban asserts that underneath the sociopolitical unrest, the real reason for the conflict is an ecological crisis. Since the 1980s, a sharp temperature rise in the Indian Ocean has caused a 40 per cent drop in Sub-Saharan Africa precipitation levels. The resulting water shortage triggered the violence between black farmers and Arab nomads in Darfur. Ban proposes economic development as the solution and urges UN member states to work in conjunction with Khartoum, humanitarian agencies and NGOs to cater to Darfur's urgent needs.International Justice
New Lubanga Judge Keen on DRC Trial (July 24, 2007)
Adrian Fulford, the new judge in the ICC's trial of Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga, suggests moving some of the proceedings from The Hague to the DRC. Fulford believes that the ICC should, when possible, hold its trials in the countries where the crimes were committed to ensure comprehensive involvement of the victims and a lasting impact on the countries' future. If or when executed, this procedure will mark the first time in ICC's history that victims will participate in both the investigation of crimes and the trials of suspects. Still, moving the proceedings to the DRC poses security threats and will further lengthen an already slow process. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)Prosecutors Identify Suspects in Khmer Rouge Trial (July 19, 2007)
Prosecutors at the Special Tribunal for Cambodia present the Tribunal with a list of five suspects, allegedly responsible for crimes against humanity during the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Although the prosecutors did not release names, six former Khmer Rouge leaders are often mentioned. The tribunal has finally made some progress after a year-long delay caused by procedural disagreements between Cambodian and international judges. (New York Times)UN Chief Asks Netherlands to Host Hariri Tribunal (July 24, 2007)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon invites the Netherlands to establish a special UN court to prosecute suspected assassins of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The request comes after Serge Brammertz, chief of the UN investigation into Hariri's death, submitted his eighth report to the Security Council with information on possible suspects. Now, Damascus and the UN will jointly appoint a deputy prosecutor from Lebanon. Head of the Center for Democracy and the Rule of Law Mohammad Mughraby believes that the UN court "should complement rather than replace domestic jurisdiction." (Daily Star - Lebanon)Time Catching Up With War Criminals (June 25, 2007)
Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda Adama Dieng advises African leaders that the international justice system has gained "unprecedented momentum" in the past decade. Although the UN initially set up international courts to seek an end to the culture of impunity, this does not imply that "international justice merely exists to punish and not to prevent." Chief Justice Georgina Wood asserts that African nations must realize that it is possible to achieve justice and peace simultaneously. (Public Agenda)
What Was New What's New
Week of July 16 - 20, 2007
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy NGOs UN Reform Secretary General International Justice
Iraq
Silent Surge in Contractor "Armies" (July 18, 2007)
The number of civilian contractors providing key services for US forces in Iraq has risen "faster than the Pentagon's ability to track them." According to some estimates, as many as 180,000 private contractors operate in Iraq - often with little oversight. In light of the rapid privatization of the Iraq war, some observers warn of a sinister new dimension of the "military-industrial complex." (Christian Science Monitor)Slick Connections: US Influence on Iraqi Oil (July 17, 2007)
Over the years, US rhetoric on how to restructure Iraq's oil industry has changed from "advisory" to imperious. Using such tactics as threatening to withdraw funding as well as political and military support, Washington pressured the Iraqi government to pass a highly contentious oil law. This article concludes that this law "has almost nothing to do with revenue distribution among Iraq's sectarian groups, and everything to do with creating highly profitable opportunities" for Big Oil. (Foreign Policy In Focus)The Long, Hard Haul from Iraq (July 15, 2007)
This Baltimore Sun article highlights the logistical challenges and the corresponding costs of extricating US military personnel and equipment from Iraq. In light of all the supplies that the US has accumulated over the past four years, experts predict that a withdrawal could be a Herculean task, especially as the road south to Kuwait is increasingly cut by insurgents.Is US Eyeing UN as Dumping Ground for Iraq? (June 7, 2007)
As the situation in Iraq rapidly deteriorates and in light of a new UN Secretary General "who appears more pliable" to Washington, the US might seek a greater UN role to resolve the crisis. Such a move would allow the Bush administration to shed some responsibility for the catastrophe it has created, and would likely discredit the notion of an impartial, autonomous UN. Norman Solomon, the Executive Director of the Institute for Public Accuracy, asserts that, "the only proper UN role would be to strongly oppose the US occupation of Iraq." (Inter Press Service)Have the Tigris and Euphrates Run Dry? (July 9, 2007)
Even as two of the largest rivers in the Middle East course through Iraq, the country's once-thriving agricultural sector has suffered significantly. Faced with grave fuel and electricity shortages, Iraqi farmers cannot run generators to pump water for irrigating their crops. After a decade of crippling UN sanctions and more than four years of a US-led war, efforts to rebuild these vital services have largely failed due to corruption and mismanagement. (Inter Press Service)Air Force Quietly Building Iraq Presence (July 14, 2007)
With little media attention - and parallel to the US troop surge - the Air Force and the Navy have reinforced their aircraft and other weaponry in Iraq, in terms of both technology and quantity. According to some conservative estimates, Air Force and Navy attack planes dropped five times more bombs in the first half of 2007 than during the same period in 2006. The escalation of the US military campaign, both in the air and on the ground, has led to a sharp increase in Iraqi civilian casualties. (Associated Press)Crushing Iraq's Human Mosaic (July 13, 2007)
The US-led war in Iraq has deepened ethno-religious tensions and further subjected Iraq's minorities to persecution. Members of Iraq's smaller and lesser known communities, such as the Mandaeans, make up a significant proportion of the two million Iraqis fleeing the violence. Iraqi councilman Hunain Qaddo laments the exodus of the minority groups and the possible loss of "the value and culture of these people who have enriched [Iraqi] society." (BBC)Security Council
Liberia Joins Global Transparency Plan, Adds Timber (July 18, 2007)
Following the UN Security Council's lifting of bans on trading Liberian diamonds and timber, the country joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). UK Prime Minister Tony Blair designed the program in 2002 to ensure that natural resource wealth would benefit a country's citizens rather than finance conflict or corrupt individuals. Uniquely, Liberia pledged to publicize all payments to government personnel for timber, in addition to payments from mining and oil companies, which the EITI normally covers. Furthermore, external auditors will evaluate all government transactions involving the timber, oil, and mining industries. (Reuters)Trust Cannot Be Bought by Weakness in Sudan - Guehenno (July 17, 2007)
UN Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guehenno, stresses that the UN Security Council should not reduce the AU-UN hybrid force's strength in an effort to win Khartoum's blessing. He acknowledges that the mission's success depends on the consent of all parties involved. But Guehenno says an explicit Security Council mandate will earn the trust of Khartoum and the rebels. Still, a resolution proposing 26,000 peacekeepers faces opposition in the UN Security Council as some member states object to the authorization for peacekeepers to "use all necessary means." (Reuters)Scientists Find Lake Remnants in Sudan (July 18, 2007)
Water scarcity exacerbates conflict in Darfur, which has suffered two seven-year droughts in the past two decades. But Boston University scientists led by Farouk El-Baz believe that the discovery of an underground lake might alleviate conflict. Both Egypt and UN peacekeeping forces will participate in drilling up to 1,000 wells, which would allow sedentary ethnic Africans as well as Arab nomads to maintain their lifestyles. (Associated Press)UN Peacekeepers Are Reportedly Spying for Rwandan Militias in Exchange for Gold (July 15, 2007)
The UN's Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) will investigate UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) peacekeepers after allegations of their spying for, and engaging in an arms-for-gold scheme with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). In 2002, MONUC reaffirmed commitments to counteract the FDLR, a rebel group that Great Lakes region governments consider a "negative force." Furthermore, Kigali claims that the FDLR - comprised of Hutu extremists who participated in the 1994 Rwandan genocide - shows genocidal tendencies towards Congolese citizens. (New Times)UN Tries to Verify North Korea Claims (July 15, 2007)
Upon receiving US$25 million of frozen assets from a Macao bank, and 6,200 of 50,000 promised tons of fuel from South Korea, North Korea announced the closure of its Yongbyon nuclear weapons facility. US envoy to North Korea, Christopher Hill, warns that the declaration is only the first step. Once IAEA inspectors and US spy satellites verify the plant's closure, Hill hopes for a list of all of North Korea's nuclear assets and the size of its arsenal. (International Herald Tribune)Iran to Allow IAEA Access (July 14, 2007)
Tibet's rivers water the world's most populous continent. In Asia, water shortages and China's assertive water policy threaten regional stability. China's approach to the impending shortage involves water appropriation projects. It aggressively implemented the US$25 million Three Gorges Dam project, which displaced at least 1.2 million, and it plans to redirect Tibet's Brahamputra waters to China's Yellow River through a project called the Great North-South Water Transfer. (Los Angeles Times)China Aims for Bigger Share of South Asia's Water Lifeline (June 26, 2007)
Tibet's upstream water resources singularly hydrate the world's most populous continent. In Asia, water shortages and China's assertive water policy threaten regional stability. China's approach to the impending shortage involves water appropriation projects. It aggressively implemented the US $25 million Three Gorges Dam project, which displaced at least 1.2 million, and it plans to redirect Tibet's Brahmaputra waters to China's Yellow River through a project called the Great North-South Water Transfer. (Japan Times)Empire?
Get Me Out of Gitmo (July 19, 2007)
This article argues that the US media are "being suckered by the Bush spin" and presenting the cases of Guantanamo prisoners accordingly. The media focus on the rare prisoners who do not want to go back to their home countries where they would risk torture or further imprisonment. The author also claims that the media's spin implies that innocent detainees cannot leave Guantanamo because foreign governments will not accept them. In reality, Washington refuses to release the prisoners because it will not "admit making mistakes in classifying these men as 'enemy combatants.'" (In These Times)Bush and Poland's Kaczynski Defend Antimissile Plan (July 17, 2007)
Close allies, Polish President Lech Kaczynski and US President George Bush, reaffirmed their plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. They claim that the missiles, "a symbol of [their] desire to work for peace and security," will counter potential weapons of mass destruction in North Korea and Iran. Russian President Vladimir Putin has argued that Iran does not pose a substantial threat and considers the US plans aggressive. Putin proposed that the US collaborate with Russia on the missiles and relocate them to an Azerbaijan base, but the White House refused. (RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty)Parasitic Imperialism (July 14, 2007)
This Global Research article argues that "U.S. military expansions and aggressions" not only harm the regions in which the US intervenes, but they also hurt US citizens and economic interests. In order to feed its vast military budget, Washington reduces public spending and consequently widens the wealth gap. Moreover, US militarism provokes international dissent and hostility, which make the world less willing to buy US goods. The author also claims that US officials restrict democracy in the name of "national security," hiding information from the public and sometimes fabricating or exaggerating enemies to justify war.Philippines Anti-Terror Law Imposed (July 15, 2007)
Filipino activists and leftist groups are protesting Philippines' President Gloria Arroyo's Human Security Act of 2007, an anti-terrorism law, which they say violates hard-won civil liberties. While the US and Australia support the law, opponents claim "its definition of terrorism was too broad and could cover legitimate dissent." Arroyo's term has coincided with the deaths of approximately 800 activists and the disappearances of 200, a circumstance that amplifies protesters' concern. (al-Jazeera)Bush-Musharraf Alliance Under Growing Attack (July 12, 2007)
With Washington's financial and political support, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf steps up his fight against "radical clerics" and struggles to reclaim land that he previously allowed the Taliban to inhabit. However, both Pakistani citizens and US officials doubt integrity of Musharraf's efforts and oppose his "double game." US intelligence states that he continues to aid the Taliban in Afghanistan and provide refuge for them in Pakistan. Many also protest his undemocratic rule and deadly siege of the Red Mosque in early July, but the Bush administration justifies its support for Musharraf, claiming that if he loses power, Islamist leaders will take over. (Inter Press Service)Social and Economic Policy
Climate Change and Human Rights (2007)
This report explores the connection between human rights and climate change arguing that climate change is not "just an ecological issue" but an issue of "intergenerational equality." Global warming for example will make the sea level rise and alter weather patterns, "affecting the relations between present and future generations." The report also analyzes how climate change will worsen people's living conditions, putting their basic human rights in jeopardy. (World Economy and Development).Turkey: Upcoming Parliamentary Vote Highlights Gender Inequality in Politics (July 13, 2007)
Nursuna Memecan, a businesswoman from Istanbul announced that she will run in Turkey's July 22 parliamentary elections for the Justice and Development Party (AKP), a moderate conservative party. Turkey has the "lowest percentage of women in parliament in all of Europe" averaging a mere 4.4 percent. By contrast, in Sweden 47 percent of all parliamentarians are women while in Bulgaria's parliament they amount to 22 percent. Many Turkish women are now asking for "legal changes" that would introduce a "quota system in parliament and other political bodies to insure gender equality." (Eurasianet)Look Who Needs Austerity Now (July 16, 2007)
This Wall Street Journal piece states that the International Monetary Fund's deficit of US$106 million could triple by 2010. The article argues that although the IMF promotes "global exchange stability," its own functions are "financed and dependent on the existence of instability, economic crises and exchange turbulence." During the 1990s the IMF lent to numerous countries but nowadays the demand for its services is not keeping up with its own expansion.World Struggling to Treat HIV-AIDS (July 18, 2007)
The International Treatment Preparedness Coalition released a report titled "Missing the Target" which investigates AIDS treatment in 17 of the world's poorest countries. The report argues that HIV treatment is not free in most of the countries assessed, and this limits the number of people who are able to receive "lifesaving care." Although 700,000 more people received medication in 2007 than in 2006, the speed at which people are treated must increase. (Reuters)In China, an Unsettling Gap Grows (July 15, 2007)
According to a recent study by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the wealthiest 10 percent of Chinese control 40 percent of all assets while the poorest 10 percent possess just 2 percent of these assets. This article discusses how a growing inequality gap in China is upsetting Chinese socialist leaders who fear that inequality could lead to instability instead of "a harmonious society." Today, the central contradiction in China's economic rise lies between the urge to consume and the struggle for social equality. (Chicago Tribune)
Updated Tables and Charts on US Trade and Budget Deficits, and the Fall of the Dollar
Balance on US Current Accounts 1960 - 2006 (July 2007) US Exports, Imports and the Balance of Trade 1960 - 2006 (July 2007) US-Owned Assets Abroad and Foreign-Owned Assets in the US 1960 - 2006 (July 2007) US Government Budget Surpluses and Deficits 1970 - 2006 (July 2007) US State and Local Goverment Debt 1966 - 2006 (July 2007) US Household Debt 1966 - 2006 (July 2007) NGOs
Civil Society Wants Transparency - For Itself as Well (May 14, 2007)
Most NGOs strive to make the allocations of their funds transparent to the public, especially to skeptical benefactors. However, keeping track of finances and making the records accessible to outside parties can have high costs. Some NGOs that cannot afford a formal audit, hold regular meetings, require multiple directors' signatures for expenditures, or write down expenses on a blackboard in order to keep track of their accounting. An Argentine organization, Help Argentina, which aims to increase NGO credibility has created a "self-evaluation" booklet for its member organizations to use to analyze their transparency. (Inter Press Service)UN Reform
Does the UN Still Matter? (July 12, 2007)
Critics, including two-thirds of the US population, express disappointment at the UN's inability to bring peace to the Middle East and eradicate poverty and hunger in the global south. This Daily Times article points out that member states are themselves responsible for the UN's shortcomings. The author urges the member states to collectively build upon the UN's positive aspects and provide the necessary resources by paying their dues to the modest US$7 billion UN peacekeeping budget. According to the article, even though "the UN system is far from perfect, the world would be a poorer and more disorderly place without it."Secretary General
Time for Ban to Start Speaking Up and Speaking Out (July 16, 2007)
This Guardian article criticizes UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for being too careful with his negotiations and lacking the foresight to successfully perform his duties. Most of the world still looks to the UN to resolve major conflicts and issues such as climate change. However, the author argues that Ban ignores human rights and is quiet on the topic of climate change. Also, Ban's appointment of inexperienced South Koreans to his UN staff does not help him. The author urges Ban to "speak up and speak out" if he hopes to achieve any success during his tenure.New Man at UN Has Made Friends - But Does He Have the Influence? (July 12, 2007)
This Times article examines Ban Ki-Moon's friendly and ethical, yet apparently lenient and indecisive, nature as the UN Secretary General. Ban maintains that he has achieved success by calling a meeting to discuss climate change in September 2007, forming the special tribunal in Lebanon, and convincing Sudan to allow peacekeeping forces. However, according to the article, Ban mostly complies with US demands and has little influence over any of his decisions. For example, the appointment of Tony Blair as the Quartet's Representative to the Middle East was a US decision, and not a success story for Ban.International Justice
The Inefficiency of Universal Jurisdiction (July 2007)
According to this paper, under traditional judiciary laws, negotiations between countries directly affected by a crime are faster than negotiations amongst those that are indirectly affected. The increasing popularity of universal jurisdiction, a policy which considers all states to have a stake in any international crime, decreases the international legal system's efficiency. This inefficiency, caused by numerous parties attempting to reach a consensus, leads countries to "hold out by threatening prosecution" and "block optimal deals." (University of St. Gallen Law School)UN Probe Has Identified People Who May Have Been Involved in Hariri Assassination (July 12, 2007)
A UN investigation identifies those responsible for the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. According to prosecutor Serge Brammertz, the inquiry follows leads related to the van and explosives used for the bombing. However, Brammertz's report to the UN Security Council did not discuss a previous UN investigation's findings of Syria's complicity in Hariri's assassination. (Associated Press)Kony Must Face Trial - ICC (July 12, 2007)
ICC prosecutor Louis Moreno Ocampo refuses to drop arrest warrants against Joseph Kony and other Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) commanders. Ocampo stresses that the court has firm evidence to prove the LRA guilty of crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, the LRA and Kampala continue peace talks and propose the traditional Acholi justice system, Mato Oput. Ocampo explains that he is merely carrying out his responsibility as the prosecutor to bring justice to Uganda. (New Vision)
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