Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Week of October 22 - October 26, 2007 What's New
Week of October 29 - November 2, 2007
What Was New
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy Secretary General International Justice
Iraq
Week of October 29 - November 2, 2007
Longer Leaves for Troops Blocked (September 20, 2007)
A bill calling for longer leave times for troops serving in Iraq is rejected by Republicans in the US Senate. Commentators suggest the vote signals the Bush administration's monopoly on Iraqi policy. The Democrats hoped that the bill would receive more bipartisan support as it focuses on troops and their families. Political commentators indicate that no meaningful change of votes or substantial bills shifting Iraq policy will be possible by the end of 2007. (Washington Post)The White Man's Burden and 'Oil for Peace' in Iraq (October 21, 2007)
Two conferences on Iraq's oil were held simultaneously in September 2007. In Dubai, big international oil companies declare Iraq as "open for business," while in Basra, workers, experts and civil society leaders argue that the "oil belongs to the Iraqi people." The author of this Carbon Web Newsletter article suggests the meetings demonstrate the great divide between what Iraqis want and what the oil law will actually provide. Further, while the US claims the law will allow for political reconciliation, the author notes that the law barely mentions revenue sharing.Blackwater Bodyguards Promised Immunity (October 29, 2007)
During a US State Department investigation into the deaths of numerous Iraqi civilians, Blackwater guards were granted immunity from criminal prosecution. Legal commentators suggest the "Garrity immunity" is usually reserved for police or law enforcement officers. News of the immunity angers the Iraqi government and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki demands that Iraq be allowed to prosecute the contractors. (Associated Press)Iraq Dam 'At Risk of Collapse' (October 30, 2007)
Mismanagement and alleged fraud relating to a US$27 million reconstruction project of Iraq's largest dam has resulted in no progress in repairing the structure. A report by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction finds that "fundamental flaws" including seepage and erosion render the Mosul dam "the most dangerous dam in the world." Some commentators predict more than 500,000 people are at risk, as the collapse of the dam may cause a flood wave 20 meters deep in Mosul and flooding along the Tigris River to Baghdad. (BBC)UN Challenges US on Illegal Air Strikes in Iraq (October 23, 2007)
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) calls on the US to investigate and make public the deaths of Iraqi civilians caused by US air strikes and raid operations. During interviews of Iraqi civilians, officials and journalists, UNAMI gathered information on the deaths of 88 civilians from US air strikes from March to June 2007. The US claims the air strikes target terrorists and not civilians. However, according to the UNAMI report, the number of strikes is on the rise and about 15 to 20 percent of all bombs miss their target by at least 40 feet. (Online Journal)America's Own Unlawful Combatants? (October 15, 2007)
In the aftermath of the September 2007 Blackwater shootings, lawyers for the US State, Justice and Defense departments debate whether private security contractors fall under the same broad definition of "unlawful combatants" which the Bush administration uses to justify detentions in Guantanamo Bay. Legal commentators criticize the Bush administration for failing to clarify the legal status of contractors before putting them into military roles. (Los Angeles Times)Reporter for Post is Fatally Shot in Baghdad (October 15, 2007)
An Iraqi journalist, Salih Saif Aldin is killed while covering a story in the Baghdad neighborhood of Sadiyah. At least 118 journalists have been killed in Iraq since 2003, with 100 of those Iraqis. Witnesses say Saif Aldin was shot at close range while taking photographs of burnt out houses. Since 2003, Saif Aldin had received many death threats, beatings and was detained and interrogated by US troops. His death demonstrates the precarious situation for reporters working in Iraq. (Washington Post)Security Council
Statement by the President of the Security Council (October 11, 2007)
In an October presidential statement, the Security Council condemned Myanmar's repression and asked for the release of the political detainees. The Council also stressed the importance of the UN special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari. It requested that the military junta accept the UN and Gambari's recommendations. The statement reaffirmed the need for a dialogue with the opposition and the transition towards democracy. Moreover, it suggested the junta address the political, economic, humanitarian and human rights concerns of its people. Finally, the Council recognized Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition leadership, and urged that a government liaison officer work with her and the United Nations.UN Envoy Lauds Peaceful End to Crisis Within Somali Transitional Government (October 30, 2007)
Somalia, a country in the Horn of Africa, suffers from a humanitarian crisis and security deterioration. Neighboring Ethiopia's conflict between its troops and insurgencies perpetuates the crisis. Since Muhammad Siad Barre's regime ended in 1991, the country has been lacking a functional central government. The situation has deteriorated due to political tensions among its government parties. United Nations special envoy to Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, asked the Transitional Federal Government to overcome internal political differences and reach peaceful solutions. (UN News)Security Council Renews Diamond and Travel Sanctions on Côte d'Ivoire (October 29, 2007)
The Security Council renewed the mandate of the Group of Experts in Cote d'Ivoire until 2008, to monitor sanctions against the illegal trade of diamonds and arms. The Council demanded that the government, civil society and the UN Mission (UNOCI) cooperate and supply information to the experts. The Security Council will only review the restrictive actions after government and rebel parties have fully instituted the Ouagadougou peace agreement. The Council also announced that it will impose sanctions against individuals that represent a menace to the peace process and violate human rights in the country. (UN News)Russia to File Arctic Claim to UN (October 30, 2007)
Global warming and ice melting effects generate access to a part of the Arctic seabed that contains billions of tones of oil, gas and precious metals. In the Arctic Circle, a new resource-driven conflict arises, as Arctic countries struggle to maximize their share in the exploitation. Russia will file a claim by the end of 2007 to the United Nations in order to guarantee a share of this space. According to the UN Law of the Sea treaty, any country that wants to claim a greater share of the sea adjoining its coastline must submit a request to the UN's Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. (Reuters)AU, UN Work to Include Darfur Rebels in Peace Talks (October 29, 2007)
The United Nations and the African Union seek to host a three-phase peace process for Darfur in Libya. The first part consists of closed consultations with the Sudanese government, representatives of the international community and the civil society. The second focuses on internal consensus building. Finally, the parties must try to achieve substantial peace negotiations. Main rebel leaders did not appear at the start of the peace talks because the UN-AU did not postpone the date, as they requested. Libyan president Muammar al-Gadaffi recognized that the peace talks won't work without the presence of the seven most important Sudanese rebel groups. (Agence France Press)Israel's Gaza Fuel Cuts Alarm UN (October 29, 2007)
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon condemned Israel's action to reduce fuel and electricity to the Gaza strip, he also urged Hamas to stop bombing Israeli territory. Israel wants to shut down these resources for 15 minutes in response to each attack, and the "cut off" time will escalate according to the number of assaults. According to the Secretary General, more than a million civilians in Gaza already suffer from a humanitarian crisis and the cuts will make the situation even worse. Both Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups filled a petition with the Israeli Supreme Court against the government's sanctions. (BBC)Koreas Working Closely at UN (October 29, 2007)
In a United Nations Third Committee meeting, North and South Korea demonstrated conciliatory efforts towards North Korea's nuclear program. The "two Koreas" have submitted a joint draft for a General Assembly resolution that focuses on decreasing North Korea's nuclear program. The draft also re-instates a continuation of the six-nation talks in Pyongyang, which started in 2004. If positive talks continue, China will press for the Security Council to lift the sanctions against North Korea's nuclear program imposed after the Pyongyang nuclear test. (Yomiuri Shimbun)Israel Reduces Gaza Fuel Supplies (October 28, 2007)
Israel started to reduce oil and electricity supplies within the Gaza strip in response to attacks by Hamas in Israeli territory. Israeli human rights organizations and Palestinian civilians see these economic sanctions as illegal and in violation of international law. The Israeli government claims it will make efforts to help Palestinians civilians. However, the United Nations regards the fuel cuts as collective punishment against more than a million people. Israel's deputy defense minister, Matan Vilnai suggested that Israel's real motive is to separate Israel from the Gaza territory. (al-Jaazera)Empire?
No Evidence Iran Building Nuclear Weapons: Mohamed ElBaradei (October 28, 2007)
Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA, says that there is no evidence Iran has nuclear material to make weapons. He warns against the US confrontational rhetoric and says that it would lead to "a disaster." ElBaradei does not see military action as a solution but strongly recommends continuing negotiation and inspection. (Associated Press)UN Spurns Cuba Embargo for 17th Year (October 31, 2007)
The US once again faces massive opposition from other UN members, as 184 countries voted in favor to end the 45-year-old US embargo against Cuba. The General Assembly has adopted 16 similar resolutions since 1992. Beside the US, only three countries voted against the resolution: Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau. Speaking on behalf of the EU, Portuguese delegate Jorge de Lemos Godinho said the US embargo is "not acceptable." (Inter Press Service)Respected Marine Lawyer Alleges Military Injustices (October 31, 2007)
US Marine Corps lawyer Colby Vokey calls Guantanamo Bay "disgraceful." Vokey says that if any other country were to act this way the US "would likely step in and stop it." Vokey lost his job after speaking out against the prison complex. Although Vokey criticizes the US government, he declines to blame anyone in particular for the system at Guantanamo for fear of being court martialed. (National Public Radio)Rumsfeld Charged with Torture in French Court (October 29, 2007)
Leading human rights groups file an indictment against former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld for authorizing the torture of prisoners in US custody. The charges against Rumsfeld were made in France and based on the Convention against Torture, which is endorsed by both the US and France. The plaintiffs say that there is enough evidence against Rumsfeld to prove the accusations in court. (OneWorld)
More Imperialist Excesses? (October 25, 2007)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin met with heads of states from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Iran to discuss the future of the Caspian Sea area - one of the most oil-rich regions in the world. The leaders strongly condemned any outside aggression or interference in the area, signaling to the US not to expect cooperation from these countries, should the Bush administration launch an attack on Iran. (Granma International)Social and Economic Policy
Are the Poor Getting Poorer? (October 31, 2007)
This article on poverty and inequality from WorldNet Daily is an example of how statistics can be misused to prove a case. The author uses statistics on the frequency of color TV and microwave ownership to prove that poverty does not exist in the US. The author also argues that ultimately poverty is self-inflicted and that people could escape their "perceived poverty" if they were willing to work and get married. The author's interpretation of household consumption data fails to take into consideration relative prices of consumer goods, which in any case are inadequate indicators of wealth in a country where luxury goods are more affordable than necessities such as basic health care.A Catastrophe Foretold (October 26, 2007)
In this New York Times commentary, Paul Krugman blames ideology for the 2007 US mortgage crisis. From 2000, Federal Reserve officials warned of a possible crisis, but Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan ignored the warnings. According to Krugman, Washington is still ruled by a free market ideology that dismisses the importance of government regulation. Krugman hopes the latest crisis will remind federal officials of why financial regulation was once introduced.Shifting the Debate: A Double Majority System for the IMF (March 2007)
Representatives of the Bretton Woods Project and One World Trust call for a reform in governance and voting systems within the IMF in order to increase the Fund's legitimacy. They suggest that a double majority vote would balance out competing interests of rich and poor countries. At the same time, powerful countries would prefer a double majority system to a substantial change in the quota system traditionally practiced at the Fund. (World Economy and Development)My Vision for the IMF (September 6, 2007)
In this commentary to the Wall Street Journal, newly-elected managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, presents his suggestions for reform of the Fund. Strauss-Kahn suggests a double majority of quotas and countries in order to increase poor country representation in the Fund's decision-making process. Developing countries and the NGO community should welcome Strauss-Kahn's reform plans, but it is far from certain that he will be able to implement them once he assumes his position in conservative Washington.Deadly Combination: The Role of Southern Governments and the World Bank in the Rise of Hunger (2007)
This report published by Norwegian Church Aid, Danish Church Aid, Church of Sweden and Brot-fur-die-Welt finds that ever since African governments began liberalizing trade, food security has worsened on the continent. In particular, economic liberalization has harmed poor subsistence farmers. The author suggests that to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving hunger by 2015,the World Bank and local governments must abandon their present governance and liberalization policies.Inequality in India and China: Is Globalization to Blame? (October 15, 2007)
The Asian continent has experienced increasing economic inequality over the last two decades. Critics suggest increased exposure to the international market is to blame. On the other hand, the author of this YaleGlobal article argues that the expansion of industrialization in countries such as China and India has created many jobs and lifted a lot of people out of poverty. But, in both countries poverty declined prior to economic liberalization. The author argues that the Indian and Chinese case studies alone cannot establish the effects of globalization on income distribution.A Tax on Carbon to Cool the Planet (October 26, 2007)
A carbon tax would force consumers to pay the real social and environmental cost of burning fuels and raise the incentives to invest in renewable energy sources. But the US Congress remains skeptical and has instead proposed to lower carbon emissions through cap-and-trade plans. The author of this Christian Science Monitor article argues that cap-and-trade schemes in other countries have been flawed and therefore the US should set a good example by taxing fossil fuels.Role Reversal at IMF as the Rich Come Under Fire (October 21, 2007)
During the 2007 meeting of the world's finance officials at he IMF, Western countries faced criticism over the US subprime mortage crisis. In the past, rich governments and the IMF have lectured poor countries on their economic and monetary policies. The same poor countries are now requesting that the IMF require rich countries to regulate their spending and increase their transparency. In particular, the countries are targeting their criticism at the US, whose financial policies are threatening the stability of the international financial system. Despite the vulnerability of advanced economies, the US and the IMF defend their present practices. (International Herald Tribune)Secretary General
Alone at the Top of the World (October 27, 2007)
This Newsweek article interviews the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon about how he tackles some of the world's most complex problems. Ban says it was initially difficult to get the Bush administration to cooperate on climate change, and that he does not understand the criticism that he is too close to the US. When asked about his feelings about the UN involvement in Iraq, he avoids giving a clear answer.International Justice
Rebel Victims Promised Compensation (October 4, 2007)
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni says victims of the two decade long insurgency by rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army will be compensated. A program of reconciliation and rehabilitation is set up by the Ugandan government and funds will be allocated once a "comprehensive peace settlement is achieved in Juba." Talks aimed at ending the 21 year insurgency have been stalled and are due to resume in October 2007. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)Ugandan LRA Commander Surrenders (October 23, 2007)
Opiyo Makasi of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) surrendered to the Congolese police. Makasi, the LRA operation and logistics commander, shall be handed over to the UN mission in Congo (MONUC). He should pass through a demobilization and reintegration process before going back to Uganda. The LRA still represent a danger in the region, especially since the rebels refuse to sign a peace agreement until the International Criminal Court drops the charges against its major leaders. (al-Jaazera)Portable Halls of Justice Are Rising in Guantanamo (October 14, 2007)
A judicial complex is under construction in Guantanamo Bay and will house a portable court room and a tent city for 550 court officials, lawyers, security guards and journalists. Some commentators argue the construction of the complex is not consistent with supposed efforts by the Bush administration to close the detention camp. Others argue that it shows the US commitment to try alleged "terror suspects." (New York Times)
What Was New What's New
Week of October 22 - 26, 2007
Iraq Security Council Empire? Social and Economic Policy NGOs International Justice
Iraq
US Marines on Trial for Iraq Atrocity (October 21, 2007)
Two marines face court martial over the massacre of 24 Iraqis in Haditha in 2005. The commanding officer of the unit involved in the killings, Lieutenant Colonel Chessani, is the highest ranking official to be court marshaled since the Vietnam War. While official reports claim the incident was "lawful combat" and the deaths were "collateral damage," a video of the incident disproves claims by the marines that they were aiming at militants. However, charges against other marines implicated in the massacre have been dropped or downgraded. This raises the question whether anyone will be held accountable for the massacre. (Independent)Lawyers Take MoD to Court Over Iraqi Mutilation Claims (October 18, 2007)
Lawyers acting for relatives of Iraqi detainees who died while in British custody ask the High Court to order an independent investigation. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) refuses to launch an investigation into the allegations and denies that British soldiers abused Iraqi detainees. Lawyers for the families point to witness statements, death certificates and videos of Iraqis with serious injuries including genital mutilation, gouged-out eyes and bruises consistent with being punched and kicked. They argue that the British government has a duty to investigate claims of deliberate wrongdoing. (Guardian)Why Iraqi Farmers Might Prefer Death to Paul Bremer's Order 81 (September 19, 2007)
In this AlterNet article, Nancy Scola argues that Iraqi farmers face a similar predicament to that experienced by Indian farmers who are committing suicide under the strain of debt and failed crops after buying seeds from US agro-giant Monsanto. Order 81 of Paul Bremer's Coalition Provisional Authority laws opens Iraq agriculture to US companies like Monsanto. The author warns that traditional farming methods will be lost with the introduction of large agribusiness in the country.Al-Qaeda In Iraq Reported Crippled (October 15, 2007)
US military officials say that the capture and interrogation of suspected leaders of al-Qaeda In Iraq (AQI) has led to a 60 to 70 percent drop in AQI's capabilities. The military report demonstrates the Bush administration's argument that US troops must remain in the region to defeat "the most lethal US adversary in Iraq." The threat of AQI joins a long list of justifications for the war and for the continued US presence in the country. (Washington Post)State Department Suspends Iraq Audit of DynCorp (October 23, 2007)
An audit of a US$1.2 billion contract with DynCorp International for the training of Iraqi police reveals that the State Department failed to oversee the contract and as a result its records and invoices do not account for most payments. The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction suggests the US State Department suffers from "serious contract management issues" and is "vulnerable to waste and fraud." Despite these problems, DynCorp is the rumored replacement of Blackwater USA as the security service for diplomats in Iraq. (Common Dreams)How Much Can UN Achieve In Iraq? (September 21, 2007)
The US suggests the UN increase the number of personnel in Iraq and promote dialogue and reconciliation between Iraq's political factions. However, UN officials are cautious about an expansion in staff as long as security remains so risky. (Christian Science Monitor)Shortage of Safe Water in Missan Province Poses Health Risk (October 9, 2007)
The province of Missan, south of Baghdad is struggling to provide safe drinking water to its population of 790,000 with over 40,000 of them internally displaced refugees. According to witnesses, the water in Missan has not been treated since early September 2007 due to a lack of chemicals and instead, people are turning to the Tigris River. Aid agencies claim the river is heavily polluted and as people cannot afford to buy filters or boil the water for drinking this increases the spread of diseases such as cholera. (Integrated Regional Information Networks)Iraq: The Other Surge (October 29, 2007)
Robert Dreyfuss in The Nation explores the rise of political nationalism in Iraq as politics shift away from sectarianism. The author suggests that three factors promoting nationalism and opposition to the US presence in Iraq - the Senate non-binding resolution advocating for the partition of Iraq, the shooting of numerous civilians by the security firm Blackwater and the US pressure to privatize Iraq's oil industry. Political commentators see the emergence of the nationalist bloc, consisting of Shiite and Sunni factions, as a challenge to the US backed Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government and the Kurdish and Shiite separatist blocs. According to the author, as long as the US suppresses nationalism and supports separatist policies, violence in Iraq will continue.Violence Batters Baghdad Schools (August 30, 2007)
Teachers, parents and administrators are concerned about the long term effects of the failing education system in Iraq. According to UNICEF, the education system in Iraq was considered one of the best in the Middle East. Since the occupation in 2003, commentators say schools in Baghdad in particular, are plagued by disruptions from violence, including reports of kidnappings and murders of students and teachers, poor facilities and a lack of resources. UNICEF reports that in 2005 - 2006 an estimated 800,000 children did not attend school. (Institute for War and Peace Reporting)Security Council
Democracy, Democracy, No It Is Oil, Oil in Myanmar (September 28, 2007)
The author of this Daily Mirror article criticizes selective humanitarian intervention and the motives of the international community's decisions. Myanmar suffers from military oppression, human rights violations, government corruption and a lack of democracy. Yet western countries won't take active measures against the same military junta that provides significant oil and gas contracts to China, Russia, US, France and India. The UN Security Council has divided opinions as the US and China re-enact an old Cold War battle of geo-political power over Burma and the Asian region and its riches.How Strong Is the Military Regime? (December 21, 2000)
This analysis gives an overview of the Burma/Myanmar military regime also known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). After 1988, the SPDC opened the country's economic borders, promoting foreign investments especially within the oil and gas sector. The junta profited from these oil deals and relations with China, India and the ASEAN countries flourished. Civilian resistance has increased and international pressure for democracy continues. Despite this, the SPDC shows no signs of releasing its stronghold on the country. (International Crisis Group)
Burma: Protest, Crackdown - and Now? (October 12, 2007)
According to this openDemocracy analysis, the Burmese conflict has three different but interconnected tensions. The first stems from disagreements between the military regime and the democratic opposition, in which the monks play an important role as mediators of possible future negotiations. The second demonstrates the division within the military government, as different factions struggle for leadership. The third focuses on excluded ethnic groups that fight the militant government through armed insurgencies. In addition, the author suggests that a transition to democracy should be gradual and all social sectors should be involved in making the constitution.Security Council Issues Its First Official Censure of Burmese Junta (October 11, 2007)
The US and Europe hope for greater action against Burma's military junta, however China and Russia differ. These two countries only agreed to the Security Council statement because it offers diplomatic support to the mediation efforts of special UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari. According to Human Rights Watch, China and Russia, as well as India, supply arms to and have economic interests with the Burmese military government. (Washington Post)UN Chief Calls Crackdown in Myanmar 'Abhorrent' (October 6, 2007)
UN representative Ibrahim Gambari told the Security Council that the violence in Burma/Myanmar continues and that the military junta reports an unrealistically small number of causalities. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon asks for a united stance by the Security Council to support the efforts of the UN special envoy. Unity seems hard to achieve, especially since China believes increased pressure will only lead to confrontations and a loss of dialogue between the UN and the junta. (New York Times)UN Envoy to Meet Myanmar Junta General (October 2, 2007)
The Security Council unanimously requested that Myanmar's military junta and the opposition, especially the National League for Democracy, start a dialogue mediated by UN special envoy Ibrahim Gambari. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon urged the junta to stop civilian repression and to release the imprisoned protesters. He also urged the junta, which controls the country's natural resources, to respect the rights of the people and promote national reconciliation through democratic reform. (Reuters)UN Envoy Tries to Ease Tensions in Myanmar (October 1, 2007)
The United Nations envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari met with the military junta and the opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Gambari and US representative, Shari Villarosa, demanded that the junta stop the violence and reach an agreement with the opposition. Analysts argue that the junta will not change its strategy unless China, its economic ally and political "buffer," puts pressure through sanctions or economic boycotts, which does not seem likely. (New York Times)Violence Continues in Myanmar (September 27, 2007)
China and Russia vetoed a preliminary UN Security Council draft resolution led by the US to pressure Myanmar's government into stopping the violence. Although the international community disapproves of the Myanmar crackdown, China and Russia, for economic reasons, insist Council action is unnecessary. Experts monitoring the situation claim that the military response could have been more violent, if not for the presence of the highly revered monks and China's influence. (Council on Foreign Relations)A Biography of Aung San Suu Kyi (May 28, 2007)
Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Aung San, Burma's independent leader against British colonization, has become a pro-democratic icon. She started to resist the military junta in 1988 when she joined the National League for Democracy (NLD) movement. Even under house arrest, Suu Kyi manages to lead the opposition against the junta and has won several international peace awards. This Burma Campaign article shows the chronology of her fight throughout the years.Environmental Problems Loom in Myanmar (October 14, 2007)
Environmentalists argue that the Myanmar military junta finances its government with the illegal trade of the country's natural resources. The main exportation of natural wealth occurs on the borders with China and Thailand, with the selling of a range of goods from illegal gems to animal parts. The exploitations of timber, gold, minerals and animals pollute rivers, devastate forests and eradicate animal species. The junta has also been displacing river-based villagers in order to construct dams for electricity between Thailand and China. (Associated Press)Security Council Transparency, Legitimacy and Effectiveness (October 18, 2007)
In the 2005 World Summit, the United Nations General Assembly (GA) agreed that the Security Council needed to reform its working methods. These methods include the Council's transparency, participation, accountability and efficiency. With this in mind, a group entitled the "Small Five," including Costa Rica, Jordan, Liechtenstein, Singapore and Switzerland, pushed for more action on Security Council reform through a draft resolution in 2006. This Special Research report outlines the history of the Council's practice and procedure, and the pending issues of reform. (Security Council Report)Empire?
Venezuela Continues To Purchase Russian Weapons (October 25, 2007)
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has signed another arms deal with Russia after Venezuela purchased military equipment worth US$ 3 billion from Moscow in 2006. Chavez says only a strong military "can stop the imperia (the US), which threatens our democracy." According to the article's author, it is clear that Venezuela is trying to change the balance of power in Latin America. (Power and Internet News Report)Rendition and the Rights of the Individual (June 7, 2006)
Swiss Senator Dick Marty has compiled a report for the Council of Europe about CIA renditions of terrorism suspects and secret prisons. In 2006 the Washington Post revealed the existence of numerous "black sites" in Europe, in which the US has kept prisoners. In his report, Marty states that these illegal procedures "clearly breach every principle of the fundamental right to a fair trial." (BBC)The Sun Sets Early on the American Century (October 2007)
Le Monde diplomatique argues that the Iraq war has nearly "broken the US army" and damaged the country's image abroad. Even many neoconservatives seem to think that the US has exhausted itself politically, economically and militarily through the Iraq war. One of the toughest critics, former head of the National Security Council, Zbigniew Brzezinski, describes the war in Iraq as a "historic, strategic and moral calamity."On the Eve of Destruction (October 22, 2007)
Former United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq Scott Ritter describes US President George Bush's rhetoric on Iran as dangerous and apocalyptic. According to Ritter, the president's talk of "World War III" and the fight "between good and evil" could indicate that Washington is preparing for a military intervention in Iran. Ritter points out that Bush is surrounded by neoconservative policymakers, who have long been pushing for an aggressive US foreign policy in the Middle East including attacking Iran. (CommonDreams)Bush' World War Three (October 17, 2007)
US President George W. Bush has said that Iran and its nuclear program could cause a "World War Three." Former Republican leader of the House Newt Gingrich has also used this term, saying that "we're in the early stages of what I would describe as the Third World War." This Global Research article warns that this rhetoric could serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy.Social and Economic Policy
World Bank Says Agriculture Must Take Center Stage in Development (October 20, 2007)
The World Bank's 2007 World Development Report calls on governments to put greater emphasis on agriculture in development policies. The report says that by investing in the agricultural economy, governments can reduce poverty in rural areas, where "75 percent of the world's poor live." Growth in other economic sectors does not necessarily absorb the people living in rural areas. NGOs, such as Oxfam and ActionAid, claim that the World Bank's agricultural policies will not increase growth and reduce poverty unless rich countries cut their agricultural subsidies and lower tariffs on agricultural products. (Agence France Presse)What the IMF Doesn't See (October 18, 2007)
In its 2007 World Investment Report, the IMF focuses on rising inequality in poor countries and the need to reverse this trend. This article argues that the Fund fails to mention how its own policies of privatization and trade deregulation caused a slowdown in economic growth, subsequently obstructing progress on many social indicators such as education and life expectancy. After decades of promoting economic growth as the solution to poverty, the IMF now seems to avoid discussing the issue altogether. But, without growth, governments have nothing to distribute and inequality becomes a flawed measure of economic and social well-being, claims the author. (International Herald Tribune)Biofuels - Great Green Hope or Swindle (October 20, 2007)
This Inter Press Service article highlights many of the problems associated with biofuels. Some researchers argue that biofuel production is a step in the wrong direction as it hardly reduces carbon emissions. Producing biofuels also drives up food prices and increases conflict over food resources. Governments both in the US and Europe are increasing subsidies for biofuel production, however, and critics are concerned about this trend as governments seldom phase out subsidies.Hedge Funds Look to Increase Transparency (October 11, 2007)
Former deputy governor of the Bank of England Andrew Large proposes a new code of openness and accountability in hedge funds, a £180 billion industry. Large put together the code, which is voluntary, after much criticism from politicians who say that the sector is "overly-secretive" and endangers global financial stability. Investors welcome the code, but critics say that the financial world needs binding regulation. (One World Trust)Investment, Inequality Growing Globally (October 21, 2007)
Three reports by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) analyze growing global inequalities of wealth and income. Although foreign direct investment is surging worldwide, most investment still takes place in rich countries. The IMF says that trade liberalization has increased income inequalities while the World Bank suggests that countries must promote agricultural and rural development to level out global earnings. (Jamaica Glearer)Oil Decline 'Brings Risk of War and Unrest' (October 22, 2007)
In a new report, Energy Watch Group (EWG) estimate that the world has already reached peak oil production and by 2030 oil supply will fall to half of its present levels. This estimate radically differs from the projections made by the International Energy Agency which claims there is no reason to worry about oil supplies. EWG and energy economists worry that a fall in oil supply will cause instability in a world with growing energy demands, possibly leading to "disturbing scenes of mass unrest." EWG considers this an important reason to speed up deployment of renewable energy. (Guardian)Trickle-Up Economics: New Report Reveals Staggering Global Wealth Concentration (October 8, 2007)
From 2001 to 2006, world wealth increased significantly, with a 7.5 percent increase in 2006 alone. Over the same period, the households who hold less than US$100,000 in assets saw a decline in wealth. The Boston Consulting Group estimates that 0.7 percent of the world's households now hold a third of the world's financial assets. A report from the same group draws attention to the money made from handling these valuable assets - 111 wealth managing firms who were surveyed have an astonishing average profit margin of 34.7 percent. (Too Much: A Commentary on Excess and Inequality)American Sickness: Diagnosis and Cure (October 16, 2007)
This article focuses on the huge inequalities in the United States. The economic differences are particularly well reflected in statistics on US citizens' health. In the Harlem district of New York, life expectancy of male infants matches that of Belize and Tanzania and the average life expectancy is lower than in Bangladesh. Poverty and job insecurity leave a great number of US citizens without any or sufficient insurance and access to health care in general is often limited. The authors point to success in other industrialized nations and call for higher spending on education and increased levels of taxation to create a more equal society. (openDemocracy)IMF Issues a Warning, But Are the US and China Listening? (October 13, 2007)
The IMF warns that possible unsustainable financial flows could cause a global financial crisis. The warnings are particularly directed towards the US and China and the Fund urges them to take care of their respective trade deficit and undervalued exchange rate. Over the last decade, world economic growth has been diverse and seemingly robust. But the Fund says that a slowdown in growth or a financial crisis could still occur unless the US and China stabilize their financial flows. (The Age)NGOs
Civil Society in an Uncivil World (October 18, 2007)
This Pambazuka article addresses the problems associated with the term "civil society." The author argues that the popular term sounds progressive, but might hide more than it reveals. Some proponents use the term to include regular citizens, NGOs and even large businesses. Depending on the situation, they can alter the meaning of the concept to fit different situations. The author suggests that this might disguise inequalities and marginalization between the different groups within the so-called civil society.International Justice
Don't Be Dubbed a Human Rights Abuser (October 22, 2007)
A claim filed under the Alien Tort Claims Act 1789 (ATCA) alleging that an international mining company hired paramilitaries to murder three labor leaders in Colombia is rejected at trial. Despite the outcome, legal commentators suggest this case signals the beginning of ATCA claims against other multinational companies, including Bridgestone Firestone, Yahoo, Nestle, and Dole Foods. The author recommends that international companies implement measures such as the creation of a code of conduct to guard against human rights abuses abroad. (Legal Times)Congolese War Crimes Suspect Turned Over to International Criminal Court (October 18, 2007)
In June 2004, ICC Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo started to investigate crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, initially against Thomas Lubanga Dyilo. Dyilo, charged with forcing children into his group, Force de Resistance Patriotique en Ituri (FRPI), will face trial. The ICC prosecutor also wants another commander of the FRPI, Germain Katanga, accused of murder, inhumane acts and sexual enslavement of women in the village of Borogo, to stand The Hague trial. (UN News)
